At that moment, Lauren's throbbing heart began to tremble. Blood drained from her face. She was like a terrified kitten stuck in a tree. She pursed her lips. Out of reflex, she let go of Landon's hand. Landon felt slightly short of breath. He grabbed her hand almost in an overbearing manner. He held her hand so tightly that he nearly cut off the blood circulation in her hand."She was with me. So what? Is that any of your business?" Landon shot a sharp look at Betty. He stared at her coldly while she tried to hide the glee on her face. "There's something that I've never realized before. I didn't know you were such a conservative woman, Ms. Betty. That's vastly different from your usual behavior." Betty's heart missed a beat. She turned pale. "You… What are you blabbering about?""I wasn't blabbering. Just head out of Seaview Manor and ask anyone from the upper-class society in Solana City. Just ask them about your reputation and how wild your conduct is. It will all become
Landon disregarded Javier's ridicule. He took a few deep breaths. He was still holding on to Lauren's hand. His hands were trembling due to his nerves. "I love Lauren. She is the only one whom I will marry. I will make her the happiest woman in this world." Upon saying that, he turned to look Lauren in the eyes. His loving gaze was as deep as the sea. He welled up with tears. "Please give us your approval for Lauren to marry me." Lauren's cheeks flushed pink. His words warmed her heart. Betty gritted her teeth as she watched them being lovey-dovey in front of her. Her expression was sinister and cruel. It was as if she was about to show her true colors at any second. She was about to transform into a monster of envy. Javier scoffed. He responded in a cold and sarcastic voice, "Mr. Landon, you have no right to stand in before me. I am already doing you a favor by conversing with you right here. How dare you propose marriage in front of me? How dare you think of marrying my d
Landon struggled to catch his breath, feeling overwhelmed.During the party previously, he wanted to protect his best friends. Thus, he chose to go against Javier. He did so with his friendship with Jasper and Alyssa in mind. However, this was an expensive price to pay. He might never be able to marry the woman he loved. He was able to go against the entire Harper Group. He was even able to put everything at stake. But how would Lauren be able to do that? She was a meek woman. She was so timid.Even if Lauren was willing, Landon couldn't bear to have her do so. She would be carrying a magnanimous burden on her shoulders. How could he bear to see her betray her family? "Come home, Lauren. You are my most obedient daughter. Listen to me. Come home." Javier's gaze softened when he looked at Lauren. He opened his arms. "You are young and clueless about love. Plus, you're terrible at gauging people's intentions. You can't even tell if you've been deceived."But that's okay. I d
The brutality of Newton's words certainly shouldn't be underestimated. He dealt Javier a mighty blow. As Javier's father, Newton was the only one who could give him a dressing-down. Betty hid behind Javier. She was as timid as a mouse. She didn't even dare to show her face. Alyssa hurried over to Lauren. She was still in Landon's arms. She said to her softly, "Don't be afraid, Lauren. I'm here. Jasper and Grandpa are here too." Lauren looked up. Her eyes were already swollen from all the crying. Landon's shirt was also drenched in her tears. "Alyssa…"Alyssa teared up at the way Lauren called her name. Her heart ached for her. Lauren choked back on her tears. She clung to Landon's shirt tightly. "I do not want to be separated from Landon." At that moment, Landon's heart wrenched. He enveloped her tightly, as if he intended to engulf her with his embrace."We're not going to be separated, Lauren. I will not leave you no matter what happens." Alyssa didn't know what to sa
Alyssa remarked, "Yup." "Wow! How are you so talented, Alyssa? You're so unlike Jasper. Earning money is the only thing he knows how to do!" Newton said as he gave Alyssa a playful pinch on the nose. Jasper turned green with envy. He was fine with Newton dissing him. But why was he being touchy with Alyssa? The trio crowded around the laptop. They focused on watching all that was happening through the screen. Alyssa saw that Landon and Lauren were being bullied. She became enraged. She rolled her fingers into balls of fury. "Grandpa, shall we go over now?" Jasper asked. His breathing was heavy. Newton's face was glum. "Hold on a little while more," he urged. Jasper and Alyssa were stunned. "Landon is the one who wants to marry my granddaughter. Since this is so, this will be a challenging test for him. There is no doubt about that." Newton loved Lauren. Nonetheless, he was still able to maintain his rationality. "This is just the first step that they are taking. Yet,
"Finally," Jasper whispered.Alyssa smiled. "Yes, finally." "Landon, Jasper told me you've already informed Mr. Cornelius of your intention to marry Lauren. Is that right?" Newton questioned with a serious look on his face. Landon answered immediately, "I didn't just inform my grandfather. I've announced it to my entire family. Grandpa has agreed. My mother didn't oppose either." Alyssa and Jasper shot a look at each other. They understood what they were each thinking about. They knew that Landon was sharing only the good news. The process of convincing Cornelius must have been a difficult one. At the same time, he wouldn't have cared about whether Penelope approved of them. She wasn't the one who had the final say in their family. "Ah… That's good, then." Newton nodded. He was pleased. He chuckled in relief, "Please arrange a time for me to meet with Mr. Cornelius soon. We should meet since both families have now approved of this marriage. "If it's okay with you, I wi
"Grandpa, what did you mean by that? I am Lauren's sister. Why would I cause harm to my own sister?" Betty was frantic as she tried to explain herself. Cold sweat began to form on her back. Landon was a straightforward person. He gave Lauren a gentle squeeze and clicked his tongue. Newton pulled a face. "I have not gone senile. It is clear to me whether things are as you claim them to be. You should be well aware, too. "Lauren is going to be wed into the Harper family soon. You shouldn't waste your efforts. Instead, you should stop being so arrogant. Let your father find someone decent for you to marry. He can then have a son-in-law whom he is satisfied with, too." Betty was enraged. Wasn't Newton hinting at and mocking her for not being able to get married? In the end, she couldn't restrain herself any longer. She responded with defiance, "I don't need you to trouble yourself with my matters. I don't mind if I never marry. I am still my father's daughter. I am still part o
Betty covered the receiver with her hand. Even though she was furious, she still tried to act sneakily. "Just a little while ago, Landon came to my house to propose marriage. Initially, my father wasn't in agreement. Then, Alyssa and Jasper showed up with Grandpa! "With a few words, Grandpa gave my father an earful. He even sealed the deal on Lauren's marriage with Landon! They are going to be engaged soon! Surely Landon will knock that idiot up right after. "What use would there be for you to come back after that? Are you going to celebrate becoming an aunt?" There was silence on the other end of the call. "Hey! Say something…""Don't you worry. I'm not the only one among the Harpers who does not wish to see Lauren marrying Landon. A marriage alliance between wealthy families may seem like a strong alliance, but in reality, it is full of weaknesses. A small misstep is enough to make everything fall through. "Jasper and Alyssa are hopeless romantics. How many more individu
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
"Ms. Gillis, I've searched her thoroughly. She doesn't have anything on her." Sheryl's brows knitted in frustration. "How can that be? Where's her cell phone?" "There wasn't one." Sheryl, no longer concerned about dirtying herself, stepped forward, grabbed Amber by her hair, and forced her to meet her gaze."You bitch," Sheryl snarled. "You came to The Millennium at this hour for a reason. What did you find? Hand it over, and I might spare your worthless life!"Amber spat a mouthful of bloody saliva directly onto Sheryl's face."Fuck! You bitch!" Glaring at Amber, Sheryl rolled her sleeves up and slapped her twice in the face. Even so, it wasn't enough to quench her fury. She yelled, "Take her back!" Two of Sheryl's subordinates moved forward, dragging a limp Amber away. Sheryl's reddened eyes burned with fury as she wiped the spit off her face. She was teetering on the edge of madness."Search the area! Retrace her steps and leave no stone unturned!"…Jasper drove to