The atmosphere at the dinner was cheerful. Winston's mood lifted upon seeing the ravioli dish, and he even invited Jasper to stay for dinner.The tables were full of couples who put on proper fronts while secretly flirting with each other. Later at night, Jonah returned to his study to pore over the piles of documents. Winston's illness sent the KS Group into a frenzy. On top of that, Dominic's misuse of company funds created more headaches for them.Fortunately, Jonah was capable of handling the crisis and steering the KS Group back on track. After working for a while, he removed his silver-rimmed glasses and massaged his temple while enjoying some shut-eye. "Phew, that was tiring. I wonder when Alyssa will take over and let me retire."He then heard a knock and went up to answer the door."Mr. Jonah," Julien cooed, leaning against the doorframe with a flirtatious grin. "Do you need a late-night private massage service?"Looking tired, Jonah scanned Julien from head to toe. "Dr
Julien remained infatuated with Jonah's sexual appeal, but Jonah felt his heart skip a beat. He forcefully removed Julien's hands from him and freed himself from the hug, much to Julien's disappointment. Julien's body stiffened."Yes, Mandy," Jonah replied calmly.Then, he marched to the door and opened it without hesitation. He was greeted by Mandy's smile. She said, "I knew he was here. I could tell that the two of you share a good relationship."Jonah and Julien indeed shared a "good" relationship. Jonah flinched, merely responding with a faint smile."Julien, come with me to my bedroom. I need to talk to you." Mandy gestured to Julien with a grin, causing Julien's heart to sink.Julien cast a worried and loaded look at Jonah, but Jonah avoided his gaze and stared at his feet.…Julien followed Mandy back to her bedroom. After locking the door behind her, she put on a serious look. Julien feigned sleepiness and yawned. "Aunt Mandy, why are you looking for me late at night?"
Julien had been a playboy living a promiscuous and hedonic life in the past. For once, he finally thought of settling down with Jonah, but here came Mandy. She had to uncover his shoddy past at this time. His heart ached. The photos gave him quite a jolt."Aunt Mandy, I…""Julien, your dad and brother might turn a blind eye to your life abroad, and I have no say in your decision after marrying into the Taylor family." Frowning, Mandy hissed in a low and stern voice, "But Jonah is the pillar of the Taylor family. Your Uncle Winston has high hopes for his eldest. You cannot lay a finger on Jonah!"Feeling a stabbing pain in his heart, Julien stumbled backward in shock."I watched you grow up. When you were younger, I was the one who made you study and play with you because your dad was too busy. I know you better than anyone else in the Lovelace family." She slumped on the couch, simmering in anger. Mandy continued, "I can read your mind from your actions. To be honest, I could t
Josh had created a massive scandal from his forced demolition of the Tsulu village for the holiday resort project.Deep in worries, he had no time to deal with the public fallout. Victor had to suppress the news reports for him.Victor flipped in front of Josh and Jameson at the chairman's office. "What's wrong with you, you moron? It's illegal to demolish buildings by force in Cyrris. How dare you do it abroad? "You do know their police and authorities will come after you, right?" Victor gritted his teeth and poked a finger at Josh's temple, forcing the latter to stumble backward.Victor snapped, "You goon! Dumb as a doorknob! Do you want the Schmidt Group to meet an early demise?"Jameson pursed his lips silently as he adjusted his glasses. Meanwhile, Josh blushed in shame, his ego bruised by his dad.Feeling indignant, he hissed, "Dad, Jonah Taylor tricked us! He transferred a problematic parcel of land to me. He set up a trap for me."Victor's frown deepened."Josh, this i
In the face of Victor's accusations, Josh belatedly realized that he had shot himself in the foot. In the past, he had used a carrot-and-stick approach to mold David into a tool at his disposal, but never had he thought that Jameson would one day use it against him.Josh now unjustly carried the blame for David's death, and Victor treated him as the punching bag to deal with the grief and helplessness surrounding David's death."Dad, let's cool down and discuss. Your health will only suffer if you're emotional." Jameson hurried over and assisted Victor to take a seat on the couch.Then, he calmly explained to Josh, "Josh, you misunderstood me. I looked into the parcel of land but hesitated to inform you because I didn't want you to think that I was stepping over your toes or trying to mess up your project."You never had any trust in me, and I didn't want to deepen your mistrust. Dad only has you and me left. I do not want our relationship to be strained."Josh scoffed and thoug
Victor felt as though he was punched in the guts. "You loser… Josh Schmidt, you're a fucking loser!" Josh grew anxious when he noticed the majority of public opinion in favor of Jameson. He nearly broke his phone out of anger. "Jameson Schmidt, is this your doing? You must have leaked the news!""Josh, how can you be so clueless?" Jameson shook his head. "What do I gain from leaking the news? What good will it do for the company? I do not want a pyrrhic victory. Besides, I don't even have to mess with you. You're totally capable of doing that to yourself."Josh, utterly provoked, bellowed, "Jameson Schmidt, you petty, evil prick!"A smirk played on Jameson's lips as he maintained his gentlemanly image. When Victor wasn't looking, Jameson showed a glimpse of his provocating and evil nature.Victor rubbed his forehead. He had a complicated look in his eyes. "Who… Who had the audacity to…""3 o'Clock News is a media under the KS Group. KS Group and other foreign investors funded th
Carl sounded perplexed by Jameson's decision. He questioned, "You can totally get Josh out of the way and claim the president title if you settle the scandal in Tsulu."Jameson shook his head. "Victor Schmidt is a skeptical man. If I show my hand, I will only raise his suspicion about my intentions. However, he will think of me as rational, sensible, and diplomatic if I leave the matter to Josh."Carl inquired, "What if Josh successfully squashed the scandal?""Do you think I'll let that happen?" Jameson folded his legs and swirled the red wine in his glass. He exuded a dangerous air. "Since the Taylors have brought this scandal to the next level, I shall fuel the fire and make it spiral out of control."Get in touch with our men in Tsulu right now. Tell them to visit the hospital where the injured villagers stay. You know what to do next, don't you?"Carl got the hint. He nodded hard. "Yes. Got it."Amber's hands quivered. She knew that a vicious round of killings was about to s
While the Schmidts were deep in trouble, Jasper was busy with work. Winston's condition had recently stabilized. After sorting out Winston's matters, Jasper began working to create a charity foundation in Anne's name.Anne had passed on for years, but Jasper resolved to make the foundation great to show his love for his mother."Mr. Beckett, the charity dinner preparations are nearly complete. We'll need your decisions on certain details, such as the venue selection and the guest list." Xavier handed him some documents.Jasper carefully pored over the documents. He calmly asked, "Any updates on Javier Beckett lately?""Nothing suspicious, except for one issue." Xavier leaned forward. He lowered his voice into a whisper. "I looked into Mr. Javier's schedule abroad. "He was scheduled to attend a business meeting in Furancia for a week. He should have come home to Solana City after that, but he took a detour to Mosgravia."Jasper lifted his gaze. "Mosgravia?""Let's not forget who
"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