At the same time, the mood was tense in the general manager's office at KS Grand Hotel.Alyssa stood before the floor-to-ceiling window with her hands on her back. Her sleek figure exuded an air of power and dominance."Has anyone ever asked you to upload that video?""You wanted me to upload something that would spark controversy …" Sean stood behind her with a straight back and a glum face."Sean, you are my secretary. Not only that, we grew up together. You should have known my pet peeve!" She turned around. "You mix your personal agenda while working for me. I know what's going on. You wanted to boost my perception online—using my kindness to further highlight Betty's wrongdoing."The more she spoke, the more he lowered his head because each word went straight to his heart."But I'm telling you now. I don't need it." Her look grew icier. "I lent a helping hand because I could. It was out of moral value. No matter how much I hate Betty, I wouldn't attack her by claiming the mo
"Are you dumb? Do you not know the reason you're trending? How could you be proud of that?" Sophia berated Betty.Betty rubbed her forehead angrily. She wasn't dumb—she was just momentarily distracted when Alice trended along with her."S-So, what do I do? The scandal is bad for me. Now that everyone knows Alice saved the girl, I can't fight back against public opinion. Am I really going to be crushed by that country bumpkin?""I've talked to your dad on your behalf. He says that you should never clarify or apologize in any way. Just keep quiet about it!" Sophia said in a low voice. She continued, "Jasper will settle this for you anyway. He won't allow any threat to the Beckett Group. Just keep a low profile and ride this out. Don't do anything stupid in public. Got it?"Betty felt better after being comforted by Sophia. She hung up and continued shopping at the luxury store she owned with the two friends she met at the bar last time.At the same time, a Rolls-Royce rolled to a
"You heard her? This bitch wanted me to apologize to that hotel employee …" Betty cackled. "Did you hit your head or something?"When Betty threw her head back laughing, her two plastic girlfriends were laughing hysterically as well."Why couldn't Betty complain as a hotel guest? Her necklace was broken. And she received crappy service.""That's right! How dare you ask for an apology? Do you own the hotel? There's no end to this."Sean squinted at the ladies. He believed the two dumb women would frantically take back their words when they found out that Alyssa owned all the KS Grand Hotel branches in the country."Aren't you worried that this incident might ruin the image of Beckett Group that Jasper has carefully maintained? You might bring shame to the company." Alyssa carelessly stared at Betty."Hmph! Don't you dare threaten me. I'm not the president of the company. Why would I care?" Unbothered, Betty rolled her eyes. Betty continued, "It's Jasper's job as the president to
"Why not? I'm not sitting back and waiting to be attacked by an animal." Alyssa dusted her hands and glared at Betty."D-Did you just call me an animal?" Betty's face reddened in anger.At that moment, the door opened. Alyssa looked across and felt a chilly air swept by her.Next, she watched in shock as Jasper showed up in front of them. The ex-couple looked stunned when they locked eyes.Alyssa looked away coldly as though he was a stranger. He pursed his lips. There was a heavy look in his eyes as he wrestled the frustration deep inside."Jasper!" Betty seemed to have found her savior. Crying and wailing, she complained to him, "Alice White has gone mad! She slapped me in the face! You'll have to see to this!""Yeah, it was me. Her cheeks are probably still burning." With a smirk, Alyssa proudly admitted to slapping Betty."Why are you here?" He gave her an unfeeling look."What do you think?" In the past, Alice always stared at him with light in her eyes. She appeared to
"You jerk! Give it back!"Alyssa blushed as she leaned softly against Jasper. To keep her balance, she pressed her left hand on his broad shoulder. She moved around endlessly. Jasper wouldn't go easy on her either and retaliated with the hand on her waist.She trembled when she sensed his tightening grip on her waist that screamed possessiveness. She felt the heat from his palm through the thin fabric. Still, Jasper remained focused on the phone. His face betrayed nothing, not even lust.The onlookers were shocked when Alyssa called Jasper a jerk. They were even more astonished when Jasper seemed unbothered by the insult.At the same time, Sean was sweating profusely but couldn't find a way to drag Alyssa back. Betty gaped at the intimacy between the two, especially knowing they weren't close during their marriage. Meanwhile, the two girlfriends almost bit their manicured nails off from burning jealousy.Frowning, Jasper swiftly deleted all the vulgar photos of Betty on Alyssa's
"No, you are too arrogant. If I could, I would erase you from my life once and for all. I'd rather have never loved you."Jasper gave her a look of shock. He felt a tremor through his body. His throat was dry. She attacked him with progressively harsher remarks.When he collected himself, she had let go of his hand and wandered past him. Sean hurried after her and didn't forget to glare at Jasper on his way out. He didn't overhear the conversation between Alyssa and Jasper, but he believed that Jasper wouldn't have said anything nice."Jasper, have you deleted those photos? What a shameless bumpkin she is, threatening me with the photos. Thanks for protecting the reputation of our family!" Betty took Jasper's arm in excitement to show off their sibling relationship.Much to her dismay, Jasper appeared sullen because he was deeply affected by the words of his ex-wife. His piercing gaze swept past her face.She cowered and quickly withdrew her hand."Were the photos Photoshopped?"
Throughout the journey back home, Alyssa did not utter a word. She looked spent, just like a broken robot.Jasper's unforgiving words felt like someone had poured a bucket of cold water over her. She was shaking in rage from head to toe. Why had she never noticed that shameless and vile side of him?Love might not guarantee happiness, but it would certainly turn you blind. "Ms. Alyssa, I have played the video per your instruction. Look, Betty is fighting her two friends!" Sean showed her the video on a phone screen.She glanced at the screen and saw the three women clawing at each other in a horrible catfight."Tsk tsk. Cat fights are the worst. Ms. Betty is doing pretty well. She's still holding up even when she's fighting the two of them. It's a pity she didn't train for wrestling." Sean chuckled with glee."Hmph. They're slapping each other and pulling each other's hair. Nothing interesting about those amateur moves."Despite that, Alyssa couldn't take her eyes off the scree
Jasper lifted a brow as his expression darkened. Before this, he might have been a little moody, but he was truly angered at that moment.…Jasper was called to Javier's study after he changed into a fresh outfit."Daddy! You have to help me out! Poor me …" Betty hugged her dad and cried her heart out. Her tear-stained face was full of injuries from her catfight with her two friends in the afternoon. Even her lips were chapped. She looked pitiable.Seated on the couch, Javier hurriedly consoled his daughter. She looked like a mess, unlike her usual well-presented self. "Jasper's home. I'll ask him about it.""The scandal is getting out of hand. I got a few calls asking about Betty. I honestly didn't know what to say." Sophia teared up upon mentioning her beloved daughter. "People are cursing Betty out online. How can she ever show up in public? How will the other elites in Solana City think of us?""Sophie, don't worry. I will not let them bully my daughter." Frowning, Javier had
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
The skies started to turn dark. Alyssa's dark hair was covered in a layer of snow. As she stood alone at the foot of the majestic mountain, she looked tiny, fragile, and desolate. "Ms. Alyssa, it's snowing. Heavy snowfall is forecasted tonight." Elias walked to Alyssa's side. Noticing the redness on her face due to the cold and the dull look in her eyes, he had a moment of realization. He couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness within him. "It's getting late. I suppose something came up for Mr. Beckett, and he's unable to make it." "Why didn't he inform me if that is the case?" Alyssa mumbled in a low voice as she gazed toward the darkness. She choked back on her tears so softly that her grievance couldn't really be heard through her voice. Elias slapped himself on his forehead. "Ah, perhaps you didn't manage to receive Mr. Beckett's message? The reception at the foot of the mountain isn't quite stable. You might have missed it. Would you like to come to my office? You'l
Jasper held his breath. It felt as if his legs had been chained together. He was unable to move. Looking at a stiff Jasper from behind, Xavier noticed his shoulders trembling slightly. An ominous feeling rose within him. "What did you say?" Jasper questioned. He sounded as if he was forcing himself to hold himself back from getting emotional. "Mr. Justin once mentioned that you were saved by a female doctor when you were badly wounded on the battlefield many years ago. I heard that you have been searching for her and that you've been grateful toward her." Jasper's back stiffened up. He narrowed his eyes and asked in a frosty voice, "This is a private matter. Why would Justin have told you about it?" "Mr. Justin mentioned it to me because I also used to work as a doctor in Luminara. He was hoping that I could help with finding that woman. "I finally have news on her whereabouts now. Mr. Jasper, don't you want to see the White Dove again? She was the person who gave her all t
That night, Alyssa stayed in the presidential suite of Solana City's KS World Hotel. She couldn't bring herself to return to her own manor—not yet. The lingering memories of her breakup with Jasper were still too raw, and the thought of revisiting their former home felt like reopening an unhealed wound.The following morning, she was awakened by a knock at the door. Groggily, she slipped on her night robe and opened it to find Sean standing there, carrying a complete set of brand-new hiking gear.Alyssa smiled. "Thank you, Sean." "Ms. Alyssa, it's freezing today. Are you sure you want to go hiking?" Sean walked into the living room and placed the items neatly on the couch. He still felt somewhat worried. "It's alright if it's cold, as long as the weather is good."Alyssa gazed out the window. The sun was shining brightly. The thought of going hiking with Jasper today made it impossible for her to conceal the sweet smile on her face and the delight in her eyes. She still love
Remy's eyes were bloodshot; his expression twisted with disgust as he stared at Sheryl. He could hardly fathom how someone so deranged and vile had once been close to Jasper. Even if Jasper and Alyssa had separated, Sheryl was nowhere near worthy of Jasper's side; she was not even fit to be the dirt on Alyssa's shoes.A sudden flash of memory struck him—the image of Alyssa during that traffic accident. He recalled her mustering all her strength to crawl out of her wrecked car, her face bloody, her body broken yet defiant. He had never seen such a fierce spirit in a woman before.His heart pounded uncontrollably, the memory triggering a sharp pain in his temples. Remy closed his eyes, gasping for breath.Sheryl broke into wild, unhinged laughter. Her entire body shook as she spat out her words, "Oh, Jasper, you poor, clueless fool!"If he ever discovers that the woman he's been tormenting all this time is actually his savior—the one he's been desperate to repay—that would be an eart