"Ah, my chronic illness has flared up again. It's not a big deal." Newton comforted Alyssa by caressing her head. His face was a shade of sickly grey.Her chest tightened at the sight. She held his right hand and checked his pulse. A moment later, she addressed him sternly, "Grandpa, I will visit you weekly to perform acupuncture. I'll give you a new prescription. You shouldn't slack on taking your meds. I'll get Mr. Gorham to keep a tab on you.""Alice, things are different now. You're Winston's beloved daughter. How could I trouble you? "I heard from Jasper that you are running the Taylor Group's hotel business as well. That must be very stressful for you. You don't have to travel back and forth. Mr. Gorham will take care of me." Newton longed to see Alyssa but worried that the traveling might tire her.She was surprised that Jasper would discuss her with Newton. Jasper had been neglectful and dismissive in the past, but he started thinking about her after the divorce. How ridic
"Wow!" There was a collective gasp from the audience, followed by an even more thunderous applause.Landon was taken aback by the announcement and shot Jasper a worrisome gaze. Jasper stood frozen with a cold expression, as though he'd turn anyone to ice upon touch. Worse, a spotlight traveled across the audience and hit Jasper like a ruthless mockery. It further highlighted his lifeless face."Lia and Jasper are childhood sweethearts. They've been through a lot to finally settle down. The Beckett family is happy at the news, and we'd like to share the joy with everyone here!"Sophia grasped Liana's hand tightly. Her face was flushed from excitement, and her tone was animated as if she were at a wedding.Liana blushed hard like a new bride. She looked at Jasper affectionately and mistook his stiff expression for nervousness.…At the same time, Alyssa was busy making some desserts for Newton and Lauren in the kitchen when Lauren stumbled in with a pale face and waved her hands.
Liana was aware of the gossiping. Nonetheless, she lifted her chin like a graceful swan without any hint of anger.The ladies could talk as much as they wanted. At the end of the day, they would look up to her as she started her amazing new life!"Jasper, look!" Landon widened his eyes when he saw the trending topics on Twitter. He hurriedly showed his phone to Jasper.The top trending hashtag, #engagement, was an eyesore to Jasper."I'm shell-shocked." Stunned, Landon hissed in Jasper's ear, "I thought you said you'd break up with Liana? Why did your stepmom announce your engagement instead? You're even on trending topics!"Uncle Javier isn't against the engagement, it seems. What's going on? Are you still with her or not?"Jasper felt his ears buzzing. His body and fingers stiffened. Like a pulled bow, he was close to a breakdown.All of a sudden, the screen that was filled with falling pink petals switched to total darkness."Huh? What's wrong?""Is there a power cut? Or is
Daughter? Her daughter?Liana was shaking incessantly. Her temples throbbed, and her mind went blank. Once pointed out, everyone could see the resemblance between her and the little girl."That's impossible … Impossible!" she mumbled like she was put under a spell."Hah. How ridiculous!" Curtis stared at her pale face with a vile smile. "How could you call yourself a mother if you can't even identify your daughter? A poor excuse of a mother!"The audience gasped. The revelation sent a ripple of shock and unease in the crowd. Half of the audience stared at Liana, who was losing it on the stage. The other half was focused on Jasper, who clenched his jaw icily. The poor man just got cuckolded in public."Lia, what's going on?" Sophia was close to losing her composure. She tugged at Liana hard and hissed, "Who's this guy, and how did he sneak in? What's between you and him?"On the other hand, Rosaline lurched at Curtis in anger because she was terrified of being exposed. "You filt
Curtis' explosive claims dropped a bombshell at the venue."Oh my God! Is that filthy and vulgar man Liana Gardner's lover? What's wrong with her taste in men? Why would she go after that man when she has Jasper Beckett?""You might not know this, but people sometimes get tired of the good stuff and go for wild game meat instead.""How could she give birth to his child and then dream of marrying Jasper Beckett? She's so cruel! That child is her flesh and blood!""This is shocking news!""Crap … Jasper must be so ashamed of being cuckolded!"Landon put a hand in his pocket and marched over to pick up the test result from the floor amid the chaos. Frowning, he double-checked the result before bringing it to Jasper. He deliberately raised his voice and spoke clearly so that everyone around him could hear. "Jasper, the organization that issued the result, is the leading authority in the nation. The result is likely legitimate."Jasper pursed his lips and slowly closed his eyes. To
Everyone turned to Rosaline in shock. She was terribly pale. They knew that the police wouldn't make the effort to arrest her if they did not have solid evidence.The arrest basically confirmed that Rosaline had been involved in contract killing.Rosaline's ears rang at the sight of the shiny handcuffs on her wrists. Her vision went black in despair.What happened? Why did it end in this way? She had hired a reliable hitman, who was paid handsomely, to get rid of Liana's out-of-wedlock daughter. The murder even happened abroad. How did the authorities find out about it?"Rosie! Rosie!" Andrew was horrified by his wife's arrest. He ran over to stop the policemen. However, he suddenly blacked out, collapsing while grimacing and clutching his chest."Call the ambulance!" Javier frantically requested help to move Andrew to a corner.Meanwhile, Landon was dumbfounded by the situation. He gasped, "Fuck! Fuck! Bro, your ex-mother-in-law is arrested for murder! That's the juiciest goss
"Do I look pitiful, dumb, and laughable to you?" Jasper's voice was surprisingly scorched. He forced a bitter smile.Landon shook his head with seriousness. "No, Jasper. I'm your only friend and best bud. I won't laugh at you no matter what happens. It's just … a pity.""A pity?" Jasper closed his raging eyes and mentally shredded the memories of Liana at the birthday party."It's not a pity. If anything, I was blind and bad at judging her character. I deserved everything that had happened to me.""No, it's not that." Landon sighed wistfully. "I think it was a pity that you missed the chance of making your marriage work in the three years, all because of Liana. You could have been happy with Alyssa instead of turning into enemies like now. Don't you think?"Jasper froze up at the possibility of a happy life with Alyssa. He fell into a daze, replaying memories."Jasper, can we not get a divorce? It's because … I love you."A loud ringing persisted in his ears, along with a terrib
Liana and Rosaline's scandal spread like wildfire online. Jasper and Liana's engagement news was no longer the top trending topic. It was replaced by hashtags like #LianaGardnersDaughter and #RosalineKirkmanContractKilling.The footage of the dumpster fire at the party had been leaked. Liana was shown screaming hysterically in the videos. The dress slip incident and her half-naked body were captured as well in what was a ridiculous soap opera that went viral online. Liana was violently mocked and cursed in the comment sections. Netizens expressed their distaste at her decision to give up on her daughter for wealth. Some even started a petition to subject Liana's behavior to the law."She can't even tell her daughter apart after abandoning the poor kid abroad. She's worse than a dog! Even a dog takes better care of her pups.""Comparing her to a dog is an insult to dogs.""I heard Jasper Beckett ditched his ex-wife for this bitch. Damn it, he's really something.""He's love-bli
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