The chilly night breeze carried a tense atmosphere as it swept through.Jameson's joy at seeing his beloved was dashed as soon as he noticed Jasper."Lyse, you're here!" Lily's eyes shimmered with gentle light. She even wanted to get up from the wheelchair to greet her.Perhaps Alyssa's striking appearance had left a lasting impression on her. Sometimes, Lily couldn't recognize her own son, but she could instantly identify Alyssa. It was genuine affection that couldn't be concealed."Hi, Mrs. Schmidt." Alyssa's voice was gentle. She smiled at Lily.Jasper's strong arm wrapped around Alyssa's waist. His gaze was sharp and icy as he stared at Jameson, observing his every move."Lyse, who is this?" Lily looked at Jasper's expressionless face in confusion, instinctively tugging at Jameson's sleeve.Alyssa gazed deeply at Jasper's handsome profile.Jameson adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said before she could reply, "Lyse, what a coincidence to meet you here. Are you also going
"We" was a word that created an insurmountable gap between Jameson and the couple. He could never cross it.Nevertheless, Jameson's gaze toward Alyssa still held deep affection.His obsessive love had turned him into a shameless lunatic."Lyse, you're misunderstanding me. But since you suspect me, I can cooperate with you fully."With that, Jameson bent down and gently held his mother's hand. "Mom, I'm sorry, but I can't accompany you on this trip anymore.""It's okay, it's okay."Lily's worried gaze turned to Alyssa. Her eyes were filled with tears as she spoke. "Lyse, don't be mad at Jimmy. If he made you angry, I apologize to you on his behalf.Alyssa felt her heart wrench. "Mrs. Schmidt, don't say that."Although Jameson was malicious and cunning, Lily was a pitiful woman suffering from a serious illness. Alyssa didn't want to engage in a fierce conflict with Jameson in front of Lily.After all, this woman, abandoned by her husband and exiled for 15 years, had only Jameson
Cyrus continued, "It exploded just as it was about to fly out of Solana City, near the boundary with Belbanks.""Exploded?" Alyssa and Jasper widened their eyes."Yes, residents living within the radius heard a huge explosion. That helicopter was blown up on the spot. I think there should be no survivors." Cyrus took a sharp breath.Jasper's heart sank. His sharp gaze suddenly turned toward Jameson.They had just discovered Inigo's whereabouts, and Jameson showed up to interfere. Then, the helicopter explosion happened.It seemed like everything was within Jameson's control."No survivors... Can we know who the owner of the helicopter was? Can we know how many people were on board and their identities?" Alyssa asked urgently, her gaze piercing.Cyrus whispered to Alyssa and Jasper, "I've sent people to investigate the specific information about the helicopter and have also retrieved surveillance footage from along the route and nearby areas. We should have results soon.""It's
Lily had just boarded the plane and was already feeling weak, so Jameson helped her to the bed.As he emerged from the inner cabin, he saw a fierce Alyssa. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her beautiful face was tainted with fury."M-Mr. Schmidt..." Carl stood behind Alyssa, looking extremely uneasy.This was the woman that Jameson held dear to his heart. Even if she wanted to blow up the plane, he didn't dare to intervene.The fierce look in Jameson's eyes softened at once. He smiled gently.Just as he wanted to approach Alyssa, she moved first, striding toward him.She grabbed him by the collar. Turning resentment into strength, she forcefully slammed him against the cabin door with a loud bang.The gorgeous and expensive crystal glasses on the table fell to the ground, creating a mess beneath their feet."Mr. Schmidt! Ms. Alyssa! Please talk things out!" Carl was flustered, yet he dared not make a move. He could only shout from his place.Smiling, Jameson stared at Alyssa's cri
On the way back from the airport, Alyssa stared at the neon lights outside the window, not saying a word to Jasper.He knew she was feeling down, so he let her be. But he never loosened his grip on her cold hand.His gaze remained fixed on Alyssa. Her frozen yet still beautifully captivating profile stirred his heart endlessly. He was very worried about her.They returned home under the suffocating atmosphere.Just as they entered, they received a call from Cyrus. "Lyse, the identities are almost confirmed. It's Inigo and his men."Alyssa closed her eyes, biting her lip until it bled.Meanwhile, Jasper's eyes were bloodshot. Seeing her torment herself like this made it almost unbearable for him to breathe."Hundreds of officers from the search department conducted a blanket search near the explosion site. They found their two passports and some personal items that were enough to prove their identities. They're Tsulu nationals. With the surveillance along the route, we can basica
Alyssa rubbed her damp face against his chest. When she lifted her head, Jasper's sturdy chest muscles hidden beneath his shirt were faintly visible, seducing her.She felt a bit embarrassed now. After sniffing a few times, she rubbed her palms against the spot on his chest where her tears had dampened it.The adorable sight ignited a warm rush within Jasper, making his heart flutter.But he wouldn't keep her awake tonight. He just wanted her to rest well in his arms so she could recharge herself."You haven't eaten anything all night. You should be hungry, right? I'll make something for you." Jasper looked at her with concern, gently wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes."You haven't eaten either. Let me do the cooking. You're too slow in the kitchen. It'll be too late to eat by then." Alyssa sniffled.Jasper smiled helplessly. "Then I'll have Mrs. Rosie do it.""It's late. I'll do it.""Then let's do it together."This warmed Alyssa's heart. "Okay."…With a sk
"Aren't you curious what I told Jameson after barging into his plane?" Alyssa resisted the entire day and eventually decided to ask.Jasper smiled lightly. "Why? Are you afraid I would be jealous?""Pfft! If you would get jealous of someone like him, you are basically questioning my character." Alyssa poked his chest hard with her fingertip."Before this, I was really jealous when I saw both of you together." Jasper's eyes reddened slightly. He lifted her hand and planted a warm kiss on her palm."I know. It was so obvious. I'm not blind."Alyssa pouted as a light sense of uneasiness appeared on her face. "At that time, you and I just divorced, so I had accumulated so much anger at you. I was overjoyed when I saw you getting angry."I thought I was different from other women. Divorce wasn't a big deal. I thought I could let it go as easily as getting divorced. Then, I finally understood the joy I felt seeing you angry didn't stem from the satisfaction of getting revenge—it was th
Alyssa asked, "Is this Josh's scheme?""It's probable. This incident also damaged the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt. Mrs. Schmidt had caused Jameson, who was never favored in the family, to be shunned in Kontina. "He was left there for 15 years with no support. During these years, Mrs. Schmidt's health deteriorated, causing Jameson to lose his only support in the Schmidt Group. He did not receive any financial support and lived a difficult life in Kontina."Alyssa was somewhat surprised. "Are you speaking for your love rival?"Jasper laughed. "No, I'm just stating facts. What is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong. Even if he is my love rival, I wouldn't preach what is wrong."Alyssa was moved. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked his lips.Jameson would never be as upright and open-minded as Jasper was."So, he had every right to hate. If it were me, I would have done what I could to come back and take revenge for my mother," Jasper said with gloo
"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