Silas remained silent.Rose couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze, her heart aching with an intensity that made her wish for it to cease beating altogether.No one would be able to accept her, even someone as understanding and perceptive as Silas.After an agonizing stretch of tense silence, Rose summoned the strength to plaster a strained smile on her face."Yes, I am the illegitimate daughter, the product of George's affair. Our family is a complete mess, our drama both entertaining and scandalous!"She turned her attention to Jamie, her voice tinged with defiance. "Jamie, you're on the verge of marrying into the Dalton family, aren't you? When I meet my new brother-in-law, rest assured I'll enlighten him about the Emerson family's true colors. Perhaps then, we can find common ground."Lydia and Jamie were left dumbfounded by Rose's audacity. With each forced laugh, their fury only intensified.Rose had made everything worse!"Tell me, what brings you to visit this illegiti
Rose stood behind Silas, her heart initially unsettled. Her lips were pressed thinly together. However, she nearly broke into a smile after hearing Silas' remark. Silas possessed a formidable ability to dismantle a convict in court and ruthlessly exploit someone's vulnerabilities with his words."Nonsense! I've never had my face done!" Lydia retorted, hastily covering her stiffened face, a mix of shame, anger, and guilt consuming her.Silas shook his head. "It's not your fault for aging, but it's not right to run around scaring people off with that face either."Lydia seethed with outrage, feeling her blood boil at his audacity."Who are you to Rose?" Jamie interjected, clinging to her mother and demanding an answer."Who am I to Rose?" Silas mused, touching the inside of his cheek with his tongue before turning to Rose with a serious expression. "Ms. Emerson, she wants to know my role in your life."Rose met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest."If you don't say anyth
Jamie exclaimed, "They managed to scare us off. How embarrassing and humiliating!""You're kidding, right? It'd be even more embarrassing to stick around any longer," Lydia countered as she suppressed the pain in her wrist. Lydia then retrieved her phone, opened the browser, and found a picture of Jonah Taylor, the president of KS Group.Jamie peered over her shoulder. When she saw the picture, she gasped, "Isn't this the guy we saw earlier? He's the president of KS Group!"Lydia's eyes darkened as she gazed at the picture, feeling beads of sweat forming. Initially, the man had seemed familiar, but she couldn't place him. Then, as she left through the exit, it clicked—he was one-half of the gay couple that had recently made headlines."That can't be right. The president of KS Group is gay. How could he also be the one claiming to be Rose's boyfriend? They just bear a striking resemblance." "You're right. That bitch couldn't be so lucky as to date a Taylor."Jamie, visibly sh
Silas tightened his arms around her as he spoke as if fearing she might escape him.A warm blush crept up Rose's chest, a pleasant tingle settling in her heart. Her voice dipped to a playful whisper, more of a tease than a scold. "Well, at least you know you're being sneaky.""Rosie." Silas couldn't tear his gaze away. A captivating blush painted Rose's pale face as he murmured, "Well, you're just as cunning. You're the sneak who's stolen my heart."Rose found herself at a loss for words. She remembered listening to Alyssa chatter about her family and Silas. He had such a handsome face. Yet, he was so dense and cheesy that it raised concerns for him.It seemed Alyssa was right.Silas noticed her sudden silence and fell into a surge of panic. He turned her to face him. "Are you still upset with me?""Silas Taylor."Silas' panic intensified at the sound of Rose addressing him by his full name. Unconsciously, he swallowed hard. "I am an illegitimate daughter of the Emerson fami
Rose's body stiffened, feeling as though a sharp ice blade had pierced her heart, plunging her into agony."Okay," she complied, her trembling hand slipping into the pocket of her coat. Slowly, she extracted the badge, gripping it tightly in her palm, then turned around.At that moment, Silas gazed at her gloomily, extending his hand toward her.Rose pressed her lips together into a thin line as she placed the badge in his palm. Just as she attempted to retract her hand, Silas seized it, pulling her forcefully into his embrace.Caught off guard, Rose collided with Silas' chest. He couldn't resist holding the small of her back, sealing her lips fiercely with a fiery kiss. Deepening the embrace, a sense of possessiveness lingered between their entwined lips.Rose's thoughts scattered, and her mind seemingly zapped. She responded to his passion, wrapping her arms around him and returning the kiss with equal fervor.After what felt like an eternity of kissing, Silas reluctantly pulle
Alyssa waved dismissively. "If I take the hotel, it would definitely strain your relationship with your father. I wouldn't want that on my conscience."Jasper ran a hand over her head, torn between amusement and exasperation."Any news from Silas? Did he meet Rose yet?" Alyssa's voice bubbled with excitement. "Don't tell me they succumbed to their desires and got busy with some 'adult activities.'" She squirmed playfully in his arms.Jasper, however, took her inappropriate thoughts seriously. "In broad daylight? Highly unlikely. Besides, it's Silas' first date. Doubt he'd be that… bold, would he?""Oh, Silas is plenty daring," Alyssa countered. "It's that stuffy prosecutor uniform that's holding back his wild side." With a playful grin, she flipped them over, pinning him beneath her. Her fingertip teased his Adam's apple. "Besides, who says broad daylight matters? As long as a guy knows his surroundings when he's turned on, right? Can men even tell time down there?"Jasper swall
Dinnertime arrived, and the four of them were famished. To celebrate Silas and Rose's newfound romance, they decided to visit Belbanks' most renowned local restaurant.Jasper took the wheel while Alyssa sat next to him in the front passenger seat. They allowed Silas and Rose to claim the backseat. After all, they just got together. It was understandable that they would be all over each other. Alyssa and Jasper, however, couldn't help but avoid the rearview mirror. The only sounds reaching them were occasional smacks."Ouch, Rosie," Silas winced, rubbing his hand. "Can you be a little lighter? I am your husband, you know." His playful tone made it clear he wasn't bothered by their audience.Despite the playful pain, his affection was evident."Whose permission did you think you had to let your hands wander like that? Quite bold of you, isn't it?"Silas tightened his embrace around Rose's waist, sending a warm flush creeping up her cheeks. As Rose nestled against his chest, a wave
Alyssa said, "Silas, you're stuffing yourself silly! Rose hasn't even taken a bite because she is busy taking care of you. Is this how you care for her?"Alyssa savored the prawns and fish Jasper had prepared for her. Her eyes widened. "Silas, if you mistreat Rose in any way, I'll introduce her to Liam, Axel, and Cyrus. We'll see if you can still eat like that then!"Silas choked, sputtering in terror, nearly dropping his plate.Rose blushed and patted his back gently. Then, she offered him her water. "Madam, please stop teasing me.""R-Rose, cough. I'm sorry," Silas stammered, quickly putting some food on Rose's plate. His face flushed red, on the verge of tears. "It's my first time being a boyfriend. Please don't be mad I haven't been taking care of you. Give me some time. I'll learn, slowly... no, quickly, as fast as I can!"Rose, slightly embarrassed, pursed her lips. She playfully poked his chest. "There's no rush, Silas. We have plenty of time."Alyssa and Jasper exchanged
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