The Taylor siblings were all present out of concern for Alyssa. Liam was the only one absent, being in the military."Jonah, why did Lyse have an accident out of the blue?" Tatiana gasped, tears brimming in her eyes.Feeling bad, Sean wanted to hug Tatiana, but he knew his place as a secretary. It would be inappropriate to do so in front of the other Taylor siblings.He brushed away his thoughts, but his passionate gaze lingered on Tatiana.Perhaps a man of his standing was only good enough to stand guard for Tatiana."Right, Jonah. Lyse is an excellent driver. Her skills are as good as mine. There's no reason she'd ram into someone's car. By right, she would have been the one who speeds on the roads," Axel said in confusion.On Axel's way to the hospital, he was gravely concerned by Alyssa's condition, which was rare for someone who had never flinched at the gunpoint of criminals on his missions.Huddled in the corridor, Silas and Cyrus cast worried glances at Jonah. The air wa
Despite the dim environment, Julien noticed the anger and tears in Jonah's eyes. It was a shock to him.Jonah was oblivious to his allure at that moment. Julien was deeply attracted to the pain and vulnerability underneath Jonah's tough exterior.Jonah collected himself and fixed his gaze on Julien. "What's the matter?"Squinting, Julien approached Jonah slowly. Their eyes met, and their breaths intermingled.Suddenly, Julien reached out and gently caressed the corner of Jonah's eye. Jonah's heart raced, and his breathing grew heavy."I know you feel bad for your sister. I understand your feeling," Julien whispered into Jonah's ear. "But promise me, don't do anything rash. You wouldn't want to worry your princess, right? I'll be worried about you, too."Jonah's ears turned red. Some unknown emotions stirred within.Julien straightened his back and put on an impish smile once more. "I won't ask for a ride because you're busy. Looks like I can't go home anytime soon. I should buy
"You were by Jasper's side throughout their three years of marriage. You knew what he had done to Alyssa, and he has to make amends to her as long as he's alive," Landon reminded Xavier.Xavier felt a stab in his heart when he recalled Alyssa's helplessness when she was living with the Becketts. Despite that, she remained a loyal and loving wife to Jasper.Tears rolled down Xavier's cheeks as he lamented Jasper's suffering. However, he knew that Alyssa had suffered a lot of heartache as well. …Xavier didn't want Jasper to wake up and have no one by his side, so he crashed on Jasper's couch that night without changing.He woke up the next morning without an alarm and reflexively looked in Jasper's direction. He was shocked to find the bed empty. Where did Jasper go?"Mr. Beckett? Mr. Beckett?" Xavier shot up from the couch and panickedly looked around the room for Jasper.He found Jasper all dressed up and marching out of the bathroom. Jasper was dressed in a three-piece suit,
Sean opened the car door and stepped out from the passenger seat. Today, Jonah called him in for a temporary role, turning him back into the secretary of the CEO of KS Group. He dressed in a high-end, tailored gray suit, and his sharp gaze added an overwhelming charm to his already handsome appearance.Women in the vicinity admired him, but he didn't seem to care. He went to open the back door and gave a polite nod."Mr. Jonah, please."Jonah remained composed. His handsome features were devoid of any emotion. Exiting the car, he immediately elicited astonished reactions from the women nearby."Oh, my God! He's so handsome! He's going to be my dream material for tonight!""You're so greedy! You already have Mr. Beckett in your dreams, and now you want to add another one?""Is he really that handsome? I think he's not as good-looking as our Mr. Beckett.""You just don't get it! This guy has a totally different vibe than Mr. Beckett. Mr. Beckett is eye-catching with his hand
"Mr. Jonah, we appreciate your presence, but using force against Beckett Group's staff is inappropriate, both in terms of etiquette and reason, isn't it?"Ignoring his words, Jonah responded, "Is Jasper coming out, or should I go in?"Xavier's anger surged at Jonah's actions, and his expression darkened. "I'm sorry, Mr. Beckett is in a meeting and cannot meet with you. Please leave!"Ignoring Xavier, Jonah lifted the corner of his lips and advanced toward him. Xavier felt a little uneasy as he extended his arm to block Jonah.The next moment, Jonah made a move. Xavier couldn't even see what happened. His arm was twisted behind his back, and then he was forcefully thrown. Xavier fell to the ground, and his arms were dislocated. He endured the pain. Clenching his teeth and with a sweaty forehead, he could only watch as Jonah and Sean entered through the door.The atmosphere inside the conference room was solemn.Jasper occupied the head of the conference table with a king
Jonah took a few steps and stood in front of Jasper. He looked down on Jasper's pale face with contempt."Jasper, you truly deserve to die." The next moment, Jonah suddenly leaned forward, knocking Jasper off the chair! The two men fell heavily, and Sean exclaimed in shock, "Mr. Jonah! Be careful!" Jasper's back suffered a severe blow, and it felt as though his internal organs shook with it.Suddenly, a glint of coldness flashed in his eyes. Jonah stared at him with a fierce gaze. He held a sharp cross-shaped dagger high, aiming at Jasper's pupils, as if about to deliver a cruel punishment.Sean panicked and shouted, "Mr. Jonah! Stop!" He comprehended Jonah's feelings entirely. He, too, shared his resentment toward Jasper for robbing Alyssa of her innocence.However, Jonah would be caught up in endless trouble if he harmed Jasper, and Alyssa would be plunged into deep self-blame! This was never the situation Alyssa wanted to see. Jonah should not soil his hands for su
Jonah and Sean left.However, the news of the CEO of KS Group's sudden visit to Beckett Group had rapidly spread throughout the building.Landon helped Jasper back to the office. Xavier also came along as he was unable to shake off his concerns. His arm was dislocated, and his clothes were covered with sweat out of pain, but he didn't utter a word.Landon noticed something was off and then realized Xavier was injured, too. He quickly arranged for someone to take Xavier to the hospital for treatment."Jonah normally appears gentle and refined. But when he goes berserk, damn ..." Landon sighed, finding no words to describe the horror."It's all for his sister. I understand him," Jasper said wearily. He sat on the sofa with his neck tilted back, feeling physically and mentally exhausted.If someone else had bullied Alyssa, he might have acted even more recklessly than Jonah.Thinking about Jonah's parting words, Jasper's breath hitched. He felt as though his blood froze in his
"Stupid! How can that woman be so stupid?" Jasper pondered."Lauren is a witness. Suppose you can't believe others; at least trust Lauren. I'm really surprised. How can you have no memories at all after being intimate with a woman? It's so bizarre!""I don't know. I really don't know ..."Jasper clutched his head. He felt a sharp pain in his heart."That day was the anniversary of my mother's death. I was in a bad mood and drank too much alcohol. Later, I would sometimes even dream of being intimate with Alyssa in bed. I thought it was just a dream. I really didn't expect that we had a night together.""I recall you were still involved with Liana two years ago. You explicitly stated that you intended to reconcile with Liana eventually. "You were convinced that you and Alyssa would end up divorcing because she held no significance in your heart. Doesn't it sound absurd now, Jasper? But those were your own words at the time, weren't they?"Jasper was emotionally shaken by Landon'
"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