Alyssa and Miley heard Colene's muffled shouts from the horse's back, followed by a chorus of laughter.Speechless, Alyssa said, "Well, I don't mind, as long as Colene's happy."Miley slowly sat on the couch and looked hesitant to speak. Alyssa sat by her side and took her arm. "Miley, you must have something to discuss with me when you knock on my door this late. Is it related to Jameson?""I remember he visited our home when he was younger. You seemed close to him," Miley said flatly."Yes. We were classmates in elementary school," Alyssa reminisced. "I fended off the class bullies for him, and he started sticking around me because he was grateful."I didn't have many friends in the class due to my family background. Since everyone kept their distance, I had no choice but to be friends with Jameson."To be honest, it was a happy time in my childhood. Later, Jameson went to Kontina with his mom, and we lost contact for 15 years.""So, he's practically a stranger after all these
The doors of the three cars opened simultaneously. Zoe and Penelope disembarked from their respective vehicles, followed by the gray-haired Cornelius, dressed in an opulent black fur coat. Holding a walking stick with a golden eagle carving, he exited the car with Zoe's help, looking stern."Dad, be careful," Penelope cautioned while approaching him.Cornelius let out a heavy sigh at the sight of the Becketts' gate. "Jasper did not show up at all when you visited the Becketts to discuss marriage. Is that right?"She bit her lips and nodded shamefully. "Yes.""You're useless."Zoe silently pouted, seemingly unhappy at her mom as well.Penelope explained fearfully, "You know Jasper's character well. Even Javier can't force him to do anything against his will. Sophia, as his stepmother, is of no use at all."Ever since Penelope's husband's passing, Landon had been the pillar of support for their small family. Without Landon, Cornelius would have looked down on Penelope even more.
Javier and Sophia were home at Seaview Manor. He was checking the news on his phone with a sour expression.Despite enlisting the top PR team in the nation to handle the scandal between Jasper and Zoe, online discussions showed no signs of abating. As the president of the Beckett Group, Jasper's reluctance to make a public appearance or issue a statement only fueled speculations, tarnishing his reputation.Meanwhile, Sophia sat at the dresser, applying hair care products to the long locks she had invested time and money in over the years. Back in the day when she slept with Javier to advance her career, Javier loved caressing her smooth and silky hair during their intimacy."Come here, Javier," she commanded, turning around to gesture at him."What's the matter?" Javier replied, never once looking away from his phone."Come over. Touch my hair. I've been taking good care of them every day for you," she purred with a seductive twinkle in her eyes. "Touch it and let me know if i
Sophia sneered, remarking, "Jasper deeply wounded Alyssa when they divorced. And his relationship with Zoe is questionable."Considering Alyssa's intolerant and strong-willed personality, is it possible for her to accept Jasper? It might be beyond what she finds acceptable."Javier's expression grew serious at the mention of the probability that Alyssa might find the situation beyond acceptance. But before he could speak, a knock on the door interrupted.Following that, Barry's anxious voice came through. "Mr. Javier, Madam Sophia, the Harpers are here.""Just say I'm not here," Javier answered without hesitation while frowning."Mr. Javier, Harper Group's chairman, Mr. Cornelius, came along as well. Are you sure you don't want to meet him?"Suddenly, Javier's heart sank."You see that, Javier?"With her arms crossed, Sophia smiled nonchalantly. "Until Jasper and Zoe's marriage is settled, our family won't have a peaceful day. Even Cornelius is here. If this continues, it won't
Jasper casually placed his left hand in his pocket on the white marble-carved spiral staircase. His tailored gray suit outlined his figure as he descended the stairs elegantly.Zoe stared at his handsome face and forgot to cry, half-opening her mouth in astonishment.Jasper was truly the fantasy of all women.Zoe was willing to lose her dignity and shame just to cling to him. She felt that she didn't make the wrong move.No matter what, she must obtain him."Mr. Jasper, what do you mean by that? You bullied my granddaughter, but now it has become her fault?" Cornelius's gaze was sharp as he questioned coldly.Jasper smirked. "You've understood. There's no need for me to repeat it and embarrass your granddaughter again, don't you think?"His words left everyone in shock.What did he mean by that?Did something happen during that night they spent together?Instantly, Zoe's face turned pale. She hid in Cornelius's arms and bit her lip, afraid to make a sound."Y-You!"Being of
At that moment, Jasper found himself to be laughable. He had thought that, despite Zoe's bad behavior, there should still be a trace of innocence in her. After all, she was his best friend's only sister.However, he had misjudged her. Her relationship with Landon was only by blood, and Zoe was nothing like Landon in other aspects.She had already been corrupted, perhaps even inherently bad from the beginning. The only reason Jasper had seen the good in her was the fact that she was Landon's sister.Since that was the case, he didn't need to show mercy for the sake of his best friend."Zoe! What nonsense are you talking about? Getting hit by a car? If something happens to you, how can I continue living?" Penelope pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her tears."Zoe is my only granddaughter, my precious jewel! She has been raised with the utmost care since childhood. She had never suffered any hardship."She cursed herself just to prove her innocence to you. This shows that every
"Madam Penelope, you may not be aware of our family situation. Despite being a servant, Mrs. Rosie holds a high position in our family."Sophia started sarcastically, taunting Rosie. "She doesn't even respect us as the hosts of this house, let alone you as guests.""Sophia, you know very well why Mrs. Rosie holds such a high position."Jasper walked to Rosie's side and positioned himself before her, acting like a shield. His gaze turned frosty as he glared at Sophia, causing her to shudder."After my mother passed away, Mrs. Rosie has been with me, taking care of me like her son. In my eyes, she's as important as my mother.""Mr. Jasper." Rosie was moved, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes."And I've already said it. In Seaview Manor, Rosie only takes care of my daily life. She's not your servant. Isn't it normal for her not to listen to you?"At his words, people couldn't help but snicker.After all, in Seaview Manor, Rosie's popularity surpassed that of Sophia and he
At this point, everyone knew that Jasper had someone in his heart, and that particular someone was their former madam.Why did Alyssa suddenly appear now? What was she here for?Did she hear about the Harper family pressuring Jasper into marriage, so she came to save him?Alyssa wore a tight black dress draped with a stylish black velvet shrug. Her hair swayed down to her waist, and her red lips were vivid. She looked cool and elegant.Two initially contradictory qualities harmonized perfectly in her. She was truly astonishing.She exerted such pressure on Zoe with a single assured glance that the latter couldn't lift her head.Upon seeing Alyssa's sudden appearance, Penelope quickly pressed on her tightened chest.When she recalled Alyssa's deeds, she felt that even their entire family joining forces might not be enough to compete with her. Penelope's not-so-healthy heart couldn't take it."Grandpa, she's the one I mentioned to you, Alyssa," Zoe urgently whispered to Cornelius
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
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