Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"Your Highness?" Liam's eyes brightened as he caught sight of the slightly naïve yet endearing face that had suddenly appeared before everyone. His heart raced, and he blinked hard, realizing that what he saw was real.

Yuliana bit her lip lightly, quickly glancing at Liam before looking away as if it had never happened. Liam had been the one who insisted they return to their previous relationship. Yet now, seeing Yuliana genuinely moving on, seemingly indifferent to him, he felt as though his heart was being pierced, the pain unbearable.

"Miley, why did you bring Her Highness here?" Jonah went up to them immediately.

Miley's eyes twinkled. "Her Highness cover to help us out." At that, everyone gathered around her.

Breathing heavily, Jasper urgently queried, "Your Highness, can you help us?" "I heard that Lyse has gone missing after being abducted by Kontina's master of all evil, Jameson." Yuliana's eyes were still swollen, and her gentle voice choked with emotion-she had clearly been crying. "I was so worried... So, I asked my father to use the royal family's resources to help search for Lyse within our borders." Liam's heart skipped a beat. "Yules..." Jasper, Jonah, and the others were deeply moved. They weren't closely acquainted with Yuliana, having only interacted with her briefly during Landon and Lauren's wedding. Yet, here she was, willing to help. Regardless of the oue, they were incredibly grateful for her kindness.

Yuliana sniffled, her nose reddened, and she secretly glanced at Liam. "My father has agreed to assist with the search for Lyse!" Everyone gasped in elation. They had been worried about securing the royal family's approval to mobilize military forces. In an instant, the most challenging obstacle was removed.

"But my father has a condition," Yuliana uttered hesitantly.

With a fiery gaze in his eyes, Jasper unhesitantly responded, "I will agree to whatever condition he has, even at the cost of my life." Yuliana paused before stepping closer to Jonah, lifting her gaze to meet his dark eyes. "My father wants to see you at the palace, Mr. Jonah." Everyone was stunned, their eyes shifting to Jonah.

Jonah frowned. "He wants to see me? Why?" Yuliana shook her head. "I don't know. He wants you at the palace first thing tomorrow morning. If you agree to meet him, he'll authorize the military search for Lyse. That's his only condition." With a serious expression, Jonah pushed all concerns aside. "Okay. I'll go to the palace tomorrow." On Rose Island, the blazing afternoon sun was finally setting. A helper changed Alyssa into a fiery red, backless dress. As she sat in a wheelchair, Jameson pushed her to view their wedding venue regardless of her wishes.

More than ten helpers were still busy refurbishing the rose garden, working tirelessly toplete the decorations so that Jameson and Alyssa could have their wedding there.

From that moment on, a beautiful woman would be the lady of this secluded island.

Alyssa silently surveyed the dazzling rose garden. Fragrant, brightly-colored roses surrounded the fountain with a goddess statue, glowing under the fiery sunset.

She loved red and roses, but the fairytale-like scene before her brought no joy. Instead, it felt like she was staring at a chilling, gloomy gravesite.

Jameson stepped into the middle of the rose garden, carefully selecting the brightest roses. With joy in his eyes, he ran back to her side. His charm, elegance, and the bright look on his face made him appear youthful and innocent, with no trace of wickedness. Just by looking at him, one could never associate him with murder, abuse, or any of the bloodiest crimes. "Lyse." Jameson was sweating, his breathing uneven. He got down on one knee and presented the bouquet of red roses to Alyssa. She lowered her gaze to his hands, dirtied and bloodied by the thorns.

The darkness in her eyes was like a dried-up well-lifeless and unmoving.

Tears welled up in Jameson's eyes, his voice hoarse from the emotions surging within him. "Will you marry me?" Alyssa forced herself to suppress et the nausea rising in her stomach. She stared at him coldly, saying nothing, Silence was all she could manage. If she spoke, she would hurl insults at him, each one a knife stabbing his heart. But she had to hold back. Of course, she didn't want to marry this madman. But more than that, she feared etting Jasper entirely.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take your silence as acceptance." Jameson smiled, his eyes brimming with the bliss of a groom-to-be. He was like a madman, deceiving everyone, including himself.

He set the roses down and pulled a red velvet box from his breast pocket. Inside was a pear-shaped, red diamond wedding ring, at least ten carats. With trembling hands, he slipped the ring slowly onto Alyssa's limp left hand. Alyssa choked back tears, a lump forming in her throat. A proposal, a diamond ring, a wedding... She had wanted to save all these firsts for Jasper. But now, Jameson was stealing them, claiming them bit by bit.

At this moment, she was consumed by regret. She regretted not marrying Jasper sooner, even if it had been a simple wedding with a small diamond ring. If she had experienced that, she would have had no regrets in life.

She had always believed that she and Jasper had all the tin the world. But fate was unpredictable. One could never know what the next day would bring or when disaster would strike.

Jameson stood and pulled a trembling Alyssa into an embrace. Just as he was about to kiss her, a pebble rolled to his feet, disrupting the romantic atmosphere. Jameson's gaze turned cold.

Unbeknownst to him, Remy had appeared, leaning against a stone pillar a short distance away, watching them expressionlessly.