"Are you dumb? Do you not know the reason you're trending? How could you be proud of that?" Sophia berated Betty.Betty rubbed her forehead angrily. She wasn't dumb—she was just momentarily distracted when Alice trended along with her."S-So, what do I do? The scandal is bad for me. Now that everyone knows Alice saved the girl, I can't fight back against public opinion. Am I really going to be crushed by that country bumpkin?""I've talked to your dad on your behalf. He says that you should never clarify or apologize in any way. Just keep quiet about it!" Sophia said in a low voice. She continued, "Jasper will settle this for you anyway. He won't allow any threat to the Beckett Group. Just keep a low profile and ride this out. Don't do anything stupid in public. Got it?"Betty felt better after being comforted by Sophia. She hung up and continued shopping at the luxury store she owned with the two friends she met at the bar last time.At the same time, a Rolls-Royce rolled to a
"You heard her? This bitch wanted me to apologize to that hotel employee …" Betty cackled. "Did you hit your head or something?"When Betty threw her head back laughing, her two plastic girlfriends were laughing hysterically as well."Why couldn't Betty complain as a hotel guest? Her necklace was broken. And she received crappy service.""That's right! How dare you ask for an apology? Do you own the hotel? There's no end to this."Sean squinted at the ladies. He believed the two dumb women would frantically take back their words when they found out that Alyssa owned all the KS Grand Hotel branches in the country."Aren't you worried that this incident might ruin the image of Beckett Group that Jasper has carefully maintained? You might bring shame to the company." Alyssa carelessly stared at Betty."Hmph! Don't you dare threaten me. I'm not the president of the company. Why would I care?" Unbothered, Betty rolled her eyes. Betty continued, "It's Jasper's job as the president to
"Why not? I'm not sitting back and waiting to be attacked by an animal." Alyssa dusted her hands and glared at Betty."D-Did you just call me an animal?" Betty's face reddened in anger.At that moment, the door opened. Alyssa looked across and felt a chilly air swept by her.Next, she watched in shock as Jasper showed up in front of them. The ex-couple looked stunned when they locked eyes.Alyssa looked away coldly as though he was a stranger. He pursed his lips. There was a heavy look in his eyes as he wrestled the frustration deep inside."Jasper!" Betty seemed to have found her savior. Crying and wailing, she complained to him, "Alice White has gone mad! She slapped me in the face! You'll have to see to this!""Yeah, it was me. Her cheeks are probably still burning." With a smirk, Alyssa proudly admitted to slapping Betty."Why are you here?" He gave her an unfeeling look."What do you think?" In the past, Alice always stared at him with light in her eyes. She appeared to
"You jerk! Give it back!"Alyssa blushed as she leaned softly against Jasper. To keep her balance, she pressed her left hand on his broad shoulder. She moved around endlessly. Jasper wouldn't go easy on her either and retaliated with the hand on her waist.She trembled when she sensed his tightening grip on her waist that screamed possessiveness. She felt the heat from his palm through the thin fabric. Still, Jasper remained focused on the phone. His face betrayed nothing, not even lust.The onlookers were shocked when Alyssa called Jasper a jerk. They were even more astonished when Jasper seemed unbothered by the insult.At the same time, Sean was sweating profusely but couldn't find a way to drag Alyssa back. Betty gaped at the intimacy between the two, especially knowing they weren't close during their marriage. Meanwhile, the two girlfriends almost bit their manicured nails off from burning jealousy.Frowning, Jasper swiftly deleted all the vulgar photos of Betty on Alyssa's
"No, you are too arrogant. If I could, I would erase you from my life once and for all. I'd rather have never loved you."Jasper gave her a look of shock. He felt a tremor through his body. His throat was dry. She attacked him with progressively harsher remarks.When he collected himself, she had let go of his hand and wandered past him. Sean hurried after her and didn't forget to glare at Jasper on his way out. He didn't overhear the conversation between Alyssa and Jasper, but he believed that Jasper wouldn't have said anything nice."Jasper, have you deleted those photos? What a shameless bumpkin she is, threatening me with the photos. Thanks for protecting the reputation of our family!" Betty took Jasper's arm in excitement to show off their sibling relationship.Much to her dismay, Jasper appeared sullen because he was deeply affected by the words of his ex-wife. His piercing gaze swept past her face.She cowered and quickly withdrew her hand."Were the photos Photoshopped?"
Throughout the journey back home, Alyssa did not utter a word. She looked spent, just like a broken robot.Jasper's unforgiving words felt like someone had poured a bucket of cold water over her. She was shaking in rage from head to toe. Why had she never noticed that shameless and vile side of him?Love might not guarantee happiness, but it would certainly turn you blind. "Ms. Alyssa, I have played the video per your instruction. Look, Betty is fighting her two friends!" Sean showed her the video on a phone screen.She glanced at the screen and saw the three women clawing at each other in a horrible catfight."Tsk tsk. Cat fights are the worst. Ms. Betty is doing pretty well. She's still holding up even when she's fighting the two of them. It's a pity she didn't train for wrestling." Sean chuckled with glee."Hmph. They're slapping each other and pulling each other's hair. Nothing interesting about those amateur moves."Despite that, Alyssa couldn't take her eyes off the scree
Jasper lifted a brow as his expression darkened. Before this, he might have been a little moody, but he was truly angered at that moment.…Jasper was called to Javier's study after he changed into a fresh outfit."Daddy! You have to help me out! Poor me …" Betty hugged her dad and cried her heart out. Her tear-stained face was full of injuries from her catfight with her two friends in the afternoon. Even her lips were chapped. She looked pitiable.Seated on the couch, Javier hurriedly consoled his daughter. She looked like a mess, unlike her usual well-presented self. "Jasper's home. I'll ask him about it.""The scandal is getting out of hand. I got a few calls asking about Betty. I honestly didn't know what to say." Sophia teared up upon mentioning her beloved daughter. "People are cursing Betty out online. How can she ever show up in public? How will the other elites in Solana City think of us?""Sophie, don't worry. I will not let them bully my daughter." Frowning, Javier had
Did Jasper just announce he wouldn't get a divorce?Sophia and Betty were taken aback by his sudden change in attitude. For a moment, Sophia forgot about her outburst while Betty stopped crying."Jasper Beckett! Are you defying my order?" Jasper, the out-of-wedlock son who was never favored, always went against Javier's wishes since he was young. Now that Jasper was appointed the president, he became even more brazen with his newly-attained power and publicly defied his father.Jasper was equally shocked by the smooth objection."What are you thinking? You were the one who wanted a divorce from Alice and to marry Lia! But you don't want to divorce Alice now that I asked you to. How could you take marriage lightly? I've raised a useless son!""Taking marriage lightly? That sounds about right." Jasper was enraged and restored with squinted eyes, "Like father, like son.""You prick!" Like a detonated bomb, Javier lost control of himself and slapped Jasper hard on the face. Even
Soon enough, Jasper and Jonah found themselves surrounded by a horde of fighters. The atmosphere was charged with a vicious, merciless tension that heightened their awareness. They were now in the underground parking lot of Berenike Hotel.This was one of the Beckett family's properties, with Newton overseeing the construction personally.Berenike Hotel had always been the leader among all the five-star hotels in Solana City. Yet, on this day, when a critical press conference was about to begin, Justin chose to start a massacre in the hotel's parking lot, disregarding the potential damage to the hotel's reputation. His actions were utterly insane and perverse. "Shall we each take down ten of them?" Jonah nudged Jasper with his elbow. Narrowing his eyes, he added, "The press conference starts in ten minutes. Think you can wrap this up by then?"A cold, fierce glint flashed in Jasper's usually dull eyes. "I'll take down 15 and leave five for you." "Why only five for me?"Jasp
The golden iris stood as a symbol of triumph."Ms. Alyssa, we're on track. We'll make it to the press conference on time!" Sean declared, stepping on the accelerator with a fiery look in his eyes. "Safety first," Alyssa reminded him in a calm, steady voice. Surprisingly, at this crucial juncture, she appeared composed. "Taty is due soon, and you're about to become a father. As a family man, you shouldn't be as reckless as before." The thought of his unborn son brought a blissful smile to Sean's face, softening his fiery resolve.Alyssa closed her eyes, though her mind remained in overdrive. The truth was, she was forcing herself to stay alert. Ever since Amber's disappearance, she hadn't had a single restful night. The once carefree Alyssa, who could sleep through anything, was long gone. Her frayed nerves left her in a weakened state, but she held on.She had survived when others hadn't, and that resilience fueled her belief that she could endure again. This time, she wou
In an instant, the woman burst into tears. Remy, in an alarmed state, scanned the area outside the car. Satisfied that he was momentarily safe, he loosened his grip on the woman, only to discover his palms were damp. The woman's face was drenched in tears. As he stared into her misty eyes, recognition dawned on him—she was the woman who had chased him at the hospital, frantically calling him "Damien". This could only mean she was Damien Taylor's mother. Remy straightened abruptly, putting distance between himself and Mandy. A surge of emotion tightened his chest, leaving him shaken. Silence blanketed the car. Despite her usual composure, Mandy was overwhelmed. Her tears were unstoppable as she gazed at him. Nothing else seemed to matter. At that moment, Mandy's driver opened the car door and climbed in, saying, "Mrs. Taylor, here are the desserts you ordered for Mr. Taylor—"Remy's reddened eyes darkened. His muscles tensed as he reached for the door handle, ready to l
"Younger brother?" Jonah echoed. The mention of Damien brought a sharp pang to his chest. Memories of the plane crash flashed before his eyes. He continued, his voice tight with emotion, "Even if he is my brother, he allied with the devil and chose a corrupt path. I am severing ties with him!"With that, Jonah slammed his arm down, a decisive gesture."Jonah! No!" Jasper shouted.In the next instant, Remy, with an almost unnatural calm, grabbed the blade of the dagger with his bare hand. Blood began to flow from his palm.Jonah's heart twisted in agony. Family meant everything to him, yet here he was, inflicting harm on one of his own."I didn't come here to stop you," Remy said, his voice low and strained as he met Jonah's reddened eyes. "But I must stop both of you. This is my mission."Jonah stared at him, stunned. "Why—""Because I work for Sir. I have no choice but to follow orders."Turning to Jasper, Remy said, "Go." …After watching them leave, Remy trudged through
Jasper and Jonah went to get Sebastian and Xavier out of the car. The four of them then bolted toward the other end of the alley. A clamor broke out behind them. Jasper glanced back, his heart pounding.Warmth surged through his hardened heart as he saw Axel holding his own in a brutal fight against over a dozen assassins, skillfully subduing them one by one."Jasper!" All of a sudden, Jonah stopped in his tracks. Jasper turned to see what had caught his attention, and his heart sank. Standing at the alley's end, silhouetted against the light, was a tall figure radiating a presence that commanded fear. Though the man's face was obscured, his unyielding presence was unmistakable. It was Justin's right-hand man, Remy."Mr. Beckett, w-what should we do?" Xavier stammered.With a fierce glint in his eyes, Jonah took a step forward. "I'll hold him back. The rest of you, keep going." "Xavier, take Dr. Bender to the press conference immediately. Don't let anything stop you." J
"Maggie, I love you!" Xavier typed.Maggie replied, "Xave, you're not usually this corny. What happened?" Xavier couldn't bring himself to tell her that those words were his final ones if something happened to him.His phone buzzed again. It was Maggie sending another message that read, "I love you too, Xave." Tears filled Xavier's eyes. His lips quivered, and his heart raced. He cursed under his breath. It was time to go all out. With that, he grabbed the machete, swung open the car door, and swiftly took down two of Jasper's attackers.But Xavier wasn't a fighter. He had no real combat experience. It didn't take long before a blade sliced into his arm, the deep cut searing with pain.Jasper's eyes widened. He roared, "Xavier, get back in the car!"Distracted, Jasper's opponent swung a machete at his face. Xavier gasped, "Mr. Beckett!"Luckily, Jasper dodged the strike, his reflexes quick. He retaliated by snapping the attacker's arm.Xavier, pale and shaking with pain,
Frightened out of his wits, Xavier yelped, covering his head and crouching low in his seat. It wasn't that he was a coward. He had been brave in the past, but this situation was unlike anything an ordinary person would face.Working for Jasper meant Xavier didn't have to worry about his livelihood, but every day was a gamble with danger. If this continued, he might have to keep Nitroglycerin on hand just to survive.Jasper, with his strong, muscular frame, shielded Sebastian beneath him.He knew the attackers were after Sebastian, the witness, aiming to eliminate anyone who could tip the scales against them. If they could take down Jasper too, or at least injure him severely, it would be a bonus.These people were ruthless. Sebastian, oblivious to the danger, was muttering the Lord's Prayer under his breath. He didn't know that the man protecting him was sometimes more powerful than any deity."Don't lift your heads! Arrows aren't like bullets—they can pierce glass but not the
Time was ticking. The press conference was about to begin. Landon escorted Sebastian out of the manor and into Jasper's car. He glanced at Jasper, who sat in the back seat, his expression calm and composed.With concern etched on his face, Landon said, "Jasper, let me come with you. I can't feel at ease otherwise."Jasper met Landon's gaze, firm and aloof. "Don't worry, Landon. You've done enough. It's time for you to step back."If Landon continued to help, he would only get caught up in the chaos. Despite his current difficulty in articulating his feelings, Jasper couldn't forget that this was his best friend, the one he'd stood by for more than 20 years. Landon had endured so much to finally be happy with Lauren, and Jasper wasn't about to be the one to disrupt that hard-earned happiness. Understanding Jasper's stubbornness, Landon turned to Xavier. "Call me immediately if anything happens.""Don't worry, Mr. Harper," Xavier reassured. With that, Sebastian climbed into
That said, this strategy came with its own risks. It was as if Jasper and Axel were placing all their bets on Remy for the time being."Justin doesn't control someone without a reason. Since he has control over Remy, he will make full use of him."Jasper's chest tightened, a weight pressing down on him like a massive rock. He continued, "The only way to find Amber is to understand Justin's intentions clearly."…The press conference was scheduled for 5:00 pm at Berenike Hotel's Conference Hall A on Saturday. At 3:00 pm sharp, Justin sat in the president's office at Beckett Group, his expression frigid. He sat upright on the couch while Sheryl, standing beside him, carefully tended to the wound on his left ear, changing its dressing with caution. It had been only two days since he was shot in the ear. His flesh had been stitched up, and the stitches looked like a grotesque centipede crawling along his ear. There was no way to conceal the injury unless he donned a shoulder-lengt