There was a moment of silence. Then, Jasper said in a deep voice, "Thanks for your reminder, Xavier. But you were quite crass. Just beware of your year-end bonus if you were to do that again next time." Xavier couldn't help but curse at Jasper inwardly. Jasper had gone straight for Xavier's jugular. …Back in the bedroom, Alyssa had just taken a bath. She smelled good. She sat in front of her vanity mirror in her peach-colored strap nightgown. She was brushing her dark, silky hair. She was spacing out as she continued brushing her hair. Repeatedly, she replayed her conversation with Justin in her mind. Strangely, a chill began to creep over her, sending shivers down her spine.Justin exuded gentlemanly qualities. His soft-spoken words were accompanied by a gentle smile that radiated sincerity. However, despite his apparent warmth, an unsettling suspicion lingered within, as if he were stealthily encroaching on her territory. The feeling alarmed Alyssa deeply.He had the sam
"I was just thinking about that conversation with Justin earlier tonight. It was really very intriguing," Alyssa explained. "That would be the last time." Jasper was still regretful that he had allowed them to meet. He pulled Alyssa in closer to him. "Next time, I will not let you come in contact with Justin again. Today was just an unexpected incident. Don't think too much about it." "I'm not thinking too much about it. It seems to me that you're the one who's overthinking it." Alyssa lifted her head slightly. She gave him a gentle poke in the chest. "Does it still hurt right here?" He held her hand. He planted a kiss on her palm. "No, it's better now." "There's really no need for you to be so paranoid. Also, what you imagined was not realistic. Would Justin stay in Mosgravia forever? He'd have to come back eventually." Alyssa snuggled comfortably in his arms. "He was the one who facilitated the Jesseltons' discussion for a collaboration with the Beckett Group. And now,
There was a slight tremor in Angelina's lashes. She shot a quick glance at the dinner spread. She then looked toward Lauren with a concerned gaze. They had agreed to gather over dinner tonight. She had been preparing their meal since the afternoon.Even though Lauren wasn't too skilled at cooking, she lent a helping hand by the side, too. They were as busy as bees all afternoon. However, Landon now looked to be in a hurry. It appeared that he had no plans to have dinner at home.This was fine with her. But she was just afraid that Lauren would feel disappointed. "Aren't you having dinner at home, Landon?" Lauren frowned slightly. She looked at him with an innocent look.A loving smile came across Landon's face. He walked to the front of Lauren. He placed his hand on her head and stroked her soft hair. "I have plans tonight. I won't be eating at home." "Can't you adjust your plans a little?" Lauren's lashes fluttered as she peered at Landon cautiously. It made his heart melt.
Lauren watched as Landon left. She stood there until she could no longer see his car's tail lights. Angelina walked to her side. "Madam Lauren." "Yes?" Lauren turned to look at her. "Thank you for speaking up for me today. Thank you." Angelina felt a surge of emotions. Tears welled up in her eyes. She started working for Landon when she was young. In her youth, she worked as his helper. She then became his secretary-cum-bodyguard when she got older. She was someone who received strict training. She also suffered through difficult times. She was frigid and apathetic toward everyone other than Landon. Unexpectedly, Lauren's appearance allowed her to feel the warmth of a family. This was something that she had never experienced before. She was moved beyond words. Lauren was her employer. However, Angelina loved her like how she would a younger sister. "I know that you've worked hard, Angie." Lauren held Angelina's calloused hand. Lauren's hand was warm. With a twinkle in
Landon had shamed Preston straightforwardly. Preston was embarrassed.Preston knew Landon as someone ruthless, careless, and rude. He was someone who was about to become president of their corporation. Moreover, Cornelius was present with them. Preston assumed that Landon would have practiced some restraint. In the end, he didn't hold back at all! As the head of the family, Cornelius wanted to rebuke Landon. But on second thought, he figured that there was nothing wrong with what Landon had said. He wasn't too fond of the useless bunch that Preston had befriended anyway. So, he simply cleared his throat in an attempt to break the tension. Penelope, on the other hand, couldn't stand it anymore. She frowned and chided, "Landon, how could you speak to your Uncle Preston like that? Don't be rude!" Preston chuckled. "Oh, don't say that to Landon, Penny. He's just a child in our eyes." Sylvia Jansen, Preston's wife, tried to diffuse the situation quickly. She smiled warmly
Preston gave Sylvia a sidelong glance. He looked annoyed. He felt that this was a crucial moment. What she had just said was unnecessary. Lauren was Sophia's daughter. At the same time, she was also Javier's daughter. She was his precious daughter. There was no doubt about that. He had thoughts about making use of Lauren for his own purposes. But he certainly wasn't going to allow Landon to marry her. Should Landon choose to marry her, he would be formally establishing a marital alliance with a prosperous family. Plus, Javier would end up becoming his father-in-law. Wasn't that simply allowing Landon to become even more powerful? What he needed to do now was to decide between two options.One option was to use Lauren to threaten Landon so that Landon wouldn't be able to become president. Or he could take a step back and allow him to become the president. But he certainly had to prevent the marriage with the Beckett family. Landon's words made the tension in the dining ro
Landon raised his voice. The veins on his temples were popping. "Moreover, Lauren wasn't even born when Sophia committed her crime. She is completely innocent. You can't discriminate against her like that!" "What was done by the previous generation cannot be held against the next, yet they can significantly influence the subsequent generation," Cornelius spoke in a firm tone. He was not going to empathize any longer. He continued, "What kind of a daughter would Sophia be capable of raising? Just look at her eldest daughter. What was her name? Betty, was it? She took advantage of her mother's position to oppress Zoe!"Penelope hid this from me for a long time before she eventually decided to disclose it. They are born to the same mother. How much better would her younger daughter be?" Penelope chimed in in agreement immediately, "You're absolutely right, Dad! You took the words straight out of my mouth!" "Grandpa! You have only ever met Lauren briefly. You've never even spoken
"Landon! Are you out of your mind? What are you talking about?" Penelope was so mad that she started shaking. Cornelius stared straight at Landon. The tension between them was so thick that it could be cut with a knife.The thing he was most worried about had happened. Landon had gotten more and more powerful. He had achieved so much that he dominated over him.Landon was like Alexander the Great in his prime. However, Cornelius himself was no longer the powerful Philip II! He was getting old. He was losing control over Landon. Moreover, he was his only grandson. While Preston harbored ambition, he lacked the competence to match his aspirations. The Harper Group's future still had to be in Landon's hands.However, Cornelius couldn't give in just like that. As the head of the family, he was being threatened by his grandson! He felt humiliated. Right at that moment, Preston's cell phone vibrated. He pulled it out and glanced at it impatiently. His eyes widened suddenly. He got
"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