Thinking of Alyssa, Jasper smiled with joy. "Could you tell me the brand? I want to give it to her as a gift when I go back."Sheryl turned her face away, a shadow crossing her face."I'm afraid you'll return disappointed. What I use isn't perfume, but an incense made from rare local spices in Mosgravia. It's basically impossible to buy.""Oh, I see." Jasper's eyes flickered briefly, and he remained silent thereafter.He had asked her because he suddenly remembered where he had smelled her scent before.It was on Jameson.In their numerous encounters, he had faintly detected this scent of orchids clinging to Jameson's clothes.The scent was exactly like Sheryl's.Since she said it wasn't perfume but a rare incense from Mosgravia, she could have her hands on it, probably with Justin's help.But who had Jameson received his help from? Did they know each other? Or was it just a coincidence?Lost in thought, Jasper found himself in front of a carved door."Mr. Beckett, Mr. Justi
"Mr. Beckett? Mr. Beckett?" Sheryl tilted her head and asked with a smile, "What's on your mind? Or is there something on my face?""No." Jasper abruptly returned to his senses, feeling somewhat melancholic.White Dove had been his savior, and they had fought side by side to survive. Without her, how could he have returned to Solana City alive and become the president with overwhelming support?How could he have fallen in love and be with Alyssa?Jasper would never forget White Dove's kindness to him. He had never stopped searching for her whereabouts, but she seemed to have vanished into thin air.Justin mentioned that this woman had worked as a doctor without borders in Luminara.As waves of emotions surged within Jasper, his gaze toward Sheryl became complex."Mr. Beckett, if you're interested in my story, perhaps in the future, or when you visit Mr. Justin again in Mosgravia, I can gradually tell you." Sheryl smiled sweetly, and her tone was soft and alluring."You've misun
Justin continued, "That medicine is indeed very rare. But over the years of treatment and medication, I've built some connections in the medical field. My friend has this medicine, and I can ask him to get it for you.""Really? That's great!" Jasper's face lit up with joy. "How can I repay you for your help, Justin?"Justin's gaze was mysterious as he smiled. "Although I'm in Mosgravia, I've long heard about how much you cherish Ms. Alyssa. Someday, when I return to Solana City, would you oppose me becoming friends with her?"Jasper's heart wrenched, and he clenched his grip on the teacup."Mr. Justin, you're really putting Mr. Beckett in a difficult position. Ms. Alyssa is the apple of his eye. He would even build a house to hide her if he could. Even if you're his brother, I doubt he'd be willing," Sheryl half-jokingly said, but her words concealed a hidden meaning.She implied that women were not the only thing Jasper might not be willing to give up for Justin. It could also be
Sheryl continued, "After growing up, I only further tried to win Jasper's heart for the sake of my family's interests. I've never had feelings for him. I've never loved him."Justin smirked, leaning down and lifting her chin with his fingertip. "Then, are you just using me too?"With tears in her eyes, Sheryl swore, "I truly care for you, Mr. Justin. I'm loyal to you. I would even die for you!""Don't say such gloomy things. Stand up and talk." Justin's tone softened as he helped her up.But Sheryl still felt uneasy inside. She couldn't read Justin's emotions. Having worked for him for so long, she had never seen him angry. This only added to her unease."Did you have me fabricate a new identity to replace that lady and get close to Jasper again?""Apart from occasionally being foolish in matters of the heart, Jasper is the smartest person I know. How could you possibly replace her if you don't even know the details of his relationship with that lady?"Smelling the tea, Justin s
That night, moonlight cast a silvery glow on the ground while the night breeze rustled the trees outside the window.Closing his eyes, Jonah clutched a cross in his hands, devoutly praying in front of the statue of God.Since the passing of his former beloved, he had day after day sought self-redemption through prayer, repenting for the sins he had committed.Countless times in the past, it had all been for him.But now, standing once again before the statue of God, Jonah found himself unable to discern his own feelings. He felt lost and adrift.He breathed out a long sigh. Just as he turned away, the doors of the church were suddenly pushed open.A chilly wind rushed in, dispersing the sorrow between his brows.The next moment, that slender and graceful figure with fox-like eyes tore through the desolation and caught his gaze."Jonah..."Julien's slender figure stood alone in the center of the doorway. His eyes were brimming with tears. "You've come looking for me... Why didn
Judas—this title remained vague in Jonah's mind. No matter how many memories it invoked, those times were long gone."Dr. Wooten, it's me. Jonah.""Judas! I really can't believe I'd live to see the day you'd contact me. How have you been all these years?""I'm doing well."Jonah paused, then said in a low voice, "Are you free right now? I have an urgent matter and need your help.""You don't even need to ask, Judas. I'll do anything for you. No questions asked."…In less than half an hour, a man carrying a large medicine box arrived at Jonah's villa.This man, referred to as "Dr. Wooten" by Jonah, was named Evan Wooten.Unlike regular doctors, he was an underground doctor.During the time when Jonah was still known as "Judas", many of his men were unable to seek treatment at regular hospitals and had to go to underground clinics.Jonah had met Evan then, who had lost his medical license. Jonah recognized his talent and hired him as his personal doctor, giving him a carefree
Evan felt quite troubled upon hearing that."Judas, among the wounds on your friend's body, two in particular are extremely deep. Describing them as skin-deep wounds wouldn't be an exaggeration. I'll need to tend to them before I can know the specifics."As Jonah stared at the bloody wounds on Julien's back, his heartache spread throughout his body."Some of the wounds may need stitches, and it's unlikely that there won't be any scarring."When Evan noticed Jonah's increasingly gloomy expression, he smiled wryly and comforted, "It's no big deal for a young man to have a few scars. It adds to his masculinity, doesn't it? Your friend shouldn't be too fussy about it, right?"Jonah's brows furrowed deeply.Fussy?Julien was a man who refused to do chores and who would want to change his entire outfit from head to toe if he got a drop of grease on it.If he wasn't fussy, there couldn't be any fussy person in the world.In his mind, Jonah could already see Julien's frantic reaction
In the darkness, Jonah's neck and earlobes flushed red.His breathing became heavy as he slowly raised his hand. He landed his warm palm on Julien's abdomen, gently caressing the smooth skin."Do you still think this is a dream?"Under Jonah's touch, Julien trembled as if electrified. Finally, he leaned in and grabbed Jonah's face, kissing him fiercely.Their silhouettes intertwined, filling the room with their kissing sounds."Jonah, can you let me be with you? I don't want anything. Just let me be with you. I don't mind, even if we can never be public."Jonah's dark eyes shimmered with profound affection.He couldn't hide it or contain himself any longer. He knew exactly what he was doing. At this moment, he was more awake than ever before."From now on, I'm yours. Yours alone."With tears in his eyes, Julien nestled into Jonah's bare yet strong chest. He felt a happiness he had never felt before.…Lately, Jameson had been busy dealing with the troubles brought to the com
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
That night, Alyssa stayed in the presidential suite of Solana City's KS World Hotel. She couldn't bring herself to return to her own manor—not yet. The lingering memories of her breakup with Jasper were still too raw, and the thought of revisiting their former home felt like reopening an unhealed wound.The following morning, she was awakened by a knock at the door. Groggily, she slipped on her night robe and opened it to find Sean standing there, carrying a complete set of brand-new hiking gear.Alyssa smiled. "Thank you, Sean." "Ms. Alyssa, it's freezing today. Are you sure you want to go hiking?" Sean walked into the living room and placed the items neatly on the couch. He still felt somewhat worried. "It's alright if it's cold, as long as the weather is good."Alyssa gazed out the window. The sun was shining brightly. The thought of going hiking with Jasper today made it impossible for her to conceal the sweet smile on her face and the delight in her eyes. She still love
Remy's eyes were bloodshot; his expression twisted with disgust as he stared at Sheryl. He could hardly fathom how someone so deranged and vile had once been close to Jasper. Even if Jasper and Alyssa had separated, Sheryl was nowhere near worthy of Jasper's side; she was not even fit to be the dirt on Alyssa's shoes.A sudden flash of memory struck him—the image of Alyssa during that traffic accident. He recalled her mustering all her strength to crawl out of her wrecked car, her face bloody, her body broken yet defiant. He had never seen such a fierce spirit in a woman before.His heart pounded uncontrollably, the memory triggering a sharp pain in his temples. Remy closed his eyes, gasping for breath.Sheryl broke into wild, unhinged laughter. Her entire body shook as she spat out her words, "Oh, Jasper, you poor, clueless fool!"If he ever discovers that the woman he's been tormenting all this time is actually his savior—the one he's been desperate to repay—that would be an eart