Jasper's eyes glistened. He wrinkled his eyebrows and said, "I don't want his filthy hands to touch my woman." "But, have you thought of the consequences if you were to go over now?" As a bystander, Landon could read the situation clearly. He wanted to help keep Jasper out of harm's way. "The Jesseltons' purpose of having tonight's party is to select their business partner. Everyone wants to obtain that opportunity, including Mr. Taylor. "If you were to go up and cause a scene, you might ruin Mr. Taylor's potential collaboration. Then, wouldn't Mr. Taylor hold a grudge against you? "Lyse has mentioned before that her father is great at holding grudges. So, you'd better not bad-mouth him at this time. You might end up crushing your dreams!" While he was hesitating, Alyssa smiled and replied, "Mr. Zeke, welcome to Solana City. As a sign of respect, please allow me to greet you according to your country's customs." Upon saying that, she lowered her long lashes. Then, with he
It was as if any woman whom Zeke initiated a pursuit of should be grateful to him. "Lyse …" Tatiana held Alyssa's hand worriedly. Unexpectedly, Alyssa's gaze remained calm. With a cold expression, Alyssa coldly responded, "Mr. Zeke, I am a divorced woman. The entire Solana City probably knows about this. Please don't tell me that you were not aware?" It was obvious that the Jesseltons were flustered. They turned to look at each other. The people around them gave a sidelong glance at Jasper. He had pursed his lips into a line and was looking deeply at Alyssa. Without any hesitation, he was prepared to walk in front of her to shield her from any gossip and hurtful words. Cornelius stood beside Javier. He clicked his tongue and shook his head in disdain. "This Alyssa Taylor is too smart for her own good. How could she be so frivolous? Is being a divorcee something to be proud of? I can't believe she boasted about it at such an important event. "It's up to her if she want
Engaged?Alyssa's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes widened. She stared right at Winston's charming side profile. Jasper's eyes contained infinite nervousness and worry. His body was as tense as a taut bowstring. He seemed about to charge over in the next moment, pull Alyssa away, and leave with her at all costs. Similarly, Javier and the Harper family members all had upset looks on their faces. Zoe looked especially unhappy. Her heart pounded like a jackhammer as she glared at Alyssa with an anxious yet evil look. She uttered in a scornful voice, "Oh? Ms. Alyssa is engaged? Who is the lucky man to have a marriage alliance with the Taylor family?" Through gritted teeth, Javier said, "It doesn't matter who has a marriage alliance with the Taylors. All I know is that it will surely never be the Beckett Group!"Zoe turned her lips into a wide smile. Her perturbed emotions settled down. Zeke's face had turned glum. He felt that Winston was making a perfunctory excuse so that
Tatiana's eyes reddened as she lost herself in thought. No matter how much it hurt, she could only hold everything in.She was the most powerless child in her family. If only her marriage could help be a boost for her family. She was willing to make any sacrifice that was needed. …The brief interlude was over, and the dinner party resumed. Ezzo and Zeke's suggestion to the Taylor family for a marriage alliance had failed. This instilled confidence in both the Beckett Group and Harper Group. This incident even stirred Josh up. Alyssa had rejected Zeke. His face was dark and as long as a fiddle. While Ezzo didn't express it outwardly, he was secretly disgruntled when he watched Zeke being embarrassed. With that, the Taylor family most likely would not have a part to play in being a partner in their racecourse hotel project. The rhythm of the music changed. It was time for the ball. The noblemen and noblewomen found their respective dance partners. They walked to the middle
Alyssa heard the sounds of sighs all around her. She lifted her long lashes. Her eyes met with Jasper's densely dark eyes. She had already been enveloped in his arms. She shuddered as she felt the temperature of her skin rise slowly. She could feel his warm breath on the tip of her nose. He looked down at her with a deep gaze. He interlocked his fingers with hers quite stubbornly. Gracefully, he lifted his right arm and placed his left arm around her waist. She could feel his moist palm on her slender waist, which was almost soaking the thin fabric of her outfit. He caressed her, getting a feel of the dainty waistline that was so attractive to him. Alyssa's back was stiff while he whirled around carefreely. Alyssa was someone who knew how to dance. However, at that moment, her entire body was numb. Her breathing was shallow as she tried her best to follow his dance steps. Her clumsy movements made Jasper smile. His heart fluttered. "What … What are you doing?" Jasper
Ever since that day when Tatiana suggested that they stopped seeing each other temporarily, Sean never stopped looking for her every day. He made continuous phone calls to her like a madman. He also stood outside Heightsnew Villa to wait for her all night but left in disappointment every single time.He was in distress because of love. He had to struggle because of his feelings. This sight of him was comparable to when Jasper turned around to pursue Alyssa. Tatiana didn't dare to leave the house. She locked herself in her room every day. With no appetite to eat, she became thinner by the day. Her tears soaked every one of her pillows. Whenever she missed Sean, she would stand at the window at the end of the corridor, draw back the curtain, and peek outside. He was always there whenever she thought of him—his upright and tall posture—his steadfast and warm gaze in the direction of her room.Each time Tatiana was even remotely reminded of him, sorrow spread throughout her ent
Damn it, Winston! He just said some really nasty things! "Plus, if you wish to talk about both parties having an interest in one another, Taty doesn't fancy either of your sons. Since this is so, she might as well choose someone more suited for her." Victor initially thought of contesting. However, he could only sigh helplessly and unhappily when he perceived Winston was adamant about ending the topic there and then.David loved being among the ladies ever since he was young. Back when he was still able-bodied, he surrounded himself with women. He was best at coaxing them by sweet-talking. Seeing as Tatiana didn't push him away, he racked his brains to think of cheeky things to say. He wanted to make her happy. However, Tatiana was different from the other women he had come in contact with before. She was cold all the way, seemingly disinterested in the things he said. He tried all the tactics he had under his belt but couldn't get through to her. His throat felt dry, and he
Sean looked up instantly upon hearing the sound of a sharp, playful woman's voice. Daisy was walking out with her arms crossed in front of her. Following behind her were a secretary and some bodyguards. They stood a few steps above, staring down at him. "I was wondering who it was. It turns out that it's Ms. Alyssa's little secretary, Tatiana's ex-boyfriend."Sean's eyes darkened. "What are you talking about?" "Are you saying that you had no idea? I feel sorry for you …"Daisy clicked her tongue and shook her head. She handed her phone to the secretary and said, "Take this. Show it to this pitiful little secretary and let him have a good look. He needs to wake himself up." The secretary received the phone in his hand and walked in front of Sean. He turned the screen toward Sean. It was a photo featuring Tatiana supporting David by the arm! Because of the photo's angle, their expressions appeared suggestive, hinting at something more happening between them. Their bodies we
Hell on Earth? This place resembled a decrepit hospital. But why had Sheryl described it as "hell on Earth"?Amber's body convulsed uncontrollably, her consciousness flickering between clarity and haze. Fragments of memory surfaced—a dim recollection of drinking with Carl in the cellar after The Millennium's closure. She'd despised working with Carl but had cozied up to him for the sake of extracting information.Carl had revealed that "Sir" was deeply entrenched in the pharmaceutical industry. With connections to Mosgravia's government officials and elite circles, "Sir" wielded considerable power and ran a thriving business. Since his business revolved around pharmaceuticals, clinical trials were inevitable. To facilitate this, Sir owned a private hospital in Mosgravia.That hospital, however, was merely a façade. Beneath its sterile exterior, three basement levels housed patients—unwilling subjects for experimental drugs.Amber shivered. This place bore an uncanny resemblance t
"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