"Lyse, calm down. Listen to me!" Jonah felt a sharp pain in his chest, emotions swirling inside him. He knew he couldn't keep the truth from Alyssa but had to explain it in a way that didn't make things seem worse than they were."Jasper got hurt fighting Jameson on Rose Island. He's been unconscious since then. But don't worry, aside from being shot in the left shoulder, he has no other external injuries, and his internal organs are fine.""Left shoulder… again?" Alyssa's eyes brimmed with tears. Her heart ached for him. "Back on Shelland Island, Jasper hurt his left shoulder saving me. Now, he's been shot there again? His left shoulder will be ruined for life!"A tear rolled down her cheek as if the bullet had pierced her heart too."Don't worry, Lyse," Miley said quickly. "Jeremy and I found the best surgeon in Kontina to remove the bullet and operate. Jasper's arm will be fine. He might have some pain, but it won't stop him from living normally.""If it's just an external in
"Julien, what did you find?" Jonah approached Julien quickly, wrapping an arm around his waist and gently caressing him. With his other hand, he pulled the CT scan from Julien's grasp.Julien narrowed his eyes slightly. "Do you know how to read it?" Jonah was honest. He answered in a deep voice, "I don't. Please enlighten me, darling." Julien pouted, giving Jonah a playful jab in his firm abdomen with his finger.He knew Jonah's heart was heavy, and he wasn't in the mood to flirt. Regardless, Julien just wanted to lift his spirits after all the exhaustion. Julien had been tirelessly thinking of ways to help Jasper since the moment he stepped onto Kontinian soil."Jul…" Alyssa turned her head to look at Julien. With her eyes filled with tears, she looked extremely pitiful. "Lyse, I'm here with you too." Julien's chest tightened. He smiled. With a gleam in his eyes, he said warmly, "Don't be afraid. With me here, Jasper will definitely wake up." Alyssa nodded firmly. Eve
Ever since Alyssa woke, she had hardly left Jasper's side, forsaking sleep and rest with no regard for her own health.Three more days dragged by, though for her, it felt like months—years—decades.The time that passed was agonizing. This wasn't the first time Jasper had been hurt because of her. She had been through the fear and panic before, when his life hung by a thread or when he lay in a deep coma. Yet, this time was different. For reasons she couldn't understand, the calm and rationality she once had had vanished.She gripped his hand tightly, her fingers woven with his. Fear surged through her like an avalanche, threatening to drown her from the inside.This was a fear that she had never felt. That intense helplessness tormented her mentally every second of the day.In just one week, Alyssa, once proud and radiant, had withered like a pale white rose. She was gaunt, fragile, and exhausted. Her hospital gown looked so big on her emaciated frame that it looked like it
"Wake up and comfort me again," Alyssa thought, her mind pleading. Please. As she was sobbing, the door to the hospital ward was pushed open slowly. Landon walked in carrying a bowl of soup. When he saw the scene before his eyes, he froze on the spot and fell into a daze. His hands started trembling uncontrollably while he carried the bowl of soup. As a tall and strong man, his heart had long been filled with Lauren's love. A scene like this moved him, and he felt a sudden urge to cry.He waited until Alyssa's sobs died down. Then, he calmed himself down and walked to her side slowly. "Lyse, have something to eat. I brought some fish chowder. I remember that you like this, so I made some for you myself." Alyssa was silent for a long time. Landon peered to the side and noticed that her breakfast was still on the bedside table, untouched. He couldn't explain the heaviness and misery he felt in his heart. "Landon… I'm sure you really hate me, don't you?" Alyssa sat there
In the blink of an eye, Jasper had been gone for an entire month. As the president of Beckett Group and someone with such status and power, he disappeared just like that. Only Xavier was left to assist him with attending to urgent matters at the corporation. Even so, there were still a number of documents that had to be approved by Jasper personally. "The troops" were in a mess while the documents for "the king" had piled up as high as a mountain. In the end, the truth could not be hidden. Newton and Javier were finally alerted. Jasper had a close call with death and ended up severely injured in Kontina. He ended up in a deep coma for an entire week. As his grandfather and father, they couldn't believe that they had only just found out about this news. Their anger over being kept in the dark came like a bolt of lightning. Even as someone who used to be a powerful business leader, they almost couldn't take the news. After Newton found out about it, he was sent to a hospital
It had only been a few days since Alyssa last saw Jameson, yet he was no longer the refined, wealthy, and confident man she once knew. The air of leadership that used to radiate from him was gone.Now, the Jameson sitting across from her looked pale and worn out. His usually immaculate hair was slightly tousled, and his sharp eyes were now bloodshot.The once proud fourth son of the Schmidt family had fallen—reduced to a mere, lowly prisoner.Still, when he heard Alyssa was visiting, he made an excuse to go to the washroom. Splashing water on his face, he quickly combed his disheveled hair. His pride had been shattered years ago when he first went to Kontina, but he still wanted to appear somewhat presentable for her.Jameson's pride had vanished in that first year. From then on, the fourth son of the Schmidt family ceased to exist. All that remained was a man consumed by hatred and evil, stepping over the dead to claw his way to the top.He cleaned himself up only for Alyssa. Yes
As much as Jameson's deceit was repugnant, it was also his way of trying to keep Alyssa safe. Given Alyssa's fearless and astute nature, she might inadvertently cause a catastrophic disaster—one that would be unbearable for her."There's another thing that I can be sure of. The medication that Jasper took isn't fatal. It will not affect his physical health negatively." Jameson took a deep breath. He chuckled bitterly. "Otherwise, Sir wouldn't have suggested having you take that medication." "Me?" Alyssa widened her eyes in shock. Her face paled. "Sir will not harm you. So, the medication he gave you will not be fatal. However, he said that you will be in agonizing pain after you consume it, so…"The look on Jameson's face darkened gradually. His cuffed hands quivered slightly as if he were trying his best to suppress an intense emotion. He didn't need to continue explaining. Alyssa understood it all. "This 'Sir' asked you to have me take that medication. Although he didn't
Alyssa wasted no time, hurrying to the hospital with Sean by her side.As they drove, Sean noticed Alyssa's distressed look and felt a pang of deep concern. "Ms. Alyssa, you should really get some rest first. You're still weak, and pushing yourself like this isn't good for you!"Since returning, Sean had dropped the formal address, speaking more casually when he was anxious."I'm fine. I'm just worried about Grandpa Newton…" Alyssa closed her tear-filled eyes. Her heart was aching with sorrow. Newton's illness was a consequence of his heartache over his grandson Jasper, who lay unconscious from his injuries, and Alyssa, who had been like a granddaughter to Newton, was the one responsible for the situation.…When Alyssa arrived at the hospital, her suit was drenched in a cold sweat, and her legs felt like they were walking on clouds.Ben was already waiting outside the door to the hospital ward. "I'm sorry for being late, Mr. Gorham," Alyssa choked as tears welled up in her e
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