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
Xavier pondered inwardly, "If 'Blade' himself is admitting that his skills aren't as good as Alyssa's… Just how skilled is Alyssa?"…Alyssa and Jasper had hurried over to Taylor General Hospital the moment they heard the news.Maggie was stabilized in time and transferred to a normal ward for recovery. Meanwhile, Xavier was arranged to stay in the next ward. He wasn't too injured save for some bruises and a fractured left arm.But Xavier was in no mood to stay put and rest. The moment they secured the bones in his arm, he ran over to check up on Maggie.The hospital staff let Jasper and Alyssa take over while Cyrus returned to the police station to deal with the murderous killer.Abel was personally checking up on Maggie right now."Don't worry, Lyse. No matter what, Maggie is fine now. That's the best thing we could hope for," Jasper consoled Alyssa, who leaned in his arms as he gently held her.Alyssa gazed at Maggie with reddened eyes. Guilt filled her chest. "Thank goodnes
"Throughout the execution of our plans, we were vigilant, and no information slipped out." Jasper's eyes darkened. He continued, "Looks like the Schmidt family has set up spies near the witnesses' homes to watch their every move. When they found out we'd sought Maggie out, they feared she might participate in the case as a witness. That was why they wanted to end her life so quickly.""Damn them!" Alyssa and Xavier said at the same time."David is still in police custody, so there's no way he could have had any external contact. Who helped him then? Jamebitch?" Xavier exclaimed hatefully.Alyssa shook her head lightly. "No way it was Jamiper. He's the one person in the entire Schmidt family who wants to see everyone crash and burn. He would never help David. It must've been either Victor or Josh.""Josh. It must be Josh," Jasper deduced, eyes sharp.Alyssa's eyes glinted. She held Jasper's hand. "Why do you think it's him, Jasper?""Victor isn't from the underworld. He's not th
Jasper's heart sank. Looking at Alyssa, he announced, "Lyse, I'll meet with them."He was worried about the gossip and malicious comments about Alyssa. Her reputation would further suffer if she got into a fight with the witnesses' families at a hospital.Jasper was totally capable of managing the fallout if he were the target. However, he refused to let Alyssa go through the suffering."Jasper, I understand your concern," Clasping his hand, she soothed him, "...but they wanted to see me. Things wouldn't have spiraled if I hadn't requested to meet with Maggie."It's imperative that I show up and offer my apology. You know me; I never run away from problems.""Well, I happen to be the same." Staring affectionately at her, Jasper held her hands with fingers interlocked. "So, I'll go with you."…Although the VIP suite, where Maggie got warded, was safe and secure, Sean had arranged for his men to lead the victims' families to the open area in the VIP lounge, just in case they made
"I was aware. I knew it from the beginning. But what choice did I have?" Gina trembled violently as she grew hysterical. "I'd rather sweep everything under the rug than open up my daughter's wound and put her in harm's way."She's just managed to get a footing, and things were looking up, but you came along and messed it all up! She nearly lost her life because of you—you arrogant, wealthy pricks who judge us from the comforts of life. What gives you the right?"Alyssa felt a stinging pain in her chest. With her usual sharp wit, she could have retorted. However, the weight of guilt left her speechless."You're being naïve." Jasper, keeping his composure, placed his hand on Alyssa's waist. He appeared as omniscient as divinity. "You're currently enjoying a short-lived peace because the Schmidt Group is in hot water. The Schmidts are too preoccupied to pay attention to you, especially with David Schmidt still in detention."Gina's expression froze. Her bloodshot eyes looked vacant.
Maggie finally regained consciousness the next afternoon. She found Gina and Xavier waiting by her bed. Feeling touched, she wrapped Gina in an embrace. The mother and daughter cried and cried after the close brush with death yesterday.Xavier thought he must be feeling emotional because he was getting old. He shed a few tears but quickly wiped them away. As an uncle figure to Maggie, he resolved to keep a tough exterior."Mom, I won't change my mind no matter what you say." Maggie gently wiped away Gina's tears with a look of determination. "I have decided to testify in court. No one could help me if I don't fight for myself; not even Ms. Alyssa and Mr. Beckett."Sobbing, Gina confessed, "Maggie, I… I feel so bad for you.""Mom, do not stop me from testifying if you feel bad for me. I'm doing this to seek justice on behalf of the victims of David Schmidt."Xavier's eyes wavered upon hearing Maggie's declaration. His heart pounding, he found that Maggie seemed to have grown up ove
"I had thought Josh or Victor would be the mastermind, but it was the doing of David's man," Cyrus explained with doubt. "I was worried that David would pull some tricks, so I sent someone to keep an eye on his attorney. After all, he hasn't met with anyone except for his attorney."But we found nothing suspicious about his attorney. We dug into his call log—he did not contact the culprit.""That's odd. Did one of David's men act without permission out of his loyalty to David? Was he worried that David's scandal would be publicized? Does David even have a lackey who's that sharp-witted?" Frowning, Alyssa fell into deep thought. Then, she suddenly chuckled. "Maybe Josh had a card up his sleeve and pulled an act of killing with a borrowed knife.""Is he using David?" Jasper wondered in a low, icy voice."As impatient as Josh, he must have wanted to silence Maggie after his men noticed we had reached out to her." Alyssa might be hot-tempered, but she always remained cool-headed in t
"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