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,
"Do you truly believe your plan is foolproof, David?" Jonah's mesmerizing voice echoed.A loud noise accompanied the rolling of a large object, closely followed by a harrowing scream.To David's astonishment, the source of the sound was none other than his loyal secretary.David trembled, feeling his heart about to leap out of his chest."Please let me go … I beg you …"The secretary's face bore the marks of a beating, and he was tightly bound, his limbs hanging unnaturally. The tendons and hamstrings were deliberately snapped, pointing unmistakably to Jonah's characteristic method.The individual who trailed behind him was a capable man with captivating and seductive eyes."Sigh, what will become of this household without me?" A rare look of worry appeared on Julien's handsome face. Lovelace Pharmaceuticals also received an invitation for tonight. Given their reputation for the best medical standards in the country, they couldn't be excluded from such an event.Yet, the head
Sean jolted upright like a lit bomb, ready to charge forward. Despite his urge to charge forward, Tatiana clutched his hand so tightly that her fingers turned pale. "Don't, Sean."David remained a Schmidt, and Tatiana had the Taylor family's backing. What did Sean have? Tatiana couldn't let Sean get too entangled for her. However, before Sean could make a move, Alyssa swiftly stepped in and kicked David in the face.Alyssa's kick knocked out two of David's front teeth, leaving his mouth bleeding and a sizable hole in his upper gums.Jasper gasped silently, swallowing hard. Reflecting on his childhood memories of a movie called "The Henpecked Husband", Alyssa's beauty was on par with the female lead, though the female lead was never as brutal. As Jasper pondered this, his eyes narrowed, and a smile graced his lips. Alyssa's unpredictable and straightforward nature struck him as adorable."Hey, your sister is so scary. She gets physical the moment she hears something displeasing.
Tatiana drew a deep breath. Moments later, she frowned when she recalled a waiter who had bumped into her. "When I left the hall, I bumped into a waiter. That was when I felt a sting on my arm like a bee sting. It hurts a little, but only for a few seconds."David's secretary was taken aback. He had no idea about the waiter at all. Only David appeared stunned, and his eyes darted in guilt.Alyssa's chest tightened. She quickly checked Tatiana's slender arm and noticed a tiny, reddened puncture on her pale skin."Damn it!" she hissed, feeling sorry for Tatiana. "What did you inject into Tatiana, you bastard?""I told you, it was she who seduced me in the first place. I have nothing to do with this!" David insisted, even though his heart was pumping wildly.In the beginning, he was confident that Alyssa and everyone else had no evidence against her. However, after the androgynous doctor showed up and dissected the facts, they seemed one step closer to the truth.Rage burned in Jas
Alyssa was speechless at Landon's suggestion. Similarly, Jasper replied, "Mr. Harper, you're a grown man. Please behave like one."After Jasper hung up, David nearly peed himself out of fear.Alyssa fixed a threatening glare on him. "Now that we have a witness and solid evidence, you should explain yourself to the police and my dad."At this moment, David felt as if he was struck by lightning. He neared a breakdown, not because he feared the police—no one from the distinguished families had any regard for the police—but because he was afraid of Winston Taylor.The Schmidts might be family friends with the Taylors, but David had long heard from Victor about Winston's ruthlessness and his fierce loyalty to his family. Given that David's evil deed had been exposed, complete with evidence, he feared for his life when Winston learned about it. Not only that, the incident would mark the end of the relationship between the Schmidts and the Taylors, and for that, David might fall out of
The ballroom dance had ended by then. The spotlight shifted to the center of the hall as all attention turned to the Jesseltons. The Becketts and the Harpers nervously stared at Ezzo. The Harpers hoped to resolve their current crisis by winning the project with the Jesseltons. Meanwhile, the Becketts wanted the project to boost their performance and as a middle finger to the Taylors after what Alyssa had done to them.Among all the competitors, Winston appeared the most uninterested. He seemed more concerned by the whereabouts of his daughter. Where did Alyssa go? He wondered if she was snogging Jasper in a quiet corner and blushed at the indecent scenes that flashed across his mind.He wasn't a narrow-minded old fart. Besides, Alyssa was once married to Jasper, and the two had cohabitated for quite a while in Solana City. It was a miracle she hadn't gotten pregnant by him. Still, he would rather they pick a more suitable occasion for intimacy.Soon, he realized that his obedient
Alyssa was incensed after Victor brought up David. "Mr. Schdmit, do you know what I regret the most? I regret saving David's leg."Hearing that, Victor looked shellstruck. He gritted his teeth as his expression sank."Alyssa Taylor, that's enough. Victor has always treated you like his daughter. How dare you speak to him in that manner?" Winston berated Alyssa. He was very taken aback by Alyssa's odd behavior. Did she have too much to drink?"Mr. Taylor, calm down," Jasper broke his silence.He placed a hand on Alyssa's waist, drawing her into a comforting embrace. "Don't mistake her as being unreasonable. She has her reasons for saying so, and you'll know them soon enough."All of Alyssa's heartache and disdain melted away when she looked up into Jasper's passionate eyes."Mr. Beckett, this is between the Taylors and the Schmidts. It's none of your business," Victor snapped at Jasper with a warning look. "What was that anyway? Did David offend you or something? Watch your tone
The KS Group? The Taylors?After a brief shocked silence, the applause thundered across the hall as the spotlight shifted onto Winston, who looked surprised before putting on a relieved smile. He gracefully went up the stage to shake hands with Ezzo. "It's our honor to work with you."Since Ezzo chose the Taylors as his business partner, his demeanor underwent a significant shift, and he began heaping praises upon Winston. "You demonstrated your outstanding capability at the horseracing event. Besides, I promised to select the horseracing winner as my business partner. I'm keeping my word."No one except for the Jesseltons knew about the international call an hour ago between them and Justin Beckett, who resided in Mosgravia."Ezzo, Zeke, as a good friend of yours, I hope you'll take my advice and pick KS Group as your business partner," Justin suggested.At that time, Zeke was still reeling from Alyssa's rejection. Ezzo frowned and asked, "Why? Wouldn't you and your dad benefit
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