It wasn't me… Mr. Schmidt… I wouldn't…" Amber's voice trembled as she struggled to articulate each word. Her eyes held a shaky semblance of innocence as if she were being wrongfully accused.No one understood the consequences of betraying Jameson better than her. She didn't fear death itself. On the contrary, she dreaded dying for no good reason at all. Thus, she fought to defend herself. "Mr. Schmidt, what would I gain from betraying you? Only Mr. Moses and I are privy to this information. Wouldn't you discover the truth swiftly if I had acted against you? Why would I be foolish enough to wish for my own demise?"Besides, I'm practically under constant surveillance here. How could I have possibly contacted Ms. Alyssa or Mr. Beckett? How could I betray you?"Her words chipped away at Jameson's rage. She'd hit the right point. Seeing a chance to salvage the situation, Amber continued, "Mr. Schmidt, you gave me this life. Without you, I have nothing. In the past, I've even tried t
Amber stared fixedly at Axel, having no choice but to force a polite smile under the glare of countless surveillance cameras. But her stiff expression failed to convince both herself and Axel.Meanwhile, Jameson sat in the security room, watching Amber and Axel's every move. There were high-end cameras and microphones installed in the room that could even pick up the sounds of their breathing."I didn't expect to see you here, Ms. Altman." Axel cocked an eyebrow. "I've truly missed you since we last met. I couldn't stop thinking about when we'd meet again. Who knew that would be tonight?""I never expected to meet you here too, Mr. Whitaker." Amber smiled stiffly.Amber knew Axel only said those things because they were under surveillance. But her heart still nervously trembled when Axel said he'd missed her.Since both Amber and Axel were very experienced in such situations, Jameson didn't notice anything off about them whatsoever."It seems like we are fated to meet." Axel's ey
There was a silent rule in The Millenium, which was that no one else could bring Amber out of the place besides Jameson himself. Yet Axel was breaking that rule right now!He was the only man who was bold enough to do so anyway.Amber was terrified at first. But she then saw how determined and calm Axel was. Thus, all her worry disappeared, leaving her to close her eyes and lean against his chest.Amber just wanted to leave with Axel right now, no matter where she went."Mr. J-Jameson, Axel Whitaker has taken Ms. Altman away!" Carl exclaimed, panicked. Though Carl knew that Jameson had only ever treated Amber as a lowly substitute for Alyssa Taylor for all the years and even humiliated Amber again and again, no one was allowed to take Amber away regardless.Axel was basically provoking Jameson beyond his limit!"Go after them with the men!" Jameson ordered, panting angrily. "Bring Amber back no matter what it takes!"…Axel's Aston Martin sped through the highway while his ha
Axel began, "I came to see you because I was worried something might happen to you.""What could possibly happen to me? I'll be fine, so don't do this again." Amber didn't dare look up to meet Axel's eyes. She was trembling slightly as goosebumps erupted on her skin. "Please seek out trouble elsewhere from now on, Mr. Whitaker. "I hope I never see you at The Millenium again. Or should I say… I hope to never see you again after tonight."Axel's eyes darkened. "You can't really stop me."Amber gnawed on her lip. She knew Axel was intelligent enough to understand her implied meaning. Why was he still so stubborn then?These Taylors were too troublesome!Axel slowly observed Amber's expression with unreadable eyes. Though Amber was known to be deadly and beautiful, she was still behaving like a delicate, pitiful little bunny before him. Even though she looked very similar to Alyssa, Axel still saw a different, startling beauty from her every time they met.No wonder Jameson would s
"The Millennium is the only place I've learned how to live in. Besides, it's the most suitable place for someone like me. I don't need any other options," Amber said.She needed to distance herself from Axel before it was too late."What if I wanted to take you with me? Would you come with me if I could bring you somewhere Jameson or his friends could never find you?" Axel gazed seriously at Amber."No," Amber said without hesitation, a pitiful smile on her face. "I live and die as Mr. Jameson's puppet."Axel slowly straightened up, the desire in his eyes fading away. He unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt and said, "I understand now. In that case, let's just get on with things.""What… things?" Amber hadn't yet caught up with Axel's pace."Well, we're alone in a hotel room late at night. What things do you think we could do? Play cards?" Axel's gaze was cold, with no trace of tenderness in them anymore. "Do you want to shower first or should I? Or should we shower together?"Am
Axel tiptoed over to the bed when he heard Amber's shallow breathing after she fell asleep. Kneeling on one knee by the bed, he studied her lovely sleeping face.Moments later, he mumbled in a low voice, "You're not like Lyse."Amber probably overheard him. Her lashes fluttered gently as tears crept to her eyes.Axel gulped upon seeing her tears and thought of wiping them away, only to withdraw his hand and head toward the balcony forlornly.…When Amber woke up groggily the next morning, Axel had left. She sat up in her comfortable sheets and paused in shock when she found Axel's black windbreaker draping across the blanket. He had clearly left it behind for her.The last time, he left her some gastric medication after recalling her gastric issues. This time, he knew that she didn't have enough clothes on her because she left in haste, so he lent her his windbreaker."Pfft. He's still as caring as ever. Whoever gets to marry him will be the happiest woman ever." Chuckling, Ambe
Josh Schmidt had committed a long list of crimes over the years. The scandal of Josh forcing female scholarship recipients into prostitution sent a shockwave through the nation. Under immense public scrutiny, the Schmidt Group's reputation had been ruined.Victor had assembled the best legal team for his eldest, thinking that Josh would only serve concurrent sentences that added up to at most eight years since there were no murder charges pressed against him. Besides, the legal team would work with the Schmidt Group to reduce Josh's sentence.To Victor's surprise, someone turned in new evidence to the police just five days after Josh's arrest. On top of that, the accomplice Clarissa mentioned—the man who had gotten rid of the body after witnessing Josh's accidental murder—turned himself in at the police station, perhaps due to a guilty conscience or external pressure. He then proceeded to tell on Josh's criminal actions.In the face of KS Group and Beckett Group's threats, the Schmi
"Did she give her heart to me, now?" Jameson stared icily at Carl with an arched brow. "Stop bluffing me. She has no right to do that."She doesn't even deserve to fall for Axel Whitaker. That dude is Lyse's brother and a Taylor. She should know her place."I'm just curious if Amber would kill Axel for me. Failing to do so, I can't guarantee that I'd treat her as well as before."Carl was filled with shock when he realized that Jameson had only spared Amber to use her to kill Axel. Jameson was the type of man who would not change his mind after he harbored suspicions about someone.Carl's phone started vibrating from an incoming call. He answered the call, and his expression promptly fell. Jameson asked, "What's wrong?""Mr. Schmidt, I just got the news that Mr. Victor had sent the attorneys and his secretary to the detention center. They had a half-hour secret meeting with Josh!" Carl started feeling nervous. "Could Josh have transferred his stocks to—""Get the car ready! We'
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