Newton's 80th birthday celebration started out so well, only to end in a terrible bang. He wasn't in the mood to continue it anymore, nor did Winston and Alyssa intend to stay further.The Becketts escorted the father and daughter out, with Jasper quietly by Alyssa's side. Occasionally, he opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.Winston kept on side-eyeing him. If looks could kill, Jasper would have been sent to meet his Maker already.Winston couldn't believe that Jasper, whom he deemed an asshole, was the one who had married his precious Alyssa. Did he actually think he deserved her? Winston thought Jasper was useless. "Mr. Taylor!" Liana cried, running up to Winston. "I'm … really sorry about tonight. I made a grave misunderstanding. I really didn't know Alice was your daughter … I misunderstood her relationship with Mr. Jonah. I'm so sorry …"Winston didn't even look at her. "So you're saying that if Alyssa weren't my daughter, you would have continued talking trash
A contract marriage? Winston was close to fainting as he fought against the urge to slap Jasper. However, he was the most puzzled by his daughter.He thought it was outrageous enough that his brazen daughter went to serve as a war medic on the battlefield. To his dismay, she had gotten married without his knowledge in the three years she was gone. Worse, she was involved in a contract marriage with Jasper.He really wanted to know what was going on in her mind.Jasper felt his eyes growing heavy with tears. There was a suffocating burden on his chest.Now that she was on the verge of leaving him for good and sealing the unhappy chapters of their lives during Newton's birthday, Jasper demanded an answer for the separation."If I recall correctly, our first encounter happened three years ago. Why didn't you reject Grandpa's suggestion of marrying me? Why?"Alyssa squinted at him without any feeling. "Why are you dwelling on the details after the divorce? Maybe I had nothing bette
The Becketts might be one of the established elites in Solana City, but the stock price of the Beckett Group would have doubled following the news of the marriage with the Taylor Family.Alas, it was too late.…In the dark of the night, Alyssa looked out of the window with a vacant look and an empty heart. She replayed the memory of Jasper's shattered expression when he demanded to know why she had married him in the first place. Somehow, looking at the frustration and indignance on his face, she felt like she had abandoned him.She clenched her fist and shook her head hard. She reminded herself not to spare any sympathy for men, for that was how tragedies start.Jasper couldn't possibly fall in love with her now, not after she had waited for him for three years to no avail. Perhaps he had only pretended to look resentful and bitter in front of Winston to absolve himself of his cruelness in their marriage."So, why did you marry him?" Winston gritted his teeth and cracked his
After the birthday event, Newton called his family doctor to check on Lauren out of worry. He felt relieved when the doctor reported that everything was fine with her.In the corridor, two good-looking men leaned against the window sill. Jasper asked Landon for a cigarette, which he lit and took a long drag. The orange flame flickered between the willowing smoke."So, is Alice Alyssa Taylor, the unknown daughter of one of Winston Taylor's wives?" Landon felt that he was in a dream. The entire situation was rather inconceivable."Yeah." Jasper's fingers trembled when he flicked the ash."Fuck! Jasper, you hit the jackpot. How did you land this windfall?" Landon patted Jasper's shoulder as his eyes sparkled. "You turned out to be Winston Taylor's ex-son-in-law by accident. "Would you have taken off to greater heights if you didn't divorce her? With the backing of the Taylor Family, your dad and your evil stepmother would have to submit to you. You could do anything with the Beckett
Jasper never believed in coincidences. Still, when it involved Liana, he fervently wished that everything that had happened was a coincidence."Mr. Beckett!" Xavier jogged up to him, panting, and handed him a phone with both hands. "Here is the footage of Madam Sophia, Ms. Betty, and Ms. Gardner's activities from tonight that you requested! I gathered the files. Please take a look!""My guy, you're fast!" Landon changed his mind about leaving and went up to take a look.Jasper carefully poured through the footage, holding his breath."Looking at the footage, Ms. Gardner not only interacted frequently with Madam Sophia, but she also contacted Ms. Betty in private. What's more bizarre …" A gleam flashed across Xavier's eyes. "... is that Ms. Gardner did not show up in the vicinity when I checked the footage of Mr. Jonah and Ms. Alyssa entering the room.""Hah, that's interesting." Landon sneered. "If she wasn't even in the area, how did she know that Mr. Jonah and Ms. Alyssa were sh
Jasper was numb and calm, but his curt remark was damaging to Liana. She froze up and felt her cheeks burning in shame. It was as though she had been slapped a few times.Javier and Sophia were stunned by the turn of events. Only Betty had a guileful smile on her face. After the events from that night, she had seen Liana for who she was—an obnoxiously conceited bitch who had manipulated her to attack the others. Liana was unsuitable to marry into their family. Betty even hoped Jasper would cut Liana off forever instead of pausing the marriage."Jasper, are you giving me up?" Shocked and scared, Liana held to his arm as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Are you ditching me after you learned that Alice White is from the Taylor family? Did you regret your divorce?""Alice White or Alyssa Taylor, she has no bearing on my decision to put a halt to our marriage." He slowly but surely freed his arm from her grip. There was nothing but coldness in his eyes. He continued, "I've warned you n
"Jasper did not even inform us when he decided on the divorce. Of course, he wouldn't tell me his intention to call off the marriage!""Those are different things!" Sophia's voice was shrill, unlike her usual comforting tone. "Jasper does not love Alyssa Taylor at all. Unlike Alyssa, Lia is Jasper's childhood sweetheart. They have a deep bond!""Right. That's beyond me too. If they share a deep bond, what else did Liana want from him? Why couldn't she behave instead of stirring trouble with Ms. Alyssa? "She has humiliated our family with the infidelity drama in front of Dad. I will not help her this time, and I can't guarantee whether the marriage will happen!"His chest tightened when he recalled Newton's taunt. "I wouldn't have advised Jasper to seek divorce if I had known better. Liana is not the right match for our family; worse, she's a troublemaker. It's indeed hard to get along with those from different backgrounds!"Sophia's shoulders slumped when she realized that Javier
Liana was baffled by Sophia's slap."I warned you not to drag Betty into any plan of yours, or I won't help you out!""Aunt Sophia, I was wrong! It was a careless mistake! I will not do it again." Despite the boiling hatred in her, Liana had to beg for forgiveness repeatedly.Sophia looked at the lowly woman with disdain. She wouldn't have helped a stubborn and manipulative woman like Liana to marry Jasper if only there were a better candidate from the Kirkman Family.Still, she refused to give up on Liana after many years of grooming her niece. Disgusted by the night's events, she felt like she had swallowed a fly. Still, she had to endure the setback."Alice White is the daughter of the distinguished Taylor family. You cannot lay a finger on her. Winston Taylor is known for doting on his children. Your top priority is to win Jasper's heart and marry him according to the plan!" Sophia looked terrifying with her taut lips and the bright red lipstick."But he makes it clear that 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