When Alyssa was married to Jasper, she'd discreetly put on his shirt at home to revel in his scent and warmth. Even now, she felt the same as two years ago.Since Jasper wouldn't wake up anytime soon, Alyssa went to get some water. She planned to leave as though nothing had happened after she drank and rested.Tiptoeing to the pantry on the second floor for iced water, she wondered if Jasper's earlier behavior in bed was due to prolonged abstinence. He seemed thirsty and aggressive.She was embarrassed at the thought. Even ice-cold water couldn't soothe her burning throat.As she had always been curious about the private villa, she took the chance to tour it. She checked out the kitchen, the garden, and the living room. They were carefully decorated and felt homey.Thinking back to Liana's provocation, she wondered if the villa was truly Jasper's gift to Liana. Was it true that the villa was Jasper and Liana's home?Upon realizing that she had made love to Jasper at a villa that
The frame slipped from Alyssa's hand, crashing onto the ground and shattering into pieces. Shards scattered in all directions, cutting her ankle, and a few drops of blood oozed from the tiny cut."Why are you here?" Jasper's low voice pierced the air, causing her to tremble.Without turning around, she coldly replied, "Sorry to disturb you. I'll leave soon."Jasper stared at her figure, draped in his shirt beneath the soft, warm light. Her curves were vaguely visible under the oversized shirt, a charming sight that tempted him to pull her into an embrace.He swallowed hard. His throat was dry.Just moments ago, he woke up drenched in sweat, reflexively reaching for Alyssa, only to find the bed empty. He felt relief, spotting her clothes and heels on the ground, knowing she was somewhere in the villa. He got out of bed to look for her.The memories of their kisses and the collision of bodies lingered in his mind and heart, but he was unsure how things unfolded. Did he force hims
Jasper insisted, "I will take responsibility for you. I will.""I don't need you to do that. Just let go of me," Alyssa snapped, her warm tears drenching his shoulders. "Jasper Beckett, I hate you so. Don't touch me!""I won't touch any woman except for you," Jasper said in a shaky voice."If you wanted to take responsibility for me, why did you divorce me? Why didn't you take responsibility for me when we did it the first time?""What?" Jasper was taken aback and puzzled."You pushed me away when you should have taken responsibility for me, but you keep bugging me when I don't need you to," she seethed and bit hard on his arm when he was distracted. She so wished she could tear him into pieces.Feeling the pain, Jasper finally released her. She broke free of his arms and escaped from the study, leaving him frozen in shock as he replayed her words just now.His chest tightened when he recalled the pristine bedsheet. Knowing that Alyssa was a conservative woman, she had not sle
Jonah swung open the car door and wedged himself into Alyssa's car, scanning for any fractures on her arms and legs."I'm fine. I'm fine, Jonah," she mumbled, tears welling in her eyes and her face drained of color.Jonah stared at her in shock, knowing something grave must have happened. Knowing Alyssa, she wasn't one to cry. After all, she had worked on a battlefield. She wouldn't be fazed by a car crash.Whatever had happened must have been serious."Looks like some minor injuries on the skin, but we need to get you to the hospital for a checkup and a CT scan for any concussions," Julien suggested sternly, a departure from his usual cheeky demeanor.Frowning, Jonah gently lifted Alyssa in his arms and settled her into his Rolls-Royce.Sean arrived at that moment, his expression filled with concern as he saw Alyssa in Jonah's arms. He gasped, "Ms. Alyssa, are you alright?""Sean, take care of the car crash. I'm bringing her to the hospital," Jonah instructed Sean before slippi
Cornelius had roped Landon into a meeting at the Harper Group building. However, midway through the discussion, Landon's phone rang with urgency—it was Jasper, insisting on an immediate meetup at Jasper's villa by Phoenix Lake.Due to the urgent nature of Jasper's call, Landon left the meeting under everyone's scrutiny and raced to the villa."What the hell?" Before entering the villa, Landon observed a plume of smoke on top of the structure like an impending volcanic explosion. Turning pale, he hurried into the villa and found Jasper burning stuff in the backyard.Standing by a metal container, Jasper appeared pale and troubled. He bathed in the glow of the flames in the container, resembling a solitary statue amid the remnants of a war.Alarmed by the chaotic scene, Landon approached him. "Jasper, what's going on? What are you burning?"When Landon spoke, Jasper tossed another item into the fire. Landon took a good look and realized it was a photo of Jasper with Liana.Jasper q
"Jasper!" screamed Landon, who tried to help Jasper up from the ground. "What's wrong? Why are you trembling like crazy? Is it cold for you? Jasper?""Landon, do you know that …" Jasper clenched his fists with a broken look in his teary eyes. "... the most hurtful thing for Alyssa is the memories of me and Liana hurting her. I knew it was over between me and Alyssa when she saw the photos of me and Liana. We're done.""Who said it was over?" Landon yelped, feeling sorry for Jasper, who was suffering from a heartbreak.He blamed himself, "This is all my fault! You are so busy, not to mention you're still sick. You don't have the time to dispose of the villa at all. It's my fucking fault! I'll go to Lyse right now and clear things up!"Jasper stopped him and shook his head with a bitter smile. "It all started because of me. What's the point of explaining it to her? That will not change the fact that I've hurt her in the past.""Jasper," Landon gasped as he fought back tears.No one
"Landon!" Lauren threw herself into Landon's arms when he came home. She wrapped her limbs around him like an adorable koala."It's 'darling,'" Landon gently corrected her.Blushing, she obediently called out to him, "Darling.""That's right. Darling, I'll give you a kiss," he replied and gave her a loud kiss on the lips while touching her backside with a hand.After a cozy cuddle in the living room, Landon led Lauren to the bedroom, where he began to undress her and led her to the bath.She wrapped her arms around his neck and protested, "I'll bathe on my own.""How tiring is that? I'll give you a hand," he teased her with a cheeky grin."Don't. It's tiring to take a bath with you because you'll be all over me.""Hm, don't you like that?" Landon raised a brow playfully."I like it," Lauren admitted, her blush deepening.Landon, who was so exhausted that he couldn't keep his eyes open, felt invigorated and aroused upon seeing his lovely partner.Soaking in the hot bath, he
Lauren suddenly commented, "Alyssa slept with Jasper before."Landon, caught by surprise, stared at her in bewilderment. "What do you mean?"Lauren bit her lips and whispered with a frown, "It happened about two years ago. One night, I wandered around my home because I couldn't sleep. "I saw Alyssa entering Jasper's bedroom. At that time, Jasper didn't like her much, and they rarely shared a bed. Most of the time, they slept in separate rooms."Alyssa suffered a lot in the three years she was married to Jasper. I could tell that she loved him, but she didn't dare to get closer to him. She could only stay by his side quietly. At night, when Jasper was not home, she would lie in his bed, wear his shirt, and use his cologne, but he never found out about that."She loved him very much. She was willing to humble herself for him. I felt sorry for her."Even Landon sympathized with poor Alyssa, who had given her heart to Jasper. A farewell wasn't the most painful thing in love—an unreq
"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