Jasper stood ten feet away, meeting Javier's gaze with an indifferent look. The row of black seats between them seemed like spiked bushes, just like their relationship.The air in the banquet hall immediately froze. Rory and the hotel manager were gripped by shock and fear."Jasper… Why are you here? What's going on?" Javier formed a guess in mind, but he furiously demanded an answer from Jasper."Isn't it obvious, Mr. Javier?" Dressed in a grey four-piece suit, Jasper stood tall in confrontation with Javier. His frostiness and imposing air overwhelmed Javier, who was used to being treated like a king. Javier held his breath.Javier foresaw himself being outdone by Jasper very soon. Jasper's authoritative behavior was the equal of Javier's younger self, if not better. At that moment, Javier felt fortunate that there was no one else there to witness his humiliation."I have sent the reporters away. Seems like they'd rather get on your wrong side than make themselves my enemy," Jasp
"Were you peeping again?" Jasper questioned.Alyssa pursed her lips and gripped her coffee cup. "Yeah. I didn't want you bullied.""How did I do? Was I cool?" He placed a hand on her head and slid his fingers between her hair.She inched closer and kissed him on the cheek. "Yeah, you were incredibly cool."He wrapped his arm around her waist, and his hot breath tickled the tip of her nose. He said, "You deserve the credit for what happened today. Had you not pressured the media with KS Group's power, I couldn't have successfully kept every single Solana City media out of the press conference. "Javier Beckett hated that I disrupted his plans, but he hated the humiliation more."After some thinking, Alyssa gently advised him, "Jasper, promise me that you won't go against your dad after the Sophia Kirkman case. Alright?""Why? Feeling bad for me?" He lifted her chin with a grin."I'm serious.""Once Sophia Kirkman receives her payback, I promise not to get into trouble with Javi
"You clueless thing!" Newton bellowed at Jasper.Alyssa's chest tightened when she witnessed Newton's outburst. She was about to speak up for Jasper when Newton added, "You should have run it through me before carrying it out. How could you act alone? Are you addicted to angering your dad?""Grandpa, I—""If your dad pulled the same thing on me, I would have been pissed as well. Anyway, I was about to teach him a lesson for not discussing the press conference with me." Sighing furiously, Newton remarked, "You should have given me a heads up so I could fight with him over hosting the press conference. "I could have stopped him so you didn't have to get into an argument with him, killing two birds with one stone. See, you have angered him again. You know he's petty, and he'll keep score. Why would you do that?""Grandpa, I know you wanted to protect me, but I'm no five-year-old. I'm an adult who could protect you, Lyse, and the company." Touched by Newton's sentiments, Jasper helpe
Sophia Kirkman's case was brought to court under intense public scrutiny and anticipation.Early in the morning, Mrs. Rosie changed into a new and clean outfit. She went to the cemetery with a bunch of fresh lilies and placed the flowers in front of Anne's headstone. Then, she sat cross-legged on the floor, placing an iPad in front of her and making sure it faced Anne's smiling photo. "Madam, your darling son and daughter-in-law are seeking justice for you. That evil bitch Sophia Kirkman will finally receive her payback."While polishing Anne's photo, tears welled up in Mrs. Rosie's eyes. She said, "Jasper and Alyssa will visit you after the trial. Before that, I'll keep you company as we watch them in court."Mrs. Rosie picked up a whiff of lily scent, like a silent answer.…Although Sophia's representation had requested a private trial, the court rejected their application due to insufficient grounds. The case would proceed as a public trial instead.Despite the influence
Nina's grandmother, Gemma Pell, slowly got out of the car in her walking stick with Sean's help.Some reporters gasped, "It's the plaintiff's attorney and family!" They recognized Gemma due to her action of splashing hot soup at Sophia at Nina's funeral, an incident still highly discussed."The plaintiff's attorney looks familiar… Gosh, isn't he Ms. Alyssa's secretary?" a reporter exclaimed while pointing a finger at Sean."You're right! I can't believe that he's an attorney. Ms. Alyssa's employees are talented indeed."The group of reporters went up to Sean. He did not need to do anything to attract all attention away from Simon.Meanwhile, Simon's eyes wavered in shock as his blood froze. He had repeatedly sent people to ask around about the identity of his opponent in court, but he failed to get any information despite his extensive connections.He was shocked to find Sean as the attorney who took on Nina's case."A-Attorney Lynch, what do we do?" Simon's assistant, who was u
Simon refuted with a fake smile, "Jeffrey Snyder is Nina Carle's murderer. He was caught at the scene and admitted to it. Mrs. Beckett is unfairly accused of the crime, and I'm here to clear her name."Sean merely scoffed at Simon's remark. "So, are you saying that the authorities are wrong to arrest a woman who is involved in corruption, abuse of power, slander, and framing others for her crime? She's also a drug user, you know.""That's just a red herring. Mrs. Beckett has made some mistakes that don't warrant a harsh punishment. Besides, she has not murdered anyone. She will admit to the crimes she has committed, but she will not be unfairly blamed. She has no reason to take the blame for the murder all because you want to settle personal grudges."Frowning, Sean fell into silence. He was wary not to get into a squabble with Simon, for he'd only give Simon the chance to insult Alyssa.The reporters fixed their hateful gazes on Simon as anger simmered. They silently cheered Sean
The gory and bloody scenes from Anne's death haunted Sophia. Suddenly, Sophia's scream pierced the air. Drenched in sweat, she quivered with pale lips."Mrs. Beckett, are you alright?" Sensing something was amiss, Simon inquired in shock."I-I'm fine." She curled her fists under the table and forced herself to stop thinking about Anne."Mrs. Beckett, you have not answered my question." Simon repeated, "You need to be frank with me on whether or not you're involved in other murders. This is crucial for me to defend you in court."You know very well that Alyssa and Jasper will take advantage of the death of a maid to attack you until you're done for. They will try their best to look into your past and submit unfavorable evidence against you in court. All these are plausible."Sophia couldn't stop trembling. She bit her lip hard."I am asking you the question for no other reason than to increase our chance at winning. You need to be honest with me. Give me your full trust and cooper
"Just wait and see. One day…" Betty's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Javier and Betty spun around to look at the visitors, only for their faces to fall.Jasper and Alyssa had showed up at court, followed by a few members of the Taylor family—Jonah Cyrus, Tatiana, and Winston's three wives. They expressed their support for the victim through their actions.Landon would have shown up to express his support at such a critical time, but he decided to keep Lauren company at home because the case involved Lauren's mother. He worried Lauren might suffer a breakdown when she learned about the details.Betty clenched her jaw as her eyes rested on Alyssa, but the latter did not pay any attention to her at all. With no way to release her anger, Betty raged on silently.Alyssa wore light makeup for the trial and a white pantsuit with her self-designed sapphire brooch on the chest. She carried herself with elegance and class.Jasper stood tall beside her in a smart and ta
Alyssa followed Jasper into the study. The door closed behind her with a soft click. She didn't move to switch on the lights or sit down. Instead, she stood quietly in the dim room.They faced each other, eyes locked. In the darkness, their gazes seemed brighter, charged with emotions that neither could put into words. Whatever stirred within them was tangled and silent—kept at bay by something unspoken, as if a wall had formed between heart and mouth. After a pause, Alyssa offered a faint smile. Her voice was soft, almost courteous. "Go ahead, Mr. Beckett. I won't be staying long tonight—I've made other arrangements."It was clear she didn't want to be alone in a room with him.Jasper's chest tightened, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion he couldn't define. His voice was rough when he finally spoke. "You didn't vote against the motion at today's board meeting. I wanted to know… are we still on the same side?"Alyssa's gaze lowered, her voice steady and calm. "You didn't object
In the evening, Xavier drove Jasper to meet with Newton. Along the way, news broke out that Sheryl had been bailed out. Xavier slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Why is it so hard to get rid of that woman?" "She is Justin's right hand," Jasper said, eyes shut as he leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "You could even say she knows more about his secrets than anyone. As long as she's useful, Justin won't discard her so easily. This is how he operates."Xavier shook his head, teeth gritted. "Where the hell did she even come from? When you had me investigate her, I found nothing. Her background was spotless. "What's in her past that Justin would go so far to keep it hidden? A man like him can have any woman he wants, yet he clings to her—some pretty-faced idiot who only seems to make things harder for him."Jasper's gaze turned glacial. Xavier's casual remark struck him.He was right. Justin wasn't short on capable subordinates. So why Sheryl?Was Sh
This time, the injection did not bring the excruciating pain that once made Amber wish for death. Her chapped lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed deeply into Remy's eyes. He, too, looked at her, his expression unreadable yet intense. Between them, no words were needed."Damien… Thank you…" Though her voice was barely audible, the weight of her words sank deep into Remy's heart. For once, he did not object to being called Damien.The truth was, ever since Amber had been taken, an unbearable pressure had settled over him, making each breath feel like a punishment—every day since had been plagued by self-reproach and regret.If he hadn't stopped her that night and let her go sooner, could she have avoided Sheryl? Could she have been spared the torture and humiliation?"You should know that those who enter this place never leave. Most don't even make it out alive."Remy's gaze was unwavering. Taking advantage of the surveillance blind spot, he placed his
"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