Betty's face at this moment was even paler than a sheet.Asking her to apologize to that dumbo on her knees was a fate worse than death.She immediately looked toward Newton, but his face was full of anger. He didn't even bother to make eye contact with her. It seemed he was determined to abandon her.Seeing Newton ignore her completely, she then kneeled before Javier. She clung to his legs, pleading desperately with tears streaming down her face, "Dad! I know I was wrong... I'll never do it again."Exiling me from Solana City and not allowing me to be by your side is already cruel punishment! I'm your daughter too. Don't I deserve any respect? Will he only be satisfied when he drives me to my death? Dad!"Her desperate cry sounded like she was the one being bullied.Frowning, Javier wanted to pull her up. After all, it was quite undignified to have so many helpers watching this scene. But Betty clung to his legs like a parasite. He probably couldn't kick her off, even if he trie
Javier continued, "Betty is indeed at fault in this matter, but isn't the main responsibility on the Harpers?"He was quite good at sophistry as he attempted to regain control of the narrative. "Who knows, maybe it was Zoe who instigated, tempted, or even threatened Betty into doing what she did."Even if not, ultimately, it was the Harpers who publicized Lauren's condition! Jasper, instead of confronting the Harpers, are you now turning against your own family? How can you do this?"Betty immediately began to weep, mimicking the pitiful demeanor of her late mother."In any case, sending her abroad should settle this matter. I don't want any more turmoil in the family." Javier's tone was resolute, leaving no room for disagreement.Jasper's eyes darkened, and he gritted his teeth to suppress his anger.He was not a reckless man. He knew that further confrontation would only fuel Javier's competitive spirit, causing him to defend Betty even more."Fine, skip the apology." With the
After what had happened, it was absolutely impossible for Betty to stay in Solana City any longer.However, Jasper was still wearing a frown.He called Landon as soon as he left Seaview Manor, but there was no answer.This situation was rare in their nearly 20 years of friendship, so it made him feel uneasy.That evening, Alyssa brought out the teddy bear cake that Cyrus had sent to share with Lauren.In the warmly lit room, Alyssa brought the cake to Lauren. Her eyes were filled with affection as she said, "Lauren, try this cake. It arrived in the morning, and I've been craving it but couldn't bear to eat it. I've been waiting to share it with you."Lauren's slender body leaned against the head of the bed. Her fair and tender face appeared pale and gaunt. It was a heartbreaking sight. "Alyssa, eat if you want to. You don't have to wait for me."Alyssa blinked. "No way. This was bought for you.""Who bought it for me?"Alyssa hesitated slightly.Sensing that hesitation, Lau
"Lauren, look at me." Alyssa firmly grasped Lauren's slender shoulders and stared into her dim eyes. "Are you really going to do this? Are you willing to part with him?"Don't do something you'll regret. Once you lose some people, you may never find someone like them again.""Alyssa, I've thought this through. It's not a rash decision."Smiling contentedly, Lauren slowly closed her eyes. "Separating is the best outcome for Landon and me. Having been together and sharing unforgettable memories is already enough for me."I love the lively Landon from before, so I want him to return to being himself. Being with me would only hold him back and burden him."Alyssa's heart wrenched as if it were being crushed.…When Alyssa returned to her room with tears, Jasper was already waiting for her."Lyse, why are your eyes so red? Did you cry?"He hurried over and wrapped his arms around her slender waist. After pulling Alyssa into his embrace, he said tenderly, "Who upset you? I'll help y
Jasper's face remained indifferent, but Alyssa's eyes widened. She even shouted in excitement, "Deaf?""Yes! It's real. I've already gotten the diagnosis report. I'll send it to you right now. Betty is still in the hospital. I heard she's completely deaf in her left ear, with hearing loss in her right ear. She's already using a hearing aid."Xavier's ecstatic voice echoed in the room. "Mr. Beckett, you're incredible! That wasn't just a slap. That was one hell of a slap!""Don't exaggerate it, Xavier," Jasper reprimanded with a frown.Alyssa burst into laughter, clapping her hands joyfully until they turned red. "Haha! That's great! It's perfect karma! Who asked her to mock Lauren all the time? I want to see how arrogant she'll be now."When she met Jasper's unwavering gaze, her smile froze, replaced by a blush spreading across her cheeks. "Um, am I too—"Before she could finish her sentence, Jasper seized her in a fierce, aggressive kiss, swallowing her words.He held her closel
Javier's tight security was clearly a silent competition with Jasper. They were more like archenemies than father and son."What do you want to do, Lyse?" Jasper asked softly."I want to draw Betty's blood for DNA testing."Both Jasper and Xavier were taken aback."Betty's malice seems like a genetic mutation in your family. I'm curious to see if she truly belongs in your family."Recently, Alyssa had become increasingly suspicious. When she compared photos of Javier and Betty, she saw no resemblance between them. Lauren's features at least shared some similarities with Javier.What was more perplexing was that Betty didn't even resemble Sophia. This didn't make sense."It doesn't matter if we can't get close to her right now," Alyssa said with a cold smile."She'll have to go to the hospital for a checkup sooner or later. When she's abroad, obtaining a blood sample from her will be easy.""Lyse, you seem very confident." Jasper sensed from her cunning and sly gaze that things
"If Grandpa hadn't revealed it in a fit of anger, I wouldn't have known that Grandma was deaf in her left ear."Feeling guilty, Jasper chuckled bitterly. "Isn't it ridiculous? As the grandson of this family, I spent the most time with Grandpa and Grandma, yet I never noticed her abnormality. What kind of grandson am I?""I knew about that. Grandpa told me about it during that Christmas when I went to visit Grandma with him..."Alyssa stopped abruptly when she inadvertently mentioned Christmas. She dared not continue.It would be Christmas in less than two months.The Taylors loved festivities. Every year, they would set up a grand and magnificent Christmas tree in the living room. Jonah would personally prepare gifts for all family members and give the helpers in the house bonuses out of his own pocket.But because of the child she lost, Alyssa no longer dared to celebrate Christmas. She wouldn't even return home on Christmas Day.However, that was in the past.Now, she avoided
Alyssa's and Jasper's expressions turned solemn after listening."If not, it could be that he cleans up the scene thoroughly every time he commits a crime, leaving no trace behind. But that doesn't quite fit the modus operandi of an outlaw or top-tier assassin."Cyrus traced his jawline with his finger as he calmly analyzed the situation. "So, I'm inclined to believe he's a hired assassin from abroad.""If that's the case, it'll be even more difficult to investigate him. Once this job is done, he'll disappear immediately. He'd probably use a false identity to flee the country." Jasper's gaze darkened gradually."Didn't Ms. Angelina see his face? She can come to our station tomorrow and describe his face based on her memory. I can arrange for a top-notch profiler from our city to come and draw a portrait of that assassin."Cyrus' eyes flashed with determination. "Having a sketch might provide more clues. We can't delay too long. People's memories fade, and the likeness of the portr
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