"Lia, this is your chance to turn the tables!" Rosaline excitedly pinched Liana. "Make an excuse and get Mr. Jasper here. He must witness this scene. This will force him to give up on that little whore!""B-But Mom, he's at work now. He rarely goes shopping on the weekends with me, not to mention on a weekday. And …" Liana lowered her voice with a mysterious gleam in her eyes. She continued, "I've gained his favor with the relapse of my 'severe depression.' I need to behave well to win his heart. It's not the time to stir trouble.""You dimwit!" Rosaline jabbed Liana on the forehead. "It's unreasonable to make him spend time with you during work hours. But things are different if you have a solid excuse. It will be a chance to take your relationship to the next level!"She went off, "Being naively considerate is the start of a tragedy! Men are contradictory and shameless, you know. They don't like obedient women. "You'll boost his ego and self-worth if you look for his help imme
A few steps away, Landon and Alyssa walked in Jasper's direction. A tall and handsome man with a cold beauty by his side, they were a match made in heaven.Jasper felt his eyes twitching in rage. He also noticed the shopping bag in Landon's hand. Did the two shop together?However, Alyssa didn't see Jasper and Liana because she was too engrossed in Landon, who was telling a joke animatedly. She looked into Landon's eyes, and they both chuckled.Jasper felt a weight on his chest. The sight pained his eyes. Landon sensed an air of hostility and looked up. His eyes widened in shock. "Jasper! Why are you here?"Alyssa finally noticed Jasper and his sour face. Her gaze swept past Liana, who was in his arms, and a smirk appeared across her face.Knowing it was her chance, Liana held Jasper tighter and glared at Alyssa to claim him. Alyssa was unbothered by the action. In the past, she might have been envious of Liana, but she felt nothing but calm at the moment.To her, Jasper and
What a bastard!"Jasper, my chest hurts …" Liana hurriedly went up to him and rested her head against his shoulder as she grumbled. "Since you're here, why don't we go shopping? You've never shopped with me. Look at Mr. Harper going shopping with Ms. White …"Jasper followed Alyssa's figure with his eyes."Fine."…Alyssa shuffled away, looking upset. Her ex-husband's sudden appearance was a buzzkill that ruined her good mood."Hey," she suddenly called out. Landon answered with a twinkle in his eye, "I'm here.""I'm in a bad mood. Why don't you share a few more jokes?"Landon was speechless at her request. "Well, I can certainly do that. If you're looking to cheer up, I can gather a few people and have fun at ACE tonight.""It's fine. I don't drink with guys I don't know." She shot him a cold look. "By the way, aren't you worried that Jasper might unfriend you if we keep hanging out?""Fuck. You guys are divorced. Even if it's not official yet, it's almost certain. I didn't
The fight over a necklace between the two influential men in Solana City, who each owned a Centurion Card, was the event of a century.The employee stammered in shock at the sight of the two black cards. "S-Sir, we only have one necklace left …""I know." Jasper looked away from Alyssa. "I am buying it exactly because there's only one."Liana almost jumped for joy as she awaited Jasper to give her the necklace. Alyssa pursed her lips at Jasper's insistence as bitterness welled up in her heart. He'd get Liana anything she wanted at all costs. When it came to Alyssa, though, he paid no attention to her feelings."Ignore him. Please charge it to my card and wrap the gift!" Landon arched his brows and rapped his knuckles on the glass display. "First come, first served.""Landon Harper." Jasper frowned. Landon stared at Jasper's sullen face and lowered his voice, "Jasper, you know me. There are not many women I'd like to buy a gift for. Can't you let me have my way this time, conside
Alyssa hastily went to the underground parking lot. "M-Ms. White! Alice!" Landon ran up to her and held her by the wrist. She spun around and cast an indifferent gaze at him."Let go.""What's wrong? Is it because of Jasper?" His throat tightened as he apologized gently, "I'm sorry. I didn't know he'd be here. Had I known, I wouldn't have brought you here."Alyssa was riddled with heartache when she thought of the box that Jasper had wanted to give her. She didn't need him to make up to her."Here. I'm returning this." She lowered her neck and took off the necklace, which she returned to Landon. "Anyway, thanks for the gift. Sorry, but I can't accept it."He was struck by her change of mind. "Were you taking advantage of me just now?""Sorry." Gloom crept over her face.Instead of feeling angry, Landon felt bad for her. He could tell that she needed more time to get over Jasper. No matter how long that'd take, he was willing to wait for her."It's fine. It's not a big deal. Y
Landon was frightened by the callous look in Jasper's eyes.Jasper had never been more incensed—not even when Liana left him and traveled abroad. Landon was merely joking, which was characteristic of him—wealthy but indiscreet, even more so in front of his good friends.He never thought that he'd cross a line by making a joke. It confirmed that the topic of Jasper's ex-wife was taboo.The bartender paled at the sight. Not many in Solana City had the guts to grab Landon Harper by his collar."Jasper, have you … fallen for Alice?" Landon had sobered up, and he was drenched in cold sweat."Haven't you noticed that you've been acting funny since the divorce?" Landon cast a deep look at him. "I'm your only friend from childhood. Aren't you going to tell me the truth?""I don't love her," Jasper growled."Fine, got it. I'll take your word for it.""Landon Harper!"Landon ignored Jasper's wrath and added, "Jasper, I'll repeat myself. If you have fallen for Alice and wish to get bac
"I tried pursuing my true love, only to be badly scarred." Alyssa tasted bitterness on her lips. She wore a crushed expression. "I met the right person at the wrong time. I'd never love again."Jonah furrowed his brows, concerned for his sister, who had given up on hope at her tender age. He tried a different approach and chuckled good-naturedly. "Lyse, chin up! You must have fallen hard for Jasper because you saw something in him. You didn't waste your youth on him. What can we say other than the two of you aren't destined for each other.""I thought I had good taste in men. I thought my lover was the perfect man. Looking back, I must have been blind …"Alyssa's phone vibrated. It was a call from Sean."Sean, what's wrong?" She picked up the call. "Ms. Alyssa! I finally got hold of you. The signal on your side is so crappy!" Sean gulped in excitement and went on, "Check Twitter's livestream feed now! Betty Beckett is live-streaming a press conference. She's offering a public a
Alyssa hurriedly picked up the call and cooed, "Silas!""Lyse, it's so damn hard to get hold of you. Were you on a call just now?" Silas sounded anxious."Is something wrong?" She frowned."Did Axel get in touch with you today?""No. Gosh, just tell me!"Silas sighed worriedly. "We went drinking last night and got drunk. That dude … He made an outrageous claim again!"Alyssa's heart sank upon learning that. Axel had a quirk—most people would never act on their drunk promises, but not Axel. He'd remember everything from the night before, even if he was wasted, and act on it the next day. That was one of his skills as a top spy."What did he say?" She had a bad feeling about it, which made her nervous."He said he'd kill Jas!"Her mind went blank. Had Jonah not grabbed her on time, she might have lost her balance."Axel flew a plane across 10,000 miles to avenge you. Last night, he announced that he'd teach Jas a lesson. He swore to at least cut off Jas' manhood, if not kill hi
"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
Beckett Group was, in essence, Javier's heart and soul, forged from his own labor. "Justin set me up, framed me for drug addiction, and bribed my primary physician to give false testimony—all so he could drag me down. The fact that he dared to target me like this means he's willing to betray anyone."Jasper took a deep breath, forcing down the rage roiling inside him as Javier remained silent. "Fine. Even if you insist this is just a family matter, Justin's reputation is already in ruins, and the corporation's stock prices are fluctuating. Are you really going to stand by him, even now?""Justin has explained everything to me. He wasn't aware of the bribery. That female doctor who worked for him acted on her own. Besides, she's been arrested. The backlash against Justin will settle in time…"Jasper listened, his face unreadable, but his heart clenched painfully. A lump rose in his throat, suffocating him.He had lost his mother at a young age, but he had never longed for his fa