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
Without hesitation, Landon yelled in a hoarse voice, "I'll never make a pick! I want to save both of them!""Landon Harper, are you trying to get your hands on both of them?" Cackling manically, Preston turned to face Angelina, who was held on the springboard. "Angelina, your hard work and loyalty are worth it. Look! He's keen to make you his mistress!""You bastard! Vile son of a bitch! You'd better shut your fucking mouth!" Angelina bellowed at Preston. "If you want revenge, take my life! Release Madam!""Stay still!" Frank jabbed the back of her head with the muzzle of the gun."Tsk tsk. She's a feisty bitch." Preston shook his head.Even as pain seeped through every part of Angelina's body, she remained fueled by rage. She yelled at Landon, "Mr. Landon, don't mind me! Save Madam—you must save her!""I want both!" His eyes took on a murderous look as he reiterated his stance with determination."Landon, you own a lot. Stop being greedy. You can't have your cake and eat it," P
Surprisingly, Preston had the time to laugh at the situation. He quipped, "I'm afraid time is running out for someone here, though. My dearest nephew, haven't you made your choice?"The water in the glass tank had reached Lauren's chest."Mr. Landon!" Angelina urged him in a quivering voice. Their worried eyes met, and time and space seemed to come to a stop. He remembered saying to her, "Angie, come work for me."She had once said to him, "Mr. Landon, I will stay loyal to you no matter the circumstance."At that moment, she smiled at Landon through tears as she recalled their first encounter. The mirage of the teenage boy who made her heart flutter overlapped with Landon's handsome figure."I do not want you to hesitate. No matter what happens, always choose Madam," she gently muttered a heartfelt remark to Landon that sounded like a grand and touching farewell.She added, "You and Madam must live happily forever after.""No—"In a split second, Landon seemed to have underst
A gunshot echoed in the pool area. However, it was Preston who fell lifelessly onto the ground after being shot.The special forces flooded the pool area, firing two shots from their laser guns at the bulletproof glass. The tank instantly shattered into pieces as water gushed out.…Two members of the police sacrificed their lives in the rescue operation. It turned out that Preston had been colluding with underground forces to smuggle military artillery using his power as the executive director of Harper Group. Since he possessed heavy artillery, it made the rescue operation more challenging.Thankfully, the micro camera that Landon carried with him recorded the gory and ruthless battle. Thanks to him, Cyrus managed to equip his men with advanced weapons to break the tank and save the hostage.However, Lauren was on the brink of death when she was sent to the ICU. Her pulse was weak, and she was in critical condition after drowning and suffering organ injuries from the beatings.
The chill that permeated the morgue was a constant reminder of the chasm between the world of the living and the dead.Standing in the shadows of the entrance, Alyssa and Jasper allowed Landon to say his final farewell to Angelina.Angelina's lifeless face looked as pretty as ever. Covered with a white cloth, she seemed to be sleeping peacefully with a smile. It was as if she was in the middle of a lovely dream she would never wake up from.Hanging his head, Landon grappled with waves of fury that threatened to crush and suffocate him. Gulping, he gently traced her lovely profile with trembling fingers. One thing bothered him—why was she smiling when she died? She took a shot to the stomach and fell from a high place. Her bones were crushed upon impact, which felt painful just from the sound of it.Was she not afraid of the pain, like any ordinary young woman?"You look pretty when you smile. Why didn't you smile more when you were still around?" Landon mumbled in all seriousn
"I heard that a few hundred citizens went protesting at the city hall today, demanding Mayor Hodgson's resignation!"A total of seven people had been arrested, including Zoe, Betty, and Freddy. They were under detention until they were formally indicted. Meanwhile, the Hodgson couple was devastated to learn that their only son lost his tongue and injured his balls. Minnie took ibuprofen multiple times a day to soothe herself, fainting frequently from all the crying. All her time awake was spent crying and begging her husband to bail Freddy out. "What else could you do aside from crying? It's all your fault that he ended up in this situation! You spoilt him!" Orlander pointed a finger at Minnie while he chided her. "He attempted to rape Lauren Beckett, the daughter of Javier Beckett! He certainly has great taste in women, doesn't he? He's not only ruining his future but also dragging me down with him."The entire nation has probably watched him take off his pants eagerly and top h
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