The screen showed a string of numbers instead of a name. Jasper had always had two numbers, one for personal use and one for work. She remembered them both very well. He would only use his personal phone to call her privately, so this time was a bit unusual. Alyssa's heart tightened, and she answered the call, slowly placing the phone to her ear, but remained silent. "Lyse!" Jasper's voice was hoarse and unrecognizable. Alyssa didn't reply. She kept her lips tightly sealed. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. "Lyse, please believe me, I've been set up by someone!" Jasper knew it wasn't easy to get her to answer the call, so he didn't waste time and got to the point. "This is a complex setup. Zoe couldn't have done it alone. Someone must be backing her!"And the bait set by the other party wasn't Zoe. It was you!"Alyssa, with her eyes cast down, spoke slowly. "Let's meet at the City Center Amusement Park near KS World in half an hour."If she hadn't answered Jonah's call
"Well, that makes things easier." Jameson smiled faintly and added, "You did a big favor for me tonight. Thanks for your hard work." "Mr. Schmidt, please don't say that. I owe my life to you, and I'm willing to do anything for you," Amber said softly, full of affection. Jameson's tone was stern, "I'll send you a plane ticket and some money. You can go and enjoy yourself for a while. If you need more, just let Todd know, and he'll send it to you." Amber's breath caught, and she became anxious. "Thank you, Mr. Schmidt. Are you sending me away?" "Jasper fell for our trap. He won't let it slide. He'll start an investigation right away. He's not foolish, but Ms. Alyssa has thrown him off this time."To avoid unnecessary trouble, you should lay low for now. Todd will temporarily handle things on The Millennium's side.""But …""Listen to me." Jameson's voice turned cold suddenly. Amber's throat tightened as she muttered, "Yes, Mr. Schmidt."…Alyssa got to the park first becau
Jasper's eyes were red as he took a step forward. His warm and shaky breath brushed against Alyssa's red nose as he reached out to hug her."Don't touch me!"Suddenly, Alyssa, like a hedgehog with raised spines, stepped back and threw the ice cream she was holding directly onto his shirt."Lyse, I'm telling the truth!"Jasper's arms hung in the air, torn between wanting to approach her and fearing her resentment. He was in such a tangle that he was on the brink of madness. Jasper exclaimed, "I called you so many times tonight, but you didn't answer! I thought something had happened to you, and I've been worried about you all night!"Alyssa was startled. So many times? When did he even call?Was he making things up? Alyssa didn't receive any calls. Jasper was a liar—a liar who didn't even make the effort to craft a believable lie!"I received photos from an anonymous number. They showed you being embraced by a stranger, entering a hotel together! I was worried for your sa
"Jameson Schmidt!""Mr. Beckett, instead of accusing me without evidence, why don't you consider how you'll explain yourself to the Harpers? How do you plan to clarify this with your friend, Landon Harper?"Ms. Harper is unmarried. Given recent events, I believe marriage might be on the horizon for you." Jameson smiled."Jimmy, quit it. Let's go," Alyssa suggested. She felt a stabbing pain in her heart and had the urge to flee the scene. She needed to get away from Jasper—as far as possible.As they turned to leave, Jasper persisted, "Were you with Jameson the entire night?""Yes," she said coldly, her back turned toward him."Alyssa, is he more important to you than me?" Jasper trembled despite trying to control his emotions."Jasper, what's the point of asking that now?" She chuckled, her eyes dimmed. "To be blunt, you've dug your own grave. I was lying to myself. Let's call it quits now—I beg you."With that, they vanished from his teary vision. Alyssa did not turn back at a
"Lyse, what's wrong?" Jameson noted the change in Alyssa's expression and asked with concern.She stated, "I've never blocked Jasper on my phone. Why is his contact in my blocked list?" Her piercing gaze landed on Jameson's innocent face."Lyse …""Did you do that?" She cut to the chase. "I did not contact anyone except for you tonight. Jasper claimed that he called me throughout the night but couldn't reach me because his number was blocked."Jameson balled his fists on his knee. There was a glint in his eyes.She squinted at him and recalled, "I remember that I left my phone when I used the restroom at the restaurant. Did you take the chance to block his number?""Lyse, are you suspecting me now?" Jameson stared at her with innocent-looking bright eyes."I am not suspecting you. I am merely stating the truth," Alyssa countered harshly.Jameson felt a weight on his chest that nearly crushed him. He began, "Lyse, I shouldn't have touched your phone, but I didn't want him interr
Alyssa knitted her brows as she grappled with the mixed emotions. She argued, "I'm not worth risking your life for. You should cut your losses now."Cut his losses?Rage filled Jameson's eyes as he clenched his fists against the car window. Her words were more humiliating and hurtful than a simple "I do not love you."She continued, "Everyone is deserving of love. I don't want to see you end up like me."…Jasper returned to his car well past midnight. Xavier purchased a cup of hot coffee from the 24-hour mart across the park. When he handed the coffee to Jasper, he noticed that Jasper's hands were too frozen to grip the cup properly.Feeling sorry for Jasper, Xavier increased the heat in the car and draped Jasper in his jacket. Then, he placed the coffee in Jasper's hands.He suggested, "Mr. Beckett, there's a hospital nearby. Let's see a doctor. Your hands are cracking from the cold.""How did he do it?" Jasper stared at his phone and pondered icily.Xavier was surprised. "W
The online buzz surrounding Zoe and Jasper's "rendezvous" continued to escalate. Both the Beckett Group and the Harper Group PR teams worked tirelessly to mitigate the controversy. Still, the widespread dissemination of videos and photos made it difficult to quell the public discussion.Even if they managed to take relevant hashtags off the trending topics, they couldn't stop people from discussing it.Penelope dropped her phone in shock and slipped down the stairs when she saw the trending topics. Thankfully, she was near the landing and merely stumbled a few steps down. Still, she suffered from a sprained ankle and hurt her head.Landon was badly shocked by his mom's injuries and sent her to the hospital overnight.Penelope, while on an IV drip, held Landon's hands tightly and sobbed. "Landon, what do we do? Zoe is only 22. How is she going to live her life with this stain? What can I say to your grandpa and your dad?"Then, she cried hysterically. Landon swallowed hard and sat
Cornelius lived separately from his sons, just like Newton. He lived in a massive manor slightly smaller than the Seaview Manor, but it was still considered one of the top ten manors in the nation.The scandal had spread across the family. Even the domestic staff would gossip about Zoe in their pastime.Furthermore, the silence from Jasper and the Beckett Group created an impression that Zoe was nothing more than a discarded plaything after a night of fun and passion. Her reputation as a Harper lay in ruins."Hey, is Ms. Zoe around?" The maids huddled together to gossip. "She's in Mr. Cornelius' study, crying as if someone died.""What's the point of crying? She should have behaved better as a Harper—protecting her reputation is a priority. She's now involved with Mr. Beckett and wasn't even fully dressed in the photos. Any distinguished family would care about their reputation. No one would want a woman like her.""Perhaps Mr. Beckett would want to marry her. They must have had
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