Jasperâs 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 Callaghan had given him and began cleaning out his injuries.
âLyse,â 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. âYou remind me of someone, Lyse. Someone I met a long time ago.
Alyssa was focused on tending to his wounds and merely responded with, âWho?â
âI donât know either.â
âWhat do you mean you donât know?â
âI mean, I really donât know who they were,â Jasper said as he recalled those memories from years ago- that personâs lithe but strong figure appearing in mind. âI was still in the Peacekeeping Forces when I met.
her on the battlefield.â
Alyssaâs 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 didnât 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.
âWeâd receive a nearly impossible mission at the time-to rescue the hostages held by Luminaraâs terrorist forces and ferry them to a safehouse before handing them over to the embassy.
âWe 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.â
A bitter smile appeared on Jasperâs face as he continued, âIf it werenât for the White Dove, I would never have made it home alive.
âShe dragged my injured ass back to the camp, urging me to stay alive throughout the trip. I donât know where Iâd be today without her.â
âWhite ⦠Dove?â Alyssaâs voice trembled just the slightest.
âMhm. I donât 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.
âWhen i woke up from my rest afterward, sheâd already left the camp. I never even got to thank her or ask for her name. It was something I still regret.â
Jasper sighed and continued, âIâve not stopped looking for her all these years. But no matter how many sources I use to search for her, nothing ever turns up. Itâs as if sheâs just disappeared from the face of the Earth.â
Alyssa gently clasped her chest to calm herself. Her palms were moist with sweat.
So Jasper hadnât forgotten about her even after all these years.
âWhen you were cleaning my wound just now, you suddenly reminded me of her, soâ¦.
Alyssa swallowed her panic and teased, âLooks like youâve had your fair share of women for years, huh? You were still dating Liana during your time with the military, no?â
Jasper pursed his lips. Why did Alyssa involve Liana in every little thing he mentioned to her?
âStill, it makes sense. Being away from the love of your life while youâre in the military, Iâm sure finding another woman to focus on helped tide you through the pain,â Alyssa drawled.
âLyse,â Jasper said warningly.
âIf you you managed to find your White Dove, Iâm sure you could recreate your military fantasy with her,â
Alyssa didnât seem to plan to stop her mocking.
âDonât insult the woman who saved my life, Lyse.â Jasper suddenly grew immensely serious. âThough weâve only met one another once, she holds an important place in my heart that can never be replaced.
You can get angry or try to tear me down. So be it. But please, show some respect to White Dove.â