"Ms. Renee, you should know I'm your cousin's ex-husband." Jasper's profile was like a sharp blade, possessing a striking and awe-inspiring beauty.He finally took the initiative to talk to her, but it was about Alyssa."Yes, I know," Renee replied weakly."So, I think you should be mindful of your image. When Alyssa is around, it would be best if you refrain from appearing before me."However, Renee seemed to be under a spell. She misunderstood the meaning of his words. Blushing, she asked hesitantly, "Does that mean ... when she isn't around, I can—""I believe in other instances, the likelihood of our paths crossing is slim. That's why I didn't bother mentioning it. Don't read too much into it," Jasper coolly remarked, lifting his champagne and draining it in one go.Jasper's words left Renee feeling humiliated, as if she had been entirely dismissed.Over the years, she had been quite successful in the realm of love, with countless men pursuing her relentlessly. This was the
Two figures emerged from the lounge. They were Sophia's assistant and a maid. Alyssa hurriedly hid behind the pillar with Julien and peeked at them.The maid grumbled in a hushed voice, "What's wrong with Madam Sophia? She's been acting weird lately.""Right? She was fine when she arrived. But she suddenly felt cold and asked for a jacket. When I handed it to her, she scolded me for giving her a thick jacket because she felt hot," the assistant said, looking grumpy."That's not all. She's been alternating between feeling cold and hot, and her appetite has increased!" the maid added.She then checked her surroundings before cautiously whispering, "Once, I found her in the kitchen by the fridge past midnight, shoving cake in her face!""That's impossible! She doesn't take desserts to maintain her figure.""God knows? She kept stuffing her mouth with cake. I was so terrified to see that."Alyssa and Julien overheard the conversation and frowned at the same time.The maid inched cl
"Slowly, the worst side effects would show up," explained Tristan.Alyssa came to a realization. Tristan's explanation matches the accounts of the assistant and the maid.Tristan continued, "She deserved it. If you need me to, I can send her to the afterlife with one injection."The way he suggested the idea was heartless, as though life and death meant nothing much.Alyssa was speechless at Tristan's offer. He added fearlessly, "She is the one who abused the drugs in the first place. Besides, she signed an agreement and has to be partly responsible. Look, drug-related deaths are commonplace in our industry. "We will just treat it as another medical malpractice case. The worst punishment I would face is to have my license revoked and serve a two-year sentence.""There's no need to risk your future for a bitch like Sophia Kirkman. That would be a waste," Alyssa said with a sigh. "Tristan, I assure you that I will ensure your safety when you carry out my orders. This incident wi
Jasper fixed a resentful gaze on Renee, sending a shiver down her spine. Trembling, she held her breath and cautiously explained, "Mr. Beckett, I didn't mean to do anything to you. I was worried about your health."He pressed his hands on the arms of the chair to prop himself up. When he stood up, he instantly felt the world spinning around him. The burning desire had grown inside him and spread through every cell.Breathing heavily, he sweated all over. Renee couldn't help but swoon at his frail yet sexy look.Holding onto the wall, Jasper made his way out of the main hall with much difficulty. Renee wasn't about to give up and doggedly pursued him.Tonight was her chance, and she wouldn't let it slip away. If she successfully spent the night with Jasper, not even Alyssa or Zoe could stop her from marrying him.Standing in the empty corridor, she felt emboldened and threw herself at Jasper, which only validated Preston's description of her—shameless."Mr. Beckett, you can't even
"And who is she? Alyssa Taylor?" Renee demanded to know. Her competitiveness reared its head. Sweating anxiously, she pressed, "But I thought they were divorced! They wouldn't have divorced if they still had feelings for each other.""Pfft. What do you know?" Landon chuckled and looked away. "They might be divorced, but they are still interested in each other. You can never imagine the depth of Jasper's feelings for Lyse."Even if they are divorced, and even if she marries another, no one can ever replace her in Jasper's heart."Exhausted and unsteady, Renee watched them leave. After a while, she stomped indignantly and bellowed to the air, "I don't believe you! You liar! That's nonsense!"…Landon took Jasper into his car as soon as he could. On their way, he figured that Jasper wasn't drunk, just drugged.A question remained—when was he drugged? Recalling the waiter carrying a tray with glasses of champagne, Landon noted how Renee had randomly picked two glasses. How could
Upon hearing Landon's words, Alyssa's first guess was a PTSD episode."Text me Jasper's address. I'll be there soon," said Alyssa with a frown before hanging up.Meanwhile, Julien had just finished smoking a cigarette. When he was about to get into the car, the engine revved, and the doors were locked."Hey, open the door. I need to get in," Julien shouted and yanked on the handle."I have something to tend to. Please head home yourself," Alyssa said to him, staring forward and gripping the steering wheel."Are you serious? This is Belbanks, not Solana City! Where the heck can I go?" Julien snapped helplessly. "Send me home right now!""Call Jonah. Get him to pick you up."With that, Alyssa's black sports car whizzed past Julien.…Alyssa followed the address Landon provided and arrived at Jasper's private villa in no time. She stood at the entrance with mixed feelings—frustration, grievance, and bitterness.The private villa was one of Jasper's personal assets, the most live
Frowning, Alyssa pushed the door open impatiently. To her surprise, the door was unlocked.Always skeptical and wary, Alyssa had a bad omen as she cautiously entered the living room.The villa, though moderately huge, was smaller than her Solana City residence. Despite the difference, she felt at home and cozy compared to the more opulent yet sterile Seaview Manor.She was filled with frustration at the thought."Landon Harper, you there? Landon?" she called out but was met with silence.Growing increasingly worried, she hurried upstairs, checking every room.Finally, she entered the final room, which was more humid than the others. She picked up on the masculine scent in the air and concluded that this must be Jasper's bedroom.It was a familiarity fostered after two years of marriage. Separated by a slightly ajar door, she overheard his labored breathing from within. He seemed to be in pain.Her throat tightened when she called out to him. "Jasper?"She was surprised by the
When Alyssa met Jasper's eyes, her heart raced. She noticed the vulnerability and madness in his eyes, reminiscent of two years ago when he had made love to her all night. She found herself helplessly drawn to that look."Jasper, calm down! Let me g—Mmmph—" He silenced her with a kiss, his hot lips exploring hers passionately, leaving her breathless.She couldn't even breathe properly.Desperate to take her, he seemed driven to the brink of madness by his desire.Every day without her was pure suffering. He was just a zombie with no purpose in life.Alyssa started moaning with rapid breathing and flushed skin.Quivering underneath him, she fought him by pushing against his chest, but it screamed seduction to him.In fact, whenever she showed up, even in his dreams, she was irresistibly seductive and charming.She couldn't evade his kiss. Soon, their bodies intertwined. They kissed hard and sloppily, making sounds as they went for it.His callused hand with bulging veins caress
"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