âItâs really a fine plan, Mr. Jasper!â Xavier said, then asked timidly, âItâs just, with Madamâs personality, thereâs a risk she just might win over Ada Kingsley. Why donât we â¦â
âGet to the point.â
âWhy donât we let Madam have this small win instead? It doesnât determine the final victor anyway.
Weâll be the gentlemen in this scenario and let the lady have it. Plus, you two were married before-â
No!â Jasper said sharply. âIf we canât move Alexa, then we have no choice but to start from Ada Kingsley.
Alyssa must be in the same boat as us if sheâs doing the same thing.
âEvery whiff of progress is enough to set us back to square one. We cannot let her have this win. We need Ada to attend our welcoming party no matter the cost!â
Jasper then entered his car while Xavier was left standing there alone. The latterâs face slowly crumbled into despair.
Jasper pondered how his boss could ever win back Alyssa with the current approach.
Jasper sighed heavily in his seat. He was actually considering Xavierâs suggestion to let Alyssa win this round.
But he had never won anything involving Alyssa ever since their divorce. She seemed to be leagues above him, shattering his entire plans in seconds, as if by divine intervention.
He realized how different Alyssa was now compared to that gentle, demure woman who used to be his wife. Her intelligence, beauty, and grace seemed to be setting them apart for good.
That was why Jasper needed to win. It was one of the only ways he knew to reduce the wide gap between them.
Landon had to leave for ACE for a client meeting later that night, leaving only his mother and sister at home.
Zoe went to her motherâs room, nuzzling into her motherâs arms before sleep.
Penelope recalled what had transpired during dinner and told her daughter, âYouâve scared off Jasper with your enthusiasm, Zoe. It might be best to turn it down a notch.â
Penelope sighed. âYouâre not ten anymore, and heâs not just your âbrotherâ to play around with any longer.
âHeâs the CEO of his familyâs company now, which puts him in a critical position where no mistakes can be made. The way you interacted with him earlier today might not be appropriate. I think it-â
âMom.â Zoe sat up, meeting her motherâs gaze. âI wasnât playing around earlier, and I donât think of him as just a playmate anymore.â
âWhat do you mean?â
âWhy do you think I refused the dream offer from RYO? Iâm back in Solana City because I want to marry Jasper and be his wife.â
âWhat?â Penelope cried, sitting up in shock. âAre you crazy? Heâs like a brother to you!â
âYes, but heâs not my actual brother!â Zoe said excitedly. âIâve waited so long for him to finally end things with that Gardner chick. Now that theyâre over, I finally get my chance.â
Penelope was concerned for her daughter, who was deep in her merry fantasies.
âWhat is it, Mom? Donât you want us to be together?â Zoe asked, shaking her motherâs hand.
âNo, no. Itâs just that Jasper is a wonderful man, but heâs not a good choice for marriage. Not only was he involved with Liana Gardner, but I heard from your brother that he was even married once.
âYouâre too naive, Zoe. Jasper has a complicated past. Iâm so worried youâll find yourself unhappy and suffer if you marry him!â
Zoe sneered internally. She considered herself far from naive; in fact, Betty Beckett seemed to be the one who fit that description better.
If Zoe married into Jasperâs family, she would make sure those women cowered under her. Her mother truly underestimated her.
âIâm Zoe Harper, Mom. Our family is just as reputable as theirs. Plus, with you and Landon doting on me so much, they wouldnât dare to lay a hand on me.â
âBut this is a two-way transaction, Zoe. You still need Jasper to want to marry you!â
Zoe grinned. âMy winning chances are already higher than most because of you and Landon around. If I can prove to Jasper that Iâm no longer the child I used to be and that Iâm fit to stand beside him, helping him out, Iâm sure heâll see me for who I am!â
âBut-â
âNo buts! Iâm marrying Jasper and no one else!â