"Jeffrey, surrender yourself." Jasper kept it short and simple. The look on his face was glacial. At that moment, the flow of blood from his injured left shoulder echoed in his ears. His breaths were shallow, and he had little energy left to spare on Jeffrey.The few assassins burst out in laughter. "Sure, Mr. Beckett. I'm here, right in front of you. Come and arrest me," Jeffrey taunted as he cocked his head to the side. His expression gradually became more sinister. "But, do you still have the energy left to do so? Shouldn't you remove the bullet on your left shoulder?" he questioned. Jasper clenched his teeth, maintaining the same look on his face. "If you delay it any longer, you might lose your left arm. Don't say that I didn't warn you." Before Jeffrey could continue, Jasper raised his hand and pointed the black nozzle at him.The assassins reacted swiftly by lifting their guns and aiming at Jasper!Both parties were ready to fire at any moment. The atmosphere ar
Jasper's death would be sufficient for Jeffrey to exact his revenge. However, if captured alive, he would serve as their cash cow!Jasper thought this was an ideal opportunity. It was great news. Jeffrey's greed was a golden opportunity for him! Jeffrey waved his hand and shouted, "Everyone, take him in alive! We'll be rich!" The assassins rushed forward and mobbed Jasper.By now, his left arm was incapacitated. Gritting his teeth, he took aim at their hearts with his right hand and, without a moment's hesitation, fired once at each person, and each of them dropped dead on the spot. Ignoring the deaths of their comrades right before them, they pushed forward with feral ferocity, resolutely charging to capture Jasper alive.It was a few billion dollars, after all. A few billion dollars! Even if it were a billion dollars, it would be enough for them to live worry-free for the rest of their lives. They would no longer need to dirty their hands! Those who died only had thems
Simultaneously, everyone looked up toward the sky in astonishment. If there were any fairies in real life, this woman would be one of them. If angels were to ever descend to earth, this woman was that angel! Just as they lowered their guards, Alyssa shot a fierce look, raising her gun and firing three consecutive shots at Jeffrey.When she realized that she missed, she fired again and again! At that moment, Alyssa was in the zone. She aimed her gun at him and fired it non-stop. She looked as if she wasn't going to give up unless she shot him down. The recoil from firing the Desert Eagle was too strong for a woman. However, Alyssa's grip on the gun was perfectly stable. Her movements were very professional, making it obvious that she had been trained professionally. However, it was a shame that her aim was not as accurate. None of her shots fired were on target. At the same time, Jeffrey was like a badger. With quick and sly movements, he dodged the bullets among the tr
"Alyssa!" Jasper felt as if his heart was about to burst from the panic. He forgot about the ripping pain in his wound momentarily. He dashed across without hesitation and opened both arms with shocking determination. Fortunately, he caught Alyssa in his arms. The gunshot wound on his left shoulder became aggravated right at the moment when he caught her. His black-colored top became completely soaked in his fresh blood. But he felt no pain at all. Instead, he felt relieved that he managed to catch her and let out a sincere smile on his face. He recalled the time when he was a child. Whenever he got injured or went to the hospital for injections, Anne would give him candy to suck on. Having the candy made him forget all about the pain. And, at this very moment, Alyssa was his candy. He could get through anything as long as she was with him. While being held in his arms, Alyssa caught a whiff of a strong, metallic, bloody smell from his body. Her heart wrenched at the so
Had it been a second longer, Alyssa would have been trapped in the cage like an animal waiting to be slaughtered.Then, she heard a sinister laugh coming from the shadows. "Jeffrey! Come out here this instant!" Having tagged along with Jonah and Axel for training since she was young, Alyssa possessed superb hearing. In an instant, she identified the direction of the sound, gripping her gun with both hands. Aiming at the barely visible shadow, she pressed the trigger.She was surprised to find that she had run out of ammunition. She had used up all her bullets during the intense gunfight earlier on.Before she knew it, she was drenched in sweat, and her shoulders were trembling. She promptly felt around her back, only to discover that her backup cartridge clip wasn't there. Panicking, she glanced around her and saw that the cartridge clip had fallen to the ground a few steps away from her. She accidentally dropped it while dodging the trap a moment ago. Right when sh
Alyssa expended all her energy to hold onto him, repeatedly calling out his name by his ear. Yet, Jasper, who always responded to her, could not do so now. "Lyse!""Jasper!" "Lyse! Axel is here!""Lyse!" "Jasper! I'm here!" Jonah, Axel, and Landon were finally there to convene with them. Jonah fired two consecutive shots. One of his shots smashed Jeffrey's kneecap into pieces, whereas the other hit him on his arm. He dropped his crossbow to the ground and started howling in pain. Even so, he wasn't going to give up. He crawled on the ground to retrieve his weapon to fight back. Fortunately, Axel was alert and agile. He swiftly positioned himself in front of Jeffrey. Smirking wryly, he placed his foot on Jeffrey's hand and angrily ground it into his hand."Ah!"Jeffrey's scream tore through the eerie night. The cracking sounds as his bones broke were enough to make everyone's hair stand. Jeffrey's hand, once used for countless evil deeds, was now rendered completel
Landon transported Jasper to the best hospital in Tsulu's capital city as fast as he could. Jasper was in a critical condition as he had suffered a severe injury and had lost a lot of blood. Ever since Landon was young, he barely cried. However, he couldn't help but tear up when he saw how pale and weak Jasper looked as the medical staff pushed him into the emergency room. He quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. "Mr. Harper," said a cheerful voice from behind him. Landon was taken aback. He then turned around in confusion and noticed a man dressed in scrubs. "You are …"He had a vague memory of him. It was the man whom Alyssa brought as her partner to the cocktail party at Berenike Hotel. "I'm Julien Lovelace. You can call me Dr. Lovelace." Right after he introduced himself, he walked past Landon. As he brushed past him, he said in a low voice, "I will handle your friend's injury." "You? You are a doctor?" Landon stared at him with a gaze full o
Yet, it felt as if Alyssa's soul had gone over to Jasper's side. All that was left was a beautiful outer shell. Jonah let out a quiet sigh. He unbuttoned one of his shirt buttons and reached into his collar. He retrieved a silver cross, which he wore at all times. "Give this to Jasper when he wakes up." He placed the chain into Alyssa's palm and closed her fingers around it. "Jonah, this … This is …" she stammered in surprise, her eyes reflecting a sense of astonishment. "This chain isn't worth much, but it holds significant meaning to me. I've been wearing it for over ten years. Mysterious as it may seem, it has protected me all these years. Whenever I find myself in danger or get into big trouble, it has helped me get out of those situations." Jonah smiled bitterly, but he had a burning determination in his eyes at the same time. He continued, "Now that it has come to this, there is nothing else that I can do. It is all up to God. We just have to wait and see if Jasper
Even without Jasper's presence, he was confident that the Taylors and the rescue team would have been able to save Alyssa. It became clear what the person manipulating Remy had been aiming for.But why had Remy let Jasper go at that crucial moment? Had he experienced a sudden change of heart? Or was he, in fact, Alyssa's brother, Damien?Jasper's mind filled with all kinds of thoughts. Before he could dwell too deeply, there was a knock at the door. Xavier hurried over to open it, freezing in shock when he saw who stood outside. "Mr. Winston?"Winston was leaning on Silas for support, his expression grim. "Mr. Beckett is in there, isn't he? May I have a word with him?" Xavier quickly stepped aside, gesturing for Winston and Silas to enter.When he saw the elder he respected standing at the door, Jasper struggled to rise from the bed despite his exhaustion. "Mr. Winston…" "You are wounded. Stay put!" Winston insisted, swiftly moving forward to gently press Jasper back down
"Next time? There won't be a next time."Tears flowed down Alyssa's face, soaking Jasper's shirt with each drop. Her voice was quiet but steady, carrying the weight of her heartache. "Jasper… I'm drained. Sometimes, I think it might be better if you just forgot about me. It would be easier than this. Every time I let myself hope, all I get in return is disappointment."Jasper's chest tightened as her calm words pierced through him. Waves of emotion surged inside him, and a lump rose painfully in his throat.…It was fortunate that Jasper had found Alyssa in time to administer first aid. After rushing her to the ER, she slipped into unconsciousness. That being said, she was extremely lucky to have escaped death. Nevertheless, she needed to remain in the ICU for further observation. Aside from treating her frostbite, the doctors needed to assess whether her internal organs or brain had been affected.With the severity of Alyssa's condition, Sean couldn't keep the truth from Winsto
"Jas…"Alyssa looked at Jasper with an unfocused gaze. Her breaths were shallow, and she was slipping in and out of consciousness. Mentally, she was confused. "Yes, it's me—Jasper!"Jasper's heart clenched as he saw the color drain from her face. Her body trembled uncontrollably, fragile as a leaf caught in the wind. She resembled the kitten he had saved as a child—frozen and alone in the alley that bitter winter night. A deep sorrow flooded his chest."Jas… per…" Alyssa murmured his name, her voice strained, her tongue numb from the cold.A faint, mocking smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "It seems… like I am about… to freeze to death… How could he be here… He will not come back… He doesn't want me anymore…" Alyssa's vision blurred as her eyelids grew heavy. She began to lean, her body sagging to one side."Alyssa! Stay awake!" Jasper's heart was pierced, the pain unbearable as he saw the denial in her eyes. He forced himself to pu
Elias frowned deeply; his worry etched onto his face. "We've been shouting Ms. Alyssa's name the whole way. With so many of us calling out, she should've heard us by now if she were nearby!"In a deep voice, Jasper said, "The wind is too strong, and then there's the heavy snowfall. Our voices are being drowned out. Lyse might not hear us at all."Lyse. Her nickname slipped from his lips before he even realized it."I'm just afraid she's injured—or worse, fainted. If she blacks out in this cold…" Elias trailed off, his voice heavy with dread. "On a day like this, she won't survive long. She'll freeze to death."The group exchanged uneasy glances, the reality of his words tightening their chests.It wasn't that Elias was being a doomsayer. Rather, this was the cruel reality that might actually happen. Crater Mountain claimed lives every year. Danger lurked unpredictably in the woods on the mountain—anything could unfold."Let's split up," Jasper commanded, his eyes fixed on t
The snow was falling heavily, and the chilling winds howled through the night.Remy had no car, so he trudged through the snow alone, each step more exhausting than the last.His thoughts were consumed with Alyssa—was she still alive? In danger? And Jasper's unrelenting resolve to reach her, even after being shot and drenched in blood.Remy pressed his calloused, trembling hand to his chest. His heart hammered in his ribcage erratically.A sharp, searing pain shot through his temples, blurring his vision. He collapsed to his knees in the snow, his body racked with agony. The pain surged deep within him, and his eyes felt like they were going to burst from their sockets. It was unbearable.His breath came in ragged gasps. His hands scrambled for the necklace hanging from his neck—inside it was a hidden medicine box.Justin had told him that the medication in there could calm him down and relieve him of any pain. It would be able to save his life. But in his desperate haste, the
As subtle as Remy's expressions were, Jasper still noticed them. A slight twinkle flashed across his eyes. He did not have the time to continue entertaining Remy. He clenched his teeth, turned around, and started running toward Crater Mountain. Nevertheless, he had barely taken a few steps when gunshots were fired at his feet. Even so, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead and did not stop. Just then, another gunshot rang out. It wasn't until a bullet hit him in his right shoulder that the pain caused him to stumble. He almost fell to the ground but forced himself to stay on his feet. It was fortunate that he was shot in his right shoulder this time. After all, his left shoulder could not be injured any further. Otherwise, his left shoulder would be left in complete disability."If you take another step, the next shot will be in your left leg," Remy warned mockingly. Yet, his gaze was firm and fiery. "Jasper, I don't suppose you want to end up like your older brother, living in
A chill went down Jasper's spine. At that moment, staring down the barrel of the gun, one thought consumed him. It was the only thought that mattered—he had to stay alive to meet Alyssa!Jasper's mind raced. His gun was hidden under the driver's seat of his usual car, but today, he had taken a different sports car—one that wasn't equipped with a weapon. Panic gripped him for a split second before his instincts kicked in.The soldier within him stirred. Without warning, he jerked the steering wheel, ramming his car into Remy's.One of Remy's headlights was taken out and left rolling across the snow. All of a sudden, this prideful man was overwhelmed with anger. His eyes reddened with a strong sense of competitiveness, compelling him to pull the trigger. A shot rang out. The bullet sliced through the cold air, shattering Jasper's car window.From the very beginning, Remy hadn't intended to take Jasper's life. All Justin told him to do was to stop Jasper from meeting with Alys
"Jasper, you are such a jerk. If anything bad happens to Ms. Alyssa, you will surely regret it. You will live in regret your entire life!" Sean yelled. …The temperature tonight was -4 degrees Fahrenheit. The snowstorm in the woods on the mountain was getting stronger and stronger. The winds were freezing and bone-piercing as they blew against Alyssa's face. Trees swayed dramatically in the screeching winds, creating an inexplicable creepy atmosphere that added a feeling of desolation to Alyssa's sorrowful and depressive mood. She braved the bone-piercing winds and faced the heavy snowfall. With the help of her trekking pole, she plodded forward one step at a time. She did not have a destination in mind. She did not know where she was heading. Her heart had shattered, and she was beside herself. The decreasing temperatures discouraged her and made her lose all her motivation. For someone who had lost their willpower, being in the woods under extreme weather conditions wa
"Mr. Jasper, why do you say so?" Sheryl lifted her head and looked into Jasper's reddened eyes. She furrowed her brows and laughed out loud. "White Dove is from Solana City. This is also something that I wasn't able to predict. If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten you to make a trip here in vain, would I?" Sheryl was no longer that conniving bitch who used to act coy. Now, she had a powerful person backing her up. Jasper's violent rage did not scare her at all. "Why the hell didn't you say anything earlier?" Xavier marched forward furiously. He was even more inclined to serve her a slap. "Did you know that Mr. Beckett had an important date with Madam today? He only rushed her because of your stupid lead! Right now, you're telling us that White Dove isn't in Skydon but Solana City? What the heck are you scheming? Were you trying to ruin Mr. Beckett and Madam's date intentionally?" "Madam? Haven't Mr. Jasper and Ms. Alyssa broken up? Is it right for you to be referring to her