Tatiana gently shook her head. "No, based on what I've heard from Mandy and others, it appears that Dad isn't pleased with Uncle Victor's two sons. So, he has been avoiding this matter. But Uncle Victor seems persistent and has even regarded Lyse as his daughter-in-law."Axel sneered. "Hmph! That old man overestimated himself! Lyse is like a celestial beauty. Pairing her with those jerks from the Schmidt family is simply a waste! Winston probably thinks the same. That's why he didn't agree.""Winston does have some insight sometimes," Axel muttered under his breath. …"Lyse, I'm here." Jameson entered the room, moving with a quiet and measured step.A deep ache seized his heart as he noticed Alyssa sitting beside the bed, appearing somewhat drowsy. She seemed to be worn and feeble. Despite being a schemer with numerous misdeeds, he demonstrated unmatched sincerity in his love for Alyssa.In this life, he would marry no one but Alyssa. His feelings had remained unchanged fo
Through the passage of time and a multitude of shared experiences, Axel's mindset subtly and gradually shifted.After a while, Tatiana woke up abruptly. She straightened up in surprise, and her eyes stared vacantly into the distance. She used her hand to wipe away the drool from the corner of her mouth."Why did you wake up already? Nap a little longer," Axel chuckled. Her cute expression reminded him of Alyssa's childhood days."S-Sorry, Axel!" Tatiana panicked. She blushed when she realized that her drool had stained Axel's shoulder."I-I dirtied your shirt. I'll wash it clean when we get home! I'm sorry!"Axel couldn't help but feel sorry for his youngest sister when he observed her distress. The Taylor siblings often revolved around Alyssa, subconsciously considering her the youngest. Little did they realize that Tatiana was the one who needed more concern as she was the youngest in the family. Yet, she was often overlooked."It's okay, don't worry about it," Axel ass
Axel's body shook intensely, and then he collapsed on the ground. He was paralyzed and unable to stand."Sorry, buddy. Take a rest for now. This thing won't harm you much," Landon said as he triumphantly raised the stun baton in his hand. "All of you Taylors have off-the-chart combat abilities. I have no choice but to resort to dirty tricks. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to penetrate your defenses.""Damn it! You're despicable!" Axel glared at him. His eyes alone seemed capable of tearing Landon apart."Regrettably, I'm resorting to despicable tricks for the sake of my only best friend." Landon sighed while displaying a resigned shrug.Jasper sprinted to the entrance of Alyssa's ward, but Tatiana blocked him."I want to see your sister," Jasper voiced his request as he looked at the girl with a pale face. Sweat streamed down his weary face.Tatiana bit her lip and remained silent."Please," he begged. Jasper's voice was filled with desperation as he hoarsely plead
Alyssa found herself pondering the reasons behind Jasper's choice to approach her now to address the past. She had never sought his apologies, yet he remained oblivious to her true desires.Alyssa felt a deep sense of disappointment and shame that permeated her, causing her to quiver with anger.While she typically wasn't one to easily shed tears, her tears streamed down involuntarily now. It was as if her tear ducts had suddenly given way.Jameson had never seen Alyssa lose control of her emotions like this. Jasper had almost destroyed the girl who used to be lively, confident, and proud."Lyse, don't cry. Please don't cry ..."Ignoring the presence of others, Jameson opened his arms and gently enveloped the emotionally distraught Alyssa in an embrace.Alyssa's whole body went limp. Her thoughts were hazy, and she leaned her forehead on Jameson's shoulder. Before long, her tears had soaked his shoulder.Jameson's heart raced, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.At t
At first, there was still a glimmer of hope for Jasper. However, he had consistently let Alyssa down, causing her pain and ultimately extinguishing that flicker of hope entirely.Waves of spasmodic pain gripped Jasper's heart, and at each surge, a hint of tears welled up at the corners of his eyes.He parted his dry lips and asked, "Do you really want to know?" "Of course. As a man who has loved Lyse for 15 years, I want to know everything about her," Jameson said with an almost uncontrollable sense of pride. Jasper fixed him with a penetrating gaze. After a moment, a breathtaking smile slowly formed on his pale face. His voice was hoarse and deep as he said, "Two years ago when she was still my wife, we had already become one." Jameson's pupils contracted. "Lyse was already my woman long ago." "Bastard!" Jameson's mind echoed with a resounding roar. Overwhelming anger compelled him to clench his fists and throw a fist at Jasper's face!He couldn't anyone fathom la
Landon called out, "Jasper!"It was as if Jasper was completely disconnected from the world. Jasper walked past Landon absent-mindedly and got into the car wordlessly.Worry filled Landon's heart once again.The luxurious car headed toward Seaview Manor."Xavier mentioned that the manor had been put up for auction. Many are vying to bid for it."Landon explained to him in a lowered voice, "Xavier had cleared everything in the manor. He had collected your mother's photographs and brought them to the Seaview Manor."He disposed of everything else at the garbage disposal and made sure to incinerate them, leaving no traces behind."Jasper? Jasper? Are you listening to me?""I don't want to go back to Seaview Manor, Landon. I want to visit Grandpa. I miss him."Jasper struggled to articulate the last word of his sentence, his voice catching in his throat.Landon looked at him, stunned. Jasper's eyes reddened, and tears streamed down his face as his shoulders trembled.He was cr
Julien was taken aback. "Are you not planning to become the company's president?""I've never wanted to be president. Everything I do is to help Alyssa and stand in for my father for the last time.""You're an amazing man, Julien."Julien's nose inched closer to the side of Jonah's face. His warm breath landed on his defined jawline. "Then, why don't you want to get married? Even if you like guys, you can still get married. Same-sex marriage is legal in Mosgravia."Jonah's breath quickened as a numbing sensation tingled at his fingertips like electricity.The wine from his glass spilled slightly onto the wooden table top, resembling a small pool of blood."I've submitted myself to God, even my romantic life. So, I will never have a partner and get married.""God is gracious. He will forgive you for your reckless behavior birthed from the care of your sister. He will also forgive you for using the alcohol to wash your sorrows away."The look in Julien's eyes deepened. His hand
Winston told everything to his wives, and they were flabbergasted. They wanted to follow him to his visit to Alyssa, but he stopped them. It took quite an effort to persuade them otherwise. He then instructed someone to send them back to Belbanks.Winston trailed after Neil and his bodyguard. When they exited the airport, he saw Jameson standing there. He stood by the luxury car, waiting for Winston."Hi, Uncle Winston." Jameson smiled as he shook Winston's hand firmly.Winston thought briefly. Then, he got into Jameson's car. Neil and his bodyguard drove behind them.After all, Jameson had mentioned that he had something to tell him about Alyssa.Typically, a man like him would need to get in line to meet a big shot like Winston, even if he was Victor's son. However, Jameson mentioned that whatever he wanted to discuss had something to do with Alyssa.So, he couldn't possibly sit around and do nothing.The luxury car drove to the hospital without a hitch. "Uncle Winston, I'
"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