Sean's heart sank as he scrambled to the living room.Winston wasn't home at the moment. Apparently, he had received the news about Alyssa's daring escape. She had jumped from the second floor just to meet with Jasper. The enraged Winston hurried to Solana City with Neil.However, it was said that Jonah and Axel had stopped Winston during his journey. To stop Winston from separating the loving couple, Axel went to great lengths by puncturing the tire of Winston's car. No one knew where the two brothers had sent Winston.Only the women of the Taylor family were at home that night."Mom, you're not in great health. Take it slow." Simon helped Sinead Everton onto the couch and gently comforted her, "Now that we know Sean has been with Ms. Tatiana, you have nothing to worry about. "He's nearing his 30s, but this is his first relationship. Understandably, he's all excited. This is what you get for having a son. Once he marries a woman, well… "Anyway, Sean isn't a cold-blooded man.
Mandy flipped, resisting the urge to grab a fistful of soil from the flower pot and shove it into Sinead's mouth."Mom, what did you say?" Sean rushed down the stairs to his mom with resentful eyes. He seemed to be burning in rage. "What did you just say? How could you?"The sight of Sean with gauze on his left eye and bruises on his face worried Sinead. She cried, feeling bad for him. "Oh, my dear son. What has happened to you? Who did this to you? I'll kill him!"Then, she reached out to touch his face with a trembling hand, but he swatted it away. He threatened, "If you want me to see you as my mom, you need to stop being mean."Sean felt his blood boiling. "By the way, Taty is my woman. I won't marry anyone except for her. Don't ever associate her with that trash of the Schmidt family!""Sean, you… you…" Sinead was tongue-tied after being shamed by her son in public."Sean, what are you doing?" Simon went up to hold his mother, concern etched on his face. "Mom missed you a lo
Despite wanting to keep Tatiana company, Sean had no choice but to see his mom to the hospital.Silence descended on the living room after the massive family argument just now. Too shocked to speak, Lyla clutched her sleeve with one hand and held Mandy's arm with another."Lyla, are you okay?" Mandy caressed Lyla's cold hand."I'm fine," Lyla croaked."The Schmidts are rascals, but the Lynches are not better." Mandy shook her head indignantly. "I thought they'd at least be grateful for Winston's favor. These ingrates! Sean is a good guy, but his parents and brother are unbearable. I'm worried they'd bully Taty if she marries Sean.""Mandy, that's enough." Lyla closed her eyes and shook her head remorsefully. "It's not anyone's fault. I'm the one to blame. I'm too weak and useless to promise my daughter a happy marriage."Unbeknownst to them, Tatiana had witnessed the scene unfold from the second floor. She overheard Sinead and Simon's taunt, and she saw Sean going against his fam
One day, Simon was relishing the company of escorts and good wine at a premium lounge in a luxurious nightclub. The air was filled with smoke and the sounds from partying.Sitting across from him was the heir of the Schmidt Group, Josh Schmidt. The fact that Simon was invited to the party that night meant he had received the seal of approval from Josh. The Schmidts were considered one of his connections now.Now acquainted with the Becketts and the Schmidts, Simon had no reason to fear the Taylors anymore."Mr. Schmidt, it was just a small favor. You're too nice," Simon remarked energetically with an escort in his arm."It's just a few drinks. Don't mention it." Josh swirled the wine and lifted a brow in amusement. "This is nothing compared to your brilliant suggestion of suing your brother for aggravated assault."For one, this is a revenge for David. Someone needs to pay for the suffering he had been put through. Besides, this is a good chance to break up Sean and Ms. Tatiana. K
After a belch, Simon grumbled, "Damn it! Do you really believe I would have willingly joined your ridiculous little party if I hadn't bungled the Sophia Kirkman case?"He tugged on his tie and spat on the floor. "Just wait and see. I'll secure a perfect win at Sophia Kirkman's court hearing. You'll beg for my help then, and I won't even cast a look at you!"As he reached for his phone to call an Uber, a group of hooligans sporting colorful patterned shirts under their suits approached him. Grinning, they wielded sticks and swiftly closed in on him."W-What are you doing?" Simon's eyes widened. He instantly sobered up."Can't you tell? We're here to rough you up." Just then, someone struck Simon's back with a stick, causing him to crumple to the ground.Coughing, he growled, "Do you know who I am?" His bones seemed to have cracked under the pressure. Huddled on the ground, he continued shouting at them out of pride, "I'm an attorney—the legal counsel of the Beckett Group. The presi
After David was bailed out, the first thing he did was to fix his two broken front teeth. Then, he continued his playboy ways under the Schmidts' protection. Despite having bruises all over his face, he remained unbothered and hired a couple of young models to have fun with.For that, he took Viagra to treat his erectile dysfunction, but he ended up overdosing. His eyes rolled back, and he foamed from the mouth. He had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.Upon learning about the incident, Victor was frustrated and worried. He had no choice but to keep it to himself while discreetly searching for a way to treat David's condition.He felt fortunate that the Taylors had withdrawn their lawsuit against David. Hence, he decided to lay low for a while before thinking about revenge.On the other hand, Simon suffered a worse fate. He was beaten up at the parking garage and later stuffed with excrement in the mouth, just like Nathan had promised Colene. In the aftermath,
"Why can't I? I'm your wife!" Daisy could not be bothered to maintain her image as the congressman's wife. Instead, she grabbed Timothy by the collar and shook him hysterically. "How could you do this to me after all I've done for you, you heartless bastard?"Just as she was about to slap him, he grabbed her wrist and pinned her hands to the back. Losing her balance, she knocked against the door and inhaled sharply from the pain. "Argh!" She widened her eyes in shock as she complained, "How dare you hit me? I'm the daughter of the Schmidt family. Lay a finger on me? I'll tell my dad and Josh about this!""Tell them, then! I've had enough of you, you filthy bitch!" Timothy lost his cool and pointed a finger at her stunned face. "The election is around the corner. If you make a scene, all your efforts will go down the drain. You and I are chained by fate. If I go down, you'll go down with me!"The color drained from her face as she stared blankly at Timothy. She had never expected t
Alyssa had dreamed of hearing such loving words from Jasper's mouth for a long time, but they remained a dream. Now that Jasper clung to her and repeatedly showered her with sweet talk, she found it a little annoying.Every time he touched and kissed her, he'd set off fireworks in her mind. Succumbing to his charm, she allowed herself to fall deeper into him.Even if she did not express her love in the form of words, Jasper could tell from her reaction to him.Gathering herself, she wrapped his tie around her fingers. "Jasper, weren't you a gentleman in the past? Why are you like a dog that's gone into heat?"She suddenly covered her mouth upon realizing her wrong choice of words. He might have acted like a hot-blooded teenager, driven crazy by lust, but she decided to watch her mouth out of respect.To her surprise, he panted heavily, eyes dripping honey. He caressed her nape and pressed his forehead against hers, saying, "Lyse, I'm your dog."Her heart raced wildly as her cheek
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