"Mr. Gentry is right there. Let''s head over and have a word with him," Justin said, his tone warm as he guided Alyssa with a gentlemanly poise. "I''ve arranged for a champagne tower to be brought over shortly. Shall we do the honors together?"


    Perhaps it was due to Alyssa''s exceptionally sharp sixth sense as a woman, but she suddenly felt as though someone was watching her from the shadows.


    She nced back with feigned nonchnce, and her heart nearly stopped. A familiar, tall shadow shed past the entrance. Though she caught only a fleeting blur, she recognized it immediately.


    It was Jasper.


    Was he here today? Had he been watching her silently from the shadows all this time?


    Tagging along with Justin, Alyssa approached Rafe. The three of them chatted lightly, though Alyssa''s mind was clearly elsewhere.


    Some time after, a waiter arrived, pushing a trolley bearing a champagne tower toward Justin and Alyssa amid apuse from the crowd. He spoke respectfully. "Here is the champagne tower you ordered, Mr. Beckett."


    "Thanks," Justin replied, a gentle smile gracing his refined features.


    He looked deeply at Alyssa, who remained utterly expressionless, and prompted softly, "Let''s go, Lyse."


    "Sure."


    Though she responded verbally, Alyssa''s gaze drifted involuntarily toward the main entrance.


    Justin''s eyes darkened. His knuckles whitened around the champagne bottle. Then, without warning, a deafening crash rang out.


    Shocked screams erupted from all around them. "Oh no, the champagne tower copsed!"


    Given herbat abilities, Alyssa should have been able to react instantly. However, her attention had been fixed on the entrance moments earlier. By the time


    she snapped back to her senses, it was already toote to dodge.


    The champagne tower toppled toward her like a copsing crystal tree. The crowd scattered in panic. Even Rafe fled at lightning speed.


    "Lyse, watch out!"


    Justin lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Alyssa and shielding herpletely beneath him.


    A thunderous crash followed. The massive champagne tower mmed into Justin, and Alyssa heard his heavy, muffled groan close to her ear.


    The force of the impact sent them both crashing to the floor. Yet the danger was far from over.


    The waiter from earlier now wore a vicious, menacing expression. His eyes burned red with fury as he drew a cold, gleaming de from behind him and raised it high "Justin Beckett, you murderer! And you, Alyssa, his aplice! Go to hell-both of you!"


    The crowd erupted into terrified screams, but no one dared step forward.


    The waiter strode across the floor


    littered with shattered ss, roaring with rage, He aimed the tip of the de at the chest of the person closest to him-Alyssa. Both of them had to die today. At the


    very least


    one of them would.


    "Don''t be afraid, Lyse. You''re safe with me!"


    Justin rolled over and shielded Alyssa with his own body, his gaze fierce and resolute. He might not be able to fight, but if the de struck him, he could still buy her enough time to escape.


    Alyssa stared at him in shock.


    She disliked Justin. No-she hated him. She didn''t trust him in the slightest. Yet she had never imagined that this calcting, scheming man would protect her without hesitation in a life-or-death situation.


    She knew his every move was usually deliberate. But this was clearly unforeseen. Did he really need to go this far?


    "Oof—"


    Suddenly, Justin let out a pained grunt.


    Alyssa''s heart mmed against her chest as she stared in horror at what was unfolding.


    Jasper appeared out of nowhere, like a god descending from the heavens. He moved with lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, he


    wrenched the de f


    the


    waiter''s hand and forced him to his


    knees on the ss-strewn floor.


    Cóntent


    At such close proximity, Alyssa''s gaze collided with Jasper''s.


    She froze, staring into his dark, gleaming eyes. Tears welled up uncontrobly, though she forced them back.


    Then she felt something warm and wet soaking her palms. She looked down and cried out in rm, "Mr. Justin is hurt! Call an ambnce—now!"


    "Lyse... I''m fine. As long as you''re safe, I—"


    Before he could finish, the color drained from Justin''s face, and he copsed weakly into her arms.


    Jasper''s breathing grew shallow as he watched Alyssa''s frantic concern for Justin. An invisible hand seemed to tighten around his throat as jealousy surged within him.


    Momentster, security guards rushed in and subdued the waiter while contacting the police.


    Still pinned to the floor, the man continued to roar madly. "Alyssa... Justin... You low-life scumbags! You''ll both go to hell! Retribution wille for you!"