"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
"Invite her in to have a seat." Jasper's icy expression softened slightly.After some time and Miley's gentle persuasion, Amber entered with her head lowered. "Thank you, Mr. Beckett," she said, offering a deep bow. Since being rescued, she hadn't found the right moment to properly express her gratitude to Jasper.Jasper's eyes held a faint, dull gleam. "No need to thank me. I didn't do much. Axel was the one who saved you.""I spent a significant amount of time in Kontina when I worked for Jameson," Amber said, her expression serious. "So, I have a certain level of understanding about this country. I hope that I'll be able to be of some help," Amber offered with a serious expression on her face. Jasper was taken aback. Only now did he recall that Amber had once worked under Jameson, making her knowledge invaluable. No one knew him better.Standing by the table, Amber scanned the map, its surface dotted with red crosses. She gently shook her head. "Searching like this isn't the
Everyone in the room was astounded by Jasper's sudden proposition. "Mr. Beckett's hunch is spot on. Ms. Alyssa could very well be on Rose Island!" Amber's eyes sparkled with hope. She chimed in, "I remember overhearing Carl mention that Jameson bought an island. He was obsessed with it, always vacationing and relaxing there."I didn't think much of it back then. Jameson owns so many properties that an island seemed trivial. But now that I think of it, it feels suspicious."If it was just another island, why would he care so much about it, checking on it personally so often? This isn't like him at all. He's probably been planning this for a while. That island must be his last hideout!"If someone else had said that, others might have doubted it. But, as Jameson's former trusted subordinate, Amber's theory was plausible."We'll leave now. I'll pilot the helicopter myself to get us to the island!" Jasper's heart pounded like stormy waves crashing against his chest.His eyes were bl
To Alyssa, these five days felt like hell on earth. She couldn't bring herself to eat or drink, and within two weeks, she had become as thin as a wisp. She lay limply on the bed, her delicate shoulder blades trembling.She looked pitiful, yet her appearance stirred a desire to conquer and spoil her, never having to worry that she would leave. During these five days, Alyssa was constantly on edge. Though she was so exhausted she could have slept for days, she only dared to take brief naps, never allowing herself to fall into a deep sleep.She was afraid—afraid that Jameson would eventually lay his hands on her.So far, he had only held her and kissed her, but she couldn't trust that the madman wouldn't decide to take things further on a whim.In the wee hours of the morning, the night sky turned dark and ominous as strong winds began to howl.Jameson injected himself with adrenaline in the study. Emerging from the room, he dragged his weary body through the dimly lit corridor,
"What did you say? Wedding… right now?" Alyssa trembled, pressing her hands against his chest. She glanced at the trees swaying wildly in the storm outside the window, wondering if she'd heard him wrong."Yes, right now." Jameson's gaze was deep, gentle, and full of affection.Alyssa's eyes widened in shock. Jameson suddenly wanted to marry her in the dead of night under such terrible weather conditions.Could it be that he knew his hideout had been exposed? Had Jasper and her brothers discovered her location? Was that why Jameson was rushing his plans?Jameson sat on the bed, wrapping his arms around her. He leaned down, picked up a pair of red heels he had prepared, and carefully slipped them onto her feet, one by one."When I was young, my mother told me that a bride who gets married on a rainy day is someone with a temper." He stared intently at her pale face, his gaze calm and deep. His cold lips brushed light kisses against her cheeks. "Look at the storm outside. It just
By doing this, Jameson made it seem as if he was considerate of Alyssa's feelings, showing how much he cared for her. But all Alyssa felt was a wrenching pain in her heart, and it sickened her.He was killing her from the inside."Are you joking, Mr. Schmidt?" Remy glanced at a pale Alyssa, then looked at Jameson with disdain. He scoffed, "I'm not Ms. Alyssa's family, nor am I your friend. Why should I be a witness to your marriage? "It already makes me feel sick to be standing here. Yet, you want me to participate? You disgust me." Alyssa's reddened eyes glistened with tears. She stared at Remy pitifully. Remy's lashes quivered slightly before he looked away and turned around. He wasn't sure if he simply didn't want to watch or couldn't bear to.Even though Remy refused to do the honors, Jameson wasn't peeved. He stared lovingly at the stiff woman in his arms. In a tone overflowing with the joy of a groom-to-be, Jameson remarked, "Oh well, it doesn't matter. It makes no dif
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