Alyssa and Jasper grew solemn in front of the serious-looking Cyrus. "Cyrus, go ahead.""You're well known as a couple who seek justice and fight for what's right." Cyrus sounded sarcastic.His remark prompted Jasper to glance at Alyssa. Jasper caressed her nape while replying, "Well, I'm not that great. I'm only assisting Lyse. She's the one who's outstanding, smart, and kind.""Cyrus was just teasing us! How could you make me shoulder his taunts while you act like the humble one?" Squinting, she playfully elbowed Jasper."I didn't tease you. I meant it." Growing serious, Cyrus explained, "The two victims killed today by the man who held Lauren hostage were members of a school bullying group."Jasper's eyes darkened, and his face paled. Similarly, despair flashed across Alyssa's eyes. The fated couple had both experienced bullying before. Therefore, they hated bullying behavior more than anyone else."The murderer had a daughter who had been severely bullied by the five students
Jasper did not appear doubtful. Instead, he was riddled with guilt. "I'm not the best brother to Lauren, and I feel sorry about it. I've never fulfilled my responsibility as a brother. I was oblivious to her suffering at home and realized it many years later after Lyse informed me about it. I am a disappointment.""Don't think of yourself that way. You're a good brother, and I can attest to it." Alyssa gently leaned into Jasper's arms and kissed him on the neck. "Let's not forget that Lauren wouldn't have gotten together with a doting boyfriend without your help. That alone makes you a good brother to her."Jasper was tempted by her. He looked at her affectionately as he held her by the waist and kissed her on the lips.A dejected look flashed across Cyrus' eyes. Before he entered the car, he said to them, "I'll send the information to you later. You can do anything you want with the bullies as long as it's not something illegal."…As Jasper and Alyssa were concerned about Lauren
Landon trudged back to the living room while looking dispirited. Angelina happened to descend the stairs after having coaxed Lauren to sleep.When Landon lifted his gaze, he accidentally met her eyes, causing her to hang her head fearfully."Stop lowering your head. You're about to bury your head in the sand. What are you, an ostrich?" Frowning impatiently, Landon sat on the couch and put a cigarette between his lips. However, he hesitated to light it when he recalled Lauren hated the smell of cigarette smoke.Angelina did not look up. She had always carried herself with arrogance and aloofness in public, a stark contrast to her present self—unsure, submissive, and guilty. She wanted to dig a hole and hide due to shame."Come here."She strutted over to Landon. The short distance felt like it took forever."Is Lauren asleep?" Landon asked in a low voice."Yes." She stared at her feet. Her voice was shaky. "I'll pack my stuff and leave immediately. I will not be an eyesore to you
"Sure, Mr. Landon." Angelina picked up the hint and proceeded to change the sheets. There were other maids in the manor as well, but Landon only trusted Angelina to enter and clean a private space like his bedroom.The heavy and luxurious velvet curtain remained drawn. The dimly lit bedroom carried a stuffy smell; it smelled like sex.Angelina stole a glance at the messy sheets, unable to hide her joyful expression. It appeared that the couple had had a rather exciting night. She made a mental note to massage Lauren's waist after a night of being ravaged by Landon.Angelina quickly changed the sheets and covers. Then, she picked up the clothes scattered across the floor and gathered them in the laundry basket.Ever since Landon had expressed his desire to marry Lauren to the Harper family, and after he had formally made the proposal to the Beckett family, Angelina couldn't see a condom around the house.Clearly, Landon wished for Lauren to carry his child. Since they were having u
Lauren might be simplistic most of the time, but she seemed extra level-headed when she fought to go back to school. Landon had no choice but to cave in. He left the manor with a long face, wearing the damp jacket he had wrapped Lauren in earlier.Angelina had offered a new jacket for him, but he declined. All he said was, "Take good care of Lauren.""Of course, Mr. Landon." "One more thing." He paused in his tracks with an icy look. "Be vigilant. Make sure other men stay away from her.""Sure." Angelina froze. Cyrus' cheerful and handsome face flashed across her mind.…Clarissa had been troubled ever since she retrieved her dress from Rose. Losing sleep, she couldn't shake off Rose's harsh advice for her. Rose had warned her, "Domestic violence, once happened, will happen again.""Are you going to do nothing until he beats you to death?""You're going to die if you don't fight back!"Recently, Josh had regained Victor's trust and was welcomed back to the Schmidt Group after
Clarissa jolted in fear. "Besides, don't you know how much a kidney transplant costs? Your dad still proved himself useful to me when he was the Attorney General years ago. I would have seen it as an investment and saved him back then."But he's a dying old man now. Why would I waste my money and energy on a man who's about to meet his maker? I'm not doing charity." Josh looked away in disdain and snorted. "If your dad could wait, make him wait. If he can't, he only has himself to blame."After Josh left, Clarissa fell on her knees helplessly. She covered her face and wept.…In the evening, Clarissa changed into simple clothes to visit her father, Oscar Sparks, at the hospital. She covered every inch of her skin from head to toe to hide her bruises and scars from Oscar.Oscar had weakened to a point where he struggled to speak. Still, he tried to stop Clarissa from worrying about him because he was aware of her suffering in her marriage to Josh.Had the Schmidt family not fina
Clarissa looked puzzled but accepted the documents regardless. She carefully checked the contents, and she shot up in surprise. Her heart raced in excitement. "I-Is this…""Mr. Beckett found a kidney donor match for your father," Alyssa addressed Clarissa gently like she would a friend. "It's difficult to find a matching donor. I believe you understand the complexity since you've been searching for a long time. Even wealthy patients struggle to find a matching donor. Forcing a kidney transplant will only result in adverse reactions that ultimately lead to kidney failure. Mr. Beckett, I dare say, has utilized all his resources to find this matching donor.""You… You…" Staring at the documents containing life-saving information for Oscar, Clarissa sobbed. Her tears stained the papers and smudged the printed words."Ms. Sparks, you're a good daughter. Anyone else would have given up by now," Jasper remarked coolly and earnestly."What… do you want me to do?" She hung her head as she c
"Is there no need to sign an agreement? Ms. Alyssa, are you sure?" Clarissa stared at Alyssa in shock. "Aren't you worried that I would change my mind after the transplant and refuse to help you out? I thought you businesspeople always dismissed oral agreements and emphasized the importance of putting everything down in black and white.""I'm doing this to show you that you always have a choice, regardless of the deal we have struck." Alyssa flashed a faint smile, looking as calming and reassuring as ever. "If you sign the agreement, you'll turn this into a formal deal. If you don't, you can think of it as a battle to avenge your family."I will not blame you if you choose to return to the Schmidt family under pressure after the transplant surgery. As a doctor, my priority is saving lives. Not only that, as General Sparks was a great mentor to my brother, I'll do this to return his favor on my brother's behalf."Even as an outsider, Jasper felt awestruck by Alyssa's remarks and marv
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