"That goes without saying." Javier left the room with a firm resolve. "I will not repeat my mistake!"…Betty had been spending her days locked up with the most vicious and filthy of female criminals in the detention center, where she slept on rock-hard beds and had nasty food for meals. Her life was worse than her time in Mosgravia.After the news of the abduction broke out, Javier sent an attorney to visit Betty. The attorney had promised to bail her out on medical grounds and get her to the hospital in three days. She would be staying at a VIP patient suite, far away from the crummy detention center.Betty, who had been acting timid and reserved in detention, immediately felt more spirited after learning about the incoming help. She did not learn her lesson and reverted to her arrogant self while still being detained.However, the prisoners did not take it well. Enraged, they beat her and cursed at her the entire day, forcing her to clean the restrooms. They handed her a basin
Betty barked, "Shut up! You're just my dad's lapdog. This is not your place to speak!""Enough! You should be the one shutting up." Javier slammed his fist on the table, which sent Betty reeling from the shock. She stammered, "D-Dad…""You repeatedly hurt my daughter. Sending you to jail is being merciful to you." Leaning forward, Javier clenched his jaw and seethed, "You deserve to go to hell with that evil mom of yours!"Shaking from head to toe, Betty pressed her hands against the glass. "Dad! Dad, what are you talking about? I'm as much your daughter as Lauren is! I was Zoe's victim—she threatened me! You can't watch me suffer!""Why would I save you?" Javier slowly rose from his seat. Then, he cast an arrogant and heartless look at Betty as if she were an enemy. "I'm here today to let you know that your problems are none of my business from now on. I will not visit you again. The sight of you disgusts me.""Dad…""Stop calling me Dad. You're not my daughter—only Lauren is!"
In Mosgravia, Justin was seated behind a sculpted wooden screen in a tea room filled with incense smoke. Dressed in white, he looked elegant, divine, and otherworldly, like he had walked out of a painting. He was in the middle of a chess game with Sheryl."Sir, we got news from Solana City. Javier Beckett has completely given up on Betty," Sheryl muttered quietly. "The paternity test result you dropped at the press conference was a huge blow to Mr. Javier.""That was expected." Justin lowered his gaze. He said indifferently, "Sophia Kirkman was useless. You can't expect much from her daughter."I knew Betty wasn't a Beckett many years ago. I was aware of Sophia Kirkman's secrets as well.""Were you? Why didn't you call them out?" Sheryl looked taken aback. "Sophia Kirkman abused her position as the family matriarch to misappropriate company funds. Weren't you worried about her actions? What if she got her hands on the company stocks or made Javier Beckett her puppet as she took con
Preston quivered in fear and sweated profusely. The five injections represented revenge for five different victims.Oddly, even when Preston had his arm severed by Landon, or when he was shot three times at the swimming pool, he had never felt closer to death than this moment.Perhaps Jordan was right. Preston's courage to die seemed to fade away after being given a second shot at life.Jordan, with a steely look in his eyes, injected the first poison into Preston's chest. The cold needle pierced through the skin, causing Preston to writhe as though he was being electrocuted. His eyes popped out in agony as he moaned."The first injection is for Landon's late father, who is dead because of you. After this shot, your limbs will go numb, and you will experience convulsions." Jordan picked up the second syringe and plunged it into Preston's left rib. "This shot is for Mr. Cornelius. You will feel a sharp pain in your stomach, as well as a headache and nausea."Preston cast a pleading
Jordan was able to get away without a hitch thanks to the other car that stopped the police at the hospital. A black vehicle zoomed through the brightly lit Solana Highway. Landon was staring out the window. His eyes were empty and dark. Under the flickering lights, his face was alluring as usual but inexplicably desolate. It was as if he was a completely different person. Jordan observed him closely, searching for any trace of his presidential demeanor, but found none whatsoever. Landon was completely broken. "I didn't issue any orders. You shouldn't have done more than what I've instructed you to." After a long silence, Landon spoke up softly, "There are numerous opportunities to kill Preston. Yet, you chose the one time when it was the riskiest." "I'm sorry, Mr. Landon." Jordan lowered his head. He clenched his fists tightly. "It's just that… I really wanted him to die. He's considered lucky to even be able to live another day! "I'm sorry. I know that I've made thi
Jordan was initially taken aback. Then, he answered, "Alright. I'll look into it tomorrow." Landon was about to hang up when Penelope continued with her tirade on the phone."Landon Harper! I am your mother! I can't believe that you want to keep me locked up in an asylum. You're a madman! Let me tell you this… Even if the entire Harper Group ends up in your hands… even if you are now the head of the family, I am not afraid! I will give my all and use all of my connections to rescue Zoe! "Come and take my life if you're that capable! You're disowning me anyway… Well, I will not have such an ungrateful and ruthless man as my son! You are no longer my son!" "Okay." Without any hesitation, Landon hung up the call. His world was now quiet. Jordan stared at Landon in shock. After a while, he queried, "M-Mr. Landon, are you really cutting off ties with Madam Penelope? You have just taken over the entire Harper Group. I'm worried that the media will come up with nonsense if they h
Landon sat by the bedside, lifting Lauren's bruised hand and gently pressing it to his cheek. He rubbed her hand tenderly against his cheek before placing a delicate kiss on her palm. This was also how he typically showed her affection. He treated her like an incredibly fragile and precious object, guarding her with unwavering devotion. He had cared for her diligently, yet those monsters had mercilessly ravaged his beloved, dragging her through the mire and shattering her. "Lauren, I'm right here. Open your eyes and look at me, will you?" he implored, tears welling in his eyes, his lips quivering with emotion. "Wake up... Don't leave me alone."In the end, he remained seated like that until daybreak. Early the next day, Javier, accompanied by Rory, arrived to visit Lauren. Jasper was sitting outside the hospital ward. He hadn't slept all night. A conflicted look came across his eyes when he saw Javier, but he stood up anyway. "Have you been sitting here all night without s
Landon felt touched. He gazed at Javier, gratitude evident in his eyes. Though he opened his mouth to speak, words eluded him, leaving him in a momentary silence.Jasper, standing nearby, watched with surprise, his expression softening into a relieved smile. "Got it, Mr. Javier. I'll see to it right away!" Rory answered with a smile. Rory was about to leave when Landon stopped him. "There is no need to trouble yourselves. I still have a lot of work to do. Thank you for your kind thought, Mr. Javier." Upon hearing that, Javier decided not to impose. He nodded slightly and offered a quiet piece of advice. "Much has happened in your family recently. It must be an immense burden to bear alone. But don't forget to take care of yourself too. Lauren is my only daughter. If you crumble, so will her world." Days of exhaustion and helplessness weighed heavily on Landon. His body bore the scars of reality's harshness. At this moment, he was filled with a sense of warmth that he hadn't fe
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