"Is Dad out of his mind? What does Simon's matter have to do with Sean? I'm going to confront him!" Alyssa angrily slammed the table, but Lyla stopped her."Don't, Lyse. This has nothing to do with you. You'd better not get yourself involved. It might anger your father.""Sean is an important friend, and Taty is my sister. How can I not care? I must get involved!" Alyssa had endured enough opposition to her own love and didn't want Tatiana to experience the same thing.Besides, Tatiana was the most beloved daughter of the Taylor family. It was already difficult for her to love a man. Sean was just a secretary, and Tatiana was timid and indecisive. Their love might be like a boat in a storm, unable to withstand the huge waves of opposition from her family."Lyse, don't be stubborn." Mandy also tried to stop her."Your dad is just starting to change his views on Jasper, and things are getting a bit better for both of you. Provoking your dad now won't help. He's petty, and he might t
Lyla continued, "But sometimes, feelings alone aren't enough. There are many factors to consider. Mr. Sean, you know this well."Though she spoke calmly, her words sank Sean's heart.After that, Lyla walked away.Alyssa hurriedly caught up. Worried and puzzled, she grabbed Lyla's hand."Lyla, what's wrong? You've praised Sean in front of me more than once. You've always liked him. Why this sudden change?""I like Sean, but that's different from deciding if he's the right person for my daughter to marry."Lyla's voice remained gentle, but her words were piercing. "Your father considers Sean his godson because he appreciates Sean. However, the Lynch family's recent actions have upset your father."Winston is not concerned with social status, but he can't let Taty marry into a family with such improper conduct. Our thoughts align on this matter.""Lyla, Simon is Simon. He can't represent the entire Lynch family." Alyssa spoke up for Sean."Winston and I have made up our minds. Ta
Meanwhile, at the Lynch residence, a shout resounded."Oh, my God! Simon! What happened to your nose?"Having been struck down by Jasper's powerful punch, Simon was diagnosed with a broken nasal bone. There was a possibility that his sense of smell would be affected, making it challenging to distinguish scents.For someone like Simon, who couldn't distinguish between right and wrong, the ability to distinguish scents didn't seem significant.What bothered him more was the prospect of having his own rib used to reconstruct his nose, not to mention undergoing plastic surgery. It was a nightmare!Witnessing their son in such a state, Spencer and Sinead were both shocked and furious. Sinead nearly had a heart attack."Simon, who did this to you? You're a well-known lawyer. How could someone dare lay a hand on you?""Mom, please don't ask. It's someone we can't afford to provoke." Simon felt increasingly frustrated as he thought about it. He couldn't bring himself to talk about that
Moreover, both Tatiana and Sean were important to Alyssa. If this couple faced difficulties, Alyssa would surely feel distressed. As long as she was upset, Simon would feel satisfied.…That night, Victor privately invited Winston to join him for dinner at his private club."Neil, inform Lyla and Tatiana that I'll bring them to the dinner tonight."Winston stood before a full-length mirror, letting a private tailor measure him. A shadow of concern lingered between his brows, indicating that he was preoccupied. "By the way, don't let Lyse and my wives know."Neil seemed to understand something. He replied in a low voice, "Understood, Mr. Winston."…Victor arrived in the luxurious private room at the club. This time, he didn't come alone. He was accompanied by Jameson and David, who had recently recovered and had been absent for a long time.Throughout the evening, Jameson remained calm and composed. On the other hand, David glared at him with red eyes, almost crushing the glass
"Winston, where's Lyse?" Unwilling to give up, Victor craned his neck to look outside."No need to look. Lyse is injured and can't sit for a long time to talk to guests. I asked her to rest at home. She won't be coming tonight," Winston replied indifferently."Winston, how can you do this? You promised to bring Lyse last time. How can you go back on your words? Besides, we're not just guests. We're going to be family." Victor kept chattering away, but he was confused.Winston sat down. "If you truly care about Lyse, you would let her recover properly and not bother her."Before the horse racing event, Victor had a private meeting with Winston. They had a great conversation, and Winston really liked Jameson. He had promised to make Alyssa marry Jameson, making her the Schmidt family's daughter-in-law.At that time, Victor even considered David's marriage. After all, David was also his son, whom he doted on other than his firstborn.So, he wanted to seize the opportunity to double
As Winston listened silently, memories of a thrilling and life-threatening gunfight flashed through his mind.He truly appreciated Victor for that incident. Back then, they were both young and their deep brotherly bond was evident in Victor risking his life to protect Winston.It was also during that incident that Colene, the daughter of The Ivory Gang's boss, risked her life to save Winston, thus leading to their relationship."Yes, Victor. Your kindness is something I'll never forget," Winston said with a hoarse voice."I think you've forgotten everything! Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone back on your words and treated me like a fool!"Victor grew increasingly agitated, his face turning red with anger. As he breathed heavily, he slammed an expensive crystal glass on the table.Tatiana and Lyla were both startled.Victor was usually jovial around Winston. This was their first time seeing him so angry. It showed how much he valued this marriage union, even at the cost of a 30-y
Winston looked at Tatiana sharply, then turned to Victor. "Taty is Lyla and my youngest daughter. She's the apple of my eye. We've been selecting a suitable husband for her. Originally, I wished for her to marry into the Schmidt family."But back then, you favored Lyse, so I had to find another man for Taty. Now that Lyse is with Jasper, let's sit down and discuss the marriage between your son and Taty. After graduation, let her be your daughter-in-law. What do you think?"Hearing that, Tatiana felt like she was being struck by lightning. As she trembled, her pupils shrank, and her face drained of color. "Dad ... I—"Suddenly, Lyla grabbed Tatiana's arm, her fingers nearly embedding into Tatiana's flesh.Tatiana anxiously looked at her mother, who shook her head.In the end, she could only lower her head in distress, tears welling up in her eyes.…Winston's proposal for Tatiana to marry into the Schmidt family reversed the crumbling relationship between the two families.Howev
The dinner ended in a strange and oppressive atmosphere.Upon learning about the marriage with the Schmidt family's son, Tatiana felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles. Her face lost all color. It was as if all the warmth in her body had been drained, leaving her cold from head to toe.On the way home, she and Lyla shared a car. There wasn't even a chance for her to talk to Winston."Mom ... why?"Tatiana's eyes were brimming with tears. She asked with a choked voice, "You know that I love Sean. You know that I'll only marry him. W-Why do you want me to marry into the Schmidt family?"Lyla felt bad. Nonetheless, she replied with a calm voice, "Your father and I believe that this is a more suitable match for you. Sean is a good person. However, his family doesn't see eye to eye with us. "According to what I know, the Lynch couple doesn't like us. If you forcefully marry Sean, it would be a marriage without their blessing. Such a marriage would be agonizing for you."Loo
"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