Alyssa hastily went to the underground parking lot.
âMâMs. White! Alice!â Landon ran up to her and held her by the wrist. She spun around and cast an indifferent gaze at him.
âLet go.â
âWhatâs wrong? Is it because of Jasper?â His throat tightened as he apologized gently, âIâm sorry. I didnât know heâd be here. Had I known, I wouldnât have brought you here.â
Alyssa was riddled with heartache when she thought of the box that Jasper had wanted to give her. She didnât need him to make up to her.
âHere. Iâm returning this.â She lowered her neck and took off the necklace, which she returned to Landon. âAnyway, thanks for the gift, Sorry, but I canât accept it.â
He was struck by her change of mind. âWere you taking advantage of me just now?â
âSorry.â Gloom crept over her face.
Instead of feeling angry, Landon felt bad for her. He could tell that she needed more time to get over Jasper. No matter how long thatâd take, he was willing to wait for her.
âItâs fine. Itâs not a big deal. You turned down Jasperâs gift as well. So I donât feel too bad about this. âHe waved and clutched the necklace tightly in his hand.
âMr. Harper, youâre a decent guy. At least, you are more carefree and observant than Jasper in many ways. You might look like a fuckboy, but you can be very thoughtful and doting.
âYou deserve a better woman, and you should spend your time on her.â She softened up because of the guilt she carried.
âWell, that woman has shown up. Sheâs closer than I thought!â He stared at her with passion as he huffed and puffed.
âI appreciate that.â She smiled and left the scene with poise.
Landon stood on the ground, feeling helpless and bitter. Did she just turn down his confession? It certainly felt like that.
As night settled in, Landon was at one of ACEâs corridors. He had requested the manager to clear the venue for him and Jasper, who was in a foul mood that night.
Sitting by the bar, Jasper looked lonely and hostile, causing the bartender to stay away from him The fight over a necklace between the two influential men in Solana City, who ench owned a Centurion Card, was the event of a century.
The employee stammered in shock at the sight of the two black cards. âSâSir, we only have one necklace leftâ¦â
âI know.â Jasper looked away from Alyssa. âI am buying it exactly because thereâs only one.â
Liana almost jumped for joy as she awaited Jasper to give her the necklace.
Alyssa pursed her lips at Jasperâs insistence as bitterness welled up in her heart. Heâd get Liana. anything she wanted at all costs. When it came to Alyssa, though, he paid no attention to her feelings âIgnore him. Please charge it to my card and wrap the gift!â Landon arched his brows and rapped his knuckles on the glass display. âFirst come, first served.â
âLandon Harper.â Jasper frowned. Landon stared at Jasperâs sullen face and lowered his voice,â Jasper, you know me. There are not many women Iâd like to buy a gift for. Canât you let me have my way this time, considering weâve known each other for almost twenty years?â
Alyssa widened her eyes in disbelief at the two men. At the same time, Lianaâs jaw dropped at the confrontation.
She looked down at Alice White for getting cozy with the other wealthy men. After all, Alice had only recently left Jasper. What did rich men like Landon see in Alice, the divorcee Jasper had abandoned?
Jasper caught his breath. This was the first time in his memory that Landon had put their twenty years of friendship on the line for a woman. Not only that, Landon was confronting him over his ex -wife, whom he claimed he didnât care about.
âThank you, Mr. Harper.â Alyssa flashed a bright smile at Landon at that moment. âIâll gladly accept your necklace gift.â
Landon forgot to breathe at the sight of her alluring smile. âYou donât have to thank me! Whatâs more important is that you like it.â
Jasperâs eyes burned with an incendiary anger as his throat tightened. How could she accept the gift from another man in front of her exâhusband?
Landon picked up the necklace and put it on Alyssaâs neck attentively. The color drained from Jasperâs face. His fists were curled up, but he felt helpless.
âWow, thatâs gorgeous!â The store employee covered her mouth and exclaimed.
âYeah, the necklace is gorgeous.â Alyssa flashed a polite smile.
âNo! I meant you. A customer before you tried on the necklace, but she failed to pop in that piece. But you are a different case. You brought out the benuty of the jewelry but didnât let it overshadow you.â
Seething, Liana stared hard at Jasper, who did not give any reaction. He did not show any sign of fighting for the necklace.
âMr. Harper, I have to go back to work. Letâs go.â
âSure.â
Alyssa never gave Jasper a proper look from the start. She left the scene with Landon like a couple.
âJasper, I thought you wanted to buy me the necklace. How could you let Alice White have it?â Liana questioned Jasper with urgency.
Frowning deeply, Jasper went after Alyssa in big strides.
âAlice White!â
She came to a stop and spun around.
âWhat do you want, Mr. Jasper? Are you going to snatch the necklace from me?â
He was stung by her penetrating gaze. Pursing his lips, he dug out a black velvet case from his breast pocket and handed it to her.
His gesture took her aback. âWhatâs this for?â
âItâs a crystal bracelet. The one that Grandpa gave you was broken. Iâm giving you a new one.â
He sounded harsh and refused to admit that it was his gift to her, despite knowing she had long looked forward to a gift from him. He did not want to cave in to her.
âItâs fine. Grandpa promised to get me a new one.âSmirking, she urged him, âYou should put this away. You might cause a misunderstanding if your fiancée sees it. I donât want to be responsible for that.â
âWhy did you take Landonâs gift but not mine?â At the end of his wits, his gaze burned holes through her.
âMaybe thatâs because youâre annoying. As simple as that.â She dropped a hurtful remark and left without turning back.
âJasper, Iâll see you tonight!â Landon hurried after Alyssa, leaving Jasper frozen on the ground and grappling with the pain she had left him. His mind was filled with her remark about him being Liana, who had caught up to them, witnessed Jasperâs failed attempt to give out the crystal bracelet. Like a venomous snake, her features contorted with spite.