Winston inhaled sharply. Steam was almost coming out of his ears! Angelina was not someone who was easily amused. But watching Winston and Cyrus bicker almost made her smile. They looked like such a loving and harmonious father-son duo. Then, they heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Lauren was carrying a tray. Carefully, she walked up to Winston and placed the teacups on the table."Mr. Taylor, please have some tea." Lauren's voice was gentle. As Winston watched her adorable face, he couldn't help but feel like doting on her. He smiled and said in a warm tone, "Oh? Hello, Lauren. I didn't expect to see you here. Are you here to keep Alyssa company?" "I… I… Yes." Lauren flushed red with shyness. She wasn't dumb. She knew she couldn't answer by saying she was cohabiting with Landon. So, she could only give an awkward, perfunctory reply. "Anyway, that's not important!" Winston beamed with joy. He pulled Lauren closer to him and looked at her closely. "You aren't attac
"Oh, I see. I thought it was someone else." Winston didn't take Angelina's words seriously at all. He looked toward Cyrus as if he was about to entrust him with an important task. "You say that Landon will be asking for Lauren's hand in marriage. That means that he has yet to propose officially. Just because a goalkeeper is standing at the goalpost doesn't mean scoring is impossible. You still have a chance, Cyrus." Cyrus held his head in his hands. He was frustrated. He really wished that he could dig a hole for himself and hide in it right now. Just as Winston finished speaking, they heard the sound of quick and urgent footsteps approaching. "Winston! Why did you bring a whole troop of your people to our yard? What are you trying to do? Take the house down?" Alyssa had one hand on her hips. She glared at Winston angrily. Her emotional and mental state had settled down at this point in time, thanks to the power of love. She was no longer going to resist or fear facing off ag
The atmosphere in the living room turned frosty in an instant. Cyrus recognized that he couldn't and wouldn't be able to persuade Alyssa. If he tried, he would only make the situation worse. So, he retreated discreetly. Angelina also brought Lauren away, leaving space for the rest to talk. Jasper held his breath. His hands were trembling. Subconsciously, he reached out, wanting to hold Alyssa's hand. But, he stopped midway and curled his fingers in. He really didn't want Alyssa to leave. He was never a coward. When he loved someone, he would love them fully. When there was someone he hated, he hated them to the core. It was just that he was indebted to Alyssa. At the same time, he felt guilt toward Winston. No matter if it was the three years of heart-rending marriage or Alyssa's miscarriage… These were all his fault. He was the one who hurt Winston's precious daughter. He had committed an unpardonable sin. He didn't mind if Winston berated him or even beat him up again.
"Did you mean that?" Cyrus jumped. He turned around immediately. He hadn't realized that Lauren was behind him. She was hugging a brown fluffy teddy tightly and looking at him sheepishly. Lauren looked adorable to him at that moment. Cyrus's gaze became slightly deeper. He laughed light-heartedly and answered in a warm tone, "Of course I meant it. Did you paint this?" "Yeah, I did." Lauren nodded. "You must have put a lot of thought and emotions into it. It took quite a bit of effort, didn't it?" "Mm… That's alright. The most important thing is that Landon likes it." Lauren's eyes lit up at the mention of Landon. She smiled sweetly, and her face blushed pink. "Landon treats me very well. There is not much I can give him, so I just did this painting as a gift. I'm glad that he likes it." Cyrus' heart skipped a beat. Throughout all these years of being a police officer, he was always immersed in the dark side of the world. Every day, he fought fiercely with countless
Alyssa burst out laughing. She put the apron over Jasper's neck and then tied it around his waist. "Well, I have to say that Lyla has been feeding my dad well all these years. He has become an extremely picky gourmand."Jasper gulped, then took a deep breath. "But don't you worry. I will be here to guide you. You just have to follow my instructions, and you won't be too far off." Tenderness filled Jasper's eyes. He pulled Alyssa in for an embrace and planted a loving kiss on her forehead. "Yes, ma'am!"…"No! You've got the sequence wrong! You should've put the meat in first! " "Oh, no! That's too much vinegar!" "Oh, my! It's burning! You've got to flip it!" Jasper and Alyssa were making a racket in the kitchen, giving the impression that they were creating chaos. Initially, Winston sat in the living room with his eyes shut and resting. When he heard the commotion, he couldn't help but peer at the kitchen. The kitchen on the ground floor of the manor had an open conc
One agonizing hour later, Jasper served up a few fairly presentable dishes on the dining table. He could manage simple dishes. Once the complexity of the dishes had increased, he realized he wasn't talented at cooking! Moreover, these were dishes he had completed under Alyssa's supervision. If he had relied on himself, dinner would most likely be served at midnight. By the time Jasper was done, his forehead was covered in sweat. His white shirt was also completely soaked in his sweat. Alyssa noticed all these, and her heart ached for him. She picked up a piece of tissue to wipe his sweat for him. She pouted, "Winston is so troublesome. He has so many cooks at home. There is also Lyla, who is such a capable cook. Why did he insist on staying when he could have all the scrumptious food at home? He's just making things difficult for others!" "Lyse, you and Mr. Taylor haven't seen each other in a long time. Plus, you said it yourself that he can stay and try my cooking." Jasp
Surprisingly, the dinner turned out to be a peaceful meal. Winston and Alyssa seemed to have a tacit understanding of one another. Neither of them made any mention of the things that would make each other upset. "Woah! Are you all having a feast by yourselves? How could you!" Cyrus came over after being tired of strolling around the house. He was also hungry, so he sat himself down at the dining table too. "That wasn't very hospitable of you, Lyse. Why didn't you call me over when there's a feast here? I don't even have an appetite as big as Silas'. Were you afraid that I'd gobble everything up?" Winston and Alyssa looked at Cyrus. In unison, they exclaimed, "Oh! I forgot about you!"…After dinner, Winston got ready to leave. Alyssa stood on the steps as she watched Winston and Neil depart. As for Jasper, he wasn't just going to stand and watch. He walked them straight to their car. Before Winston got into the car, he paused. He stood up tall and looked at Jasper with
Winston said, "Everything else aside, there was one thing Lyse said that hurt me. She said that I had never known what her mother wished for…"Winston closed his eyes slowly. Tears moistened his long lashes, casting a sense of loneliness under the street lights. "Who else in this shitty world, other than myself, would understand her?" asked Winston. "Mr. Taylor, Ms. Alyssa is young. She hasn't experienced many of the things you've been through, so she's still ignorant." Neil let out a long sigh. "If she gets a chance to know everything about Mrs. Taylor in the future, she will come to understand your good intentions." …After Winston left, Angelina accompanied Lauren upstairs to rest. Alyssa and Cyrus sat in the living room to chat. "I wasn't the tattletale, Lyse. I swear!" Cyrus exclaimed with three of his fingers lifted. "I know. We Taylors are not such jackasses. Even Liam, who hates Jasper the most, would never use such a cheap method to pressure us via Winston." Alys
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