Heartbroken, Jasper clutched his shirt tightly, feeling as if a knife were grinding his heart into a bloody pulp.Though Javier was unsympathetic, he lightly frowned upon hearing this.Ben explained, "Ms. Alyssa was afraid that you and Mr. Jasper would worry, so she begged me to keep this secret. Since you were severely injured at that time, I feared that you might be too traumatized."And if the news of Ms. Alyssa's inability to conceive got out, she wouldn't have a place in the Beckett family. She might be done for her whole life ...""Just because of this, you chose to listen to her? Are you out of your mind? She was so young back then! What could she possibly understand?" Newton lamented with a heavy heart."It's all my fault, Mr. Newton, Mr. Jasper. Please punish me in any way you see fit. I'll accept any punishment ..."Why was Alyssa so foolish?Before Ben could finish speaking, Jasper had already left them behind, running out of the villa."Mr. Jasper!"Ben wanted to c
Lights were on at Heightsnew Villa, guaranteeing the Taylors a sleepless night.Winston treated his collections as treasures. But tonight, he was so furious that he had smashed several million-dollar antique vases.In an instant, countless porcelain pieces lay scattered on the floor.His three wives stood stiffly before Winston. Lyla anxiously held Mandy's hand, and Colene was also feeling uneasy."So … you all knew ..." Winston trembled, letting the boiling rage surge through his veins. "You all knew ... but hid it from me for three whole years?""Winston, we kept it from you because we didn't want you upset."Mandy tried to stay composed, speaking in a low voice. "You haven't been in good health these years. Such shocking news could be unbearable for you.""Haha ... Hahaha!" Winston's body swayed, and he pointed at them with a scornful laugh."Is your way of pleasing me to keep me in the dark for three whole years about Lyse and that scumbag's marriage?"Her body has been ru
"Lyse will get better. She definitely will." Jonah endured the sorrow, but when he spoke those last few words, he choked up."What can I do ... What can I do ..."Silas seemed lost. In his 30 years of life, he had never felt so panicked before. He paced back and forth, speaking to himself."Alright, then I'll destroy Jasper now!"As Silas said that, he was about to run outside, but Jonah firmly blocked his way."That's enough! Enough!"A hoarse voice pierced everyone's hearts.Everyone looked up and saw Alyssa standing stiffly halfway up the spiral staircase. The soft glow that used to grace her face was gone, replaced by a livid and lifeless look.Seeing her like this, everyone felt a pang of distress."It's been three years. It's been three years since everything happened! I don't care anymore! Why do you have to bring it up over and over again? Why do you keep talking about it?"Alyssa's eyes turned a furious crimson. Almost hysterically, she shouted, "Must women give birt
Alyssa's door was locked. They also confiscated her phone, prohibiting her from contacting anyone.This incident alarmed the entire Taylor family.If it weren't for Alyssa's brothers wanting to return as soon as possible and accompany her, Jasper would probably be hunted globally.After a heated argument, Winston was weakened. Jonah and Silas helped him back to his room."Both of you, if you want to speak up for that Beckett bastard, better shut your mouths now and get out!"Silas gritted his teeth in anger. "Speak up for him? I'm not dumb!"Jonah frowned. "You're thinking too much. I didn't mean that.""Hmph! Luckily, you still have a bit of conscience."At this moment, a thunderous boom echoed. A huge lightning bolt struck, making the night as bright as day.Winston looked out the window, hatefully saying, "Oh God, why didn't you strike that Beckett bastard with lightning?"Jonah and Silas were speechless at his words."Mr. Taylor!" Neil quickly ran over to them, sweating
Jonah had a feeling of impending doom. He stepped forward to disarm Liam swiftly.Originally, disarming Liam should have been impossible since he was a colonel with outstanding skills.However, Jonah covered the muzzle with his hand. Fearing that the gun might go off accidentally, Liam had to let go."Jonah, if you truly care about Lyse, you shouldn't have stopped me!" With bloodshot eyes, Liam stared at Jasper, who was ready to die. If his eyes were daggers, Liam would've killed Jasper.This statement was quite harsh. When it came from the usually gentle Liam, its impact was doubled.However, Jonah didn't blame him.It might be better if the anger could be vented in this way. Otherwise, he didn't know what horrific things his brothers might do."Liam, I care about Lyse. But I also care about you, Silas, and Axel. We grew up together. Which one of you do I not care about and love?"I just don't want you to ruin your lives for this guy. If you guys vented your anger this way,
"Dad?""Dad!"The three Taylor brothers were all dumbfounded. For the first time in 30 years, they saw their father lay hands on someone other than their biological sons.As the eldest son of an unbeatable business magnate, Winston had always lived a life of luxury and never needed to use his hands to deal with anyone. He was more arrogant than a king.But this time, Winston was truly furious.His anger didn't subside after punching Jasper once. He continued to strike Jasper's face and body again and again.Jasper's cheek was swollen. Blood trickled down his lips, but he couldn't feel any pain. His whole face was numb."Dad! You're not in good health! Being too angry will make you relapse!"Jonah and Silas rushed forward to help Winston, who was standing unsteadily. However, Winston forcefully shook them off and grabbed Jasper's bloodstained collar."Jasper ... Do you know that ... the woman you repeatedly trampled and hurt is my life? She is the only remaining link to the wom
Jameson stopped in his tracks. A sharpness flared in his eyes as a peculiar smile rose on his face.Silence was an answer of sorts, too."You … You're the one who revealed Lyse's condition to everyone through Zoe? Did you do all that just to separate us and get revenge on me? You were willing to tear open Lyse's old wounds and torment her all to get back at me. Is this your so-called love for her, Jameson Schmidt?" exclaimed Jasper. "What are you talking about? I'm afraid I didn't understand a single word you just said." Jameson snickered. "Aren't you the one who ruined her for good? What does it have to do with me? Did your brain get waterlogged from standing in the rain for too long?"Don't think I'm the only person in this world who hates you, Jasper Beckett, nor am I the only one who wants you dead. Someone as unlucky as you should just forget about Lyse and let her go."…Axel stood beside the railings on top of the building, his black windbreaker billowing in the cold ni
Some were distraught and lost, while others remained sprightly and kicking.Jameson had acted as if he'd just heard the news and hurried over to Heightsnew Villa. He was currently sitting anxiously in the living room."Tsk. We only just sent Jasper away, yet now Jameson has come crawling all the way back here! What did our baby sister do to deserve this? What bad karma did she accrue?" Jonah and Silas were looking downstairs from the second-floor landing. Silas was so angry he was grinding his teeth together.Jonah coldly eyed Jameson's face, which had had its fill of putting up a dramatic show. His hand around the railing was so tense his veins were bulging."He didn't show up at the event even though he's his family's favorite right now. Yet here he is, showing up first thing the moment something happens to Lyse. "Hmph! Based on my years of experience as a prosecutor, I know he definitely has something to do with what happened earlier tonight. He probably worked together with
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