Upon hearing Nathan's commands, the hooligans who had their hands in their pockets suddenly brandished weapons out of nowhere."H-How dare you?" Aidan's voice trembled. He seemed badly shaken. "Do you not know our family's standing in Belbanks? We're just second to the Taylors! You're only bringing trouble to yourselves if you mess with us!""Haha! Even a kid knows that the Taylors are the wealthiest in Belbanks. But I haven't heard of the Lovelace family." Nathan stretched his neck to loosen his muscles. Then, he snickered. "Anyway, I've finally met the Lovelaces in person. Second to the Taylors, huh? I guess that's only in Belbanks. Once you step out of this city, you're a fucking nobody! Hahaha!"The other gang members joined Nathan in his laughter. Silas guffawed. Even Liam, who always looked serious, betrayed a grin."You—" Aidan was at a loss for words. Joseph glared at his useless son, who not only made a joke out of himself but also made the Lovelace family into a laughin
"I'd be damned! That chick is so hot!" A few of the Ivory Gang members, attracted by Alyssa's beauty, were distracted from the fight.Jasper keenly picked up on the vulgar remarks. He quickly pulled Alyssa into a hug in a protective stance. He had to always be on his guard because Alyssa was simply too stunning."What are you staring at? And be polite!" Nathan, aware of Alyssa's status, went up to slap the three guys on their heads."Stop it! Stop fighting!" Julien bellowed at the men.He wasn't angry over his family being beaten, just disappointed at how his esteemed father had brought security over to provoke the Taylors and even got into a fight with the gangsters. In his eyes, Joseph was no different than the hooligans."Enough! Back off!" Nathan said and yawned. He didn't care to continue the fighting as the Lovelaces seemed badly defeated by the Ivory Gang anyway."Dad, how could you do this as the head of the Lovelace family?" Julien confronted Joseph, clenching his fist a
Joseph finally broke when his son publicly challenged his ego as the family patriarch. Staring Julien down, he was about to approach the latter when a slim figure glided out of nowhere and stopped him."Mandy?"In the next second, they heard a deafening slap. Mandy, filled with resentment, had slapped Joseph on the face. The impact of her slap caused his cheek to swell and his ears to ring."Mandy, did you just slap me? But I'm your brother!""My brother? Do I even have one?" She flashed him an indifferent smile. "I thought I was kicked out of the Lovelace family just like Julien. By the way, you're just a son adopted by the Lovelace family."The revelation of Joseph being an adopted son caught Aidan and Julien off guard. It was a family secret that had never been disclosed to the younger generation. Mandy must have been intent on humiliating Joseph by openly bringing up his bloodline."Technically, I am the only daughter who carries the Lovelace blood. You're only benefiting fro
Fortunately, the firm support from Alyssa and Jasper was sufficient. Julien was also determined enough. The Lovelaces had done all they could. Their family member was even hit. At the same time, they had discovered groundbreaking news about their family.They had gotten more than what they had expected. The Taylors made their grand exit with Julien in tow. They made it look as if they were a family. Joseph glared at Mandy from behind, feeling extremely dissatisfied. However, the Ivory Gang members were standing in their way. What else could he do? He could only treat this as his loss! On the way back, Julien put his arm around Mandy's shoulders. He tried his utmost best to hold back his tears. He teased, "Aunt Mandy, if you're planning to go to the local court to have your last name changed, take me along with you." "Oh, silly. It's just a last name. How much importance could it possibly hold?"Mandy smiled warmly as she held his hand tightly in hers. "Home is where your
Jonah and Alyssa stared straight at Jasper. Then, they exclaimed simultaneously, "Are you suggesting that Jameson is behind this?" Jameson's name had now become synonymous with all manner of nefarious deeds. In a helpless tone, Jasper said, "I'm sorry. Maybe I am the one who's being too sensitive about this person. No matter what happens with the Schmidts, I am always able to think of how it can be related to him." "There's nothing wrong with what you were thinking, Jasper." Alyssa had a soft look in her eyes. She linked arms with him to give him her support. "Didn't I say so the last time? Jamiper is the cause of everything bad that happens."Moreover, I think that your analysis makes a lot of sense. The three Schmidt siblings are boneheads. The three of them combined would still not be more scheming than Jamiper. Otherwise, they wouldn't have met such terrible ends." Jasper took note of how pink Alyssa's cheeks were. He smiled at her lovingly. "Jasper's analysis isn't u
Alyssa held her breath. "Jonah, what do you mean by that?" "Look at the condition of Dad's health right now. He is unable to continue managing KS Group. On top of that, this sort of public controversy happened to me. It is no longer appropriate for me to continue as president." Jasper's chest tightened. "You didn't commit any crimes nor harmed anyone. Why do you say that it's no longer appropriate?" "My presence will become a hazard to the corporation." Jonah's eyes were vacant, betraying no hint of emotion. "As long as I remain in this position, the public will be reminded of those photographs whenever they see me in the future. They will not think of anything else. They will only be reminded of the fact that KS Group's president is a homosexual."I don't mind putting my image aside and becoming a laughingstock. However, I cannot do that to KS Group." "Are you resigning, Jonah? You're not going to remain president?" Alyssa asked with a tremor in her voice. She was shocked a
Julien stopped a few steps away from Jonah. Their eyes met. Their outstanding figures looked good together. The bright moonlight reflected on Julien's sweet face. It reflected a softness on his face. Jonah couldn't take his eyes off him. "Jonah…" he started hesitantly. Jonah started to walk toward him. He was bright-eyed, and his breathing was shallow. "Jonah, I…"In the next moment, Jonah put his arm around his waist and pulled him firmly into his arms. Jonah sealed his trembling lips with a deep kiss. Their alluring shadows overlapped. They pulled back from each other after a while. Julien's lips were moist, and his eyes were in a daze. "This is your… first time initiating a kiss." His voice was muffled. There was a hint of submission and grievance in his voice. "I'm sorry that I made you wait for so long." Jonah lowered his eyes. Julien could feel his warm breath on his nose. He slipped his hands into his before slowly letting their fingers intertwine. "Let me
It was in the wee hours of the morning. The bodyguards at the entrance to the Millennium started to feel sleepy. They fought to keep themselves awake as they waited for their colleagues to take over their shifts. One of the bodyguards was in mid-yawn when some rustling noise was heard.Suddenly, he froze. "Hey, listen. Do you hear that?" His partner replied, "Hear what? I didn't hear anything." "No, I heard something. It was a rustling sound… like something grazing against the wall!" His partner was frightened out of his wits. "I heard that this land used to be a mass grave decades ago. It's the middle of the night. Don't scare me like this!" "Wait here. I'll go and take a look." The first bodyguard picked up his flashlight. He went around to the back of the club warily. He shone the light around him. He also moved the light in an upward direction along the walls. Fortuitously, this ray of bright light shone past Axel, who was standing straight on the window sill wit
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