Alyssa's eyes welled up with tears after Jasper's sincere words. She planted a kiss on his lips.Jasper was delighted by it. He grabbed Alyssa's waist, lifted her, and spun her around calmly."Ah! No!"In an instant, a chill swept over Alyssa. The towel, previously wrapped securely around her waist and covering her private area, loosened and slipped off.Jasper's blood boiled as he caught Alyssa on full display."I think it's just right."Jasper curled his lips naughtily. He scooped Alyssa up and walked toward the bedroom, kissing her inch by inch."W-What are you doing? I just showered!" Alyssa's heart raced as she playfully hit his chest. A subtle pinkish blush spread across her smooth, silky skin.Jasper's eyes reddened as he murmured hoarsely, "I'll shower you again. Let me get my batteries recharged."…After enduring an excruciating wait until nightfall, Alyssa, Jasper, and Xavier returned to Maggie's house once again.Both of them were waiting in the car. Xavier stood
"What did you say? Alyssa and Jasper took Maggie away?"In the bedroom, Josh held his unwilling wife, Clarissa, on the bed. He aggressively ripped her nightgown, ready to start his weekly "routine".After Jameson assumed his position and gained his father's favor, his stress levels soared. Now, as long as he had the energy, he would force Clarissa into fulfilling his lustful desires. He did all he could to get his wife to bear children as soon as possible to continue the family's legacy. His father cherished children greatly and yearned for a growing family. Josh held the position of the elder child in his generation. If his own child became the first grandchild of the generation, it would further solidify his standing in the family, providing him with a point of competition against Jameson.However, as he was about to enter, the emergency call caused him to lose his arousal. "Are you sure? Double Trouble took the girl away?"Josh got out of the bed naked. He furiously picked h
"What did I tell you before? Never intrude or ask about my personal affairs! Are you challenging me right now? How dare you pity that filthy little brat? Everything I do, I do for my family!" Josh roared.Clarissa's ears buzzed as her vision swam from being hit.She quickly changed her tune, saying shakily, "No, I'm not pitying her. I'm just worried about you. It won't bode well to be responsible for someone's death. If the police manage to trace it back to you, it would affect your reputation even if they didn't have direct evidence. "If that happens, I'm worried Jameson would take advantage and try to sway your position in the company. Plus, you don't need to have someone's blood on your hands just because you're on good terms with David."Josh calmed down slightly upon hearing this. He sneered. "Do you really think I wouldn't have set a way out for myself? What a stupid concern. I'm only helping David to get on Dad's good side. Can't you see this very obvious relationship betwe
Alyssa didn't question why Maggie was crying nor pressured her."I-I just never expected that you guys would be s-so nice to me…" Maggie choked out, her eyes swollen red. "I know… you guys are only doing this because I can… can testify against David Schmidt… But I'm… still so thankful to you all… for respecting me…"Maggie's tear-stained faces and stuttering words broke both Alyssa and Jasper's hearts. Their breaths stuck in their throats as if caught in a vice.Xavier's brows knitted together. He had to hold himself back from releasing his fury.At just 17 years old, Maggie had already suffered wounds of pain that seemed impossible to heal. It was all David Schmidt's fault!If David didn't pay for this, who else could?"We're not being kind to you nor respecting you all because you're a witness to the case, Maggie. Every kind-hearted young girl in this world deserves respect." Alyssa embraced Maggie into her arms, her own eyes reddening. "Tragedy led us to one another, but pleas
Before meeting Maggie in person, Xavier had thought that this young girl from a poor background only wanted Jasper and Alyssa's protection. But after hearing her heartfelt words, Xavier thought himself shallow and close-minded. He really was nothing compared to this smart, young girl."It's wonderful that you think so." Alyssa embraced Maggie with tears in her eyes. "I'll introduce you to my sister if there's an opportunity to do so in the future. I'm sure you two will become best friends."…Maggie spent the night telling Alyssa and Jasper about her experience of being abused by David, not leaving a single detail out.Maggie's father had passed on early and their family was poor. Maggie's mother worked three jobs in order to send her to school, often working into the wee hours of morning. Even when Maggie's mother fell ill from overexertion, she still didn't want to waste any time getting a check-up at a hospital.When Maggie hit 17 years of age, she was able to secretly earn mon
It was already past midnight when they arranged everything.For the sake of Maggie's safety, Alyssa had intended for Maggie to live in her own house starting today until the case against David Schmidt ended. For one, Maggie could be protected. Secondly, Alyssa genuinely adored this unfortunate yet strong, young girl.But Maggie insisted on going back home because of her mother's heart condition. She was worried her mother might get a heart attack if she woke up from her sleep and did not see Maggie anywhere, not to mention what might happen if her mother knew that Maggie had come to speak to them.It was a good thing Maggie's mother hadn't contacted her that night. She must still be sleeping. It was as if the heavens itself supported this strong, young girl's decision, too.Xavier escorted Maggie to the car, treating her with utmost care throughout the process as if he had turned a new leaf.Jasper walked out of the villa with Alyssa in his arms. He wiped away her tears and wrappe
Maggie cried some more once she returned home, having revealed so much of her painful past to Alyssa all at once. She ended up falling asleep and only waking up in the afternoon the next day. Her mother had gone to work already. Maggie struggled to get out of bed. She really didn't feel like going out, so she called the shopowner of the tailor shop she used to work at to order some fabrics. She planned to start making a bag for Xavier.In all honesty, if it was someone else who'd asked Maggie to do this, she wouldn't have actually gone through with it.But Xavier's eyes had been so bright and his tone so earnest when he asked. Maggie couldn't help but want to finish making it for him as fast as she could.The tailor shop owner called Maggie in the evening and informed her that he'd sent a runner to drop off the fabrics. The runner was about to reach her home.Maggie thanked the shop owner profusely and patiently waited.Sometime later, someone knocked on her door.Maggie was ea
In the dingy old neighborhood, several police cars and an ambulance converged. The local residents looked on cautiously, having heard that there had been a break-and-entering.Worried, Cyrus had his men send the killer back to the station before going to the hospital in the ambulance with Xavier and Maggie. Cyrus also notified Alyssa and Jasper of what happened.The medics had strapped an oxygen mask on Maggie's face. Her body had passed out from shock after being asphyxiated. Now that the blood had stopped rushing to her face, her skin appeared stark white."You… You have to be okay, Maggie," Xavier said worriedly. He could care less about how injured he was right now. He kept on checking up on Maggie's condition, holding onto her hand."Her vitals have stabilized, so there's no need to worry anymore," Cyrus consoled him. He could tell that Xavier's concern for Maggie extended beyond her role as a key witness in the case against David Schmidt."Why… Why were you guys on the scene
"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
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