Alyssa lifted her eyes icily, only to see Sheryl storming toward her in a fury.


    "Alyssa, you really are a freaking jinx!"


    While stomping in her direction, Sheryl shouted, "Mr. Jasper nearly lost his life several times back when you were still together. Now that you two have separated, you''ve dragged Mr. Justin into this because of the bad luck you carry with you.


    "Can''t you stop jinxing others? Can''t you just stay away from Mr. Justin? He wouldn''t have been so badly hurt this time if he hadn''t tried to protect you!"


    "Well, it''s not like I asked him to protect me," Alyssa replied coolly, crossing her arms over her chest.


    Alyssa leaned back casually against her chair, her gaze sharp and mocking as it swept over Sheryl''s flushed face. "Mr. Justin is a well-respected man and the future heir of Beckett Group. Logically speaking, someone of such value should prioritize his own safety when facing danger."


    Seeing Alyssa''s indifference only made Sheryl''s lips tremble. She was on the verge of exploding with rage.


    "Besides," Alyssa continued evenly, "Beckett Group should bear full responsibility for this attack. The hotel''s security was aplete mess. They allowed an assant disguised as a waiter to enter the venue and get close to Mr. Justin.


    "When the incident happened, the security team failed to respond in time. If Mr. Jasper hadn''t arrived when he did, Mr. Justin might have been stabbed even more severely."


    Infuriated, Sheryl snarled, "Why, you—"


    "And another thing," Alyssa interrupted. "A servant cannot serve two masters. It''s one thing to be concerned about your employer, but why bring up my past with Mr. Jasper?"


    Her eyes narrowed sharply, the faint curl of her red lips infuriating Sheryl even further. "What is it? Are you jealous that Jasper and I were once together?"


    Sheryl''s heart began to race. Her throat tightened as her pulse thundered in her


    ears.


    Over time, she had convinced herself that she no longer loved Jasper after he abandoned her so mercilessly and trampled on her pride. She believed that Justin was the only man she cared about.


    Yet Alyssa''s words struck painfully close to the truth. Her heart pounded as a dull ache spread through her chest. Only then did she realize that she still harbored lingering feelings for Jasper. Deep down, she still cared about him.


    "Sheryl, don''t be rude to Ms. Alyssa."


    Justin emerged slowly from the hospital ward, standing on his own with his secretary supporting him. A cold light settled in his eyes as he looked at Sheryl.


    The Beckett Group employees in the hallway immediately lowered their heads in respect.


    Panic surged through Sheryl. Her hostility toward Alyssa vanished as she stepped aside at once, adopting a meek and obedient posture.


    "How are you feeling, Mr. Justin?" Alyssa hurried over to support him herself. She looked genuinely distraught. "Have they removed all the ss shards?"


    Justin smiled candidly. "Don''t worry. I won''t die even if they left a couple inside."


    "Oh no, that won''t do," Alyssa replied, fixing an inscrutable gaze on Sheryl''s face- one heavily sculpted by cosmetic procedures.


    In a coquettish voice that sounded faintly aggrieved, she added, "If you don''t make a full recovery, Ms. Gillis will think I''m the mastermind behind your uries That''s far too much pressure for me won''t be able to handle it."


    Sheryl inwardly cursed Alyssa, grinding her teeth in white-hot rage. She yearned to pounce on her and snap her neck in two.


    "Sheryl has worked for me for a long time," Justin said mildly. "She panicked out of concern. I''ll talk to her when we return."


    Though he wore his usual smile, a sh of cold menace flickered in his eyes as his gaze swept past Sheryl.


    A chill ran down Sheryl''s spine. She stood frozen in ce, only realizing how much time had passed after Alyssa and Justin were long gone.


    ...


    "Oh? Jasper?"


    Justin suddenly smiled as he looked ahead.


    Alyssa''s chest tightened. After a brief hesitation, she followed his


    gaze and saw Jasper-it seiset


    he


    was also at the hospital to have his injuries treated.


    The bandages around his left hand stood out starkly. A sharp pain pierced Alyssa''s heart, spreading through her entire body.


    Her eyes welled up silently. She desperately wanted to run over and check on his hand, but she forced herself to ignore it and pretend she hadn''t noticed.


    Agony churned within her.


    "Lyse, I think Jasper injured his hand." Justin nced sideways at Alyssa''s nk expression concern and Conflict flickering in his eyes. "Would you like to go check on him?"