"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
At first, Jameson had no intention of touching her. His love for her was so profound that he couldn't bring himself to do it.He was well aware that this wedding was far from perfect, decent, or presentable. In fact, it was almost absurd. But the fact that she refused to even pretend or put on a show during his final days was unbearable.Alyssa watched as Jameson's chest was gradually exposed, a bead of sweat trailing down his sculpted abs, his skin flushed with a pink hue of arousal.Her eyes widened in terror, her face burning with embarrassment.It hurt. It hurt all over. Pain spread throughout her insides and to every nerve ending.Just as his hands reached to tear her nightgown, he caught a glint of cold steel in his peripheral vision. He held his breath. Somehow, Alyssa had gotten her hands on a sharp knife. She had positioned it right at his chest in the blink of an eye. She would be aiming at his heart if she moved it a little to the side. "Where did you get that f
The warm, early morning sun bathed Rose Island in golden light. The fine, white sand on the beach shimmered with a dazzling radiance. The bedroom Alyssa was in was as dark as night. Heavy, luxurious velvet curtains blocked out the sunlight completely.In such an atmosphere, someone exhausted from a night of struggle could easily sleep through the day. But Jameson woke up early.After a night of relentless nightmares, he was drenched in cold sweat, his face ashen. The moment he opened his eyes, he reached out frantically, his hands trembling.He exhaled in relief when he felt the warmth of Alyssa's body beside him. Then, he sat up in bed.The bed was a mess, not from lovemaking but from Alyssa's frenzied struggles the night before.At the very last moment, Jameson forced himself to suppress his urge to dominate her. He leaned weakly against the headboard, watching Alyssa's delicate face as she slept. His chapped, pale lips curled into a relieved and blissful smile.Slowly, he
Jameson looked exceptionally calm. He stared at Alyssa's sleeping face with a fiery gaze. "You can take Lyse away, but not right now." Remy's gaze turned cold. "How dare you go against Sir's orders?" "As I said—not right now." Jameson covered his mouth and let out a few deep coughs. As he lowered his hand, he quickly curled his fingers inward to hide the blood on his palm. "Love, hate, and all these grudges—Jasper and I have been at odds for so long. Today is the day to settle our scores. This is such a critical moment. How could Lyse not be by my side?"Remy furrowed his brows, his expression one of bewilderment as if he were facing a mad doomsayer. "What in the world are you going to do?" "I know that Sir has always had some feelings for Lyse. It was just that he wasn't willing to show it." Jameson stopped coughing. Slowly and elegantly, he buttoned up his shirt as if this were a regular morning. "But, even if Sir were to have Lyse, he'd just be like me—unable to win her
Remy's face was an immense shock to Axel and Jasper, a staggering sight that hit them with the force of a bombshell. Axel, in particular, stared in disbelief, a quiver in his voice as he cried out, "Damien! Damien, is that really you?"Remy, however, stared back with a cold, emotionless gaze, his eyes as still as a tranquil pond."Axel, calm down. Have a good look!" Jasper, though internally stunned, managed to steady himself. Having never met Damien alive and only seeing him in the Taylors' family photos, he was able to quickly calm down.With a tense jaw, he remarked, "Damien was reported dead in a plane crash. It's been years, and they never recovered his body. How could he still be alive?"This could be someone who merely resembles Damien, a ploy by Jameson to throw us off. Axel, keep your wits about you. Don't let yourself be fooled!"When Remy heard Jasper's words, he couldn't help but frown. Here was another one. No, there were two of them. That man named Damien truly
Jasper's jaw was clenched tight as he sprinted forward, the sharp branches of the path leaving angry scratches on his face. The pain barely registered as he pushed on. His legs were numb from the relentless pace, but he continued, sustained only by his determination to rescue Alyssa. His legs trembled under him when he finally reached the manor, and he stumbled slightly against the biting cold wind.Had it been someone else, they would have crumbled and been unable to stand up again.No one was keeping watch outside the manor. It was eerily quiet. Jasper took a steadying breath, his grip tightening on his gun. Each step on the white rock tiles felt heavy as he approached the door. With a calm yet wary demeanor, he pushed it open and entered.The luxurious living room was empty. Even so, Jasper's heart raced, sensing an unseen danger. He was as focused and tense as a volcano poised to erupt.His intuition, honed by experience and training, told him something was amiss. A glint c
Jameson erupted into laughter, the sound sharp and cruel. "Return her to you?" he jeered. "Jasper, Lyse was meant to be mine from the start. You took her from me, seized her so shamelessly. "Not only did you fail to appreciate her, but you also subjected her to pain and loss—made her lose her child and denied her the chance to be a mother forever."Jasper breathed heavily, as if strangled, his heart plummeting. It felt as if the bullet had created an irreparable void in his chest, with fresh blood pouring from the wound.He knew Jameson was trying to unsettle him, using psychological tactics to break him down. Jasper tried to steady himself, but the truth in Jameson's words stung.There was no refuge. The searing pain caused him to tremble, and the weight of regret in his heart only grew heavier."You nearly destroyed my most cherished rose," Jameson continued, his voice dripping with venom. "She was on the brink of withering because of you. Jasper, you don't deserve to be with L
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