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
Jasper took a seat by Alyssa's side and placed the desserts in front of her. She greeted Xavier, "Xavier, it's hot out there! Here, have some water and desserts before we discuss." She then pushed the platter of desserts to Xavier."Thank you, Madam Alyssa! You care for me!" Xavier looked touched by her concern.Envious, Jasper shot Xavier a look and snapped, "Hurry up. Let's get down to business soon."Xavier gobbled up a piece of cake and dabbed his lips with a hanky. Sitting upright, he reported, "I informed Mr. Galini about Sean Lynch's arrest per your orders. I've even submitted a detailed report to him. "This morning, Gabe Barrett has been suspended from his duty due to abuse of power. The authorities have taken him away for investigation. "Hmph! He's surely losing his job because of all the illegal deals he's involved in. The Schmidts will lose one of their lackeys.""Okay." Jasper nodded calmly. People like Gabe, who were tasked to clean up the mess of the Schmidt F
"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