"Jeffrey, surrender yourself." Jasper kept it short and simple. The look on his face was glacial. At that moment, the flow of blood from his injured left shoulder echoed in his ears. His breaths were shallow, and he had little energy left to spare on Jeffrey.The few assassins burst out in laughter. "Sure, Mr. Beckett. I'm here, right in front of you. Come and arrest me," Jeffrey taunted as he cocked his head to the side. His expression gradually became more sinister. "But, do you still have the energy left to do so? Shouldn't you remove the bullet on your left shoulder?" he questioned. Jasper clenched his teeth, maintaining the same look on his face. "If you delay it any longer, you might lose your left arm. Don't say that I didn't warn you." Before Jeffrey could continue, Jasper raised his hand and pointed the black nozzle at him.The assassins reacted swiftly by lifting their guns and aiming at Jasper!Both parties were ready to fire at any moment. The atmosphere ar
Jasper's death would be sufficient for Jeffrey to exact his revenge. However, if captured alive, he would serve as their cash cow!Jasper thought this was an ideal opportunity. It was great news. Jeffrey's greed was a golden opportunity for him! Jeffrey waved his hand and shouted, "Everyone, take him in alive! We'll be rich!" The assassins rushed forward and mobbed Jasper.By now, his left arm was incapacitated. Gritting his teeth, he took aim at their hearts with his right hand and, without a moment's hesitation, fired once at each person, and each of them dropped dead on the spot. Ignoring the deaths of their comrades right before them, they pushed forward with feral ferocity, resolutely charging to capture Jasper alive.It was a few billion dollars, after all. A few billion dollars! Even if it were a billion dollars, it would be enough for them to live worry-free for the rest of their lives. They would no longer need to dirty their hands! Those who died only had thems
Simultaneously, everyone looked up toward the sky in astonishment. If there were any fairies in real life, this woman would be one of them. If angels were to ever descend to earth, this woman was that angel! Just as they lowered their guards, Alyssa shot a fierce look, raising her gun and firing three consecutive shots at Jeffrey.When she realized that she missed, she fired again and again! At that moment, Alyssa was in the zone. She aimed her gun at him and fired it non-stop. She looked as if she wasn't going to give up unless she shot him down. The recoil from firing the Desert Eagle was too strong for a woman. However, Alyssa's grip on the gun was perfectly stable. Her movements were very professional, making it obvious that she had been trained professionally. However, it was a shame that her aim was not as accurate. None of her shots fired were on target. At the same time, Jeffrey was like a badger. With quick and sly movements, he dodged the bullets among the tr
"Alyssa!" Jasper felt as if his heart was about to burst from the panic. He forgot about the ripping pain in his wound momentarily. He dashed across without hesitation and opened both arms with shocking determination. Fortunately, he caught Alyssa in his arms. The gunshot wound on his left shoulder became aggravated right at the moment when he caught her. His black-colored top became completely soaked in his fresh blood. But he felt no pain at all. Instead, he felt relieved that he managed to catch her and let out a sincere smile on his face. He recalled the time when he was a child. Whenever he got injured or went to the hospital for injections, Anne would give him candy to suck on. Having the candy made him forget all about the pain. And, at this very moment, Alyssa was his candy. He could get through anything as long as she was with him. While being held in his arms, Alyssa caught a whiff of a strong, metallic, bloody smell from his body. Her heart wrenched at the so
Had it been a second longer, Alyssa would have been trapped in the cage like an animal waiting to be slaughtered.Then, she heard a sinister laugh coming from the shadows. "Jeffrey! Come out here this instant!" Having tagged along with Jonah and Axel for training since she was young, Alyssa possessed superb hearing. In an instant, she identified the direction of the sound, gripping her gun with both hands. Aiming at the barely visible shadow, she pressed the trigger.She was surprised to find that she had run out of ammunition. She had used up all her bullets during the intense gunfight earlier on.Before she knew it, she was drenched in sweat, and her shoulders were trembling. She promptly felt around her back, only to discover that her backup cartridge clip wasn't there. Panicking, she glanced around her and saw that the cartridge clip had fallen to the ground a few steps away from her. She accidentally dropped it while dodging the trap a moment ago. Right when sh
Alyssa expended all her energy to hold onto him, repeatedly calling out his name by his ear. Yet, Jasper, who always responded to her, could not do so now. "Lyse!""Jasper!" "Lyse! Axel is here!""Lyse!" "Jasper! I'm here!" Jonah, Axel, and Landon were finally there to convene with them. Jonah fired two consecutive shots. One of his shots smashed Jeffrey's kneecap into pieces, whereas the other hit him on his arm. He dropped his crossbow to the ground and started howling in pain. Even so, he wasn't going to give up. He crawled on the ground to retrieve his weapon to fight back. Fortunately, Axel was alert and agile. He swiftly positioned himself in front of Jeffrey. Smirking wryly, he placed his foot on Jeffrey's hand and angrily ground it into his hand."Ah!"Jeffrey's scream tore through the eerie night. The cracking sounds as his bones broke were enough to make everyone's hair stand. Jeffrey's hand, once used for countless evil deeds, was now rendered completel
Landon transported Jasper to the best hospital in Tsulu's capital city as fast as he could. Jasper was in a critical condition as he had suffered a severe injury and had lost a lot of blood. Ever since Landon was young, he barely cried. However, he couldn't help but tear up when he saw how pale and weak Jasper looked as the medical staff pushed him into the emergency room. He quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. "Mr. Harper," said a cheerful voice from behind him. Landon was taken aback. He then turned around in confusion and noticed a man dressed in scrubs. "You are …"He had a vague memory of him. It was the man whom Alyssa brought as her partner to the cocktail party at Berenike Hotel. "I'm Julien Lovelace. You can call me Dr. Lovelace." Right after he introduced himself, he walked past Landon. As he brushed past him, he said in a low voice, "I will handle your friend's injury." "You? You are a doctor?" Landon stared at him with a gaze full o
Yet, it felt as if Alyssa's soul had gone over to Jasper's side. All that was left was a beautiful outer shell. Jonah let out a quiet sigh. He unbuttoned one of his shirt buttons and reached into his collar. He retrieved a silver cross, which he wore at all times. "Give this to Jasper when he wakes up." He placed the chain into Alyssa's palm and closed her fingers around it. "Jonah, this … This is …" she stammered in surprise, her eyes reflecting a sense of astonishment. "This chain isn't worth much, but it holds significant meaning to me. I've been wearing it for over ten years. Mysterious as it may seem, it has protected me all these years. Whenever I find myself in danger or get into big trouble, it has helped me get out of those situations." Jonah smiled bitterly, but he had a burning determination in his eyes at the same time. He continued, "Now that it has come to this, there is nothing else that I can do. It is all up to God. We just have to wait and see if Jasper
Jonah's gaze burned with a mix of longing, sorrow, and something deeply affectionate. The world swam back into focus as Julien looked at Jonah. Without preamble, he asked, "Are you new? How much do you charge per night?"Light-headed and grinning, Julien reached out a hand, his fingers brushing softly against Jonah's cheek. "You're pretty good-looking," he said, his voice slurred. Then his expression shifted. "Why do you… look so much like someone I hate with every fiber of my being?"Jonah's heart clenched. Even so, he slid his arms around Julien's waist. Trembling, he pulled Julien into his arms. "I'm new here. Could you help me meet my target tonight, Mr. Lovelace?"Julien's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Jonah. Jonah's eyes teared up as he held Julien's waist tightly. "I promise you won't be disappointed," he said, his voice deep. Watching from the shadows below the stage, Evan nearly gagged at Jonah's sultry tone. Was this really the Judas he knew? The man sounded downri
The bar was alive with striking lights and thundering music, and the air was thick with the scent of tobacco and alcohol. The atmosphere was one of moral decay—corrupt, degrading, and vile. "Where's Julien?" Jonah's voice cut through the noise, his tone icy and sharp. When Jonah stepped inside, the eyes of several men turned toward him, their gazes filled with illicit intent."Why, hello there. Are you here alone? Are you feeling lonely?" A sexy man sauntered over, draping himself over Jonah's shoulders. He let his hands linger with a playful squeeze. "If you're bored, I'd be happy to keep you company." Jonah's expression darkened. His hands trembled, veins bulging with barely contained rage. Suddenly, Evan burst through the crowd, his face twisting in alarm at the sight of Jonah surrounded by a swarm of predatory men. Evan yelled, "Don't touch him!" A heavy thump reverberated through the room. Gasps erupted as people scrambled back.The man who had draped himself over
Rafe stated, "But Beckett Group is in the middle of a storm right now. If I insisted on giving your corporation the project, my superiors would investigate me. I wouldn't be able to escape unscathed!""If you're investigated, I'll make sure you can still live a life of luxury—even if you lose your job." Justin's tone darkened. "But if you turn against me, you won't just suffer a few losses. You'll lose everything."Under the dim moonlight, Justin fiddled with his antique tea cup, his gaze narrowing. "You've worked so hard to get to where you are. Are you prepared to lose it all?"After ending the call, Justin turned to Remy, who stood quietly at the side. "Sheryl is still being detained. She can't be bailed out for another two days. I need someone to watch over the research lab. You'll handle that."Remy was taken aback. "I failed my last mission. Aren't you going to punish me?"Justin's smile was cold and insincere. "It wasn't your fault. You were ambushed. If not for that, I tru
Remy pursed his lips, bending down to pick up the fallen poker card. It was the King of Spades—an entry pass to Kings' Club. "My attacker was…" Remy's pupils constricted as he tightened his grip on the card. "It can only be that dear uncle of mine, always claiming to see me as his own son." Justin's lips curled into a sinister smile. "He's trying to get rid of my right-hand man, taking advantage of my internal feud with Jasper. Weakening me is just his first step toward gaining control over me."He's been a fugitive ever since his successful prison break, never returning to Cyrris after receiving his life sentence. His power base remains in Kontina. "I'm the last surviving Dutton. The Dutton Group, as a cover, has declared bankruptcy and severed all ties with the country. "My dear uncle has taken a huge risk just to target me. He sent his men to attack you in Solana City. What a delightful surprise. It seems he truly doesn't trust me, his only remaining family."Remy lowere
The hospital ward grew heavy with silence. Mandy and Neil stared at Alyssa, stunned beyond words. "M-Ms. Alyssa, you knew that man was Mr. Damien?" Neil asked, disbelief etched into his voice. "Yes." Alyssa's reply was quiet, her lips pressed into a thin line. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "We found out when Cyrus took Damien's cigarette butt for a paternity test."Mandy approached Alyssa, her shoulders trembling slightly. "So, you and Cyrus knew… and you both kept it from me?" Mandy said, her voice catching in her throat, tears welling up. Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. "Mandy, I'm sorry. It was my decision. Cyrus had nothing to do with it."Mandy's tears fell freely now, her grief spilling out in raw sobs. "Do you know what it's been like for me all these years, thinking Damien was gone? Winston, Miley, Lyla, and Colene kept telling me to move on. I tried to accept that he was dead, that we'd never find his body. But I never did."Her vo
The hospital ward was bathed in a dim, yellow glow from the bedside lamp. The silence was thick, yet the room held a strange warmth—an unfamiliar comfort that felt oddly familiar to Remy.Pain radiated through his body as he struggled to sit up. His eyes fell on Mandy, who was asleep beside his bed. Her hair was a mess, and her swollen eyes suggested she'd been crying. She was sound asleep. Remy stiffened. His breath quickened as he stared at her fragile figure. Slowly, he leaned forward, his fingers lifting slightly, tempted to reach out.Just as his hand hovered close, Mandy's lashes fluttered. In her sleep, she murmured, "Damien… Damien… I miss you so much…" Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent and unbidden.A pang tugged at Remy's heart. Without thinking, he brushed away her tears with his calloused fingers. The moment his skin touched hers, a jolt shot through him, sharp and electrifying. Pain throbbed at his temples, but beneath it was a warmth he didn't want to let g
Justin's casual question hit Javier like a thunderclap. Shock rippled through him, freezing his expression. His voice trembled with fear as he barked, "What nonsense is that? Are you accusing me of causing Chester's death? I'm your father—how could you think I'd do such a thing?""It's not an accusation. Just the facts," Justin replied coolly, crossing his legs and savoring his tea with unsettling calm. "And I'm not condemning you. In fact, I understand why you did it. I'm facing the same dilemma now."Javier's breathing grew ragged. He had watched Justin grow from a child into the man before him—now a predator, circling with quiet menace."You were meant to be the heir as the eldest son," Justin continued, his voice smooth as silk. "But Grandpa favored Uncle Chester, handing him major projects, grooming him in plain sight. "Uncle Chester's reputation soon eclipsed yours. He was a natural leader, adept at business, with one fatal flaw—he was kind. Too kind. Unlike you."Justin
Nonetheless, night had fallen by the time Justin arrived at Seaview Manor. On his way there, he worked on two things. First, he secured the top legal team to get Sheryl out on bail as quickly as possible. Second, he tried reaching Remy—unsuccessfully. He had never lost contact with Remy before. Justin's face was as dark as the night itself. The moment he stepped inside Seaview Manor, Rory approached with a solemn expression. He gave a slight bow before speaking. "Mr. Justin, what took you so long? Mr. Javier has been waiting.""I was occupied," Justin replied coolly. Then, as if it were an ordinary evening, he allowed a faint smile. "Where's Jasper? Is he back here yet?" A conflicted look came across Rory's face. "Things between you and Mr. Jasper have soured. I doubt he'll want to see you anytime soon—or show up here.""Is that so? How disappointing."Justin's smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze lingered on Rory, sharp and bottomless. "So, he'd rather believe what he se
Jonah scoured every corner of the hotel, desperation clawing at his chest, but Julien was nowhere to be found. "Jonah!" Alyssa called out, breathless as she caught up to him. She grabbed his arm. "Calm down! I'll help you search for Jul!""I can't find him. He's gone," Jonah murmured, sinking to the floor. His tears mixed with sweat, creating dark patches on the ground. "Lyse… I fear… if I can't find Julien this time, I'll lose him forever."The agonizing thought of losing the love of his life pierced him. "No, you won't!" Alyssa gripped his arm tighter, her voice trembling with conviction. "If Jul had given up on you, he wouldn't have come here today. The fact that he showed up means he still cares."Jonah's eyes were bloodshot, filled with a pain too deep to hide. He shook his head slowly. "Julien came back for Jasper. He did it because he's loyal… because he's a good friend. Not because of me.""He does care!" Alyssa insisted. "If he didn't, he would've faced you without fli