Jameson halted in his tracks and squinted when he heard the icy voice from behind. Yawning, he turned around and questioned, "Josh, what's the matter? It's late, and I'd like to rest.""Jimmy, you put on a good show. Isn't it killing two birds with one stone?" Josh commented as he took a few steps closer, examining Jameson with a sharp gaze."Huh?" Jameson tilted his head, feigning ignorance.Cutting to the chase, Josh accused, "You set up David's car accident, didn't you?"Jameson still acted like he was confused. "What?"Seeing through Jameson's act, Josh continued, "You sent your men to screw up David's car, but you didn't want him dead, just crippled. "Then, you offered a solution to Dad by introducing Ms. Alyssa to him, which earned you cookie points. You proved yourself capable of sharing his worries. Bravo, Jimmy! That was some slick move."Jameson adjusted his glasses and lifted his chin. He erupted into a series of laughter that echoed in the corridor, sending goosebum
Victor, worried about David, called Winston that night to make sure that Winston and Alyssa were at home. The following day, he went to the Taylors' residence at Belbanks with Jameson.Upon arrival, he immediately wailed without a care for his image, "Oh, Winston! You have to save our poor David!"Winston and Mandy welcomed him at the door. Winston secretly chuckled at Victor's disheveled look. After a lifetime of competition between them, Victor had finally given up."What's wrong, Victor?" Mandy was surprised to see Victor in such distress.Victor, rushing toward them, accidentally tripped on a rock. He fell to his knees in front of the couple, grimacing from the pain in his hand. Winston and Mandy were left speechless by the unexpected scene.Suppressing a snicker, Jameson helped Victor up. Then, he asked, "Dad, are you hurt anywhere?"Victor truly loved David. Without even worrying about his appearance, he grabbed Winston and explained, "Winston, David got into a serious car
David remained in a coma. In reality, he was awake, but the doctor had opted to keep him sedated to shield him from potential emotional distress.An hour elapsed, and Alyssa emerged from the room, flanked by the hospital director and two medical professors. She wore a somber expression.Victor hurried over and inquired, "Lyse, how's David?"The other family members, the secretaries, and the bodyguards surrounded the medical team as well.Frowning, Alyssa hesitated before delivering the grim news, "Uncle Victor, the situation is not optimistic. David has a severe fracture that's challenging to mend. The chances of successful healing are close to none, and there's only a 20 percent probability of him ever walking again."The Schmidt family seemed devastated by the revelation. If not for Josh and Daisy supporting Victor, he might have collapsed.Only Jameson leaned against a corner of the wall out of everyone's vision and grinned."Ms. Alyssa, please save my brother's legs, even if
The Schmidts exchanged funny looks with each other, suspecting a relationship between Alyssa and Jameson, given their intimate behavior.However, given Jameson's standing in the family, he was not an ideal match for Alyssa."I'm okay," Alyssa replied, steadying her breath before struggling to free herself from Jameson's arms.She refused to cause any misunderstanding under the many watchful eyes. Jameson awkwardly froze and clutched his fingers stiffly.Victor rushed to the scene at that moment, followed by his staff. He inquired, "Lyse, how's the situation?"She wiped away the sweat on her forehead and sighed helplessly. "Uncle Victor, I tried my best, but I only saved his left leg because his injuries were too severe.""W-What about the other leg?""It has to be amputated," she dropped a bomb that nearly caused Victor to faint.He mustered, "It's … It's alright. I know you gave your best. I'm grateful that you managed to save one of his legs."Alyssa revealed in honesty, "By
The air in the spacious corridor hung heavy.Jasper was stung by the sight of Alyssa leaning weakly in Jameson's arms. Tears welled up in his eyes. Jasper thought that Alyssa's relationship with Jameson developed speedily during his absence. Feeling bitter, he stared at his feet and tightened his grip on Newton's wheelchair handle.Jameson did not flinch at Newton and Jasper's presence. He addressed Alyssa with affection and concern, "Lyse, you've just completed a difficult surgery. You're exhausted and need rest. I'll send you home."Alyssa, however, brushed aside his concern and approached Newton with a worried expression. Kneeling, she gently held Newton's wrinkled hand. "Grandpa, why are you at the hospital? Do you feel unwell?"Jasper pursed his lips after he was ignored by Alyssa. She seemed only to have eyes for Jameson."I'm fine. It's just a heart issue. It flared up, so Jasper insisted on sending me to the hospital at night," Newton explained while looking at Alyssa lo
Zoe enthusiastically leaned toward Newton and assured him, "Jasper and I will stay by your side tonight. I'll be here for as long as you stay."Hearing this, Jasper scowled. Alyssa noticed his expression. Unlike others, Jasper was unreserved in expressing his dislikes. With a quick temper and low emotional intelligence, he relied on capability rather than diplomacy for business deals.She remembered that he always scowled at her when they were married. Was he upset at Zoe?She looked away, refusing to pay him any attention. Even if he was unhappy with Zoe now, he must have been welcoming toward her when she knocked on his hotel room door on the night of the scandal."Ms. Zoe, I have undergone the checkups. It's not a huge issue at all. I can be discharged now," Newton replied. He always addressed Landon by his first name, but with Zoe, he stuck to "Ms. Zoe", seemingly keeping a distance between them.He teased, "If you stay by my side when I'm at the hospital, I might never get
Newton added, "Tomorrow, I'll get this little punk to make all three meals for you. He'll prepare a bath for you tonight. Ben is on leave for the next two days, so Jasper will take over all the housework."Jasper pressed his lips as his brows twitched in surprise. Managing household tasks was one thing, but entrusting him with cooking? Was Newton being a bit too callous about his health and safety?"Grandpa, I …" Alyssa began, her voice trailing off in hesitation.Just as she was trying to come up with a way to excuse herself, Jameson approached them calmly and flashed a warm and gentlemanly smile at Newton. Jameson said, "Mr. Beckett Senior, I'm afraid Lyse won't be joining you tonight.""Why?" Newton asked, his brow furrowed.Jameson sighed deeply, casting a sympathetic glance at Alyssa's fatigued expression. "Lyse has just performed a ten-hour surgery on my brother, David. She's utterly exhausted, almost fainting after completing the surgery.""What?" Newton leaned forward i
Those words from Victor seemed to carry a hint of sarcasm that likely didn't escape anyone in the room.Victor had long found out about Alyssa's divorce, with Jasper being her ex-husband. At that time, he showed his contempt, referring to her as a "gem in the rough" with strong disapproval.Entering into marriage with the Beckett family was already quite ridiculous. Marrying the illegitimate son, Jasper, served to diminish her social standing even more. He believed that his son, even if it were someone like Jameson, would be a far superior option compared to Jasper."Uncle Victor, are you thirsty? Shall I make you some tea?" Alyssa felt uneasy hearing this. She was aware of Victor's closeness to Winston, but such remarks about Newton were crossing the line."Lyse, I'm not thirsty! Plus, I haven't praised you enough!" Victor showed no restraint.Speechless, Alyssa couldn't find the words to respond.Zoe's intense dislike for Alyssa was evident in her darkened expression and
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