Jasper kneaded his brows and muttered, "Alyssa Taylor … I feel like I've heard the name before." "I've researched more about Ms. Alyssa," Xavier said. Jasper's eyes lit up. He was pleased that the usually slow secretary was finally one step ahead of him at doing things."Tell me what you found.""In the end, I found nothing." Xavier's shoulders drooped, and he spread his hands.Jasper said, "Xavier, I believe you can get your early salary payment from the HR department." He seemed calm."Calm down, Mr. Beckett! It's not that I didn't investigate, but finding info on Ms. Alyssa is like searching for a top-secret file. It's just not available, so there's not much I can do."Xavier felt scared. He wiped off his sweat nervously. Xavier continued, "Don't you think that it's strange? She's Mr. Taylor's first wife's only daughter, but I can't find any information about her online. I even searched through all social media platforms. Yet, I still got nothing! I wonder if she lives in
"Jasper, have you looked into the matter? What's happening?" asked Javier while comforting Sophia."The culprit is Alyssa Taylor, the newly appointed general manager of KS Group." Jasper dropped his gaze to the ground. He didn't want to see the affectionate scene between Javier and Sophia. Javier had never treated him and his mother well when he was younger. Jasper suspected that Javier had long forgotten what his mother looked like."KS Group … The Taylors in Belbanks?" gasped Sophia. She covered her mouth. "That's the richest family in Belbanks! How did Lia offend them?""Our families have been on bad terms due to past issues between our ancestors. Their great-grandmother even swore not to have a marriage alliance with our family. Anyone who goes against that rule must cut ties with the family."Jasper was unbothered by that. His fiancée was Liana, not anyone from the Taylor family.However, those words still affected him, and he felt a surge of coldness. "Geez! I bet the
The next morning, Jasper dressed himself neatly. He appeared more dependable and sophisticated in his suit. He was going to KS World Hotel in the best state possible.Upon entering the lobby, he felt relaxed. Last year, he had visited the place and criticized it for being shabby and in need of many touch-ups. However, now it seemed like a whole new place. It was on par with five-star hotels.The new general manager seemed capable. Jasper believed he shouldn't underestimate her."This is the president of Beckett Group. Please relay the message that he would like to meet with Ms. Alyssa," Xavier said. Xavier faced many hurdles to reach Alyssa's administrative secretary, Avery."I'm sorry, but it's impossible without an appointment." Avery was being polite."The president of Beckett Group needs an appointment too?" Xavier's brows furrowed. "Why not?""You!" His face turned red with anger. He desperately wanted to file a complaint. "I'll make an appointment now. When can I m
After the call with Jonah, Sean entered the office impatiently."Ms. Alyssa, Jasper Beckett is here again! He's quite brazen, isn't he? It's a shame that he's not an insurance agent," Sean said. "I'm impressed by his determination. He's able to go this far for his loved one."Alyssa kept signing the documents without looking up. Nevertheless, Sean noticed the bitterness in her indifferent tone. He wondered if it was just his imagination. "Ms. Alyssa, I will personally make sure he doesn't come back this time.""No. Bring Jasper here." Alyssa capped the pen and arched a brow."What?" Sean was surprised."He genuinely wants to meet me. I guess I should spare the president of Beckett Group some courtesy, shouldn't I?"Alyssa leaned forward and stretched her legs. Sean hurried over and slid the heels onto her feet."Find a pretty lady with a sharp tongue. Look for one at the restaurants and cafés. I have something for her to do," Alyssa instructed. After over ten minutes, Sea
"M-Mr. Jasper … I'm out!" Xavier huffed. The hotel was a tall building with a dozen flights of stairs. By the time Xavier reached the 38th floor, he was huffing and puffing. His legs went weak. He almost keeled over. "Be a man. We have two floors to go. Hurry," Jasper urged emotionlessly as he continued to climb the stairs.He was 30 this year, only two years older than Xavier. He had been in the Peacekeeping Forces during his younger days. After retiring from the forces, he regularly worked out and practiced boxing. Thus, his stamina and tolerance were above average.He knew he could still do it even if he had to climb another 20 floors. After all, the night run in the forces was always more than 30 rounds on the field.Once they reached the 40th floor, Xavier sat on the stairs to catch his breath. Jasper shook his head at Xavier. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Jasper," said a man who approached Jasper with a professional smile. His eyes made him look young. It was hard to guess
Alyssa burst into laughter. Mia had no choice but to laugh too. Jasper frowned. "I'll take that, but there's no need to feel shy. I can make more of this painting. You can have it." Alyssa's words carried hints of mockery. Upon hearing that, Jasper's expression went stiff as he balled his fists."You went through so much to meet me. I bet it's not for some paintings. Let's cut to the chase." She didn't have time to beat around the bush with him."Honestly, I'm here for the issue regarding Gardner Group. I hope you can stop oppressing them. There's room for negotiations." Jasper's tone was low, but his gaze was formidable. "After all, it will only do you good in Solana City if you work with us.""Do you call this an oppression, Mr. Jasper?" Alyssa was at a loss for words."I think it is an action of justice to reveal the underhanded sellers. It will be a wake-up call to our peers so that no one will repeat the mistakes that we did. They won't purchase products of bad quality and
Alyssa returned to her office.Mia approached her with wobbly legs. "I-I was so scared! Mr. Jasper is so good-looking! And there's this powerful presence about him! My cheeks were burning the moment I met him. D-Did I do well, Ms. Alyssa?""You did great." Alyssa handed her an envelope. "Take it. You've earned it.""T-Thank you, Ms. Alyssa!" Mia took the envelope and was surprised by its thickness.Just then, Sean handed her a document. It was a confidentiality agreement."I know you're trustworthy, but I think it's better to have an agreement for both parties' sake." Alyssa smiled faintly.She continued, "Everything that happened today must remain between us. Unless I reveal it myself, sharing this conversation with a third party would be a breach of the agreement. I will get to the bottom of it."Feeling overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation, Mia nodded and signed the papers. She promised to keep it a secret before leaving the office."The rumor has it that Jasper is a
The truth was, Jasper not only failed to experience true love, but he also felt increasingly helpless in this relationship.A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Jasper responded, and Xavier entered the office with a document."I've looked into it, Mr. Jasper. KS World Hotel returned Elysian Home's products and terminated all collaborations with Gardner Group nine days ago. Taylor Group hadn't exposed the quality issue to the media at that time. It was more of the public's assumptions."Jasper knew the series of events that took place after that. Next, Liana announced their wedding and hired ghostwriters to attack Alice. Only then did Taylor Group expose Gardner Group for their quality issue, leading to the current crisis. Gritting his teeth, Jasper took an aspirin to alleviate the headache. His hands were shaking. "I heard there was a vice general manager named Michael at KS World Hotel. He received a huge sum from Gardner Group before Ms. Alyssa was appointed. She fo
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
Sheryl's eyes lit up. "And what might that reason be?"Justin's lips curved into a faint smirk, his voice calm yet carrying a cold, ethereal tone. "Besides Ms. Alyssa, there's another woman who holds great significance to Jasper. She's the only one who can compel him to act without hesitation." Remy, usually a man of few words, abruptly spoke up. "Is she the one you've mentioned before? The woman who saved Jasper on the battlefield?""After Jasper retired from the military, he was plagued by PTSD. He came back shattered, dispirited, even on the brink of taking his own life."During that time, I often spoke with him over the phone, urging him to hold on, to keep living. I reminded him that if I could endure this half-disabled existence, then surely, he could find a reason to go on."Justin's tone was leisurely, as though recounting something insignificant. He continued, "I told him that if he were gone, what would become of Beckett Group? More than that, he would leave Dad and G