Tatiana felt like she was being plunged into an icy abyss, with a hurricane of cold sweeping through her chest. The flush of embarrassment on her cheeks drained away, leaving her face pale.As she looked into Sinead's tear-filled eyes, she saw through her pretense and detected the disdain in her heart.In the past, she might have turned and fled, hiding in a corner and wallowing in self-pity and tears. But this time, an inexplicable courage surged within her—a courage to face the Lynches directly.She loved Sean. That was all.Was love wrong? Why should she bow down to them?If she ran away in disgrace now, wouldn't she be tacitly agreeing that what Sinead said was true?"Ms. Tatiana, do you understand what I'm saying?" Sinead still appeared frail and helpless, but her tone was icy.Sean's shoulders trembled with anger. The veins in his neck bulged as if about to burst. "You can vent your anger at me! How dare you speak to the woman I love like this? What has Taty done to deserv
Tatiana continued, "And also, you said that Lyse has been using Sean, trampling on his dignity, and even claimed that my family looks down on him. These are all baseless accusations."If it were true, my parents would never have agreed to my relationship with Sean, and my father wouldn't have acknowledged him as his godson."The Lynch couple was shocked. Godson? When did that happen? How come they had never heard Sean mention it?Recalling this, Simon felt jealousy and resentment bubbling up inside him.All these years, he had been currying favor with everyone he could, only to have Sean become Winston's godson just because he was close with the Taylors.If he had known things would turn out like this, he would have tried to ingratiate himself with the Taylor family from the beginning. Perhaps by now, he would have become a son-in-law or even the Director of Legal Affairs at KS Group.Then Sean wouldn't be in the picture at all.Forget being a godson. He would have happily settl
The unbearable events of that night surged back like a flood, drowning Tatiana in almost breathless agony."Ms. Tatiana, you're a scion of the Taylor family. All of Belbanks knows about the decades-long friendship between your family and the Schmidt family. David forced you? I doubt he would have dared."Simon turned the ward into a courtroom, forgetting how he had been reduced to a pathetic state. "You two were alone together in the room, and when the scandal broke, you Taylors joined forces to shift the blame onto the Schmidt family."You knew you were tainted, making it difficult for you to find a partner in high society in the future. So, you decided to stoop down and use Sean as your lifeline, taking advantage of him."Ha! Ms. Tatiana, you're really something. I guess you're not inferior to Ms. Alyssa.""You beast!" Sean lost all rationality. His eyes turned bloodshot as he struck Simon's face with his fists. The punch contorted Simon's features in an instant.The Lynch coup
Sean and Tatiana stared in astonishment at Steven's resolute face, deeply moved by his actions.Despite the couple feeling as if they had a sword hanging over their heads, someone from the Lynch family was actually willing to lend them a hand.This act of kindness amidst adversity was more precious and heartwarming than ever before."Steven! How dare you speak to your mother like that?"Spencer finally couldn't contain his anger. He rose abruptly and pointed accusingly at Steven's stern face. "Your mother has worked tirelessly all her life, raising you three brothers single-handedly. And all you have to say is that she's disappointing?"Are you and Sean trying to drive us two old folks to death?"Simon took the opportunity to paint himself as the victim. Spewing blood and air, he said, "Dad! Mom! Look at them! They don't even care about you two! People said to raise a child to prevent loneliness. But I'm the only one who truly stands by you. They're both traitors!"When Simon re
Not only that, the text message Simon's secretary had sent him disgusted him.The text message read, "Mr. Lynch, consider this text message as my official resignation. Everything has unfolded the way it has today because of your arrogance. I've endured enough of your torment. "You may think of yourself as a king, but I no longer wish to serve you. If the law didn't protect this land, I would have slaughtered you myself. I hope to never see you again! Congratulations on your closure!"Simon was seething with anger. His hand, gripping the phone, trembled uncontrollably. He felt completely out of his element and adrift. "I've not wrongly accused you in any way. How you ended up here is entirely your own doing!"Steven was utterly devastated. He gritted his teeth and continued, "Up until now, you have shown no remorse. You're jealous of Sean and exploit Mom and Dad's obliviousness to get back at him, tearing down the accomplishments he worked so hard for!"Simon, when did you becom
Dad! Mom! Don't listen to him! It's not like that!" Simon angrily defended himself, "Steven and Sean conspired together and caused me trouble in court. "Now, he is jumping at the first chance to speak for Sean and try to tarnish my reputation! I believe Alyssa and Jasper have bribed both of them! They are lackeys for the Taylors. They are just as bad as them."Unable to endure any longer, Steven interrupted before Simon could finish. He, who had always been poised and proper, punched Simon!He was more ruthless than Sean and punched Simon right in the nose. Sean stagged backward from the force, and his nose bled profusely."Sigh, a leopard can't change its spots."Steven shook his sore fingers. Rage burned in his eyes. "If you claim I conspired with Sean on this, so be it. Sean collaborated with me to beat the crap out of the shameless, pretentious, and malicious person you are! What can you do about it?"Simon held his sore and painful nose. He pointed at Steven's stern face an
Steven asserted, "Mom, I've made my decision. You don't need to persuade me otherwise."Then, Steven's burdened gaze fell on Spencer's haggard face once again.Suddenly, he distanced himself from the man who had raised them. "Dad, I've never asked for anything growing up. But, I'm asking you today to think of our 30-year relationship and agree to this. I will only ask this once."I hope you won't make things difficult for Ms. Tatiana and won't prevent Sean from being together with her. They really love each other. If Sean loses Ms. Tatiana, I'm certain he wouldn't find anyone as great as her in this lifetime."Sean and Tatiana stood before Spencer with laced fingers. They exchanged glances, and it was obvious that their love was as deep as the ocean.What Steven said terrified Sinead. She could only wail.An inexplicable look appeared in Spencer's eyes. He asked hoarsely, "Steven, are you using your resignation to threaten me?""If you think that way, so be it," Steven laughed d
Tatiana wanted to comfort Sean, but she remembered she was the reason for everything that happened and didn't think she had any right to speak. So, she guiltily lowered her head with tears welling up in her eyes. "Taty, don't blame yourself. You have nothing to do with everything turning out this way." Sean comforted her. His voice was extremely gentle.Tatiana's eyes were puffy. Her lips trembled. "But…""You are the love of my life and the future I chose. I will do everything in my ability to see our relationship through. No one can stop me."As he finished, Steven's voice came from behind, "Sean!"Both of them turned around. They saw Steven running toward them."Steven, thank you for standing up for Taty. Thank you for standing on our side."A burning gaze simmered in Sean's reddened eyes. "We will always remember how good you have been to us. We will do whatever it takes to repay you for your kindness."Resentment lingered in Steven's eyes. "Sean, you are my only brother.
"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