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
Lauren covered her mouth with her hand. What did she just do?Ever since Landon got together with her, he had never touched any other woman. So, how could she touch another man? Was she… Was she dirty now? Did she betray Landon? "I'm… I'm sorry…" After being at a loss for words, she could only apologize. However, she wasn't sure if her apology was meant for Cyrus or Landon. "What are you sorry for, Ms. Lauren? I should be the one to apologize to you. I have been so busy that I haven't showered in three days. I'm sorry if I stink." Cyrus smiled. He noted that Lauren looked naively cute. "Madam Lauren!"Upon hearing some commotion, Angelina hurried over. She was also surprised to see Cyrus. "Mr. Cyrus?" Cyrus normally had a low profile. There were only a handful of people who knew of him. Angelina knew Cyrus only because Landon had mentioned him. Otherwise, the awkward situation when Axel visited might have been repeated. Cyrus peered inside. "Are Lyse and Jasper at home?
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