But Alyssa was the love of his life. How could Jameson bear to destroy her?"Have you thought about what your next move is?" A subtle threat was woven into the man's languid voice."Sir, give me one last chance!" Jameson's face was as pale as a ghost. A sinister vibe emanated from Jameson like a demon struggling to escape hell. "Isn't your research center working on a drug that can induce heart paralysis? Could you provide me with one of those?""Hmm? What do you plan to do with that?" The man laughed mockingly. "Don't tell me you plan to use one of those on yourself."Mr. Schmidt, you are overestimating yourself. Haven't you stuck enough needles over the years? The drug hasn't passed its clinical trials yet. The risk is huge.""I know. But this is my only shot. I want to bet everything on it." Jameson's eyes were bloodshot. He was no longer thinking straight.The man sighed, "You still have so many years ahead of you and many other opportunities. Everything you do now is merel
Landon slowly walked into the room. He was worried about waking the love of his life from her dreams, so he took his shoes off and went into the room in just his socks.Lauren was curled under the blanket on the huge and spacious bed. Only her head protruded out. Her long black hair was scattered like ink dissipating on a white paper.Landon sat by the bedside, gazing deeply at his wife's pretty face. He brushed away a strand of hair from her face with his fingers.He was no longer looking around for anyone else. He only had eyes for Lauren."I can't believe so much had happened while I was away for such a short time."Landon gently caressed Lauren's smooth face with his coarse fingertips, continuing to trace her lips and beautiful neckline. "I always believed I was the only man in the world who had you on his mind. Your charm exceeds my wildest imagination. I won't take you out anymore. "What am I supposed to do if someone fancies you? You can't imagine how much I couldn't stan
Alyssa saw Landon approaching them, looking weak and sickly. She teased him immediately, "Gosh, Mr. Harper, what's wrong with you? Were you doing hard labor in your bedroom last night?""I… Never mind. Forget about it." He sighed in frustration. Where to start?He couldn't possibly speak ill of Alyssa's brother in front of her, or he'd land Jasper in trouble as well. As Jasper's brother from another mother, he didn't have the heart to do so.Alyssa knew he must have something on his mind, but she did not press on if he was reluctant to divulge."Do you want food? I'll make some for you," Jasper offered, turning around to look at Landon while busy with the cooking."Nah. I don't have appetite." Landon wandered to the fridge and opened the door to grab a bottle of water. Then, he downed the entire drink.Crumpling the empty bottle, he took a deep breath before announcing, "Lyse, Jasper, I will register my marriage with Lauren today."Caught by surprise, they gasped, "What? Today?"
"A love rival?" Alyssa rested her cheek on her palm while feeding Jasper blueberries. She mused, "It's quite unfathomable for Landon Harper to have a love rival. That's new."Jasper snickered. "Lauren's living a secluded life because you're overprotective. She doesn't have a chance to meet with anyone outside—it's just you and your secretary. She doesn't even have a healthy social life, so what's all that talk about a love rival? You must be dreaming.""Isn't that right?" Landon slammed a fist on the table as his voice broke from the tension.He recalled the scene from last night where Lauren mumbled the name of this guy, Cyrus, while sleeping in his arms. How could she call out the name of another man in her dreams?His heart immediately shattered into pieces.Alyssa shot him a piercing glance. "Do you mean my brother, Cyrus Taylor?"Jasper froze. He grappled with the far-fetched notion, struggling to imagine Lauren and Cyrus together.Landon widened his eyes, looking amazed. "
Xavier inhaled sharply and hurriedly replied, "No! Jetting around sounds cool, but there's no way I'm risking my life for that!""Come on, Jasper. We all know Xavier's loyal. Why fuss over a jet?" cooed Alyssa as she brushed her fingertip across Jasper's jawline. She squinted, looking regal and haughty. "I'll get you a better jet than Jameson's for your birthday this year. How does that sound?"Their exchange was envy-inducing. Alyssa was indeed a Taylor, having the wealth to buy a private jet as a gift.Jasper widened his eyes and held her hand with a straight face. "Lyse, I'm yours, but I'm not a kept man. I should be the one who buys it for you.""Pfft! Don't overthink it. Everything we own belongs to each other. Let's not waste time on nickel-and-dime stuff," she remarked generously, much to the envy of Landon and Xavier.Their interests lay not in a potential Sugar Mommy but in their shared enthusiasm for cars, tanks, and jets.Jasper shook his head bitterly. "Lyse, you don'
Angelina's face was tight with anger. "We had the upper hand initially, but we never thought that Inigo had called for backup! They were skilled in combat and ready to kill. It was a miracle that our men came home alive."Landon punched on the table, his knuckles cracking. Not only did they fail to capture Inigo, but the clash nearly cost the lives of Landon's men. Landon's ego was badly bruised."Mm… Landon… What's wrong? Who made you upset?"Frozen in shock, everyone turned to the stairs and found Lauren standing there. Wearing a crumpled white camisole dress and hugging a bear that Alyssa bought for her, she groggily rubbed her eyes, looking innocent.While she was speaking, one of the straps slid off her shoulder, offering a glimpse of her fair complexion. She was very close to exposing herself. Her neck and collarbone area were filled with hickeys, evidence of the passionate night she had spent with Landon.Xavier quickly shut his eyes in fear while Jasper shifted his gaze to
Alyssa lowered her gaze and kept her silence. Noting her dampening mood, Jasper held and caressed her hand. "Lyse, I know you feel sorry for Lauren, but Landon loves her. With his abilities and family background, he is more than capable of protecting her.""Yes, I know that. In fact, I am grateful to him." Alyssa's gratitude had nothing to do with Landon's acceptance of Lauren. She was thankful to God that Landon was able to see the good in Lauren and patiently stayed by her side.Shortly after, Landon returned to the living room, appearing more fatigued than ever. Jasper released a deep sigh. "Landon, that must've been tough for you.""She's my partner. I'll do anything for her." Landon did not blame Angelina for the oversight and resumed the conversation. "Where were we? Oh, right! I thought it over—Inigo is a wanted man who has no power in Solana City. How could he possibly bribe the locals into helping him out?"Could this be part of Jameson's plan? Is he secretly protecting In
"Lyse, what's on your mind?" Jasper questioned, visibly concerned.Landon and Angelina cast worried looks at her."Xavier made a great point there. We all know Jameson is cunning and ruthless. He could well get rid of Inigo discreetly, and that's something he has been working on, but his weapon of choice has just been delivered."When Landon and the others were trying to grasp the meaning behind her words, things clicked for Jasper. Jasper asked, "Are you referring to the private jet?"She nodded hard. Her eyes were filled with worry. "Jameson can't hurt Inigo on the ground; dealing with his enemy in the air is easier. Besides, once he flies Inigo out of Cyrris, we can't stop him anymore. He could do anything he wanted to that guy."That was a terrible yet brilliant move by Jameson.Looking agape at Alyssa and clapping like a seal, Landon praised, "Lyse, you're smart! You're godlike!""Stop flattering me. Think of a solution now," urged Alyssa, who felt a burden on her chest.
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