While Liana was enjoying the spotlight at Berenike Hotel, Alyssa was driving her sports car up a winding mountain road and enjoying the night breeze.
She sang to the tune ofâBurning Revenge âthat was playing in the car, seemingly ina good mood. Silas called her at that moment. She picked up and cooed, âSilas!â
âAw,Iâm melting!I should have recordedyou and sent it to Axel. Heâs going to burn in jealousy!â Silas sounded excited. It didnât take much to make a man happy.
âDid you call me because you haveeverything arranged?âasked Alyssa.
âYes, itâs done. Jonah has made hisarrangements too.â
She replied sweetly, âI trust you and Jonah. By the way, Iâm on my way to visit Newton Beckett. I heard that heâs the only one in the family who isnât at Lianaâs birthday partyâSophia has dragged everyone else there.
âI know he enjoys company and canâtstand loneliness, but he never tells anyone because he doesnât want to burden them. I should keep him company because he adores me.â
The look in her eyes softened at the mention of Newton. She couldnât help but feel bad for the old man.
When she was married to Jasper, she always kept Newton company from time to time. She spent time chatting, painting, and checking out antiques. Sheâd sing for him and bring him to stroll by the beach.
She recalled one Valentineâs Day when Solana City saw a historic snowfall. She brought some homema de desserts and showed up at Newtonâs place in the snow.
She vividly remembered the shock on Newtonâs face when he stared at her cheeks and nose, which were red from the cold.
âAlice, itâs Valentineâs Day! Why did youcome to me instead of spending time with Jasper?â
She cooked up an excuse for Jasper while forcing a smile. âHe doesnât have time to rest because heâs the president of the Beckett Group. He doesnât have a day off on Valentineâs. Anyway, Iâm happy he remembered and prepared a gift for me.â
âYoung lady, you are too gentle and kind.You need to toughen up to tame a stubborn man like Jasper. I was like him when I was younger. What my wife did was banish me to the couch. It worked like a charm.â
Alyssa chuckled at the story.
They took in the winter scenery for a while. He suddenly asked, âAre you afraid of the cold?â
âNo!â
âCome with me to visit your grandma,then.â
Newtonâs face was full of affection, something that Alyss a could never expect from Jasper.âIâll clean the snow at her grave. Sheâs afraid of the cold.â
â¦
âGrandpa! Iâm here!â Alyssaâs singsongvoice echoed in the living room just like before.
âAlyssa!â She heard a similarly sweet andyouthful voice. Next, Lauren emerged with Newton, who was in a wheelchair.
âLauren? Youâre here too.â Alyss a wasoverjoyed at the sight of Lauren. She pulled Laurenâs thin frame into a tight hug.
Lauren hugged Alyssa as her hand traveled across Alyssaâs back. She blinked with her round, lively eyes.âYouâre thin-you lost some weight. Did you not eat well?
âI did. I am stuffed by the end of everymeal,âAlyssa replied with a smile. She had indeed lost weight due to her stressful workload. Sometimes, sheâd have brunch and miss her dinners.
âAlice, come here. Let me take a look!âNewton was grinning ear to ear when he saw Alyssa. He still called her Alice because he was reluctant to make the switch, but Alyssa did not mind.
She had no lingering affection for Jasper anyway. Alice White was a part of the past that she left behind. As long as Newton was happy, he could call her by any name.
âGrandpa, you look pale. Did you not restwell?â She went down on one knee by the wheelchair and looked at him worriedly.