The look in Jameson's eyes hardened. "Sophia Kirkman is no longer of use. If you look around the Beckett Group, there's no one to keep Jasper Beckett in check—he's the only one in power. "I'm concerned that Javier Beckett might hand Jasper more power out of guilt for his son and his late wife, as well as pressure from Newton Beckett. If that happens, Jasper will be invincible."The man said calmly, "Let's play chess." Then, he moved his chess piece.Jameson pursed his lips. He was about to make his move when the man smiled and remarked, "Mr. Schmidt, why are you so insistent that I go back to Solana City soon? "Is it truly for my best, or are you doing this for yourself to gain a helping hand? Are you using me against Jasper Beckett to get your hands on Ms. Alyssa?""No, sir. Everything I do is in your interest. That surely wasn't my intention." Jameson broke out in cold sweat as he professed his loyalty."I don't mind lending a helping hand. But looking back, nothing comes out
"Mr. Schmidt, are you scared?" Sheryl scoffed. "Even I have heard of your actions in Kontina. We're only looking for some sacrifices to achieve a huge goal for mankind. Do you not have the heart to do it?"Jameson cast a menacing look at Sheryl's mocking expression. In no way did she resemble Alyssa. Alyssa was the shining light in his otherwise dark and hopeless life. She was a butterfly dancing in a cold abyss.To him, Alyssa was an angel. Sheryl was nothing more than sir's pretty, obedient, and dutiful weapon."Sheryl, that's inappropriate. After all, lives are involved. It makes sense for Mr. Schmidt to give it a serious thought." The man laughed amicably but betrayed a hint of authority.Jameson's breathing grew heavy. He whispered, "I will carry out the mission you entrust to me, sir.""Thank you, Mr. Schmidt. When you start the trials, I need your men to record the trial data and observe the participants' responses. Sheryl will gather the details and email them to you." The
"Ms. Altman, it's been a while. You still look as lovely as before," the man complimented Amber with a gentle smile. Amber looked stoic and cold. She lowered her gaze and replied humbly, "Sir, thanks for the compliment.""You're indeed a woman groomed by Mr. Schmidt. You're gentle, demure, and gracious. Sometimes, I feel that you're Alyssa Taylor herself. You're the best substitute I've ever seen."Amber kept her silence, but she looked glum. By describing her as a substitute, all his prior compliments sounded sarcastic to her.Jameson did not continue on that topic. Instead, he opened the box and revealed the antique vase to the man. "This is a Wiktorian-era pink frosted vase I got for you from a Yoarkley auction. It's nothing special. I hope you don't mind it."Sheryl lifted a brow in amusement. She had been keeping an eye on the vase for her employer. In the end, an anonymous buyer won the bid with 50 million dollars. She had not expected the buyer to be Jameson.She thought,
Sophia reminisced about her life. She had lived a glorious life. However, to achieve that, she always had to sacrifice a person to reach a greater height.Anne Bartley was her first victim. Never had she thought that the woman, who was dead for two decades, would be the nail in her coffin.Sophia had long regretted killing Anne. Anne didn't have to die. Keeping Anne around wouldn't have affected anything.However, Sophia acted like she was under a spell at that time. She harbored a strong resentment against Anne. On top of that, she banked on Javier's affection and acted lawlessly, thinking that she could do anything she liked under his protection.Alas, Javier's love was nothing but an illusion.Sophia pulled her hair out and held strands of gray hair in her hands. The pain kept her sober. She had finally seen through Javier's selfishness and heartlessness.He had never loved her. She didn't believe he loved Anne either. Otherwise, why would he easily believe that Anne had taken
Sophia's heart quivered in the face of Lauren's painful accusations.She hated Jasper, but she admitted that he was good to Lauren, better than she'd ever treated Lauren.Thinking back, Jasper didn't seem as despicable as he had seemed. Too bad there could only be one Mrs. Beckett. Javier had made Anne her rival.After a pause, she finally confessed, "I… I was pregnant with Betty at that time. All I wanted was a recognition to give her a better life and future…""Well, you got your recognition, didn't you? Dad acknowledged you, so you had achieved your goal. Why did you have to kill Jasper's mom?"Jasper never hated me or treated me badly even though I'm your daughter. He and Alyssa treat me like their sister. They show me love and care that I would otherwise never have the chance to experience. I owe them a lot. How could you be so cruel to him?"Lauren was no fool. She understood that Sophia was a selfish woman, and she knew how coldly Sophia had treated her. For that, she had
Landon hugged Lauren as they exited the prison. Despite being enveloped in his warmth, she still trembled in his arms."Darling, you…" He pursed his lips as he struggled to find the right words to say to her.What should he say to comfort Lauren? He thought, "It's not like I can tell her, 'Let's come again' or 'I'm sorry for your loss.'""Landon." Head hung low and eyes teary, she said, "Thank you… Thank you for letting me see my mom for the last time. That's enough for me. I will not ask you for anything else.""Darling, what are you talking about?" Worried, he plopped onto one knee in front of her and grabbed her hand. He cast a frantic look at her misty eyes. "What do you mean you'll not ask me for anything else? What's the point of having me around? I will lose my motivation in the competition for power. What will I live for?""Landon…" Her voice trailed off as she stumbled back shyly."Just let me know anything you want. No matter what it is, I'll try my best to fulfill yo
Ever since Sophia's sentencing and Betty's public humiliation by Javier in the court corridor, Betty felt as if she had lost her status in the family. Javier had lost any remaining affection for her.Betty had been living her life relying on Sophia and enjoying the wealth from corruption. To her, money was nothing.However, things were different now that Sophia had met her downfall. Sophia's private assets were frozen for investigation. Unfortunately, Betty had saved all her wealth under Sophia's account, so she had nothing to her name now.Apart from two properties given to her by Javier, two luxury cars, and three million dollars in her personal bank account, she had nothing left.Betty, used to an extravagant and debauched life, could not accept the feeling of poverty. Javier would notice if she sold off the cars and properties for money. What could she do with a mere three million dollars? Even her tips to the male hosts were worth more than that!After two days of racking her
Hearing that, Betty's mind whizzed. She scrambled up from the floor. "A-Are you able to come home? When will you return? Are you back to take revenge on Landon?"Zoe hissed through gritted teeth, "I will give him trouble if he makes my life miserable. From the moment he slapped me in front of Alyssa, Jasper, and the high society of Solana City, I stopped seeing him as my brother. He's just my enemy now!""Right! Landon has crossed a line. How could he abandon his sister even before he marries Lauren? Not only that, Landon is turning against his mom. Imagine if he marries Lauren. What will happen to you and your mom?" Betty sniffled. She then started fanning the flames and backstabbing Lauren."Hmph! Stop acting like you're thinking for me. You're only saying that because you need me back to take revenge for you," Zoe called out Betty's despicable motives. She added, "You lost your mom's backing. You have no power without her. All you can do is watch your stupid sister marry into w
"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