Alyssa's eyes widened in shock. Her heart skipped a beat. Her gaze bore deeply into Jasper's. Her captivating eyes seemed to blaze with fiery flames. Her expression was almost overwhelming.Even a man as commanding as Jasper couldn't help but flicker his eyes as if trying to avoid her intense gaze.After a moment, Alyssa smiled. There was a distant look in her eyes. It was as if she were emotionally detached or lost in thought, creating a sense of unfamiliarity between them."So, Mr. Beckett, you rushed here only to vent your anger on your dear wife? It seems like you've been holding it in for so long that you might explode on the spot if you don't release it now."Jasper had pushed himself to the limit. Alyssa had poured her heart into her relationship with Jasper for the past three years. She didn't expect him to cherish any memory of her goodness. His continuous use of derogatory language to degrade her was crossing the line!Moreover, Alyssa had moved on and no longer be
"Yes, but I'm ..." Alyssa tugged him hard, signaling Sean to shut up. Sean quickly caught on and kept quiet."Well, Jonah didn't spare any expense when he assigned his most trusted secretary to you, Alice," Jasper sneered. "He must think highly of you. Congratulations, you're about to marry into another wealthy family. You fooled me completely, and now it's Jonah's turn. I hope he never sees your true colors."The words cut through Alyssa's heart like sharp blades, and Jasper didn't stop there. He seemed intent on further unsettling her.Sean immediately noticed Alyssa's unsteady breathing and her trembling shoulders in his arms. What baffled Sean were Jasper's words. Was Jasper out of his mind? What nonsense was he spouting?"Sean, allow me to introduce you," Alyssa said. Her voice was steady despite the turmoil inside her. "This is Mr. Beckett from Beckett Group, my ex-husband of three years.""What?" Sean was utterly shocked, his face turning as white as a sheet. He couldn't be
Alyssa wasn't in the mood to go to the hotel. She decided to head home. Sean remained silent for a long time. Finally, he asked, "Ms. Alyssa, does Jasper still not know that you are the heiress of the Taylor family?""Yeah," Alyssa replied softly, looking melancholic.Sean understood. No wonder she asked for a stand-in when Jasper visited her last time."Sean, I didn't mean to keep it from you ...""I understand," Sean interrupted.Alyssa raised her brows in astonishment."Who wants to dredge up heartache? Naturally, I prefer to keep it locked away, never to be touched again. I was just concerned about you. I worried Mr. Taylor would feel heartbroken and upset if he ever found out," Sean continued. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as his eyes glistened with moisture.Alyssa was the center of the family's universe, beloved by all. But to her dismay, she had been mistreated by that despicable scoundrel, Jasper. If Winston were to find out, he'd probably be so furious t
Jasper recalled the disappointment and resentment in Alice's eyes as if they were sworn enemies. He suddenly felt empty inside, like he had lost someone important. Rosie followed Jasper into the study looking upset, not long after. "Mr. Jasper, Ms. Gardner is here. You should go greet her." "I'm not going." His answer took Rosie aback. Had he finally grown a backbone? It was so inspiring to see a fool turn over a new leaf. "I know why she's here." Jasper slumped down on the chair. He stared ahead blankly and continued, "Tell her that she shouldn't even bother if it's about Dylan. The Gardner family must be in a mess right now. She should go back and spend more time with her parents. I'll meet her in a few days after things have settled down." "What if she insists on staying?" Rosie asked. "Then, let her be." Jasper sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead. He kept thinking of the phrase "Good for nothing." He was infuriated by Alice's description of him as such. She had neve
Rosie was taken aback. She couldn't believe Jasper didn't see through the cunning girl's pathetic act. He was indeed a fool.At this moment, Jasper picked up a black umbrella. His face was calm as he pushed the door open."Hey! Mr. Jasper!" Rosie anxiously called out.Jasper continued to walk out with the umbrella. Rosie was so frustrated she stomped her foot. Outside the door, Liana sat helplessly in the rain, unable to hold on any longer. But as soon as she saw Jasper walking toward her, she became overjoyed. She turned on her charm and pitifully wept as she collapsed forward.Jasper's eyebrows furrowed. He walked up to her. He held the umbrella over her while using the other hand to forcefully lift her from the ground. His demeanor was firm and adamant, so she could not break free even if she wanted to."Jasper ..." Liana murmured, then threw herself into his embrace.Just moments ago, she seemed frail. But now, she miraculously revived in his presence. She wrapped her arms
"Useless!" Andrew coughed painfully, pointing at her and scolding, "Since you got close to Jasper, have you ever done anything useful for our family? We've been struggling for years. Yet, you haven't gained any share of the family's wealth or even gained the Beckett family favor! I don't believe Jasper loves you. Having a daughter is just a waste of money! You're utterly useless!"Liana's eyes turned bloodshot with intense resentment. Andrew had always favored sons over daughters. He'd even forced Rosaline to abort her when he learned she was carrying a girl. The doctor said she would have issues conceiving again after the abortion. Liana only survived under Rosaline's persistence.Rosaline couldn't conceive again after giving birth to her. That deepened Andrew's disgust toward her. Liana grew up under the shadow of her older brother and tried to win Sophia's favor to gain attention. She lost her childlike innocence at a young age, learning manipulative tactics to secure a better
The Gardner Group faced a crisis as the public questioned their products and credentials.Netizens are clamoring to boycott their products. Over 400 out of their 500 nationwide stores have closed in less than a week. The remaining few barely survived. They resorted to flash sales. They rather sell at a loss than keep the remaining inventory.Andrew, already physically weak, fell seriously ill as he watched the substantial daily losses. Rosaline visited her sister to ask for help. But Sophia was afraid to intervene and could only watch from the sidelines."Newton Beckett has issued a final ultimatum. He will ruin anyone who helps the Gardner Group. Sophia, I'm part of the family, and it's tough to say how bitter I feel about this situation."Sophia sighed, comforting her sister by holding her hand in her palm. "Although the Beckett family can't help, I have asked Javier to pick a date for Liana and Jasper as soon as possible. How about scheduling it on the first weekend after Gran
Sean grinned. "Miss, you're truly wise. I've been monitoring the Gardner family these past few days, and I have indeed found some progress.Alyssa smiled. "As expected, without Jasper's help, the Gardner family can only find ways to raise money to cover their losses. But I thought they would sell their houses and land. I didn't expect them to sell only their jewelry. "Hmm, it seems they can still afford it with their vast fortune. Burning their last bit of money slowly so they could hold out as long as they could. It is more satisfying to see them suffer than dealing them one direct blow."Sean coldly snorted. "This is karma for the Gardner family!"Alyssa didn't say anything more. She casually flipped through the pawnshop records.Hardly anyone knew that the Taylor family owned two large, well-established pawnshops in Cassadia and Bellbanks. Since Winston liked collecting antiques, and rare treasures, he secretly opened these pawnshops to acquire the unexpected and precious item
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