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
It was still early in the night. Alyssa and Jasper met up with Sean. After that, the three of them made their way back to Solana City as quickly as they could. Along the way, Sean made endless attempts to call Tatiana. In the end, her phone was simply just shut off. "Taty… Why aren't you picking up? Taty!" Sean mumbled to himself incoherently. He was a bundle of nerves. "Everything will be alright, Sean." Through the rearview mirror, Jasper could see that Sean's eyes had turned red. He continued in a warm voice, "I have already asked Xavier to go to Taty's school to look for her. Solana City is also just half an hour away. We'll head straight to Solana Film Academy." In her uneasiness, Alyssa clenched her clothes tightly. Cold sweat had formed on her forehead. She stuttered, "Jasper, I really regret it now. I shouldn't have blown up at Taty." "Don't say that, Lyse." Jasper pulled her in for a loving embrace. "Taty isn't such a wilful person. Moreover, the both of you gr
Alyssa was frustrated. She put her palm to her forehead and exclaimed, "Cyrus, I can't believe how thoughtless you are!" Jasper felt his jaw tense up. His head was spinning. Just as he was trying to come up with what to do next, a few chatty female students walked out of the school's back gate. They were scrolling on their phones and having a discussion among themselves. One of them said in a mocking voice, "Oh, my God! This can't be real! Isn't this Tatiana from the Performing Arts Department at our academy? I can't believe that she started a livestream to accuse David of assaulting her!"At that moment, it was as if Alyssa, Jasper, and Sean had all been struck by lightning! All the blood drained from Sean's face. His body started to tremble as he staggered backward. "Tatiana is already famous for being a belle at our school. She has already stolen the limelight. It has only been a few days since graduation. Yet, she's already feeling lonely and hungry for attention?""Wel
Alyssa was Tatiana's elder sister?The students were floored. They stood there stiffly. The bawling student stopped crying. The student who had fallen on the ground was shaking like a leaf. She cupped her swollen cheeks. Attempting to retreat, she endeavored to move backward yet found herself already pressed against the wall.Even though Tatiana was from the Taylor family, she normally kept a low profile. Her lifestyle was no different from the average woman. Who would have thought that she was the daughter of one of the richest men around? Jasper, Sean, and Xavier reacted to the circumstance with different expressions on their faces. Yet, they each admired Alyssa in their own ways. At first, Sean had the impulse to ditch all manners and charge forward to give those outspoken women a piece of his mind. To his surprise, Alyssa moved quicker than he anticipated, turning the tables and being the one to school them instead.On the other hand, Jasper relaxed his tightened fists sl
Alyssa breathed heavily, feeling anxious. "The most important thing now is to find Taty. She's really crazy. How could she expose this live? She's throwing herself into the abyss!"Jasper's heart clenched as well.No one understood better than he and Alyssa what it was like to be thrust into the spotlight. One wrong move, and they would be sent plummeting from the heights to their downfall."Ms. Alyssa!" Sean ran up to them. His voice was hoarse from the urgency. "Taty is still livestreaming, and the viewer count has exceeded two million! Why... Why would she suddenly expose this? What did Mr. Cyrus say to her?"Alyssa stared at the screen, where Tatiana sat upright. Though her expression was pale, she looked serious. Her eyes were shining with unwavering determination.Seeing that, Alyssa felt like her heart was being crushed by a pair of giant hands, spasming with pain.Meanwhile, below the livestream, the comments were flooding in at such a rapid pace that it was dizzying. But
Tatiana struggled to hold back her tears, but her voice still broke. "I'm one of the lucky ones among the victims, but I refuse to stand by and watch. When no one speaks up for me, I'll speak up for myself."When no one stands up, I'll stand up for them. I may not be a hero. But even if I might be in danger, I'll never stand by and watch David, that beast, trample on the innocence and dignity of those ladies while he roams free."As her words trailed off, Alyssa's eyes were filled with tears. Her tears eventually fell onto the screen.She deeply regretted her narrow-mindedness during this time. At the same time, she felt immense pride in her sister, who fearlessly spoke out.Sean turned away as well. His broad shoulders trembled as he suppressed his tears. He quietly rubbed his eyes."Lyse, Taty has really grown up. She's no longer the little girl who needs your protection." Jasper sighed, feeling sorry for Tatiana and also relieved.Alyssa managed a smile through her tears. "Yea
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