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
The echoing tap of Jonah's leather shoes reverberated nervously through the corridor. Cold sweat broke out on his brow as he sprinted, simultaneously attempting to reach Tatiana.His call went through, but nobody answered it.Abruptly, Jonah came to a standstill, startled by the faint ringtone he could barely discern. His heart raced as he traced the sound to the balcony.There, he found Tatiana's phone lying on the ground, and on the screen, Jonah's name was prominently displayed."Taty! Where are you? Taty!" Jonash screamed from the balcony, but there was no response."Jonah, how did Taty disappear?"Alyssa and Jasper rushed over to him hastily. Sean, who was injured, followed after them. "The security is stringent here. They keep records of everyone coming in and out. How could Tatiana just vanish?"I can't fathom this. Taty has to be somewhere within the castle. There's no way she would leave this place."Sean was like an ant on a hot pan. Tears streamed down his face, mixi
Sean's mind drifted to the worst-case scenario.If Taty were no longer a virgin, he wouldn't despise her. He would still take her as his wife. No matter the circumstances, she would always be perfect and pure in his eyes.Alyssa, consumed with regret, cursed vehemently. "I can't believe David had tarnished my good name. If I had known about his malicious intentions toward Taty, I would have let him die on the operating table.""I'll arrange for someone to discreetly handle David's men."Jasper was resolute and wanted to act fast. "David is a coward. He would never set such a sinister trap. His underlings must know something."A cold glint flashed with a swish.No one noticed when Jonah had unsheathed his cross-dagger. Yet, the intensity in his eyes was more menacing than the weapon itself. "I haven't used this dagger in a long time. Since that fucker David wants to play, I will play along."…Tatiana was carried into the guest room, unconscious, and tossed onto the bed.Her
As David brought Tatiana into the room, undressing and subjecting her to molestation and humiliation, Tatiana was partially conscious.Despite being aware, her limbs felt weak, and she couldn't summon the strength to open her eyes, let alone retaliate.The situation became even more harrowing for her. She would rather pass out or perhaps even die. Various thoughts raced through her mind. When she finally opened her teary eyes in shock, a desperate moan escaped her lips as she struggled in Sean's arms."Don't touch me … Don't touch me!""Taty, look at me! Look at who I am." Sean held his tears as he hugged her tightly.The sensation was as if a blunt knife had forcefully ripped open Sean's chest, extracting his beating heart from his sturdy body. He clenched his fingers so tightly that they seemed on the verge of breaking.As Tatiana heard the familiar voice, a glint flickered in her dreary eyes.She stared at Sean, afraid that it was all her imagination. Then, she cautiously c
David emitted an anxious, high-pitched shriek, sounding both piercing and ridiculous. Subsequently, a puddle of water seeped from his body, dampening the carpet beneath.That pompous show-off, David, had wetted himself.Alyssa seethed with anger. As she raised the weapon, Jasper intercepted by grabbing her wrist."Why are you stopping me?"Exerting force, Alyssa attempted to free her wrist from Jasper's firm grasp. "Don't tell me to fucking calm down! He mistreated my sister! Even Victor can't save him now!""I'm not stopping you. I feel the same way as you do," Jasper sighed, using his low and magnetic voice to coax her gently.Slowly, he moved his hand, carefully extracting the broken shard from her hand. "I don't want you to dirty your hands, and I'm even more afraid you'll injure yourself."Alyssa's red lips pursed tightly. She regained composure and ceased her insistence.A cold glint flashed in Jasper's eyes as his fingers curled into a fist. Then, with a distinct crunch,
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