Alyssa looked up into his eyes which burned with passion. She understood him well even without exchanging words.Alyssa, Jasper, and Xavier went to the top floor past a narrow corridor and stood in front of the door of the innermost unit. Before they could knock, an old woman with a walking stick slowly made her way down the stairs.Upon seeing the trio in black suits, the old woman appeared triggered and started trembling. Tapping her stick hard on the ground, she hissed, "H-How dare you show up at the Madisons' again? "Do you think you can easily bully the poor single mother and her daughter, thinking they don't have anyone to stand up for them? They said they would retract the lawsuit, so what more do you want? Do you want them dead?"Alyssa and Jasper exchanged glances, knowing that the Schmidts must have shown up to threaten and harass the Madison family. They could imagine the snicker on the faces of those bullies from the Schmidt family."No… Ma'am, please calm down. We're
Gina exclaimed, "I see that you've got a hidden agenda. You are on the same side as David! He was the one who arranged for you to come over and harm Maggie. Am I right?" Alyssa responded, "No! I…""You didn't have good intentions either! I can't believe that you operated on that bastard. You are just siding with the enemy! I want you to get out! Don't ever come and bother Maggie again!" Gina shouted painfully at Alyssa. Her eyes were bloodshot as she glared at her. Alyssa was anxious. Right before Gina could slam the door closed, Alyssa reacted speedily by putting her hand on the side of the door."Mrs. Madison! I am really here to help Maggie! Please hear me out!" In her anger, Gina picked up a newly-opened bag of laundry powder which was sitting on the window sill. Without another word, she flung it at Alyssa's face! Sweat formed on Alyssa's forehead. It was too late for her to dodge it.All of a sudden, she felt a strong force pushing her away. Immediately after, she foun
Jasper and Alyssa spun around immediately. "Taty?" they exclaimed at the same time. Alyssa widened her eyes. She was overjoyed. She let go of Jasper's hand and ran toward Tatiana, who was standing alone by the side. She gave Tatiana a warm hug. "How long have you been waiting for? Why didn't you go in? Mrs. Rosie is in. She recognizes you, and she'd let you in. Why were you just waiting here?" "I'm sorry for just showing up like this, Lyse. Sorry for bothering you and Jasper." Tatiana's voice sounded weak. Listening to her like that made Alyssa feel bad. "Don't be silly. Do you know how much I missed you?" Alyssa stroked Tatiana's soft cheeks and smiled. "Two days ago, your brother-in-law, Jasper, was just suggesting for us to go on a trip after this busy period. We can even travel around the world!" Jasper was stunned to hear Alyssa's words. In the next instance, his heart filled with warmth. His brows relaxed, and he broke into a smile. Tatiana had long acknowledged h
Jasper's hand was on Alyssa's waist. He pulled her in closer to him slowly. The corner of his lips curved upward as he gave her a helpless look. Alyssa consistently brimmed with captivating ideas, and her perpetual desire ensured there would never be a dull moment in her company."Lyse, I know you are just trying to comfort me." Even though Alyssa wasn't fussed, Tatiana couldn't help but feel an immense guilt weighing on her. Her eyes turned red as she said, "You wouldn't have been dragged into this if it wasn't because of me. "You wouldn't otherwise have become the Schmidt family's target for revenge. It's all my fault. I was too weak and stupid. That's how it came to this." Upon saying that, Tatiana's tears started flowing. Her teardrops dripped onto the back of her hand. This tugged at their heartstrings. Alyssa gave Jasper a look. He was taken aback. He then quickly leaned forward toward the tea table. He pulled two pieces of tissue from the tissue box and handed them to
Alyssa and Jasper were shocked. They exclaimed in unison, "What did you say, Taty?" After her deliberation, Tatiana's expression was calm and resolute. "It doesn't matter if I have to give my statement at the police station or testify against David in court. I will take the witness stand. I'm willing to do it. "I just want David to be brought to justice, and to ensure that justice is served on behalf of those women. No matter how immense the pressure, I can handle it." At this moment, it was as if the air around them had frozen. At first, Tatiana thought that they would strongly support her idea. To her surprise, both Alyssa's and Jasper's faces turned glum. They didn't say a word. "Even though David didn't get his way with me, it was still an assault attempt. Moreover, I'm sure that I will be able to garner the people's attention when I step forward to accuse him, especially with a status like mine. "Then, the Schmidts wouldn't be able to shut people up even if they wanted
The question from Tatiana caused the tension in the room to peak. Alyssa widened her eyes slightly. Grievance churned within her. Since childhood, Tatiana and Alyssa were always joined at the hip. Yet, they were having such an intense argument tonight. "What do you mean by that, Taty? Are you saying that I am someone who only cares about the safety of my family? And that I am egoistic and can't be bothered about others?" Jasper's heart was pounding. As the middle person, he was stuck in an awkward position. He gave Alyssa a light tug by the hem of her top. "Taty wouldn't think of you like that, Lyse. Don't overthink it." "I'm overthinking it? She should explain to me what she meant by that, then!" Alyssa plucked the corner of her top back from Jasper's grip. Jasper shuddered. He pressed his lips together bitterly. She could remain calm no matter how much the public swore at and ridiculed her. But now, it was obvious that she was furious. Jasper knew that what Alyssa
Alyssa pouted and muttered, "Why did you do that? If Mrs. Rosie were to see us… How embarrassing would that be?" "I didn't want you to jump into the sea in the south. So, I was just trying to calm you down." Jasper found it difficult to slow his breathing. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Do you feel better now?" "I'm okay but I still feel very wronged. I feel suffocated." Deep down, she was troubled. Her eyes watered and she sniffled. Her pitiful expression made Jasper's heart melt. He cupped her reddish cheeks. He felt the warmth from her cheeks on his palms. "Look at you. Your cheeks are burning like you're running a temperature. "You and Taty have always had a good relationship. It's not worth it for you both to get mad at each other because of that bastard from the Schmidt family. Don't be angry, alright?" "How could I be angry at Taty?" Dispirited, Alyssa lowered her eyes. "It's more like I'm mad at myself. I wasn't able to take David down for good. He ended up havin
"It's not a bad thing to cry. It's better for you to let it all out than to keep everything bottled up inside," Jasper responded. Not everyone in the world might understand her good intentions. But Jasper surely did. He gently pinched Alyssa's face and said, "Let's give time for both you and Taty to calm down. Tomorrow, we'll spare some time to see Taty. Have a good chat with her. I'm sure that we can come up with a perfect strategy." Teary-eyed, Alyssa rubbed her eyes and said coquettishly, "I'm hungry. Make me something to eat." Jasper put his right hand on his chest and his left hand behind his back. He transformed into an elegant attendant and bowed respectfully. "On it, my lady." …The next day, Jasper and Alyssa returned to Belbanks to see Tatiana.To their surprise, they learned that Tatiana hadn't gone home at all. Instead, she had contacted Lyla to say that she had some urgent matters to attend to at school. She informed her that she would be staying at the dorm
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
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