Jasper might be tacit and reserved, but he always managed to surprise at crucial moments.Alyssa squinted at him, and when no one was watching, she softly elbowed him. Her scent that wafted in his direction made him blush as he pressed his lips. She covered her laugh when she saw his reddened cheeks. Jasper was like a naïve schoolboy.His shyness was a stark contrast to his behavior in bed at night, where he devoured her like a predator."Sophie, just finish a drink. A few sips should be enough," Javier told Sophia.With a glint in his eyes, he lowered his voice and warned, "Don't be a party pooper."Sophia felt her chest tighten. She stiffly raised her glass and downed the contents. Even Betty silently worried for her mom, who acted as though she was drinking poison.Jameson keenly observed the interaction between Alyssa and Jasper, feeling as though they were onto something. However, he had no idea what was going on.Zeke took his seat beside Ezzo, clenching his jaw and lookin
"Dr. McAllister, you promised to hand me the syringes at the horseracing event, didn't you?" Eyes wide open, Sophia pressed on, "You're not going against your word, are you? Will I see you today?"Tristan chuckled. "Why? Do you miss me?" His question was loaded with mockery instead of flirting."Dr. McAllister … Tristan! I miss you. I miss you like crazy!" Sophia called out to him urgently.All she wanted was the miraculous pill in his hands. She would give up anything, including her dignity for that."After the race ends, make your way to the lounge at Racecourse No. 2 by yourself. It will be deserted as everyone else will be at Racecourse No. 1. I'll meet you there."Nodding fervently, Sophia looked excited as she promised, "Sure! I will be there!"…After the fascinating opening ceremony performances, the race kicked off.There were two notable events at the annual horseracing event, with one being the All-Horse Parade. To show off their wealth, the distinguished families wo
"A million?" Victor guessed."Ten million," Jonah revealed.Jonah, born into wealth, seemed to have an unusual definition of a small sum of money.Victor, cheered up by Jonah's lone support, said, "Thank you for your support, Jonah!""Pfft. Careful not to lose your shirt." Winston did not hold back when he addressed his son.Jameson asked softly, "Lyse, which horse will you bet on?"Without looking at him, Alyssa said flatly, "I'm not betting. It's best to stay away from gambling."With Alyssa remaining hostile to him, Jameson tried to shrug it off and turned to speak to Winston instead. "Uncle Winston, I'll join in on the fun too. I am betting on Blaze from KS Group. Just like Mr. Jonah, I'm putting down ten million."Victor nodded approvingly at his youngest son's move."Not bad, Jimmy. You've got good taste. At least, you're better than my son," Winston remarked with a smile.Once again, Jameson had scored points with Winston."Well, this is just entertainment. What matte
Jasper and Alyssa might have only exchanged glances without a word, but everyone felt the affection between them. No words were needed when two people were in love. The way they looked at each other and their actions were proof.Victor frowned and turned to Winston, who appeared equally troubled. Alyssa grumbled at Jasper, "Fine! I don't care. You're an ATM yourself, so bet however much you'd like." She turned away with a faint smile.Meanwhile, Jameson was fuming because he had been ignored. Jasper noticed the change on Jameson's exquisite face, giving off a devilish feeling.Instead of feeling triumphant, Jasper worried that Jameson might be scheming again, and he didn't want to see Alyssa hurt. So, he closely followed behind her, offering her protection, as dependable as a rock.The tycoons had placed their bets by now. Landon didn't bet on the Becketts' or the Taylors' horses. He took Lauren's suggestion and bet on a shiny racehorse that didn't seem very competitive, all beca
Still, Javier confidently addressed Ezzo, "Mr. Ezzo, the Beckett Group owns our racecourses in Solana City and other cities. We're considered the most experienced in developing racecourses."Hearing that, Cornelius scoffed under his breath. "Pfft. That's very cocky of him."Victor could no longer hold back and opined, "Mr. Javier, the Beckett Group indeed owns racecourses, but it's an overstatement to claim that you're the most experienced in building one. We're the host of the horseracing event this year. You do know that this is the largest racecourse in Solana City, don't you?"Javier calmly argued, "That's because it's built new. Back in the day, the Beckett Group was unrivaled."Equally irked, Victor countered with an example of Winston's, "The KS Group built its racecourse 30 years ago. Not only was it the largest in the country, but it is also the only racecourse in Belbanks until today. Quite a stretch to say that you're the most experienced in racecourse building when Wins
To Jasper's surprise, Alyssa frowned and decisively stepped on his toes with her heels, sending pain across his body. It was one thing to have his expensive tailored shoes ruined; it was another to suffer from a crushing pain."Behave yourself, Mr. Beckett," Alyssa chirped and flicked her hair. Strands of her hair brushed against his cheek, tempting him. She warned, "If you don't, I'll see to it that your toes are crushed by horse hooves."Lowering his gaze, he croaked, "When we get home, can we—""We'll talk about that later," she cut him off.Despite her stubbornness, she was overwhelmed by embarrassment. Her lashes flickered.Meanwhile, Jasper felt sorry for himself. It seemed that Alyssa had the final say when it came to intimacy."I believe everyone here has a rich experience in maintaining racecourses and horse breeding. It's a close fight." Ezzo seemed excited. An idea crossed his mind. This was a great chance to test them out. "Why don't we start a little competition at
All eyes were on Winston. He asked sternly, "What's wrong?""Our equestrian was injured by another horse when he was on a stroll with Blaze."The Taylors exchanged shocked glances. Eyes widening, Winston gasped with concern, "What? How's he doing? He's safe, right?"Winston might be a ruthless businessman, but he was exceptionally generous to his residence staff. More than the competition, he was worried about the condition of the equestrian.Neil wiped away his sweat. "He suffered from multiple injuries and a broken elbow, but he's overall fine. I've arranged for him to be sent to the hospital. Anyway, he can't participate in the race anymore."Winston let out a long sigh. "Gosh. Oh, well, I'm glad he's fine."Lyla softly reminded them, "Whose horse was responsible for that? The owner must be held accountable.""Don't worry, Madam Lyla. The Taylors will not be taken advantage of. I've taken care of the matter. The owner will assume full responsibility."Putting aside the matte
Alyssa's decision blew Zoe's mind. Betty guffawed and teased her, "Wow, you're great at making predictions, aren't you?""Hmph! Let her be. She'll only overexert herself and fall on all fours!" Zoe's teeth clattered from rage as she stared hatefully at Alyssa's confident expression.Winston was doubtful and concerned. "Lyse, can you do it?""Dad, you know me best." She winked playfully at her father.Winston, Lyla, and Jonah exchanged gazes. Alyssa might be adept at horse riding, but horse racing was an entirely different matter."Ms. Alyssa, horse racing is not a child's play. Moreover, this race concerns an important business opportunity and your family's reputation. It's fine to stay out of the race. Better than falling off the horse in the race, don't you think? Mr. Taylor would be heartbroken if that happened," Cornelius remarked.He was subtly warning her about losing face in the race, which was worse than losing the race itself. Everyone present assumed that she would lose
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