Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"But I just love him... I can't stop myself from loving him," Jonah said.

Alyssa blinked hard to stop herself from crying. Many a time, Julien was like the male version of herself. At the same time, Jonah's love for Julien was just like how Jasper used to love her. How could he be so affectionate and tolerant if he wasn't in love with him to the core?

"Lyse... I was wrong. I've made a grave mistake." Jonah's broad shoulders trembled violently. "It was true that I was attracted by Julien's looks. However, what I love is his soul.

"At the same time, I was afraid of Julien leaving me because of my past with Blake... So, I didn't dare to be honest with him. I was too embarrassed to tell him the truth. I wanted to give him a perfect relationship.

"I was wrong... If I had known... If I had known that it would turn out like this..."

Jonah choked back his tears and couldn't bring himself to continue speaking. The thorns on that stalk of rose that he was clutching tightly onto pierced into his palm.

Alyssa kept her cool. In a soft voice, she asked, "Jonah, you received a call before you came here. Who called you?"

"Uri Holland... He's an older guy whom Blake met when he was at the orphanage. They were as close as blood brothers. Both of them were my core subordinates when I was leading Cloudtop."

"Has this person always been pestering you in secret?"

Jonah shook his head. "He has never shown up ever since I disbanded Cloudtop after Blake's passing."

Alyssa frowned. A suspicion rose within her. "Of all times, he chose to wait till today? All just because he can give you an 'unforgettable' birthday?"

The more she thought about it, the more bizarre it felt.

When Jonah and Julien's relationship was revealed back then, it caused an uproar and even became a trending topic on Twitter.

Uri had probably already found out that Jonah found a lover who looked incredibly similar to his younger brother. He endured silently for a whole year and didn't take any action. Of all times, he put in so much effort to have an outburst at this time? Was it all so that he could avenge his dead younger brother?

Alyssa kept getting the feeling that this wasn't such a simple matter.

"Jonah, let's talk in detail later on. You're hurt. Let me take you to the hospital."

Alyssa went forward to help Jonah up. Nevertheless, having just recovered from a major affliction herself, she wasn't strong enough physically to help the strong-bodied Jonah up.

"Lyse... I want Julien."

Jonah's eyes filled with tears. Even though the pain in his left eye was so intense that he couldn't keep that eye open, he gazed at Alyssa. "I don't love anyone else... Julien is the only one I love. I want him to come back..."

"Jonah, let's go to the hospital now!" Alyssa's heart wrenched at the sight of the wound on his face. "I'll talk to Jul. He loves you too. I'm sure he can't bear to leave you either!"

...

Jonah insisted on going with Alyssa to see Julien, but she forbade him from doing so.

For one, she was worried about Jonah's eye injury. Secondly, under a circumstance like this, it wasn't the right time for them to meet. They each needed time to cool down Otherwise, they would just be making the situation worse.

Sean accompanied Jonah to the hospital while Alyssa tried to contact Julien, albeit to no avail.

Solana City was massive. Even if she sent people to look for him, it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. More than that, she was worried about Julien doing something foolish. Out of desperation, she contacted Axel.

An hour later, Axel got back to her. "Dr. Lovelace is in the departure hall at Solana City International Airport. He purchased a red-eye flight to Mosgravia, and the flight willbe taking off in an hour's time!

Wasting no time, Alyssa drove her sports car and sped toward the airport.

The night was cold and dark. Even with the high beam, her visibility was not as great as it was during the day. Moreover, the recent snowfall meant that the road conditions

weren't ideal and speeding became

extremely dangerous.

However, Alyssa didn't have the time to think of all these. For Jonah's sake, she had to stop Julien from leaving tonight no matter what!

Alyssa's heart pounded against her chest as she sped up to 110 miles per hour, or perhaps even higher, on the empty freeway.

Her driving skills were superb. Even if the road conditions weren't great, she was confident that she would be able to get to the airport before the plane took off.

She mumbled softly, "Jul, don't go... Don't leave us!"

Her chest was in a knot as she rubbed her moistened and swollen eyes.

All of a sudden, a beam of white light flashed from behind her.

Feeling confused, she looked into the rearview mirror. Nonetheless, all she saw was the freeway with no end. There was nothing else there.

At this very moment, a black vehicle came at her suddenly from her right, closing in on her from the side.

Alyssa widened her eyes in shock. Immediately, she turned the steering wheel.

Bang!