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
"Did you just learn about it? How could you date me without knowing anything about my family? Hm?" Alyssa playfully flicked Jasper on the forehead and remarked, "All of my stepmothers hail from pretty unusual families."Jasper flashed her a wry smile. He turned numb upon learning about Alyssa's family background. Never would he have associated Colene with the Ivory Gang leader."Lyse, you can't blame him. Marc has never exposed Colene's identity to anyone aside from a few confidantes and the gang members," Jonah interjected.He addressed Jasper in a much friendlier manner because he was in a great mood after dealing with Simon Lynch. "The underworld is dangerous. He had to do so to protect his only daughter."Jasper smiled, feeling touched by Jonah's amicability. Jonah might appear cold and distant on the outside, but he was warm inside, just like Jasper."Yeah, that's right. Marc detested Winston for marrying her precious daughter and even threatened to cut ties with Colene over
However, Sean lost his composure and teared up when he saw Jonah and Julien tagging along with Alyssa and Jasper. What had he done to deserve their concern?"Sean." Jonah grinned, lightening up the mood. "You must have suffered. We're here to take you home.""Mr. Jonah—" Sean choked on his tears and struggled to speak.All of a sudden, Alyssa dashed over to face off with Sean before Jasper could react to it. Jasper's heart raced upon seeing that, and he tensed up.He thought Alyssa had calmed down, but she seemed incensed the moment she saw Sean."Why did you admit to your guilt?" Panting heavily, she blushed in anger.Sean grappled with the piercing pain upon hearing her question. His dry lips parted. "Ms. Alyssa… I'm sorry."Rage colored her teary eyes. She lifted her arm, ready to punch Sean in the face."Lyse, no!""Lyse!"Sean did not move at all. His eyes grew mistier. Finally, she landed the punch on his shoulder. She hissed, "Why did you do that? Are you crazy? We sho
Alyssa and the others followed in the direction of Sean's passionate gaze. They found Tatiana standing alone under the dim streetlight. Her hair fluttered in the night breeze, bristling against the tear stains on her face."Sean," she called out to Sean in a melancholic tone as tears streamed down her cheeks. She was nearly enveloped by the darkness. It was a pitiful sight that was heartbreaking to watch.Sean ran toward her without hesitation and hugged her with all his might. He maintained his composure, but his ragged breathing betrayed him. "Why are you here at this hour? It's dangerous to be out alone at night.""Sean, I'm waiting for your release. I missed you so." She cried harder, staining his shoulders with her tears.She had been waiting before dusk, even calling Alyssa and Jasper for help at the same spot. She waited for Sean to be released, no matter how long it'd take."Me too. I missed you like crazy." He felt sorry for her and gently wiped away her tears.Then, h
"Why? Do you finally notice me beside you?" teased Julien while he admired Jonah's perfect side profile. He grumbled, "You've been ignoring me for a good half an hour. I was thinking of ignoring you forever if you kept giving me the cold shoulder."Despite being fatally attracted to Julien's childlike behavior, Jonah hid his feelings and asked calmly, "Do you often join Mandy and the others for tea?""Yeah.""You're a young man. Don't you feel bored when you hang out with a bunch of middle-aged ladies?" Jonah scrutinized Julien. "You led a carefree life in Mosgravia. There's no need to suppress your wants. Just do anything you feel like doing.""What if you can't handle me if I let go of myself?" Julien drawled and cast an irresistibly flirtatious look at Jonah.Jonah felt bitter, but he remained as distant as ever. "That's none of my business.""Oh, right. You're busy with your work as the president. You won't have time to worry about me," replied Julien with a hint of disappo
It was afternoon when Alyssa woke up the next day. She might be sleepy, but Jasper, a light sleeper, had woken up after a few hours of sleep.Even after he woke up, he did not leave the room at all. Instead, he worked remotely on the couch, handling the group's affairs and guarding by her side."Ah—" Suddenly, Alyssa jerked awake and shot up in bed. Jasper immediately put down his work and went up to hug her. He asked gently, "What's wrong, Lyse? Was it a nightmare?"She patted herself on the chest. Then, she grabbed his hand with a flushed face. "Jasper, guess what was in my dream?"He swallowed hard and attempted to kiss her, but she shunned him and exclaimed, "Jonah and Julien got married in my dreams!""Hmm?" Jasper stared at her in surprise. She added, "Our entire family was at the wedding. And I caught Julien's bouquet!"Jasper looked pretty speechless."I woke up right as they were about to kiss. Damn it! Why do I have to wake up at the most important time?" She slid her
After washing up, Alyssa changed and went downstairs for lunch with Jasper. It had been a while since she enjoyed Mrs. Rosie's cooking, and she wolfed down the food as Mrs. Rosie watched on with a motherly look. "Wow! It's delicious!" Alyssa licked her lips and burped after finishing the food. Then, she handed Mrs. Rosie the plate and said, "Mrs. Rosie, one more plate, please! Pile as much food as you can on it!""Roger that, Madam Alyssa!" Mrs. Rosie happily went to refill the plate for Alyssa. Like any parent, she felt glad to see Alyssa eating well."Lyse, take your time. You don't want to stuff yourself," Jasper reminded Alyssa dotingly.He picked a napkin and wiped away the grease on her lips."Why aren't you eating? Are you on a diet?" She leaned toward him and enjoyed his service."I'm not too hungry.""You should have told me earlier! Mrs. Rosie makes wicked seafood dishes. I left some for you because I'm worried there wasn't enough food for us!" She reached out for the
"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