Can’t Win Me Back

Jasper remained silent.

His hands balled into tight fists at his sides, trembling ever so lightly as a dark expression settled over his face.

After amoment of silence, Justin offered a casual smile, ignoring the tension on Jasper's face as he moved past him.

"Justin, I've always respected you since I was young." Jasper's voice broke the silence, hoarse and strained, with his back turned to Justin.

“There are things I can compromise on, but some matters, I can't." Justin, his back still facing Jasper, narrowed his eyes and asked, " Such as?" "My need to see her now." A fierce determination lit Jasper's darkened eyes.

"Justin, I won't deny your feelings for her.

It's none of my business.

But you have no right to stop me from seeing her either.

"If you and Ms.

Alyssa are officially together, I'll never go near her again.

You won't even need to say a word.

I'll give you both my blessings and wish you a happy life together." As Jasper said "happy life", his throat tightened, and a bitter taste of bile rose at the back of his mouth.

Still, he continued, "But as long as she's not yours, we're equals in her eyes.

see her,

I'm sorry." The darkness in Justin's eyes hid any trace of emotion on his

for her? You haven't let go, have you?" A lump rose

marked by a

—how have I treated you since we were kids?" "You've treated me

of warmth shared with Justin, four years his senior, a

Jasper first entered the Beckett family, his life seemed bleak, as he was met with disdain

standing by him when the household staff mistreated him and offering him a sense of

was also the one who had put his own life

the one sitting in

can see, I'll be bound to this wheelchair for the rest

the medications are the permanent part of it too, just to keep me going."

I don't deserve

Alyssa.

to spend time with me

all humans have

being overseas and away from home on my own for so

if my life is just

crave the companionship of someone |

married, start a family, and have a happy and fulfilling relationship."

from the world, longed for a family? And the

Jasper's chest tightened.

at the orphanage, where Alyssa and Justin had shared a smile in the snow -covered courtyard, their eyes filled with