Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Maggie finally regained consciousness the next afternoon. She found Gina and Xavier waiting by her bed. Feeling touched, she
wrapped Gina in an embrace. The mother and daughter cried and cried after the close brush with death yesterday.
Xavier thought he must be feeling emotional because he was getting old. He shed a few tears but quickly wiped them away. As
an uncle figure to Maggie, he resolved to keep a tough exterior.
"Mom, I won't change my mind no matter what you say." Maggie gently wiped away Gina's tears with a look of determination. "I
have decided to testify in court. No one could help me if I don't fight for myself; not even Ms. Alyssa and Mr. Beckett."
Sobbing, Gina confessed, "Maggie, I... I feel so bad for you."
"Mom, do not stop me from testifying if you feel bad for me. I'm doing this to seek justice on behalf of the victims of David
Schmidt."
Xavier's eyes wavered upon hearing Maggie's declaration. His heart pounding, he found that Maggie seemed to have grown up
overnight. He even saw Alyssa in Maggie's staunch gaze.
"Maggie, it's all my fault. I was being silly." Nodding firmly, Gina hugged her daughter tightly. "I will respect your decision."
When Xavier was about to sneak out of the room, Maggie suddenly put on a smile and introduced him to Gina, "Mom, this is
Xavier Hall. He's Mr. Beckett's secretary. He was the one who risked his life to save me yesterday. He's my savior."
"Thank you! Thank you so much, good sir!" Gina shed tears of gratitude.
Scratching his head sheepishly, Xavier blushed. "Gosh, just call me Xavier."

"Mom, I'll have to trouble you to get the fabric and my sewing kit from home." Maggie cast a shy glance at Xavier and pressed
her lips. "I'm bored at the hospital, so. I wanted to sew a bag for Xavier like I've promised. I don't want to keep him waiting."
Xavier breathed ruggedly, and his heart pounded wildly. "I-It's fine, Ms. Madison! You should focus on your recovery. Don't
bother!"
Maggie chuckled and shook her head. Her bright eyes shimmered in tears. "It's just handicraft. It won't take up much energy.
Xavier, I know you have everything in life. I have nothing good to offer you. So, I hope you don't mind this little token of
gratitude."
In the lounge next door, Alyssa and Jasper sat side by side on the couch. Alyssa was eating while Jasper was busy working on
the laptop.
"Mm. Jasper, take a break and eat." She handed him a piece of cut grilled chicken on a fork. "The lunchboxes sold around the
hospital are pretty good."
Still staring at the screen, Jasper leaned toward her but continued typing. He took a bite of the chicken and slowly munched on it.
Alyssa's eyes traveled from his moist lips to his Adam's apple, and finally to his long and thick lashes. How could he look so sexy
just eating grilled chicken?
"Hm. It's greasy," Jasper remarked with a furrow of the brows.
"Just be thankful that you have food to eat. This restaurant is highly rated, so you're just being picky." She devoured the grilled
chicken.

Jasper found Alyssa adorable. Alyssa was never fussy and acclimated well to any type of challenging environment. He felt at
home whenever he was with her.
Enveloped in a warm sensation, the affection in his eyes deepened. He gave her a sudden kiss on her greasy lips. She blinked,
feeling a jolt through her body, and grumbled, "Ah! I haven't wiped my lips clean. Don't you find it gross?"
"No, 'cause I love you." He inched closer until his face was right in front of hers. It was as if he'd fight her for the grilled chicken.
"I'll make some for you when we're home. My grilled chicken tastes better than this."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and purred, "Sure. Looking forward to tasting it. Just don't burn it."
They had their lunch while flirting with each other. A thought struck Alyssa, causing her to smile. "Xavier seems very concerned
about Maggie. Could he be."
"No, that's not right." Frowning, Jasper shook his head.
"Why? Can't your secretary date?" She squinted at him and placed an elbow on his broad shoulder.
"He can date alright. I'm just worried for Maggie. Isn't she taking college entrance exams this year? She needs to focus on her
studies." Jasper lovingly placed his fingers under her chin with a worried look as if he was a parent. "Besides, they first met a few
days ago. They can't possibly develop feelings for each other. I don't believe in love at first sight."
"Oh, you don't?" Her warm breath tickled the sculpted tip of his nose. "But you fell for me at first sight."
"Lyse, you first met me at Crater Mountain Park when you were 11, right?" He smiled at her.
"Yeah. I fell for you when I was 11, and I pursued you." Alyssa did not conceal her feelings for him, a tender gaze forming in her
eyes.
Seeing that, Jasper was overcome by bitterness and guilt. He teared up.
It didn't matter which of them fell in love first as long as they both ended up with each other. Still, her words made him feel so
guilty that he couldn't raise his head.
They were interrupted by an incoming call to Alyssa's phone. She hurriedly picked up the call from Cyrus. "Cyrus, how was it?
Has anything come out of the investigation?"

"The man has admitted to guilt. We looked into his background and learned that he was once a thug who worked for David
Schmidt."
Alyssa and Jasper looked stunned. "Who? David Schmidt?"