"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
"No! I won't! You can't make me apologize." Betty started making a scene."Xavier, come in." Jasper raised his voice. Hearing that, Xavier knocked and entered the room before greeting everyone with a curt nod."Show the document to the chairman.""Yes, Mr. Jasper." Eyes darting, Xavier handed Javier the document."What's this?""These are last year's and this year's financial reports of EV Concepts, co-run by Sophia and Betty," Jasper said flatly.Sophia and Betty's faces stiffened as they tensed up. "The reports show that the store has been making annual losses of almost 10 million in the three years since its operations. They also received funds from the Beckett Group to pay off the operational costs. "From the start, the agreement dictates that it is Sophia who will take care of the profits and losses. If the Beckett Group doesn't get a share of your profits, we shouldn't have to pay for your losses too."Jasper looked down. "If Betty does not offer a public apology for t
Alyssa tossed and turned throughout the night. Whenever she closed her eyes, her mind would be filled with Jasper's charming look. She could feel his fingers on her waist vividly.The thought made her sit up in bed suddenly. Why would her mind go there when they were divorced?Finally, she slept for two hours and went rowing for an hour in the morning to suppress her desire. After that, Sean prepared a hearty breakfast for her.She looked troubled while eating her bread and eggs and drinking her coffee."Ms. Alyssa, are you bothered by Ella's case?" Sean grabbed a napkin and gently helped her to wipe away the crumbs and oil on her fingers. His elegance could match that of a royal footman."I hate the feeling of losing." She inhaled sharply and narrowed her eyes. However, she did not vocalize the rest of her thoughts—that she hated the feeling of being under Jasper's control."How do you plan to deal with Betty Beckett?" Sean asked."I need some time to think over it. We need to
Alyssa's eyes betrayed her annoyance. She always hated media publicity from a young age. She would never put herself under the limelight unless she absolutely had to."Why would they make news out of nothing? Do they not have anything better to write about?" She took a sip of her coffee. "Whatever. The discussion will die off soon. I've also told Jonah to suppress the news, so we'll see his power at work soon. Let's use the back entrance."At the hotel's back entrance, Alyssa had Sean park the car while she sprinted into the private elevator and went to her office on the top floor. During her trip, she checked the hotel's official Twitter account.Thanks to the effect of the "Prettiest Angel" discussion, the official Twitter received an influx of replies and positive commentaries."I'll stay at a KS Group hotel next time! Their employees are the best!""She's so pretty! Anyone has a high-res photo of her full face?""KS Group is a reliable brand, unlike the Beckett Group. When wi
Landon was a master in the art of flirting, after all."Do you want me to break your bones for real, Mr. Harper?" Alyssa gritted her teeth and fired back. Her eyes were spitting fire.Landon dared not take a step closer. Acting pitiful, he stumbled backward. "Ms. Taylor, that was a joke! You scared me! I'm the victim, anyhow. "What more do you want from me after the hitting, yelling, and ruining my outfit? I can't possibly show up to lunch with my mom in this outfit. Shouldn't you at least get me some new clothes?"Alyssa admitted that she had overdone it. Landon was slightly more reasonable compared to the socially difficult Jasper. When Liana and the gang bullied her, it was Landon who got back at them on her behalf. She always remembered his kindness in her heart."My secretary will get you a new outfit. He'll also book you a room for a shower and rest. How does that sound?" She might look indifferent, but she was quite thoughtful."Oh, that's a lot of trouble. Why don't yo
Alyssa's chest rose and fell. The tip of her nose and her eyes were red. She simply stared blankly at Jasper and couldn't say a word. Without Jasper around, she never realized that fear was an emotion that she could feel. She wasn't afraid of God or the devil. She had fought the dark and evil forces of the world with bravery. But fear overtook her when Jasper appeared just in time to shield her from danger.She wanted to cry, her heart softening. The façade of strength she had built crumbled, leaving her feeling like a fragile pebble in Jasper's hands.She had never known she could feel fear like other women, but it was only with him.Ignoring the pain in his back, Jasper held Alyssa by her trembling shoulders, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. Once he confirmed she wasn't physically hurt and was likely in shock, he exhaled in relief."M-Mister…"Wide-eyed and mouth agape, Sebastian watched Jasper appear out of nowhere. He was shaking uncontrollably, as if his soul had lef
Sebastian recognized the stunning Alyssa immediately. Alarm bells rang in his head as he stumbled back a step. "W-What are you doing here?"Everyone in Solana City knew about Alyssa and Jasper's inseparable bond. Guilt churned in Sebastian's stomach. He couldn't even meet Alyssa's bright, piercing eyes, knowing he had betrayed Jasper."Dr. Bender, please step into my car. There's something we need to discuss." Alyssa's slight smile masked the storm brewing beneath her calm exterior."There's nothing to talk about," Sebastian stammered, fumbling with his keys in a desperate attempt to escape. Turning on his heel, he headed toward his house. But Alyssa's voice cut through the tension. She sneered. "When you schemed against Mr. Jasper, you didn't just wrong him. You wronged KS Group—the company that stands behind him. You should've known I'd come for you."Sebastian froze, his back to Alyssa, trembling."You stupid bitch! What are you trying to do to my father? How dare you thre
"Cyrus, go ahead!" Alyssa leaped to her feet, her anticipation palpable."Sebastian Bender himself doesn't have any history of illegal activities, and his income records appear clean. But there's something odd about him."Alyssa pressed, "How so?" "I looked into Sebastian's assets and income sources. His son is a gambling addict and his wife is gravely ill. Despite being in a high-income bracket, his son has drained the family of nearly everything, leaving Sebastian with just a house and a car."Yet, just two days ago, Sebastian managed to pay for his wife's bone marrow transplant surgery and covered her hospitalization fees—over 500,000 dollars in total. On top of that, he cleared his son's debts of more than three million dollars owed to loan sharks."Alyssa had put the call on loudspeaker, so Sean caught every word. "That son of his is an absolute piece of trash!" Sean exclaimed, his frustration boiling over. "He'd be better off dead!"Cyrus added, "The most suspicious par
The atmosphere in the room was oppressive, the air seemingly turning ice cold. The tension was so thick that it felt as if it could be cut with a knife."What do you think?" The smile on Justin's face widened as his roguish gaze fixed on Jasper from behind.Instead of answering him directly, Jasper delivered a more cutting response. He scoffed. "I get it now." Tilting his sculpted chin upward, a vicious gleam flashed in his eyes. "Someday in the future, you'll regret the decision you made 20 years ago."Justin's brows furrowed deeply at the remark."That was your one and only chance to get rid of me. Too bad you missed it." With that, Jasper turned on his heel and strode off, exuding the confidence of a lone ranger.As the door swung shut, Justin tightened his grip on the pen, the veins on the back of his hand pulsating with tension.…After finishing work that morning, Alyssa learned about Jasper's bail through the trending topics on Twitter. At the same time, a shocking
Jasper's gaze followed the movement of Justin's finger, landing on the nameplate on the desk.The nameplate that once read "Jasper Beckett, CEO" had been replaced with "Justin Beckett" without Jasper's knowledge.Justin had been impatient—erasing all traces of Jasper in the Beckett Group overnight."We held an emergency board meeting yesterday morning," Justin said, his tone calm yet cutting. "With an overwhelming majority vote, I've replaced you as the corporation's CEO." He leaned forward, resting his chin on a triangle formed by his well-defined fingers. "Have your secretary hand work over to mine soon. I've packed your belongings and sent them to Seaview Manor. Thanks for all your hard work these years, Jasper. You can leave the future of the Beckett Group in my hands now."The room fell into a tense silence. Jasper's lashes quivered briefly before he broke into a smile. With one hand in his pocket, he sank onto the couch with a calm, almost careless air. Legs slightly apar
Sitting upright, Jasper didn't want to impose. "Alright, then. Whatever you're comfortable with," he said to Steven. Noticing the haggard look on Jasper's face, Xavier said out of concern, "Mr. Beckett, I'll send you back to Seaview Manor so you can get some rest." "No, let's go to Beckett Group." Jasper lowered his eyes. In a deep voice, he continued, "The regular meeting with higher-ups starts in an hour. Inform all department directors to be in the conference room on time."…An hour later, Jasper arrived at Beckett Group Tower. He disregarded all the strange looks he was getting from the employees as he made his way through the building. With Xavier trailing behind, he took the private elevator directly to the conference room.Nevertheless, the look in his eyes dimmed the moment he opened the doors. Xavier blurted out, "What's going on? Where is everyone? I notified everyone about the meeting!" As Jasper stared at the empty conference room, something started simmerin
"Alyssa… you do?" Newton's bleary eyes brightened slightly.Alyssa hesitated before whispering, "But Grandpa Newton, my idea is quite drastic. It might even affect Beckett Group's shareholder equity—including yours and Mr. Javier's interests."Newton's expression shifted as he pieced it together. "Alyssa, you're thinking of—""Yes," she admitted. "During the recent drop in Beckett Group's share prices, I seized the opportunity to acquire a small portion of shares. I already hold some."If you're willing, could you transfer part of your shares to me? This would make me one of the major shareholders and secure me a seat on the board of directors. Together, we, along with Jasper, could hold enough shares to counter Mr. Javier and Justin."At the very least, we'd prevent Justin from gaining complete control of the corporation."Alyssa frowned as she weighed the pros and cons aloud. "Right now, Mr. Javier is siding with Justin. Even if Justin doesn't gain ownership of Mr. Javier's sha
Also at a loss, Javier yelled anxiously, "Dad! Dad, are you okay? Get an ambulance now!" Panic erupted in the conference room, the air thick with chaos.Justin pushed through the crowd and knelt beside Newton, his gaze heavy with feigned concern as he studied Newton's pale, pained face. "Grandpa, are you having one of your episodes? Please, hang in there."Leaning closer, he whispered with a sinister chuckle, "You wouldn't want to miss seeing me take over Jasper's position as president of Beckett Group."Newton's bloodshot eyes widened as he struggled to speak. "Y-You... m-monster..."Justin's lips curled into a cold smile. "What a flattering compliment. Thank you."…Newton was rushed to the hospital after collapsing.Despite the urgency, neither Javier nor Justin accompanied him as the outcome of the critical board meeting loomed. With Jasper detained, Ben was the only one to stay by Newton's side.Watching Newton being wheeled into the ER, Ben's chest tightened with sorrow
The board members were stunned into silence. One by one, they rose from their seats, greeting Newton respectfully. At Beckett Group, Newton's presence was akin to that of a king. Though he had long stepped away from the corporation's daily affairs, his influence remained unparalleled.He was not only an honorary board member of Beckett Group but also held similar titles in other renowned corporations. In the corporate world, Newton was nothing short of a legend.His unexpected arrival at the board meeting sent shockwaves through the room. The first words out of his mouth—an objection to the proposed motion—made it clear where his loyalties lay—with Jasper."Dad, what are you doing here?" Javier exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise as he rushed forward to steady Newton, who was visibly trembling.Justin narrowed his eyes as he stood up slowly. He was the last to rise to his feet. A flicker of something sinister danced in his gaze, an abyss of calculated intent hidden behind an