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
"I'm not. Don't you look down on me," Jasper said. "I'm worried you'll be taken advantage of by fucking randos!" Landon cursed in a moment of anger."You think everyone's an animal like you?" Squinting, Jasper smirked and got into his car.…Jasper's Maybach cruised down an empty street."Mr. Jasper, the press conference has ended. There are more negative comments about Ms. Betty than before, and it's starting to affect our company's reputation," Xavier reported with concern while driving. "The fallout is worse than we expected …""Our company?" There was a gleam in Jasper's eyes. "It's only 'our company' when they need me to take care of the trouble that crops up."He had never seen the Becketts as his family. Apart from his grandpa, no one else in the family saw him as one of theirs, including his father, Javier.If so, he'd sacrifice Betty and watch his family break down that day. He did not consider Betty's misfortune a heavy punishment, considering how she had taken advan
Almost immediately, Jasper noticed the figure lurching at him at an incredible speed.Axel threw out solid and swift punches with the determination to cripple the latter. Jasper's eyes deepened as he dodged two of Axel's moves."Ho, you're something," Axel squinted his eyes and said mockingly. Eyes burning in anger, Jasper took a few breaths to compose himself.It had been years since he retired from active military duty. Although he kept up with his boxing training and workout sessions, it had been a while since he fought someone. He had to rely on his solid foundation and muscle memory to fight off the attacker.After a few rounds, Jasper picked up on the familiarity in the opponent's moves. The moves reminded him of the close-quarters combat lessons from the military academy he had attended."Who's this mysterious man?" wondered Jasper."Ouch—" Jasper was kicked hard in the abdomen and yelped in pain in that moment of distraction. Despite stumbling backward, he quickly steadie
However, the bullet did not hit Axel."Ugh … It hurts …" Alyssa, who had shown up from nowhere, hugged Axel tightly. The bullet had hit her in the left shoulder.Although Landon had only fired off a wax bullet, it had caused severe damage.Alyssa was drenched in sweat and trembling. Even so, she would not let go of Axel no matter what happened.Jasper's eyes widened in shock. His heart sank, and he felt as though he was falling from a high place.All the pain in his body was nothing compared to the blow he received when Alyssa shielded the attacker.She might be his ex-wife, but when she saw her ex-husband attacked, the first thing on her mind was to protect the assailant who'd almost beaten him to death."Alice White, how could you do this to me?" he seethed. What she had done was outrageous. She was technically the accomplice to the attacker."Lyse!" Axel looked at Alyssa frantically and held her frail shoulder. When he checked his hand, it was stained with her blood.Taking
Alyssa followed Jasper into the study. The door closed behind her with a soft click. She didn't move to switch on the lights or sit down. Instead, she stood quietly in the dim room.They faced each other, eyes locked. In the darkness, their gazes seemed brighter, charged with emotions that neither could put into words. Whatever stirred within them was tangled and silent—kept at bay by something unspoken, as if a wall had formed between heart and mouth. After a pause, Alyssa offered a faint smile. Her voice was soft, almost courteous. "Go ahead, Mr. Beckett. I won't be staying long tonight—I've made other arrangements."It was clear she didn't want to be alone in a room with him.Jasper's chest tightened, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion he couldn't define. His voice was rough when he finally spoke. "You didn't vote against the motion at today's board meeting. I wanted to know… are we still on the same side?"Alyssa's gaze lowered, her voice steady and calm. "You didn't object
In the evening, Xavier drove Jasper to meet with Newton. Along the way, news broke out that Sheryl had been bailed out. Xavier slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Why is it so hard to get rid of that woman?" "She is Justin's right hand," Jasper said, eyes shut as he leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "You could even say she knows more about his secrets than anyone. As long as she's useful, Justin won't discard her so easily. This is how he operates."Xavier shook his head, teeth gritted. "Where the hell did she even come from? When you had me investigate her, I found nothing. Her background was spotless. "What's in her past that Justin would go so far to keep it hidden? A man like him can have any woman he wants, yet he clings to her—some pretty-faced idiot who only seems to make things harder for him."Jasper's gaze turned glacial. Xavier's casual remark struck him.He was right. Justin wasn't short on capable subordinates. So why Sheryl?Was Sh
This time, the injection did not bring the excruciating pain that once made Amber wish for death. Her chapped lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed deeply into Remy's eyes. He, too, looked at her, his expression unreadable yet intense. Between them, no words were needed."Damien… Thank you…" Though her voice was barely audible, the weight of her words sank deep into Remy's heart. For once, he did not object to being called Damien.The truth was, ever since Amber had been taken, an unbearable pressure had settled over him, making each breath feel like a punishment—every day since had been plagued by self-reproach and regret.If he hadn't stopped her that night and let her go sooner, could she have avoided Sheryl? Could she have been spared the torture and humiliation?"You should know that those who enter this place never leave. Most don't even make it out alive."Remy's gaze was unwavering. Taking advantage of the surveillance blind spot, he placed his
"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