Strangely enough, Remy felt inexplicably more at ease the moment he heard Jasper''s voice. He took a deep drag of his cigarette, forcing his emotions down.
Just as he was about to speak, Jasper beat him to it.
"Remy, is that you?"
A mouthful of smoke rushed down Remy''s throat, making him cough harshly. Shock flickered in his eyes as he asked, "How did you know it was me?"
"I didn''t," Jasper replied in a low voice.
Rather than sounding cold and distant, he seemed calm, as though he were speaking to an old friend. "It was just a gut feeling. When you didn''t say anything, I somehow knew it was you."
An invisible force tightened around Remy''s heart. He crushed the lit cigarette between his bare fingers, using the sting of pain to suppress the surge of emotion in his chest.
"Axel''s lover, Ms. Amber, is here with me."
The frost in Jasper''s voice finally cracked. "How is she?"
"Not good."
Remy''s voice was strained. Though a cold breeze surrounded him, breathing still felt difficult. "Justin and Sheryl have been experimenting on her all this time, using her as a live test subject for various medications.
"They''ve forcibly administered dozens of drugs. Some damage her organs. Others affect her brain."
"Those bastards!" Jasper cursed.
On the other end of the line, Jasper stood alone in the parking lot of Taylor General Hospital. His hoarse growl echoed through the empty space.
"Fortunately, the doses weren''t high. Otherwise, she would already be dead. Even so, she''s in terrible physical condition. If this continues, she won''t survive much longer."
Remy scanned his surroundings before lowering his voice. "I called because I need you to inform Axel and Cyrus, the criminal investigator, to carry out the rescue the evening after tomorrow.
"We''re going to wipe out Justin and Sheryl''sboratory at Domere Mountain in one sweep. A simple search won''t uncover anything. I''ll send you the exact coordinates. If the police raid the ce by surprise, they''ll bepletely unguarded.
"Then we''ll have more than enough evidence of Justin''s and Sheryl''s crimes."
Jasper''s eyes burned with intensity. "Why wait until the day after tomorrow? Why not now?"
"Because I need to make sure Amber gets out safely without raising suspicion." Remy''s fists clenched, the veins at his temples throbbing. "With Sheryl''s cruel nature, if the authorities storm in without warning, she''ll kill Amber with her own hands rather than let her be rescued.
"If Amber doesn''t make it out alive, the entire mission will fail at the final step. Everything will be meaningless."
He did sympathize with the other victims. But he wasn''t a phnthropist, a savior, or a god. The only person he could save was Amber.
The rest would be left to the authorities and to whatever fate awaited them.
He closed his reddened eyes. "Besides, if Axel finds out now, with his temper, he''ll charge in alone tonight to save her.
"Justin has fortified the base with heavy weapons. Even if Axel had superpowers,ing here now would be suicide. So you have to wait until I get Amber out."
"Understood."
Jasper fell silent for a moment
before speaking again. "In all the time I''ve known you, this is the most I''ve ever heard you say Are you stepping into the light because you''ve finally seen Justin''s true cotors? Or because you''ve remembered who used to be?"
Who he used to be?
Was Jasper referring to Damien Taylor-the young, handsome flight captain with the dazzling smile? Could he ever be that man again?
"What about you, Mr. Jasper?"
Instead of answering, Remy posed a question of his own. "Have you regained your feelings for Ms. Alyssa?"
Jasper stiffened up. A dull ache throbbed deep in his heart, spreading through his body, heavy with sorrow. The pain felt painfully real.
"Stay reachable and wait for my update."
With that, Remy ended the call. The phone screen dimmed once more.
Jonah and Ss were in the hospital hallway. Rose had rushed over as soon as she heard that Alyssa had fallen ills she had cried so much th?t her eyes were swollen and red, barely able to stay open.
"Jonah, you need to eat something."
Ss ced the lunchbox on a chair and sighed. "Rosie made this. It''s still warm.
Just have a few bites, okay?"
"Thanks, Rose, but I''m not hungry."
Jonah kept his gaze lowered, gripping his phone tightly as he waited for news from Cyrus about Julien''s whereabouts.
But there had been no updates.
Just then, familiar, steady footsteps echoed down the hallway. The three of them turned at the same time and saw Jasper walking toward them—tall, yet visibly worn.
"Jasper..."
Surprise shed across Jonah''s face.
Jasper stopped in front of him, his gaze fixed on Jonah. After a brief hesitation, he asked, "How... is she?"
Jonah swallowed hard. "Lyse is still unconscious, but the doctor said she''s not in serious condition. She was just in too much shock and had low blood sugar. She might wake up tomorrow."
"May I see her?" Jasper asked, his expression as cold as ever.
But his voice was hoarse, and his once sharp, clear eyes were now bloodshot.
A pang of sorrow pierced Rose''s heart as she looked at his indifferent expression.
She clenched her clothes, grief for Alyssa overwhelming her.
Even as an outsider, she couldn''t bear to see two people who once loved each other
so deeply be like this. Alyssa had once been the recipient of Jasper''s unwavering, selfless devotion.
They had sacrificed everything for each other. How could Alyssa possibly endure this?
"If you''re only nning to take a
quick look, there''s no need." Ss
steadied himself and stepped
forward to block Jasper. "You took exhausted to0,
Mr. Beckett. You
should go home and rest.
"I''m not just taking a quick look." Jasper slowly shifted his gaze to Ss. He spoke
each word clearly. "I want to stay and keep watch by her side. Is that okay?"