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
Alyssa only stayed in the hospital for two short days before returning to KS Group to oversee the company. Since Winston had stepped back due to health issues, he only offered Alyssa private advice on major decisions she had to make. Other than that, he left everything to her and refrained from interfering.The temperature had been dropping for two consecutive weeks, and snow continued to fall. Yet, Alyssa hadn't heard any news about Jasper. She had hoped that their kiss would mark a new beginning, but now it seemed more like a farewell.On this day, after a strategy meeting with KS Group's top executives, Alyssa returned to her office to review the tender proposal for the Solana City A5 real estate project. Known as Project A5, this was a significant five-year initiative backed by the government, attracting widespread attention for its immense potential.If executed well, the project would bring tremendous value and offer businessmen a gateway into the political arena, giving the
Julien paused and sighed. "That said, I feel like Jasper will choose the former—his career. A man who's reached the top in life will never let himself fall back to the bottom. Especially someone as prideful and with such high self-esteem as him.""Beckett Group is the result of Jasper's sweat and effort. I was his wife for three whole years. I know better than anyone how hard he worked to get where he is today." Alyssa shook her head in anguish. "He will never give up on Beckett Group, no matter how much it drains him.""There's no cure for drug addiction. The only way to overcome it is through sheer willpower. All I can do is help him find some relief. I'm sorry, Lyse," Julien said, his voice strained with pain."Don't say that, Jul. You've done a lot for Jasper. You've done more than enough…" Alyssa blinked, her eyes swollen. "Oh, right. Mandy and I visited Uncle Joseph the other day. He asked me to pass on a message to you. He wanted me to tell you… that he's sorry."A long si
The sky was gray as freezing rain fell in the midst of the wind and snow, making Alyssa's heart feel even heavier.An hour later, Newton's car came to a stop at a cemetery in the western suburbs. The car door opened, and Ben, holding an umbrella, helped the faltering Newton out. Newton chose not to use his wheelchair and instead walked slowly into the cemetery."Miss Alyssa, this cemetery isn't considered expensive. It's where commoners are buried. Given Mr. Beckett Senior's family background, could he possibly have friends among ordinary people?" Sean asked, watching Newton with a perplexed expression. "Who could Mr. Beckett Senior be visiting in this terrible weather? He's not even using his wheelchair. It's making me really curious."Alyssa stared out the window with a gloomy gaze. After some hesitation, she opened the door, got out, and quietly followed behind them, careful not to be noticed.After a while, she saw Newton and Ben stop in front of a gravestone. They bowed deep
As soon as Newton spoke, Esther flew into a rage, her bloodshot eyes glaring at him as she charged forward.Alyssa's heart raced, and she prepared to intervene. But before she could act, Ben stepped forward, grabbing Esther's wrists with a firm grip, preventing her from moving or harming Newton."Bastards! Demons! All of you Becketts are ruthless demons!" Esther's eyes bulged with fury as she struggled and shouted, "I won't give up! Your grandson will pay for his crime, or you can get rid of me right now!"The heated confrontation quickly attracted the attention of the cemetery's security guards. Two of them rushed over and restrained Esther, pulling her away."Mr. Newton, this is a serious issue. We can't just ignore her," Ben said, his usual tenderness replaced with a sharp, determined gaze. "If she goes out and spreads rumors, it could cause a public uproar and severely damage Beckett Group's reputation. Do you want me to take care of her?""What are you talking about?" Newton,
Axel and Amber had only spent half a month together before the former was called back to report for work. The night before his departure, they spent hours lost in each other, their passion unrelenting. Again and again, they exchanged kisses, their love pouring forth in an endless tide."Amber, three months… Just give me three more months." When their fervor finally waned, Axel held Amber close in his arms. They rested against the headboard, leaning into one another, too exhausted to move yet unwilling to let sleep claim them."Once I finish all the missions I've taken on, I'll hand in my resignation. After that, I'll spend all my time with you," Axel murmured, his voice steady with resolve. "We'll go wherever you want. If you want fun, I'll have fun with you. If you want chaos, I'll spend my life going crazy with you."Axel wasn't one for flowery words. He simply spoke from the heart. Right now, his heart only wanted Amber—forever.Amber nestled closer, her soft smile masking t
"Sir." Sheryl immediately stood and greeted Justin respectfully as he entered the room. "What are you doing here?" Justin's cold gaze swept over her as he strolled leisurely to the couch and sat down.Sheryl quickly explained, "I received a parcel for you from the administrative secretary half an hour ago. I thought it might be something important, something you wouldn't want too many people to handle. So, I waited for you to return and open it personally.""A parcel?" Justin frowned. Why would anyone send him a parcel to Beckett Group, of all places? How strange. Sheryl presented the parcel to him with both hands. He took it from her and then opened it right before her. After removing three layers of wrapping, each from outside and inside the box, the parcel turned out to contain only a plain white envelope. His expression darkened. It felt like someone was toying with him.Then, he looked down and opened the envelope, which contained a stack of photographs. Pinching a co
"Don't be so pessimistic, Jonah," Alyssa said. Perhaps having just seen Jasper and going through that heart-stopping moment made Alyssa emotional. Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "If you truly love someone, you don't need to possess him to find happiness. Isn't it enough to know he's alive, well, and living freely somewhere in this world?""You're right, Lyse." Sorrow filled Jonah's voice as he smiled bitterly. "Julien has already lost and sacrificed too much for my sake. I don't deserve to have such a good man. He'll only find true happiness by leaving me."…After Justin took over as CEO of Beckett Group, his first move was to wrest control of the A5 Project bid from Jasper's hands.Though Jasper had failed as the leader of Beckett Group, as the eldest son, it was only natural for Justin to inherit the position of power. Justin was aware of lingering opposition within the corporation. Some doubted whether he possessed the decisiveness and singular capability Jas
Sebastian understood what Alyssa wanted. There wasn't substantial proof to prove that Jasper had abused drugs in the first place. The substance found in his blood was simply supporting evidence. As long as they found the right opportunity to reveal that, it wouldn't completely exonerate him, but it could at least divert public suspicion."Okay, okay… I'll do that. I'll do everything you say!" Sebastian promised. …After emerging from the Bender residence, Landon took Zayne away to keep him under close watch and ensure Sebastian wouldn't retract his statement. Landon planned to release him only after Sebastian fulfilled Jasper and Alyssa's request."Landon, it's really nice to see you. How's Lauren doing lately?" Afraid of looking at Jasper, Alyssa had no choice but to speak with Landon."She's doing great." A tender look came across Landon's eyes at the mention of Lauren. Landon blushed and continued, "We're now trying for a baby." "Really? That's wonderful!" Alyssa was
While Alyssa spoke, Jasper remained expressionless next to her. Even so, he still couldn't help but peer at her from the corner of his eye. Others might feel that she was being too assertive and aggressive with that fierce gaze in her eyes, but for Jasper, that evoked an inexplicable feeling within him. To him, she looked even more attractive than she normally was. It was as if she gave off a captivating glow. Sebastian slumped to his knees again. Alyssa's words struck him like a ton of bricks. Still, he had already chosen the wrong side—Sheryl's side. What could he do now? He had no choice but to see it through to the end.After all, he had seen the news two days ago. Jasper was no longer the CEO of Beckett Group. He held no authority anymore. Aligning with Justin had seemed like the right decision.If he betrayed Justin and switched sides, he would surely be doomed."Mr. Jasper... Ms. Alyssa," Sebastian stammered, desperation etched into his voice. "What's the point of comin
In the living room of the Bender residence, Sebastian clung tightly to Zayne, whose bruised and battered body slumped limply on the floor. They held onto each other for warmth as they shivered. Meanwhile, Alyssa and Jasper sat on the couch, but not without leaving a massive gap between them. Once deeply in love, their current distance was a heartbreaking contrast to the intimacy they had shared. It was heartbreaking to see them like this. Alyssa took a quick peek at Jasper's cold, expressionless face before turning her dull gaze away. Her hands lightly rested on her shoulders, where his touch still lingered—a ghost of warmth that refused to fade."How dare you attack my friend?" Landon sneered, towering over Sebastian and Zayne. His black leather gloves creaked as he clenched his fists. "You wouldn't know fear if it slapped you in the face. Maybe I should teach you a lesson.""M-Mr. Harper… Everything happened so quickly. Z-Zaynie just reacted out of fear and ended up overrea
Alyssa's chest rose and fell. The tip of her nose and her eyes were red. She simply stared blankly at Jasper and couldn't say a word. Without Jasper around, she never realized that fear was an emotion that she could feel. She wasn't afraid of God or the devil. She had fought the dark and evil forces of the world with bravery. But fear overtook her when Jasper appeared just in time to shield her from danger.She wanted to cry, her heart softening. The façade of strength she had built crumbled, leaving her feeling like a fragile pebble in Jasper's hands.She had never known she could feel fear like other women, but it was only with him.Ignoring the pain in his back, Jasper held Alyssa by her trembling shoulders, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. Once he confirmed she wasn't physically hurt and was likely in shock, he exhaled in relief."M-Mister…"Wide-eyed and mouth agape, Sebastian watched Jasper appear out of nowhere. He was shaking uncontrollably, as if his soul had lef
Sebastian recognized the stunning Alyssa immediately. Alarm bells rang in his head as he stumbled back a step. "W-What are you doing here?"Everyone in Solana City knew about Alyssa and Jasper's inseparable bond. Guilt churned in Sebastian's stomach. He couldn't even meet Alyssa's bright, piercing eyes, knowing he had betrayed Jasper."Dr. Bender, please step into my car. There's something we need to discuss." Alyssa's slight smile masked the storm brewing beneath her calm exterior."There's nothing to talk about," Sebastian stammered, fumbling with his keys in a desperate attempt to escape. Turning on his heel, he headed toward his house. But Alyssa's voice cut through the tension. She sneered. "When you schemed against Mr. Jasper, you didn't just wrong him. You wronged KS Group—the company that stands behind him. You should've known I'd come for you."Sebastian froze, his back to Alyssa, trembling."You stupid bitch! What are you trying to do to my father? How dare you thre
"Cyrus, go ahead!" Alyssa leaped to her feet, her anticipation palpable."Sebastian Bender himself doesn't have any history of illegal activities, and his income records appear clean. But there's something odd about him."Alyssa pressed, "How so?" "I looked into Sebastian's assets and income sources. His son is a gambling addict and his wife is gravely ill. Despite being in a high-income bracket, his son has drained the family of nearly everything, leaving Sebastian with just a house and a car."Yet, just two days ago, Sebastian managed to pay for his wife's bone marrow transplant surgery and covered her hospitalization fees—over 500,000 dollars in total. On top of that, he cleared his son's debts of more than three million dollars owed to loan sharks."Alyssa had put the call on loudspeaker, so Sean caught every word. "That son of his is an absolute piece of trash!" Sean exclaimed, his frustration boiling over. "He'd be better off dead!"Cyrus added, "The most suspicious par