The winter wind howled outside. In contrast, Jasper's room was a tranquil and cozy haven.His bed and Alyssa's were next to each other. Despite the distance between the beds, he considered it as sharing a bed with her.Xavier had slyly moved Alyssa's bed closer to Jasper's, and it was too late for her to protest, as Xavier and the other movers had already left. She couldn't move her bed on her own, and Jasper was too feeble to be of any help.She lay on the bed and closed her eyes, her breathing calm. Meanwhile, Jasper was in his own bed, taking in the scent that wafted from her hair. The scent tempted him, and even the mundane ceiling in his room seemed to have transformed into a starlit sky.His palms were drenched, and his fingers shakily inched toward Alyssa.Her voice suddenly rang in the silence. "Behave yourself."His fingers froze in the middle.She threatened, "If you don't, you'll regret it."Jasper sweated profusely and managed a bitter smile.After what felt like
Feeling sorry, Sean apologized, "I'm sorry, Ms. Alyssa. I didn't take good care of Ms. Tatiana. I accept any punishment.""L-Lyse, don't! Sean has been busy enough. He tried his best to look after me well, so please don't punish him!" Tatiana pleaded with a pale face, worried that Sean might get into trouble because of her."Hmph. There's no denying that he's at fault. Sean, your punishment is to bring Taty out tonight and have the best dinner in Belbanks. You need to bring her to her favorite dessert place, too. Do not come home until it's late at night. Got it?" Alyssa instructed him, looking stern.Tatiana was taken aback by Alyssa's orders. She mumbled, "L-Lyse …"Sean's heart skipped a beat as he stared at Tatiana through his tears. He said, "Ms. Tatiana, please bear with me tonight."Tatiana was, in fact, overjoyed at the private date with Sean, but she had some reservations."Taty, don't worry about it. I'm at home to take care of everything. You deserve a break after your
Mandy trembled at the thought of even asking for Axel's help, knowing that Axel was resentful toward her and the entire Taylor family.Despite Mandy's sacrifices and true love for Winston and her stepchildren, Axel had stubbornly perceived her as a homewrecker. Without Mandy opening the polygamous floodgate, Winston wouldn't have gone on to marry Lyla and Colene.Axel probably wondered if Winston would have stayed monogamous had it not been for Mandy's presence.As Winston's second wife, she bore the brunt of criticisms and prejudices more than the other two wives.Mandy replied to Alyssa, "I'll get this done right away. I'm calling Julien now."She always attended to Alyssa's concerns promptly. She dialed Julien's number, and soon, they heard Julien's surprisingly youthful voice from the other end. He greeted, "Aunt Mandy, I've missed you!""Julien, have you been busy lately? You didn't call me at all. Did you have too much fun and forget about me?" Mandy teased him."Gosh, no!
"Did you know who else received the heart transplant instead of their daughter? It went to the Solana City mayor's son! The poor girl left the world after much suffering because she couldn't wait for the next donor," lamented Julien. Even Alyssa felt heartbroken upon hearing the story. As a doctor, she empathized with Julien.Mandy replied, "Julien, I understand what you feel, but—""Aunt Mandy, I will never provide any treatment to high officials or tycoons. Since they are filthy rich and powerful, I believe they can get any doctor they want. I'm just a hot-tempered doctor who might even harm their life if I ever treat them. You should ask Mr. Beckett to hire another doctor."Mandy gaped. Before she could say a word, Julien hung up."Lyse, I'm sorry. Even his parents can't do anything about him, not to mention me," Mandy sighed.Alyssa felt her chest tightened. She pressed her lips and comforted Mandy, "Don't blame yourself for that. It's not your fault. You tried your best. I'
Axel chuckled amusedly. "That's because Julien Lovelace is gay."Alyssa had goosebumps from the revelation. Axel advised her, "You'll need to get a man to seduce him. He doesn't get hard for women."Then, he grinned wickedly. "Hey, why don't you get Silas to do the job for you? He's got broad shoulders and a nice ass. I bet he's considered a ten in the gay community. That Lovelace guy will definitely thirst for Silas!"Alyssa snickered. Was this the first time Axel had ever complimented Silas?…Half a month later, Jasper was discharged from the hospital. Newton picked him up on that day, keeping a low profile to avoid media attention.In the car, Newton held Jasper's hand tightly and stared intently at Jasper's head, causing Jasper to shiver.Curious, Jasper asked, "Grandpa, what's wrong with my head?""You look good in a military haircut," Newton remarked, caressing his head."That was my hairstyle throughout the military school. They called me the 'hot guy,'" Jasper sai
Jasper's eyes widened. He was utterly confused. "What do you mean? She's no longer working here?""The day before, the hotel management received an official update about Ms. Alyssa's transfer to KS Group headquarters. She has officially left her role as the hotel manager, and she'll take up a new role once she reports to HQ.""What about the hotel?""A senior personnel from KS World's overseas branch will be transferred here to take over the manager role in Solana City," Avery informed Jasper. Avery was reminded of Alyssa's busy schedule and the unforgettable memories of their time working together. She smiled at Jasper and recounted, "Ms. Alyssa produced great results within a year of managing the hotel. She's brought us back on track, motivated the employees, and achieved the highest sales record in ten years."Mr. Taylor is extremely pleased with her work. The transfer did not come as a surprise at all. She should develop her career in a better environment. Working in the ho
Jonah subtly nodded at Alyssa, accompanying it with a warm smile as he extended his hand. "Lyse.""Coming!" Alyssa responded, gracefully stepping out of the car in her sleek black YSL heels. The swaying of her black skirt revealed the fair complexion of her slender legs, a captivating sight for anyone.She placed her hand in Jonah's palm and alighted the car.The two senior executives greeted her, "Good afternoon, Ms. Alyssa!"Acknowledging them with a nod, Alyssa replied, "You must have waited for a while. It's cold out here. Let's head in."When the siblings showed up in public, everyone marveled at their good looks.Someone gasped, "Wow, Ms. Alyssa looks more stunning than on TV!""Absolutely. Even with the handsome Mr. Jonah by her side, I can't help but focus on her. She's so pretty that anyone would instantly fall in love with her."People who had previously complained about Alyssa were now praising her upon seeing her, well before she had even started working. She was, u
"I heard from Winston that Lyse is starting work at KS Group. Which department and role will she undertake? Since I have some time today, shall I give her a tour?" Dominic offered.Alyssa and Jonah exchanged glances in the face of Dominic's enthusiasm. Jonah replied flatly, "We'll have to wait for Dad's further instructions. I'm sure he will assign Lyse a suitable role to make use of her talent. We'll update you when we get the news.""Oh, of course! Sounds good. I'll wait for the good news, Lyse!" Then, Dominic thought of something and smiled at Lyse. "By the way, Renee sent you a gift when she heard you're joining KS Group. She's got it delivered to your office. Go check it out!"Renee Taylor was Dominic's only child and Alyssa's cousin. The two had not met for a while, and they didn't exactly share a good relationship.Alyssa flashed a smile in amusement. "Is it? That's thoughtful of her."The group made their way to Alyssa's new office. When they were near, Sean pointed at 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
A first-rate Wiktorian mansion was located in a secluded and quiet area on the East Side. It was Justin's private residence. Outsiders were unaware of its existence. Sheryl arrived in the early hours of the morning, rushing to report to Justin, only to bump into Remy, who exuded an unmistakable air of coldness. His eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn't slept in days. A menacing vibe surrounded him, and his eyes burned with feral intensity. Sheryl felt unsettled and longed to flee his presence."You're like a ghoul," she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes before knocking on the door to enter Justin's study.Remy remained expressionless in the face of her contemptuous remark. He followed her into the room. In his classically-decorated study, Justin sat in his wheelchair, idly toying with a colorful cockatiel in its gilded cage.Jameson once possessed an exquisite, costly cockatiel at The Millenium. A devoted follower of Justin, the former idolized the latter, mimicking
Alyssa released Jasper's hand and quickly opened the car door. "Mr. Beckett, see you there, rain or shine." The warmth of her touch left his fingers as she withdrew. Jasper instinctively curled his fingers inward, his mouth parting to say something—anything—but hesitation held him back.Without waiting for his response, Alyssa slipped out of the car and disappeared into the night without a backward glance. It wasn't until she was fully gone that he whispered in a low, hoarse voice, "See you there, rain or shine." …When Alyssa returned to the parking lot, Sean was standing worriedly beside the car, waiting for her. Seeing her approach, eyes glistening with unshed tears, he knew she had just seen Jasper. A dull ache tugged at his heart, and he was certain their conversation had been anything but pleasant."Ms. Alyssa," he began softly, "I know you're relentless in everything you pursue. But some things in life… they just can't be forced. Sometimes, letting go can be its own k
Xavier was confused. He caught the tie bar in his hands and asked, "What's this, Mr. Beckett?" Jasper closed his eyes to rest. He tugged at his tie knot but still felt suffocated."It was from Sheryl," he answered. Xavier let out a cry. "This filthy thing is from that wild woman? I don't want it!" With a disgusted look on his face, Xavier hurled the tie bar aside. "I'm already seeing someone. I don't want my girlfriend to misunderstand me." "Girlfriend?" "Yeah, Mr. Beckett. Maggie is my girlfriend." With his eyes closed, Jasper frowned. "She's become of age?" Xavier didn't know how he should react. "She's already in university, Mr. Beckett. Am I that much of an animal in your eyes?" Suddenly, the memory of himself and Alyssa rescuing Maggie flashed through Jasper's mind. Just then, Xavier exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Beckett, look!" Jasper opened his eyes slowly, and his heart jolted. Standing alone before his car was Alyssa, framed against the piercing headlights,
Alyssa balled her hands into fists as she pressed them against the faux rock. All her focus was now directed onto Sheryl instead of Jasper. At this moment, Sheryl picked up the tie bar from its box. While Jasper was distracted, she clipped it onto his tie. Jasper was taken aback. He quickly stepped back, but Sheryl was quicker, and the tie bar was clipped on. "Mr. Jasper, it suits you really well." Sheryl's eyes were captivating, and her voice was sultry. If she were speaking with any other man, they would be easily captivated by her. "It looks like I made the right choice." Jasper's eyes dimmed. Yet, out of courtesy and because Sheryl worked for Justin, he did not react in any way that would put her in a difficult spot. Alyssa's eyes reflected a deep sorrow as she watched them, her gaze carrying the silent desolation of a snowstorm beginning to overtake her heart. Even so, she forced herself to stay rational. She pulled out her cell phone, wanting to record Sheryl's ever
Jasper stumbled into the hotel's back garden and stopped by the pond. He panted hard, feeling as if he were drowning. Even so, he could not return to his usual composure. As he shook all over, he bent down and grabbed a handful of snow. The bone-piercing cold spread through his body, but he still couldn't suppress the throbbing pain in his temples. His eyes became bloodshot. He stuffed that handful of snow into his mouth and swallowed all of it. He couldn't suppress it. He couldn't suppress it at all.The pills. He needed those pills! "Mr. Jasper? What are you doing here?" Sheryl's surprised voice came from behind Jasper.He held his breath, his fingers tightening around the snow in his grasp, veins bulging as he clenched his fists. Slowly, he straightened his back and turned to face her. "I came out for some fresh air," he answered in an extremely hoarse voice. Sheryl narrowed her eyes and studied him. "Mr. Jasper, you look awful. Are you feeling unwell?" "I'm fine." A
When Justin and Alyssa stepped into the banquet hall together, another uproar swept through the hall. Everyone focused their astonished gazes on the pair. "I'm not dreaming, am I? The one accompanying Alyssa isn't Mr. Jasper, but another man?" "That man has such a confident air about him. His looks and bearing are comparable to Mr. Jasper's!" "Ms. Alyssa has so many brothers in the Taylor family. Could it be one of her brothers whom we have never seen?" "Justin!" Javier was pumped up in an instant. Beaming, he strutted to the front of Justin and Alyssa. Justin? The room fell silent as the crowd exchanged confused glances."Hey, Dad." Justin smiled, his eyes looking clear and bright. Alyssa was a daughter from a wealthy aristocratic family. Although she and Javier used to be on bad terms, she still attended the Beckett family's event. She politely greeted Javier. "Mr. Javier, my father is resting up at home and is unable to make it. So, he got me to come especially to