The atmosphere in the grand hall of the city hall was tense and serious. The audience was comprised of important officials and business representatives from Solana City and all across the nation. At that moment, Orlander Hodgson was delivering a keynote speech onstage. Members of Congress and business representatives sat in the front rows, while family members like Daisy were arranged to be seated in the back.As the only daughter of the Schmidt family, Daisy was especially important in high society. Still, today's event was mostly their husbands' arena. As a spouse, she had no say in the event. An attention-seeker, she was displeased at the treatment at the event, especially knowing that she was the reason behind Timothy's career success. Without the support of the Schmidt Group, the guidance of Victor Schmidt, and her meticulously crafted public persona, Timothy would never have achieved success smoothly.The more she thought over it, the happier she felt. It took her mind of
"Oh, my God! Who did this? This is amazing!""Gathering so much evidence and revealing it at such a crucial moment? This is aimed at destroying Timothy!""Could it be Mr. Hodgson? After all, they're rivals in this election.""That's possible. But does the Hodgson family have such means? The mastermind behind this must be someone stronger."Flashlights were flickering. All cameras captured the shocked Timothy, who was trembling uncontrollably on the stage.Some reporters were no longer satisfied with just taking photos. They rushed toward the podium, aiming their microphones and cameras at him."Mr. Clemons, are the pictures real?""Did you take bribes? Are you involved in illicit transactions?"Timothy's lips trembled uncontrollably, and he staggered backward. "It's not me! Someone photoshopped it. Someone is trying to set me up!""What about the ledger? How do you explain that?""It's fake! It's all fabricated! I never took that money! Never!"Timothy was drenched in sweat
The venue was in chaos, and security personnel were deployed to maintain order.However, the event was grand, and numerous media outlets were invited. All the reporters swarmed Timothy, trapping him in the middle and making it difficult for him to move.That was how the media industry worked. For them, scandals were like blood in the water, and they were the sharks.Moreover, this was an epic scandal.Victor's son-in-law, the hottest contender in the city's mayoral election, was actually involved in embezzlement and illicit affairs.Who wouldn't want to be the first to report this? Every reporter was eager to devour Timothy alive."Mr. Hodgson, should I contact headquarters to send more personnel? The situation is getting out of control." Orlander's secretary hurriedly approached Orlander.Standing in an inconspicuous corner, Orlander left the spacious stage to his rival with a smile that suggested he enjoyed watching the spectacle."Let's just quietly enjoy the show. You don't
Silas' eyes were stern as he spoke. "I'm here on official orders. The Investigative Bureau has approved the arrest of Mr. Timothy Clemons for investigation. Please let us do our job.""We weren't notified. We only know that unauthorized personnel are not allowed to step inside." The bodyguard's attitude became more uncompromising.As Silas smirked, his eyes turned cold. "Do you know that you're already breaking the law?"The bodyguards had a strong backing, so they didn't take Silas seriously."Looking at your attire, you're obviously not official personnel. Given your fear of us entering to make an arrest, I'm suspecting you're affiliated with Schmidt Group." Silas chuckled.The bodyguards suddenly panicked.Before they came to stop the prosecutors, Josh had explicitly ordered them not to mention a word about the Schmidt Group, no matter how they were pressured.They just had to stall the prosecutors to give more time for the Schmidt family's operations. If Timothy was taken aw
"Feel free to ask if you need my help, Mr. Beckett." Daniel was extremely polite as if Jasper were his boss.Meanwhile, the temperature in the car gradually rose. Jasper's and Alyssa's lips intertwined in a deep and lingering kiss.As Jasper reluctantly ended this euphoric moment, he smiled in satisfaction.No one could tell whether this satisfaction was due to Daniel's response or Alyssa's enthusiastic reaction.When the call ended, Alyssa's forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat."Do you have clones? You're involved everywhere. You even have people by Orlander's side?"She lightly panted in Jasper's embrace, her gaze soft and tender. "Those people in the political field are all cunning. They're all snobs who favor the rich."Especially those in positions like chief secretary. Being the high-ranking officials' confidants, they're the most difficult to win over. How did you buy him over?"Jasper gently stroked her sweat-dampened hair, raising an eyebrow. "Because I'm ric
As Timothy saw the prosecution team approaching him, he knew that he was doomed. His legs gave way, and he buckled in front of everyone.All social media and news platforms simultaneously replaced their headlines with a breaking news update—Timothy had been arrested.Quick-witted reporters had already rushed to Victor."Mr. Victor, do you have anything to say about the arrest of your son-in-law?""Are you aware of Mr. Clemons' actions?""Have you benefited during Mr. Clemons' years in office? Did he use his power to channel benefits to the Schmidt Group?"The furious Victor gritted his teeth, his face turning ashen.He thought Josh would handle things well, but the prosecutors from the Investigative Bureau still barged in. And they were led by none other than Winston's second son, Silas!Both being business tycoons, it was a great disgrace for Victor to have his son-in-law arrested by Winston's son. What an insult to his dignity!If he had known, he wouldn't have stayed here.
Jasper whispered, "My strong self-control crumbles before you."Alyssa's eyes were slightly red. Her voice was soft and melodious as she whispered back into his ears, "You were very capable. Tonight... you'll be rewarded."…This crucial seminar for Solana City concluded in a spectacular and absurd farce.Timothy's scandalous political career was exposed to the public, causing strong condemnation in society. It even alarmed the president, who ordered a thorough investigation into the Clemons family and all officials associated with Timothy to eradicate the corruption.Everyone in the political field felt threatened and hated Timothy to the core.Schmidt Group also suffered. Not only was its reputation damaged, but it had also lost its credibility, attracting attention from higher-ups.Victor checked Twitter on his way back home. When he saw his abandoned shoe at the scene being shared online with memes like "Get the same edition as the rich now", he was so furious that he yelled
Victor massaged his temples, looking deeply troubled. "Who collected such detailed evidence? Who has the capability to bypass everyone and expose the evidence on the screen? Who has this much influence?""Who else? It must be the Hodgsons. After all, Parasite Tim is Orlander's archenemy. With the upcoming election, Orlander will surely go all out and crush his rival," David grumbled angrily."No, it's not the Hodgsons," Josh decisively stated."Based on what I know, they don't have that capability. Even if they had some evidence, they wouldn't expose it at such a crucial meeting. It wouldn't benefit them, and they might face consequences from higher authorities."Suddenly, realization dawned on him, and he clenched his teeth. "Why do I feel like this cunning and ruthless approach is something Alyssa would do?""Alyssa? Is it really that brat?" Victor was suddenly taken aback."Josh, do you have any evidence?"Jameson's eyes darkened with a cold glint. "Are you just throwing dirt
This time, the injection did not bring the excruciating pain that once made Amber wish for death. Her chapped lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed deeply into Remy's eyes. He, too, looked at her, his expression unreadable yet intense. Between them, no words were needed."Damien… Thank you…" Though her voice was barely audible, the weight of her words sank deep into Remy's heart. For once, he did not object to being called Damien.The truth was, ever since Amber had been taken, an unbearable pressure had settled over him, making each breath feel like a punishment—every day since had been plagued by self-reproach and regret.If he hadn't stopped her that night and let her go sooner, could she have avoided Sheryl? Could she have been spared the torture and humiliation?"You should know that those who enter this place never leave. Most don't even make it out alive."Remy's gaze was unwavering. Taking advantage of the surveillance blind spot, he placed his
"Mr. Lexington," the doctor greeted respectfully, lowering his head slightly. Everyone at the base knew who Sheryl and Remy were. They were the ones in charge, the decision-makers. So, everyone obeyed their orders without question. To the staff unaware of the facility's true purpose, Sheryl and Remy stood at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Unbeknownst to them, someone more powerful lurked in the shadows."How has she been these past few days?" Remy asked, his expression unreadable."She's had some adverse reactions, but there are no signs of organ failure yet. Honestly, I'm surprised. She looks frail, but her body is incredibly resilient—stronger than some men, even."The doctor scoffed. "But I'm not sure if she'll make it past her fourth injection today. Last month, four test subjects didn't survive beyond that point. Their bodies have already been sent to the incinerator." Remy's jaw tensed. His voice was husky as he said, "As I've instructed, this woman must be kept alive.
Xavier seethed as he took in the insincere smile on Justin's face. Deep down, he was cursing him with every profanity imaginable. "Whatever makes you happy."Ignoring Justin's dark gaze, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead as he strode past him.Out of nowhere, Justin chuckled and asked, "Did you really think you had people on your side during the board meeting?"Jasper halted, his eyes narrowing. "Grandpa tried his best to shield you, but his health is failing by the day. How much longer do you think an old man can protect you?"Lowering his gaze, Justin idly adjusted the ruby cufflinks on his sleeves. His voice was casual yet cutting. "And Lyse—after how ruthlessly you discarded her, do you still believe she'll stand by you no matter what? That she'll fight alongside you like before?"The intense midday sun accentuated the sharp, aloof, and pallid features of Jasper's face as he stood, unyielding, in its glare. His pulse quickened. Finally, he answered, his voice a low rasp. "R
As the board meeting concluded, the crowd gradually dispersed.News of Justin securing his position as president and Alyssa joining the board quickly spread through Beckett Group.After the meeting, Alyssa escorted Newton back to Crescent Bay while Jasper remained at the corporation to handle some matters.With Xavier accompanying him, Jasper strode toward the chairman's office, his expression cold and unreadable.Nearby, a few employees huddled together, whispering."Psst! Do you think Alyssa joining the board means she's teaming up with Jasper to take down our new president?""People have been saying they broke up since they haven't been seen together for a while," another speculated."But at the press conference, Alyssa openly condemned Mr. Justin. That looked like she was siding with Jasper. So, are they still together or not?""Come on, to people like them, personal feelings don't matter—only their own interests do. Even if they broke up, they can still work together if it
When Jonah reached the bedside, he leaned in slowly, giving Julien an unobstructed view of his tanned skin, well-defined abs, and that devastatingly captivating face. Reclining against the headboard, Julien found himself lost in Jonah's eyes. His breath hitched, and his mind momentarily blanked as Jonah's mesmerizing gaze locked onto him. What could he do? His heart still betrayed him, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He was a fool—a pathetic fool. Jonah braced his arms on either side of Julien's head, his dark eyes overflowing with a raw, possessive affection. It was as if he sought to consume Julien—just as he had last night."Julien, does it still hurt—" "Fuck you!" Julien's bloodshot eyes blazed as he swung his hand, landing a sharp slap across Jonah's face. The illusion of his frailty shattered. A crimson handprint bloomed on Jonah's cheek in a split second, the flesh puffing up visibly. But the sting barely registered. Not when the ache in Jonah's chest was alr
Justin frowned as a hint of surprise flashed across his dark eyes. He had assumed Newton's unannounced appearance at the board meeting—along with Alyssa's involvement—was a coordinated effort with Jasper to overthrow him as president. After mentally running through hundreds of countermeasures, the one possibility he hadn't considered was that everything would proceed smoothly in his favor. Javier was equally stunned, though this outcome aligned with his desires. Today, Justin wasn't merely his son but a constant shadow looming over him, a silent predator watching his every move and reminding him that his past actions weren't completely buried. Instead, this secret loomed like a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment, obliterating everything he'd built. And the person holding the detonator was Justin—his eldest son whom he had trusted above all others. With a dim gaze, Javier watched Justin rise to his feet amid the applause. Suddenly, Justin's voice seemed distant,
Justin curled his lips into a smirk, scoffing in silence. Newton had gone to great lengths to bring Alyssa into Beckett Group. This was his way of decentralizing power and keeping it in check, and he wanted to prevent Justin from having complete control. Unlike others, Javier couldn't hold himself back. He blew his top instantly, his face turning red like a tomato. "Dad, have you lost your mind? Don't you know who she is? She is KS Group's president—our direct competitor!"KS Group is also bidding for Project A5. No matter how much you favor her, you should at least recognize the limits. If you promote her, it's a blatant conflict of interest—outright cronyism!" Newton sneered. "I might understand your concern if I were promoting someone other than Alyssa."His gaze hardened. "Cronyism? A conflict of interest? I wonder who you're really talking about."With those words, he cast a knowing, enigmatic glance at Justin's blank expression. Just then, a board member from Javier's
Despite his age, Newton exuded the same energy and sharpness he had in his younger days, even when surrounded by the board members brimming with vigor. Despite his quiet presence in the wheelchair, an intimidating atmosphere clung to him. In an instant, Javier was transported back to the days when he worked under Newton's strict supervision."Good day, Mr. Javier and all fellow board members. I assume no one has any objections to my presence at this meeting?"Newton's gaze swept across the room, a perfunctory smile gracing his lips."Of course not. You are part of the corporation's board of directors!" the members responded immediately.Newton nodded. "Much has happened within the corporation lately. Our shares have been fluctuating amid the controversy. "As you all know, I had intended to retire after dedicating most of my life to this company. I wanted to step aside for the younger generation rather than hover over them like a specter, micromanaging everything. "However,
Jasper's arrival plunged the conference room into an uneasy silence, and heavy tension settled over the space. Justin looked up, his expression a frozen mask. A palpable chill emanated from him. Javier's eyes widened in surprise. "Jasper? What are you doing here?" "Even though I'm no longer the president of Beckett Group, I remain a shareholder and board member. It's only natural for me to be here," Jasper replied smoothly as he strolled to his seat. As he passed behind Justin, he abruptly stopped. Without a moment's notice, he struck the back of Justin's chair. The sudden impact made Justin flinch. "Am I right, Justin?" Justin's expression darkened. Forcing a smile, he replied, "As a board member, you have the right to attend, even if you're no longer involved in operations. There's no issue.""If that's the case, why wasn't I informed about this meeting?" Jasper lowered himself into his seat, legs slightly parted, exuding an air of indifference. Yet, beneath the nonc