Alyssa was all too familiar with how Jasper was feeling. During the three years they were married, she had also lived in fear in that same way, day and night. She feared that he would ignore her or divorce her. And now, he was having a good taste of the bitter love story that she experienced. Alyssa walked into the room. She opened the cake box, and the inviting strawberry cake gave off a delicious scent. She gulped back her saliva. But to Jasper, she was far more alluring than the cake. Rather than the cake, he was more interested in eating her up.Alyssa cut two slices out of the cake in a few swift moves. She picked up a slice and handed it to Jasper, saying, "I never knew you liked desserts. You've never mentioned it to me."You've never had a bite of the desserts that I made for you in the past. So, I thought that you didn't like them." Jasper held his spoon with trembling hands. He took huge bites of the cake, but all he could taste was bitterness at the back of his
Alyssa couldn't help but lean her neck back. The notion of Jasper being a cunning man flashed through her mind. Indeed, he was crafty!It was only when not a single trace of cream remained on her skin that Jasper reluctantly lifted his face. He gazed at her intently and asked, "Isn't it better if I do it this way?" "Better … Better my foot."Soon enough, tiny red dots began to form like stars on the smooth skin on Alyssa's chest. They were the love bites he had left behind! She looked away shyly. The pace of her breathing quickened, and beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.He was also in a similar state. It was as if they had both just experienced some intense action. The only difference was that one had become soft, whereas the other had become hard. "Jasper, I gave you an inch, and you've really taken a mile. You've crossed the line!" Alyssa pouted her. Jasper felt aroused by how ashamed and angry she looked. Her voice sounded sweet, and even her sobs sounded
In the following days, Alyssa and Jasper refrained from displaying physical affection toward each other. They maintained a courteous demeanor.Nevertheless, their intense emotions, potent enough to elicit a blush, permeated every corner of the villa.Rosie prepared three meals a day for them. Alyssa couldn't bear to see her working so hard, so she offered to help her with everything, But both Rosie and Jasper kept stopping her from doing so. "You're allergic to smoke. It's better if you don't enter the kitchen. I'll help Mrs. Rosie out. You can just wait for the food to be ready," Jasper said from behind her. He interlocked all ten fingers, enveloping her waist with his arms. He couldn't help but give her a peck on her earlobe when he rested his forehead on her shoulder. Alyssa was embarrassed that she had turned completely pink in front of Rosie. She squirmed hard in his embrace and objected. "Don't force yourself. What can a pampered man like you do?" "It's fine. I can
Jasper and Alyssa had advanced to all bases in their relationship by now, but he could tell she hadn't entirely accepted him. Without his direct initiative, they would still be unable to engage with each other closely, as typical couples do.While she might have shared her embrace, her kisses, and her body with him, she had only exposed a fraction of her true feelings.Jasper tightened his fists and rallied his spirits. Once again, a resolute expression crossed his face.All was fine. One step at a time. Everything was moving in a positive direction, wasn't it? "Wow! Quick, come and see! That is one eye-catching couple! The woman is beautiful, and the man is attractive! Are they models, or are they celebrities?" Suddenly, some passersby looked toward them and excitedly began to discuss amongst themselves. "They've covered up so well. How can you tell that they are attractive?" "Observe their attire and the confidence they exude. That's a well-proportioned figure. I'm certa
The crowd dispersed. After all, they felt a little awkward watching a couple being lovey-dovey with one another. Jasper and Alyssa pulled away from each other slowly. He couldn't take his eyes off her and continued looking at her amorously. "That … That was overboard." She already had her face mask on. Adding such a long kiss on top of that made her gasp hard for air.She looked at him resentfully and added, "Who said you could kiss me?""I just felt like it. I didn't think that much," Jasper remarked. A small, satisfied smile played on his lips as he reached out to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "What happens if someone were to recognize us?" "They won't. If they were to recognize us, they would have recognized us the moment we stepped in." He wasn't a saint. By nature, he had a possessive side to him. Furthermore, she was the woman whom he loved to the moon and back. How could he not have reacted to what others were commenting about them? He wanted
Jasper said, "I need to get to Jeffrey before the police do."Men were competitive, especially when they were in love.Both of them answered their respective phone calls at the same time. They hung up at the same time, too."Let's go to Nina's funeral tomorrow morning." Alyssa's eyes were slightly red."Yes, let's go together."Jasper thought long and hard. Like a husband who was about to go on a business trip, Jasper wrapped his arms around Alyssa's waist. He pulled her into his embrace."Lyse, there is an important project to discuss at work. I have to sit in this meeting as the president. I will need to go on a business trip for a few days."For how many days?" Alyssa gasped lightly."Five to ten days?"Jasper felt bad. He knew it was a white lie, but he felt terrible nonetheless for lying to the love of his life.Alyssa blinked her eyes. "Where are you going?"Jasper stopped and said, "Yoarkley." He made it up. He felt guilty as Alyssa stared at him."Okay, have a safe
Jameson had his back facing them. Amber pressed her lips tightly together. She handed the envelope to Carl for him to pass it to Jameson.She used to be the only woman who could get close to Jameson besides Alyssa. She could have sat on his lap and flirted with him like his lover. She could have made harmless jokes with him without angering him.Everyone who worked for Jameson would naturally assume Jameson loved and cared for her.Only Amber knew deep down in her heart that she was nothing. She was not worthy to even carry Alyssa's shoes with her.Jameson only took her as a cheap replacement. When he was happy, he would tease her and satisfy his desires. If he were upset, he would mistreat her. She was putty in his hands.So, she no longer tried to get close to her. Even looking at him in the eye was terrifying for her. Carl handed Jameson the envelope with both hands. Jameson put his wine glass down. He took the envelope from Carl and opened it slowly. Suddenly, Jameson
Otherwise, if Jameson were to act on his rage, he would tear Jasper into shreds right before Alyssa."M-Mr. Schimdt, if I may …"Carl kept the syringe and wiped his sweat away. "I don't think you should use this anymore. This may bring you temporary gratification and is an effective pain reliever. However, this is still an illegal substance. This has not been tested through clinical trials in Mosgravia. We don't know the side effects of it.""I know. Just this once, and I won't use it ever again."Jameson closed his eyes. Finally, he sighed a breath of relief. "Why would a drug dealer be caught under the influence of drugs?"His Achilles heel was drugs. It was Alyssa."Send these photos to Winston anonymously."A devilish smile suddenly appeared on Jameson's face. He looked like he was poisoned, bloodthirsty, and crazy. "Winston loves his daughter to bits. He would never watch his precious daughter make the same mistake twice with his own eyes.""Okay, Mr. Schmidt."As Carl wa
"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