Chapter 38
“F**k! Have you lost your fucking mind, Jasper?” Landon’s eyes bulged.
Alyssa looked ashen. Her arm fell to her side limply, and cold sweat beaded over her forehead. He and Jasper were exact opposites–he treated women gently while Jasper was too harsh with them!
Jasper clenched the hand that had grabbed Alyssa’s arm. His lips parted as he stepped back, looking stunned.
“Ms. White, your arm’s dislocated! I’ll take you to the hospital right now!” Landon said anxiously. He moved to help her, but she dodged
him. “No, thanks. I’ll deal with this myself.”
“How are you going to do that? You have a dislocated arm!”
“It’s none of your business!” Alyssa was genuinely angry now. She glared at him, her hackles raised. Landon was stunned. He didn’t dare
move.
Jasper stared at her. She was his ex–wife, but he felt like he’d never really known her. Throughout the three years of their marriage, he’d
only seen her smile and laugh. She’d always been gentle, obedient, and even a little ingratiating.
Back then, he was disappointed and resentful because of the forced marriage. The more she smiled at him, the angrier he felt. Toward the
end, he felt hatred for her.
Now that they had separated, that smiling face had disappeared from his life. But why did he find her so much more alive and spirited when she treated him with anger and resentment?
“Jasper, stop thinking so highly of yourself…” Alyssa gasped with pain. Her eyes were red. “I didn’t get a job because I wanted to
humiliate you or anything. I only wanted to find a way out after you inevitably abandoned me.
“I don’t know why you keep stopping me from moving on. Didn’t you turn and move on with someone else after ending our marriage? Are you still hung up on me? No, that can’t be. You don’t have the heart for that. You just don’t want to see me doing well.”
Jasper felt like something was smothering him. He couldn’t say a word. His silence made Alyssa’s heart sink.
She smiled mockingly. “Are you waiting to see me down in the dumps without you? That’s not going to happen anymore. I’ve lived like that for the past three years, and I’ve had enough. Leaving you isn’t a continuation of my tragic life. It’s a release. Leave me alone from now
until Grandpa’s birthday. I don’t want to see you anymore.”
Alyssa turned away. The pain coming from her arm was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. She was already numb from it.
The dislocated arm wasn’t an issue. She could just fix it before their very eyes. She didn’t want to do anything about it, though. Alyssa wanted to stay in this messy state and put herself through as much pain as possible. Then, she could reach a state of release.
Suddenly, something warm pressed against the back of her waist. Her world was flipped on end. Jasper had slipped behind her and swept her into his arms! “P–Put me down!” Her cheeks warmed as she struggled.
But the harder she struggled, the tighter Jasper’s hold became. He pressed her to his broad chest and made her stop. She could feel his chest rising and falling. She could even smell his cologne.
For some reason, she felt like crying. How many nights had she spent alone? She’d sprayed his cologne on the bed and fallen asleep while smelling it. Back then, she’d willingly done these things. Now that she looked back, she only felt aggrieved.
“I’m taking you to the hospital. A dislocated arm is no laughing matter.” Jasper’s face was devoid of emotion, but his eyes darkened.
“Let me go, Jasper! You couldn’t care less about me when we were married. Now that we’re divorced, you have no right to touch me!” Alyssa was angry and embarrassed. Her voice turned hoarse.
Jasper ignored her. He clenched his jaw and headed out of the restaurant.