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
Alyssa clenched her fists in resentment, and her voice became choked. "An innocent girl has already died because of me, Dr. McAlister. I can't let anything happen to you. I really can't bear it anymore."Hearing this, Tristan lowered his head in guilt. "Ms. Alyssa, I just wanted to do something for you for the last time. I just wanted to vent your grievances … I didn't know it would cause you so much trouble. I'm really sorry.""You don't know Sophia and Betty enough, but I do. Betty may not have Sophia's intelligence, but she inherited Sophia's ruthlessness perfectly."Her impulsive actions make her even more ruthless than Sophia. Sophia still considers consequences, but relying on being Javier's daughter and having the Beckett Group backing her, Betty acts without regard for consequences.""My sister was cautious and had me lurking near your hospital."The man sitting in the passenger seat took off his black mask, revealing a face that would make anyone's heart skip a beat."As
The next day, Jasper and Landon went secretly to Shelland Island, armed with weapons.It wasn't the smoothest trip. The day started out sunny and calm, but a thunderstorm struck after two hours on the boat.The two had opted for a yacht instead of a larger vessel in order to keep a low profile. Not only would they be a smaller and speedier target, but they could also swiftly retreat the scene if needed.But the downside to this kind of ship was how vulnerable it left them to the extreme weather!"Mr. Jasper, Mr. Harper, what do we do? Is the boat going to capsize?" Landon's men were doing their best to keep the yacht afloat. But it was tough to do so when the vessel wouldn't stop being tossed and turned by the harsh waves, not to mention sail onward in a straight line!All of a sudden, a large wave crashed toward the ship, aiming right for Landon. Landon stood there shocked, unable to move. All of a sudden, someone went up to shield him.Jasper used his body to protect Landon f
Jasper and Landon looked up, and sure enough, a helicopter was flying right toward them!Everyone immediately went on high alert. They took out their weapons and aimed right at the helicopter."At ease. I doubt they're the enemy," Jasper said calmly. He was the only one who remained unworried."How are you so sure?" Landon asked in surprise."If they were the enemy, they could've started firing at us from this distance already. The only reason they haven't is because they don't plan on killing us."Landon nodded eagerly. "Makes sense!"The helicopter landed on the beach, its blades sweeping up sand that blinded everyone's eyes. Only Jasper remained steady, welcoming the billowing wind as he watched a man step off the helicopter.When Jasper saw who it was, his eyes widened."Holy shit! It's Jonah!" Landon yelped and hid behind Jasper.Jonah approached them, emanating a commanding presence. Despite having connections in legal and underworld circles, Landon should theoreticall
Jasper's eyes grew red-rimmed, his voice hoarse, as he begged Jonah. "All I'm doing now is so that I can make it up to Lyse. I'd give up my life just to help her achieve what she wants, no matter whether you all forgive me or not. Just please don't put Lyse at risk. As her brother, you know just how she can be!"Jasper was really worried that Alyssa would be angry at him all over again. They had gotten to such a neutral state after months of tribulation. Jasper didn't want things to return to square one.But he was more worried something terrible might happen to Alyssa.Jonah hadn't expected Jasper to blurt all this out. He'd only meant to mock the latter.After a moment of silence, Jonah finally said, "Alright. You can proceed, but you have to stick with me."…While Jasper was making the first move overseas, things weren't looking too good back in Solana City.Today marked the day of a crucial meeting between Beckett Group and Jesselton Inc. from Mosgravia. Javier and the high
Even without Jasper's presence, he was confident that the Taylors and the rescue team would have been able to save Alyssa. It became clear what the person manipulating Remy had been aiming for.But why had Remy let Jasper go at that crucial moment? Had he experienced a sudden change of heart? Or was he, in fact, Alyssa's brother, Damien?Jasper's mind filled with all kinds of thoughts. Before he could dwell too deeply, there was a knock at the door. Xavier hurried over to open it, freezing in shock when he saw who stood outside. "Mr. Winston?"Winston was leaning on Silas for support, his expression grim. "Mr. Beckett is in there, isn't he? May I have a word with him?" Xavier quickly stepped aside, gesturing for Winston and Silas to enter.When he saw the elder he respected standing at the door, Jasper struggled to rise from the bed despite his exhaustion. "Mr. Winston…" "You are wounded. Stay put!" Winston insisted, swiftly moving forward to gently press Jasper back down
"Next time? There won't be a next time."Tears flowed down Alyssa's face, soaking Jasper's shirt with each drop. Her voice was quiet but steady, carrying the weight of her heartache. "Jasper… I'm drained. Sometimes, I think it might be better if you just forgot about me. It would be easier than this. Every time I let myself hope, all I get in return is disappointment."Jasper's chest tightened as her calm words pierced through him. Waves of emotion surged inside him, and a lump rose painfully in his throat.…It was fortunate that Jasper had found Alyssa in time to administer first aid. After rushing her to the ER, she slipped into unconsciousness. That being said, she was extremely lucky to have escaped death. Nevertheless, she needed to remain in the ICU for further observation. Aside from treating her frostbite, the doctors needed to assess whether her internal organs or brain had been affected.With the severity of Alyssa's condition, Sean couldn't keep the truth from Winsto
"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