Being Lauren's most trusted friend and protecting her by his side would also bring Cyrus happiness.Angelina had also been quietly following not far behind them.Recalling Landon's pale face when he left, she knew that something bad must have happened, and it left her feeling extremely anxious.Just then, Cyrus remembered how Lauren had stopped in front of a shop window full of dolls when they first entered. He thought she might find them inconvenient during the outing, so he thought of buying one for her before they left.Right now, they happened to be at the entrance of the store, and the dolls were still there.Cyrus' eyes lit up. "Lauren, wait for me. I'll be right back.""Okay." Lauren nodded obediently.Cyrus turned around and quickly walked toward the store.As he took a few steps, he thought about Lauren's social anxiety and how uncomfortable she would be without anyone by her side. Therefore, he gave up the idea of surprising her with the doll and decided to take her i
"It's you?" Cyrus and Angelina were both shocked.The man before them was the same assassin who had severely injured Angelina during their last encounter and abducted Lauren.Now, he was here again. Though he remained unmoved, his presence still sent chills down Angelina's spine.Meanwhile, Cyrus stared incredulously at Remy's familiar yet unfamiliar face. He looked a lot like Damien."If you had fired and killed any of them, you might have had a chance to catch up. Unfortunately, you didn't."Remy's eyes were cold, and his hands were tucked into the pockets of his black leather jacket. His tone dripped with disdain toward Cyrus as he said, "That's why I've always looked down on you police officers."Even with the power to punish evil, you still hesitate just to look out for yourselves. Now, you won't catch up.""Who… are you?" Cyrus asked sternly. His forehead was covered in sweat."You're about to die. There's no point in knowing." As Remy said that, a glint of coldness flash
"Damien!" Cyrus cried out, unable to contain his tears as they streamed down his face. The tip of the blade had pierced his coat, sending a jolt of sharp, cold pain through him. Everything screeched to a halt, as if someone had hit a pause button. Cyrus' sorrowful visage held Remy's gaze captive. A detachment crept in, a chilling sensation like his spirit was untethering itself. Then, a wave of dizziness washed over him, unlike anything he'd ever experienced.As Remy lost his focus, Cyrus pulled the trigger.He shot Remy's hand, the one holding the knife. Pain lanced through Remy, yet he didn't make a sound. A deep frown creased his face as he let the weapon clatter to the ground. Cyrus wanted to apprehend Remy, but the beating had left him battered. He struggled to rise, clutching the gun tightly, prepared to defend himself if Remy attacked again.However, Remy made no move toward him. Instead, he walked over to his accomplice lying on the ground, and together, they disap
A cold, damp chill and the acrid bite of dust and stale tobacco filled Lauren's senses as she struggled to open her eyelids. Reality blurred with the remnants of a nightmare.Blurry and disoriented, she felt a pair of icy hands stroking her skin."Who's there?"Lauren's eyes snapped open, bulging wide like a startled deer. As she shifted her focus, a horrifying scene unfolded before her.Freddy sat by her bedside, his cold hands creeping along her slender waist, inching their way up, touching every inch of her skin."D-Don't touch me!" she rasped, the words laced with raw fear. A surge of adrenaline fueled a frantic struggle, but her limbs met only unyielding resistance. Only then did she realize that her hands and feet were bound. Helpless and trapped, she could only watch as Freddy's hands roamed over her body, feeling the burning humiliation coursing through her veins."Don't touch?" Freddy smirked, his lips close to her ear as his hand continued to roam over her body. His
"Yet, here you are, barging in, knowing full well I'm occupied. What a party pooper," Freddy grumbled, slowly re-fastening his belt, his displeasure evident on his face.The man in the blue suit flicked the cigarette butt to the ground. "You can indulge later. Zoe wants us to bring Lauren to her."Lauren's eyes darkened at the mention of Zoe's name, plunging her further into a pit of despair.…Jasper and Alyssa led Sean, Xavier, and the others to the western suburbs.Despite severe injuries, Cyrus insisted on leading a police team to the abandoned factory where both parties were expected to converge.They made efforts to keep Lauren's kidnapping under wraps, fearing it could negatively impact both the Beckett Group and the Harper Group, especially Newton. They knew he wouldn't take it well, and the risk of angering the kidnappers and endangering Lauren was too great.During the journey, Jasper learned from Landon that Cornelius might have come to harm, prompting him to call the
"Lauren isn't there?"Jasper and Alyssa's hearts sank at Angelina's words. "She's not here! I've combed the place, but there's no sign of her," Angelina choked out, her voice thick with emotion. Alyssa maintained her composure, speaking gently to Angelina. "Angelina, it's okay. You did your best in a difficult situation. Now, tell me everything from the beginning. Who informed you about Lauren's kidnapping and directed you to the abandoned factory in the western suburbs?""Mr. Cyrus and I were hot on the kidnappers' trail, but we were intercepted by the man who previously abducted Lauren!" Angelina recounted."It's him again!" Alyssa's heart hammered against her ribs. Lauren's enigmatic portrait, a doppelganger for Damien, taunted her memory."I was outmatched, so Cyrus decided to stall the man while I went to rescue Lauren," Angelina continued, her tone filled with frustration. "But the man had a female accomplice. "She fought me and deliberately let me stab her, severely in
"No, Jameson can't get wind of this!" Alyssa frowned, her grip tightening on Jasper's shoulder. "Think about it—if he finds out we're onto him, who's in the crosshairs?"Jasper met her gaze, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Amber.""Amber helped Axel escape the Millennium and provided intel that brought Josh down. This time, she'd risked everything to tell us about Lauren. She's clearly switched sides and become our ally."Confronting Jameson would put Amber in the line of fire. He's ruthless, and wouldn't hesitate to kill Amber just to vent!"Jasper's jaw clenched, a heavy weight settling in his chest. He pulled Alyssa close, his voice a low murmur against her hair. "You're too compassionate, Lyse. Unwilling to hurt anyone who's helped us, even a little.""Anyone with a conscience wouldn't stand by while Jameson does what he does," Alyssa countered, a bitter edge to her voice. "There must be a reason she follows him." Despite the bitterness, her gaze remained resolute. "As lon
Lauren's gaze locked onto Betty's hideous face, her eyes now ablaze with defiance. The lifelessness that had marred her eyes after the torture was replaced with a fierce emotion that only fueled Betty's anger further."Don't you dare look at me like that, you stupid bitch!" Betty spat, her eyes flashing with fury, eager to deliver another kick to Lauren before Zoe intervened. "That's enough. Save your anger for later," Zoe admonished Betty, halting her aggression.Mason let out a lazy yawn, breaking the tension. "Zoe, what's the point of dragging us all the way to this godforsaken place from different corners of the world? Couldn't you have chosen a more decent venue for our reunion?"Freddy shot him a cold glance. "Could you have witnessed this anywhere else? After all these years, you still sound like a spoiled brat.""Damn it, you little piece of—"Mason wanted to cuss Freddy out, but the woman in the red dress stopped him with a shake of her head.While the Hodgsons had gai
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