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
At the end of the quiet corridor, the soft moonlight cast a glow on a pair of striking figures. "Ouch! It hurts. It hurts so bad …""I'm sorry, Lyse. I'll be gentler." Alyssa's small frame was leaning against the wall. Her fair and soft skin glistened under the moonlight.The fluttering of her long eyelashes and how she looked biting her scarlet lips made her look extraordinarily lovely. In front of her, Jasper was kneeling on one knee. He removed her burgundy-colored heels and gripped her thin ankle with one hand. With the other hand, he held the tip of her toes while he massaged her foot carefully. "You are really annoying. Why did you have to dance so fast? I sprained my ankle only because I was trying to keep up with your steps. Can't you just be more considerate of me?" Alyssa pouted and complained coquettishly. "It's my fault, Lyse. You can hit me however you want when we get home if that helps you vent your frustration. Or … you can hit me now, too." Jasper felt
Jasper understood what Alyssa meant. He felt for her and hugged her, saying, "I know that it's because of Tatiana. All you are doing is to prevent the marriage alliance between her and the Schmidt family." How well he understood her actually made her feel sad. She mumbled coyly in his arms, "What I hate is … is that I'm still not powerful enough. This is the only method I could think of. Don't you think I'm being so silly?" Jasper felt suffocated upon hearing that. He caressed her back gently and replied, "No, I think it's very smart of you. This is the best method at this moment. "Furthermore, I think that Ezzo wouldn't hold a grudge against Uncle Winston over this small matter. A true businessman will know how to weigh their pros and cons. I don't think that he will choose the KS Group. "There's also nothing to be afraid of, even if you fail to partner with Jesselton Incorporated. With me in charge, I will not go easy on the Schmidt Group. Alyssa was moved. Her eyes w
Not many people knew about the relationship between Tatiana and Sean. But the Schmidt family was one of them. It was very bold of the Schmidt Group to do Sean dirty like that! "How did you get in, Sean?" Jasper asked in a concerned voice. "I was surrounded by people from the Schmidt Group. Nonetheless, I still found a way. I stole one of the bodyguards's access cards and snuck in," Sean explained. His face was pale and drenched in cold sweat. Jasper chuckled, "What a painstaking effort the Schmidts had to go through to stop you!" Jasper's eyes were ablaze with fury. However, he forced himself to remain calm in front of Alyssa. Jasper said in a cold and steady voice, "You're quite badly hurt. You've already been injured before. You shouldn't delay treatment. I'll have Xavier send you to the hospital right now." "No! I'm not leaving! I need to see Taty! I want to take her away with me!" Sean screamed at the top of his lungs. "Mr. Lynch, please be more reasonable." Jasper
After being insulted by David, Tatiana didn't dare to tell Winston and Jonah about it. She could only swallow her tears and hurry away from the banquet hall alone. As she made her way through the crowd, a waitress bumped into her. Shortly after, she felt a prick on her arm, as if she was stung by a bee, but the pain soon vanished. "I'm sorry, miss." The waitress apologized immediately. "No … No worries." Tatiana didn't think too much about it. She turned and walked away briskly. The waitress watched from behind as Tatiana walked away. A sly smile came across her face. …Tatiana's soft, black hair blew in the night breeze as she stood on the balcony alone. She stared at the cold, moonlit sky while she wiped her tears dry silently. If only Sean were around, he would never allow her to be treated unjustly or be bullied. However, she had already decided to part with the one she loved. From now on, Sean was no longer a part of her life.If so, shouldn't she have one last p
Julien's merciless, hate-filled words hit Jonah like a ton of bricks. The pain was unbearable, a gut-wrenching ache that shattered his heart.Under the dim lighting, Julien vaguely noticed a sorrowful tear forming at the corner of Jonah's eye. But before it could fall, Jonah forced a blink, swallowing his emotions whole. Despite Jonah's attempt to brace himself, sorrow engulfed him, a tidal wave of despair. His features mirrored the devastation ripping through his heart. As Evan opened the driver's side door, Julien lurched forward and vomited again. The sickening sound of him retching echoed in the air as if he were expelling everything inside him. "Judas, Mr. Lovelace looks like he's suffering from alcohol poisoning. We should take him to the hospital."Evan's worry deepened at Julien's condition. Jonah wordlessly removed his suit jacket and began cleaning the mess in the car. His chest tightened painfully as he watched Julien groaning, clearly suffering. Then, without he
Jonah's gaze burned with a mix of longing, sorrow, and something deeply affectionate. The world swam back into focus as Julien looked at Jonah. Without preamble, he asked, "Are you new? How much do you charge per night?"Light-headed and grinning, Julien reached out a hand, his fingers brushing softly against Jonah's cheek. "You're pretty good-looking," he said, his voice slurred. Then his expression shifted. "Why do you… look so much like someone I hate with every fiber of my being?"Jonah's heart clenched. Even so, he slid his arms around Julien's waist. Trembling, he pulled Julien into his arms. "I'm new here. Could you help me meet my target tonight, Mr. Lovelace?"Julien's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Jonah. Jonah's eyes teared up as he held Julien's waist tightly. "I promise you won't be disappointed," he said, his voice deep. Watching from the shadows below the stage, Evan nearly gagged at Jonah's sultry tone. Was this really the Judas he knew? The man sounded downri
The bar was alive with striking lights and thundering music, and the air was thick with the scent of tobacco and alcohol. The atmosphere was one of moral decay—corrupt, degrading, and vile. "Where's Julien?" Jonah's voice cut through the noise, his tone icy and sharp. When Jonah stepped inside, the eyes of several men turned toward him, their gazes filled with illicit intent."Why, hello there. Are you here alone? Are you feeling lonely?" A sexy man sauntered over, draping himself over Jonah's shoulders. He let his hands linger with a playful squeeze. "If you're bored, I'd be happy to keep you company." Jonah's expression darkened. His hands trembled, veins bulging with barely contained rage. Suddenly, Evan burst through the crowd, his face twisting in alarm at the sight of Jonah surrounded by a swarm of predatory men. Evan yelled, "Don't touch him!" A heavy thump reverberated through the room. Gasps erupted as people scrambled back.The man who had draped himself over
Rafe stated, "But Beckett Group is in the middle of a storm right now. If I insisted on giving your corporation the project, my superiors would investigate me. I wouldn't be able to escape unscathed!""If you're investigated, I'll make sure you can still live a life of luxury—even if you lose your job." Justin's tone darkened. "But if you turn against me, you won't just suffer a few losses. You'll lose everything."Under the dim moonlight, Justin fiddled with his antique tea cup, his gaze narrowing. "You've worked so hard to get to where you are. Are you prepared to lose it all?"After ending the call, Justin turned to Remy, who stood quietly at the side. "Sheryl is still being detained. She can't be bailed out for another two days. I need someone to watch over the research lab. You'll handle that."Remy was taken aback. "I failed my last mission. Aren't you going to punish me?"Justin's smile was cold and insincere. "It wasn't your fault. You were ambushed. If not for that, I tru
Remy pursed his lips, bending down to pick up the fallen poker card. It was the King of Spades—an entry pass to Kings' Club. "My attacker was…" Remy's pupils constricted as he tightened his grip on the card. "It can only be that dear uncle of mine, always claiming to see me as his own son." Justin's lips curled into a sinister smile. "He's trying to get rid of my right-hand man, taking advantage of my internal feud with Jasper. Weakening me is just his first step toward gaining control over me."He's been a fugitive ever since his successful prison break, never returning to Cyrris after receiving his life sentence. His power base remains in Kontina. "I'm the last surviving Dutton. The Dutton Group, as a cover, has declared bankruptcy and severed all ties with the country. "My dear uncle has taken a huge risk just to target me. He sent his men to attack you in Solana City. What a delightful surprise. It seems he truly doesn't trust me, his only remaining family."Remy lowere
The hospital ward grew heavy with silence. Mandy and Neil stared at Alyssa, stunned beyond words. "M-Ms. Alyssa, you knew that man was Mr. Damien?" Neil asked, disbelief etched into his voice. "Yes." Alyssa's reply was quiet, her lips pressed into a thin line. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "We found out when Cyrus took Damien's cigarette butt for a paternity test."Mandy approached Alyssa, her shoulders trembling slightly. "So, you and Cyrus knew… and you both kept it from me?" Mandy said, her voice catching in her throat, tears welling up. Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. "Mandy, I'm sorry. It was my decision. Cyrus had nothing to do with it."Mandy's tears fell freely now, her grief spilling out in raw sobs. "Do you know what it's been like for me all these years, thinking Damien was gone? Winston, Miley, Lyla, and Colene kept telling me to move on. I tried to accept that he was dead, that we'd never find his body. But I never did."Her vo
The hospital ward was bathed in a dim, yellow glow from the bedside lamp. The silence was thick, yet the room held a strange warmth—an unfamiliar comfort that felt oddly familiar to Remy.Pain radiated through his body as he struggled to sit up. His eyes fell on Mandy, who was asleep beside his bed. Her hair was a mess, and her swollen eyes suggested she'd been crying. She was sound asleep. Remy stiffened. His breath quickened as he stared at her fragile figure. Slowly, he leaned forward, his fingers lifting slightly, tempted to reach out.Just as his hand hovered close, Mandy's lashes fluttered. In her sleep, she murmured, "Damien… Damien… I miss you so much…" Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent and unbidden.A pang tugged at Remy's heart. Without thinking, he brushed away her tears with his calloused fingers. The moment his skin touched hers, a jolt shot through him, sharp and electrifying. Pain throbbed at his temples, but beneath it was a warmth he didn't want to let g
Justin's casual question hit Javier like a thunderclap. Shock rippled through him, freezing his expression. His voice trembled with fear as he barked, "What nonsense is that? Are you accusing me of causing Chester's death? I'm your father—how could you think I'd do such a thing?""It's not an accusation. Just the facts," Justin replied coolly, crossing his legs and savoring his tea with unsettling calm. "And I'm not condemning you. In fact, I understand why you did it. I'm facing the same dilemma now."Javier's breathing grew ragged. He had watched Justin grow from a child into the man before him—now a predator, circling with quiet menace."You were meant to be the heir as the eldest son," Justin continued, his voice smooth as silk. "But Grandpa favored Uncle Chester, handing him major projects, grooming him in plain sight. "Uncle Chester's reputation soon eclipsed yours. He was a natural leader, adept at business, with one fatal flaw—he was kind. Too kind. Unlike you."Justin
Nonetheless, night had fallen by the time Justin arrived at Seaview Manor. On his way there, he worked on two things. First, he secured the top legal team to get Sheryl out on bail as quickly as possible. Second, he tried reaching Remy—unsuccessfully. He had never lost contact with Remy before. Justin's face was as dark as the night itself. The moment he stepped inside Seaview Manor, Rory approached with a solemn expression. He gave a slight bow before speaking. "Mr. Justin, what took you so long? Mr. Javier has been waiting.""I was occupied," Justin replied coolly. Then, as if it were an ordinary evening, he allowed a faint smile. "Where's Jasper? Is he back here yet?" A conflicted look came across Rory's face. "Things between you and Mr. Jasper have soured. I doubt he'll want to see you anytime soon—or show up here.""Is that so? How disappointing."Justin's smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze lingered on Rory, sharp and bottomless. "So, he'd rather believe what he se