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
It was as if Alyssa and Jasper had read each other's minds. They both cried out simultaneously, "An eye for an eye. She needs to be sentenced to death!" "That's right! The death penalty!" Xavier nodded in agreement. His face was red with anger. "Heck, I just can't understand why Mr. Javier fell in love with Sophia! She's got neither compassion nor beauty. Mr. Beckett Senior is a wise man, yet he has such a foolish son!"Landon clenched his fists in anger. His eyes were burning with rage. "What must we do in order for Javier to give up on that bitch completely?""Only if Mr. Javier found out about Sophia's affair and her bastard child." Xavier added smoothly, "Reputation is of utmost importance to someone of a high status, just like Mr. Javier. If he finds out that his partner has been cheating on him, I'm sure that he will no longer be on her side!"How much of a sore loser would he be if he were to tolerate such a thing?" Alyssa chimed in, "Yeah. She cheated on him, and i
Since Sophia's 200 million dollars were deposited in Randerland Bank, that indicated that the money in that account was dirty money from her corrupt acts. Her ability to withdraw 200 million dollars as she wished suggested that the sum she had embezzled was astronomical. It was probably money she reaped from various sources within Beckett Group. Other than that, she must have also used her status as the chairman's wife to receive bribes. "Xavier, has Sophia already transferred the money to Jeffrey?" Jasper asked softly, with a glint in his eyes. "She has." "Has he withdrawn the money?" "Not yet. It's such a large sum of money. He would probably need a dump truck to fit all that money. It would be too obvious if he transported the cash. He still needs to make a getaway." Jasper nodded slightly and said, "Right. Then, you should call the cops right now. Have them freeze Jeffrey's account." "On it, Mr. Beckett." Xavier got up to get it done immediately. Indeed, it would
Jasper looked Landon in the eye and whispered, "What's wrong with that? Can't my future wife and I enjoy each other's company?" "We are all adults. There's nothing wrong if you're both consenting. But … did you use protection?" "Protection?" Jasper was slightly taken aback. It was a man-to-man talk, so Landon wasn't afraid to be direct. He asked, "Did you use a condom? How about when you did it the previous time?" From the outside, Jasper may look like he was invincible and unyielding. However, his only experience at sex was with Alyssa. He was pretty much a blank slate. The previous time …Jasper answered honestly, "I didn't. You know how I was the last time. How would I even remember that?" "How about this time?" "... I pulled out." "There's no use pulling out if your sperm is very active. There is still a high chance that you could get her pregnant." Landon put his arm around Jasper's shoulders and let out a long sigh. "It's better if you use a condom next time,
Jonah was truly worried for Alyssa on behalf of Winston. Initially, he had wanted to rush over to confront Jasper. He wanted to beat Jasper up for having hurt Alyssa so badly in the past. To his surprise, Axel held him back from doing so. "Forget it, Jonah. What's the use of rushing over there now? They've already spent the night together. They're no longer children. Whatever is going to happen, will happen. Will you even be able to stop them?" "What do you mean?" Jonah looked at Axel in shock. "Are you in favor of them being together?" "At the very least, I'm not supportive of Lyse and Jameson being a couple," Axel answered bluntly. Jonah shook his head and replied in a dejected voice, "Even so, you are just letting Lyse choose the lesser evil. Neither Jasper nor Jameson are a good match for her." "But Jasper's feelings for her are sincere. It's true that he has done a lot of bad things in the past, but he has repented. He has also compensated her with his life time and ti
"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