Alyssa, meanwhile, was singing a heart-rending aria to Jonah dressed in a sky-blue dress, her voice resounding in the wind. Her hair was pulled up into a casual bun and secured by a jeweled pin. She was the very image of an alluring beauty.Jonah broke into applause once the song was over, his eyes brimming with indulgence. "Not bad. You were taught well. You would've been someone's duchess or something back in the day.""Do I look like I want to be someone's duchess? I want to be a queen who shines with confidence. Men aren't loyal anyway." She shattered the illusion of being a perfect lady in a split second as she cracked her knuckles."So what? We wouldn't have ourselves three stepmothers otherwise." Jonah smiled bitterly.Alyssa adjusted her skirts and sat beside him. The mere mention of her father's three other wives brought a complicated expression to her face."Lyse, it's been three years. They miss you. They care about you enough to ask me about you in private.""What are
Alyssa shot Sean a look, and the latter responded by opening the door."Ms. Alyssa! Ms. Alyssa!" Michael Grant, who had gotten into trouble yesterday, barged in through the door so quickly that Sean failed to hold him back. Alyssa frowned at the man who threw himself at her desk. "What are you doing here, Mr. Grant? I've approved your resignation. You're free to seek employment elsewhere.""This isn't fair, Ms. Alyssa! I've been working at this hotel for nearly two decades! I've given my all to this job and even gotten sick from it. Not even Mr. Taylor would do this to me. How could you fire me just like that?" Michael was sweating buckets as he yelled at her, red-faced."I've read through the particulars of every hotel executive. You're indeed ill with fatty liver and gallbladder polyps. Looks to me like the hotel is really profitable." Her smile was cold.Michael trembled when he picked up on the sarcasm in her words. "I had no idea that … that Elysian sold our hotel low-qualit
"Lia?" Jasper said, calming himself down."Help me, Jasper!" Liana pleaded for help through her sobs. "I'm being surrounded by reporters at Beckett Group … I'm scared!""I'm coming downstairs!" Jasper grabbed his coat and left without a second thought."No, Mr. Jasper!" Xavier stopped him in his tracks. "You should have security head downstairs to escort her instead. You'll be mobbed by the reporters if you go!"Jasper's expression turned somber, and there was not a lick of hesitation as he rushed out the door...."When will the wedding between you and Mr. Beckett be scheduled, Ms. Gardner?""The exposé claims that you and Mr. Beckett are childhood sweethearts. Did you two meet many years ago?""What are your opinions on Mr. Beckett's ex-wife? Is it true that his ex-wife interfered in your relationship?"The reporters were shoving their cameras into Liana's face. Despite there being bodyguards on-site, the situation was still chaotic. The woman played up her meek and weak fac
Jasper escorted Liana into his office under the scrutiny of everyone present in the building. The moment the doors shut behind them, she leaped into the man's arms and clung to him in tears. "Thank you for coming for me, Jasper. I was so scared …"Jasper's eyes were impenetrable pools as he pushed her away."Jasper …" Liana was puzzled."Why did you do it?" His tone was icy, the look in his eyes no less intimidating."What do you mean?""Why did you go to Solana Daily about our marriage?"She breathed a sigh of relief and tried to go back in for another hug. "Because I want to marry you. Don't you want to marry me?""I do, but what you did was inappropriate." His expression remained stern, completely missing his usual gentleness."What's inappropriate? You and Alice aren't married anymore!""There are still procedures she and I have to follow through. I also promised Grandpa we'll only make our divorce official after his 80th birthday." Jasper stepped back to avoid her. "She's
Golden rays shone through the clouds as the sun began to set. Jasper was slumped in the back seat of a luxury car that was on its way to Seaview Manor."I've dealt with the social media accounts that spread gossip about Madam Alice, Mr. Jasper. Their accounts have been shut down, and a lawyer's letter has also been issued. It should be enough for now. But the news about your marriage … We weren't able to remove it from the trending searches. Things … are looking difficult." Xavier looked apologetic.Jasper looked out the window sullenly. All this while, there were multiple occasions when he wanted to contact Alice upon remembering how badly their last conversation had gone. It was embarrassing having to go through Jonah to speak with her. Even if she did answer, what was he supposed to say? Should he apologize for what happened today? He couldn't do that. The words wouldn't come. It felt as if he were being crushed beneath a bolder that was so heavy he could barely breathe.Just as
"Oh my, who's sitting next to the beauty? Isn't that Jonah, the president of Belbanks' KS Group?"Landon raised an eyebrow mischievously and said teasingly, "Isn't Jonah known for leading a virtuous life and never setting foot in such a place? Haha, why is he here tonight?"No wonder Jasper and Landon couldn't recognize him. Alyssa's brothers were quadruplets. Among them, the eldest, Jonah, and the second eldest, Silas, looked incredibly similar at first glance. It was easy for someone unfamiliar with them to be mistaken."Damn it, I'm jealous. Such a beautiful woman should be my lover. What can Jonah give her?" Landon became more and more excited as he spoke.Downstairs, Alyssa was smiling sweetly at Silas.Seeing this, Jasper felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest.Once upon a time, that smile belonged solely to him.Not to mention the widespread scandals seemed to have no effect on her. This woman had the audacity to seek pleasure and revel amidst it all!Meanwhile, h
"Bitch, how dare you splash me in the face? Do you know who I am?" Dylan angrily wiped his face and cursed."I don't care who you are. You drugged a woman and tried to force her to drink it. You're worse than a dog." Alyssa casually flicked her hair, her eyes filled with seduction.Dylan was furious, and his rage was reaching its boiling point. How dare this woman insult him?If it weren't for the crowd around them, he would have rushed forward and slapped this despicable woman!At that moment, two bodyguards from the Gardner family caught up. Dylan immediately signaled them to take her away.She needed a good beating, and Dylan wanted Alyssa to learn her lesson on the bed.The two burly bodyguards lunged at Alyssa. Even though she was tipsy, her muscle memory allowed her to swiftly dodge their attacks, causing the two bodyguards to stumble."Too slow." Alyssa yawned."Capture her!" Dylan shouted angrily as he wiped his face.One of the bodyguards crawled up and reached out to
Dylan was so shocked that his jaw nearly dropped to the ground. So this was Jasper's secret ex-wife. Honestly, her beauty surpassed that of his sister by a considerable margin. His superficial and ostentatious sister wouldn't stand a chance against this absolute beauty if it weren't for her childhood friendship with Jasper."Mr. Beckett, even if she's your ex-wife, that doesn't justify me apologizing to her!" Dylan refused to back down, unwilling to lose face. "If she apologizes first, I'll pretend this never happened!""Your men might have done something to her if I hadn't arrived on time." Jasper's expression was as cold as ice. "Just because it didn't happen doesn't mean you're not at fault. Apologize."Dylan trembled inwardly but maintained his defiant stance.Alyssa's face flushed as the effects of the alcohol kicked in.She only heard something about ex-wife and apology, and she thought, "Does this despicable man expect me to apologize? I might as well twist his head off and
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
"Don't say that. You've done really well so far!" Xavier said gently, his voice a steady anchor as he tried to comfort Julien.He continued, "Many people spend their whole lives unable to quit even common drugs. The substance Mr. Beckett took is far more potent. The fact that he's found any relief at all is remarkable."Jasper's senses gradually returned, but he was left drained, and his eyes struggled to focus. "Julien…" "I'm right here," Julien murmured, leaning in to gently wipe the tears and cold sweat from Jasper's face with a tissue. Struggling for breath, Jasper rasped, "Keep my condition… a secret… especially from her." Julien didn't need to ask who he meant. It had to be Alyssa. It wasn't pride that fueled Jasper's plea. It was something deeper—a desperate wish to shield Alyssa from the sight of his brokenness, to spare her the disappointment of seeing him like this.Xavier helped Jasper to stand before addressing Julien. "Dr. Lovelace, I hope you understand—the f
Xavier gasped for air, his eyes fixed on the washroom door, now barricaded. He felt a sudden, clammy dread. Lost in his throes of addiction, Jasper's eyes glazed over as he succumbed to the familiar pull of unconsciousness. He was a sitting duck, helpless and at the mercy of whatever came his way. With a fierce glare, Xavier snatched up a mop and stormed to the door, his voice sharp and strained. "Who's there?"A steady and low voice came from the other side of the door. "Mr. Hall, it's me. Julien." Xavier's grip loosened, the mop clattering to the floor as tears burst forth. "Dr. Lovelace!" "Don't panic. I'm the only one out here. There's no one else here." Julien's voice softened, laced with urgency. "Jasper is having an episode, isn't he? Let me in so I can take a look at him."Hastily wiping his face, Xavier shoved the cart aside and fumbled with the lock. The door creaked open, and Julien slipped inside, lithe and precise, locking it swiftly behind him. "Dr. Lovelace,
Alyssa's body trembled, disappointment and shock flashing in her eyes. "Jasper…" The reporters' cameras clicked furiously, capturing Jasper's retreating figure. The crowd exchanged puzzled glances."Jasper, where are you going?"Landon, dumbfounded, instinctively moved to chase after him, but Xavier grabbed his arm, stopping him forcefully. "Mr. Harper, leave him to me!" Without another word, Xavier took off after Jasper.A strange unease settled over Landon as he stared at the open door, a sense of impending doom creeping in."Landon, stay here and watch over Lyse. Julien has disappeared—I'm going to find him!" After saying that, the grim-looking Jonah strode out of the room too. "Hey! You—" Landon clenched his jaw in frustration. "Why am I always left behind to clean up the mess?"Meanwhile, the reporters surged forward, swarming Justin.Sheryl tried to shield him behind her, but in heels, she was no match for the jostling crowd. She was shoved about, her outfit rumpl
Mandy remained by Remy's side in the hospital ward, never once leaving him as he lay unconscious. At this moment, like countless other Cyrrisians, she was also watching the shocking turn of events at Beckett Group's press conference unfold through her phone. She saw Julien's unexpected appearance and how he presented his evidence, turning the tide just as Jasper was engulfed by public criticism. Though pride and relief filled her heart, a deep concern lingered.Julien and Jonah had not spoken of it, but everyone in the family could tell—they had broken up. Julien had left for Mosgravia without a word of farewell, only calling her once in haste to say he was fine. Jonah, on the other hand, rarely returned home, and when he did, he looked drained, his once-bright eyes now clouded with gloom that refused to lift.Mandy's heart ached for them both, yet she had no idea what had driven them apart.Now that Julien had returned to support Jasper, there was a chance he would cross pa
Jasper's eyes glimmered as he walked to Julien's side. His trembling hand found Julien's shoulder, gripping it firmly. They exchanged a solemn look. No words were needed.Sheryl's heart pounded with urgency, sweat beading on her forehead. The evidence was undeniable—she had no immediate way out. All she could do was lash out in a desperate attempt to sow confusion."Even with these reports, all they prove is that Mr. Jasper didn't do drugs. It was just a misunderstanding! How can you accuse Mr. Justin of orchestrating this?"Alyssa stepped forward, her expression glacial. A smirk played on her lips as she questioned, "If Sir had nothing to do with it… does that mean you did?"Sheryl's eyes widened in fury. "Sir and I have never—"She cut herself off abruptly, her breath hitching. A cold sweat broke over her skin. She had just called Justin "Sir" in public—his greatest taboo.Alyssa. That bitch. She had set her up.Justin's pale face remained unreadable, but the tension in his