Alyssa coldly observed Jameson's fake act as she clutched her fists.Winston cast an affectionate gaze at Jameson and said warmly, "Attaboy. I know your feelings. Don't worry. You'll have many more opportunities to spend time with Lyse."The onlookers gasped at Winston's response as the cameras captured the interaction. As a legendary businessman who was at the top of his field, Winston had never shown such affinity with men younger than him. He clearly approved of Jameson as his future son-in-law candidate.Someone mumbled softly, "Why do I have a feeling that … Mr. Taylor intended to matchmake Mr. Jameson and Ms. Alyssa?""It appears like that to me as well. He's always cold to Mr. Beckett but friendly with Mr. Jameson. It's a clear sign, isn't it?"Besides, everyone in business knows that Victor Schmidt and Winston Taylor are good friends. Mr. Taylor spoilt his stubborn daughter. He wouldn't have approved of her marriage to Mr. Beckett otherwise. Instead, he would have married
"But—" Xavier sounded hesitant.Heart sinking, Jasper demanded, "What is it?""Jameson Schmidt was the one who helped Madam." Xavier broke into a cold sweat when he brought up Jameson's name.Rage filled Jasper's eyes. His jawline tightened as he clenched his teeth. "Not only that, photos of Mr. Taylor and Jameson are circulating online. There are unverified rumors of an arranged marriage between the Taylor and Schmidt families. Madam might end up marrying Jameson Schmidt!" Even Xavier quivered as he spoke.Jasper was clearly more crushed and heartbroken than Xavier upon hearing the news.Nervous, he was about to look for Alyssa when he witnessed the Jesseltons of Mosgravia's Jesselton Incorporated approaching him under heavy security protection."Mr. Beckett, it's the Jesseltons!" Xavier gaped at the entourage. "Damn, are the father and son both here? It could've been a sudden schedule change, as we weren't notified at all."While they were speaking, Ezzo and Zeke Jesselton c
Meanwhile, Zoe kept her head low in anger. She dared not utter a word after what had happened.Betty learned about the incident just now and secretly laughed and relished in Zoe's rare display of dejection.Preston laughed merrily and replied, "Dad, don't mention it. Of course, I'd help my niece. I can't be helping the outsiders, can I?"His remark reminded Cornelius of Landon's recent behavior. Right then, Landon showed up and announced, "Grandpa, Mom, we're here."Everyone turned to look at him. He strode over, fingers interlacing with Lauren, looking as sweet as newlyweds.Landon cast a loving gaze at the shy Lauren, to the envy of the onlookers. Nevertheless, there was tension in the air. Cornelius and Penelope treated the couple with an icy demeanor."Oh gosh, is Mr. Landon with Ms. Lauren now?" Daisy, who was oblivious to the complex dynamics, broke the ice. "Wow, you make a lovely couple! Congratulations in advance to both of you, as well as your parents!"Javier and So
Zoe, feeling emboldened, took the chance to sneer at her brother, "I'd advise you to think twice lest you regret your choice and waste Lauren's time. I know her very well. We went to the same middle school. She's different from those sluts you dated before."Upon hearing that, Javier's expression fell. At this point, he had lost any hope of marrying Lauren to Landon."Grandpa, Mom, Mr. Javier, I know what you're worried about. I was an unreliable brat in the past." Landon took a deep breath and stared longingly at Lauren as his voice trembled emotionally. "But I love Lauren deeply. I'd do anything for her. I'd give her everything."Giving Lauren everything? What joke was that? Cornelius gritted his teeth and tapped his walking stick on the ground but refrained from further expressing his rage in the presence of the Becketts and the other guests.Landon swallowed hard and declared, "I won't marry anyone else except Lauren."Turning to Penelope, he explained, "Mom, you might think I
The Jesseltons' arrival introduced a subtle change to the social dynamics. Javier and the Harpers reacted to the new guests with enthusiasm, though they did not grovel at Ezzo Jesselton as they were on par in social standing. Still, they accorded the Jesseltons much more interest and respect.Jasper was the only one who did not respond to the Jesseltons. Sitting like a statue beside Javier, he cast a passionate look at his lover. Alyssa, engaged in a conversation with Winston, wore a serious expression, oblivious to Jasper's longing gaze.Suddenly, Jasper felt a chill when Jameson, holding a champagne flute, leaned forward to obstruct his view of Alyssa.Next, Jameson slowly turned around to face Jasper with a smirk and raised the champagne flute at him.Jasper froze from head to toe, tightening his grip on his wine glass in rage. Jameson arched a brow and leisurely took a sip of the wine, a clear act of provocation.Jasper held his breath and unknowingly broke the glass in his ha
Alyssa leaned forward, jolted from the emotional turmoil.Suddenly, Winston growled sternly, "Alyssa Taylor, what do you plan to do?" She sensed pressure and turned to look at her father.Winston accused, "Are you going to confront Zoe Harper over a man? I hope you're not as shameless as that woman. Do not make me lose my respect for you, and don't bring shame to our family!"Alyssa pressed her lips tightly together. Jameson, happy at Winston's intervention, grinned as he downed the champagne in his flute.Just when Zoe was about to touch Jasper, he stood up without warning, causing her to lose her balance and fall on her butt. The Harpers' bodyguards went up to help Zoe. However, it only added further humiliation as she attracted unwanted attention from the other guests.Jasper glared daggers at Zoe. "Ms. Zoe, please behave." His warning clapped like a frightening thunder.Alyssa quietly smiled when Jasper distanced himself from Zoe, her heart dripping with honey. No other man
Alyssa stood out as the most attractive and dazzling female among the young ladies from the four distinguished families and possibly even across the nation.From the moment Zeke stepped into the venue, his gaze remained fixated on Alyssa, the charming Cyrrisian lady."You bitch! Who do you think you are—proposing a toast to the Jesseltons? Do they even know you?"Much to Betty's chagrin, Ezzo nodded approvingly and raised his glass toward Alyssa. He chirped, "Alexa, today I learned that you are the daughter of the KS Group president. How many more surprises do you have in store for me? This is not our first meeting anyway. Do skip the formalities."Everyone was taken aback by Alyssa's friendship with the Mosgravian tycoon Ezzo Jesselton, including Javier, who grew uneasy. When Alyssa married Jasper, she concealed her identity, including her multiple careers, never once leveraging her influence for Jasper or the Beckett family.Now that she was divorced, she seemed to enjoy going a
Jasper's public act of chivalry proved to the guests that Alyssa was the only love of his life. Zoe Harper meant nothing to him at all.Jameson clenched his fists, his body tensing. Why was he always a step slower than Jasper Beckett? Why did that scoundrel always manage to be in the place beside Alyssa?Zeke looked visibly upset, but he maintained a smile. "It's the Cyrrisian culture to protect the ladies. Mr. Beckett, you're indeed a gentleman for taking care of Ms. Alyssa. Compared to you, I appear a little too rash. I was wrong to disregard Ms. Alyssa's feelings. For that, I'll drink as a penalty."After that, Zeke downed a glass of champagne. Jasper studied him with a knowing gaze as he confidently downed his drink as well. The timely applause from the audience alleviated the tension, but Javier wore a discontented expression.Betty couldn't help but scoff. "Dad, what's Jasper thinking? Zeke Jesselton clearly has an interest in Alyssa, so why is he coming between them? He's on
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