Jasper and Alyssa arrived at the abandoned factory just as Landon did.Landon stepped out of the car, his complexion pallid, his eyes emanating a chilling intensity. In the glow of the car's headlights, a menacing glint flickered in his gaze. "Where's Lauren? Does anyone have any updates?" Landon's eyes widened in desperation as he spoke, his voice cracking from the strain on his dry, cracked lips. His throat felt hoarse, each word a struggle to utter.Jasper noticed everything, feeling an unspeakable pain gripping his heart. Witnessing Landon's successive blows, he understood that despite his outward appearance, Landon was likely on the verge of an emotional collapse."Angelina has already arrived. She's tracking them, but I can't reach her when I tried calling her just now!"Alyssa whipped out her phone and gritted her teeth. "Phone signals are jammed here. The kidnappers chose this place on purpose! Motherfucking bastards!""Alyssa, stay calm. I anticipated this. Xavier has reached
"Beat her! I want you to fuck her up!" Zoe held her bloody ear as she snarled at the others, "If you don't beat her, are you going to wait for her to bite you?"The other four people were scared. They didn't want to become the next Freddy, so they immediately started beating her up.Someone kicked Lauren in her belly. A sharp pain ensued before she tasted a sweet, metallic tang in her mouth, and blood flowed from her nose.Her body could barely withstand the cruel torture. Yet, Lauren smiled. She had never been so relaxed. This was the first time she used all her might to defend her pride. Even if she died, she would have no regrets.Betty, who was watching from the sidelines, held her sides and laughed hysterically."I asked you to come, but are you only here to watch the show?"Zoe walked toward Betty and shoved her. "She's half dead now. Get up there and give her the final blow!"Betty pointed at herself. "Me? Why don't you go instead?""I'm giving you the chance to end your enemy
Angelina lunged forward, seizing their hair in her grip. With a swift and forceful tug, she pulled back as though intent on ripping their hair from their scalps."Ouch!"Silent but lethal, Angelina exerted all her strength, yanking on the heads of these two individuals, consumed by nothing but malevolent intentions. With a resounding crack, she brought their skulls together.Zoe and Betty were instantly knocked out. They slumped to the floor in a heap.Angelina's chest rose and fell as she breathed heavily. Her chest was filled with hatred and pain.It wasn't that Angelina lacked the desire to end their lives, but for these two despicable scoundrels, she believed they deserved to face justice at the hands of Landon and Jasper themselves. That would be the only fitting conclusion for them."Madam Lauren!"Angeline knelt beside Lauren's bruised and battered body. Her bloodied hands lifted Lauren's limp torso into her shaky embrace."Angelina… Angie…" Lauren tried to muster up a smile, bu
The police found the kidnappers' base while the livestream was still in progress. Numerous police cars surrounded the old manor. Red and blue lights flashed in the ominous darkness while the piercing sirens broke the stillness of the night.Zoe, who was as resilient as a cockroach, roused herself before Betty, who remained unconscious on the ground. Zoe was scared out of her wits when she heard the police sirens. She was about to escape when a few familiar figures barged into her line of sight."Lauren!"Landon was the first to rush forward. In the midst of his anguish, a ray of hope appeared within his crimson, tear-filled eyes. Landon had always been fearless. Despite knowing full well that there were cold-blooded mercenaries on Shelland Island who would not hesitate to kill, he accompanied Jasper there without hesitation. But right now, his face was as white as a sheet. With shaky steps, he stumbled his way through the room. The living room offered a grim tableau—Betty
Alyssa trembled with anger and tears in her eyes as she roared, "From the moment you stepped into this manor, every move you made was being recorded by hidden cameras and live streamed. The entire country has witnessed your crimes. Preston has tricked you from the start, yet you continue to hide the truth! Will you wait until it is too late to face reality?" Zoe was stunned, her mouth agape, blood staining her lips. "I-I know! I know!"Mason, the most cowardly among them, realized he was less powerful compared to the others. Crawling to Jasper's feet with his incapacitated limbs like a wounded sea lion, he said, "Two men came and took Lauren and the other woman away! Zoe even addressed one of the men as 'Mr. Carsen,' but he ignored her completely! "Mr. Jasper, Mr. Landon! Zoe tricked us into coming here! She threatened us—if we didn't beat Lauren up, she would kill us all! We were coerced into this—ah!"Jasper's cold glare bore into Mason as he kicked him in the face. "How dare
Preston laid out two demands in his ransom call—no guns and Landon had to come alone. "Jasper, Lyse, and Cyrus," Landon said. "You guys handle the situation here. I'll go meet Preston."Without a second thought, Landon turned and headed for the door."Landon!" Jasper cried out, his heart hammering in his chest. He lunged forward and grabbed Landon's arm. "This is Preston's trap! He might kill you; you cannot go alone!""I know he wants to kill me," Landon said with a humorless smile that quickly twisted into a grimace. It was a sight that tugged at the others' hearts."Landon, we'll go with you!" Alyssa declared with determination in her gaze. "We can stay hidden and wait for an opening. That way, we can save Lauren and Angelina for sure!"Landon shook his head. "Lyse, thank you, but I can't take that risk. If giving up my life means Lauren and Angelina can come back safely, then that's a price I'm willing to pay."Alyssa's eyes welled with tears, and Jasper's heart sank furthe
Aware that this was an added challenge by Preston, Landon abandoned the fight and sprinted for the elevator a dozen feet away. He frantically hammered the elevator button. A few seconds later, the door creaked open slowly.To his dismay, inside the elevator stood five attackers, each wielding sharp blades. …Preston was relaxing in a pool lounger, smoking his favorite cigar brand. He played his favorite clubbing music from his phone, which was already out of style.Every few minutes, he would look at his watch. Then he would smack his lips with satisfaction and continue to rest his eyes.After 20 minutes, the elevator facing the entrance to the pool slid open with a ding.Preston's eyelids fluttered open a fraction before a jolt of awareness sent them springing wide. He watched as Landon stepped over the bodies beneath him with heavy but determined footsteps. He slowly made his way to the pool, as if he were the God of War, returning triumphantly after a bloody battle.Land
"Mr. Landon!" Angelina shrieked in pain from above him.Landon looked up in dread, and his pupils dilated in shock. Angelina, hands tied, stood dangerously near the edge of the 32-foot-tall diving platform at the swimming pool, with Frank pointing a gun at her head.The height of the springboard was alarming, as the pool was dry."Angie!" Landon's blood-stained white shirt was drenched in sweat. He took two steps forward but was forced back when Frank pointed the gun at him."I'm sorry, Mr. Landon…" Tears brimming, Angelina choked on her emotions.Landon cast a deep look at her. "No. You've never wronged me or owed anyone anything. Angie, it was my fault that you got into this situation. I should be apologizing to you instead."His words sent a sharp pain through her chest. She had experienced highs and lows over her years of working for Landon. Nothing fazed her, except for his apology."Where's Lauren?" Landon's desperate tone echoed throughout the pool area.Upon hearing tha
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