Unexpectedly, Jameson's office wasn't locked. The team from the Investigative Bureau entered with ease. Silas stood in the middle and scanned the room with a cold, appraising gaze. His chest tightened with a sense of dread. The open office meant Jameson had likely destroyed any incriminating documents, making it a hollow shell."Mr. Schmidt cleared this place out a long time ago, sir. Are we... Are you still going to search it, Mr. Taylor?" Scott stammered from behind Silas, already slick with sweat.Silas' eyes blazed with determination. "Proceed with the search, team!" he boomed in a powerful voice.His team descended upon the office, taking it apart meticulously.Years of experience dealing with bizarre cases, especially corruption, had instilled a relentless tenacity in Silas. Hiding a trail of dirty money was no different from hiding drugs; there were always creative methods.Silas wouldn't be surprised if this seemingly ordinary office harbored hidden compartments or even
Tatiana stared at her reflection in the mirror, her face round and full. Discontent gnawed at her. "I… I should stop eating. I'm not having dinner tonight. If Sean sees me like this when he gets home, he won't like me anymore!""You don't look like a pig. Look at your slim legs and arms. You're pregnant, so it's perfectly normal for your hips to widen a bit."Alyssa squeezed Tatiana's arm, her eyes shining with the anticipation of their growing family. She chuckled playfully. "If you go on a diet now, it'll be bad for you and the baby. Besides, even if you lose weight, your belly will just keep growing. What will you look like then?"Tatiana was confused. "What?" "You'll have thin limbs and a round bump, just like a beetle!"Tatiana's face flushed red with embarrassment. "Lyse, you…""Alright, alright. I won't tease you anymore." Alyssa gave her a warm hug. "I know looks are important to women, especially for someone in performing arts like you. You've always dreamed of being an
Alyssa sped away from Heightsnew Villa toward Solana City Investigative Bureau after hearing the news. Her striking Lamborghini came to a graceful stop at the bureau's entrance. As Alyssa stepped out of the car, she paused. "Jasper?" Jasper stood tall and imposing, wrapped in a black coat, beside a modest Maybach parked under a tree. The biting wind did nothing to diminish his statue-like presence. He had clearly been waiting for her.Without hesitation, Jasper hurried toward Alyssa. "Are you cold, Lyse?" He quickly removed his coat and wrapped it around her. Still, he thought it was insufficient, pulling her into a tight embrace."The car's heating was strong. I'm not cold," Alyssa replied. Concerned, she cupped his icy face with her warm hands. "Silly, I should be asking you. Why wait outside in this cold? You could've waited in the car. The wind is freezing. Did you think it was funny?""I wanted to see you as soon as you arrived," Jasper said, his eyes filled with longing as
"Silas, you said that Jameson committed murder? What's that about?" Alyssa couldn't wait to find out. "This afternoon, I went and conducted a search at Schmidt Group, which included a search of Jameson's office. I found a pinhole camera in one of the books on a bookshelf." Silas couldn't hide the tremble in his voice. He was still stirred up, even until now. Jasper and Alyssa exchanged shocked glances. "Was Jameson the one who set it up?" Alyssa asked, her eyes blazing. "He's a wicked man with many evil schemes. He might have been surveilling himself while monitoring his office.""That way, if he got dirt on a corporation's executive, he could blackmail them. It's his usual tactic," she continued."That might not be the case," Silas said, steadying his breath. With a stern look, he explained, "I brought the camera back and reviewed the footage immediately. Guess what I found?"Alyssa was like a cat on hot bricks. "C'mon, Silas. Quit building the suspense. Tell us!" "The foot
"Damn, Miley, you're amazing!" Silas exclaimed before Alyssa could say a word. "The women in our family are truly amazing!""S-Silas? I didn't realize you were here too," Miley said, surprised."I think it's a waste of your talent as First Lady to be looking into someone like Jamiper," Silas remarked."Don't say that, Silas," Miley replied with a soft laugh. "Honestly, I didn't do much. It was mostly thanks to the clues Lyse provided. I just followed up on them. It wasn't a big deal."I've been overseas with Jeremy for years dealing with the country's affairs, and I rarely get to see you all. It's nice to be able to help from here and feel connected to you again."Her words brought tears to the Taylor siblings' eyes."Thank you very much, Miley." Jasper's voice, gentle as a soft breeze, brushed against Alyssa's ears, bringing a flush to her cheeks. "Once this is resolved, Lyse and I will visit you and Jeremy in Kontina.""Oh, hello, Jasper. For some reason, having you there make
Carl stared at the body lying in a pool of blood. Cold sweat drenched him, and fear shook his frame. "You're already under attack after just a few days back. What should our next move be?"Don't worry," Jameson replied. "Before I die, I'll drag these foolish, greedy idiots to hell with me."As the words left his lips, Jameson was startled. His eyes held an infinitely dark and cold intensity. He'd uttered "hell" without conscious thought, as if prophesying his own fate. Did he believe his hands were so stained with blood and evil that hell was his only destination?In the silence, Jameson's phone rang. He turned away from Carl and his subordinates, facing the desolate moon outside the window and answered the call. "Go ahead." "Mr. Schmidt, things look bad for you here," his informant said, his voice heavy with gloom. It was as if Jameson's reign had ended, and there was no chance of recovery."It is what it is. How bad can it get? Just get to the point." Jameson let out a few dry co
"It doesn't matter where I go. I'd rather die than run and hide like a coward," Jameson declared. He didn't need anyone to understand him. Jameson no longer sought Alyssa's forgiveness. Since she couldn't forgive him, he might as well become a villain she'd never forget.…After everything, Amber returned to Kontina, where she and Jameson had met. She was back in the manor where she used to live. Nothing had changed except her. Battered, bruised, and emotionally numb, she felt like she was living in a dream.Amber was confined to the manor for over a week. But she didn't idle her time away. Instead, she secretly searched the manor for the evidence Carl had hidden of Jameson's crimes. Carl didn't have his guard up against her. With no restrictions on her access to the study, she explored every corner, even searching Carl's computer. Yet, she found nothing.One evening, after showering, Amber sat at her vanity, combing her dark, silky hair, when a helper called from outside. "M
"Where will we go?" Amber looked back at Carl with a numb expression. After ending things with Axel, she felt like a wanderer. It didn't matter who she was with or where she went; nothing seemed to matter anymore.However, she sensed that something significant must have happened in Cyrris. Jameson's foundations were shaken, which left Carl, who idolized him, thinking of fleeing."We can go anywhere. I've saved enough money over the years working for Mr. Schmidt to live comfortably for the rest of our lives," Carl said, removing a USB flash drive from his computer and hiding it under his clothing.Amber's gaze lingered on his chest, her eyes dull. "Didn't Mr. Schmidt say he wanted us to get married in Kontina?""We can talk about that after we leave this place." Though Carl was Jameson's ruthless weapon, his feelings for Amber were genuine, evident in the way he looked at her."Getting married isn't the most important thing. What's important is that we can be together, always!"
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