Remy, tall and imposing, bent down to pluck a random rose. He tore off a petal, placed it in his mouth, and chewed thoughtfully. "Sir wouldn't take her like some wild animal," he mused. "He'd make Ms. Alyssa fall for him willingly, bit by bit."Jameson shuddered.Alyssa, on the other hand, didn't feel overly terrified. More than that, she felt curious and suspicious. She even considered that being abducted by this so-called Sir might be better than remaining Jameson's prisoner. At least with Sir, she could get closer to the heart of evil and consequently have the chance to unmask the mastermind and bring them to justice. By contrast, staying with Jameson left her feeling powerless. Despite his dignified, accomplished façade, he was nothing more than Sir's loyal watchdog.And with Remy's arrival, Alyssa sensed something big was coming. Whether they acted or not, Jameson's usefulness was at its end.…Night fell, and the sea's waves rose and fell with it.After years of living as
Due to Alyssa's ambush, Remy was caught off guard. His collar was ripped apart, revealing his broad, muscular shoulder.A birthmark! Damien had a light pink birthmark, about the size of a quarter, on the back of his left shoulder.But just as a spark of hope ignited in Alyssa's eyes, it was quickly extinguished. Remy had no birthmark on his left shoulder. Instead, through her tear-blurred vision, she saw a long, terrifying scar as wide as two fingers. The scar snaked down from his shoulder like a cruel serpent.As a surgeon who had served on battlefield rescue missions with Doctors Without Borders, the sight of such a severe scar made her blood run cold.With one look, she knew this wasn't just any ordinary knife wound. It looked more like a wound from an explosion, with skin stitched back together after devastating injuries.Could it be…Alyssa felt a sharp pain in her wrists, and her world spun. When she regained consciousness, Remy had pinned her to the couch, her wrists hel
With a soft click, Remy opened a hidden compartment in the necklace. In it was a black-colored pill. He took it out, put it in his mouth, and swallowed it. Alyssa's voice in his head gradually faded away.For over a year, he hadn't needed any medication to ease his headaches. He thought he'd never have to take it again.…Meanwhile, Jameson clutched a medical report in his study room. His handsome face was ashen, his sharp eyes bloodshot."Mr. Schmidt, your current health isn't looking good," his private physician hesitated, standing by his side. "The medical facilities on this island are limited. They might not be enough if your condition suddenly worsens. I suggest you go to a proper hospital soon, within this month. Treatment there might help ease your condition."Jameson's pale, chapped lips uttered, "Can vigorous treatment cure me?"The doctor looked down, hesitating."My disease is incurable, and I don't have long to live, do I?" Jameson forced a smile. A mix of emptin
As night fell, fierce winds swept over the pitch-black skies, pressing down heavily on the endless sea. The surging waves hinted at an impending storm, with all life rising and falling as though it could be consumed, crushed, and destroyed at any moment. Waves crashed against the beach on Rose Island.Alyssa didn't have time to change out of her fiery red dress before scrambling into the helicopter parked on the shore. Though she had regained some energy, her body remained weak. But she knew she couldn't afford to hesitate. Jameson hadn't come with her next tranquilizer shot tonight. This was her one chance to escape!The memory of flying a helicopter was faint, buried in the past, but she had to try. She had to fight with everything she had, even if it meant death.Alyssa slipped into the cockpit, her breath caught in her throat. The red dress she wore was soaked in cold sweat. She checked the fuel gauge, started the ignition, and the helicopter's blades began to rotate."Alys
Tears welled up in Alyssa's eyes as she clung desperately to Remy's shirt, wrinkling it in her grip. "I miss Dad and my brothers. I miss Jasper… Please let me go home… Okay? Please…"Remy listened in silence, his steps firm and unyielding, offering no response."Return Lyse to me!" Jameson, unaware of how he looked, chased after them frantically and blocked Remy's path, his eyes bloodshot with desperation."You haven't married Ms. Alyssa yet. Technically, she's not yours." Remy stared at Jameson's pale face, his gaze calm and unbothered. "And if I handed her to you, do you think you could carry her?"Jameson trembled, his weak body betraying him as he withdrew his shaking hands.Though Alyssa was physically and mentally drained, her mind was unusually clear after the recent shock. Remy's words hinted at something deeper. Was Jameson's body deteriorating to the point of collapse?The sea breeze was growing stronger, howling through the night.Remy continued walking, holding Alyss
"What's wrong, Jonah? Is something on your mind?" Seeing that they were alone, Jasper seized the chance to approach Jonah. His gaze was firm as he pressed on, "Did something happen when you were in the palace?"Everyone's overwhelmed by Lyse's situation. The psychological pressure on you must be just as intense, maybe even more than the rest of us."Jonah met Jasper's concerned gaze, feeling moved. "Jasper, I really appreciate you noticing how I'm feeling, even at a time like this." "Don't say that, Jonah. We're family. To me, you and Lyse are equally important." Since losing contact with Alyssa, Jasper had been restless, plagued by sleepless nights and a constant state of anxiety. Every shift in the moods of those around him only magnified his own stress, making him hypersensitive and on edge. "What really happened?""To be honest, not much." Jonah pursed his lips. "After entering the palace, I met the king. He was kind and friendly, giving me a personal tour. We even dined tog
What terrified Jasper even more was that the timeline of the hunt for Felicity perfectly aligned with the ages of Jonah and his four brothers.When too many coincidences occur, they might not be coincidences at all.Adding to the unease, Anthony had summoned Jonah—whom he had never met before—into the palace out of nowhere. He treated Jonah with unusual warmth, even gifting him a personal artifact."Jonah, when you met His Royal Highness at the palace, was Her Royal Highness there as well?" Jasper suddenly inquired.Jonah shook his head. "Nope. Her Royal Highness never showed up." "How about the prince?" "I heard the prince's health isn't good. A few years back, he could still attend meetings with political leaders, state visits, and charity events with His Royal Highness. But last year, he became bedridden. He had turned down all his duties to focus on recovery. I didn't get the chance to meet him."What kind of illness had kept him bedridden for two whole years? It had to be
With the royal family's approval, a massive search operation was launched.In the blink of an eye, another five days passed. The search parties scoured 20 islands of varying sizes, yet Alyssa remained elusive.Logically, if Jameson had intended to settle on an island, he would have brought ample manpower and supplies. The search shouldn't have been this difficult. But the reality was that the search and rescue mission proved far more challenging than anyone had anticipated.Adding to the difficulties, the recent weather at Kontina had been terrible. Stormy seas severely hampered the operation.On the fifth night, Miley brought some dishes into the room. Seeing Jasper's tired and bloodshot eyes, her heart wrenched. She urged, "Jasper, you can't keep exhausting yourself like this. Your body won't hold up! Please, have something to eat, even if it's just a small bite.""Thank you, Miley. Just leave it here. I'll eat in a bit," Jasper answered in a hoarse voice. Even so, he remained s