"Lyse, amidst the evidence Tristan provided, there's this particular piece. He insists it be presented in court, but I'm hesitant. Sophia will be charged with or without this evidence anyway, but Javier will abandon her if he learns about it," Cyrus revealed.He then showed them a surveillance recording on his laptop. Although the recording was muted, the scene itself was shocking. Jasper, taking a deep breath, felt the instinct to shield Alyssa's eyes, even though they were all adults.It turned out to be a recording of Tristan and Sophia making love. Closing her eyes in enjoyment, she rode him naked.Having been a cop for years, Cyrus remained unfazed by the evidence. He had witnessed more disturbing scenes, such as spilled brains and bags of dismembered human remains.Alyssa was comparably calm. She even teased, "That witch is pretty good at keeping her figure.""Dr. McAlister has made a great sacrifice here," Cyrus lamented.Then, Alyssa shut the laptop and insisted, "Let's t
Alyssa remained astonishingly composed. She was the future heiress of the Taylor Group, and she should be handling the humiliation with grace.However, Jasper and Cyrus were visibly rattled, especially the former. As rage simmered in Jasper's chest, his hand began to shake, and his expression hardened.Noticing Jasper's change, Simon felt more emboldened, knowing that Jasper's hands were tied since they were at the police station. "Mr. Beckett, you're a lucky man. Just send Ms. Alyssa on the mission if you have trouble negotiating your deals. She'll charm the pants off any man, and you will secure any business deal you want. Ouch—"Just as Simon was enjoying the moment, he saw stars and felt sore in his nose. Then, he collapsed onto the floor.Alyssa widened her eyes and shouted, "Jasper?" She stared blankly at his towering and intimidating figure, her heart pounding against his chest.Even Cyrus was momentarily thrown off guard. Simon had fallen on the ground before Cyrus even no
Javier glowered at his trouble-causing son with a scowl. Following behind him closely was his secretary Rory Odon, some bodyguards, and Betty, who put on a sour face.Betty had initially been reluctant to visit Sophia at the police station. She had not stepped out of Seaview Manor since the horseracing event, where Sophia had brought shame to her.She refrained from checking social media or watching the TV. When she skimmed through her Twitter feed, she noticed people laughing at Sophia. On top of that, she had muted the group chats with the Solana City socialites, whose members relentlessly laughed at Sophia and herself.One of them wrote, "How I pity Madam Sophia. I bet Mr. Javier hasn't satisfied her in a while. Why else would she touch herself with such enthusiasm?""I guess middle-aged women who have given birth are no use for men anymore. I couldn't believe the same fate befell even the ex-celebrity Madam Sophia.""That has nothing to do with her age! If I were her husband,
Alyssa worried that her involvement might exacerbate the already strained relationship between Javier and Jasper. She wasn't worried about Javier's perception of her; she just refused to make things more difficult for Jasper within the Beckett Group."I think it's Sophia who should worry about her reputation," Jasper dismissed Betty's statement without even looking at her. "I'll advise you to behave. If you insist on clearing your mom's name, I will see to it that you join her in jail."His warning was directed at both Betty and Javier, making it clear that he wouldn't allow them to rescue Sophia."Jasper, how could you—" Betty stomped in anger and tugged at Javier's arm, pleading tearfully, "Dad, how could Jasper say that? It is my mom and your wife he's talking about! I think he wants me dead, too. What have I done to him? Who's the evil one here?"Javier was disoriented and irritated by her tantrum as he struggled to free himself from her grasp. Simon seized the opportunity upon
"But no one has forced your wife to meet with Dr. McAlister for drugs. She had developed an addiction and took the risk of dealing drugs with him at the horseracing event. The decision to step into the trap I set was entirely hers."Having stated this, Alyssa exited the police station alongside Jasper, who draped his arm around her shoulder.Seeing that, Betty anxiously yelled at Javier, "Dad, are you letting her leave just like that? She got Mom in trouble!"Rory, unable to contain himself, calmly took a jab at Betty. "You'll need evidence to support your claims against Ms. Alyssa. If you can't, you need to be careful with what you say lest she sues you for slander."Betty glared at Rory while Javier turned his icy gaze to Cyrus, demanding, "Mr. Cyrus, I'd like to meet with Captain Holt."Cyrus stood with his back against the wall and crossed his arms on his chest. "He's not around. His superior asked for him.""Could you please call him? Tell him to return immediately to meet w
Jasper maintained his composure as he greeted Winston. Though he had a strained relationship with Winston, who had shown him attitude and given him trouble, he treated Winston with respect due to his love for Alyssa and his admiration of Winston's integrity. However, unlike Jameson, he refrained from excessive flattery toward Winston. He reminded Winston, "Mr. Taylor, it's chilly at night. Please take care not to catch a cold."Jasper carried himself with humility and warmth, and Winston gradually found his presence pleasant as he nodded at the young man.Meanwhile, Alyssa grew concerned when she noticed the absence of bodyguards around her father. She approached him, chiding, "Dad, why didn't you bring along your bodyguards? You shouldn't have come here alone. What if …""Neil is trained in combat. Besides, I don't want to disturb my bodyguards' rest. I'm curious about your life in Solana City and your living space." Scanning the villa, he remarked, "It's small but functional. Th
"T-That's not true! Don't you dare tattle!" Alyssa pursed her lips and elbowed Jasper.Winston felt a surge of warmth when he witnessed the loving exchange between the couple. Even Neil beamed gently at the scene."Jasper, Lyse is not in her best health. I know you keep her company, but you can't be with her around the clock because of your busy schedule. I'm worried for my daughter and plan to take her home for recuperation," Winston proposed.After joking around and exchanging pleasantries, it was time to reveal his purpose for the visit."I'm not going home! You're wrong to say I have no one to look after me. Mrs. Rosie is dependable and looks after me well. There's no way I'm going home!" Alyssa threw a tantrum before the two men who loved her the most.Jasper stood beside her in silence and tightened his grip on her waist. In fact, he had considered sending her home to Belbanks, where she'd be taken care of and spend some quality time with her family.However, he was relucta
Alyssa shook her head and replied, "I know you're doing this in my best interest."A moment later, Winston heard a faint sobbing and felt his sleeve growing damp. "Lyse, are you crying?""Dad, I miss Jasper. I miss him so much …" It had been a while since Alyssa had cried in his arms. His eyes grew misty at the sight.He hadn't felt such intense emotions, not even when Miley married Jeremy and left for Kontina.However, he felt sorry to have separated the two lovers. It pained him as a father to see his daughter heartbroken.He thought, "Dear Lyse, I suppose I can't keep you by my side anymore."…After arriving home, Alyssa locked herself in her bedroom and chatted with Jasper under the blankets. She went on and on, and he listened to her patiently, occasionally agreeing with her idea or adding to it.The two soulmates chatted endlessly until Alyssa fell asleep before she knew it. Upon waking up the next morning, she rubbed her eyes and stretched, feeling relaxed."Lyse, you
"Amber will be fine," Jasper said confidently. "Based on Justin's way of doing things, he won't harm her for now. She's still useful t o him. He'll exploit her to control you and Alyssa, and to keep me from taking him down."Gripping Jasper's arm, Axel pleaded, "Jasper, I have to save my wife… What should I do?" His eyes were red, brimming with unshed tears.Steadying his breath, Jasper replied, "Even if it comes to killing Justin, it shouldn't be your hands that get dirty. I'll do it.""Are you kidding me? If we're taking that bastard down, we do it together!" Axel's expression was fierce and unyielding. "We went through the same military academy. We have to fight side by side!""Justin is my older brother. It's my family's matter to handle. And don't think I'm doing this for your sake—I have my own reasons."After a moment of silence, Jasper's voice softened. "I came to see you today for another reason. When you get home, don't blame Lyse. She's been torturing herself with g
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