"Hmph! You're still so young, Josh. You can ask your father how I fought my way to where I am today if you're unsure." Winston's eyes gleamed ferociously. "Ask around and see just how terrible you'll suffer if you antagonize me!"Josh's heart quivered fearfully, but he still put on a tough, fearless act."I say this to all of you now, not as Cyrus Taylor of the Taylor family, but as the police—" Cyrus then displayed an arrest warrant for the Schmidt family to see. He continued, "The police have officially arrested David Schmidt under the charge of sexual assault. We have ample evidence and witnesses to support our case, too. You Schmidts can prepare yourselves to attend David's trial."Cyrus then smirked. "Or, should I say, criminal suspect David Schmidt's trial."Despair overwhelmed Victor and Josh.This was an official warrant from the police. They had no choice but to concede to the matter now.Josh tried fighting back but was swiftly stopped by Victor, who said quietly, "Wh
A red sports car came to a stop in front of a club in the middle of the night. Amber stepped out of it dressed in a skin-tight black dress, showing off her curves. Her bejeweled heels glinted in the light, giving her a striking appearance overall."He's still inside, Ms. Altman. I've been keeping watch all this while." A lackey walked over to Amber from a dark corner.Amber tied her hair into a bun before decorating it with a silver hair stick studded with a ruby. Her beauty left the lackeys around her in awe."Wait outside and prepare to cover me."…Dim lights flashed in the club. Amber gritted her teeth together as she moved amidst the people who were enjoying their night. Her eyes were set on Axel who sat at the edge of the bar.The closer she got to him, the harder her heart pounded. The pandemonium around her seemed to disappear as if she was in a dream.Amber gently touched her hair stick. If things went according to plan tonight, her beloved hair stick would be used to
Axel narrowed his eyes. "You're not here specifically for me, are you?" Amber ran her finger in slow, circular motions along his firm chest. "You should believe that we were able to meet previously because of fate, mister." Axel raised his brow. "I see. It was fated indeed." "Thank you for helping me the last time." Amber wrapped his black necktie around her hand. Her soft skin was brushing against his body. With a longing gaze, she looked at him and said, "I have been hoping to see you again. I was hoping to repay you." Axel's eyes turned dim. His searching eyes made her feel nervous. Yet, she tried her best to control herself. He had eagle eyes. They were like lie detectors. Strangely enough, he actually felt that her words sounded genuine at that moment. "Tell me, then. How were you thinking of repaying me, hmm?" Axel broke into a sly smile as he moved his lips closer to her. Amber's heart thundered in her chest. A light shade of pink colored her cheeks as she bl
"It's your turn, mister..." Amber's heart skipped a beat. She was startled by Axel looking teary-eyed. His gaze was one filled with grief. His eyes looked dim, like an almost burnt-out shooting star."You've won. Good for you…"Axel smiled with his eyes as he gently pinched the top of his glass with his fingers, clinking it against hers. He continued, "I really hope that you can keep winning." Upon saying that, he finished the cognac in his glass. A trickle of the liquid spilled from his mouth, tracing the curve of his lip and descending along his impeccably sculpted jawline.Amber's eyes turned red. She felt like a buoy in the middle of the sea, floating beyond her control. She had never heard words like that said to her before. Others always required, dictated or commanded her to do things. No one had ever uttered a hopeful sentiment to her, wishing for her triumph or a future free from darkness. And that she could also have…All of a sudden, her mind went blank. She couldn't
Jasper was still waiting outside? Jonah was also astonished to hear that. Last night, it had continued to rain heavily for the better half of the night. The rain stopped, then started again this morning. An upcoming typhoon was also forecasted tonight. Jasper was just standing there without a drop of water to drink or a bite to eat. Was that how he wanted to die? "Jasper has been outside all along? Since last night? What do you mean?" Alyssa's captivating eyes were as wide as they could be. She grabbed Silas' shoulders tightly and shook him with all her might. "Spill! What in the world is going on? You have all seen Jasper, haven't you? Have you all been hiding it from me alone?" "Stop! Stop shaking me, Lyse! You're making me feel sick!" Silas felt like his entire world was spinning, and he couldn't focus his eyes."Lyse! Calm down!" Jonah hurried forward and grabbed a hold of her wrists. He pulled her into his arms. "It's Jasper's own choice, whatever he chooses to do
"There is no longer any need for you and Jasper to remain entangled with one another. He is not your benefactor. The more you insist, the more hurt you will get. You are just self-sabotaging." "Liam, listen to yourself! How could you say something like that?"Alyssa's heart wrenched, and her eyes were bloodshot. "Back then, my miscarriage was an accident! I didn't even know I was pregnant. So how could he have possibly known?"It was my own choice to keep my miscarriage a secret. It had nothing to do with Jasper! How many times do I have to repeat myself?"That being said, Liam's expression remained unchanged. He was still as frigid as before."You are still young, Lyse. There are plenty of other men out there who are better than Jasper. They can give you whatever Jasper had given you. Even if they can't, we can." "He is the only one for me! I'm warning you again, Liam, don't stand in my way. Don't make me hate you!" Alyssa was like an agitated lioness. She gritted her teeth
Yet, for Amber, all those garments served only to gratify Jameson's visual desires and subsequently shed for the pleasure of other men.Was there anyone who really cared or worried for her? Was there? That said, there was no turning back for her. She no longer had any right to choose. She and Axel were destined to be enemies. They were also fated to be people from two different worlds. Amber took a deep breath, then wiped away the tear from the corner of her eye. Just as she was about to shut the door, a hand suddenly appeared and held onto the side of the door. Through the gap, she noticed a pair of dark and familiar eyes! "Carl?" Amber felt her chest tighten. She immediately hid the gastric medication behind her back. "You are still alive, Ms. Altman. Thank heavens!" Carl forced the door open and stormed into the room, slamming Amber to the wall in the process. Following behind him were two other subordinates. They entered the room and pulled out their guns silently.
It had been 24 hours since Jasper started standing outside Heightsnew Villa. He was just such a stubborn person. He couldn't rest in peace until he saw his lover and got his answers. Last night, Jasper witnessed the Schmidts' arrival. He presumed that they were there to find fault in the matter regarding David. He concealed himself in a corner and observed them. It wasn't because he was afraid. It was because he didn't wish to create trouble. He would bring trouble to Winston if he aggravated Victor by giving him the impression that he was in cahoots with the Taylor family. Jasper didn't mind cleaning up the mess after the Taylors. However, exposing himself now just wasn't the smartest thing to do. The sky was dark, and the wind was howling like mad. The wind blew against his body. The weight of the wind almost felt like the beating that he had taken the previous night. Jasper's eyes were dim and deep. Dark stubble had begun to emerge on his sharp jaw, accentuating his
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