Rory said, "Okay. I'll get it now."Only after Rory left did Javier dare to reveal his vulnerability. He slumped down. Guilt and pain swept over him like a storm, tormenting him in unspeakable ways.At this moment, his mind was chaotic, filled with various voices."I don't know when it started, but I've become someone who can't be separated from you.""Every morning, the first thing she thinks about is how she should die. But when she thinks of Jasper, she can't bear to leave her young son like that.""Even if my mother once loved you, the moment she leaped from Seaview Manor's balcony, she no longer does."Javier opened his eyes abruptly, his heart pounding uncontrollably.Just then, Rory returned with a glass of warm water."Rory, how much do you remember about Anne's situation 20 years ago?"Rory was startled for a second, then replied, "I have a good memory. Didn't you choose me as your secretary because of that? If you have any questions, just ask.""Back then, Anne had
Landon was shocked. His mouth was slightly agape for a while."Jasper, have you realized that you actually have a masochistic tendency? You've got the inclination to become a henpecked husband."At this rate, you'll have to surrender all your credit cards. Damn, will I be the one to foot the bill now every time we go out?""Had you not been the one who has been footing the bills whenever we went out before?" Jasper asked nonchalantly.Landon was rendered speechless.Indeed.Jasper was a complete homebody with no recreational hobbies other than work, exercise, and boxing. From what he remembered, Landon had always been the one initiating everything.He often visited Seaview Manor with a driver and bodyguards to take Jasper out. Jasper rarely took the initiative to plan anything.But Landon was happy with it and had no complaints.Although he lost his father at a young age, he knew he had received plenty of love from his family. On the contrary, Jasper seemed to have everything,
"But can Javier do the same? He's inherently a selfish person. He has never loved my mother. He only loves himself. I don't even deserve Lyse's forgiveness. It's impossible for him to get my mother's."Landon sighed softly, feeling sorry for his buddy.At this moment, a phone call interrupted the heavy atmosphere."How's the situation?" Landon put the call on speaker and asked eagerly."We've got a problem, Mr. Harper." The person sent to track Jeffrey sounded anxious."Just as Mr. Beckett expected, Jeffrey does have a local gang supporting him in Tsulu. We found out that this group is notorious in the area, colluding with Tsulu's officials and merchants."Drug trafficking, arms smuggling, murder ... They're involved in almost every kind of crime. Over the years, they have grown deep roots, and even Tsulu's government and royal family can't do anything about them."Jasper and Landon exchanged serious glances. They knew the situation would be tricky but didn't expect it to be thi
It was late at night. Betty carried a food container and stood outside the door. She knocked gently."You haven't eaten anything all day. You can't keep going like this. I brought some food for you. They're all your favorites. Open the door, Mom."However, there was no response from inside the room.Betty started to feel uneasy, so she turned the doorknob. To her surprise, the door was not locked.She felt a surge of anger.The servants of the Beckett family were opportunistic and snobbish.News of Javier wanting to divorce Sophia had spread throughout the Beckett family. Seeing Sohpia lose power, they started to neglect her.They said they delivered her food, but she didn't open the door. However, the door was not even locked. They were just lying down on the job.Betty entered cautiously. The room was pitch dark, making her shiver involuntarily.Suddenly, moans of pain echoed from the bedroom.Betty's anxiety heightened, and she ran toward the bedroom door.Upon opening th
It seemed that Sophia couldn't meet her demise so soon. Otherwise, Betty's future in the Beckett family would be precarious, and no one would bother planning her future for her.…On the other side, Tristan was packing up at the hospital, preparing to leave Solana City temporarily.Suddenly, his phone rang.Seeing that it was Alyssa calling, Tristan smiled and immediately answered."Ms. Alyssa.""Dr. McAlister, are you still in Solana City?""Yes, I haven't left yet, but I'm about to head to the airport. What do you need?"Alyssa paused for a moment and then said in a low voice, "Don't leave tonight. I'll reschedule your flight for you.""Did something happen?"Tristan appeared concerned. "Do you have other arrangements? If so, I won't leave."In fact, he had no intention of leaving. He wasn't afraid of trouble. He was worried he couldn't help her."Betty will be at your hospital in a while. She must have come to see you for Sophia."At that moment, Alyssa was in the villa
Betty sat alone in her sports car, taking a long time to gather courage before getting out and entering the hospital.She didn't dare bring anyone else with her. This matter had to be kept confidential, and every additional person who knew about it was an additional risk.Betty tried pushing the door, and it unexpectedly opened.The hospital was deserted, as if it had been anticipating her arrival.At that moment, Betty's phone rang.Displayed on the screen was Tristan's number that she just saved."Hello?" she answered, trying to remain composed while looking around cautiously."Ms. Betty, I'm waiting for you in the office on the second floor. Come on in."After saying that, Tristan promptly ended the call without wasting any words.Betty clenched her teeth and went up to the second floor. She approached the office door and pushed it open.Inside, Tristan, in a white coat, was sitting on the sofa with a smile, watching her.When Betty saw him, her pupils constricted.She f
"Do you … want me to—" Betty's voice trembled, her breath quickening.Tristan remained calm, tilting his head. He stared at her with an enticing gaze that hid his desire.Betty understood. If she didn't make some sacrifice tonight, she probably wouldn't get the medicine back.But for her, it didn't matter. She was well-versed in dealing with men in bed. Moreover, Tristan was young and handsome, comparable to the male models she knew. It wasn't a bad deal."I get it. What men want is nothing more than this."Blushing, Betty began to unbutton her dress.Soon, all the buttons were undone, and her dress slid down. Standing in front of Tristan, she was now in sexy wine-red lace underwear."Now we can—""Ms. Betty, what are you doing?"Tristan laughed disdainfully, completely unaffected. "Is your mind always filled with thoughts about doing this with men daily? When did I say I wanted to sleep with you?"Betty felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her body shook all over. He
Betty picked up her phone and made a call."Help me take care of someone. Dig out his kneecaps. I want him to walk on his knees for the rest of his life!"…After Tristan handed the medication to Betty, he drove home alone.As his car approached the neighborhood, a black MPV suddenly appeared and crashed into the side of his car.His car almost spun 360 degrees, and the glass shattered. Tristan was thrown into disarray, his bones feeling like they were about to fall apart.The screeching of brakes echoed through the deserted street, and the car came to a halt.Before he could regain consciousness, he heard the door open, and he was forcefully pulled out.Tristan hadn't seen who it was, but he was immediately pressed into the car and subjected to punches and kicks."What should we do? Break his legs or what?" one of them asked."Dig out his kneecaps. Hurry up!"Tristan was in intense pain, and his head was bleeding. At once, he understood what was happening.This was Betty s
"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