The atmosphere in the living room turned frosty in an instant. Cyrus recognized that he couldn't and wouldn't be able to persuade Alyssa. If he tried, he would only make the situation worse. So, he retreated discreetly. Angelina also brought Lauren away, leaving space for the rest to talk. Jasper held his breath. His hands were trembling. Subconsciously, he reached out, wanting to hold Alyssa's hand. But, he stopped midway and curled his fingers in. He really didn't want Alyssa to leave. He was never a coward. When he loved someone, he would love them fully. When there was someone he hated, he hated them to the core. It was just that he was indebted to Alyssa. At the same time, he felt guilt toward Winston. No matter if it was the three years of heart-rending marriage or Alyssa's miscarriage… These were all his fault. He was the one who hurt Winston's precious daughter. He had committed an unpardonable sin. He didn't mind if Winston berated him or even beat him up again.
"Did you mean that?" Cyrus jumped. He turned around immediately. He hadn't realized that Lauren was behind him. She was hugging a brown fluffy teddy tightly and looking at him sheepishly. Lauren looked adorable to him at that moment. Cyrus's gaze became slightly deeper. He laughed light-heartedly and answered in a warm tone, "Of course I meant it. Did you paint this?" "Yeah, I did." Lauren nodded. "You must have put a lot of thought and emotions into it. It took quite a bit of effort, didn't it?" "Mm… That's alright. The most important thing is that Landon likes it." Lauren's eyes lit up at the mention of Landon. She smiled sweetly, and her face blushed pink. "Landon treats me very well. There is not much I can give him, so I just did this painting as a gift. I'm glad that he likes it." Cyrus' heart skipped a beat. Throughout all these years of being a police officer, he was always immersed in the dark side of the world. Every day, he fought fiercely with countless
Alyssa burst out laughing. She put the apron over Jasper's neck and then tied it around his waist. "Well, I have to say that Lyla has been feeding my dad well all these years. He has become an extremely picky gourmand."Jasper gulped, then took a deep breath. "But don't you worry. I will be here to guide you. You just have to follow my instructions, and you won't be too far off." Tenderness filled Jasper's eyes. He pulled Alyssa in for an embrace and planted a loving kiss on her forehead. "Yes, ma'am!"…"No! You've got the sequence wrong! You should've put the meat in first! " "Oh, no! That's too much vinegar!" "Oh, my! It's burning! You've got to flip it!" Jasper and Alyssa were making a racket in the kitchen, giving the impression that they were creating chaos. Initially, Winston sat in the living room with his eyes shut and resting. When he heard the commotion, he couldn't help but peer at the kitchen. The kitchen on the ground floor of the manor had an open conc
One agonizing hour later, Jasper served up a few fairly presentable dishes on the dining table. He could manage simple dishes. Once the complexity of the dishes had increased, he realized he wasn't talented at cooking! Moreover, these were dishes he had completed under Alyssa's supervision. If he had relied on himself, dinner would most likely be served at midnight. By the time Jasper was done, his forehead was covered in sweat. His white shirt was also completely soaked in his sweat. Alyssa noticed all these, and her heart ached for him. She picked up a piece of tissue to wipe his sweat for him. She pouted, "Winston is so troublesome. He has so many cooks at home. There is also Lyla, who is such a capable cook. Why did he insist on staying when he could have all the scrumptious food at home? He's just making things difficult for others!" "Lyse, you and Mr. Taylor haven't seen each other in a long time. Plus, you said it yourself that he can stay and try my cooking." Jasp
Surprisingly, the dinner turned out to be a peaceful meal. Winston and Alyssa seemed to have a tacit understanding of one another. Neither of them made any mention of the things that would make each other upset. "Woah! Are you all having a feast by yourselves? How could you!" Cyrus came over after being tired of strolling around the house. He was also hungry, so he sat himself down at the dining table too. "That wasn't very hospitable of you, Lyse. Why didn't you call me over when there's a feast here? I don't even have an appetite as big as Silas'. Were you afraid that I'd gobble everything up?" Winston and Alyssa looked at Cyrus. In unison, they exclaimed, "Oh! I forgot about you!"…After dinner, Winston got ready to leave. Alyssa stood on the steps as she watched Winston and Neil depart. As for Jasper, he wasn't just going to stand and watch. He walked them straight to their car. Before Winston got into the car, he paused. He stood up tall and looked at Jasper with
Winston said, "Everything else aside, there was one thing Lyse said that hurt me. She said that I had never known what her mother wished for…"Winston closed his eyes slowly. Tears moistened his long lashes, casting a sense of loneliness under the street lights. "Who else in this shitty world, other than myself, would understand her?" asked Winston. "Mr. Taylor, Ms. Alyssa is young. She hasn't experienced many of the things you've been through, so she's still ignorant." Neil let out a long sigh. "If she gets a chance to know everything about Mrs. Taylor in the future, she will come to understand your good intentions." …After Winston left, Angelina accompanied Lauren upstairs to rest. Alyssa and Cyrus sat in the living room to chat. "I wasn't the tattletale, Lyse. I swear!" Cyrus exclaimed with three of his fingers lifted. "I know. We Taylors are not such jackasses. Even Liam, who hates Jasper the most, would never use such a cheap method to pressure us via Winston." Alys
Cyrus' casual description of Landon made the tension around them rise to the roof. Landon's eyes shot wide open, and his entire body tensed up! How could he describe him like that? He hadn't been away from his home for too long. During that time, Cyrus had already come to create chaos in his house? Alyssa and Jasper had heard the ruckus at the door. They walked on over. "Cyrus? You're still here?" Alyssa, sharp-minded, noticed the standoff between Cyrus and Landon, shooting them a suspicious look."Oh, I wasn't too sure how to open this door. Mr. Landon came back just in time and opened the door for me. I'll be leaving now." Cyrus looked back and smiled brightly at Alyssa, as if nothing had just happened. "Once this busy period is over, I will take you out to have some fun. You shouldn't be stuck living with this man every day. How boring is that." Jasper stayed silent. As much as he knew that Cyrus was kidding, Jasper couldn't help but feel jealous again. Even after C
Landon swallowed hard as he felt a burning passion ignite within him. He had decided what position he wanted to make love to his delicate wife."Pervert!" Biting her red lips, Alyssa forcefully jabbed Jasper in the ribs with her elbow.The three of them took their seats back in the living hall.After a while, Lauren fell asleep watching the television. Angelina came downstairs and prepared them tea after settling Lauren down.She looked at Landon, wanting to say something, but stopped herself. She figured this wasn't the best time to report to him."I went back home." Landon lowered his head and drank his tea. His tone was low, and he sounded guilty. "Jasper, Lyse, I owe you an apology. My grandfather managed to arrange for the police to release Zoe."A cold glint instantly appeared in Jasper's eyes when he heard that name."She did something terrible, but it was not enough to convict her of it. I knew she would be released after being detained for half a month."Alyssa remain
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
Julien's merciless, hate-filled words hit Jonah like a ton of bricks. The pain was unbearable, a gut-wrenching ache that shattered his heart.Under the dim lighting, Julien vaguely noticed a sorrowful tear forming at the corner of Jonah's eye. But before it could fall, Jonah forced a blink, swallowing his emotions whole. Despite Jonah's attempt to brace himself, sorrow engulfed him, a tidal wave of despair. His features mirrored the devastation ripping through his heart. As Evan opened the driver's side door, Julien lurched forward and vomited again. The sickening sound of him retching echoed in the air as if he were expelling everything inside him. "Judas, Mr. Lovelace looks like he's suffering from alcohol poisoning. We should take him to the hospital."Evan's worry deepened at Julien's condition. Jonah wordlessly removed his suit jacket and began cleaning the mess in the car. His chest tightened painfully as he watched Julien groaning, clearly suffering. Then, without he
Jonah's gaze burned with a mix of longing, sorrow, and something deeply affectionate. The world swam back into focus as Julien looked at Jonah. Without preamble, he asked, "Are you new? How much do you charge per night?"Light-headed and grinning, Julien reached out a hand, his fingers brushing softly against Jonah's cheek. "You're pretty good-looking," he said, his voice slurred. Then his expression shifted. "Why do you… look so much like someone I hate with every fiber of my being?"Jonah's heart clenched. Even so, he slid his arms around Julien's waist. Trembling, he pulled Julien into his arms. "I'm new here. Could you help me meet my target tonight, Mr. Lovelace?"Julien's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Jonah. Jonah's eyes teared up as he held Julien's waist tightly. "I promise you won't be disappointed," he said, his voice deep. Watching from the shadows below the stage, Evan nearly gagged at Jonah's sultry tone. Was this really the Judas he knew? The man sounded downri
The bar was alive with striking lights and thundering music, and the air was thick with the scent of tobacco and alcohol. The atmosphere was one of moral decay—corrupt, degrading, and vile. "Where's Julien?" Jonah's voice cut through the noise, his tone icy and sharp. When Jonah stepped inside, the eyes of several men turned toward him, their gazes filled with illicit intent."Why, hello there. Are you here alone? Are you feeling lonely?" A sexy man sauntered over, draping himself over Jonah's shoulders. He let his hands linger with a playful squeeze. "If you're bored, I'd be happy to keep you company." Jonah's expression darkened. His hands trembled, veins bulging with barely contained rage. Suddenly, Evan burst through the crowd, his face twisting in alarm at the sight of Jonah surrounded by a swarm of predatory men. Evan yelled, "Don't touch him!" A heavy thump reverberated through the room. Gasps erupted as people scrambled back.The man who had draped himself over
Rafe stated, "But Beckett Group is in the middle of a storm right now. If I insisted on giving your corporation the project, my superiors would investigate me. I wouldn't be able to escape unscathed!""If you're investigated, I'll make sure you can still live a life of luxury—even if you lose your job." Justin's tone darkened. "But if you turn against me, you won't just suffer a few losses. You'll lose everything."Under the dim moonlight, Justin fiddled with his antique tea cup, his gaze narrowing. "You've worked so hard to get to where you are. Are you prepared to lose it all?"After ending the call, Justin turned to Remy, who stood quietly at the side. "Sheryl is still being detained. She can't be bailed out for another two days. I need someone to watch over the research lab. You'll handle that."Remy was taken aback. "I failed my last mission. Aren't you going to punish me?"Justin's smile was cold and insincere. "It wasn't your fault. You were ambushed. If not for that, I tru
Remy pursed his lips, bending down to pick up the fallen poker card. It was the King of Spades—an entry pass to Kings' Club. "My attacker was…" Remy's pupils constricted as he tightened his grip on the card. "It can only be that dear uncle of mine, always claiming to see me as his own son." Justin's lips curled into a sinister smile. "He's trying to get rid of my right-hand man, taking advantage of my internal feud with Jasper. Weakening me is just his first step toward gaining control over me."He's been a fugitive ever since his successful prison break, never returning to Cyrris after receiving his life sentence. His power base remains in Kontina. "I'm the last surviving Dutton. The Dutton Group, as a cover, has declared bankruptcy and severed all ties with the country. "My dear uncle has taken a huge risk just to target me. He sent his men to attack you in Solana City. What a delightful surprise. It seems he truly doesn't trust me, his only remaining family."Remy lowere
The hospital ward grew heavy with silence. Mandy and Neil stared at Alyssa, stunned beyond words. "M-Ms. Alyssa, you knew that man was Mr. Damien?" Neil asked, disbelief etched into his voice. "Yes." Alyssa's reply was quiet, her lips pressed into a thin line. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "We found out when Cyrus took Damien's cigarette butt for a paternity test."Mandy approached Alyssa, her shoulders trembling slightly. "So, you and Cyrus knew… and you both kept it from me?" Mandy said, her voice catching in her throat, tears welling up. Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. "Mandy, I'm sorry. It was my decision. Cyrus had nothing to do with it."Mandy's tears fell freely now, her grief spilling out in raw sobs. "Do you know what it's been like for me all these years, thinking Damien was gone? Winston, Miley, Lyla, and Colene kept telling me to move on. I tried to accept that he was dead, that we'd never find his body. But I never did."Her vo
The hospital ward was bathed in a dim, yellow glow from the bedside lamp. The silence was thick, yet the room held a strange warmth—an unfamiliar comfort that felt oddly familiar to Remy.Pain radiated through his body as he struggled to sit up. His eyes fell on Mandy, who was asleep beside his bed. Her hair was a mess, and her swollen eyes suggested she'd been crying. She was sound asleep. Remy stiffened. His breath quickened as he stared at her fragile figure. Slowly, he leaned forward, his fingers lifting slightly, tempted to reach out.Just as his hand hovered close, Mandy's lashes fluttered. In her sleep, she murmured, "Damien… Damien… I miss you so much…" Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent and unbidden.A pang tugged at Remy's heart. Without thinking, he brushed away her tears with his calloused fingers. The moment his skin touched hers, a jolt shot through him, sharp and electrifying. Pain throbbed at his temples, but beneath it was a warmth he didn't want to let g
Justin's casual question hit Javier like a thunderclap. Shock rippled through him, freezing his expression. His voice trembled with fear as he barked, "What nonsense is that? Are you accusing me of causing Chester's death? I'm your father—how could you think I'd do such a thing?""It's not an accusation. Just the facts," Justin replied coolly, crossing his legs and savoring his tea with unsettling calm. "And I'm not condemning you. In fact, I understand why you did it. I'm facing the same dilemma now."Javier's breathing grew ragged. He had watched Justin grow from a child into the man before him—now a predator, circling with quiet menace."You were meant to be the heir as the eldest son," Justin continued, his voice smooth as silk. "But Grandpa favored Uncle Chester, handing him major projects, grooming him in plain sight. "Uncle Chester's reputation soon eclipsed yours. He was a natural leader, adept at business, with one fatal flaw—he was kind. Too kind. Unlike you."Justin