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
A black Maybach was parked at the back entrance of the orphanage, its lights off and engine idling.Soon, a figure emerged from the back door, hurriedly approaching and entering the car."Sorry for keeping you waiting, Ms. Gillis," the woman apologized respectfully. Sheryl sat in the car with an air of arrogance, and her legs crossed in a relaxed manner. She handed a brown envelope to the woman. "Good work this morning," Sheryl remarked. The woman took the envelope from Sheryl and had a feel of its thickness. She smiled from ear to ear. "All that needed to be done was to cut a brake cable. It was no trouble at all." Sheryl couldn't be bothered to even glance at the woman she deemed inferior. Her expression remained cold as she spoke. "By the way, have you looked into all the volunteers and the teachers at the orphanage like I asked?""I have," the woman replied confidently. "I've been here for about a decade. It was a breeze." She pulled out a stack of documents from her bag
Jasper remained silent. His hands balled into tight fists at his sides, trembling ever so lightly as a dark expression settled over his face. After a moment of silence, Justin offered a casual smile, ignoring the tension on Jasper's face as he moved past him. "Justin, I've always respected you since I was young." Jasper's voice broke the silence, hoarse and strained, with his back turned to Justin. "There are things I can compromise on, but some matters, I can't."Justin, his back still facing Jasper, narrowed his eyes and asked, "Such as?""My need to see her now." A fierce determination lit Jasper's darkened eyes. "Justin, I won't deny your feelings for her. It's none of my business. But you have no right to stop me from seeing her either."If you and Ms. Alyssa are officially together, I'll never go near her again. You won't even need to say a word. I'll give you both my blessings and wish you a happy life together."As Jasper said "happy life", his throat tightened, and a b
One minute later, Sean came back out of the room. His expression was conflicted as he looked at Jasper. "Ms. Alyssa doesn't want to see you. Please leave." Jasper balled his hands into fists. "Why?" Sean sniggered coldly. "Why? Maybe because she's finally woken up. She doesn't want to make the same mistake twice or lose her dignity by chasing after a man who gives her nothing but indifference."Jasper's face paled, and he fell silent. Sean's heart ached as he remembered all the suffering Alyssa had endured recently. His eyes welled with unshed tears.Struggling to suppress his anger, Sean said, "Mr. Beckett, Ms. Alyssa is completely exhausted. Since she doesn't want to see you, please just leave. Don't bother her anymore."…In the study at Seaview Manor, Sheryl laid out all her findings for Justin without holding back."I have reason to believe that the woman named Clara Whitaker is actually Jameson's substitute for Alyssa—Amber Altman!" Sheryl watched Justin, who was sit
The moment Alyssa's eyes met Jasper's, her heart skipped a beat. Her thoughts tangled in a whirlwind, like a ball of yarn unraveled in haste. How long had he been waiting there? Had he been here all night?She couldn't tear her gaze away from his captivating, reddened eyes. Tears threatened to spill, and her heart ached. And just then, she was reminded of the scene at the orphanage the day before—how Jasper had held Sheryl tightly in his arms under that tree.Alyssa's frail body trembled. She shifted her gaze away from his face, feeling a tightness in her throat.In this life, she had faced some incredibly trying times.During her time with Doctors Without Borders, she endured some of her harshest moments—starvation, freezing cold, and over ten days without a shower. Yet, even in those circumstances, she never felt completely defeated. But now, in front of Jasper, she was on the verge of breaking down.Just as she was about to shut the door, Jasper shot to his feet and char
Tears welled up in Alyssa's eyes as she wrinkled her nose slightly and pushed her luck. "A friend? Lover? Ex-lover? Or… someone who's unable to move on?" Jasper's eyes were as dark as the night sky. "I don't know." Alyssa stared at the cold, emotionless man before her, overwhelmed with helplessness. No words could describe the disappointment she felt. "You've seen me now. You may leave." To her surprise, in the next second, Jasper shoved the door open without warning. As he had exerted too much force, Alyssa stumbled and let out a small gasp as she fell backward. In an instant, Jasper lunged forward, wrapping a muscular arm around her waist and pulling her close. Their bodies pressed together, so close she could feel his warmth, their breaths mingling in the space between them.Jasper could even see, with much clarity, those tiny pores on Alyssa's supple skin. "L-Let go of me…" Alyssa's heart raced as she squirmed in his grip. Jasper's grip on her waist was unrelenting,
The moment Jasper's lips touched Alyssa's, an overwhelming wave of emotions surged through his chest and rushed to his head. He pinned Alyssa's supple body to the bed, kissing her clumsily and forcefully. Her eyes shimmered with tears.At first, she struggled slightly, gasping for air. But soon, she surrendered to the kiss she had longed for, lifting her hips and grabbing onto Jasper's shirt as she kissed him back.Their breaths intertwined, creating a beautiful harmony. Jasper's gaze deepened as he looked into her moist eyes and at her delicate nose, which, at its tip, was flushed a rosy pink. That night, they lingered in a breathless kiss. Suddenly, the sound of a ringing phone pierced the moment. Jasper's and Alyssa's eyes flew open as though jolted awake from a dream. At the same time, an immense pain shot through Jasper's head and spread throughout his body.He pulled away from the kiss and dashed out of the hospital ward without looking back. Alyssa trembled as she kne
"Amber, thank you for sharing such crucial information with me. If Justin is this so-called Sir, I have even more reason not to distance myself from him."On the contrary, I should go with the flow and get closer to him. It's the only way to expose his true colors and uncover his schemes." "No, don't!" Amber's unease was palpable. "Sir is extremely dangerous. After years of following him, even Jameson has only seen 10% of his capabilities. There could be someone even more powerful backing him from the shadows."And with Mr. Jasper in his current state, he won't be able to protect you like he used to. If Justin sets his sights on you, wouldn't it make it harder for you and Mr. Jasper to repair your relationship?"Upon hearing that, Alyssa held her breath. Agony surged like waves in her heart. "Lyse, I know you're a righteous person. You're a heroine among us women, better than many men. But you're not invincible. There are challenges you can't face alone, and you need protection
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