Alyssa's formidable presence hung over Gabe like the sword of Damocles. He chuckled nervously. "How about some tea for now?""It's fine. That's some truly expensive tea that I can't possibly accept," Alyssa addressed him coldly, crossing her legs. "Release my secretary from detention. This is a private matter between the Taylors and the Schmidts. Stay out of this if you still want a promotion and want to avoid trouble."Alyssa had always gone straight to the point without wasting time. That nearly wiped off Gabe's smile, but he persisted, "Ms. Alyssa, I understand your feelings, but based on my three decades of experience dealing with multiple cases in the department, those brought in are mostly guilty."Sean Lynch might be one of your staff, but he has committed aggravated assault after beating up David Schmidt. Besides, I've turned in the assessment results to my superiors."Frowning deeply, Alyssa tightened her fists on the arm of the chair. Gabe went on, "You might be two imp
Gabe nearly shed tears of relief when Josh showed up to the rescue. Following closely behind Josh was Simon Lynch, to everyone's surprise.After the call just now, Josh was plagued by concern and decided to drop by. He also reached out to Simon and updated the latter, inviting him to settle this issue concerning David.Initially, Simon thought of refusing as he had not gotten over Josh's humiliation. However, when he learned of Alyssa and Jasper's intervention, he immediately grabbed the chance to humiliate the couple.Alyssa gritted her teeth as rage flashed across her eyes. Josh's despicable face resembled that of a movie villain."Mr. Schmidt, I had no idea you engaged Simon Lynch's legal assistance." Jasper snickered. "You probably know his relationship to Sean, don't you?""Of course. So what?" Josh flashed a malicious smile. "Is there anything wrong with hiring Simon Lynch, the top attorney, to work on my brother's case?""Why doesn't Simon Lynch support his own brother? In
"Sean? Why would he?" Alyssa's mind went blank. Had Jasper not held her right in time, she would have lost her balance."Is this true? Has Sean Lynch admitted to all the charges?" Gabe's eyes lit up. He repeatedly checked the document for confirmation."It's true, Chief. It's in black and white. Sean Lynch has admitted to assaulting David Schmidt, and he's willing to receive the punishment."The turn of events was a welcomed change for the Schmidts. Despite sending in different policemen across shifts to continuously interrogate Sean, Sean did not budge at all. He'd rather be imprisoned indefinitely than admit to his guilt. But why the change of mind? What exactly happened?"Lyse, how are you feeling?" Jasper was concerned by Alyssa's pale face. He hugged her tight on her waist and sensed her body stiffening. He felt sorry for her."Sean did not do anything wrong. Why did he admit to his guilt?" Alyssa's eyes filled with hatred. She shook her head indignantly. "Is he an idiot? H
To protect Alyssa, Sean turned himself in without hesitation and signed his admission of guilt. Without seeking Josh's approval, Simon executed a bold maneuver to resolve the issue once and for all, catching Alyssa and Jasper off guard.Jasper hugged Alyssa tight and shot a glare at Simon's smug face. "Simon Lynch, what trick have you pulled on Sean to make him confess?""Tricks? Mr. Beckett, I'm breaking under all your verbal assaults. You might have to compensate me for moral damages." Simon rubbed his chest, but the glee on his face betrayed his feelings. "It's the police's job to interrogate the suspect. As an attorney, I have no place to do so. Look, Sean willingly signed the admission of guilt. I did not force him at all.""Simon Lynch, karma will hit you one day. Besides, it's too early to claim you've won." Alyssa stared at him resentfully as she clutched Jasper's hand tightly, the only way to keep her composure."We shall see. I'm intrigued to learn how you'll beat me. Don
Alyssa was rendered speechless at Julien's behavior in this tense situation. Suddenly, it occurred to her that Jasper did not seem surprised by Jonah's arrival. Was he in the know?"Jasper, did you call Jonah…" Her voice trailed off. She widened her eyes, staring quizzically at Jasper. His eyes twinkled as he whispered into her ear, "Sorry, Lyse. It wasn't my intention to keep it a secret from you. I didn't ask Jonah to show up. I merely told Xavier to give Jonah a heads-up after we left for the police station."I didn't expect him to show up at all. It shows how much he cares about Sean, but more importantly, he's concerned about you. By the way, why is Dr. Lovelace here as well? Why do they always show up together?"While Jasper was musing, Alyssa grinned and gestured at him to come close. He inched closer, and she revealed in a whisper, "I called Dr. Lovelace."Jasper was surprised at the revelation. It seemed that Alyssa had kept a secret from him as well. The calculating cou
Jasper finally understood the reason behind Alyssa calling Julien. It was part of her plan from the start."No… How is this possible?"Josh seized the diagnosis from Gabe, meticulously scrutinizing its contents. His eyes bulged out of his head.At the same time, Simon turned white, and his heart drummed."Mr. Schmidt, I can't believe your family has kept the diagnosis secret. Alyssa, or Dr. White, has saved David's life upon your father's request." Julien glared at Josh disdainfully. "You don't seem grateful to her. Not only that, you're also making her responsible for David's old injuries. You hid the truth by manipulating the diagnosis. That's a really despicable thing to do."Before this, Josh and Simon had discussed pinning David's erectile dysfunction on Sean to indict Sean under aggravated assault, which carried a heavier sentence. Therefore, Josh hid away the real diagnosis and worked with Gabe to charge Sean. To their dismay, their carefully crafted plan had been overturne
Despite putting on a brave face, Josh had been gripped by fear. His legs went weak. Simon kept his silence under Jonah's intimidating gaze.Alyssa found herself moved by Jonah's protectiveness. Knowing Jonah, he was aloof and rarely displayed his emotions. Apart from family and Sean, he showed no care for almost anyone else.Hence, she was surprised by his unusual action toward Julien. At the same time, she noticed Julien gazing at Jonah tenderly, prompting her to muse over their seemingly intimate connection. Why did they look like a couple in her eyes?Before she could delve further into her thoughts, Simon interjected, "Mr. Jonah, Sean will face assault charges even if we start anew. According to the law, confirmed assault, supported by a medical expert, carries a three-year sentence. Sean can't escape his fate."Simon argued vehemently, displaying a hostility that made it hard to believe he was Sean's older brother. The materialistic and selfish world had transformed him into a
Feces? What the heck?Alyssa and Jasper exchanged looks while Jonah glanced at Julien's feminine and alluring face in astonishment.Simon gaped at Julien as well. His eyes lit up with fury. He trembled in panic, fear, and humiliation at the thought of that night."You… You…" Simon covered his mouth as he heaved."Attorney Lynch, you look like you're in great pain." Julien took a step backward and stood next to Jonah as though Simon was infectious. Grinning wittily, he sneered, "Anyway, your mouth is as filthy as the toilet, so I bet you didn't feel anything. We've put the feces in the right place."Had Simon's mouth been stuffed with feces? It was a revelation more shocking than David's public nudity show.The memories of the stench haunted Simon. He covered his mouth and dashed out of the door."Hahaha! That was hilarious! I can't with him!" Julien burst out laughing, tears almost rolling down his cheek. He elbowed Jonah and questioned, "Hey, why aren't you guys laughing? I can
"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
Searching for Amber without direction would be pointless. Jasper made a swift decision to bring Alyssa back to the manor, shielding her from the relentless chill of the wind. Once inside, he immediately began organizing the search. He deployed his men and contacted Landon, requesting additional support.The two of them sat together on the couch.This time, there was no space between them. It was as though an invisible force drew them closer, their proximity feeling natural yet electric. Neither could say who had moved first.Alyssa, however, was in no mood to dwell on their closeness. Wrapped in her down jacket, she curled up on the couch, her arms hugging herself tightly. A quiet frostiness emanated from her as she sat in silence, listening to Jasper's calm and methodical calls to mobilize his team.In the past, his composed presence would have been enough to ease her mind. But now, her thoughts were a tangled mess, each one like a razor claw tearing at her heart. The pain was u