Chapter 2344

"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 push through the agony, opening his arms to cradle her.

"I am Jasper! Open your eyes! Look at me!"

For someone in a state of hypothermia, falling unconscious could be fatal, even more so when the will was lost.

Jasper's heart raced with terror as he watched Alyssa. He feared she might never wake up if she closed her eyes

now.

The oppressive darkness around them felt suffocating, as though it were closing in, swallowing any hope they had left.

Alyssa, her eyes still wet with tears, gazed at the man before her. His eyes burned with a fire she hadn't seen in so long. Her heart skipped a beat, racing uncontrollably.

But that fire had long been replaced by shadows ever since he'd woken from his coma. His eyes, once full of light, had become darker than the night, colder than ice.

Yet, it was him-Jasper-the last person she wanted to see at this moment.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. Her bloodshot eyes fluttered closed, and with what little strength remained, she pushed him away.

"You are Jasper... but... I don't need you anymore..."

Jasper's brow furrowed, a wrenching pain twisting inside him. He knew the cold had clouded her mind that she was just speaking nonsense. But every word sliced through him, deep and raw.Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.

Ignoring her protests, he reached for the soaked fabric clinging to her, the icy slush weighing her down.

"Don't touch me... Don't tou-"

Alyssa's eyes were reddened. She could do nothing else to resist him than voicing out her protests.

With a somber expression, Jasper stripped off his coat and wrapped it around her trembling form, trying to share what little warmth he had left.

He then retrieved a thermal flask from his backpack, carefully dampening her scarf with hot water and pressing it gently against her chest to thaw the cold.

As his hands worked deftly, some color slowly returned to Alyssa's pale, frozen face. Her lashes quivered slightly. but she remained in a dangerous state.

Despite the bone-chilling cold that seeped into his own body, Jasper lifted her into his arms, carrying her as if she were weightless, plowing forward.

"Jass... per..." Alyssa rested faintly against his arms, her voice a mere whisper, carried away by the wind.

Yet, he heard her clearly. "I'm here."

"Previously... I overestimated myself. I was too stubborn... Tears welled in Alyssa's eyes, the weight of everything crashing down. "I really... don't want to love you anymore..."

Jasper froze, his steps faltering, the shock of her words reverberating through him. For a heartbeat, he stood still, then continued forward, his grip tightening around her fragile form.

"Let me take you away from here," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Everything else can wait. We'll talk later."