What was Winston thinking, saying something so terrible about his own son?"I don't think that's necessary." Axel rolled his eyes. "I'll need to stay alive until the day you need a family member to sign you off in the hospital. I know Jonah and Silas wouldn't be able to do it. You'd need me.""How dare you!" Winston shouted. "Why I oughta—"Winston yelled for their butler, Clark Anderson, to fetch him a cane. Meanwhile, he removed his leather boots and flung one in Axel's face.Jonah and Silas hurriedly went up to Winston to stop him. Mandy and Colene followed suit. Still, Winston's temper remained.All of a sudden, a gentle, delicate voice rang out in the hallway."Um … dinner's ready."Everyone turned to see who had spoken. It was Lyla, still in her apron and a frying pan in hand. Her pale skin glistened with oil and sweat. She looked dazedly at the crowd, having no idea as to what had transpired.Winston's stomach growled amidst the silence."Fine, dinner first! I'll teach
Alyssa's heart clenched for a moment. "I miss her, Axel. But Mom isn't here anymore. At some point, we … we need to face reality and move on from our hurt. "We're Taylors, Axel. The family needs us to protect it. We are its future. That's why we must keep ourselves in the present and learn to look forward.""You can accomplish that. I can't. I'm just some boy stuck in his fever dream, refusing to wake up. This isn't home to me anymore, Alyssa."The siblings sunk into silence for a long while."Alright, that's enough depression for one night. I respect whatever decision you make," Axel lazily waved his hand.Then he noticed that Alyssa had teared up some. He hurriedly tried to tend to her, saying, "Hey, don't think about that anymore. I'm going to tell you something really interesting. Jasper Beckett is here tonight.""What?" Alyssa yelped, shocking everyone present.Winston scowled at her. "What are you yelling for? Is there a rat in the house or something?""Not a rat, no. I
"What do I need to do for you to let me go free, Jasper Beckett?" Alyssa growled over the phone. "Do you know how irritating it is? "You keep getting involved in my private affairs again and again. I've said I'd make it up to you for being attacked. Sean has gone to you already. So, what is this now?""Didn't you want a divorce? This is your chance." Jasper's voice quivered slightly. "Come outside to see me, and I'll let that night go. I won't go after your brother.""You—" Alyssa inhaled sharply.Was this really Jasper Beckett? What the hell had happened to him? He was usually so composed and collected!"Fine, I'll come outside. But you better keep your word tonight. The divorce is final after this!" Alyssa retorted, then angrily hung up the call.As Alyssa was about to head outside, Clark hurried over to Mandy and said urgently, "Madam, there's a Maybach parked outside the premises for nearly an hour now. Its license plate is A7777. Two men in suits are with it. They've been s
"The cold wind burns my face and blows its frosty pepper up my nose," Xavier murmured. "Black are my steps on silver sod; thick blows my frosty breath abroad."Jasper had been waiting in the cold for nearly an hour now. Yet, this was nothing compared to his days in the military, where standing an entire day was routine. The only difference was that his heart was in his throat right now.He was worried Alice would change her mind and not come outside. What could he do then? Barge into the manor? Impossible—he could not do that. This was the Taylor family's residence.What right did he have to knock on their door asking for Alice?None that he could think of.Heaving a sigh, Jasper took out the last cigarette in the box. He was about to light it when the sound of heels clicking rang out."Jasper Beckett."The man's heart pounded erratically as he gazed up at his ex-wife. The cigarette between his lips nearly fell out with how much he was trembling.Alice glanced down, instantly
The atmosphere dropped to a freezing point.Xavier wished he could intervene. He wanted to silence his boss to prevent him from ruining things for himself.Alyssa laughed out loud, finding Jasper absurd. "I'll admit, I underestimated your persistence when I decided to try and be with you. I gave you everything that I was and could be just so you would love me. Look where that got me, huh?"But you were wrong about one thing, Jasper Beckett. I never hated you, even when you wished me to disappear from your sight. "I did want to end things amicably between us, but you keep meddling in my life now that our relationship is over. You've completely shattered any chance of us having a civil connection. "That's why I'm doing everything I can to erase you from my life. You married me because you had to, just as that's my standpoint now. I want nothing to do with you anymore. That is the only way for us to make peace with the past."Jasper felt as if a sledgehammer had struck his heart.
Alyssa was taken aback but didn't reach out to take the box. She hadn't expected Jasper to have kept that by his side all this time."Alice couldn't possibly accept that from you. I'll do it in her stead." Before Alyssa could say anything, Colene had taken the box from Jasper.Inside was a gorgeous bracelet carved from the finest lavender moon quartz. It gleamed with a soft light, looking like a treasure from centuries before.Alyssa could instantly tell this was a one-of-a-kind material, not usually for sale to the public. If Jasper had given this to her years ago, she would have been so happy she wouldn't have been able to sleep.But her joy was now buried beneath a cold, lonely desert. Unrequited love was a waste of time, along with the gifts it brought. "Hm. I'm no collector, but even I can tell how expensive this must be. Look at this crystal. You're very kind, Mr. Beckett …" Colene drawled.She suddenly raised her hand. What followed was the sound of something breaking int
Axel was in the backyard, walking straight toward his Lamborghini without so much as looking back."Axel!" Alyssa cried, running up to him. "Where are you going?""As far away from this place as possible, obviously. Hopefully, I never have to come back." When Axel turned to look at her, she could see that his cheek had turned alarmingly red where their father had hit him."You always said you cared the most about our brothers and me. So if this is our home, then it's your home too. How could you just never come back again?" Alyssa asked, holding onto her brother's hand. Her heart hurt so deeply.Axel gazed at his beloved sister, then gently cupped her cheek. "Of course, I love you guys. I'll love you guys wherever I go. But this isn't home anymore. I've fulfilled my promise to you, Lyse. You wouldn't still be upset with me because of it, right?"Alyssa nodded slowly, suddenly feeling like crying."If you want to show respect and love for Winston, then I suggest you never make me
Cold sweat broke out on Xavier's forehead. "I just think if you don't want to separate from Madam, then why don't you just tell her that? Tell her how you feel?""How I feel?" Jasper sneered. "Hmph. I've already made up my mind about how I feel. We are never getting back together!""Then why did you—""Drive!" Jasper roared, nearly causing Xavier hit the brakes. He bit his lip, staying quiet for the rest of the drive.Jasper leaned back in his seat, feeling unbelievably tired.Only then did he remember the quartz shards he had picked up before they leftThe shards had pierced his skin, causing drops of blood to ooze and bleed from his palm.What had gotten into him? He had wanted so badly to bring Alice home tonight, away from Jonah Taylor and his family, away from Belbank.All he had wanted was for Alice to come home with him.…After seeing Axel off, Alyssa went to console her father alongside Jonah and Silas. Only after that did she finally get some time to herself.She r
Julien's questions sent the hall into an uproar. In an instant, the number of viewers on the live stream shot up to 50 million, and the comment section exploded."Dr. Lovelace has presented Mr. Jasper's examination reports. He never did drugs—he was framed! This is undeniable!""He risked his life to save Ms. Alyssa, yet ended up being manipulated, dismissed, and investigated like a criminal. He almost carried a lifelong stain on his name. What a despicable move by whoever did this!"Then, a comment appeared, saying, "Wasn't it Justin Beckett, the current president of Beckett Group, who orchestrated all of this? He set up his own younger brother just to seize power. What a vile man!"Yet, less than two seconds later, the comment vanished.But no matter how many trolls swarmed in or how quickly posts were deleted, the public's outrage could not be silenced. Suspicion against Justin surged, and tens of thousands of negative comments flooded the chat.Julien stood below the stage,
The once lively and fashion-loving Julien now seemed like a star that had lost its light. The radiance that once defined him had vanished. Julien walked past Jonah without stopping. The short distance between them gave Jonah a painfully clear view of the cross-shaped scar on Julien's cheek. His heart wrenched, the pain so intense that his vision blurred. He staggered. "Jonah, are you alright?" Fortunately, Landon was beside him and caught him just in time. Staring at Julien's slim figure, Jonah parted his dry lips, but no words came out.Bitterness filled the back of his throat, and his longing for Julien sent sharp, stabbing pains through his body.Julien stopped beside Jasper, offering him a small smile and a nod as a greeting.Then, his gaze turned fierce as he locked eyes with Justin's hypocritical expression."My name is Julien Lovelace. I was once Mr. Jasper's primary physician. Approximately six months ago, Mr. Jasper made a deal with Jameson to rescue Ms. Alyssa w
Alyssa stood at the doorway, her slim figure framed against the light, yet she seemed to tower over the room. Her presence commanded attention, filling the hall with an air of reverence and grandeur. From across the room, Jasper's dark eyes burned with intensity. To him, Alyssa was like a golden phoenix, its wings unfurling as it soared, radiating brilliance over everything in its wake. "Lyse!"Jonah and Landon stared in shock. They hadn't expected Alyssa to show up at the press conference. Camera flashes erupted once more."It's Ms. Alyssa Taylor!""We should address her properly now—she's the head of KS Group!" "Wait… Is she here to support Jasper? I thought they broke up?""What do you even know? They used to be in love!" Justin narrowed his eyes at Alyssa's frigid, determined expression. Slowly, his lips curled into a chilling, sinister smile.Alyssa met his gaze, suppressing the hatred surging within her. Then, with an air of composure, she turned to the crowd. "W
"That's rubbish. I never asked you to do anything like that!" Sheryl's bloodshot eyes burned with fury. She clenched her fists, longing to silence Sebastian."I didn't expect you to admit it," Sebastian said coldly. He reached into his chest pocket and pulled out his phone. After scrolling briefly, he held it up for all to see. "You were wary of me recording our conversations, but you never suspected I'd install a hidden camera in my office. This footage clearly shows you bribing and threatening me. With this evidence, denial is futile!"The crowd turned to Sheryl, their gazes heavy with shock and suspicion. When their eyes shifted to Justin, doubt lingered in the air.Sheryl's heart sank, her face draining of color.As cautious as she was, she had miscalculated. But it didn't matter. She had carried out the task herself, avoiding any direct mention of Justin's orders. Justin could still be saved.It was Sheryl who had fallen short in her responsibilities, and she was ready to tak
Jasper's eyes blazed with fury as he locked his gaze on Justin, a sharp, determined gleam in his dark eyes. "I will clear my name and restore my reputation, no matter the cost!" he declared, his voice ringing with resolve.The tension between Justin, standing on stage, and Jasper, positioned below, was palpable—like a killer whale facing off with a great white shark. The outcome was still uncertain."I, Landon Harper, swear on my name and the entirety of Harper Group that Jasper never did drugs. The whole situation was a setup!" Landon's voice resounded throughout the entire hall. The reporters buzzed with questions. "Who would do such a thing?"Landon refrained from directly naming Justin, aware that exposing the wolf in sheep's clothing would not be easy. Accusing him too hastily might provide Justin with an opportunity to counterattack, exploiting any gaps in their case.Landon had no fear of tarnishing his own reputation, but he was deeply concerned about the damage it m
Everyone turned to look behind them.Justin's icy gaze locked onto the doors, his expression dark and foreboding. The light pouring in from outside was blinding, piercing through the shadows like a blade. As the crowd squinted against the glare, two figures emerged, standing tall and resolute side by side.It was Jasper and Landon. Clad in a sleek black suit, Landon bore traces of dust but appeared otherwise unscathed. Jasper, however, was a stark contrast. His clothes were torn and bloodied, his appearance disheveled, but his demeanor was anything but defeated. Standing straight and proud, his frigid stare was enough to make the crowd shrink back, unwilling to meet his eyes."Mr. Justin," Landon began, his voice sharp and cutting, "you've gone to great lengths to keep Jasper from this press conference."Ever the rebel with the air of a street-hardened fighter, Landon didn't mince words. "To stop him, you sent assassins to ambush him. You had your people block his way in the
Meanwhile, the light above one of Taylor General Hospital's emergency surgery theaters flickered off. Moments later, the door swung open, and a doctor emerged, pulling down his surgical mask. Mandy hurried toward the doctor, her eyes brimming with worry. "How is that poor man doing?" "Mrs. Taylor, it's fortunate you brought him in when you did. Ten minutes later, and we might not have been able to save him. He went into shock from excessive blood loss, but he's stable now. I gave him a transfusion and sutured his wounds. He'll need rest and proper nutrition to recover fully."Relief washed over Mandy, and her tense body slackened. Her knees nearly buckled as she murmured, "Thank God… Thank God!" Once the doctor departed, Mandy instructed her driver to purchase the best blood-replenishing supplements available, sparing no expense.The driver had only been employed by the Taylor family for the past two years, so he was unaware of the true reasons behind Mandy's actions. To him, h
Soon enough, Jasper and Jonah found themselves surrounded by a horde of fighters. The atmosphere was charged with a vicious, merciless tension that heightened their awareness. They were now in the underground parking lot of Berenike Hotel.This was one of the Beckett family's properties, with Newton overseeing the construction personally.Berenike Hotel had always been the leader among all the five-star hotels in Solana City. Yet, on this day, when a critical press conference was about to begin, Justin chose to start a massacre in the hotel's parking lot, disregarding the potential damage to the hotel's reputation. His actions were utterly insane and perverse. "Shall we each take down ten of them?" Jonah nudged Jasper with his elbow. Narrowing his eyes, he added, "The press conference starts in ten minutes. Think you can wrap this up by then?"A cold, fierce glint flashed in Jasper's usually dull eyes. "I'll take down 15 and leave five for you." "Why only five for me?"Jasp
The golden iris stood as a symbol of triumph."Ms. Alyssa, we're on track. We'll make it to the press conference on time!" Sean declared, stepping on the accelerator with a fiery look in his eyes. "Safety first," Alyssa reminded him in a calm, steady voice. Surprisingly, at this crucial juncture, she appeared composed. "Taty is due soon, and you're about to become a father. As a family man, you shouldn't be as reckless as before." The thought of his unborn son brought a blissful smile to Sean's face, softening his fiery resolve.Alyssa closed her eyes, though her mind remained in overdrive. The truth was, she was forcing herself to stay alert. Ever since Amber's disappearance, she hadn't had a single restful night. The once carefree Alyssa, who could sleep through anything, was long gone. Her frayed nerves left her in a weakened state, but she held on.She had survived when others hadn't, and that resilience fueled her belief that she could endure again. This time, she wou