Alyssa, with a fiery gaze, stared straight at the seemingly endless road ahead of her. She followed the GPS route and drove herself in the black car toward Rose Nursing Home. She had also switched her phone off per Jameson's instruction. She knew Miley would soon realize her absence from the presidential office and would undoubtedly launch a city-wide search. She would also track the location of her phone. Green flashes blurred past the window as she sped along. The steering wheel was gripped tightly in her hands, her brow furrowed in concentration.An hour later, her car glided to a stop in the flower-filled courtyard of the nursing home. Cautiously, Alyssa stepped out and surveyed her surroundings. To her surprise, the home seemed to operate normally. Cars belonging to visitors filled the courtyard, and people moved about with ease.Despite the appearance, Alyssa remained vigilant as she entered the building. The brightly lit hall was adorned with colorful paintings and vib
A flicker of emotion passed through Lily's vacant eyes as she heard Alyssa's soft voice. The instant their eyes locked, her clarity of mind seemed to return. Her gaze brightened and sparkled with life once more."Lyse… Lyse, you've finally come to see me! Jimmy said you would, and he was right. He wasn't lying." Alyssa's long lashes fluttered as she clenched her hands into fists. "Hi, Mrs. Schmidt. How have you been? How's your health?" "I'm good... I'm good. Seeing you makes me feel better." As Lily spoke, her body trembled slightly, as if she was a little cold. Alyssa removed her suit jacket and draped it over Lily's shoulders. "Come, Lyse. I have something for you." Lily eagerly grasped Alyssa's wrist. Without a word, she slipped an emerald bracelet onto Alyssa's hand."I can't accept this, Mrs. Schmidt!" The cool sensation on Alyssa's wrist made her uncomfortable. She wanted to remove the bracelet immediately, but Lily held her hand tightly."Lyse, Jimmy loves you
The swans extended their wings, abruptly sending ripples across the lake's surface. Lily's gaunt face tightened. Her reddened eyes widened as she stared at Alyssa's unwavering expression. "You're already married? You have a husband? When was this? How could this be?" "There's no need for me to lie to you, Mrs. Schmidt. It's true," Alyssa replied, trying to maintain a warm tone without faltering. "My husband and I have known each other for over ten years. I've loved him since I was young. I was simply waiting for the day I could become his wife. "We've faced countless challenges together. My dream has finally come true—we're finally together. I'll never love another man. I'm sorry to disappoint you.""That's impossible… It's impossible!" Lily's emotions surged. Her grip on Alyssa's hand tightened until it turned red. "You grew up with my Jimmy. You're so kind to him, and he loves you. He only wants to marry you."Jimmy has told me about you both but never mentioned you were marr
Lily let out a muffled cry. Her eyes rolled back in her head, her fingers twitched, and foam began to form at her mouth. Alyssa held her breath. It looked like an epileptic seizure or a stroke. Overwhelmed with remorse, Alyssa realized her sharp words had triggered Lily's breakdown and subsequent illness. If anything happened to Lily because of her, the weight of regret and self-blame would be unbearable. It would haunt her forever.Alyssa immediately called for a caregiver. However, the doctor in the nursing home's infirmary lacked expertise. All they could do was call for an ambulance."Oh, dear heavens… What should we do?" Watching Lily have such a painful episode pushed the caregiver to tears. "Even with an ambulance, the nursing home is too far from the hospital. She won't make it in time!""Call for an air ambulance." Sweat formed on Alyssa's forehead. Determinedly, she declared, "I'll do my best to buy time, so she can get to the hospital in time."The caregiver tasked s
The rooftop air was so thick it felt stagnant. Overwhelming pressure and fear made Carl tremble. Even his gun-holding hand shook uncontrollably.He hesitated to disengage the safety, fearing a panicked misfire. Even now, with no way out, he had never thought of taking Amber's life. As long as there was a sliver of hope, he wanted to take Amber away with him.Tragedy was imminent, and he knew it was now every man for himself. Jameson no longer cared about him. At a crucial juncture, Jameson would even sell him out.Thus, he had prepared himself beforehand. He was confident in his wits and ability to escape unpunished to a faraway land.Amber had brought him to this state. He wanted to give the woman he loved a wedding—a beautiful beginning. Even a rat in the sewers craves the sun for a moment.So, he wanted Amber to live. He had to keep her alive. Otherwise, all he had invested would turn to dust!Suddenly, Amber burst out laughing. Her reddened eyes were alluring. In a shaky
Carl's eyes blazed with feral intensity. A monstrous grin twisted his face as he laughed and cried simultaneously, lost in a manic frenzy. "Very well then... Let's die together," he declared."All you've done is because you want to be with Axel as an unlawful couple." Carl chuckled. "But don't you ever dare dream of having your wish come true!" Carl held Amber in a chokehold as he retreated toward the edge of the roof step by step. At last, he planted a cold and moist kiss on Amber's cheek, accompanied by a drop of bitter tear. "Amber, if we can't be together when we're alive, let's be husband and wife when we get to the afterlife." In the next second, Amber's heart dropped as she fell backward weightlessly. "Amber!" Axel cried out. At lightning speed, he charged toward Amber. Simultaneously, a whoosh sounded from the church rooftop. A sharp crack followed a piercing sound that tore through the air from over 300 feet away.As Amber was dragged toward the roof's edge with th
The intense confrontation had finally ended. Despite the grave danger, everyone escaped unharmed.The sole exception was Carl, a key member of Jameson’s team, who was fatally shot. His death marked the complete downfall of Jameson’s reign of terror, which had lasted nearly a decade.Now, the only task remaining was to bring that viper, Jameson, to justice.Axel accompanied Amber to the hospital. Police secured the crime scene, keeping reporters at bay.Jasper exited the church and reconvened with Jonah and Cyrus. "That was such a dangerous situation. Thank goodness you were here this time, Jasper!" Cyrus approached him immediately. Feeling extremely moved, he gave Jasper a bear hug. "Thank you, Jasper." Jonah, too, shot him a smile of admiration and gratitude. Jasper lifted his hand and wiped the sweat off his forehead."I didn't do much. If it wasn't for Axel's agility in going up and grabbing onto Amber in time, she might've ended up falling to her death." His gaze was fie
Jonah placed his hand firmly on Jasper's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "The presidential office and royal palace are the safest places in all of Kontina. Plus, Lyse is together with Miley. If anything happened to Lyse, Miley would've already called us. Don't worry too much." Despite his words, Jonah felt a growing unease. As Alyssa's eldest brother, he cared deeply for her.Cyrus immediately called Miley. His expression hardened. "This isn't good. Miley isn't answering," he said grimly.In an instant, the faces of all three men turned grim. Jasper, Jonah and Cyrus raced back to the presidential office.The moment they entered the courtyard, they sensed something was off. The guards who were supposed to be standing outside the doors had disappeared."Miley!" "Lyse!" They called out as they ran into the living room. Their jaws dropped at the sight before them.Miley was curled up on the couch, her hands covering her face. She looked like she was in pain, her shoulders slig
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