Liam lowered his eyes, slowly clenching his fists as if trying to grasp the warmth that was gradually slipping away. "I hope you can find someone who can prioritize and love you with his life. It's not worth it for you to love someone like me." …Yuliana cried as she ran through the hallway in the fortress. When exhaustion finally claimed her, she slumped against a wall, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. She looked like a child who the entire world had just abandoned. Some time passed before a figure stood before her and then lowered itself until meeting Yuliana's eyes. "Oh, someone's crying. I thought a ghost might be haunting the fortress," Alyssa said gently with a twinkle in her eye. Yuliana lifted her swollen eyes, choked on a sob, and exclaimed, "Yes… I'm a ghost… but I'm also the prettiest ghost you'll ever find!" "You're right! You're absolutely right. You're the prettiest princess in the whole world." Alyssa coaxed her tenderly. To distract Yuliana from her sa
It was finally the day of the long-anticipated wedding. They were blessed with sunny and clear skies that morning. The interior of the fortress was filled with colorful decorations. Both sides of the staircases were adorned with blooming red roses that exuded a sweet scent. This display of roses extended all the way out of the fortress and toward the chapel behind it. The dreamlike setting was just like a scene from a fairytale. Family and friends from both sides were in attendance. Dressed in formal attires and with beaming faces, everyone stood outside the door, waiting for the bride's arrival. "The bride is here!" Alyssa's sweet and crisp voice echoed through the main hall of the fortress. Looking like a pure angel dressed in white, Lauren walked out slowly, accompanied by Rose, Tatiana and Alyssa. At this moment, female family members from both sides were in the room. Jasper, Sean, and Liam, who had no other duties, were also present. The rest of the men were standing b
Coincidentally, Lauren was also looking in Cyrus' direction gleefully. Their eyes met. Their gazes showed no romantic feelings, only pure and innocent affection. "Ah…" Lauren smiled even wider. She waved the roses in her hand at him. Cyrus smiled back. As he smiled, he started to well up with tears. His vision of the lovely woman before him began to blur. It would be a lie to say he didn't feel any regret. However, he had no qualms about it and no desire to make up for his regret. All he wanted was for her to be happy. Jasper stood by the carriage in a black suit. He was dressed in a classic best man outfit as he didn't want to steal the spotlight. Even so, his looks were as charming and captivating as ever. As Lauren's older brother, he was in charge of taking his beloved sister to the wedding hall. Jasper sniffled as he watched Lauren approach him step by step. Silently, tears filled his eyes. Even so, he lifted the corners of his lips into a relieved and joyful smile to
Everyone's jaws dropped in astonishment. Everyone except Liam was seeing Yuliana's crown for the first time. Even if they were already well-acquainted, it remained a fact that the crown was a symbol of royal lineage. How could it be gifted to someone else just like that? "Ah! Ah!" Lauren's cheeks burned crimson. She waved her hands repeatedly to decline. Flattered as she was, the thought of even touching the crown terrified her."This is far too valuable a gift, Your Highness." Jasper stepped forward and gently turned Yuliana down. "Lauren is incredibly grateful for your kindness, but perhaps you should—""It's none of your business to whom I want to give it!" Yuliana interrupted, her chin jutting out defiantly. She then cast him a haughty sidelong glance. "Besides, this is a reward from me. Who would dare to turn me down?" Jasper was speechless. He wondered if he was becoming more advanced in years that he was making others annoyed with his words. Colene clicked her tong
"But why?" Yuliana was extremely reluctant. "Why, you ask?" With a look of reproach, Alyssa answered, "I'm afraid of the diplomatic repercussions after your parents learned that you had given away your crown as a wedding gift. It might even lead to misunderstandings between our nations. "You're a beloved princess, free to pursue most whims. While you may not face consequences, your actions can impact others. Do you still think that this would be a good idea?Upon hearing that, Yuliana lowered her head regretfully and dejectedly. She fiddled with the fabric of her dress. "Actually," she mumbled, "I had another motive."Alyssa turned, her gentle eyes meeting Yuliana's glistening ones; Yuliana had finally revealed her intentions."You were aware that Lauren is like a younger sister to me. So, you decided to dig deep to please me. With that, you want me to matchmake you with Liam. Am I right?" A blush stained Yuliana's cheeks, and she bashfully stammered, "Y-You saw through it all
The luxurious carriage rolled to a stop by the red carpet outside the chapel. The Taylor brothers, along with Julien, Sean, and Xavier, had been waiting there. Their faces were filled with joy as they threw red rose petals into the air. They looked like knights guarding a princess, a sight remarkable enough to make anyone swoon.Birds flew across the sky as the flower petals fluttered down. With a royal crown on her head, Lauren looked every bit like a princess. Meanwhile, the handsome men ahead of her looked like knights responsible for protecting her. "The bride… She's beautiful." Silas couldn't help but sigh. "She is. Landon is a lucky man." Julien watched on from the side. His eyes were glistening with admiration. "I should attend more weddings when I'm free so that I'll have more points of reference when it's my turn. That way, I won't panic and have absolutely no idea what to do." Silas made a mental note of everything he was seeing and experiencing. Subconsciously,
Landon organized a heartwarming and sumptuous dinner party at the fortress that evening. Lauren loved plushies, so cute stuffed toys were displayed around the fortress. Every table had a pair of teddy bears. One was a silly-looking brown bear in a black suit, representing Landon. The other, representing Lauren, was a light pink bear in a white wedding dress leaning against the brown teddy. Due to Lauren's health condition, she couldn't consume overly greasy foods. Thus, most of the dishes served at the dinner reception were dishes catered to her palate. Every dish was made using top-grade ingredients that were flown in. They might be plain, but everyone was satisfied with them. Lauren couldn't consume alcohol either. Thus, there was not a single glass of alcohol at the tables that evening. Instead, the drinks were replaced with various juices and teas. During the newlyweds' toast, Landon prepared a glass of his handmade sweet tea for Lauren. After being in the hospital for an
All of a sudden, a glimmer flashed across Lauren's clear eyes. She stared straight at the audience. Her lashes fluttered, and her pink lips started quivering. Her eyes turned red. They glistened as she welled up with tears. "Darling. Darling? Are you okay?" Landon started panicking when he noticed that Lauren was crying. "A-An-Angie…" Lauren stuttered.Her lips trembled, and her voice was extremely raspy, as if she had been parched for a long time. Though her voice barely rose above a murmur, Landon caught every word. He heard her loud and clear! "Lauren! You… You can speak?" Landon was so agitated that tears filled his eyes. He lost it. "Lauren! You really can speak?" "Lan-don…"Lauren lifted a finger and pointed to the spot below the stage nearest to them. She had a wide smile on her face, yet tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I… see… Angie…"Landon looked in the direction that Lauren was pointing at. There was no one there. Without Angelina, he wouldn't hav
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