Gina exclaimed, "I see that you've got a hidden agenda. You are on the same side as David! He was the one who arranged for you to come over and harm Maggie. Am I right?" Alyssa responded, "No! I…""You didn't have good intentions either! I can't believe that you operated on that bastard. You are just siding with the enemy! I want you to get out! Don't ever come and bother Maggie again!" Gina shouted painfully at Alyssa. Her eyes were bloodshot as she glared at her. Alyssa was anxious. Right before Gina could slam the door closed, Alyssa reacted speedily by putting her hand on the side of the door."Mrs. Madison! I am really here to help Maggie! Please hear me out!" In her anger, Gina picked up a newly-opened bag of laundry powder which was sitting on the window sill. Without another word, she flung it at Alyssa's face! Sweat formed on Alyssa's forehead. It was too late for her to dodge it.All of a sudden, she felt a strong force pushing her away. Immediately after, she foun
Jasper and Alyssa spun around immediately. "Taty?" they exclaimed at the same time. Alyssa widened her eyes. She was overjoyed. She let go of Jasper's hand and ran toward Tatiana, who was standing alone by the side. She gave Tatiana a warm hug. "How long have you been waiting for? Why didn't you go in? Mrs. Rosie is in. She recognizes you, and she'd let you in. Why were you just waiting here?" "I'm sorry for just showing up like this, Lyse. Sorry for bothering you and Jasper." Tatiana's voice sounded weak. Listening to her like that made Alyssa feel bad. "Don't be silly. Do you know how much I missed you?" Alyssa stroked Tatiana's soft cheeks and smiled. "Two days ago, your brother-in-law, Jasper, was just suggesting for us to go on a trip after this busy period. We can even travel around the world!" Jasper was stunned to hear Alyssa's words. In the next instance, his heart filled with warmth. His brows relaxed, and he broke into a smile. Tatiana had long acknowledged h
Jasper's hand was on Alyssa's waist. He pulled her in closer to him slowly. The corner of his lips curved upward as he gave her a helpless look. Alyssa consistently brimmed with captivating ideas, and her perpetual desire ensured there would never be a dull moment in her company."Lyse, I know you are just trying to comfort me." Even though Alyssa wasn't fussed, Tatiana couldn't help but feel an immense guilt weighing on her. Her eyes turned red as she said, "You wouldn't have been dragged into this if it wasn't because of me. "You wouldn't otherwise have become the Schmidt family's target for revenge. It's all my fault. I was too weak and stupid. That's how it came to this." Upon saying that, Tatiana's tears started flowing. Her teardrops dripped onto the back of her hand. This tugged at their heartstrings. Alyssa gave Jasper a look. He was taken aback. He then quickly leaned forward toward the tea table. He pulled two pieces of tissue from the tissue box and handed them to
Alyssa and Jasper were shocked. They exclaimed in unison, "What did you say, Taty?" After her deliberation, Tatiana's expression was calm and resolute. "It doesn't matter if I have to give my statement at the police station or testify against David in court. I will take the witness stand. I'm willing to do it. "I just want David to be brought to justice, and to ensure that justice is served on behalf of those women. No matter how immense the pressure, I can handle it." At this moment, it was as if the air around them had frozen. At first, Tatiana thought that they would strongly support her idea. To her surprise, both Alyssa's and Jasper's faces turned glum. They didn't say a word. "Even though David didn't get his way with me, it was still an assault attempt. Moreover, I'm sure that I will be able to garner the people's attention when I step forward to accuse him, especially with a status like mine. "Then, the Schmidts wouldn't be able to shut people up even if they wanted
The question from Tatiana caused the tension in the room to peak. Alyssa widened her eyes slightly. Grievance churned within her. Since childhood, Tatiana and Alyssa were always joined at the hip. Yet, they were having such an intense argument tonight. "What do you mean by that, Taty? Are you saying that I am someone who only cares about the safety of my family? And that I am egoistic and can't be bothered about others?" Jasper's heart was pounding. As the middle person, he was stuck in an awkward position. He gave Alyssa a light tug by the hem of her top. "Taty wouldn't think of you like that, Lyse. Don't overthink it." "I'm overthinking it? She should explain to me what she meant by that, then!" Alyssa plucked the corner of her top back from Jasper's grip. Jasper shuddered. He pressed his lips together bitterly. She could remain calm no matter how much the public swore at and ridiculed her. But now, it was obvious that she was furious. Jasper knew that what Alyssa
Alyssa pouted and muttered, "Why did you do that? If Mrs. Rosie were to see us… How embarrassing would that be?" "I didn't want you to jump into the sea in the south. So, I was just trying to calm you down." Jasper found it difficult to slow his breathing. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Do you feel better now?" "I'm okay but I still feel very wronged. I feel suffocated." Deep down, she was troubled. Her eyes watered and she sniffled. Her pitiful expression made Jasper's heart melt. He cupped her reddish cheeks. He felt the warmth from her cheeks on his palms. "Look at you. Your cheeks are burning like you're running a temperature. "You and Taty have always had a good relationship. It's not worth it for you both to get mad at each other because of that bastard from the Schmidt family. Don't be angry, alright?" "How could I be angry at Taty?" Dispirited, Alyssa lowered her eyes. "It's more like I'm mad at myself. I wasn't able to take David down for good. He ended up havin
"It's not a bad thing to cry. It's better for you to let it all out than to keep everything bottled up inside," Jasper responded. Not everyone in the world might understand her good intentions. But Jasper surely did. He gently pinched Alyssa's face and said, "Let's give time for both you and Taty to calm down. Tomorrow, we'll spare some time to see Taty. Have a good chat with her. I'm sure that we can come up with a perfect strategy." Teary-eyed, Alyssa rubbed her eyes and said coquettishly, "I'm hungry. Make me something to eat." Jasper put his right hand on his chest and his left hand behind his back. He transformed into an elegant attendant and bowed respectfully. "On it, my lady." …The next day, Jasper and Alyssa returned to Belbanks to see Tatiana.To their surprise, they learned that Tatiana hadn't gone home at all. Instead, she had contacted Lyla to say that she had some urgent matters to attend to at school. She informed her that she would be staying at the dorm
In Solana City, Tatiana stood alone outside the East Solana Police Bureau. She gritted her teeth and walked in. "Are you here to make a report, miss?" asked a female officer.Tatiana nodded vigorously. She asked softly, "May I know if Cyrus… I mean, Chief Cyrus is around?" …Cyrus had been busy for two days and two nights. He was sleeping soundly in the lounge room at the time. The moment he found out that Tatiana was there to see him, he leaped to his feet and went out to meet her. In the office, Tatiana and Cyrus sat facing each other. She interlocked her fingers and rubbed them together until her knuckles turned red. Cyrus studied her carefully. He asked in a concerned voice, "You showed up unannounced. Did something happen, Taty?" Tatiana was tender-hearted and timid. She had always been overshadowed by Alyssa ever since she was a child.Despite being half-siblings, Cyrus was never biased. He always treated her the same as Alyssa. Each time he went on a work trip and
"Amber will be fine," Jasper said confidently. "Based on Justin's way of doing things, he won't harm her for now. She's still useful t o him. He'll exploit her to control you and Alyssa, and to keep me from taking him down."Gripping Jasper's arm, Axel pleaded, "Jasper, I have to save my wife… What should I do?" His eyes were red, brimming with unshed tears.Steadying his breath, Jasper replied, "Even if it comes to killing Justin, it shouldn't be your hands that get dirty. I'll do it.""Are you kidding me? If we're taking that bastard down, we do it together!" Axel's expression was fierce and unyielding. "We went through the same military academy. We have to fight side by side!""Justin is my older brother. It's my family's matter to handle. And don't think I'm doing this for your sake—I have my own reasons."After a moment of silence, Jasper's voice softened. "I came to see you today for another reason. When you get home, don't blame Lyse. She's been torturing herself with g
When Axel heard the news, he immediately returned to the city where his organization was based. Without even reporting back to work, he booked the earliest red-eye flight to Cyrris. His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, and when he emerged from the arrival gates, an ominous air surrounded him. A black luxury car awaited him at the exit.Standing in front of the car were Jasper and Xavier, who had been waiting anxiously for his arrival.Axel's gaze locked onto Jasper's fiery eyes. His presence radiated fury, unrestraint, and a barely contained viciousness. A strong gust of wind swept through the terminal. Snow danced in the air, tangling both Jasper's and Axel's hair into disarray."Let's talk in the car, Axel," Jasper said in a low, measured voice.Red-eyed, Axel insisted, "I need to find my wife right now." "That's exactly why I'm here. Get in the car, and we'll talk." Jasper turned on his heel. His tone grew colder. "But let's be honest—you won't find her no matter ho
Jasper wanted to console Alyssa but found himself at a loss for words. So, he remained silent. "Disappointed, aren't you?" Alyssa sniffled as she smiled bitterly."Not at all." Perhaps he had been expecting too much. As a woman, she was intelligent, capable, and a strategist for victory. Beyond that, she boldly stepped forward to fight against the dark forces. She was strong and perfect as she was—why should he expect her to be anything more?Yet, seeing Alyssa's vulnerable side unsettled him. Something tugged at his heartstrings, a deep ache he couldn't ignore."I found it! I found Ms. Altman's cell phone!" With more manpower and better visibility as the sun rose, it didn't take long to locate Amber's bloodied phone. "Ambs…"Alyssa's face drained of color as terror gripped her at the sight of the bloodstained device. Jasper, on the other hand, remained composed. He tried powering on the phone, and to their surprise, it turned on. "What's the password?" Jasper asked g
"Five times more potent than the previous version? Are you sure it's safe for Remy to consume this?" Sheryl picked up the pill, unease flickering across her face. As much as she despised Remy, she couldn't deny his prowess as a fighter and his value as Justin's right-hand man. Having him around would certainly ease Justin's workload, prompting her to double-check."It won't kill him, but it won't be pleasant either. Don't worry—it's temporary," Justin replied, a sinister smile curling his lips. He continued nonchalantly, "When he takes the pill, his adrenaline will spike, flooding him with energy while his muscles tense. He'll feel both pain and euphoria. Then, it will fade, leaving him dependent on the drug moving forward." The implication was clear to Sheryl. Justin intended to control Remy through addiction. "Remy wasn't born for the shadows," Justin continued, his gaze darkened. "He's just a victim of post-traumatic amnesia, his nervous system subdued with sedatives and anes
"Got it, Mr. Harper!" Harper Group's subordinates acknowledged before swiftly dispersing. "I'm going to search for Amber too," Alyssa said, turning to leave.Jasper caught her arm. "It's freezing. Go wait in the car." Landon chimed in, "Lyse, listen to Jasper. Just wait in the car. We'll search for Amber.""No—I have to come too!" Alyssa sniffled. The sharp wind stung her face, leaving her nose raw and crimson, her eyes watering until they puffed into tender, swollen crescents. "Amber's in trouble because of me. I was careless—it's all my fault!""Lyse…" Landon's heart sank at her remorseful expression.Jasper's gaze softened as he studied Alyssa's pale face. "Her disappearance isn't your fault."Tears welled in Alyssa's eyes as she shook her head. "Amber means everything to Axel. If anything happens to her, I won't be able to face him. I don't deserve to be his sister. Please, let me come with you."Jasper and Landon failed to dissuade her. Reluctantly, they agreed. Alyssa
After studying Sheryl for a moment, Remy turned and left."M-Ms. Gillis, are you okay?" One of Sheryl's subordinates came forward to help her up."Useless bastard! Why didn't you step in when he hit me earlier?" Sheryl's voice trembled with fury as her gaze fell on the crimson stains marring the pristine snow.Stammering, the subordinate replied, "R-Remy acted too quickly. Everyone in the organization knows how good of a fighter he is. None of us stood a chance against him!""S-Something wasn't right about him tonight." Sheryl watched Remy's retreating figure disappear into the distance, her voice dropping to a menacing murmur. "I need to report this to Mr. Justin in person immediately."Inside his car, Remy gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands but made no move to drive.Closing his eyes, he felt a suffocating sensation rise in his throat, as though he were drowning in an endless, hopeless sea. He was just a speck, sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss.A shar
With a piercing gaze, Sheryl glared at Remy, who stood in front of her car with an air of frigidity around him. The temptation to ram her car into the crestfallen man was almost irresistible, but she didn't dare. Remy was Justin's right-hand man, and even her audacity had limits. Instead, Sheryl pulled her white coat snugly around her, stepped out of the car with feigned composure, and strode toward him. Hostility crackled between them as their eyes locked.Sheryl broke the silence. "Remy, is there nothing you'd like to update me about?" she asked with a sinister look in her eyes. Stiffly, Remy asked, "Where did you take that woman?" "How shameless of you to question me. Mr. Justin was wise to send me as backup. Otherwise, Amber would have escaped without a trace!"Gritting her teeth, Sheryl took a step closer to Remy. "Is this how you handle tasks entrusted by Mr. Justin? The unstoppable Remy, brought to his knees by a wild brat? Or did you let her go intentionally? Are yo
"Jameson and Carl have been eliminated. Who else could be targeting Amber?"A sharp glint flashed in Jasper's eyes as a thought struck him. "Could it be Justin or Sheryl?" he asked, his voice low and tense.He recalled seeing Justin in the living room earlier that evening, wide awake instead of resting. Was Justin waiting for something? Or perhaps, provoking him in subtle defiance?"They are the only ones I can think of with a grudge against Amber." Alyssa's anxiousness made her voice tremble. "Having worked for Jameson for years, Amber must have visited Mosgravia multiple times to meet with Sir—who is, in fact, Justin. "Justin wouldn't have met anyone else besides Jameson. But how could he leave no trace after all those interactions? Amber must have figured out his true identity. And Justin—he must have realized who she is, even with her changed appearance."Jasper's expression darkened. "So he decided to eliminate her as a precaution."Tears welled in Alyssa's eyes, threaten
Searching for Amber without direction would be pointless. Jasper made a swift decision to bring Alyssa back to the manor, shielding her from the relentless chill of the wind. Once inside, he immediately began organizing the search. He deployed his men and contacted Landon, requesting additional support.The two of them sat together on the couch.This time, there was no space between them. It was as though an invisible force drew them closer, their proximity feeling natural yet electric. Neither could say who had moved first.Alyssa, however, was in no mood to dwell on their closeness. Wrapped in her down jacket, she curled up on the couch, her arms hugging herself tightly. A quiet frostiness emanated from her as she sat in silence, listening to Jasper's calm and methodical calls to mobilize his team.In the past, his composed presence would have been enough to ease her mind. But now, her thoughts were a tangled mess, each one like a razor claw tearing at her heart. The pain was u