Can’t Win Me Back

Jasper grappled with heartache. The contrast between his tall figure and his helpless demeanor made him the more pitiful.

Axel shot up from the bed and grabbed Jasper's collar. Fixing a piercing gaze on Jasper, he bellowed, "What have you done to my sister? Did you force her into BDSM?"

"No..."

"Why is she bruised all over? Fuck! You should've been the sub even in BDSM!" Axel's grip inadvertently tore one of Jasper's buttons loose. Their faces were mere inches apart.

Axel continued, "We raised Lyse like she was our daughter. She is precious to us. Nothing good has happened to her ever since she dated you. How dare you mistreat her in such a way?

“You may appear a gentleman on the surface, but your behavior in the bedroom is nothing short of savage. You should consider her feelings in the bedroom! How could you hurt her to satisfy your needs?

"Stay there. I'm getting that housekeeper of yours to check the injuries on Lyse's body, and I'll double that on yours."

Axel was visibly furious this time. His concern for Alyssa manifested in an outpouring of emotion, panic, and profanity.

"Axel..." Alyssa struggled to open her eyes.

“I'm here!" Axel shoved Jasper aside, crouching by the bed to feel her forehead. His own brow was dotted with sweat from all the worrying. He remarked, "Your forehead is too hot to the touch. I could fry an egg on it!"

“You're being annoying,” she managed to say weakly, mustering the energy to flick him on the head. “I'm a patient in need of rest. Are you... deliberately trying... to disturb me?"

bedroom with an aspirin and a glass of

over 100°F. "Good heavens! You can kill cancerous cells at that temperature! How are

causing him to stumble. "Mr. Beckett, you're an idiot! At this temperature, we should be getting her to a hospital, not an aspirin, or

beloved over his ridiculous possessiveness. He and Rosie hurriedly changed her clothes

Rosie helped her put on a jacket, and Jasper helped

to carry her in his arms,

on my back.”

merely wished to spare

lips in bitterness. "When young Lyse was sick, her brothers took turns carrying her to the hospital. If she fell ill at night, each of us took our turn

think you love and dote on her, but you pale in comparison to what we've

seemed exaggerated, they came from a place of genuine concern

fist when Axel carried Alyssa out of

He's always been clumsy and struggles to assert himself in front of you and others. He just panics." She tugged at Axel's shirt, pleading, "Don't be too hard on him. I know he didn't

to be overly kind to men, or they'll take advantage!" Despite his simmering anger, Axel

because he tasted happiness for the first time with me. Stop blaming him, okay?" Consumed by guilt, Jasper battled his emotions, feeling overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy. Alyssa's understanding only intensified his feelings

"Do you still

chest, her words punctuated by the rhythm of his anxious breaths, "It's just a fever, darling. No need to fret. Just a