"Consuming or injecting large doses of drugs can damage the brain's amygdala. That's likely why Mr. Beckett ended up like this. Right now, it seems to be the only explanation."Alyssa was utterly shocked. Her voice cracked as she muttered, "Could it be that what Jameson forced Jasper to take was some kind of drug?" Mandy couldn't believe her ears. "Didn't he only take three pills? How could they have caused such serious damage?" "A small dose of a drug can make someone feel euphoric, but large doses can feel worse than death."Joseph lowered his eyes and sighed. "There are many addicts who've died after injecting substances into themselves. If the pills Mr. Beckett took were highly pure drugs, three of them could very well be fatal."Alyssa felt a sharp pain in her chest. Anxiety washed over her, and sweat formed on her forehead. "Will... Will Jasper show any side effects?""I can't say for sure without knowing exactly what he took," Joseph replied. "But addicts who stop using
Jasper discreetly clenched his trembling hands into fists under the table. With a dim look in his eyes, he answered Sheryl, "I'm fine. What brings you here, Dr. Gillis?" Sheryl smiled warmly. "Mr. Jasper, have you forgotten? Mr. Javier instructed me to stay by your side and keep a close watch on your health whenever I have time." "Even so, don't you know what the most basic manners are?" Deep down, Xavier rolled his eyes. "Even if you wanted to look after Mr. Jasper's health, the president's office isn't a place you can barge into just as you wish. Dr. Gillis, are you as impolite as this before Mr. Justin too?" Sheryl wasn't offended. Instead, she lifted her lips into a smile. "Every field of work is different. Mr. Hall, you're only saying this because you've never been in this field. So, I don't blame you. "But, if Mr. Jasper's condition were to flare up while there was no one around him to tend to him, would you be responsible if anything bad happened to him?" Xavier burned
"Please thank Justin on my behalf." Jasper looked at Sheryl with an emotionless gaze. "I will take the medications. I've got work to do, so you may go ahead and take your leave, Dr. Gillis." "I shall not take up any more of your time, Mr. Jasper. Contact me promptly if you feel unwell in any way." Upon saying that, Sheryl turned and walked to the door. "Xavier, I will attend the charity event on the weekend," Jasper informed in a deep voice. Xavier was overjoyed. "Got it, Mr. Beckett. I will make the necessary arrangements shortly!" Sheryl's eyes briefly lit up before they narrowed. Then, she strutted away. The moment the door was closed, Jasper picked up the pills. With a frosty look on his face, he tossed them into the trash can. "Mr. Beckett, have you come to your senses?" Xavier was so close to bursting into happy tears. He had thought that Jasper had already been blinded by that cunning fox!"It's true that Justin saved me. But that doesn't mean I'd have to accept e
Even though Justin was fully capable of operating his wheelchair, two young and adorable boys still helped with pushing him toward Alyssa. "Mr. Justin, I didn't expect to see you here." Although Alyssa responded politely with a smile, an observant person could tell that her smile was forced. "I didn't think you would attend an event like today's." Justin lifted his elegant and bright face. He chuckled and asked, "Were you disappointed to see me?" Alyssa's heart trembled. She posed an obvious question. "What is there to be disappointed about?" "Logically speaking, Jasper should be the one to attend the charity events. I am not Beckett Group's president. So, in order to avoid having too many speculations going around out there, I won't be attending tonight's charity dinner. I will simply give them my best wishes." With an understanding smile on his face, Justin explained in a tender voice, "Even though you didn't get to meet Jasper here, you will be able to see him when you
Jasper also spotted Alyssa, who was in Justin's presence. A beautiful and harmonious scene like this had also once appeared in his monochromatic memories. He had once watched her play and laugh. As time passed, another man had already taken his place by her side. He had been the one who had initiated the breakup. He said he didn't want her to waste her time on him. He was also the one who had asked her to choose a good man for herself. Nevertheless, when he saw Justin's interest in Alyssa and how happy they were together, an explicable taste of bitterness rose at the back of his throat. Jasper clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his hands bulging. It felt like a bee had stung him on the tongue, the prickling, numbing sensation spreading through his body. Distracted by his own emotions, he barely noticed when a few snowflakes brushed against his sculpted face."Oh no. Watch out, both of you!" Suddenly, a large clump of snow fell from the branches above Jasper's and S
At this very moment, an angel and a devil were locked in a heated debate in Alyssa's mind. "Alyssa, did you see what that jerk did? He's just a fickle-minded asshole who hasn't changed his ways. Just give up on him soonest. Don't stoop so low!" "Lyse, you must not give up on him! Jasper only changed because of his brain injury. It's not that he wants to ignore you. Don't let your mind wander!" "Heck, stop making excuses for this asshole's behavior. Even if he doesn't love Lyse anymore, he still has memories from when they were deeply in love, right? But he's pushing all those memories aside, spending his time with another woman instead. He's heartless!""That's not a valid argument. Are they not allowed to break up just because they once had something? And memories? Memories don't hold any real weight!"Memories didn't carry any weight. It was a frigid day. Alyssa suddenly came to a halt, letting the icy wind whip against her frail body and dry the tears from her eyes. All
Justin gently laid Alyssa down on the back seat of his car.Moments later, Sean came running, out of breath. "Ms. Alyssa, are you alright?" Alyssa forced a smile despite her conflicting emotions. "Don't worry. I'm fine." Justin, not allowing Alyssa to downplay the situation, spoke up matter-of-factly, "She was almost hit by a truck. She fell on the same leg she had injured in the previous car accident. I'm taking her to the hospital to make sure she didn't aggravate the old injury.""How did that happen?" Guilt washed over Sean. "Ms. Alyssa, it was my bad. I failed to protect you!"Alyssa shook her head. "It's not your fault, Sean. Everything happened so fast."Turning to Justin, she said, "Thank you for saving me, Justin, but I don't want to trouble you. My secretary can take me to the hospital."Before Justin could respond, his expression suddenly changed. He grabbed the car door for support as his body swayed.Alyssa and Sean were both staggered. "Mr. Justin!" At that
Although Amber had accompanied Jameson to Mosgravia on several occasions to visit "Sir", she had never actually laid eyes on him. The only time she had caught a fleeting sound of his voice was by chance. It was brief but distinctly captivating, leaving a lasting impression on her."Miss, Miss… You're hurting me," the boy mumbled, lifting his head weakly and drawing Amber's attention back to the moment. Amber realized that she had zoned out. Anxiously, she led the children away from Justin. "It's that woman again." With a condescending expression on Sheryl's face, she continued, "She's really strange. She gets so hostile whenever she sees me." Justin narrowed his eyes slightly as he turned toward where Amber went. "You've met her before?" Sheryl scoffed, "I only happened to see her when Jasper and I got here. Seeing Jasper chatting with a woman he didn't know surprised me. Ha! Could it be that those three pills he took awakened the playboy within him?" "Oh? What did Jaspe
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
Sheryl's eyes lit up. "And what might that reason be?"Justin's lips curved into a faint smirk, his voice calm yet carrying a cold, ethereal tone. "Besides Ms. Alyssa, there's another woman who holds great significance to Jasper. She's the only one who can compel him to act without hesitation." Remy, usually a man of few words, abruptly spoke up. "Is she the one you've mentioned before? The woman who saved Jasper on the battlefield?""After Jasper retired from the military, he was plagued by PTSD. He came back shattered, dispirited, even on the brink of taking his own life."During that time, I often spoke with him over the phone, urging him to hold on, to keep living. I reminded him that if I could endure this half-disabled existence, then surely, he could find a reason to go on."Justin's tone was leisurely, as though recounting something insignificant. He continued, "I told him that if he were gone, what would become of Beckett Group? More than that, he would leave Dad and G