Alice White stared at the divorce papers on the table and realized that her husband had already signed them. Then, she looked toward the window. Jasper Beckett's upright figure reflected in her watery eyes. He looked charming under the afternoon sun but also cold and domineering. Even from behind, he radiated aloofness. "I've signed it. You should also hurry and sign it. I want to finish all the legal procedures before Lia returns." Jasper had his hands clasped behind him and didn't turn to look at her."We've already agreed on the assets before marriage, so there won't be any issues with that. However, I will compensate you with another 20 million and a villa on the outskirts. After all, you'd be leaving without anything else. It'd be hard for me to explain that to Grandpa later if you do." Alice was stunned and upset. "Does … does Grandpa know you're divorcing me?" "So what if he knows? Do you think it'll affect my decision?" After hearing that, Alice felt faint and grasp
Liana was the niece of Jasper's father's current wife, so she got along well with the family during dinner. In contrast, Jasper was the only one with a frown and no appetite. Alice had left with Jonah and taken nothing with her, including the 20 million and the villa. "Where's Alice? Why isn't she joining us for dinner?" Jasper's father, Javier Beckett, asked."We're divorced. The papers are already signed. We will go through the procedures soon and get the divorce certificate." Jasper looked down as he answered.Shocked, Javier asked, "Divorce? Why?" "Javier, I told you Jasper and Alice aren't a good match. Still, your father forced them to get married." His wife, Sophia Kirkman, couldn't help but sigh."She's suffered a lot during these three years. It's a good thing for them both that she's finally let go. Now, they can live their own lives. You know that Jasper has always been in love with Lia." "Jasper, marriage isn't child's play. Moreover, she …""Dad, we've signed t
The Heightsnew Villa in Belbanks was home to the Taylor family. The Rolls-Royce stopped on the red carpet leading to the door of the building. Silas came out to welcome his sister and opened the car door for her."Welcome back, princess!" Alyssa's delicate face looked even more stunning under the dazzling lights. When she got in the car, she had changed from sneakers to heels. Therefore, she now looked elegant, like a queen. "How have you guys been, Silas?""Great. It's even better now that you're back. Did you enjoy the fireworks? My birthday gift for you attracted the whole city's attention. It was even trending on social media!" Silas' handsome face was filled with excitement. "Yes. I saw it. The people were guessing if it was a tycoon trying to romance his wife, and some even said you were corny. Congratulations on unlocking a new achievement, Silas." Alyssa smiled and clapped her hands. Silas ignored her sarcasm and excitedly hugged her. "Lyse, you won't leave us again
Five days later, Jasper called his secretary, Xavier Hall, to his office. "How is the investigation on Alice White going?"Jasper looked out from the floor-to-ceiling windows at Solana City. His tall, upright figure projected an overbearing silhouette. "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Beckett. There isn't any progress," Xavier nervously reported."After Madam Alice left that night, she didn't return to the sanatorium where she worked. I even went to her address only to find out that it was fake. There weren't any families with the last name White in that area.""The address is fake?" Jasper was shocked. He finally turned to look at Xavier, his gaze oppressive."Yes. I went to the local police station to check things out, but there is no such person." Xavier had addressed her as Madam Alice for three years. It was hard for him to change this habit. Jasper was stunned. Who did he marry? Was she a spy? "She left with Jonah Taylor that night. There's nothing related to him?""To be honest, i
That was how she heard the executives talking behind her back. "How dare they say that! You're the Taylor family's only daughter, and the daughter of the first wife. Are they out of their minds?" Alyssa's secretary, Sean Lynch, was furious. "Come on. That mindset is old-fashioned. Who cares about whether I'm the first wife's daughter? I don't care, so why should you bother?" Alyssa narrowed her eyes and pinched Sean's face. Instantly, the young secretary blushed."Alyssa, you're the future president of KS Group. Can you at least act with dignity? Don't tease Sean." Jonah frowned slightly. "What's the matter? Big bosses are allowed to tease their female secretaries. Why can't a female boss touch her male secretary's face?" Alyssa snickered. "It's his honor to be touched by me!"Jonah shook his head, his eyes showing only love and tenderness.Soon, the executives surrounded Jonah and Alyssa. Michael Grant, one of the VPs, took them to the VIP elevator, but Alyssa said, "I want t
Alyssa was shocked to see the name on Jonah's phone. "Should I answer it?" Jonah asked."Yes!" He slowly answered the call and put it on speaker, but he was in no hurry to speak. "Mr. Jonah, are you with my wife?" Jasper asked in a hoarse voice.Alyssa found his words incendiary and became furious in an instant. "Mr. Jasper, please mind your words. I'm your ex-wife.""Alice White, I knew you'd be with him." Jasper's tone was deep. "Should I be waiting at your house to be kicked out, then?"On the other end of the call, Jasper's expression turned dark. "I advise you not to be in such a hurry. We haven't completed the procedures, and the divorce certificate hasn't been issued. You're still legally my wife. Please be mindful of the Becketts' reputation as if it's your own.""You took Liana Gardner to Seaview Manor and forced me to sign the papers. Jasper Beckett, did you care for my reputation when you did that?" Alyssa sneered, then continued, "One-sided courtesy doesn't mea
Inside the ward, the sickly Newton instantly saw a lift in spirits upon seeing Alyssa. "Alice, come over here!"In the next second, Alyssa changed her persona and obediently stood beside Newton. "Grandpa, how are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?""Even if it hurts, I feel cured after seeing you." Newton pulled her hand and asked worriedly, "Alice, this bastard told me you guys are divorced. Is that true?""Yes. Grandpa, we're divorced." Alyssa's eyelashes trembled, and her heart felt empty."You blind bastard! You have such a great wife, yet you don't know how to appreciate her." Newton expended all his strength to get up and glared at Jasper.Jasper was worried about Newton's condition and dared not speak rashly."Grandpa, don't be mad at him. I don't want to continue this marriage. I think it's better for us to break up." Alyssa gently comforted him and patted his back.Jasper's eyes narrowed as he thought, "She's not complaining to my grandfather or using him to vent her a
"Liana? Are you okay?" Sophia was shocked, but she also wanted to laugh. Jasper quickly walked over to pull her up from the ground, but she refused to move."Jasper, it hurts. Carry me." Liana's knees felt numb, and she cried while whining. Seeing this, Alyssa crossed her arms and looked at the woman on the ground. She was really a fake bitch, making her a good match for Jasper, who was blind to her tricks. "Jasper … Alice pushed me!" Liana hid in the man's arms and glared at Alyssa viciously. "Lia, what are you talking about?" He was taken aback."Are you sure I pushed you?" Alyssa wasn't angry. Instead, she laughed and watched Liana's act."Could I have fallen to the ground by myself, then?" Liana was so angry that her gentle voice was a pitch higher."It's possible. After all, you look so weak you could die anytime. Maybe a breeze made you fall.""You … Are you jinxing me?" Liana's face was red from anger. "You clearly pushed me when I walked over. What, don't you dare
Even without Jasper's presence, he was confident that the Taylors and the rescue team would have been able to save Alyssa. It became clear what the person manipulating Remy had been aiming for.But why had Remy let Jasper go at that crucial moment? Had he experienced a sudden change of heart? Or was he, in fact, Alyssa's brother, Damien?Jasper's mind filled with all kinds of thoughts. Before he could dwell too deeply, there was a knock at the door. Xavier hurried over to open it, freezing in shock when he saw who stood outside. "Mr. Winston?"Winston was leaning on Silas for support, his expression grim. "Mr. Beckett is in there, isn't he? May I have a word with him?" Xavier quickly stepped aside, gesturing for Winston and Silas to enter.When he saw the elder he respected standing at the door, Jasper struggled to rise from the bed despite his exhaustion. "Mr. Winston…" "You are wounded. Stay put!" Winston insisted, swiftly moving forward to gently press Jasper back down
"Next time? There won't be a next time."Tears flowed down Alyssa's face, soaking Jasper's shirt with each drop. Her voice was quiet but steady, carrying the weight of her heartache. "Jasper… I'm drained. Sometimes, I think it might be better if you just forgot about me. It would be easier than this. Every time I let myself hope, all I get in return is disappointment."Jasper's chest tightened as her calm words pierced through him. Waves of emotion surged inside him, and a lump rose painfully in his throat.…It was fortunate that Jasper had found Alyssa in time to administer first aid. After rushing her to the ER, she slipped into unconsciousness. That being said, she was extremely lucky to have escaped death. Nevertheless, she needed to remain in the ICU for further observation. Aside from treating her frostbite, the doctors needed to assess whether her internal organs or brain had been affected.With the severity of Alyssa's condition, Sean couldn't keep the truth from Winsto
"Jas…"Alyssa looked at Jasper with an unfocused gaze. Her breaths were shallow, and she was slipping in and out of consciousness. Mentally, she was confused. "Yes, it's me—Jasper!"Jasper's heart clenched as he saw the color drain from her face. Her body trembled uncontrollably, fragile as a leaf caught in the wind. She resembled the kitten he had saved as a child—frozen and alone in the alley that bitter winter night. A deep sorrow flooded his chest."Jas… per…" Alyssa murmured his name, her voice strained, her tongue numb from the cold.A faint, mocking smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "It seems… like I am about… to freeze to death… How could he be here… He will not come back… He doesn't want me anymore…" Alyssa's vision blurred as her eyelids grew heavy. She began to lean, her body sagging to one side."Alyssa! Stay awake!" Jasper's heart was pierced, the pain unbearable as he saw the denial in her eyes. He forced himself to pu
Elias frowned deeply; his worry etched onto his face. "We've been shouting Ms. Alyssa's name the whole way. With so many of us calling out, she should've heard us by now if she were nearby!"In a deep voice, Jasper said, "The wind is too strong, and then there's the heavy snowfall. Our voices are being drowned out. Lyse might not hear us at all."Lyse. Her nickname slipped from his lips before he even realized it."I'm just afraid she's injured—or worse, fainted. If she blacks out in this cold…" Elias trailed off, his voice heavy with dread. "On a day like this, she won't survive long. She'll freeze to death."The group exchanged uneasy glances, the reality of his words tightening their chests.It wasn't that Elias was being a doomsayer. Rather, this was the cruel reality that might actually happen. Crater Mountain claimed lives every year. Danger lurked unpredictably in the woods on the mountain—anything could unfold."Let's split up," Jasper commanded, his eyes fixed on t
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