Daisy's face was twisted with a hideous expression. She stared fixedly at Jameson's delicate yet detestable face."Help me? Haha! They're animals! But Jameson, aren't you one as well? Yes... You're worse. You're a damn viper. You're even more vicious!"Jameson showed no signs of anger. Instead, his smile deepened. "I may not be a saint, but even beasts show some affection for their offspring. I have always been reluctant to be too harsh on my family. So, I want to help you, Daisy."Also, besides me, who else cares about you? In this place where not even a glimpse of daylight is visible, do you believe people regard you as a member of the Schmidt family?"Seeing Daisy's strong resistance to his so-called "help", Jameson dealt a lethal blow."Daisy, think carefully. Your current miserable situation is all because of whom?"Daisy's anger surged. She shouted hysterically, "It's the Taylor family! They're retaliating against me. That bitch Alyssa is definitely involved!"Jameson smir
Carl tentatively asked, "Mr. Schmidt, will that crazy bitch... work with you?""I've stepped in. How could it not work?" Jameson raised his eyebrows arrogantly."Then let me congratulate you for removing another nuisance in advance."Carl smiled with utmost sincerity. "Once David falls, Josh will be an easy target. By then, Victor will have no one to rely on other than you. The entire Schmidt family will be yours.""I hope so."Squinting his eyes, Jameson raised his hand toward the vast black sky, and a complex emotion surged in his gaze. "I was given a second life. I just hope not to disappoint his expectations.""By the way, Mr. Schmidt, I just received news that your private plane is ready.""Although it took quite some time, it was worth the wait."Jameson lightly pushed his gold-rimmed glasses, a glint of coldness crossing his eyes. "Contact Inigo and tell him everything is ready. He and his brothers can hit the road anytime."…Jameson's luxury car moved steadily in the
It was Alyssa and Jasper!It was hard to imagine the proud and noble billionaire Jasper Beckett indulging in street food at night, all in the name of love. His typical diet of refined carbohydrates had been replaced with hearty suppers. His mouth even bore traces of grease from the fried foods Alyssa had given him.Any sane person would be astounded by this sight!"Does it taste good?" Alyssa was beaming widely. She gently wiped Jasper's mouth with a napkin.Jasper pecked her on the lips the moment his mouth was wiped clean. "It tastes wonderful. Any meal I share with you is delicious."His voice rang out loud, making Alyssa blush shyly. Even the old woman sitting across from them chuckled upon hearing Jasper's words.Jasper and Alyssa appeared nothing short of a match made in heaven. They were so in love with one another. Who wouldn't be delighted at the sight?"Tsk! It looks like you only think the food is good because you're trying to appease me." Alyssa pouted. "You can just
Jasper's eyes widened slightly as a jolt ran through his entire being. He wrapped a warm hand around Alyssa's nape and deepened their kiss uncontrollably.The stall owner turned around to clear some dishes. She didn't want to intrude on such an intimate moment.Meanwhile, Jameson bore witness to this tender kiss between Alyssa and Jasper. His heart and body felt like they were being ripped to shreds. Pain and anguish filled his chest.Carl sullenly sighed upon seeing the same thing Jameson saw.One could attain anything through effort and calculation, except for love.Jameson had given Alyssa his all and tried his best, yet Alyssa still returned to Jasper without a shred of care.What a waste of effort!Alyssa gently withdrew her lips from Jasper's, a spark of desire in her eyes. Her voice was somewhat strained. "You've… suffered a lot, Jasper. It's a good thing that the past is behind us now. From now on, only good times await us.""Every single day spent with you by my side m
But Josh didn't even get a chance to change his clothes before Victor called him over to the hospital.After learning that the Schmidt Group's assets had depreciated by two billion dollars in value, Victor had thoroughly "refurbished" the VIP ward he was staying in. It was better demolition work than most people could accomplish.Money wasn't the most important thing right now. What was important was that the recent wave of negative news had impacted one of Schmidt Group's big projects in Kontina, forcing them to stop operations. The Kontinian authorities even wanted to investigate Schmidt Group's financial status thoroughly. This was the greatest blow to the company."Please calm down, Dad. Don't overexert yourself." Josh's voice was weak. His greasy hair and stubbled chin gave him a disheveled look. "We can always earn back the money, but if we don't properly handle the crisis our company is facing now, it will surely impact the family.""Earn back the money? Easy for you to sa
Josh fumed silently, his expression dark as midnight.Josh had been raised by his father to become heir to their family since he was a child. He had never been so insulted in all his years of doing whatever he pleased!"You scoundrel, Jameson Schmidt!" muttered Josh under his breath. Victor asked anxiously, "Since you have a plan already, when do you intend to set it into motion, Jameson?" "I can help you clear the obstacles for the project right now. But what capacity would I be doing this in?" Jameson sighed. "I have no shares in the company, which isn't a big deal, but I don't even have a position. How do I introduce myself when I go meet the Kontinian officials? Do I tell them that I'm the fourth son of the Schmidt family?""That's easy to settle!" Victor clapped Jameson's shoulder and said, "I'll draft an official resolution tomorrow to make you managing director of the company. You'll be able to participate in the board meetings from now on! If you can get our project in K
That night, the news about David's arrest shook the entire country. As expected, Daisy made use of this more impactful news to push her ranking down from the trending searches. However, the most pitiful news was still none other than the ones about the Schmidts. Following the revelation of the incident involving the Schmidt siblings, the Schmidt Group found itself backed into a corner. Aside from David's arrest, he had even exposed himself indecently for the whole country to see! Even his grandfather, Thomas Schmidt, would likely be turning in his grave! After watching the live news, Victor's heart couldn't endure it. His face lost color, and he staggered backward."Dad!" Josh rushed forward to catch Victor. However, Jameson managed to get there ahead of him as he was nearer to Victor. "Hurry up and take a seat, Dad. Deep breaths." Jameson helped Victor to the sofa to sit. He turned around and cast an anxious gaze at Josh. "What are you still standing there for, Josh? Get th
Jameson said, "What I want is Dad's recognition and to be promoted rightfully. I don't want to be the target of people's gossip saying that I am a usurper."Jameson tilted his chin up slightly. He let out a proud smile as he said, "The most important thing to Josh is his position as the president. "If I can drag him down from his position and trample all over him, it would be the most ruthless revenge that I can take against him." Carl was genuinely happy for Jameson. He laughed, "Mr. Victor has started to despise Josh. It won't be very long until that day comes!"Jameson closed his eyes. A wave of bitterness rose in his heart. "Winston has always had his reservations about Lyse and I. Even though he didn't mention it explicitly, I know that he doesn't like that I don't have any status or shares in the Schmidt Group. He doesn't feel at peace to leave Lyse in my care. "That is why I must take over the Schmidt Group as soon as possible. Then, I will draw a line between myself a
"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
Beckett Group was, in essence, Javier's heart and soul, forged from his own labor. "Justin set me up, framed me for drug addiction, and bribed my primary physician to give false testimony—all so he could drag me down. The fact that he dared to target me like this means he's willing to betray anyone."Jasper took a deep breath, forcing down the rage roiling inside him as Javier remained silent. "Fine. Even if you insist this is just a family matter, Justin's reputation is already in ruins, and the corporation's stock prices are fluctuating. Are you really going to stand by him, even now?""Justin has explained everything to me. He wasn't aware of the bribery. That female doctor who worked for him acted on her own. Besides, she's been arrested. The backlash against Justin will settle in time…"Jasper listened, his face unreadable, but his heart clenched painfully. A lump rose in his throat, suffocating him.He had lost his mother at a young age, but he had never longed for his fa