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
In Solana City, Tatiana stood alone outside the East Solana Police Bureau. She gritted her teeth and walked in. "Are you here to make a report, miss?" asked a female officer.Tatiana nodded vigorously. She asked softly, "May I know if Cyrus… I mean, Chief Cyrus is around?" …Cyrus had been busy for two days and two nights. He was sleeping soundly in the lounge room at the time. The moment he found out that Tatiana was there to see him, he leaped to his feet and went out to meet her. In the office, Tatiana and Cyrus sat facing each other. She interlocked her fingers and rubbed them together until her knuckles turned red. Cyrus studied her carefully. He asked in a concerned voice, "You showed up unannounced. Did something happen, Taty?" Tatiana was tender-hearted and timid. She had always been overshadowed by Alyssa ever since she was a child.Despite being half-siblings, Cyrus was never biased. He always treated her the same as Alyssa. Each time he went on a work trip and
It was still early in the night. Alyssa and Jasper met up with Sean. After that, the three of them made their way back to Solana City as quickly as they could. Along the way, Sean made endless attempts to call Tatiana. In the end, her phone was simply just shut off. "Taty… Why aren't you picking up? Taty!" Sean mumbled to himself incoherently. He was a bundle of nerves. "Everything will be alright, Sean." Through the rearview mirror, Jasper could see that Sean's eyes had turned red. He continued in a warm voice, "I have already asked Xavier to go to Taty's school to look for her. Solana City is also just half an hour away. We'll head straight to Solana Film Academy." In her uneasiness, Alyssa clenched her clothes tightly. Cold sweat had formed on her forehead. She stuttered, "Jasper, I really regret it now. I shouldn't have blown up at Taty." "Don't say that, Lyse." Jasper pulled her in for a loving embrace. "Taty isn't such a wilful person. Moreover, the both of you gr
Alyssa was frustrated. She put her palm to her forehead and exclaimed, "Cyrus, I can't believe how thoughtless you are!" Jasper felt his jaw tense up. His head was spinning. Just as he was trying to come up with what to do next, a few chatty female students walked out of the school's back gate. They were scrolling on their phones and having a discussion among themselves. One of them said in a mocking voice, "Oh, my God! This can't be real! Isn't this Tatiana from the Performing Arts Department at our academy? I can't believe that she started a livestream to accuse David of assaulting her!"At that moment, it was as if Alyssa, Jasper, and Sean had all been struck by lightning! All the blood drained from Sean's face. His body started to tremble as he staggered backward. "Tatiana is already famous for being a belle at our school. She has already stolen the limelight. It has only been a few days since graduation. Yet, she's already feeling lonely and hungry for attention?""Wel
Alyssa was Tatiana's elder sister?The students were floored. They stood there stiffly. The bawling student stopped crying. The student who had fallen on the ground was shaking like a leaf. She cupped her swollen cheeks. Attempting to retreat, she endeavored to move backward yet found herself already pressed against the wall.Even though Tatiana was from the Taylor family, she normally kept a low profile. Her lifestyle was no different from the average woman. Who would have thought that she was the daughter of one of the richest men around? Jasper, Sean, and Xavier reacted to the circumstance with different expressions on their faces. Yet, they each admired Alyssa in their own ways. At first, Sean had the impulse to ditch all manners and charge forward to give those outspoken women a piece of his mind. To his surprise, Alyssa moved quicker than he anticipated, turning the tables and being the one to school them instead.On the other hand, Jasper relaxed his tightened fists sl
"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