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.
On the same night, Alyssa and Jasper decided to move back home. Before they left, Lauren cried her heart out in Alyssa's arms, crumpling Alyssa's black dress in her tight grip and staining Alyssa's outfit in tears.People would have thought the two were saying a final farewell.Alyssa spent some time consoling Lauren and promised to visit. Besides that, she reminded Landon to bring Lauren out for fresh air instead of treating her like a bird in a gilded cage.Landon immediately vowed to do so. Hugging his crying wife, the two stood at the entrance and watched as Alyssa and Jasper departed.On the journey, Alyssa couldn't hold back anymore. Tears slid down her cheeks like fallen stars in the night sky."Lyse, don't cry." Jasper breathed heavily when he saw her crying. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and offered a comforting hug. He rubbed his chin on her hair, saying, "You'll see each other again. If you miss Lauren, just invite her to stay at our place."Or how about I buy
Days of worry had driven Tatiana to the brink of insanity. Shedding tears, she said, "Mom and I tried to come up with a solution. The Lynch family tried to get help, but we all failed to get him out.""What? Why did you only tell me now?" Alyssa gasped, her heart leaping into her mouth."Lyse, keep calm. You don't want to scare Taty," reminded Jasper. He held his hand and gently calmed her down. "Tell Taty not to panic and share everything with you."Taking a deep breath, Alyssa apologized with guilt. "Sorry, Taty. I was too harsh on you earlier. Don't cry. Tell me everything. I'm eager to know which idiot laid a finger on my staff. I'll make them pay for it!"Although they were panicking, Jasper had to stifle a laugh when he heard Alyssa's adorable threat."It's… It's the Schmidts." Tatiana sobbed. "I think his family was upset that he got beaten up after what happened to me. They're now giving Sean trouble."Sean was arrested for aggravated assault. David Schmidt even underwe
Alyssa widened her eyes, staring blankly at Jasper's attractive side profile. Tatiana fell silent on the other end of the line. She was sobbing quietly."What's wrong? One of you is staring at me. The other one went quiet." Grinning, he pinched Alyssa on her cheeks. "Is no one willing to trust me?""No, that's not it…" Tatiana said with gratitude, "Jasper, thank you so much for helping Sean. I'm really thankful.""We're family. Don't mention it." Once Jasper soothed Tatiana's emotions, he hung up and instructed Xavier, "Make a turn. Let's head to the police station."Xavier immediately made a U-turn."Jasper, what's your plan?" Worry was etched on Alyssa's face. On the contrary, he appeared calm. "No matter what, let's focus on saving Sean for now." Sighing, Jasper locked his fingers with her and tightened his grip. "Taty and Sean went through a lot just to be together. I do not wish to see them going through a tough time anymore. I want to protect them from harm."Alyssa held
Alyssa's formidable presence hung over Gabe like the sword of Damocles. He chuckled nervously. "How about some tea for now?""It's fine. That's some truly expensive tea that I can't possibly accept," Alyssa addressed him coldly, crossing her legs. "Release my secretary from detention. This is a private matter between the Taylors and the Schmidts. Stay out of this if you still want a promotion and want to avoid trouble."Alyssa had always gone straight to the point without wasting time. That nearly wiped off Gabe's smile, but he persisted, "Ms. Alyssa, I understand your feelings, but based on my three decades of experience dealing with multiple cases in the department, those brought in are mostly guilty."Sean Lynch might be one of your staff, but he has committed aggravated assault after beating up David Schmidt. Besides, I've turned in the assessment results to my superiors."Frowning deeply, Alyssa tightened her fists on the arm of the chair. Gabe went on, "You might be two imp
Gabe nearly shed tears of relief when Josh showed up to the rescue. Following closely behind Josh was Simon Lynch, to everyone's surprise.After the call just now, Josh was plagued by concern and decided to drop by. He also reached out to Simon and updated the latter, inviting him to settle this issue concerning David.Initially, Simon thought of refusing as he had not gotten over Josh's humiliation. However, when he learned of Alyssa and Jasper's intervention, he immediately grabbed the chance to humiliate the couple.Alyssa gritted her teeth as rage flashed across her eyes. Josh's despicable face resembled that of a movie villain."Mr. Schmidt, I had no idea you engaged Simon Lynch's legal assistance." Jasper snickered. "You probably know his relationship to Sean, don't you?""Of course. So what?" Josh flashed a malicious smile. "Is there anything wrong with hiring Simon Lynch, the top attorney, to work on my brother's case?""Why doesn't Simon Lynch support his own brother? In
"Sean? Why would he?" Alyssa's mind went blank. Had Jasper not held her right in time, she would have lost her balance."Is this true? Has Sean Lynch admitted to all the charges?" Gabe's eyes lit up. He repeatedly checked the document for confirmation."It's true, Chief. It's in black and white. Sean Lynch has admitted to assaulting David Schmidt, and he's willing to receive the punishment."The turn of events was a welcomed change for the Schmidts. Despite sending in different policemen across shifts to continuously interrogate Sean, Sean did not budge at all. He'd rather be imprisoned indefinitely than admit to his guilt. But why the change of mind? What exactly happened?"Lyse, how are you feeling?" Jasper was concerned by Alyssa's pale face. He hugged her tight on her waist and sensed her body stiffening. He felt sorry for her."Sean did not do anything wrong. Why did he admit to his guilt?" Alyssa's eyes filled with hatred. She shook her head indignantly. "Is he an idiot? H
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