That suit was associated with so much hurt and had always been one of Jasper's prized possessions. No one was allowed to touch it. Nonetheless, he still wanted to get a new set of clothing from Alyssa for good luck. It would be a symbol of a brand new and successful beginning with her. "Do you really like the clothing that I make for you?" Alyssa blinked and tickled him under his chin. She said, "It's not a problem to make one for you. But don't force yourself to wear it if it's not to your taste. I don't want you to force yourself just because of me, even if it's a set of clothing." Suddenly, Jasper felt a lump in his throat, and his eyes welled up. He kept quiet for a while, trying to contain his surging emotions within himself. He replied in a husky voice, "Actually, I've always liked it. I was just being stupid and stubborn at that time. I didn't want to admit it and didn't know how to express myself. "I know I'm being too greedy, Lyse. But, I still hope that I can re
It turned out that Mandy, Lyla, and Colene had gone to church. After church, they went on a shopping spree. They also visited a trending café before returning to Heightsnew Villa, feeling satisfied. In the eyes of the world, they were in awkward positions. People expected them to scheme against one another and to have a cut-throat relationship behind closed doors. However, the trio were close, like three peas in a pod. At times, even Alyssa felt deep jealousy when she witnessed their sisterhood. Winston must have saved the universe in his past life for him to have Mandy's, Lyla's, and Colene's loyalty toward him in this life. "Woah! Why didn't any of you bring me along? I'm sad now …" Alyssa teased. She was sitting on the swing in the garden. Like a young and energetic youth, she swung back and forth with the tip of her toes sweeping on the ground. "Oh, dearest Alyssa, it's not that we didn't want to bring you along!" Colene approached her from behind and put her arms a
After a while, Mandy, Lyla, and Colene nodded. "That explains it. It is already quite fortunate that Winston didn't storm into the Beckett family or skin Jasper alive." Before they could probe Alyssa further, Clark hurried over and informed them, "Ms. Alyssa, Mr. Winston is back. He asked for you to go to his study." "Got it." Alyssa took a deep breath and prepared to leave. Behind her, Mandy, Lyla, and Colene were worried that Winston would be difficult. So, the three of them also expressed their wish to follow along. …In the study, Winston was drinking tea while sitting on the sofa. His expression was glum. Whenever he met with Alyssa in the past, they were always joking around merrily with one another. The air around them was always lively and warm. It was extremely rare for them to have so much tension. "I wanted to speak with Lyse in private. What are all of you tagging along for?" Winston gave a displeased, side-eyed glance at his wives. He forcefully set hi
Later on, Alyssa learned that her troublesome classmate had dropped out of school just three days after the incident.The family's business faced bankruptcy, and her father was incarcerated. Upon realizing the wrongs she had committed against Alyssa, her mother lived in perpetual anxiety.In the end, she succumbed to a bout of serious illness. As such, it was a miracle that Winston hadn't done anything to Jasper yet. It was Alyssa who was the creator of this miracle. If it weren't for her telling him over and over not to touch Jasper, he might have already sent someone to assassinate him!He probably wouldn't need to get the job done personally. Jonah and Axel would most likely have already gotten rid of Jasper. "Dad, at the end of the day, I am also hugely responsible for the failure of the marriage." Alyssa didn't address him by his name again. She had a serious look on her face, making it obvious that she was very persistent and earnest about this relationship. "Back
Alyssa picked the medicine bottle up and took a closer look. The next moment, she covered her mouth in utter shock. She was on the verge of tears."Cerebral ischemic stroke. This medication is to treat cerebral ischemic stroke. Lovelace Pharmaceuticals developed this and only produced a limited amount yearly. Even people loaded with money can't buy it."Mandy looked at Winston painfully. Her heartache was hard to conceal. "However, this year, the medication couldn't stabilize his condition anymore. When your father fell sick twice at the beginning of last year, he pulled through with this medication.""D-Did all of you know about this? Am I the only one who is clueless?" Tears streamed down Alyssa's face. Her heart was shattered."No. Jonah and Silas don't know either. Your father didn't want to tell all of you. He was afraid you would panic and worry.Mandy squatted down. She took a square silk handkerchief and dabbed the sweat from Winston's forehead. "Lyse, don't be angry at yo
Alyssa's eyelashes cast a shadow under the light as she lowered her head.Back then, she thought Jameson was genuinely concerned for her father. Now, she felt he had ulterior motives.He was willing to murder her sister and brother-in-law. Her father was nothing, but another body count to him.Jameson was a vicious man all along.He desired her so badly. However, he was unwilling to mess with her before getting her and fulfilling his desire."My dad is fine. He is as vigorous as a tiger."A cold smile hung on Alyssa's face. "He doesn't say no to food, though. His stomach isn't the strongest and often gives him problems. He probably had a craving, ate something he shouldn't, and had a stomachache. You don't need to worry about it. Go home.""Really? But I saw how terrible Uncle Winston looked. His head was hurting badly. It looked serious. It seemed like a cerebral ischemic stroke or something like that …""Jameson, are you cursing my father?" Alyssa interrupted lowly. A sharp
Tears welled up in Jameson's eyes. He bit his lip until it turned white. He played a man who felt wronged and pitiful from being misunderstood by the love of his life so well. He was so immersed in playing this character that he had forgotten—he was the man who brought Alyssa these deadly troubles.Alyssa stared at him. Inexplicable emotions swirled in her lifeless eyes."What happened? Can you tell me, Lyse? What did I do to have caused such a misunderstanding? Even if I were to die, I need to die with proper closure!" Jameson kept asking questions. His forehead was dripping with cold sweat.The elegant and dignified Jameson Schmidt had never been so disheveled.Alyssa knew she wouldn't be able to get anything out of him all along. Her statements were a calculated warning to Jameson, intending to apply pressure. She aimed to induce panic, hoping he might inadvertently reveal something. She also wanted to use this cruel way to tell him to stop having fantasies of her. They woul
Alyssa had her back facing Jameson. She didn't say a single word.She had trouble untangling her messy thoughts. As she was about to enter the house, the door opened."Mandy?" Alyssa was shocked to see Mandy come out.Mandy smiled at her. Her face turned glum when she looked at Jameson. "Mr. Jameson, my husband wants to see you. Please.""What did you say? Dad wants to see him?"Alyssa's eyes widened. She tried her best to calm herself down. "He is sick. What is he trying to do?"Helplessness swirled in Mandy's eyes. "Your dad asked for this, so I am merely relaying the message.""Thank you for inviting me in personally, Mrs. Taylor."Jameson subtly adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and a dark glint flickered in his eyes. An unconscious smile graced his lips. …After Jameson entered Heightsnew Villa, Mandy escorted him to the study to meet Winston.The Taylors usually entertained guests in the guest room or parlor. After all, to a man, the study was as sacred and private as
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