Zoe exclaimed, "Landon! Where are you taking me? What else are you going to do to me?" Just moments ago, Zoe was still causing a racket. Now, she was completely terrified. Yet, she remained stubborn and refused to beg for forgiveness. She shouted from behind Landon, "Have you forgotten the oath you pledged before Dad's grave?"You said you would love and protect me all your life! Is this how you keep your promise to our dead father?" Upon hearing that, Landon stopped in his tracks. A million thoughts bombarded his mind. He felt like his heart was sinking in quicksand; exhaustion gnawed at him from all the struggling he'd been forced to do.Slowly, with trembling hands, he unfurled his palms. These were the hands that once wove through his younger sister's silky hair, hands that fed her, cradled her, and hoisted her high in the air. Hands that, in happier times, grasped hers as they raced through the park, laughter echoing in their wake.He was her older brother. Yet, he had ta
Landon was looking down as he twirled his pen between his fingers. Everyone else in the room shook their heads as they glanced scornfully at Penelope, who was causing a scene. "Zoe was en route to the hospital for treatment when she vanished without a trace, and they have yet to locate her. I know it was you who took her!" Penelope's voice reverberated as she advanced toward Landon, pounding the table with both hands. Ignoring the presence of the board members, she continued, "Landon! Give me back my daughter! "If you don't return her to me, I will hold a shareholder meeting and have you ousted from Harper Group! Return Zoe to me!" Landon stopped twirling his pen. However, he still didn't look up at Penelope. "What are you doing, Penelope?" one of the board members interjected. "Perhaps Ms. Zoe left of her own volition while the police weren't looking. If you wish to pursue this matter further, it's best addressed with law enforcement.""Indeed," another chimed in. "This is
Landon raced to the hospital in his sports car, the engine's roar piercing through the air like lightning. He burst out of the vehicle and sprinted toward the VIP ward. Jasper, Alyssa, Jonah, and Julien waited outside. "How's Lauren?" Landon asked, breathless and sweaty. "Grandpa Newton and Javier are with her inside," Alyssa replied, her joy tempered by worry. "But she still needs time to recover from her internal injuries. Her body is weak, and there's a risk of relapse."Julien added, "She protected her head during the assault. However, her prolonged submersion led to a lung infection. She also had severe cerebral hypoxia, which caused her to be in a coma." Frowning, Julien continued, "Tomorrow, I'll conduct a detailed brain examination to assess any potential cranial nerve damage and plan her treatment accordingly."Jonah observed Julien's fatigued appearance, expressing his gratitude with a loving touch. "Thank you for your hard work these past few days.""It's nothing wh
Lauren lay on the hospital bed, her heartbeat steady, and the oxygen mask removed. Despite this, every breath seemed laborious for her, her face drained of color. The delicate flutter of her lashes resembled a butterfly's wings."Lauren, don't be afraid. You're alright now. Grandpa is here. Your dad, Jasper, and Alyssa are here too. No one else can hurt you anymore." Newton held onto Lauren's hand tightly. Tears filled his eyes. Jasper held his breath, his arms around Alyssa's waist, and he could feel her tensing up. Despite his own heartbreak, he stifled his emotions, refusing to break down in front of Lauren and their elders.Lauren's eyes glistened with unshed tears. Just then, a single droplet slid down her pale cheek. She parted her chapped lips, but no sound emerged. She tried very hard to express herself but couldn't make a single sound. "Dr. Lovelace, why can't Lauren speak all of a sudden?" Javier looked at Julien anxiously. Julien furrowed his brows, considering the s
Landon's back bowed lower and lower as waves of emotions flooded over him—emotions he had suppressed for so long now released all at once.Lauren's eyes welled with tears as she reached out, her trembling hand finding its way to Landon's haggard face. With a gentle touch, she traced his features, pausing at his graying sideburns."I… I've become uglier, haven't I?" Landon placed his calloused hand on the back of her hand. He gently nuzzled against her hand and tried his best to smile. "I'm not as handsome as before. Lauren, does that make you hate me?" Lauren's heart ached, her attempts at speech nearly faltering. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, her gaze flickering with emotion.Alyssa, her heart tender, could no longer contain her emotions. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks.Newton couldn't bear to watch any longer. He dragged Javier out of the room with him. Jasper and Alyssa followed them out of the room, giving Landon and Lauren some space to be together. The love
However, Lauren and Landon still held each other's hands. Everything could still start anew."Dad, I don't have any objections to Lauren and Landon's marriage anymore."Sitting upright, Javier continued seriously, "In the next few days, I'll have Rory draw up a list of wedding gifts. Although the Harper family has few members left, I want a splendid wedding for my daughter."Now that Landon is the chairman of Harper Group, Lauren will be the rightful chairwoman when she marries him. If the gifts are not generous enough, those snobbish people of Harper Group might talk behind her back."Newton remained indifferent. "Let the young people decide for themselves. You just need to accept it. Don't worry about the rest."Lauren has suffered severe trauma. That's not something that can be easily overcome. Just let them discuss the wedding on their own. Or they can register their marriage first to avoid indefinite postponement and further trouble."As Javier reflected on how his love, ori
Jasper suddenly stiffened, as if held in place by an invisible force."What did you say? Justin is back?" Javier's eyes sparkled with joy. His delight was evident. "Where is he now?""He's in the basement parking lot. I ran into him when I came back from running errands," Rory replied."Why didn't he tell us that he was coming back?" Javier complained with a smile on his face."I've exchanged a few words with him. He knew that if he informed you in advance, you would prepare extensively. He didn't want to cause you any trouble, so he kept it a secret.""He's really considerate."Javier quickly instructed Jasper, "Jasper, go inform your grandpa. I'll go down to see Justin first."As Jasper watched their retreating figures, his hand clenched into a fist.…When the Becketts arrived at the parking lot, Justin was sitting calmly in a wheelchair, wearing a gentle smile."Justin!" Javier called out joyfully and hurried over to him.Not far behind him, Jasper and Alyssa were suppor
Newton's expression stiffened slightly. "What are you talking about? Both you and Jasper are my grandsons. I cherish you both."Justin quipped, "I'm just joking, Grandpa. I know you care about me."At this moment, the door of a luxurious MPV opened, and a graceful figure stepped out."Mr. Justin, the parking lot is chilly. You shouldn't stay out here for too long." With her words, Sheryl bent down and gently placed a blanket over Justin's knees.Javier looked at the unfamiliar woman. "Who is this?""This is Sheryl Gillis, my personal assistant. She's the one diligently taking care of me in Mosgravia. As you can see, I'm basically useless." Justin's fist pressed lightly against his pale lips as he coughed."Justin, you're my cherished son. How can you call yourself useless? Don't belittle yourself. Your body has improved a lot compared to before. You'll definitely get better with treatment." Javier showed rare patience.He then looked at Sheryl with gratitude. "Thank you for taki
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