Despite putting on a brave face, Josh had been gripped by fear. His legs went weak. Simon kept his silence under Jonah's intimidating gaze.Alyssa found herself moved by Jonah's protectiveness. Knowing Jonah, he was aloof and rarely displayed his emotions. Apart from family and Sean, he showed no care for almost anyone else.Hence, she was surprised by his unusual action toward Julien. At the same time, she noticed Julien gazing at Jonah tenderly, prompting her to muse over their seemingly intimate connection. Why did they look like a couple in her eyes?Before she could delve further into her thoughts, Simon interjected, "Mr. Jonah, Sean will face assault charges even if we start anew. According to the law, confirmed assault, supported by a medical expert, carries a three-year sentence. Sean can't escape his fate."Simon argued vehemently, displaying a hostility that made it hard to believe he was Sean's older brother. The materialistic and selfish world had transformed him into a
Feces? What the heck?Alyssa and Jasper exchanged looks while Jonah glanced at Julien's feminine and alluring face in astonishment.Simon gaped at Julien as well. His eyes lit up with fury. He trembled in panic, fear, and humiliation at the thought of that night."You… You…" Simon covered his mouth as he heaved."Attorney Lynch, you look like you're in great pain." Julien took a step backward and stood next to Jonah as though Simon was infectious. Grinning wittily, he sneered, "Anyway, your mouth is as filthy as the toilet, so I bet you didn't feel anything. We've put the feces in the right place."Had Simon's mouth been stuffed with feces? It was a revelation more shocking than David's public nudity show.The memories of the stench haunted Simon. He covered his mouth and dashed out of the door."Hahaha! That was hilarious! I can't with him!" Julien burst out laughing, tears almost rolling down his cheek. He elbowed Jonah and questioned, "Hey, why aren't you guys laughing? I can
"Did you just learn about it? How could you date me without knowing anything about my family? Hm?" Alyssa playfully flicked Jasper on the forehead and remarked, "All of my stepmothers hail from pretty unusual families."Jasper flashed her a wry smile. He turned numb upon learning about Alyssa's family background. Never would he have associated Colene with the Ivory Gang leader."Lyse, you can't blame him. Marc has never exposed Colene's identity to anyone aside from a few confidantes and the gang members," Jonah interjected.He addressed Jasper in a much friendlier manner because he was in a great mood after dealing with Simon Lynch. "The underworld is dangerous. He had to do so to protect his only daughter."Jasper smiled, feeling touched by Jonah's amicability. Jonah might appear cold and distant on the outside, but he was warm inside, just like Jasper."Yeah, that's right. Marc detested Winston for marrying her precious daughter and even threatened to cut ties with Colene over
However, Sean lost his composure and teared up when he saw Jonah and Julien tagging along with Alyssa and Jasper. What had he done to deserve their concern?"Sean." Jonah grinned, lightening up the mood. "You must have suffered. We're here to take you home.""Mr. Jonah—" Sean choked on his tears and struggled to speak.All of a sudden, Alyssa dashed over to face off with Sean before Jasper could react to it. Jasper's heart raced upon seeing that, and he tensed up.He thought Alyssa had calmed down, but she seemed incensed the moment she saw Sean."Why did you admit to your guilt?" Panting heavily, she blushed in anger.Sean grappled with the piercing pain upon hearing her question. His dry lips parted. "Ms. Alyssa… I'm sorry."Rage colored her teary eyes. She lifted her arm, ready to punch Sean in the face."Lyse, no!""Lyse!"Sean did not move at all. His eyes grew mistier. Finally, she landed the punch on his shoulder. She hissed, "Why did you do that? Are you crazy? We sho
Alyssa and the others followed in the direction of Sean's passionate gaze. They found Tatiana standing alone under the dim streetlight. Her hair fluttered in the night breeze, bristling against the tear stains on her face."Sean," she called out to Sean in a melancholic tone as tears streamed down her cheeks. She was nearly enveloped by the darkness. It was a pitiful sight that was heartbreaking to watch.Sean ran toward her without hesitation and hugged her with all his might. He maintained his composure, but his ragged breathing betrayed him. "Why are you here at this hour? It's dangerous to be out alone at night.""Sean, I'm waiting for your release. I missed you so." She cried harder, staining his shoulders with her tears.She had been waiting before dusk, even calling Alyssa and Jasper for help at the same spot. She waited for Sean to be released, no matter how long it'd take."Me too. I missed you like crazy." He felt sorry for her and gently wiped away her tears.Then, h
"Why? Do you finally notice me beside you?" teased Julien while he admired Jonah's perfect side profile. He grumbled, "You've been ignoring me for a good half an hour. I was thinking of ignoring you forever if you kept giving me the cold shoulder."Despite being fatally attracted to Julien's childlike behavior, Jonah hid his feelings and asked calmly, "Do you often join Mandy and the others for tea?""Yeah.""You're a young man. Don't you feel bored when you hang out with a bunch of middle-aged ladies?" Jonah scrutinized Julien. "You led a carefree life in Mosgravia. There's no need to suppress your wants. Just do anything you feel like doing.""What if you can't handle me if I let go of myself?" Julien drawled and cast an irresistibly flirtatious look at Jonah.Jonah felt bitter, but he remained as distant as ever. "That's none of my business.""Oh, right. You're busy with your work as the president. You won't have time to worry about me," replied Julien with a hint of disappo
It was afternoon when Alyssa woke up the next day. She might be sleepy, but Jasper, a light sleeper, had woken up after a few hours of sleep.Even after he woke up, he did not leave the room at all. Instead, he worked remotely on the couch, handling the group's affairs and guarding by her side."Ah—" Suddenly, Alyssa jerked awake and shot up in bed. Jasper immediately put down his work and went up to hug her. He asked gently, "What's wrong, Lyse? Was it a nightmare?"She patted herself on the chest. Then, she grabbed his hand with a flushed face. "Jasper, guess what was in my dream?"He swallowed hard and attempted to kiss her, but she shunned him and exclaimed, "Jonah and Julien got married in my dreams!""Hmm?" Jasper stared at her in surprise. She added, "Our entire family was at the wedding. And I caught Julien's bouquet!"Jasper looked pretty speechless."I woke up right as they were about to kiss. Damn it! Why do I have to wake up at the most important time?" She slid her
After washing up, Alyssa changed and went downstairs for lunch with Jasper. It had been a while since she enjoyed Mrs. Rosie's cooking, and she wolfed down the food as Mrs. Rosie watched on with a motherly look. "Wow! It's delicious!" Alyssa licked her lips and burped after finishing the food. Then, she handed Mrs. Rosie the plate and said, "Mrs. Rosie, one more plate, please! Pile as much food as you can on it!""Roger that, Madam Alyssa!" Mrs. Rosie happily went to refill the plate for Alyssa. Like any parent, she felt glad to see Alyssa eating well."Lyse, take your time. You don't want to stuff yourself," Jasper reminded Alyssa dotingly.He picked a napkin and wiped away the grease on her lips."Why aren't you eating? Are you on a diet?" She leaned toward him and enjoyed his service."I'm not too hungry.""You should have told me earlier! Mrs. Rosie makes wicked seafood dishes. I left some for you because I'm worried there wasn't enough food for us!" She reached out for the
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