Nina threw herself in front of Alyssa, protecting the latter with her feeble frame. Her opened arms fell limply, and her body collapsed onto the floor.Jasper and Sean were shocked by the sight. Alyssa hugged Nina, only to feel the wetness in her hands. Trembling, she lifted her hand and teared up at what she saw."Nina! You—""Ms. Alyssa, listen …" Nina was losing her consciousness fast.She opened her mouth with difficulty as the color drained from her face. Alyssa hurriedly stopped her from speaking. "Stop talking! You need to conserve your energy. I'll get you to the hospital!" Crying, Alyssa tried to lift Nina in her arms, but she failed because she was too exhausted from the fight. Instead, she offered, "I'll stop your bleeding!"Nina shook her head, muttering, "It's too late. I know … Sophia's secret … She … killed Madam Anne … the evidence … the phone …"Alyssa felt a sharp pang course through her body. A coldness enveloped her. She looked at Jasper through tears as h
After Alyssa and Sean left with the Taylor siblings, the police arrested the attackers. With blood everywhere, the scene looked like a mess with blood.Jasper stood frozen on the spot with the gun in his hand. Given his combat skills, taking down the attackers had been a piece of cake. Still, he felt more exhausted than he had during his days on the battlefield.Cyrus approached him with two policemen and, after casting a look at the gun, said sternly, "Please come to the police station with us to assist in the investigation.""Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Xavier exclaimed, shielding Jasper from the authorities, his face flushed.He explained, "Mr. Beckett wrestled the gun away from the attacker! You can't possibly suspect him as the shooter, can you? If it hadn't been for Mr. Beckett, Ms. Alyssa would have—""Enough, Xavier. Stop it." Jasper cut him off and calmly faced Cyrus. "Fine. I'll go.""Mr. Beckett, please don't misunderstand us. I'm not treating you as a suspec
"Liam, I can never make amends for what I've done," Alyssa mumbled as she closed her eyes in pain and cried in Jonah's arms.The Taylor brothers had seen Alyssa cry before. In fact, she was a crybaby. In public, she presented herself as a capable and invincible career woman. Only her brothers knew that she was just an ordinary young lady who was emotionally vulnerable and needed attention.However, Alyssa seemed to be badly affected this time. They guessed that it would take her longer to recover from the shock.Silas and Liam had been briefed on the situation while they were on their way to the hospital. They had learned that Sean was badly injured but alive, with a chance of recovery. However, the young lady named Nina had lost vital signs upon reaching the ICU. Alyssa had nearly knelt on the floor there, begging the surgeons to save Nina's life. Everyone prayed hard that the brave and pitiful woman would survive the ordeal."Jonah, I heard Sean's suffered a serious injury.
"Why were you there tonight?" Alyssa whispered, tears glistening in her eyes."It was all because of Nina. She bumped into me at Seaview Manor this afternoon and informed me about the meeting tonight," Jasper confessed. "I went to the park because I was worried."His concern was justified. Alyssa recalled the huge secret Nina had revealed before losing consciousness. Tensing up, she trembled harder. She hesitated to disclose the information to Jasper.Instead, she touched the front pocket of her shirt, where she had stored Nina's broken phone.Frowning slightly, Jasper removed his jacket and draped it over her, wrapping it tightly around her. She stared blankly ahead without resistance. At that moment, her sole focus was on Sean and Nina's well-being, leaving her with no energy to spare for anything else.She inquired, "Have the police arrested that man?""They've issued a warrant for him. The police and my security team have set up roadblocks across the city, including the r
Everyone gathered around the surgeon and stared at him nervously.The surgeon exhaled deeply, shaking his head somberly as he disclosed, "The bullet caused significant damage to her organ, leading to a hemorrhage. "Frankly, there was little hope from the moment she arrived at the hospital. I regret to inform you, Ms. Alyssa, that we couldn't save her. We tried our best."As a doctor herself, Alyssa understood the weight and emotions behind the phrase "we tried our best".The Taylor family members lowered their heads defeatedly. Liam removed his military beret as a sign of respect to the late Nina.Even though they had known that Nina's chances of survival were slim when they had stepped into the hospital, it still hurt to hear the confirmation. Alyssa was the only person in disbelief."No! That can't be real. Nina is strong. How could she have died?" Alyssa tugged at the surgeon's arm and repeatedly yelled as she spiralled into hysteria."Lyse, calm down!" Jasper hugged her fro
Alyssa vowed to take revenge for Sean, Nina, and every single one of Sophia's victims.…Jasper lingered by the window at the end of the corridor. It was past midnight, but sleep eluded him. He stared out of the window, his eyes red.He had called Landon and asked him to meet up right away. After Landon had coaxed Lauren to sleep, he had instructed Angelina to watch over Lauren before rushing to meet with Jasper.With a cigarette between his lips, Landon suddenly remembered that he was at the hospital. He put the cigarette out impatiently. "Jasper, don't worry. I've reached out to the gangs, and they will do anything I ask them to. The attacker will lay low because the authorities are after him, but he doesn't have an escape route anymore. My men will secretly look for him in Solana City three times a day. His fate is sealed.""Thanks, bro." Jasper placed a hand on Landon's shoulder. "Have you told Lauren about Nina?"A troubled expression crossed Landon's face as he rubbed his
Sophia and Betty received news of the shooting incident and Nina's death. After learning that Alyssa and Sean were hospitalized and the police were searching for Jeffrey, they became frightened and anxious."Mom, w-what do we do? Ah—" Betty was cut off when Sophia glared at her and slapped her across her sweaty face.Betty stumbled, colliding with the coffee table. She winced in pain. For someone who never lifted a finger in her daily life, Sophia sure was fierce when punishing her own daughter.Betty's face swelled instantly. Clutching her cheek, she sobbed vehemently, casting resentful glares at Sophia through her messy locks."You good-for-nothing! Did I ever tell you to meddle in this affair? I asked you and Jeff to get rid of that maid, but I never wanted Alyssa dead!" Sophia hissed.Despite burning in rage, Sophia had to keep her voice low. She continued harshly reprimanding, "Don't you know Alyssa is Winston Taylor's beloved daughter? She's also Newton's favorite and the
Jeffrey added, "Think about it. You're married to Javier Beckett; you must be filthy rich. 200 million dollars to you is nothing to you. "According to my information, you've accumulated at least 500 million dollars in your offshore account in Randerland, a stash from years of corruption in Beckett Group's projects."Sophia was reminded of the wealth she had painstakingly amassed over the years through abuse of power and bribery.Her secret fortune could lead to a world of trouble if Jasper and Alyssa were to discover it. She might even have to serve a sentence unless Javier helped her. However, she didn't trust Javier anymore."Madam, you're not even 50 years old yet. You're sitting on a fortune. Don't you want to see your two daughters get married someday? Have you ever dreamed of meeting your grandchildren?"You're a pampered woman. I doubt you would last a day in a harsh environment in prison."Jeffrey was clearly threatening her. Sophia gritted her teeth and came to a diffic
"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