"I'm going upstairs."Suddenly, Alyssa felt a weight on her back, and her body leaned forward sharply.Jasper hugged her tightly from behind, enveloping her entirely. He wished he could meld her into his body.His firm and warm chest pressed against her slender back. His intense heartbeat pounded into her, making her head dizzy. A soft and tingling sensation spread from her back to her chest."Jasper," Alyssa called hoarsely as her breathing became rapid.There was a clear sense of resistance in her tone, but this time, she didn't struggle."How could it not be worth mentioning? I won't allow you to say that."Jasper tightened his embrace, his arms holding onto her fragile waist. Meanwhile, his hot breath sprayed onto her neck. "20 years ago, I lost the most important person in my life."20 years later, I found the only woman in my life. I don't want to lose you again. You're everything to me. Lyse, after losing you, every day I live feels like hell."Death wasn't frightening.
"Alright, it's just a small injury. Don't worry—Ah!"Alyssa's vision blurred for a moment as Jasper lifted her up around the waist. Instinctively, she pressed against his chest."I'll take you to your room. You have a first aid kit at home, right? I'll help you bandage it." Jasper stared intently at her as he carried her and headed upstairs."I don't need you to do it. I'm a professional surgeon. I can bandage it myself."Alyssa clenched her hand into a fist as she pounded on his chest. Yet she dared not to use too much force, so it was more like scratching an itch."Besides, I hurt my arm, not my leg. What's the use of carrying me? I can walk by myself!""I know, but I want to carry you." Jasper spoke his mind.Alyssa's fist pressed against his solid chest, her breathing erratic. She even forgot to resist. A rosy blush colored her cheeks.…Jasper carried Alyssa into her bedroom.To his surprise, her room was unexpectedly simple. Although the decor was luxurious, with top-no
It wasn't a heavy slap. Compared to before, Jasper could treat this as a gentle caress from Alyssa. The thought made him smile.Meanwhile, Alyssa wondered what was wrong with the bastard. Had he no shame?"W-Why are you taking my clothes off?" Alyssa asked, wrapping her arms around her chest as she blushed unknowingly.Jasper gazed tenderly at her. "I'm tending to your wound."What an outrageous reason! Jasper was really getting worse by the day!"You … you could have waited until I was dressed in something more suitable or cut my sleeve off right away. Why did you have to strip my shirt off?" Alyssa's face was flushed red as she glared at Jasper.Even her chest had a pink flush on it now. "How shameless can you be?""We used to be married, Alyssa. We've slept together both during marriage and after the divorce," Jasper replied.Alyssa's breath hitched for a moment. Her lips pulled taut as she recalled how Jasper had begged her to satiate him that night. The feeling of his wa
What Jasper would give to devour Alyssa whole. That way, she would always be a part of him and could never escape."Jas—mmh—" Alyssa's words were muffled as Jasper ravaged her lips. Her eyes were moist, whether from grievance or from being overwhelmed by the kiss.Jasper wasn't going to let her go that easily. Their night was surely going to be a sleepless one.He was able to skirt his hand around her injury and gently remove the final shred of clothing on her body.With it, Alyssa's defenses crumpled. Her body softened under his touch in an instant."I'll … I'll be gentle this time, Lyse. Can you trust me, please?" Jasper murmured.Alyssa closed her eyes as she moaned softly. Jasper took that as a 'yes'.The temperature in the room increased as their passion was unleashed.Jasper kissed Alyssa again, no longer restraining himself, though he was gentle.He had improved since last time. Alyssa didn't feel any pain anymore. Instead, she felt pure waves of pleasure that made her
Hot air blasted out of the pan. Jasper wiped away the sweat on his face and sighed. "Dammit. Burnt again."Only then did Alyssa see the countless burnt eggs in the trash bin beside the stove."Pft. The heat is too high, silly. You'd go through an entire chicken farm without succeeding at this rate," she teased.Jasper's heart skipped a beat as he turned around, meeting Alyssa's eyes."Did I … wake you?" he asked nervously."No, my biological clock did. I don't have a habit of sleeping in," Alyssa replied. She then pointed at the trash bin beside him, teasing, "You're lucky Sean isn't around to see this. He hates it when people waste food. If he had been here, he would have made you scoop everything back out and eat it.""I would be fine with that. I never wasted food during my time in the army," Jasper replied lightly.It wouldn't be a first for him.Alyssa knew how serious Jasper could be at times and that he was indeed capable of doing something like that. She hurriedly wav
Jasper didn't pursue the matter. All he could think about was how guilty he felt about Alyssa's allergy."Don't cook. I'll get Xavier to buy us breakfast or cook something for us himself. His cooking may not be as good as Sean's, but it'll do," Jasper said.He noticed that Alyssa was barefoot and frowned before lifting her up into his arms."Ah! What are you doing?" Alyssa hurriedly clung onto his shoulders."Don't you know to take better care of yourself? How could you walk barefoot here? The floor is so cold," Jasper said.He set Alyssa down on the table and knelt down before her. He then cupped one of Alyssa's feet in his hands.Jasper's familiar warmth seeped into her skin, heating her up and making her narrow her eyes lightly in pleasure. She didn't want to reveal it too much, though."Rosie told me it's important for women to keep their feet warm, or else they get sick when they're old." Jasper gazed lovingly at Alyssa. "Don't walk barefoot anymore.""I was worried, so
Despite Alyssa's objections, Jasper walked to the entrance and opened the door. "Mr. Beckett?"Jasper appeared in front of Xavier, carrying Alyssa bridal style in his arms. The two of them also looked unkempt, as if they had just woken up. Oh my god … oh my god!Xavier's jaw dropped. He saw them in a completely different light. His imagination ran wild, and his face turned red.Did this mean that his dream couple had finally reunited? Could he finally die in peace now? "Put me down, Jasper!" Alyssa cried out in his ear. She felt so awkward that she wanted to dig a hole for herself. "Can he come in, Ms. Alyssa?" Jasper asked her in a soft, gentle voice while fixing his gaze on her. Alyssa was completely subdued in front of Xavier. She stared at Jasper angrily, but could only nod. "Ah, can I come in too, then?" Both Jasper's and Alyssa's eyes widened at the sound of a familiar voice. To their surprise, Landon appeared from behind Xavier! He narrowed his sharp eyes as h
Xavier gave Alyssa two thumbs-up. "You're brilliant, Madam!" he praised. Jasper's lips curled upward. He was extremely pleased to hear that salutation. Alyssa was embarrassed and annoyed at the same time. But she was even more curious about what happened next. She pressed him on, saying, "Go on!" "Then, I went through hoops to find out that Sophia has a secret account at Randerland Bank. I'm not sure how much money she has in there. "But I was able to find out the sum that she was transferring from that account to Solana Bank. It was exactly 200 million dollars!" Landon raised his brows. He couldn't help but mock, "200 million dollars? Wow, that bitch really stole a fortune for herself." Jasper's gaze turned cold. "That must be the money that Jeffrey demanded from her. It must be the money for him to escape and keep silent," Jasper sniggered. "But what was more shocking to me was how Sophia could withdraw the ginormous sum of 200 million dollars so easily. Plus, it was wi
"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