Jasper noticed the subtle physical changes within himself. Nevertheless, this was not the time to dwell on them. A calm, restrained expression returned to his face.


    "It''s time to put Beckett Group''s newly developed drone to use.


    "Send someone to operate it, activate the signal jammers, and head to Domere Mountain immediately. I want a preliminary scout of the area to get a general idea of where that secret base is located.


    "The new drone is not onlypact, but it also runs on the most recently developed top-tier chips, giving it the best search capabilities currently avable on the market. If we can pinpoint the base''s exact location, it will make things much easier when we assist Remy in rescuing Amber the day after tomorrow."


    "Got it, Mr. Beckett. I''ll make the arrangements shortly."


    Xavier nced toward the hospital ward, concern filling his eyes. "How is Ms. Alyssa doing, Mr. Beckett?"


    "She''s... fine," Jasper replied, briefly pressing his slightly swollen lips together.


    Xavier picked up on the lingering, suggestive air about Jasper, and his heart filled with quiet glee. Even so, he kept a serious expression as he continued, "Mr. Beckett, you rushed to the hospital the moment you heard something had happened to ma''am.


    "You can be honest with me. It''s obvious that you care about her. She''s the one you care about most!"


    All of a sudden, a grim look surfaced in Jasper''s eyes as he said in a low voice, "I now know why she did what she did."


    Confused, Xavier asked, "What do you mean, Mr. Beckett?"


    "Her motive for approaching Justin."


    Jasper shut his reddened eyes briefly, forcing down the emotions that were threatening to burst out of him. The veins at his temples throbbed as he continued, "Because I understand what she''s thinking.


    "That means that I can no longer act willfully or continue getting close to her."


    Utterly disappointed, Xavier asked, "Why not?"


    "To Justin, I am a thorn in his side-someone he has always wanted to eliminate. The only reason he hasn''t acted against me is that the timing isn''t right. He''s been waiting for the perfect opportunity."


    Jasper lowered his gaze, suppressing his rising emotions. "If he finds out that I approached her, he will stop at nothing to strike me in the most ruthless way possible. I''m not afraid of dying, nor am I afraid of getting into trouble. I''m only afraid that..."


    A sharp pain pierced his chest, leaving him unable to finish his sentence.


    He was afraid that Alyssa would be implicated because of him, that all her efforts and carefullyid ns would go to waste.


    She had worked so hard to get close to Justin in order to gain his trust. Jasper did not want to be a variable in her entire scheme.


    Xavier finally understood and sighed helplessly. Still, he pressed on. "If-and I mean if-none of these obstacles existed, do you truly love ma''am? Look deep within yourself, Mr. Beckett. Do you want to grow old with her?"


    With his back to Xavier, Jasper slowly slouched. An inexplicable air of dejection and destion clung to him.


    He kept reying that lingering kiss in his mind.


    Clutching the hem of his shirt, he felt his heart pounding violently. He had broken


    her heart again and again, leaving her shattered and in agony.


    He was such a terrible person.


    Did he even deserve to say that he loved her?


    ...


    Late into the night the next day, a loud, booming crash echoed through an interrogation room at the police station.


    Cyrus, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion, shoved a inclothes officer hard


    against the table in the interrogation room. He pressed the man''s cheek against the icy surface.


    "Cyrus, are you out of your mind?" the man growled. "Do you realize you''re assaulting an officer?"


    "Oh? So you still remember you''re a cop."


    With his left hand, Cyrus cuffed the man while using his right hand to search him.


    He eventually pulled a small bottle from the man''s pants pocket-one that contained traces of a drug.


    "As aw enforcement officer, you carried cyanide while on duty and even attempted to murder someone to silence him. You don''t deserve to wear that uniform. From this e moment on, you are no longer an officer-you''re a suspect in an attempted murder case!"


    The man''s face drained of color. With hard evidence against him, he could no longer


    argue his way out.


    "Now talk. Who told you to do this?"


    is


    Cyrus fixed him with a frigid re. "A man who attempted to murder the presidents of KS Group and Beckett Group at a high-end cocktail party nothing but a dangerous criminal seeking revenge against society. What was worth the risk that you dared to make a move under my watch?


    "Were you bribed by someone from the Beckett family? Come clean, now!"


    "N-No....." the man stammered weakly.


    Cyrus curled his lips into a cold sneer, the vicious glint in his eyes intensifying. "As


    an officer, you should know that cooperation earns leniency. Otherwise, the punishment will be severe.


    "If you reveal the mastermind now, I can push for a lighter sentence with the prosecution. We were once colleagues, c?n fight for you But you remain stubborn even with your Not


    life on the line, then just w


    even God will be able to save you." Cóntent


    The man trembled violently, unable to hold out any longer.


    "This is yourst chance," Cyrus warned.


    "I-It was someone from the Beckett family who approached me... They wanted me


    to get rid of that man. But I don''t know which one of them is behind it. I''m just a pawn someone they paid to do their dirty work!"


    Cyrus exited the interrogation room looking ghastly after days of exhaustion. His body was on the verge of giving out.


    Just as Alyssa had predicted, Justin had secretly sent his men to eliminate the hitman while the Taylors were in chaos.