The caller chuckled. "Oh, what will you do, Mr. Schmidt? Your fiancée seems intent on putting you in trouble.""It's all worth it, even if she hates me." Jameson adjusted his glasses with an unreadable expression in his eyes."When are you going to get rid of Inigo? You'll be done for if he falls into Alyssa and Jasper's hands.""I bought a new private jet. It'll be delivered next week," Jameson replied with a chilling smile. "I'll send him and his sworn brothers on a trip to the afterlife with that jet."…After a brief catchup with Alyssa, Axel excused himself early, as he had to meet with Jonah and the rest.Meanwhile, Alyssa looked a little messy after a day of traveling. Although she had changed into fresh pajamas, her hair was soiled. As a clean freak, she couldn't accept it."Ugh! It's smelly!" She sniffed her hair in disgust. "I can't. I feel like I've just gotten out of the mud. I need a shower.""No, you're not smelly at all." Jasper pulled her into a hug and buried h
Why didn't she tell him? Why? Jasper repeatedly tortured himself with the same questions ever since he learned the truth.Had he known she was pregnant with his child and subsequently suffered a miscarriage, he might have acted differently."Jasper, please stop blaming yourself. You're not the only one at fault for failing to protect our baby. As the mother, I am at fault, too." She blinked and flashed a carefree smile at him, which only added to his heartache. She continued, "Even if you made it back on time on that day, there was nothing much you could do about the car accident. I'm thankful that Grandpa was safe, or else I'd feel guilty about it for the rest of my life."Tears brimmed in his eyes. Staring at her through tears, he felt his throat going dry. He croaked, "You had many opportunities to tell me about it afterward, but why did you keep it to yourself?"Lowering her gaze, she retreated into the bathwater, appearing somewhat pitiable. "You were busy with work all the
"What happened?" The look in Jasper's eyes hardened. He silently met Alyssa's eyes."Just now, Victor and Josh Schmidt bailed him out from the police station. Not only that, they brought along a group of reporters with them."Josh shamelessly cleared David's name in front of the media, claiming that someone had framed David. He said it was all a misunderstanding." Xavier's voice broke due to his rage."Fuck! How did that happen?" Alyssa jumped up from the bed. Jasper went pale and hurriedly pinned her back onto the bed. "Lyse, be careful! You don't want the needle to come off.""How is that possible? That fucking pervert couldn't have been released from the police station." Alyssa grabbed the phone and yelled at Xavier in panic, "Jasper and I have made the arrangements. Winston knew about this as well. Knowing how much he cares for Taty, there's no way he would allow the Schmidts to do so. Why didn't he stop them?""M-Madam, please calm down," Xavier croaked, his throat dry from t
Jasper's brief response was enough to prove the depth of his love for Alyssa.By then, Jonah and Alyssa had reconciled. After all, Jonah was as important as Jasper to Alyssa. It pained her to be angry at Jonah. All she desired was to fight against the Taylor family's control."But Jonah, why has David Schmidt been released on bail? Why hasn't Winston taken any action?" She was worried."That's the reason I called." Taking a deep breath, Jonah gritted his teeth and revealed, "Lyla discussed with Dad and decided to withdraw the lawsuit in consideration of Tatiana and the family's reputation.""They're dropping the lawsuit?" Alyssa and Jasper were astonished to hear that."Yes. Otherwise, David wouldn't have been released." Jonah sounded frustrated. "On top of that, the Schmidts had paid off the media to vindicate their son and portray him as the victim."Even if we wanted to take action, we can't do anything now that we've legally withdrawn the lawsuit.""Is Winston senile? How co
Jasper rested his chin on Alyssa's head and rubbed against it. "Sure. If it's your wish to get rid of Daisy Schmidt, I'll see to it."…"Taty… Why?" Sean was astonished to learn that Tatiana had dropped the lawsuit. Kneeling beside the bed on one knee, he gripped her sweaty hands and offered, "I can be your legal representation. I'll battle the Schmidts on your behalf. We will win this court case for sure, so why are you backing down? We must continue the fight against the Schmidts until the very end.""I'm sorry, Sean..." Hugging her knees and curling up in bed, she looked at him through tears. "I understand your sentiments, but I'm sorry..."The more she apologized, the more painful and suffocating it became for him. Tatiana was not at fault. The blame lay with the Schmidts and that scoundrel David."Sean, can we put an end to this case? Please stop fighting for me." Tearing up, she shook her head. "I'm a Taylor. The Schmidts can't do anything to me. But what will you do if you
Sean's heart sank as he scrambled to the living room.Winston wasn't home at the moment. Apparently, he had received the news about Alyssa's daring escape. She had jumped from the second floor just to meet with Jasper. The enraged Winston hurried to Solana City with Neil.However, it was said that Jonah and Axel had stopped Winston during his journey. To stop Winston from separating the loving couple, Axel went to great lengths by puncturing the tire of Winston's car. No one knew where the two brothers had sent Winston.Only the women of the Taylor family were at home that night."Mom, you're not in great health. Take it slow." Simon helped Sinead Everton onto the couch and gently comforted her, "Now that we know Sean has been with Ms. Tatiana, you have nothing to worry about. "He's nearing his 30s, but this is his first relationship. Understandably, he's all excited. This is what you get for having a son. Once he marries a woman, well… "Anyway, Sean isn't a cold-blooded man.
Mandy flipped, resisting the urge to grab a fistful of soil from the flower pot and shove it into Sinead's mouth."Mom, what did you say?" Sean rushed down the stairs to his mom with resentful eyes. He seemed to be burning in rage. "What did you just say? How could you?"The sight of Sean with gauze on his left eye and bruises on his face worried Sinead. She cried, feeling bad for him. "Oh, my dear son. What has happened to you? Who did this to you? I'll kill him!"Then, she reached out to touch his face with a trembling hand, but he swatted it away. He threatened, "If you want me to see you as my mom, you need to stop being mean."Sean felt his blood boiling. "By the way, Taty is my woman. I won't marry anyone except for her. Don't ever associate her with that trash of the Schmidt family!""Sean, you… you…" Sinead was tongue-tied after being shamed by her son in public."Sean, what are you doing?" Simon went up to hold his mother, concern etched on his face. "Mom missed you a lo
Despite wanting to keep Tatiana company, Sean had no choice but to see his mom to the hospital.Silence descended on the living room after the massive family argument just now. Too shocked to speak, Lyla clutched her sleeve with one hand and held Mandy's arm with another."Lyla, are you okay?" Mandy caressed Lyla's cold hand."I'm fine," Lyla croaked."The Schmidts are rascals, but the Lynches are not better." Mandy shook her head indignantly. "I thought they'd at least be grateful for Winston's favor. These ingrates! Sean is a good guy, but his parents and brother are unbearable. I'm worried they'd bully Taty if she marries Sean.""Mandy, that's enough." Lyla closed her eyes and shook her head remorsefully. "It's not anyone's fault. I'm the one to blame. I'm too weak and useless to promise my daughter a happy marriage."Unbeknownst to them, Tatiana had witnessed the scene unfold from the second floor. She overheard Sinead and Simon's taunt, and she saw Sean going against his fam
This time, the injection did not bring the excruciating pain that once made Amber wish for death. Her chapped lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed deeply into Remy's eyes. He, too, looked at her, his expression unreadable yet intense. Between them, no words were needed."Damien… Thank you…" Though her voice was barely audible, the weight of her words sank deep into Remy's heart. For once, he did not object to being called Damien.The truth was, ever since Amber had been taken, an unbearable pressure had settled over him, making each breath feel like a punishment—every day since had been plagued by self-reproach and regret.If he hadn't stopped her that night and let her go sooner, could she have avoided Sheryl? Could she have been spared the torture and humiliation?"You should know that those who enter this place never leave. Most don't even make it out alive."Remy's gaze was unwavering. Taking advantage of the surveillance blind spot, he placed his
"Mr. Lexington," the doctor greeted respectfully, lowering his head slightly. Everyone at the base knew who Sheryl and Remy were. They were the ones in charge, the decision-makers. So, everyone obeyed their orders without question. To the staff unaware of the facility's true purpose, Sheryl and Remy stood at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Unbeknownst to them, someone more powerful lurked in the shadows."How has she been these past few days?" Remy asked, his expression unreadable."She's had some adverse reactions, but there are no signs of organ failure yet. Honestly, I'm surprised. She looks frail, but her body is incredibly resilient—stronger than some men, even."The doctor scoffed. "But I'm not sure if she'll make it past her fourth injection today. Last month, four test subjects didn't survive beyond that point. Their bodies have already been sent to the incinerator." Remy's jaw tensed. His voice was husky as he said, "As I've instructed, this woman must be kept alive.
Xavier seethed as he took in the insincere smile on Justin's face. Deep down, he was cursing him with every profanity imaginable. "Whatever makes you happy."Ignoring Justin's dark gaze, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead as he strode past him.Out of nowhere, Justin chuckled and asked, "Did you really think you had people on your side during the board meeting?"Jasper halted, his eyes narrowing. "Grandpa tried his best to shield you, but his health is failing by the day. How much longer do you think an old man can protect you?"Lowering his gaze, Justin idly adjusted the ruby cufflinks on his sleeves. His voice was casual yet cutting. "And Lyse—after how ruthlessly you discarded her, do you still believe she'll stand by you no matter what? That she'll fight alongside you like before?"The intense midday sun accentuated the sharp, aloof, and pallid features of Jasper's face as he stood, unyielding, in its glare. His pulse quickened. Finally, he answered, his voice a low rasp. "R
As the board meeting concluded, the crowd gradually dispersed.News of Justin securing his position as president and Alyssa joining the board quickly spread through Beckett Group.After the meeting, Alyssa escorted Newton back to Crescent Bay while Jasper remained at the corporation to handle some matters.With Xavier accompanying him, Jasper strode toward the chairman's office, his expression cold and unreadable.Nearby, a few employees huddled together, whispering."Psst! Do you think Alyssa joining the board means she's teaming up with Jasper to take down our new president?""People have been saying they broke up since they haven't been seen together for a while," another speculated."But at the press conference, Alyssa openly condemned Mr. Justin. That looked like she was siding with Jasper. So, are they still together or not?""Come on, to people like them, personal feelings don't matter—only their own interests do. Even if they broke up, they can still work together if it
When Jonah reached the bedside, he leaned in slowly, giving Julien an unobstructed view of his tanned skin, well-defined abs, and that devastatingly captivating face. Reclining against the headboard, Julien found himself lost in Jonah's eyes. His breath hitched, and his mind momentarily blanked as Jonah's mesmerizing gaze locked onto him. What could he do? His heart still betrayed him, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He was a fool—a pathetic fool. Jonah braced his arms on either side of Julien's head, his dark eyes overflowing with a raw, possessive affection. It was as if he sought to consume Julien—just as he had last night."Julien, does it still hurt—" "Fuck you!" Julien's bloodshot eyes blazed as he swung his hand, landing a sharp slap across Jonah's face. The illusion of his frailty shattered. A crimson handprint bloomed on Jonah's cheek in a split second, the flesh puffing up visibly. But the sting barely registered. Not when the ache in Jonah's chest was alr
Justin frowned as a hint of surprise flashed across his dark eyes. He had assumed Newton's unannounced appearance at the board meeting—along with Alyssa's involvement—was a coordinated effort with Jasper to overthrow him as president. After mentally running through hundreds of countermeasures, the one possibility he hadn't considered was that everything would proceed smoothly in his favor. Javier was equally stunned, though this outcome aligned with his desires. Today, Justin wasn't merely his son but a constant shadow looming over him, a silent predator watching his every move and reminding him that his past actions weren't completely buried. Instead, this secret loomed like a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment, obliterating everything he'd built. And the person holding the detonator was Justin—his eldest son whom he had trusted above all others. With a dim gaze, Javier watched Justin rise to his feet amid the applause. Suddenly, Justin's voice seemed distant,
Justin curled his lips into a smirk, scoffing in silence. Newton had gone to great lengths to bring Alyssa into Beckett Group. This was his way of decentralizing power and keeping it in check, and he wanted to prevent Justin from having complete control. Unlike others, Javier couldn't hold himself back. He blew his top instantly, his face turning red like a tomato. "Dad, have you lost your mind? Don't you know who she is? She is KS Group's president—our direct competitor!"KS Group is also bidding for Project A5. No matter how much you favor her, you should at least recognize the limits. If you promote her, it's a blatant conflict of interest—outright cronyism!" Newton sneered. "I might understand your concern if I were promoting someone other than Alyssa."His gaze hardened. "Cronyism? A conflict of interest? I wonder who you're really talking about."With those words, he cast a knowing, enigmatic glance at Justin's blank expression. Just then, a board member from Javier's
Despite his age, Newton exuded the same energy and sharpness he had in his younger days, even when surrounded by the board members brimming with vigor. Despite his quiet presence in the wheelchair, an intimidating atmosphere clung to him. In an instant, Javier was transported back to the days when he worked under Newton's strict supervision."Good day, Mr. Javier and all fellow board members. I assume no one has any objections to my presence at this meeting?"Newton's gaze swept across the room, a perfunctory smile gracing his lips."Of course not. You are part of the corporation's board of directors!" the members responded immediately.Newton nodded. "Much has happened within the corporation lately. Our shares have been fluctuating amid the controversy. "As you all know, I had intended to retire after dedicating most of my life to this company. I wanted to step aside for the younger generation rather than hover over them like a specter, micromanaging everything. "However,
Jasper's arrival plunged the conference room into an uneasy silence, and heavy tension settled over the space. Justin looked up, his expression a frozen mask. A palpable chill emanated from him. Javier's eyes widened in surprise. "Jasper? What are you doing here?" "Even though I'm no longer the president of Beckett Group, I remain a shareholder and board member. It's only natural for me to be here," Jasper replied smoothly as he strolled to his seat. As he passed behind Justin, he abruptly stopped. Without a moment's notice, he struck the back of Justin's chair. The sudden impact made Justin flinch. "Am I right, Justin?" Justin's expression darkened. Forcing a smile, he replied, "As a board member, you have the right to attend, even if you're no longer involved in operations. There's no issue.""If that's the case, why wasn't I informed about this meeting?" Jasper lowered himself into his seat, legs slightly parted, exuding an air of indifference. Yet, beneath the nonc