Landon was a master in the art of flirting, after all."Do you want me to break your bones for real, Mr. Harper?" Alyssa gritted her teeth and fired back. Her eyes were spitting fire.Landon dared not take a step closer. Acting pitiful, he stumbled backward. "Ms. Taylor, that was a joke! You scared me! I'm the victim, anyhow. "What more do you want from me after the hitting, yelling, and ruining my outfit? I can't possibly show up to lunch with my mom in this outfit. Shouldn't you at least get me some new clothes?"Alyssa admitted that she had overdone it. Landon was slightly more reasonable compared to the socially difficult Jasper. When Liana and the gang bullied her, it was Landon who got back at them on her behalf. She always remembered his kindness in her heart."My secretary will get you a new outfit. He'll also book you a room for a shower and rest. How does that sound?" She might look indifferent, but she was quite thoughtful."Oh, that's a lot of trouble. Why don't yo
"Lia, this is your chance to turn the tables!" Rosaline excitedly pinched Liana. "Make an excuse and get Mr. Jasper here. He must witness this scene. This will force him to give up on that little whore!""B-But Mom, he's at work now. He rarely goes shopping on the weekends with me, not to mention on a weekday. And …" Liana lowered her voice with a mysterious gleam in her eyes. She continued, "I've gained his favor with the relapse of my 'severe depression.' I need to behave well to win his heart. It's not the time to stir trouble.""You dimwit!" Rosaline jabbed Liana on the forehead. "It's unreasonable to make him spend time with you during work hours. But things are different if you have a solid excuse. It will be a chance to take your relationship to the next level!"She went off, "Being naively considerate is the start of a tragedy! Men are contradictory and shameless, you know. They don't like obedient women. "You'll boost his ego and self-worth if you look for his help imme
A few steps away, Landon and Alyssa walked in Jasper's direction. A tall and handsome man with a cold beauty by his side, they were a match made in heaven.Jasper felt his eyes twitching in rage. He also noticed the shopping bag in Landon's hand. Did the two shop together?However, Alyssa didn't see Jasper and Liana because she was too engrossed in Landon, who was telling a joke animatedly. She looked into Landon's eyes, and they both chuckled.Jasper felt a weight on his chest. The sight pained his eyes. Landon sensed an air of hostility and looked up. His eyes widened in shock. "Jasper! Why are you here?"Alyssa finally noticed Jasper and his sour face. Her gaze swept past Liana, who was in his arms, and a smirk appeared across her face.Knowing it was her chance, Liana held Jasper tighter and glared at Alyssa to claim him. Alyssa was unbothered by the action. In the past, she might have been envious of Liana, but she felt nothing but calm at the moment.To her, Jasper and
What a bastard!"Jasper, my chest hurts …" Liana hurriedly went up to him and rested her head against his shoulder as she grumbled. "Since you're here, why don't we go shopping? You've never shopped with me. Look at Mr. Harper going shopping with Ms. White …"Jasper followed Alyssa's figure with his eyes."Fine."…Alyssa shuffled away, looking upset. Her ex-husband's sudden appearance was a buzzkill that ruined her good mood."Hey," she suddenly called out. Landon answered with a twinkle in his eye, "I'm here.""I'm in a bad mood. Why don't you share a few more jokes?"Landon was speechless at her request. "Well, I can certainly do that. If you're looking to cheer up, I can gather a few people and have fun at ACE tonight.""It's fine. I don't drink with guys I don't know." She shot him a cold look. "By the way, aren't you worried that Jasper might unfriend you if we keep hanging out?""Fuck. You guys are divorced. Even if it's not official yet, it's almost certain. I didn't
The fight over a necklace between the two influential men in Solana City, who each owned a Centurion Card, was the event of a century.The employee stammered in shock at the sight of the two black cards. "S-Sir, we only have one necklace left …""I know." Jasper looked away from Alyssa. "I am buying it exactly because there's only one."Liana almost jumped for joy as she awaited Jasper to give her the necklace. Alyssa pursed her lips at Jasper's insistence as bitterness welled up in her heart. He'd get Liana anything she wanted at all costs. When it came to Alyssa, though, he paid no attention to her feelings."Ignore him. Please charge it to my card and wrap the gift!" Landon arched his brows and rapped his knuckles on the glass display. "First come, first served.""Landon Harper." Jasper frowned. Landon stared at Jasper's sullen face and lowered his voice, "Jasper, you know me. There are not many women I'd like to buy a gift for. Can't you let me have my way this time, conside
Alyssa hastily went to the underground parking lot. "M-Ms. White! Alice!" Landon ran up to her and held her by the wrist. She spun around and cast an indifferent gaze at him."Let go.""What's wrong? Is it because of Jasper?" His throat tightened as he apologized gently, "I'm sorry. I didn't know he'd be here. Had I known, I wouldn't have brought you here."Alyssa was riddled with heartache when she thought of the box that Jasper had wanted to give her. She didn't need him to make up to her."Here. I'm returning this." She lowered her neck and took off the necklace, which she returned to Landon. "Anyway, thanks for the gift. Sorry, but I can't accept it."He was struck by her change of mind. "Were you taking advantage of me just now?""Sorry." Gloom crept over her face.Instead of feeling angry, Landon felt bad for her. He could tell that she needed more time to get over Jasper. No matter how long that'd take, he was willing to wait for her."It's fine. It's not a big deal. Y
Landon was frightened by the callous look in Jasper's eyes.Jasper had never been more incensed—not even when Liana left him and traveled abroad. Landon was merely joking, which was characteristic of him—wealthy but indiscreet, even more so in front of his good friends.He never thought that he'd cross a line by making a joke. It confirmed that the topic of Jasper's ex-wife was taboo.The bartender paled at the sight. Not many in Solana City had the guts to grab Landon Harper by his collar."Jasper, have you … fallen for Alice?" Landon had sobered up, and he was drenched in cold sweat."Haven't you noticed that you've been acting funny since the divorce?" Landon cast a deep look at him. "I'm your only friend from childhood. Aren't you going to tell me the truth?""I don't love her," Jasper growled."Fine, got it. I'll take your word for it.""Landon Harper!"Landon ignored Jasper's wrath and added, "Jasper, I'll repeat myself. If you have fallen for Alice and wish to get bac
"I tried pursuing my true love, only to be badly scarred." Alyssa tasted bitterness on her lips. She wore a crushed expression. "I met the right person at the wrong time. I'd never love again."Jonah furrowed his brows, concerned for his sister, who had given up on hope at her tender age. He tried a different approach and chuckled good-naturedly. "Lyse, chin up! You must have fallen hard for Jasper because you saw something in him. You didn't waste your youth on him. What can we say other than the two of you aren't destined for each other.""I thought I had good taste in men. I thought my lover was the perfect man. Looking back, I must have been blind …"Alyssa's phone vibrated. It was a call from Sean."Sean, what's wrong?" She picked up the call. "Ms. Alyssa! I finally got hold of you. The signal on your side is so crappy!" Sean gulped in excitement and went on, "Check Twitter's livestream feed now! Betty Beckett is live-streaming a press conference. She's offering a public a
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