On the other hand, Jasper suppressed news of Jeffrey Snyder receiving medical treatment, and the prisoner who had attacked Jeffrey was under arrest as well.Not long after, Xavier received a call from the warden, who exclaimed, "Mr. Beckett's foresight is amazing! I've had people secretly poke around about Jeffrey Snyder these two days. I did what Mr. Beckett instructed and released the news of Jeffrey Snyder's death from the prisoner attack.""That's great. Thank you for your help. Mr. Beckett will reward you handsomely for it," Xavier replied, after which he relayed the updates to Jasper.Sitting in his office, Jasper was lost in thoughts while he stared at his lock screen background, which he had set to a photo of a bare-faced Alyssa sunbathing on the balcony when they were living together.He couldn't help but smile tenderly as he traced her profile."Wow! Madam is so pretty. No one would be able to resist her charm!" Xavier craned his neck and admired Alyssa's photo with exci
Sophia stroked Betty's hand, praising her, "You're the best. You did well in this matter. I will have to thank you."Betty's voice turned icy. She wondered, "Mom, do you remember your promise to me?"After a pause, Sophia groped her way to the drawer by the headboard in the dark and took out a leather envelope, which she tossed to Betty.Betty immediately picked up and held the envelope to her chest, asking, "Mom, what's this?""Take a look after this.""I can't wait any longer!" Betty shot up and left the room without another word.Sophia suddenly stopped her. "Wait.""Anything else?"Sophia shot her a disdainful and confused look. "I do not understand why you're hell-bent on ruining your sister's marriage. Is it to get back at Landon because he's not into you? Even if you ruined their relationship, he will not take an interest in you. Don't ever dream of marrying him.""Yeah, you hit the nail on the head. All I wanted was revenge." Betty clutched the envelope tightly as a sc
Finally, it was the day of the annual horse racing event. Every year, the members of esteemed families from across the nation would congregate at the event, which would be live-streamed on national TV stations. Even foreign royalty would be in attendance, further adding to the merriment.Each year, a selected distinguished family would host the event, and it was the Schmidt family's turn this year.The venue was set to be Eastbrooke Racecourse, built just half a year ago. Victor couldn't contain his excitement at the prospect of the racecourse holding its inaugural large-scale event even before its public opening—a good omen and brilliant marketing for the racecourse.On the other hand, Newton Beckett had skipped events like these due to his old age. Javier was attending with Sophia this year. Meanwhile, Jasper would arrive at the event separately.When it was time to leave, Betty hurriedly strutted out in her high heels while clad in a sexy bodycon pink dress. Her inappropriate an
"They're nothing without their families. They cannot hold a candle to Alyssa Taylor at all!"One married lady suddenly interjected sarcastically, "What's the point of having multiple careers? At the end of the day, Alyssa Taylor is nothing more than a divorcee who's dumped by Jasper Beckett."Two young ladies, who had been chatting with each other, rolled their eyes at the married woman. "Ms. Alyssa is the only daughter of Winston Taylor with his first wife. She's the real princess of the Taylor family. I guess you're just envious of her.""What type of outdated mentality was that? A divorced woman is not worthless. I'd even say that marriage is just a burden for rich and powerful women.""Absolutely! By the way, didn't you watch the interview last time? Jasper Beckett admitted that he had cheated on Alyssa Taylor. So, why would she keep a cheater around? She must have dumped him over the affair."Upset, the married woman held her tongue and seethed in silence without another word
"And who might that someone be?" Cornelius asked, his brows furrowing with discontent."Who else can she be? It's Sophia Kirkman's second daughter, Lauren Beckett," Zoe grabbed the chance to tell on Landon.She casually teased, "Landon hasn't been home lately. He's built a love nest with Ms. Lauren out there, where they spend most of their time. The last time Mom was sick, I was the one who got her to the hospital. I guess Landon's put his family behind even before marrying Ms. Lauren.""Zoe, can you please stop?" Penelope mumbled, not because she wanted to protect Lauren. She worried that Cornelius might be upset at Landon.Preston grinned, remarking, "Ms. Lauren must be a stunning beauty. Knowing Landon, he's never been so serious with any woman. From the sounds of it, Ms. Lauren has won his heart.""My grandson falling for Sophia Kirkman's daughter? Ridiculous!" Nostrils blaring, Cornelius tapped his walking stick on the ground. "Why are they living together before marriage? Is
As calculative as ever, Zoe would never give up any opportunity to be seen with Jasper. If she made her entrance with Jasper, she would cause a commotion and be the object of envy.More than everything, she would be mistaken as Jasper's plus-one. Jasper had never graced any social events with a plus-one, even in the three years he was married to Alyssa.If Zoe could take advantage of this opportunity and make herself appear as his plus-one, she could prove her special place to the media. After all, actions mattered more than words.The misunderstanding would eventually turn Jasper and Alyssa against each other, thus creating an opportunity for Zoe to work her way into the relationship.While strategizing in her head, she noticed Jasper approaching her. Heart racing, she blushed and purred, "Jasper …"To her dismay, Jasper treated her with his usual indifference. His expression hardened as he stared through her as if she was invisible.Gritting her teeth, she held the hem of her d
Jasper, who had given Zoe icy stares just moments ago, immediately warmed up at the sight of Alyssa.Zoe had known Jasper for years. He treated her kindly when they were younger but always devoid of passion. His reaction to Alyssa proved that Alyssa was special to him.Green with envy, Zoe watched as Jasper approached the lady of his dreams and the love of his life.Naturally, Alyssa noticed Jasper walking toward her. His towering height made him hard to overlook, drawing attention along the way.Jonah whispered into her ear, "Lyse, he's coming." Usually stern, he seemed to be teasing her at that moment."Why pay him any attention? Just pretend he's not there." Alyssa pouted, though her heart raced."I've made him promise not to interact with me at the event, as I don't want trouble. Why isn't he listening? "He promised to listen to me, but he's not keeping his word. Filthy liar!" she cursed. Filthy liar? Jonah had to stifle a laugh. It appeared the couple preferred expressing
Lyla was grateful for her life, even though she thought that she didn't deserve her luxurious life at times.The arrival of the Taylors marked another climax of the event. Jasper's walk toward Alyssa became the media's focus once again as the shutters clicked in a frenzy.Winston, shooting daggers at his troublesome ex-son-in-law, fumed and resisted the urge to punch him in the face.Jasper gazed into Alyssa's eyes with sincerity, his heart racing. "Mr. Taylor, may I have your permission to make my entrance with your daughter? I would love Alyssa to be my plus-one."Hearing that, Alyssa bashfully pressed her lips. It was rare to see her flustered."Mr. Beckett, I believe there are many who wished to be your plus-one. Why does it have to be our Lyse?" Winston cast a piercing gaze on Jasper without any attempt to play nice."Yes. It has to be Lyse," Jasper confessed. Taking a deep breath, he reached out a hand to Alyssa. "I only want her by my side. I'll always keep a place for h
When Axel heard the news, he immediately returned to the city where his organization was based. Without even reporting back to work, he booked the earliest red-eye flight to Cyrris. His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, and when he emerged from the arrival gates, an ominous air surrounded him. A black luxury car awaited him at the exit.Standing in front of the car were Jasper and Xavier, who had been waiting anxiously for his arrival.Axel's gaze locked onto Jasper's fiery eyes. His presence radiated fury, unrestraint, and a barely contained viciousness. A strong gust of wind swept through the terminal. Snow danced in the air, tangling both Jasper's and Axel's hair into disarray."Let's talk in the car, Axel," Jasper said in a low, measured voice.Red-eyed, Axel insisted, "I need to find my wife right now." "That's exactly why I'm here. Get in the car, and we'll talk." Jasper turned on his heel. His tone grew colder. "But let's be honest—you won't find her no matter ho
Jasper wanted to console Alyssa but found himself at a loss for words. So, he remained silent. "Disappointed, aren't you?" Alyssa sniffled as she smiled bitterly."Not at all." Perhaps he had been expecting too much. As a woman, she was intelligent, capable, and a strategist for victory. Beyond that, she boldly stepped forward to fight against the dark forces. She was strong and perfect as she was—why should he expect her to be anything more?Yet, seeing Alyssa's vulnerable side unsettled him. Something tugged at his heartstrings, a deep ache he couldn't ignore."I found it! I found Ms. Altman's cell phone!" With more manpower and better visibility as the sun rose, it didn't take long to locate Amber's bloodied phone. "Ambs…"Alyssa's face drained of color as terror gripped her at the sight of the bloodstained device. Jasper, on the other hand, remained composed. He tried powering on the phone, and to their surprise, it turned on. "What's the password?" Jasper asked g
"Five times more potent than the previous version? Are you sure it's safe for Remy to consume this?" Sheryl picked up the pill, unease flickering across her face. As much as she despised Remy, she couldn't deny his prowess as a fighter and his value as Justin's right-hand man. Having him around would certainly ease Justin's workload, prompting her to double-check."It won't kill him, but it won't be pleasant either. Don't worry—it's temporary," Justin replied, a sinister smile curling his lips. He continued nonchalantly, "When he takes the pill, his adrenaline will spike, flooding him with energy while his muscles tense. He'll feel both pain and euphoria. Then, it will fade, leaving him dependent on the drug moving forward." The implication was clear to Sheryl. Justin intended to control Remy through addiction. "Remy wasn't born for the shadows," Justin continued, his gaze darkened. "He's just a victim of post-traumatic amnesia, his nervous system subdued with sedatives and anes
"Got it, Mr. Harper!" Harper Group's subordinates acknowledged before swiftly dispersing. "I'm going to search for Amber too," Alyssa said, turning to leave.Jasper caught her arm. "It's freezing. Go wait in the car." Landon chimed in, "Lyse, listen to Jasper. Just wait in the car. We'll search for Amber.""No—I have to come too!" Alyssa sniffled. The sharp wind stung her face, leaving her nose raw and crimson, her eyes watering until they puffed into tender, swollen crescents. "Amber's in trouble because of me. I was careless—it's all my fault!""Lyse…" Landon's heart sank at her remorseful expression.Jasper's gaze softened as he studied Alyssa's pale face. "Her disappearance isn't your fault."Tears welled in Alyssa's eyes as she shook her head. "Amber means everything to Axel. If anything happens to her, I won't be able to face him. I don't deserve to be his sister. Please, let me come with you."Jasper and Landon failed to dissuade her. Reluctantly, they agreed. Alyssa
After studying Sheryl for a moment, Remy turned and left."M-Ms. Gillis, are you okay?" One of Sheryl's subordinates came forward to help her up."Useless bastard! Why didn't you step in when he hit me earlier?" Sheryl's voice trembled with fury as her gaze fell on the crimson stains marring the pristine snow.Stammering, the subordinate replied, "R-Remy acted too quickly. Everyone in the organization knows how good of a fighter he is. None of us stood a chance against him!""S-Something wasn't right about him tonight." Sheryl watched Remy's retreating figure disappear into the distance, her voice dropping to a menacing murmur. "I need to report this to Mr. Justin in person immediately."Inside his car, Remy gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands but made no move to drive.Closing his eyes, he felt a suffocating sensation rise in his throat, as though he were drowning in an endless, hopeless sea. He was just a speck, sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss.A shar
With a piercing gaze, Sheryl glared at Remy, who stood in front of her car with an air of frigidity around him. The temptation to ram her car into the crestfallen man was almost irresistible, but she didn't dare. Remy was Justin's right-hand man, and even her audacity had limits. Instead, Sheryl pulled her white coat snugly around her, stepped out of the car with feigned composure, and strode toward him. Hostility crackled between them as their eyes locked.Sheryl broke the silence. "Remy, is there nothing you'd like to update me about?" she asked with a sinister look in her eyes. Stiffly, Remy asked, "Where did you take that woman?" "How shameless of you to question me. Mr. Justin was wise to send me as backup. Otherwise, Amber would have escaped without a trace!"Gritting her teeth, Sheryl took a step closer to Remy. "Is this how you handle tasks entrusted by Mr. Justin? The unstoppable Remy, brought to his knees by a wild brat? Or did you let her go intentionally? Are yo
"Jameson and Carl have been eliminated. Who else could be targeting Amber?"A sharp glint flashed in Jasper's eyes as a thought struck him. "Could it be Justin or Sheryl?" he asked, his voice low and tense.He recalled seeing Justin in the living room earlier that evening, wide awake instead of resting. Was Justin waiting for something? Or perhaps, provoking him in subtle defiance?"They are the only ones I can think of with a grudge against Amber." Alyssa's anxiousness made her voice tremble. "Having worked for Jameson for years, Amber must have visited Mosgravia multiple times to meet with Sir—who is, in fact, Justin. "Justin wouldn't have met anyone else besides Jameson. But how could he leave no trace after all those interactions? Amber must have figured out his true identity. And Justin—he must have realized who she is, even with her changed appearance."Jasper's expression darkened. "So he decided to eliminate her as a precaution."Tears welled in Alyssa's eyes, threaten
Searching for Amber without direction would be pointless. Jasper made a swift decision to bring Alyssa back to the manor, shielding her from the relentless chill of the wind. Once inside, he immediately began organizing the search. He deployed his men and contacted Landon, requesting additional support.The two of them sat together on the couch.This time, there was no space between them. It was as though an invisible force drew them closer, their proximity feeling natural yet electric. Neither could say who had moved first.Alyssa, however, was in no mood to dwell on their closeness. Wrapped in her down jacket, she curled up on the couch, her arms hugging herself tightly. A quiet frostiness emanated from her as she sat in silence, listening to Jasper's calm and methodical calls to mobilize his team.In the past, his composed presence would have been enough to ease her mind. But now, her thoughts were a tangled mess, each one like a razor claw tearing at her heart. The pain was u
"Ms. Gillis, I've searched her thoroughly. She doesn't have anything on her." Sheryl's brows knitted in frustration. "How can that be? Where's her cell phone?" "There wasn't one." Sheryl, no longer concerned about dirtying herself, stepped forward, grabbed Amber by her hair, and forced her to meet her gaze."You bitch," Sheryl snarled. "You came to The Millennium at this hour for a reason. What did you find? Hand it over, and I might spare your worthless life!"Amber spat a mouthful of bloody saliva directly onto Sheryl's face."Fuck! You bitch!" Glaring at Amber, Sheryl rolled her sleeves up and slapped her twice in the face. Even so, it wasn't enough to quench her fury. She yelled, "Take her back!" Two of Sheryl's subordinates moved forward, dragging a limp Amber away. Sheryl's reddened eyes burned with fury as she wiped the spit off her face. She was teetering on the edge of madness."Search the area! Retrace her steps and leave no stone unturned!"…Jasper drove to