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
Sophia had rushed out of Seaview Manor after a warrant had been issued for Jeffrey, and the timing seemed too coincidental. Jasper reckoned they might be able to track down Jeffrey by tailing Sophia.…Two days had passed. Jasper remained in the hospital. He stayed in the room next to Alyssa's. Not once did he disturb her. He merely observed her through the glass window on her door after she was sedated and went to sleep, admiring her pale but still beautiful face. He would delicately trace her features on the glass with his finger.He was content to offer her companionship. If anything, he worried that she might not want him around."Jasper," Axel called from the doorway of the smoking room.Jasper's fingers trembled. He turned around. Axel approached him and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him. "I'll have one."Jasper handed him a cigarette. Axel put it between his lips and motioned at Jasper to light it for him.Frowning, Jasper did as asked. He had never performed this
Axel stared at Jasper, dumbstruck. What the heck? What did Jasper just call him?Jasper pursed his lips and clenched his jaw as he fought the rising feeling of shame. He had never done anything sycophantic before in his entire life. Jasper considered the seemingly ordinary remark as his cringy attempt to curry favor with Axel.A heavy air of awkwardness hung between them.All of a sudden, Axel's ringtone shattered the uncomfortable silence. He answered, "What's up?""Mr. Axel, Jameson Schmidt wants to meet Ms. Alyssa. We've held him off as per your instructions," a bodyguard reported."Good work! I'll bump up your bonus later!""Thank you, Mr. Axel! You're incredibly generous. We'll keep watch by the door. He won't get through!"After ending the call, Axel grinned and said, "Hey, come with me.""Where to?" Jasper asked, perplexed."Since you've dubbed me your 'ex-brother-in-law', I'll have a little fun with Jameson for your entertainment. How does that sound?"…Just out
Axel's remark cut deep with its harsh and caustic tone. No one else in the Taylor family, apart from Alyssa and Axel, would speak in such a bold manner. The bodyguards couldn't contain their laughter, adding to Jameson's embarrassment.Jasper arched his brow as he observed Jameson's calm expression crumble. He would be lying if he said that he wasn't relishing this moment."I'm just here to visit Lyse. Axel, why the verbal attacks?" Jameson wondered out loud, his chest heaving with rage."Fine. But why did you threaten the guards with my dad's name?" Axel confronted him with disdain. "He's not your dad, and you're not a child. Don't you feel embarrassed to threaten to tell on the guards?"Jasper stood in stunned silence.Meanwhile, Jameson wore a scowl, his frozen smile betraying his discomfort.However, he quickly rebounded from the humiliation, thanks to his years of hardship in Kontina. Composing himself, he pleaded, "Axel, I'm just worried after getting the news about L
Axel couldn't have been referring to anyone else except for Amber Altman. What made Jameson more worried was that Axel had learned that there was a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Alyssa, and that she was by his side! "Did Axel spot me the night Amber went to the bar?" Jameson asked with a glint in his eyes.Carl replied, "You said that the bar wasn't up to your standards, so you didn't search for Ms. Altman there. He couldn't have seen you since you never left the car."An idea struck him. "Could your car have given you away? They might have traced your license plate back to Schmidt Group. If he found out about it, he might be trying to provoke and trick you into revealing the truth.""Let's go." Jameson seethed and turned around."Where are we going?""The Millenium."…Jasper and Axel reached the door to Alyssa's room. Jasper said to him with sincerity, "Thanks for that.""You're welcome. It's my reply to you calling me your ex-brother-in-law. Plus, I didn't do
"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