Jasper’s gaze took on an unexpected, intense warmth shadowed by darkness.


    There was something oddly familiar about how Alyssa was tending to him right now. She took out some


    antiseptic cream and the medicine Omar Caghan had given him and began cleaning out his injuries.


    “Lyse,” Jasper murmured.


    Alyssa said nothing, though the sudden increase in pressure in her application seemed to serve as a


    warning.


    Jasper winced at the pain but remained adamant. “You remind me of someone, Lyse. Someone I met a


    long time ago.


    Alyssa was focused on tending to his wounds and merely responded with, “Who?”


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    “I don’t know either.”


    “What do you mean you don’t know?”


    “I mean, I really don’t know who they were,” Jasper said as he recalled those memories from years


    ago- that person’s lithe but strong figure appearing in mind. “I was still in the Peacekeeping Forces


    when I met.


    her on the battlefield.”


    Alyssa’s hold on the cotton she was using faltered. Her heart fell into her stomach, pounding heavily.


    All she could hear was its panicked beating. If she didn’t calm herself now, she would expose herself.


    It was o


    good that Jasper had his back facing her; otherwise, he would have seen right through her.


    “We’d receive a nearly impossible mission at the time-to rescue the hostages held by Luminara’s


    terrorist forces and ferry them to a safehouse before handing them over to the embassy.


    “We were barely a hundred men total on our way into a den of fully armed terrorists. It was basically a


    suicide mission, I had nothing to lose at the time, so I just went with it.”


    A bitter smile appeared on Jasper’s face as he continued, “If it weren’t for the White Dove, I would


    never


    have made it home alive.


    “She dragged my injured ass back to the camp, urging me to stay alive throughout the trip. I don’t know


    where I’d be today without her.”


    “White … Dove?” Alyssa’s voice trembled just the slightest.


    “Mhm. I don’t know her name. All I remembered was that she wore a white coat and a mask. She was


    on


    White Dove.


    Alyssa quite liked that.


    “When i woke up from my rest afterward, she’d already left the camp. I never even got to thank her or


    ask for her name. It was something I still regret.”


    Jasper sighed and continued, “I’ve not stopped looking for her all these years. But no matter how many


    sources I use to search for her, nothing ever turns up. It’s as if she’s just disappeared from the face of


    the


    Earth.”


    Alyssa gently sped her chest to calm herself. Her palms were moist with sweat.


    So Jasper hadn’t forgotten about her even after all these years.


    “When you were cleaning my wound just now, you suddenly reminded me of her, so….


    Alyssa swallowed her panic and teased, “Looks like you’ve had your fair share of women for years,


    huh? You were still dating Liana during your time with the military, no?”


    Jasper pursed his lips. Why did Alyssa involve Liana in every little thing he mentioned to her?


    “Still, it makes sense. Being away from the love of your life while you’re in the military, I’m sure finding


    another woman to focus on helped tide you through the pain,” Alyssa drawled.


    “Lyse,” Jasper said warningly.


    “If you


    you managed to find your White Dove, I’m sure you could recreate your military fantasy with her,”


    Alyssa didn’t seem to n to stop her mocking.


    “Don’t insult the woman who saved my life, Lyse.” Jasper suddenly grew immensely serious. “Though


    we’ve only met one another once, she holds an important ce in my heart that can never be reced.


    You can get angry or try to tear me down. So be it. But please, show some respect to White Dove.”