Alyssa's heart raced as she peered at the name flashing on Jonah's phone screen. Each letter seemed to burn her eyes. “Should I answer it?” Jonah inquired, his voice low but steady, as if bracing for impact. “Yes!” she urged, the urgency palpable in her tone. With a deliberate slowness, Jonah answered the call, placing it on speaker. His hesitation only heightened the tension in the air. “Mr. Jonah, are you with my wife?” Jasper’s voice came through, hoarse and demanding, sending a tremor through Alyssa. Her fury ignited like a match to dry grass. “Mr. Jasper, please mind your words. I am your ex-wife.” “Alice White, I suspected you’d be with him.” Jasper’s tone was laced with a mix of accusation and bitterness. “Should I expect to find you waiting at home to be tossed out on the street?” His words sliced through the air, and she could almost feel the weight of them. “You don’t get to lecture me on respect. You took Liana Gardner to Seaview Manor, pushed me to sign those papers. Did you think about my reputation then?!” Alyssa spat back, rage and indignation fueling her fire. “One-sided courtesy means nothing. Since you don’t care about mine, why should I care about the Becketts’? I relinquished my title as president’s wife for Liana. You should ask her how that went down.” As Jonah sipped his tea, an intrigued eyebrow raised, he found himself witnessing the real Alyssa emerge. The meek, compliant image that had always suffered at the hands of the Becketts was but a clever façade. This was the woman he admired: fierce and unyielding, unafraid to stand her ground. A tired resignation coated Jasper’s voice as he spoke again, “I don't have time to bicker with you. Grandpa's health is declining. He’s in the hospital, and he’s been asking for you. He won’t take his medications if you’re not here.” Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest at his words. Despite their divorce, old Mr. Beckett had always shown her kindness. She could let go of all the material wealth but could never abandon the memory of that lovable old man. “He’s at Taylor Group Hospital, right? I’ll head there now.” With a gentle tone, Jonah offered, “Lyse, I’ll drive you.” “It’s alright. It’s just a visit for Grandpa. I’d rather not stir up any unnecessary conflict. I can drive myself,” she replied, waving him off. At the hospital, Alyssa spotted Jasper and Xavier standing outside Newton’s ward. Approaching them, she couldn’t help but notice how much thinner Jasper had grown. “Why should I care?” she thought. “His weight loss has nothing to do with me. He can do as he pleases!” As her heels clicked with purpose, both men glanced up, their expressions shifting from surprise to disbelief. Jasper could hardly recognize the woman who had shared his life for three years. “Xavier, how is Grandpa?” Alyssa asked, her voice directed toward the other man, deliberately avoiding Jasper's gaze. “M-Madam Alice, is that really you?” Xavier stammered, astonishment flooding his face. The woman before him exuded a confident allure, her striking red lipstick and tailored black suit accentuating her figure, the ruby butterfly brooch glimmering like a beacon. Alyssa was taken aback herself, suddenly all too aware of her appearance. In her rush, she had forgotten to don her usual comfortable sneakers and had instead transformed back into the assertive woman she had now become, shedding the meekness of Alice White. “It’s truly me. Do you like my new look?” she teased lightly, the smile hinting at her newfound independence. “You look stunning! So much more confident, too!” Xavier gushed, his sincerity disarming. “Perhaps it’s the divorce,” Alyssa replied, a playful glint in her eye. “Having finally stepped into the light again, I find myself much happier.” The shadow of discontent crossed Jasper's face as he interjected, “If you were so unhappy, why did you endure three years? I repeatedly told you that you could walk away anytime. We weren’t destined to remain prisoners of this marriage." His words stirred a deep ache within her. Memory flooded back—her devotion to this cold, proud man who had remained indifferent to her sacrifices had come at a steep price. “I was keeping a promise to Grandpa. I adhered to it. But you’re free now. Feel free to bring any woman home. No need to sneak meetings with your lover.” Alyssa's venomous words hung in the air, making Jasper’s silence even more profound. Something had shifted; with their divorce now a reality, her sharp tongue and unrestrained spirit had emerged, much to his surprise. “Jasper!” Alyssa turned at the sound of Liana’s voice, approaching with Sophia in tow. Upon spotting Alyssa, a flash of hostility flickered across Liana's face before it morphed into an innocent smile, all too practiced. “What are you doing here?” Jasper asked, bewilderment coloring his features. Before he could grasp the situation any further, Liana flung herself into his arms, wrapping her delicate fingers around his waist. “Jasper, why didn’t you tell me about the hospital? Do you even see me as your girlfriend?” she pouted. “Jasper, you should know how worried Liana was! She actually became so anxious that she vomited,” Sophia chimed in, her tone laced with concern for her niece. “What? What happened?” Jasper asked, his brow furrowing with concern. “She has a history of gastric issues; they flare up when she’s stressed. It’s a nuisance and never seems to fully go away,” Sophia sighed. “I’ll find a proper doctor for her. If the local ones can’t help, I’ll take her abroad to find one that can,” Jasper replied gently, his arm still protectively around Liana’s waist. Alyssa’s heart twisted as memories washed over her. She recalled her own suffering, the times she desperately needed him, yet he’d offered not a single word of concern. Now, witnessing Jasper’s tenderness toward Liana, she realized the depth of his affection had never been about her; she had never been worthy enough. With Liana nestled against Jasper, the younger woman shot Alyssa a malicious smile, her jealousy glaring. “Wait! When did she become so stunning? That brooch—it's the latest from designer Alexa! Worth five million! How could a country girl like her afford it? It must be a fake,” Liana thought bitterly. “Jasper, let Liana accompany you to see Grandpa. She was beside herself with worry on the way here,” Sophia suggested, her enthusiasm overshadowing Alyssa’s presence as if she were invisible after three long years of dedication. Indifferent, Alyssa remained unaffected. Why should she care for them? At that moment, Newton's secretary emerged from the ward, breaking the tension. “Mr. Beckett has requested his granddaughter-in-law. Is she here?” Liana shot Alyssa an envious glare, and with a determined resolve, Alyssa stepped forward. “Ben, I’m here.” Titles no longer mattered; her concern for Grandpa took precedence. “Madam Alice,” Ben greeted respectfully, gesturing her inside. “Mr. Beckett has asked for both you and Mr. Jasper.” Alyssa nodded and entered the ward, leaving Jasper to follow silently behind her. “Jasper, wait for me,” Liana exclaimed anxiously, but Ben blocked her path. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Beckett specifically requested not to see anyone else apart from his grandson and granddaughter-in-law. Please, you must leave.” As the door closed behind Alyssa, the fragile balance of their lives hung in the air, each choice echoing the untold stories of the hearts entwined—ones that refused to be easily forgotten.