**Chapter 8** “Liana? Are you alright?” The concern in Sophia's voice hung in the air, tangled with barely contained laughter. The scene was too dramatic to ignore. Jasper hastily approached Liana, who was sprawled on the ground, but she stubbornly resisted his help. “Jasper, it hurts! Carry me!” Liana's voice was laced with feigned agony, her knees aching with the impact of the fall. Tears pooled in her eyes as she whimpered, clearly savoring the attention. Alyssa stood nearby, arms crossed, observing the spectacle with a smirk. Liana, in her fragile act, was nothing more than a masquerade. How perfectly she suited Jasper, blind to the schemes surrounding him. “Jasper… Alice pushed me!” Liana nestled against him, throwing a fierce glare at Alyssa, her expression a storm of indignation. “What are you talking about, Lia?” Jasper's brow furrowed in confusion, genuinely perplexed. “Are you saying I didn’t push you?” Alyssa asked, amusement dancing in her blue eyes. “That’s quite a claim.” “Could I have fallen on my own?” Liana's gentle tone escalated into a shrill pitch, fury radiating from her every syllable. “It’s quite possible. You seem so feeble that a mere gust could send you tumbling,” Alyssa replied coolly, her sarcasm cutting deep. “You… are you cursing me?” Liana’s face blazed with anger. “You clearly pushed me while I was walking over. Admit it!” “Ms. Gardner, we live in a society governed by law. Surveillance cameras are everywhere, so your baseless accusations won’t stand.” Alyssa’s demeanor shifted; her gaze sharpened, casting an oppressive chill. “Should I find evidence, I can easily counter your slander.” Jasper watched in astonishment as Alyssa transformed before his eyes, no longer the meek wife he had taken for granted, waiting for him to return from the shadows. Liana, sensing her defeat, turned desperately to Sophia for aid. “This is all a misunderstanding!” Sophia sneaked a glance at the nearby camera, aware of the mounting tension, and attempted to patch the rift. “Liana must have tripped and brushed past Alice by accident. It’s simply mistaken perception.” “Did you actually trip, Lia?” Jasper’s voice was void of sympathy, merely curious. “I… I thought she pushed me…” Liana stammered, but panic clouded her mind as Jasper’s face darkened. “If she hadn’t dodged, I wouldn’t have fallen! She did it deliberately. Look, my emerald bracelet is broken! That was a treasured heirloom from my grandmother! It wouldn’t have shattered if it weren’t for her. Ms. White, I know you’re upset about your divorce from Jasper, but don’t take it out on me! It’s not my fault!” Tears streamed down Liana’s cheeks, a perfect touch of theatrics. “First of all, I’m not angry. On the contrary, I should thank you for liberating me from my torment.” Alyssa lifted her chin defiantly, savoring the moment. “I’m no longer the sorrowful wife waiting from dusk till dawn.” “From dusk till dawn?” Jasper echoed internally, the shock evident in his features. “Secondly, if that’s your heirloom, you should actually thank me.” Alyssa picked up a fragment of the shattered emerald, holding it up to the light. “It’s a counterfeit.” Liana’s jaw dropped, the shock palpable. “What?” “The center of this ‘emerald’ has been filled with gum. You’d be better off without it, as wearing it long-term can leach harmful chemicals into your bloodstream,” Alyssa stated, casting the broken piece into the trash like a discarded memory. The beautiful emerald bracelet that once symbolized status and sentiment now served as the ultimate mockery. “Mr. Jasper, isn’t it your duty to gift your girlfriend decent jewelry?” Alyssa teased, her tone equal parts playful and biting. “Alice White,” Jasper warned, his brow furrowing deeper. “There are some real emeralds among my things in the Becketts’ residence. If you’re interested, you’re welcome to transform them into something more fitting,” Alyssa said, brushing off the remnants of the encounter as if they were nothing more than specks of dust. Frustration bubbled within Liana at Alyssa’s audacity. “This woman is mocking me!” She opened her mouth to retaliate, but Alyssa had already turned her back, retreating from the scene, eager to leave the chaotic atmosphere behind. Once outside the hospital, Alyssa couldn’t suppress her laughter as the absurdity of Liana’s situation washed over her. “Alice White,” a voice called, and she turned at the sound of Jasper’s captivating timbre. A gentle breeze lifted her hair, enhancing the illusion of innocence wrapped around her. “Is there something I can assist you with, Mr. Beckett?” she replied, her demeanor cooling instantly. “If Ms. Gardner is still distraught about her bracelet, I’ll ensure she receives a replacement tomorrow.” “In the ward, you told Grandpa—” “Oh, that?” Alyssa interjected, waving it off casually. “I merely wished to spare him any distress.” At the mention of Newton, warmth crept back into her gaze. “We’re even now.” His bewilderment was evident. “You deceived your way into our marriage. ‘Even’ doesn’t seem fair.” “I won’t divulge the truth to either Grandpa or the Becketts,” he added solemnly, his expression darkening. Her heart raced. Could she deny it? The very thought sent a chill through her. “However,” he continued, now encroaching upon her personal space, “I must know why you adopted a false identity to marry me. No, let me rephrase that: What were you trying to achieve by cloaking yourself in a lie to be near Grandpa?” A wave of pain washed over Alyssa, forcing her to withdraw, unaware of the step behind her. She stumbled backward, teetering on the brink of falling. But before she could meet the ground, a reassuring grip seized her waist as Jasper caught her just in time. They locked eyes, warmth flooding her cheeks while his breath hitched. Even after all these years, Jasper’s exquisite features still felt like a gift from fate. Thirteen years prior, the stormy night he had rescued her remained etched in her memory; she wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for him. Yet that same man had plunged her into a torment she thought she’d never escape. Jasper, holding her tight, steadied them both. “Thank you,” she whispered, barely audible. “Now, answer my question,” Jasper pressed, his tone softer but unyielding. “I’m no longer your wife. I have no obligation to share anything with you,” Alyssa snapped, a sarcastic edge creeping into her voice. With a swift turn, she attempted to storm off. “If we’re even, why hold onto me? I never harmed you during our three years together, did I?” Suddenly, Jasper tightened his grip on her arm, a flash of frustration igniting in his eyes. “We’re not officially divorced. You remain my wife in the eyes of the law, and you owe me the truth!” “I can’t!” Alyssa shot back, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Mr. Jasper, you constantly speak of responsibility—have you ever upheld your duties as a husband during those three years? Why should I owe you anything in the name of being your wife?” “Alice White, don’t think I won’t find other ways to confront you!” he declared, pulling her closer, their breaths tangling in a tense standoff. Jasper was typically composed, but Alyssa’s departure stirred a tempest within him. “Go ahead and investigate me! What do you hope to uncover by asking?” she spat, breaking free from his embrace and turning away, determined to leave him behind. He watched her retreating form, his thoughts spiraling. Her red lips and towering heels lingered in his memory, a vision tinged with sadness, rage, and a hint of longing. Why had she changed so drastically? Was it all to attract Jonah? “How could someone so wicked captivate my grandfather?” Jasper thought bitterly. “Mr. Jasper, Ms. Gardner has twisted her ankle and is in tears, asking for you!” Xavier rushed in, panting as he relayed the news. But as if summoned by fate, the roar of a powerful engine broke through the air. “T-That’s Madam Alice!” Jasper exclaimed, his heart racing as he caught sight of his ex-wife tearing past him in a sleek, limited-edition Bugatti. “So, she’s been hiding her wealth all this time!” Xavier gawked in disbelief. A storm brewed within Jasper, his fists clenching tightly. “Go after her!” he commanded, determination coursing through him like wildfire.