Alyssa and Axel were rendered speechless.Jonah's tone suggested he was upset.Was he standing up for Julien?Landon was Cornelius' eldest grandchild. He grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He never had to answer to anyone.However, even he, who wasn't sensitive to these things, could sense the trace of anger in Jonah's cold gaze. He let out an awkward laugh. "I-I-I'm just asking. I'm sure Mr. Jonah invited a miracle doctor. I worried for nothing.""Mr. Landon, Dr. Lovelace is a better doctor than me. Don't worry. The operation is in good hands."Alyssa choked slightly as she said it. Her eyes reddened. "Once Jasper gets over this, I still have to rely on Dr. Lovelace for his care."He is an expert in neurology. He should know what to do with Jasper's physical complications."Upon reaching the end of her statement, her tone softened, and her eyes betrayed a sense of guilt.Landon's breath quickened.He was careless with words, so he didn't dare to comfort her. He was
The commander cleared his throat. He spoke in fluent Grunslandish, "I would urge you to hand the hostage over, surrender any weapons in your possession, and follow us back for an investigation."Otherwise, we will deal with you seriously. Our country is strict in law. You will be accounted for each violation committed. You will not be able to bear the consequences.""Haha, strict in law? You've got to be kidding me." Alyssa laughed derisively. Intrigued, the commander sized Alyssa up. He then sneered. "Young lady, you have a sharp tongue. Aren't you afraid of spending the rest of your life in jail?"Jeffrey perked his ears up to listen to the conversation outside. He couldn't help but smile smugly."What's with the smile, you idiot?"Axel grabbed him and punched him in the face. Jeffrey's nose bled profusely."The one who should spend the rest of his life in jail should be the evil 'hostage' you spoke of."Alyssa's eyes were filled with hatred. A cold and intimidating glint fl
Everyone was on edge."Who the hell is this?" Landon spat out through gnashed teeth, a deep frown etched across his face.He loathed himself and Jasper for leaving too hastily. They didn't bring enough reinforcements to assert control and intimidate these troublemakers.A commander seemed insignificant here, earning no more respect than anyone else. Even a major would have to accord him the respect he deserved if they were in Solana City."You're a grown man. Why are you acting like a headless chicken, losing your composure when something happens?"Axel playfully teased Landon with a sidelong glance, the cigarette between his lips bobbing up and down. Despite his outward appearance of calm and composure, he tightly gripped the gun in his hand. "I don't care who the hell this is or whether he's alone or with a group. I will teach them a lesson.""You're right." Landon nodded, reacting quickly. Then, he frowned with anger. "Shit. What do you mean by a headless chicken? Take a loo
"Miley! Miley!"The moment Alyssa saw Miley, she couldn't help but scream. She was so excited that her eyes reddened.Jonah and Axel were shocked. "Miley!""Lyse!"Miley was thrilled. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at her family. Her voice trembled slightly. "Jonah, Axel!""O-Oh, my God!"Queen Magdalene covered her mouth, and she looked at them in shock. "Miley, don't tell me they are your family. This is unbelievable. No wonder you told me you had to bring me here to meet them, no matter what. Wow! My dearest best friend, I'm thrilled to meet your family in my country."Queen Magdalene sounded excited from her tone, innocent and sweet."I mentioned bringing you to Belbanks to visit my place before, but I never anticipated such a coincidental encounter with my siblings. I'm truly at a loss for words."Miley tried to maintain her current composure as she elegantly walked toward her family.As she walked past the commander, she cast a cold, disdainful gaze in hi
However, Queen Magdalene was merely part of the royal harem. She might have been in a high position, but she did not have real power. Considering the pros and cons of the situation, she wouldn't protect foreigners."Citizens?" Miley scoffed. "The person my sister caught is not from Tsulu. He is from our country. However, my country has no grounds for extradition from your country. Therefore, the cops couldn't bring this despicable murderer to custody."Based on what I know, those killed at gunpoint were no saints either. They were vicious people who had blood on their hands. They settled themselves in Shelland Island with the backing of arms dealers. They did nothing but evil there."Your police force didn't capture or charge them for their crimes. In turn, you gave them immunity. Haha! Mr. Brock, you have such galls. You went as far as to collude with the government, disregarding the law of the land and failing to distinguish wrong from right. And all of these happened right under
The police chief, Miguel Brock, had engaged in collusion and accepted bribes. For years, he had leveraged his position to shield criminals, disregarding the country's welfare and its citizens' safety. Now, he was attempting to aid his arms-dealing accomplices in evading the law and assisting a murderer's escape."After careful consideration with the parliament, I hereby decree that Miguel Brock be removed from his position, be apprehended immediately, and receive severe punishment." Everyone's jaws dropped.The king personally decreed for Miguel to be removed from his position for the benefit of a few foreigners.There was likely more to the situation than initially apparent.When Queen Magdalene heard that decree, a smile appeared on her face. She was intrigued. She eyed Miley secretly and winked at her.Miley's face was as red as a tomato.In the car, Jeffrey's eyes darkened. He felt more hopeless than death itself."I-I was following someone's orders! I had no choice!"Mig
The king's decree had crushed Jeffrey's dream of seeking refuge in Tsulu.Not only that, it appeared that the royalty had attempted to use the opportunity to wrestle power from the military and diminish its influence, as well as deliver a blow to the mafia.In fact, the entire episode was a struggle for power between the royalty and the military. Jeffrey Synder alone was not worth the attention otherwise.It was Miley who informed Alyssa about the happenings, but Alyssa had it all figured out early on. What concerned her the most was Inigo Montoye, the military personnel whom Miguel had ratted on.The more she pondered about the matter, the more doubtful she became. However, her most immediate worry was Jasper's condition rather than figuring out the mastermind.For the time being, Jeffrey was in jail, awaiting a transfer. Back in Solana City, Cyrus had informed his superior and rushed to Tsulu overnight to repatriate Jeffrey.…At midnight, the hospital corridor buzzed with a
Axel seemed to have inherited the Taylors' traits of being vindictive and bitter.Every time Axel thought of how Jasper treated his sister, he couldn't help but take a jab at Jasper. For a second, he almost forgot that Jasper was battling for his life in the operating room."He faced bullying in school due to his background, but he hid his wounds to avoid worrying his mom. He never shared his struggles with her."Axel interjected angrily, "Fuck! I hate school bullies the most! They are pure evil." Crushing his cigarette box, he felt a fire burning within. "Why was Jasper so weak? He could have beaten the hell out of them. I couldn't believe that Jasper Beckett was bullied. He should have rammed them with his Rolls-Royce or something.""It's easy to go against a guy or two, but what happens when a group bullies you?" Landon questioned with pangs of sympathy.Axel's eyes wavered as he inadvertently clenched his fists.Landon explained, "Axel, you were born to Mr. Taylor and the wom
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