On the other hand, Axel had already taken care of the two foreigners, including the group of weak bodyguards.He beat them up and locked them in the restroom of a private room, hanging a sign outside that said, "Do Not Disturb".They were all too weak for him, not even enough to warm up.Since Axel couldn't afford to create too much commotion, he quickly ended the fight. After all, he was in Solana City and not abroad. He had to be cautious, given his status.After leaving the nightclub, Axel received a call from Silas."It's all settled, Silas. You can relax and enjoy some alone time with your girlfriend. They won't bother you again," he said, yawning."She's not my girlfriend. Stop talking nonsense!" Silas sounded annoyed, with a hint of frustration."Tsk, tsk, do you think I'm dumb or blind? The guy who cares less about everything suddenly turns into a hero tonight. The girl knows your name and even threw herself into your arms. You two are obviously more than friends."Axel
When Rose heard that, her tense heart finally eased a bit.After years of companionship, Alyssa was no longer just the mentor who brought her a glimmer of hope in adversity. She was not only a friend but also a family. Rose didn't want to make Alyssa worry or cause her trouble.Just then, Rose's phone rang.She glanced at the screen, and her eyes darkened. As she clenched the phone, her knuckles turned white.Seeing her mood turn low, Silas tactfully exited the room and closed the door.However, he lingered nearby, eavesdropping on the conversation.He knew it wasn't the best thing to do, but for some reason, he felt a strong desire to care for her.Besides, he could tell that, from the nightclub onward, Rose hadn't told him a single truth, no matter how he asked. As a prosecutor for many years, he had developed sharp insight. So, her guarded thoughts were transparent to him.In the room, Rose hesitated for a while before reluctantly answering the call."Dad.""What happened
"I won't go back, and I won't meet with them tomorrow either! Do you know that I was almost—" Rose choked down her sobs at this point.There was a sudden silence on the other end.After a while, there was a change in George's attitude. His tone softened, but his words were more cutting."Rose, I know you're in a difficult situation. But at the moment, our family is facing difficulties. As a daughter of the Emerson family, sacrificing a bit for the family is reasonable, isn't it?"Your sister is about to be engaged to the second son of the Dalton family in Northuis. She has sacrificed a lot for our family, too."Rose's eyes turned crimson instantly as she asked word by word, "Did you know that those two men had evil intentions toward me from the beginning? Is that so?"George remained silent."You knew everything and still let me meet them. Is this how you put your daughter in danger?" Rose cried out in anger and frustration, tears streaming down her face.Silas didn't catch all
Rose's sudden cardiac arrest was no small matter. Silas took her to the hospital and notified Alyssa to come and visit.He knew his little sister's temperament. Keeping this a secret any longer would lead her to disown him as her brother.Early the next morning, Alyssa and Sean rushed back from Belbanks to the hospital where Rose was hospitalized in Solana City."Silas, what happened? How could Rose have a heart attack?" Alyssa was in distress, tears swirling in her eyes."The doctor said Rose has a weak constitution and a heart condition, but it's not too severe."A heart condition?Alyssa shivered, and Sean hurriedly supported her trembling figure.She felt awful for Rose.Not only was Rose her apprentice, but she was also her best friend. Yet she didn't even know about her physical condition.What a disappointment she was in her role as a mentor!Recalling Rose and her family's phone call last night, Silas clenched his fists silently.His voice was hoarse as he explained,
In the ward, Rose weakly leaned against the bedside, hooked up to an IV. The morning sunlight spilled onto her pallid face, creating a beauty that made others feel bad for her."Rose," Alyssa softly called her name, her eyes reddened.For a moment, she couldn't believe that the frail woman before her was the same carefree and cheerful apprentice she knew."Madam?" Stunned, Rose quickly pulled her needled hand under the blanket."What happened?"Alyssa sat by the bed and gently held Rose's hand, asking with concern, "How did it come to this? Who bullied you?"Rose bit her lip and remained silent."Tell me quickly. I'll stand up for you.""I was just dizzy from low blood sugar. It's nothing serious.""Even now, you won't tell the truth? Do you not know you have a heart condition? How long do you plan on keeping it from me?"Alyssa was so frustrated that her face was flushed, and she tightened her grip on Rose's hand. "Silas told me you received a call last night. After that c
Alyssa exclaimed, "What?"Alyssa abruptly stood up from her chair, staring at Silas in disbelief. "Illegitimate daughter? The Emerson family's illegitimate daughter?""So it's understandable that she hid her background from you." Looking at Rose's background check, Silas felt uneasy for some reason.Compared to those who openly expressed their sadness and misfortune, he felt more sympathetic toward Rose, who kept everything inside."Rose is such a fool." Alyssa felt as though her heart was cut with a knife, making it hard for her to breathe."The two foreign men Rose drank with last night are high-level executives from a foreign construction company. They're involved in business dealings with the Emerson family."Considering Rose's conversation with her father last night, it seems like the Emerson family arranged everything.""This is outrageous! Did they actually make their own daughter drink with clients for business? George, that heartless scum, is he out of his mind?"Aly
George would probably have regretted it if he had known that he was talking to Winston's second son, Alyssa's second brother. He might even wish he were dead."You don't need to talk so arrogantly here. If you dare to have any ideas about Rose again, you'll see me deal with you." Silas tilted his jaw slightly, smirking coldly.In terms of arrogance, who could be more arrogant than someone from the Taylor family?"You—" George was furious. He roared, "Who the hell are you?"Silas swallowed and somehow had the courage to put his hand around Rose's slender shoulder, pulling her into his arms.Caught off guard, Rose didn't dare to move, and her heart was in turmoil."I'm Rose's boyfriend."After saying that, Silas directly hung up the phone, not giving George a chance to retort.The ward suddenly became very quiet.Both Silas and Rose remained silent."Uh, don't get me wrong. I was caught up in the moment just now." Silas quickly tried to cover for his unintentional words."I di
At exactly 7:00 pm, after the business conference, all the big shots and elite figures of Solana City rushed to Berenike Hotel to attend the cocktail party.Alyssa sped in her black Bugatti, with Julien tightly gripping the door handle on the passenger side. He stared straight ahead, not daring to say a word throughout the journey.He was afraid that saying too much would make him throw up last night's dinner.Finally, when they arrived at the hotel, Alyssa executed a beautiful and precise drift, smoothly parking in the designated spot."Get out." Alyssa unbuckled her seatbelt.Julien didn't move. His face was as pale as paper.Noticing no response from him, Alyssa blinked and waved her hand in front of him. "Hey, what's wrong? Petrified?""I ... want ... to ... vomit." Julien's face turned purple, and he was not doing well at all.Alyssa yelled, directly kicking him out of the car. "If you need to vomit, do it outside, not in my car!"The moment the car door opened, Julien st
"Jas…"Alyssa looked at Jasper with an unfocused gaze. Her breaths were shallow, and she was slipping in and out of consciousness. Mentally, she was confused. "Yes, it's me—Jasper!"Jasper's heart clenched as he saw the color drain from her face. Her body trembled uncontrollably, fragile as a leaf caught in the wind. She resembled the kitten he had saved as a child—frozen and alone in the alley that bitter winter night. A deep sorrow flooded his chest."Jas… per…" Alyssa murmured his name, her voice strained, her tongue numb from the cold.A faint, mocking smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "It seems… like I am about… to freeze to death… How could he be here… He will not come back… He doesn't want me anymore…" Alyssa's vision blurred as her eyelids grew heavy. She began to lean, her body sagging to one side."Alyssa! Stay awake!" Jasper's heart was pierced, the pain unbearable as he saw the denial in her eyes. He forced himself to pu
Elias frowned deeply; his worry etched onto his face. "We've been shouting Ms. Alyssa's name the whole way. With so many of us calling out, she should've heard us by now if she were nearby!"In a deep voice, Jasper said, "The wind is too strong, and then there's the heavy snowfall. Our voices are being drowned out. Lyse might not hear us at all."Lyse. Her nickname slipped from his lips before he even realized it."I'm just afraid she's injured—or worse, fainted. If she blacks out in this cold…" Elias trailed off, his voice heavy with dread. "On a day like this, she won't survive long. She'll freeze to death."The group exchanged uneasy glances, the reality of his words tightening their chests.It wasn't that Elias was being a doomsayer. Rather, this was the cruel reality that might actually happen. Crater Mountain claimed lives every year. Danger lurked unpredictably in the woods on the mountain—anything could unfold."Let's split up," Jasper commanded, his eyes fixed on t
The snow was falling heavily, and the chilling winds howled through the night.Remy had no car, so he trudged through the snow alone, each step more exhausting than the last.His thoughts were consumed with Alyssa—was she still alive? In danger? And Jasper's unrelenting resolve to reach her, even after being shot and drenched in blood.Remy pressed his calloused, trembling hand to his chest. His heart hammered in his ribcage erratically.A sharp, searing pain shot through his temples, blurring his vision. He collapsed to his knees in the snow, his body racked with agony. The pain surged deep within him, and his eyes felt like they were going to burst from their sockets. It was unbearable.His breath came in ragged gasps. His hands scrambled for the necklace hanging from his neck—inside it was a hidden medicine box.Justin had told him that the medication in there could calm him down and relieve him of any pain. It would be able to save his life. But in his desperate haste, the
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