"I'm your brother, for heaven's sake! How could you go physical on me? You nearly broke my ribs," Axel grumbled and pouted. He'd never show this side of his character to anyone but his brother.Jonah remarked, "That was a punishment for running your mouth. Hope you learned your lesson.""Gosh. I was joking. Don't you have a sense of humor?" Then, Axel stole a glance at his crotch and scoffed unhappily. Like any man, he was oddly competitive over everything."By the way, isn't Lyse bored out of the mind, staying by Jasper's side? She doesn't eat, drink, sleep, or check her phone at all," Axel asked with curiosity."No. You'll never be bored when you stay by your lover's side."Axel frowned at the reply. "I don't get it …""Axel, we've always felt you were the smartest amongst the few of us, but you're slow when it comes to matters of the heart. I bet you still can't grasp the meaning of being deeply in love with someone," Jonah commented.With that, he lapsed into deep though
Alyssa rubbed her eyes hard and stared at Jasper's hand. She harbored a suspicion that Jasper's movement was an illusion due to her fatigue.Still, she called out tentatively in a trembling voice, "Jasper? Jasper? Can you hear me? Move your fingers if you can. Jasper Beckett!""Lyse …" he uttered weakly.His feeble voice was deafening in the silent room. Elated, Alyssa asked, "Jasper, are you awake? Can you hear me? Jasper?"His pale lips trembled a little as he called out her name again like a murmur in a dream. Even in his dreams, Alyssa was the only thing in his mind.As tears rolled down her face, she responded, "I'm here!"Right then, he slowly unfurled his fingers and interlocked them with hers. Once a symbol of courage and strength, he had always offered her protection, but he now struggled with the simplest of movements."What … did you … write … on my palm?" he questioned.Her face flushed instantly.He pressed on, eyes full of anticipation, "I don't … want you … to w
It took Jasper only half a month to wake up from his coma after receiving emergency medical treatment, which was remarkable. Any ordinary patient would have lost the battle in the operating room, and even if they survived, it might take them longer to wake up from the coma.After Jasper was awake, Julien assessed his condition and attributed Jasper's quick recovery to his exceptional physique and military background.In the morning, Alyssa accompanied Jasper to complete some medical checkups. Throughout the process, he behaved well, like a child who attended medical appointments with his mother. He cooperated well without a word of complaint."Have you ever seen Lyse behaving so motherly and saint-like? I nearly prayed to her." Axel clicked his tongue.He shot an envious look at the wheelchair-bound Jasper as Alyssa draped a blanket over the latter. He added, "I guess Lyse is no longer one of us. Her brothers don't matter anymore now that she has a man. She won't take a look at us
It was a good thing that Silas was not around, or else the trio would have made such a scene.Axel taunted bitterly, "No, of course not. I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of Mr. Beckett, as he's the family favorite now."Jonah said, "That's enough, Axel."Alyssa sighed helplessly. "Axel, I can already picture how you will treat your future wife. Are you going to nag her for a full day if she takes as much as a look at other men?""Not only that, I'll punish her in bed to the point that she won't be able to get out of bed for three days."Everyone was rendered speechless by Axel's bold answer.Jasper smiled, cheered up by the interaction among the siblings. He would be jealous of Alyssa's exchange with her brothers in the past, but he had since learned to be comfortable with the Taylor siblings' ways of expressing their love for Alyssa.All he needed to do was to be understanding and get along with it. People always said that those who were deep in love would lose their se
"Lyse, you shouldn't worry too much. The trip from Tsulu to Solana City is only five hours, and the private jet comes with first-aid equipment. It will be fine."Julien proudly lifted his chin. "That's right! What's there to worry about with a famous doctor like me on board?"Landon teased, "You will never beat Lyse in terms of fame."Frowning, Julien wondered, "What's that supposed to mean?""She's Dr. White. Did you not know?"Following the revelation, Julien stared agape at Alyssa, who seemed unfazed. He turned to the others and realized they did not react to the news at all.Was he the only one oblivious to Alyssa's identity? Had he been showing off in front of the true master without knowing it?Freezing up, he stiffly turned his back to the others and held the wall, his head hung low. Landon scratched his head, puzzled. "What's wrong with him?"Axel crossed his arms on his chest, replying, "No idea. I guess he's in despair because Lyse is too great of a doctor."…The n
Jasper's heart sank. After multiple exchanges with Jameson, he gained a better understanding of Jameson's character than Alyssa.Unlike Alyssa, he had no lingering sentiment for Jameson from childhood. He knew Jameson was a vindictive man and a ruthless one at that. In other words, Jameson was petty and extreme in his revenge."A relationship devoid of integrity is inherently meaningless," Jonah expressed, showing his concern for Alyssa. "The idea of you with Jameson filled me with worry because he has no principles and would do anything to get his way. "Who knows if he'd do the same to you? Lyse, you're my beloved sister. I cannot risk letting you date a problematic man."Alyssa teared up at Jonah's genuine brotherly love for her. "Jonah …"He gently stroked her hair and turned to address Jasper, "Mr. Beckett, why didn't you tell me it was Jameson Schmidt's doing when we were on Shelland Island? If you had done so, we could have found a way to exploit his weakness."With a long
After a brief internal struggle, Alyssa decided to keep it a secret.Right now, Jasper was filled with guilt and remorse. Of course, she was glad that he showed remorse for what he had done to her in the past, but she did not want him to risk his life once more to make amends.All she wanted was for him to light up her life. The last thing she wanted was to burden him with more guilt. This was her subtle way of expressing her love.Jasper's chest tightened when he noticed that she had turned white. Holding her shoulders, he inquired, "Lyse, are you okay?""I'm fine." She beamed at him. "I injured my finger climbing a tree as a kid. It's not a big deal and doesn't affect my life at all."Nevertheless, Jasper felt sympathetic toward her and gently held her pinky finger. "Why didn't any of your brothers take better care of you?""They did, but I was a troublemaker who refused to listen," she replied with a pout.He couldn't resist giving her a peck on the lips as she was too adorab
Alyssa's sole concern was her father's attitude. Winston Taylor doted on his daughter, but he could be merciless to anyone who was not family.Jasper had been on Winston's blacklist for a while. Changing Winston's impression of him wouldn't be easy, but Alyssa decided to take it easy. No one could come between them as long as their love held strong.When Alyssa helped Jasper put on the necklace, her fingers accidentally brushed against his chest. She silently gushed at his toned physique that could seduce anyone."How should I thank Jonah?" He stared at her while tightening his grip on her waist.He used to enjoy caressing her chubby waist, but he was pained to see Alyssa lose weight due to poor appetite and insufficient rest when he was in a coma. "It's fine—Mmm—" Suddenly, she found herself enveloped in a hug, her mouth sealed by a tongue kiss. His tongue explored every corner of her mouth.After some passionate kissing, he reluctantly pulled away but stared longingly at her m
When Axel heard the news, he immediately returned to the city where his organization was based. Without even reporting back to work, he booked the earliest red-eye flight to Cyrris. His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, and when he emerged from the arrival gates, an ominous air surrounded him. A black luxury car awaited him at the exit.Standing in front of the car were Jasper and Xavier, who had been waiting anxiously for his arrival.Axel's gaze locked onto Jasper's fiery eyes. His presence radiated fury, unrestraint, and a barely contained viciousness. A strong gust of wind swept through the terminal. Snow danced in the air, tangling both Jasper's and Axel's hair into disarray."Let's talk in the car, Axel," Jasper said in a low, measured voice.Red-eyed, Axel insisted, "I need to find my wife right now." "That's exactly why I'm here. Get in the car, and we'll talk." Jasper turned on his heel. His tone grew colder. "But let's be honest—you won't find her no matter ho
Jasper wanted to console Alyssa but found himself at a loss for words. So, he remained silent. "Disappointed, aren't you?" Alyssa sniffled as she smiled bitterly."Not at all." Perhaps he had been expecting too much. As a woman, she was intelligent, capable, and a strategist for victory. Beyond that, she boldly stepped forward to fight against the dark forces. She was strong and perfect as she was—why should he expect her to be anything more?Yet, seeing Alyssa's vulnerable side unsettled him. Something tugged at his heartstrings, a deep ache he couldn't ignore."I found it! I found Ms. Altman's cell phone!" With more manpower and better visibility as the sun rose, it didn't take long to locate Amber's bloodied phone. "Ambs…"Alyssa's face drained of color as terror gripped her at the sight of the bloodstained device. Jasper, on the other hand, remained composed. He tried powering on the phone, and to their surprise, it turned on. "What's the password?" Jasper asked g
"Five times more potent than the previous version? Are you sure it's safe for Remy to consume this?" Sheryl picked up the pill, unease flickering across her face. As much as she despised Remy, she couldn't deny his prowess as a fighter and his value as Justin's right-hand man. Having him around would certainly ease Justin's workload, prompting her to double-check."It won't kill him, but it won't be pleasant either. Don't worry—it's temporary," Justin replied, a sinister smile curling his lips. He continued nonchalantly, "When he takes the pill, his adrenaline will spike, flooding him with energy while his muscles tense. He'll feel both pain and euphoria. Then, it will fade, leaving him dependent on the drug moving forward." The implication was clear to Sheryl. Justin intended to control Remy through addiction. "Remy wasn't born for the shadows," Justin continued, his gaze darkened. "He's just a victim of post-traumatic amnesia, his nervous system subdued with sedatives and anes
"Got it, Mr. Harper!" Harper Group's subordinates acknowledged before swiftly dispersing. "I'm going to search for Amber too," Alyssa said, turning to leave.Jasper caught her arm. "It's freezing. Go wait in the car." Landon chimed in, "Lyse, listen to Jasper. Just wait in the car. We'll search for Amber.""No—I have to come too!" Alyssa sniffled. The sharp wind stung her face, leaving her nose raw and crimson, her eyes watering until they puffed into tender, swollen crescents. "Amber's in trouble because of me. I was careless—it's all my fault!""Lyse…" Landon's heart sank at her remorseful expression.Jasper's gaze softened as he studied Alyssa's pale face. "Her disappearance isn't your fault."Tears welled in Alyssa's eyes as she shook her head. "Amber means everything to Axel. If anything happens to her, I won't be able to face him. I don't deserve to be his sister. Please, let me come with you."Jasper and Landon failed to dissuade her. Reluctantly, they agreed. Alyssa
After studying Sheryl for a moment, Remy turned and left."M-Ms. Gillis, are you okay?" One of Sheryl's subordinates came forward to help her up."Useless bastard! Why didn't you step in when he hit me earlier?" Sheryl's voice trembled with fury as her gaze fell on the crimson stains marring the pristine snow.Stammering, the subordinate replied, "R-Remy acted too quickly. Everyone in the organization knows how good of a fighter he is. None of us stood a chance against him!""S-Something wasn't right about him tonight." Sheryl watched Remy's retreating figure disappear into the distance, her voice dropping to a menacing murmur. "I need to report this to Mr. Justin in person immediately."Inside his car, Remy gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands but made no move to drive.Closing his eyes, he felt a suffocating sensation rise in his throat, as though he were drowning in an endless, hopeless sea. He was just a speck, sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss.A shar
With a piercing gaze, Sheryl glared at Remy, who stood in front of her car with an air of frigidity around him. The temptation to ram her car into the crestfallen man was almost irresistible, but she didn't dare. Remy was Justin's right-hand man, and even her audacity had limits. Instead, Sheryl pulled her white coat snugly around her, stepped out of the car with feigned composure, and strode toward him. Hostility crackled between them as their eyes locked.Sheryl broke the silence. "Remy, is there nothing you'd like to update me about?" she asked with a sinister look in her eyes. Stiffly, Remy asked, "Where did you take that woman?" "How shameless of you to question me. Mr. Justin was wise to send me as backup. Otherwise, Amber would have escaped without a trace!"Gritting her teeth, Sheryl took a step closer to Remy. "Is this how you handle tasks entrusted by Mr. Justin? The unstoppable Remy, brought to his knees by a wild brat? Or did you let her go intentionally? Are yo
"Jameson and Carl have been eliminated. Who else could be targeting Amber?"A sharp glint flashed in Jasper's eyes as a thought struck him. "Could it be Justin or Sheryl?" he asked, his voice low and tense.He recalled seeing Justin in the living room earlier that evening, wide awake instead of resting. Was Justin waiting for something? Or perhaps, provoking him in subtle defiance?"They are the only ones I can think of with a grudge against Amber." Alyssa's anxiousness made her voice tremble. "Having worked for Jameson for years, Amber must have visited Mosgravia multiple times to meet with Sir—who is, in fact, Justin. "Justin wouldn't have met anyone else besides Jameson. But how could he leave no trace after all those interactions? Amber must have figured out his true identity. And Justin—he must have realized who she is, even with her changed appearance."Jasper's expression darkened. "So he decided to eliminate her as a precaution."Tears welled in Alyssa's eyes, threaten
Searching for Amber without direction would be pointless. Jasper made a swift decision to bring Alyssa back to the manor, shielding her from the relentless chill of the wind. Once inside, he immediately began organizing the search. He deployed his men and contacted Landon, requesting additional support.The two of them sat together on the couch.This time, there was no space between them. It was as though an invisible force drew them closer, their proximity feeling natural yet electric. Neither could say who had moved first.Alyssa, however, was in no mood to dwell on their closeness. Wrapped in her down jacket, she curled up on the couch, her arms hugging herself tightly. A quiet frostiness emanated from her as she sat in silence, listening to Jasper's calm and methodical calls to mobilize his team.In the past, his composed presence would have been enough to ease her mind. But now, her thoughts were a tangled mess, each one like a razor claw tearing at her heart. The pain was u
"Ms. Gillis, I've searched her thoroughly. She doesn't have anything on her." Sheryl's brows knitted in frustration. "How can that be? Where's her cell phone?" "There wasn't one." Sheryl, no longer concerned about dirtying herself, stepped forward, grabbed Amber by her hair, and forced her to meet her gaze."You bitch," Sheryl snarled. "You came to The Millennium at this hour for a reason. What did you find? Hand it over, and I might spare your worthless life!"Amber spat a mouthful of bloody saliva directly onto Sheryl's face."Fuck! You bitch!" Glaring at Amber, Sheryl rolled her sleeves up and slapped her twice in the face. Even so, it wasn't enough to quench her fury. She yelled, "Take her back!" Two of Sheryl's subordinates moved forward, dragging a limp Amber away. Sheryl's reddened eyes burned with fury as she wiped the spit off her face. She was teetering on the edge of madness."Search the area! Retrace her steps and leave no stone unturned!"…Jasper drove to