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
Axel pressed on, "Do you have family? Do you know how to fly a plane?" Remy furrowed his brows, his fists tightening with each passing second as Axel's questions gnawed at his patience. This was a life-or-death situation, yet Axel still had time for all these pointless questions.He really was quite a sick man! Remy had initially intended to restrain Axel, but his frustration grew to the point where he felt he had to take out his anger physically. Thus, he escalated his attack with more ferocity, landing heavy blows with his fists and feet.Axel decided to test Remy, realizing there was no point in prolonging the confrontation. Even if someone lost their memory in an accident, their ingrained habits and instincts might remain intact.Suddenly, Axel's eyes darted to Remy's feet. "There's a snake! Watch out!"Remy's face drained of color, and he stumbled backward in shock. His icy demeanor shattered as fear overtook him."Damien… You are Damien. I'm sure you are!" Axel's eyes we
The two figures before Jasper's reddened eyes resembled a matching pair of bride and groom. This was the first time Jasper had ever seen Alyssa in a wedding dress. Though he had dreamed of this moment countless times, he never imagined he would see her like this.Her beauty was stunning, her pale complexion sharply contrasting with Jameson's elegant black attire. The scene felt hauntingly bleak, poignant, and fragile.With every step Jasper took toward them, the pain in his heart intensified. Fresh blood seeped from his wound, leaving a trail in his wake.At this moment, Alyssa looked like a porcelain doll, meticulously dressed and placed in a glass display for her beloved to admire.Jasper could see her, but he couldn't touch her.This should have been a joyous scene, but the atmosphere was cold, cruel, and bizarre."Lyse! I'm here!" Jasper's voice cracked as he called out to her, tears blurring his vision. "Wake up, Lyse! Wake up… Look at me!""Shh…" Jameson stood tall and
Jasper stared at those three pills in shock. The coldness of the unknown surged and stirred within his chest. Jameson was a schemer, a man who thrived on manipulation. Every word he spoke could be part of an elaborate ploy. Maybe these pills were poison, a way to kill him without the mess of bloodshed."If I take all of them, will you let Lyse go?" Jasper's voice cracked, hoarse with pain.Jameson chuckled nonchalantly. "Of course." "Did you think that I would believe you? Show yourself or get those lapdogs of yours to come at me if you want me dead. Let's fight face-to-face. If not, you might as well just shoot me." Jasper then slammed his fist into the glass and added, "Don't use such a vicious tactic. I won't fall for it!" "Choose between the two," Jameson said, his grin widening. "If it's not you, it'll be her. The decision is yours, Jasper." Jasper's heart was wrenched. "Jameson, don't you dare touch Lyse!""It looks like you've made your choice." Jameson picked up th
Jasper felt a pain unlike any he had ever known. It wasn't a physical agony like having flesh torn away, but a slow, excruciating torture akin to being slowly sliced by a blunt blade. It was a hundred times worse than dying instantly.His mind raced through a chaotic sequence of images, like a black-and-white movie playing backward. He saw people retreating and leaving—Javier, Anne, Newton, Landon, Lauren, Jonah, Axel…He reached out desperately, trying to grasp any of them, but they were slipping away, one by one.Finally, the image settled on Alyssa's radiant face. "Lyse... Don't go..."Tears streaming down his face, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her. But she dissolved into golden dust, vanishing into the frigid air."No!"A beep sounded in his ear as if everything had been reset. Darkness enveloped him, and he fell unconscious.Now, there was just silence. Jameson stood motionless, staring at the fallen man. He wasn't sure if he was dead, but deep down, he was
A mysterious manor sat at the top of a mountain in Kontina. The green scenery around it was enchanting. In a dimly lit bedroom, a calm and soothing incense burned quietly in an antique burner. White smoke drifted through the air, dispelling all traces of unease, restlessness, and noise from the room.Alyssa lay still on the soft, spacious bed, a peaceful expression on her face as she slept. She was still dressed in her pure and elegant wedding gown, looking so delicate and ethereal that she seemed untouchable—more enchanting than even Sleeping Beauty herself.In the shadows, a tall man sat in a wheelchair, his back to the light, silently watching Alyssa."Sir, I've examined her thoroughly and confirmed that she has no external injuries," Sheryl reported. Despite her limited surgical training, she had the skill to conduct basic examinations. "Her blood test is also complete. There are traces of tranquilizers and sedatives, but nothing harmful to her health."A hint of sarcasm crep
Jameson was arrested on the spot by the Kontinian authorities. They also found massive amounts of drugs and firearms on Rose Island. At the same time, that beautiful rose garden was proven by the relevant authorities to have been used for planting poppies in the past. The news of Jameson's arrest spread like wildfire throughout Kontina. Cyrris also caught wind of this news, which made headlines and became a trending topic. The media was flooded with comments from Kontinian citizens, all echoing the same sentiment—overjoyed and relieved. It was as if Christmas had come early.The evil influence of the Schmidt Group had once seemed like an impenetrable web, shadowing all of Kontina's skies. Jameson had maintained the guise of a charitable businessman, but countless people had suffered under his power, oppression, and violations. It was just that no one had dared speak out before, harboring their resentment in silence. Now, with this cancerous blight finally being cut out, th