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. Taylor."Winston paused in his steps, only now noticing that Sean was standing in front of him."Sean, it's late. Haven't you left yet?" he asked with a faint smile."Mr. Taylor, I ..." Sean hesitated. His throat was extremely dry."I know, you're waiting for Taty, aren't you?"Sean's thoughts were laid bare, making him feel awkward. After a moment of silence, he spoke guiltily. "Mr. Taylor, I'm really sorry for my brother's actions. But please believe me. Regardless of my family's choice, I'll always stand by you and Ms. Alyssa. My commitment remains unchanged."Winston smiled faintly and said, "This is your family matter. You don't need to explain it to me. You must have a lot to say to Taty, right? Go and talk to her. I won't disturb you."These words sent a chill down Sean's spine.When he came back to his senses, Winston was already at a distance.After some time, Tatiana, who had tidied herself up, walked through the gate with a pale face and a dazed look."Taty!"
But Alyssa knew Tatiana had heard her. She was just pretending not to have heard her. She felt worried and chased after Tatiana."Taty, what's wrong?" She abruptly grabbed Tatiana's arm.Tatiana slowly turned around with tear streaks on her face. "It's nothing, Lyse."Alyssa was stunned. "You're crying? Why are you crying? Did you have a fight with Sean, or …""Lyse, you and Jasper must be happy."Leaving behind these sudden words, Tatiana shook off Alyssa's hand and sprinted away down the corridor, ignoring Alyssa's calls.Alyssa frowned, feeling that something was not right. She took out her phone and called Sean."Ms. Alyssa." Sean's voice sounded down, lacking strength."Sean, what did you say to Taty? She's so upset. Did you bully her?" Alyssa questioned him bluntly with her hands on her hips."Taty cried?" Sean's heart ached, but he still spoke truthfully. "Ms. Alyssa, I didn't argue with Taty. But when she came back home, she was feeling down."I asked her why, and she
"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