"How about the plane?" Inigo asked. "You'll just need to first retrieve the money. Once you've ascertained that you're not being followed or chased, you can leave any time," Jameson chuckled. His gaze was cold. "Well, hurry up, then! I'm so done with this shithole!" Inigo couldn't get used to the place. Plus, he wasn't able to go out in the open. He was already at his wits' end. Jameson stepped on the white handkerchief and kneaded it with his shoe. "As long as you go along with my arrangements, I will make sure you have a smooth departure." …The next morning, Alyssa and Jasper heard the shocking news—David was found dead in the shared bathroom at the detention center. They had heard that he died in a bizarre and horrifying manner. When he was discovered, rigor mortis had already set in. His face was puffed up and discolored. His cause of death was strangulation by the stainless steel shower hose, which was still wound around his neck when his body was discovered. It lo
"It can't be Josh." While Alyssa was caught in a daze, Jasper shared his analysis confidently once again. "I say that because he has achieved his goal. There are huge risks involved in sneaking into the detention center to commit a murder. It wouldn't be necessary for him to do this. "He has already suffered a loss when he once acted on impulse. There's no way that he'd make the same mistake." Jasper was just like a counselor to the queen. Alyssa couldn't agree more. She nodded and said, "Yes, I think so too." "Although there isn't any available evidence, I have a strong feeling that it may have been Jameson. This seems like a method of his. "Moreover, he's a powerful man in Kontina. He has also been making connections in Solana City in secret. Based on these, it would be a simple feat for him to buy someone off to get rid of David," Jasper continued with a serious look on his face. "Yes, that makes sense. There's nothing Jameson can't do!" Alyssa pressed her lips together
"How… How about Justin, your brother who had saved you?" Alyssa probed carefully. Jasper froze. The horrifying memories from his younger days replayed in his mind. It all felt so vivid to him. "Justin and I may be half-brothers, but it's a fact that he'd saved my life. There's no doubt about that. I will always be indebted to him." Alyssa knew that Jasper was a loyal man. This was a good trait to have. At the same time, it could be cumbersome too. "Imagine if Justin comes back and joins the fight to succeed Beckett Group. Would you hand it over to him?" Jasper chuckled softly. "Are you so fearful of the possibility that I'd marry into your family instead?" "That's what I've been thinking about." Alyssa blinked calmly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and continued, "I am an unrefined person. The only thing I'm interested in is position and wealth. I can't stand being a typical wife. I am only focused on becoming a leader in the business world. I want to be a radiant
"First, you should all look at this video." Cyrus pulled out an iPad. He played the footage, which showed Jameson visiting David.Alyssa inched nearer to take a closer look. She asked in a confused voice, "What did Jamiper have David sign?" "I've asked my colleagues at the Digital Forensics Department to analyze the footage. It's an agreement for the transfer of shares," Cyrus answered in a deep voice. Alyssa, Jasper, and Xavier were shocked. "How… How could that be?" Xavier couldn't hold himself back. He blurted, "To them, their shares represent their power and position at the Schmidt Group. It's such an important asset! "There was a chance that David would end up being sentenced to be in prison for life. Even so, he couldn't have transferred his shares to Jamiper even if he died. He detested Jamiper!" "I've also hired a professional lip reader to interpret David's words. In short, Jameson probably told him that Josh was the reason for his downfall. He offered to help get D
After several days, Inigo finally couldn't resist. He showed up again.However, Alyssa never expected that the person delivering the message to her was not Jonah or Landon but Colene.Jasper also realized the reason for Colene's question when she asked if he was around. It was because she knew Alyssa's temper well.If Alyssa found out that Inigo had appeared, she would rush over to catch him, regardless of anything. How could this wild filly be left without someone to restrain her?"How did you find out, Colene? Who tipped you off?" Alyssa's heart was pounding with excitement and astonishment."It's Nathan, my dad's adopted son."Jasper looked puzzled and asked softly, "Who's Nathan?"Alyssa's eyes brightened as she enthusiastically introduced him. "He's the one who fed Simon the feces. Technically, I should call him Uncle Nathan."Jasper's eyes lit up. He formed the impression that Nathan was a remarkable man."I asked him to gather all his men and circulate Inigo's photo so
Suddenly, Colene shouted, "Do you hear me, Jasper?"Jasper hurriedly sat up straight. "Yes, I'm here.""Control your woman a little. Don't let her act recklessly."Although Colene didn't sound friendly, her words were filled with concern. "If anything happens to Lyse, the Ivory Gang won't let you off."Alyssa felt speechless at her words. This daughter of the Ivory Gang's leader was quite domineering.Cyrus chuckled and shook his head while Xavier truly felt nervous for Jasper.Jasper wrapped his hand around Alyssa's waist and exerted force, giving her a sense of security. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll protect Lyse with all my might. Please rest assured."Suddenly, the atmosphere in the car quieted down.Mom?Even Alyssa usually only addressed Colene by her name, but Jasper actually called her "Mom" in one fell swoop.He actually mastered seizing opportunities to act cute.The other end of the phone suddenly went silent, and then Colene shouted, "You brat, who do you think you're
Inigo continued, "If I get caught, I'll expose all the dirty things you've done over the years. I'll let Ms. Alyssa see the ugly side of her childhood friend!"Jameson smiled mockingly as he knew Inigo wouldn't have the chance to report on him."How do you plan to give me the money?" Inigo's mind was all wrapped up in his funds."Follow the route I tell you to take now. I'll arrange for people to cover you and help you escape. As for the money, I'll put it on the plane. After you escape, quickly board the plane. It'll take off immediately, and you can successfully leave Solana City."…As instructed by Alyssa, Colene repeatedly reminds Nathan not to act recklessly and engage in a firefight with Inigo. If he didn't listen, she would block his number.This sentence was extremely effective against Nathan.When Alyssa and Jasper received the news, they immediately contacted Landon and Jonah. The police also dispatched manpower to track down Inigo and his men according to Nathan's pr
Late at night, Solana City International Airport seemed calm on the surface, but there was a storm brewing.Cyrus had applied for an arrest warrant and requested to work with the head of customs to hunt down Inigo. They were conducting a tight surveillance operation without causing public panic or affecting normal flight operations.The goal was to arrest Inigo on the spot.Plainclothes police officers were present in the airport terminal. Beyond customs, both the Taylors and the Harpers were stationed.The airport tonight was like a dragnet, just waiting for Inigo to fall into it.Time was ticking away.Jonah, Cyrus, and Landon stood in the control room, watching multiple surveillance screens. Their hearts were pounding. Even when their eyes were sore from staring at the screens, they dared not slack off."Mr. Jonah, Chief Cyrus, is there a possibility…"Landon, feeling a bit stifled by the atmosphere, cleared his throat and asked, "Is there a possibility that Inigo disappeare
"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