"It's fine as long as you make it here before 5:00 pm. We'll have to wait a day more if the city hall is closed." Alyssa dropped a chilly remark and marched to the entrance, leaving Jasper behind. His throat tightened.He was brought back to the day they registered their marriage three years ago. As he was notified of an emergency meeting by Yoarkley's project manager, he had no choice but to stay back at the company. After the meeting, he had to host a VIP who dropped by. When the meeting was over, it struck him that he had forgotten to inform Alyssa about the postponement of the marriage registration.The memories of that day were vivid and cruel. When he rushed over to the city hall, the place was almost empty. There, he found Alyssa alone, looking downcast. Her frail figure appeared lonely and pitiful.He did not expect her to wait a day for him. Her stubbornness was one of a kind.He had wanted to apologize to her. However, he did not do so because he struggled with mixed em
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Jasper grabbed his lower elbow on the right with his left hand but failed to stop the shaking. The ballpoint pen fell with a thud onto the floor.Feeling odd, Alyssa finally paid him attention and checked him out. He looked pale, and his hair was a mess. She spotted dust on his black suit and some tear and wear near the lapel and shirt collar.What was he up to before this? Why did he appear a little disheveled?Puzzled, she picked up the pen and handed it to him.Finally, the two forms were signed. The staff wrapped up the procedure, and the divorce was finalized."All the best to both of you."Staring at the divorce certificate as she left the city hall, she struggled to describe her feelings. They dragged out the divorce to the point that she had gotten over the initial heartache. More than anything, she felt a wave of relief.She had once lived solely for love and learned her lesson. After reuniting with the Taylor family, her only wish
At that moment, Alyssa so wanted to be Colene's pet, Bobo, and tear that bastard into pieces! In the three years of marriage, they had slept in separate rooms and never held hands. She was disgusted at how he shamelessly initiated the skinship after the divorce.His heart seemed to have broken into half."Mr. Beckett!" A Porsche stopped in front of them. Xavier hopped out worriedly. "Are you mad? You should have gone to the hospital after the car crash! You're not taking your health seriously!""It won't kill." Jasper struggled to open his eyes. Still, he couldn't see Alyssa clearly. "You're the mad one."Alyssa was stunned. She finally learned the reason behind his tardiness and why he was so out of it to the point that he couldn't hold a pen.He had been involved in a car crash!"You should have gone to the hospital! Do you think you're invincible? What if there's internal bleeding? The delay might lead to paralysis, do you know that?" She glared at him as her heart leaped to
"Mr. Beckett!"…Jasper woke up to find himself lying on a patient bed."Alyssa …" The first thing out of his mouth was Alyssa's name."The tendon in your right hand is injured. We observed some light concussion and a bit of blood clot, but they shouldn't pose an issue." Alyssa stood by the windows with her back against the light, leaving him with the sight of her lovely silhouette.When Jasper was in a coma, Xavier filled in Alyssa with the details of the car crash. Xavier claimed that Jasper had not slept at all. He found Jasper in the study filled with suffocating cigarette smoke in the morning."I think he must have lost his focus because he didn't sleep well. His headache might have affected his driving as well."Alyssa was aware of the intensity of Jasper's headache. For that reason, he had rarely driven himself anywhere in recent years. He had pulled off sleep deprivation, heavy smoking, and refusal of medical treatment in one day."Who are you torturing yourself for?
The issuance of the divorce certificate ended Alyssa and Jasper's three-year entanglement. If memory served her right, Jasper and Liana were set to marry after Newton's birthday. After years of waiting, it was Liana's time to show off the title of Mrs. Beckett to the world.Alyssa had nothing but good wishes for the couple. After all, the two deserved each other.Alyssa went home to Belbanks in the evening, accompanied by her two brothers and Sean."Lyse!" Alyssa heard a singsong voice from afar when she stepped foot in Heightsnew Villa. Smiling ear to ear, she responded, "Taty!"Tatiana, the ninth Taylor sibling, and Winston's youngest daughter, ran up to Alyssa with joy and anticipation."Lyse, I missed you so!" Tatiana hugged Alyssa with teary eyes and an adorable red nose."Look at you! Little crybaby, are you upset that I'm back?" Alyssa wrapped her arms around Tatiana's waist and gave the latter a kiss on the forehead. Although she was as tall as Tatiana, at that instan
Tatiana stuttered, "Y-Yes!" "I'll go to your performance with Ms. Alyssa." Sean beamed at Tatiana like a big brother. He was close to Alyssa and Tatiana because he watched them grow up. He even recalled how the young Tatiana, around six or seven years old, always followed Alyssa around with snot on her face, sucking on a lollipop.Alyssa did not notice the blush on Tatiana's cheeks because the latter was easily embarrassed. Little did she know that Tatiana had a crush on Sean for seven years."Let's go. I'm famished. I've been missing Lyla's cooking for days! Time to eat!" She held Tatiana's hand and traversed the villa."Mom's still in the kitchen. Dinner is not ready yet because you're back early." Tatiana swung Alyssa's arm, just like she had done since she was young."Oh! I'm hungry, though." Alyssa's stomach was growling from hunger."How about some snacks?" Sean smiled and unwrapped a chocolate bar he fished from his jacket pocket. Then, he attentively fed it to her.Sh
Mandy was prepared to take the bullet for everyone else as long as Lyla and Colene were not implicated."Why didn't you tell me? You should have known better than my daughter! Don't you feel bad watching her living in hell?" Winston was taking out his anger on Mandy."Winston, it's all my fault." Mandy slowly rose from her seat. She couldn't be more humble as the proud daughter of the Lovelace Family. "Don't blame it on Lyse. Fault me instead. I did not pay enough attention to her."Alyssa felt her chest tightened. She was about to defend Mandy when the hot-tempered Colene shot up from the couch and blurted out, "Don't blame it on Mandy! I'm responsible too! I knew about Lyse's marriage from the start!""What?" Winston's eyes popped out of his head."M-Me too …" Lyla meekly raised her hand. "I knew about it … way before this.""Lyla, even you are involved … They are a bad influence on you!" His head was spinning when he learned that the innocent Lyla had learned to lie.Tears fi
"Lyse, stop flattering me. I'm not as good as my mom in embroidery." Tatiana bit her lips softly as dimples appeared on her flushed cheeks.Of course, she was over the moon to receive Alyssa's approval. However, nothing could beat Sean's compliments. She might not be able to sleep from the excitement."You took after Lyla's talent in singing and dancing. On top of that, you're great at arts and crafts. I'll introduce you to a top fashion designer. You could collaborate across fields, and that would launch you to fame. That will help you to carve your path in the world of fashion design. What do you think?""Thank you, Lyse, but … I am more interested in an entertainment career. After all, I'm a student at the Solana Film Academy. I hope to become an actress after graduation." Tatiana was soft-spoken and rather unconfident.Lyla had endured bullying in the entertainment industry. So, Winston strongly disagreed with Tatiana's choice to attend Solana Film Academy and enter the industr
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