What was Winston thinking, saying something so terrible about his own son?"I don't think that's necessary." Axel rolled his eyes. "I'll need to stay alive until the day you need a family member to sign you off in the hospital. I know Jonah and Silas wouldn't be able to do it. You'd need me.""How dare you!" Winston shouted. "Why I oughta—"Winston yelled for their butler, Clark Anderson, to fetch him a cane. Meanwhile, he removed his leather boots and flung one in Axel's face.Jonah and Silas hurriedly went up to Winston to stop him. Mandy and Colene followed suit. Still, Winston's temper remained.All of a sudden, a gentle, delicate voice rang out in the hallway."Um … dinner's ready."Everyone turned to see who had spoken. It was Lyla, still in her apron and a frying pan in hand. Her pale skin glistened with oil and sweat. She looked dazedly at the crowd, having no idea as to what had transpired.Winston's stomach growled amidst the silence."Fine, dinner first! I'll teach
Alyssa's heart clenched for a moment. "I miss her, Axel. But Mom isn't here anymore. At some point, we … we need to face reality and move on from our hurt. "We're Taylors, Axel. The family needs us to protect it. We are its future. That's why we must keep ourselves in the present and learn to look forward.""You can accomplish that. I can't. I'm just some boy stuck in his fever dream, refusing to wake up. This isn't home to me anymore, Alyssa."The siblings sunk into silence for a long while."Alright, that's enough depression for one night. I respect whatever decision you make," Axel lazily waved his hand.Then he noticed that Alyssa had teared up some. He hurriedly tried to tend to her, saying, "Hey, don't think about that anymore. I'm going to tell you something really interesting. Jasper Beckett is here tonight.""What?" Alyssa yelped, shocking everyone present.Winston scowled at her. "What are you yelling for? Is there a rat in the house or something?""Not a rat, no. I
"What do I need to do for you to let me go free, Jasper Beckett?" Alyssa growled over the phone. "Do you know how irritating it is? "You keep getting involved in my private affairs again and again. I've said I'd make it up to you for being attacked. Sean has gone to you already. So, what is this now?""Didn't you want a divorce? This is your chance." Jasper's voice quivered slightly. "Come outside to see me, and I'll let that night go. I won't go after your brother.""You—" Alyssa inhaled sharply.Was this really Jasper Beckett? What the hell had happened to him? He was usually so composed and collected!"Fine, I'll come outside. But you better keep your word tonight. The divorce is final after this!" Alyssa retorted, then angrily hung up the call.As Alyssa was about to head outside, Clark hurried over to Mandy and said urgently, "Madam, there's a Maybach parked outside the premises for nearly an hour now. Its license plate is A7777. Two men in suits are with it. They've been s
"The cold wind burns my face and blows its frosty pepper up my nose," Xavier murmured. "Black are my steps on silver sod; thick blows my frosty breath abroad."Jasper had been waiting in the cold for nearly an hour now. Yet, this was nothing compared to his days in the military, where standing an entire day was routine. The only difference was that his heart was in his throat right now.He was worried Alice would change her mind and not come outside. What could he do then? Barge into the manor? Impossible—he could not do that. This was the Taylor family's residence.What right did he have to knock on their door asking for Alice?None that he could think of.Heaving a sigh, Jasper took out the last cigarette in the box. He was about to light it when the sound of heels clicking rang out."Jasper Beckett."The man's heart pounded erratically as he gazed up at his ex-wife. The cigarette between his lips nearly fell out with how much he was trembling.Alice glanced down, instantly
The atmosphere dropped to a freezing point.Xavier wished he could intervene. He wanted to silence his boss to prevent him from ruining things for himself.Alyssa laughed out loud, finding Jasper absurd. "I'll admit, I underestimated your persistence when I decided to try and be with you. I gave you everything that I was and could be just so you would love me. Look where that got me, huh?"But you were wrong about one thing, Jasper Beckett. I never hated you, even when you wished me to disappear from your sight. "I did want to end things amicably between us, but you keep meddling in my life now that our relationship is over. You've completely shattered any chance of us having a civil connection. "That's why I'm doing everything I can to erase you from my life. You married me because you had to, just as that's my standpoint now. I want nothing to do with you anymore. That is the only way for us to make peace with the past."Jasper felt as if a sledgehammer had struck his heart.
Alyssa was taken aback but didn't reach out to take the box. She hadn't expected Jasper to have kept that by his side all this time."Alice couldn't possibly accept that from you. I'll do it in her stead." Before Alyssa could say anything, Colene had taken the box from Jasper.Inside was a gorgeous bracelet carved from the finest lavender moon quartz. It gleamed with a soft light, looking like a treasure from centuries before.Alyssa could instantly tell this was a one-of-a-kind material, not usually for sale to the public. If Jasper had given this to her years ago, she would have been so happy she wouldn't have been able to sleep.But her joy was now buried beneath a cold, lonely desert. Unrequited love was a waste of time, along with the gifts it brought. "Hm. I'm no collector, but even I can tell how expensive this must be. Look at this crystal. You're very kind, Mr. Beckett …" Colene drawled.She suddenly raised her hand. What followed was the sound of something breaking int
Axel was in the backyard, walking straight toward his Lamborghini without so much as looking back."Axel!" Alyssa cried, running up to him. "Where are you going?""As far away from this place as possible, obviously. Hopefully, I never have to come back." When Axel turned to look at her, she could see that his cheek had turned alarmingly red where their father had hit him."You always said you cared the most about our brothers and me. So if this is our home, then it's your home too. How could you just never come back again?" Alyssa asked, holding onto her brother's hand. Her heart hurt so deeply.Axel gazed at his beloved sister, then gently cupped her cheek. "Of course, I love you guys. I'll love you guys wherever I go. But this isn't home anymore. I've fulfilled my promise to you, Lyse. You wouldn't still be upset with me because of it, right?"Alyssa nodded slowly, suddenly feeling like crying."If you want to show respect and love for Winston, then I suggest you never make me
Cold sweat broke out on Xavier's forehead. "I just think if you don't want to separate from Madam, then why don't you just tell her that? Tell her how you feel?""How I feel?" Jasper sneered. "Hmph. I've already made up my mind about how I feel. We are never getting back together!""Then why did you—""Drive!" Jasper roared, nearly causing Xavier hit the brakes. He bit his lip, staying quiet for the rest of the drive.Jasper leaned back in his seat, feeling unbelievably tired.Only then did he remember the quartz shards he had picked up before they leftThe shards had pierced his skin, causing drops of blood to ooze and bleed from his palm.What had gotten into him? He had wanted so badly to bring Alice home tonight, away from Jonah Taylor and his family, away from Belbank.All he had wanted was for Alice to come home with him.…After seeing Axel off, Alyssa went to console her father alongside Jonah and Silas. Only after that did she finally get some time to herself.She r
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
The skies started to turn dark. Alyssa's dark hair was covered in a layer of snow. As she stood alone at the foot of the majestic mountain, she looked tiny, fragile, and desolate. "Ms. Alyssa, it's snowing. Heavy snowfall is forecasted tonight." Elias walked to Alyssa's side. Noticing the redness on her face due to the cold and the dull look in her eyes, he had a moment of realization. He couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness within him. "It's getting late. I suppose something came up for Mr. Beckett, and he's unable to make it." "Why didn't he inform me if that is the case?" Alyssa mumbled in a low voice as she gazed toward the darkness. She choked back on her tears so softly that her grievance couldn't really be heard through her voice. Elias slapped himself on his forehead. "Ah, perhaps you didn't manage to receive Mr. Beckett's message? The reception at the foot of the mountain isn't quite stable. You might have missed it. Would you like to come to my office? You'l
Jasper held his breath. It felt as if his legs had been chained together. He was unable to move. Looking at a stiff Jasper from behind, Xavier noticed his shoulders trembling slightly. An ominous feeling rose within him. "What did you say?" Jasper questioned. He sounded as if he was forcing himself to hold himself back from getting emotional. "Mr. Justin once mentioned that you were saved by a female doctor when you were badly wounded on the battlefield many years ago. I heard that you have been searching for her and that you've been grateful toward her." Jasper's back stiffened up. He narrowed his eyes and asked in a frosty voice, "This is a private matter. Why would Justin have told you about it?" "Mr. Justin mentioned it to me because I also used to work as a doctor in Luminara. He was hoping that I could help with finding that woman. "I finally have news on her whereabouts now. Mr. Jasper, don't you want to see the White Dove again? She was the person who gave her all t
That night, Alyssa stayed in the presidential suite of Solana City's KS World Hotel. She couldn't bring herself to return to her own manor—not yet. The lingering memories of her breakup with Jasper were still too raw, and the thought of revisiting their former home felt like reopening an unhealed wound.The following morning, she was awakened by a knock at the door. Groggily, she slipped on her night robe and opened it to find Sean standing there, carrying a complete set of brand-new hiking gear.Alyssa smiled. "Thank you, Sean." "Ms. Alyssa, it's freezing today. Are you sure you want to go hiking?" Sean walked into the living room and placed the items neatly on the couch. He still felt somewhat worried. "It's alright if it's cold, as long as the weather is good."Alyssa gazed out the window. The sun was shining brightly. The thought of going hiking with Jasper today made it impossible for her to conceal the sweet smile on her face and the delight in her eyes. She still love
Remy's eyes were bloodshot; his expression twisted with disgust as he stared at Sheryl. He could hardly fathom how someone so deranged and vile had once been close to Jasper. Even if Jasper and Alyssa had separated, Sheryl was nowhere near worthy of Jasper's side; she was not even fit to be the dirt on Alyssa's shoes.A sudden flash of memory struck him—the image of Alyssa during that traffic accident. He recalled her mustering all her strength to crawl out of her wrecked car, her face bloody, her body broken yet defiant. He had never seen such a fierce spirit in a woman before.His heart pounded uncontrollably, the memory triggering a sharp pain in his temples. Remy closed his eyes, gasping for breath.Sheryl broke into wild, unhinged laughter. Her entire body shook as she spat out her words, "Oh, Jasper, you poor, clueless fool!"If he ever discovers that the woman he's been tormenting all this time is actually his savior—the one he's been desperate to repay—that would be an eart