A cold glint flickered in Jameson's eyes, masking the savage fury unleashed by the pain and desperation as his wound was torn open."Lyse… I know you despise me, but you can't slander me like this…" "I slandered you? Jameson, you've really gone off the deep end. You dared to do such a thing but don't have the guts to admit to it?" Alyssa stared straight at his pale and gloomy face. There wasn't any fear within her, only a heart-wrenching resentment. "Mrs. Schmidt looked like she was having an episode because of what I said, but I already felt something was off when she was seizing and foaming at the mouth. "In the past, you've said that your mother's heart was weak. But when I checked on her eyes and pulse at the time, she wasn't presenting with symptoms of a heart attack, let alone a seizure. "Subsequently, red spots started to form on her skin. Pairing all that with the way you're reacting right now, I have reason to believe that you injected Mrs. Schmidt with some poisonous
Even though Axel barely showed any emotion on his face, Amber knew he was on the verge of breaking down. One word from her—a futile attempt at comfort—and his carefully held emotions would explode."Jonah… Jasper…"The moment Axel laid eyes on his family, his body trembled. His strong, unyielding façade crumbled as tears finally broke free."Don't cry, Axel." Jonah went up and embraced Axel. He patted his back lightly. "Crying wouldn't solve any of our problems. The most important thing now is to rescue Lyse." "It was all my fault… It was all my fucking fault!" Axel gave himself a hard slap. "I was the one who neglected Lyse… I was the one who lost her. I deserve to die." "Axel, it had nothing to do with you." Jasper walked over slowly, his footsteps heavy, eyes bloodshot and sunken. "I'm the one to blame. "I'm Lyse's partner, and I've sworn to all of you that I'd protect her… Yet, I've messed everything up. I'm sorry." He had messed it all up. He'd spoken similar ones bef
"Let's look into them, then. We'll find her. We'll search the islands one by one!" Axel wiped his tears away. His eyes had become bloodshot. "Let me inform Liam to deploy more manpower to Kontina as soon as possible." "I've informed Liam, even though I really didn't want to." Jonah had an extremely bitter smile on his face as he took a deep breath. "Now, as we try to keep our family stable, we must also mobilize all the resources we have to track Lyse down. Liam is already rushing to Kontina. I'm sure he has the authority to mobilize some manpower." Jasper looked at Jonah with a firm and fiery gaze. In a concerned voice, he remarked, "With Liam's high status and power, I'm afraid that he'd be criticized for acting on his own accord. I don't want it to affect his future." "Future, status, and all that don't mean anything!" Axel couldn't bear the agony in his heart. With tears in his eyes, he exclaimed, "Nothing is more important than Lyse. "We'll set out tomorrow… No, let'
Alyssa's cell phone was long gone. There was no television or computer in the room either. She had no idea how many days had passed since arriving on this island. Having been injected with a high dose of tranquilizer, although she was awake, she was almost paralyzed from the neck down. In this state, she was like a hopeless yet appealing live mannequin. The silence in the luxurious and chilly room was suffocating. Even the wind and waves couldn't be heard. Clearly, this room was quite some distance away from the sea. It was a gilded cage that Jameson had crafted for her.Alyssa's limp body lay on the light yellow bedding. She was no longer wearing the outfit she had on when she came. Instead, she was forced to change into a thin, red-colored lace nightgown. Like a delicate rose, she seemed to wither, inch by inch, losing all signs of life.A female helper on the island had dressed her in that nightgown.Despite Jameson's cruelty toward everyone else, he had never forced hims
Jameson failed to get even a drop of water into Alyssa's mouth. The water flowed from the glass and downward along Alyssa's chin to her neck. "You're being really bad, Lyse. But this is who you are." Jameson narrowed his eyes a little. He filled his mouth with water, then grabbed her chin to force her mouth open. "Mmph!" Suddenly, he pressed his lips onto hers, releasing the warm water, little by little, into her mouth. Yet, this was not enough. He lingered, refusing to pull away as he carefully tasted this sweetness. At the same time, the look in his eyes gradually became dazed as his eyes filled with gratification.Alyssa's eyes, on the other hand, turned red with anger. She clenched her fists tight and couldn't stop shaking in his arms. She wanted to bite down on his misbehaving tongue, but as if anticipating her move, he pinched her jaw, preventing her from closing her mouth. She was powerless against him.Jameson heaved, finally pulling away from her lips reluctantly.
A medication that could make her lose her memory? Alyssa heard that part about losing her memory. In an instant, she broke out in a cold sweat. Her heart throbbed painfully. What medication was that? Why would there be memory loss involved? What in the world was Jameson going to do to her? "Ms. Alyssa is a stubborn woman straight down to her core. If you're not going to have her take the medication but instead try to move her with your sincerity, making her feel touched or making her loyal to you will just be a pipe dream. "If that were possible, Jasper would've lost a long time ago. Would this have dragged on till today?" "But Lyse had a miscarriage in the past. Her physical condition hasn't been the same since she recovered from it." Bitterness filled Jameson's eyes. The pain in his chest made him inhale sharply, as if it was his child whom Alyssa had lost. "It's still okay if all that medication does is wipe out Lyse's memories. "However, there are many prohibited co
"Lyse, you're finally awake!" Jameson held Alyssa's soft hands tightly as he caressed and kissed them longingly. He had been so anxious that he was on the brink of tears. "You've been sleeping for 24 hours. You really scared me to death. I was afraid that you were unwell!"I got a doctor to come over while you were asleep and got you injected with glucose. You can't keep going on without food. No matter how much you hate me, you shouldn't torture yourself. Is it even worth it this way?" As a doctor, Alyssa knew she couldn't hold up much longer. This bastard, Jameson, was right. Even if she wanted to kill him, she needed to gather enough strength to do so. "I'm craving meat," Alyssa uttered without looking at him. After five days, Jameson finally invoked a normal response from her. The quiver in his eyes reflected the joy within him. "Sure… I'll have the kitchen staff prepare something for you now. It'll be ready soon. Hold on, Lyse!"Less than an hour later, the kitchen sta
Alyssa trembled uncontrollably in Jameson's arms. A twinkle of hope lit up in her eyes. Could it be her brothers? Was it Jasper? They found her, didn't they? Emotions surged fiercely within her, and tears of anguish filled her eyes. She was this close to bursting out in tears. However, after being drugged by Jameson, her limbs were limp and devoid of energy. Escaping his grasp was impossible."A visitor?" Jameson's elegant face paled instantly. "Just one?" "Yeah. A man." Upon hearing this, Jameson didn't let his guard down. Instead, he felt as if his heart were being constricted by a thorny vine. The pain made his heart cramp.In the next second, before he could respond, a series of heavy, chilling footsteps echoed through the dining room as the man strode in confidently."Mr. Schmidt." The man's voice was deep and hoarse, like golden sand under the bright sun. Alyssa's heart raced with anticipation as she looked up. That glance was a seismic event for her. Her moist
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