Jasper held a deep respect for Alyssa's brothers, particularly Axel, whom he found to be kindred spirits. Their connection felt like a reunion with a friend from long ago, despite meeting later in life."Oh, goodness gracious! Winston!"Dominic emerged from the corridor with hurried steps and a troubled countenance, urgently beckoning for Winston. Close on his heels came the senior shareholders of the KS Group.Jasper's and Axel's faces turned grim at the sight of this.Winston had just regained consciousness, yet Dominic wasted no time hurrying to his side. This could only mean Dominic had eyes in the hospital, ensuring he was abreast of every unfolding situation. He pulled out all the stops to present himself as deeply invested in Winston's recovery. However, his underlying intention was to disseminate news of Winston's dire illness, generating pressure to sow discord within the KS Group and capitalize on the resulting upheaval for personal gain.While Axel lacked the business
As Jasper spoke, a wave of exchanged glances rippled through the KS Group members, their collective surprise directed at Dominic.Dominic felt a chill run down his spine as he met Jasper's cold gaze. As a testament to their longstanding relationship, Winston had extended a helping hand to Dominic when it was found that the latter had misappropriated company funds. This clandestine act remained shrouded in secrecy within the company's walls. So, how had Jasper stumbled upon this information? Could Winston have confided in him?Winston's recognition of Jasper's status as his son-in-law hinted at a level of closeness and mutual understanding that extended beyond mere business dealings. This relationship could pave the way for a formidable alliance that might spell the end for the KS Group."Haha… Mr. Beckett, you certainly have a sense of humor," Dominic forced a smile, his mind racing. "I'm not sure what you're referring to regarding 50 million."He attempted to downplay the seri
Alyssa's gaze burned with disdain as she confronted Dominic's pretentiousness, ready to speak her mind. However, Jonah's gentle touch on her shoulder interrupted her, his soft voice breaking the tension. "Uncle Dominic, Dad wants to see you."Jasper stood in shock while Alyssa glanced at Jonah in surprise.Dominic's lip curled into a smug smile.Just as Dominic moved to step into the ward, his footing gave way beneath him, propelling him forward with a pronounced thud.Dominic fell hard on his face.Some of the shareholders who had followed him there couldn't help but laugh.Meanwhile, Axel, who had been leaning against the wall, maintained his indifferent façade. He casually retracted his leg, which had obstructed Dominic's path.Dominic, feeling the weight of his years, struggled to rise, his knee throbbing with pain. With a fierce glare, he directed his gaze at Axel, who appeared unfazed. "You!"Axel let out a lazy yawn. "Uncle Dominic, you're not as young as you used to be.
Dominic clenched his teeth, seething with resentment coursing through him.Despite Jonah holding the title of company president, his arrogance stemmed from being Winston's eldest son. He showed no regard for Dominic's seniority, speaking to him as if he were a superior reprimanding an underling.The entire family, young and old alike, treated Dominic with the same air of superiority, looking down on him from their lofty perches. They never took him seriously.How could Dominic swallow his pride in the face of such treatment?"Let it go, Jonah. Your uncle knows when he's wrong," Winston interjected wearily, gesturing with a tired hand. He wanted to put an end to the discussion. "I'm fine now, Dominic. Your visit means a lot to me. You've shown that you still care. You can leave now."Winston had said all he could to salvage Dominic's dignity."Winston, what happened this time was my fault." Dominic's tone turned grave. "But consider, throughout the years, how I've supported you. I
Alyssa's biting retorts struck a chord within Dominic, igniting a surge of anger that left him feeling suffocated.While Jasper felt a swell of gratitude to see Alyssa standing up for him, he remained cautious, casting her a concerned glance and gently squeezing her hand to signal her to temper her words in Winston's presence."That's enough, Lyse. Let's not dwell on this." Winston's face was grim."Uncle Dominic, you've committed a serious offense, and yet you've gone so far as to gather people to visit Dad. I had hoped for some change in you," Alyssa remarked, her smirk dripping with sarcasm. "But instead, you're deflecting blame onto others for your own mistakes. "You've made a grave error, and yet you persist in your defiance, even after Dad has helped you. Seeing as everything has gone south, why not accept responsibility for your actions? "You should handle the repayment of the 50 million on your own. It shouldn't be too burdensome for a member of the Taylor family."Alys
Alyssa couldn't fathom Winston's tolerance toward Dominic's offense. "Winston, the fault was mine. I'll ensure the same mistake isn't repeated. Please rest well. I won't bother you any longer."Having been reassured by Winston, Dominic prepared to leave with a satisfied smile."Winston, I'll see Dominic off," Mandy spoke gently.Dominic exited the ward with a smug grin. Not long after, Mandy's voice cut through the silence. "Stay where you are."Dominic pivoted on his heels, only to find Mandy closing in on him with a frigid demeanor. In an instant, her hand shot forward, delivering a sharp slap across his face before he could react."W-Why did you hit me?" Dominic's eyes widened, his cheek stinging and a red mark forming."You know perfectly well why," Mandy retorted, her demeanor stern and intimidating. Gone was the gentle and kind woman from earlier. She continued, "I've waited far too long to deliver this blow. When Winston ended up in the hospital because of you, I sho
Jasper's entire body buzzed with energy, but he now felt even more upset for Mandy. "Mandy, you're Lyse's family, which makes you my family as well. I can disregard my reputation, but I cannot bear to see you suffering so!"Jasper's heartfelt words made tears flood Alyssa's eyes. She hugged him tightly, her heart feeling so warm inside.Mandy was choked up with emotion. She did her best to smile and said, "Thank you.""Don't worry, Mandy. I won't let you suffer in silence." Alyssa's eyes glinted as she spoke, "If I don't teach Dominic a lesson after this… I'll change my last name to his!"Jasper looked at Alyssa curiously. She must've gone silly with anger. If she changed her last name to Dominic's, she'd still be a Taylor.Mandy said gently, "Lyse, your father is still ill and in an unstable state. He nearly relapsed because of the commotion earlier, so it's best you don't take any rash action these days so as to not upset your father. You can discuss things with him once he's al
Alyssa listened to Mandy's words, eyes slowly tearing up.Battered and bruised… Barely breathing… What suffering did her mother go through to have nearly lost her life in a foreign country?Jasper held on to Alyssa's trembling hand, asking Mandy curiously, "During all the years Mrs. Taylor was here in Belbanks alone and after giving birth to so many children, did she never once thought to contact her own family or return to her home country?"Mandy shook her head, eyes downcast. "No, not once. Winston even changed Jennifer's lawful nationality and gave her a new identity, cutting her off entirely from her past."Both Jasper and Alyssa were even more confused now. What did Jennifer undergo to be willing to hide her identity and permanently part ways with her home country?Alyssa was all the more curious about her mother's identity now."I don't have answers for whatever more you might want to ask, Lyse. Your father has also privately reminded me on countless occasions to never
In an instant, the woman burst into tears. Remy, in an alarmed state, scanned the area outside the car. Satisfied that he was momentarily safe, he loosened his grip on the woman, only to discover his palms were damp. The woman's face was drenched in tears. As he stared into her misty eyes, recognition dawned on him—she was the woman who had chased him at the hospital, frantically calling him "Damien". This could only mean she was Damien Taylor's mother. Remy straightened abruptly, putting distance between himself and Mandy. A surge of emotion tightened his chest, leaving him shaken. Silence blanketed the car. Despite her usual composure, Mandy was overwhelmed. Her tears were unstoppable as she gazed at him. Nothing else seemed to matter. At that moment, Mandy's driver opened the car door and climbed in, saying, "Mrs. Taylor, here are the desserts you ordered for Mr. Taylor—"Remy's reddened eyes darkened. His muscles tensed as he reached for the door handle, ready to l
"Younger brother?" Jonah echoed. The mention of Damien brought a sharp pang to his chest. Memories of the plane crash flashed before his eyes. He continued, his voice tight with emotion, "Even if he is my brother, he allied with the devil and chose a corrupt path. I am severing ties with him!"With that, Jonah slammed his arm down, a decisive gesture."Jonah! No!" Jasper shouted.In the next instant, Remy, with an almost unnatural calm, grabbed the blade of the dagger with his bare hand. Blood began to flow from his palm.Jonah's heart twisted in agony. Family meant everything to him, yet here he was, inflicting harm on one of his own."I didn't come here to stop you," Remy said, his voice low and strained as he met Jonah's reddened eyes. "But I must stop both of you. This is my mission."Jonah stared at him, stunned. "Why—""Because I work for Sir. I have no choice but to follow orders."Turning to Jasper, Remy said, "Go." …After watching them leave, Remy trudged through
Jasper and Jonah went to get Sebastian and Xavier out of the car. The four of them then bolted toward the other end of the alley. A clamor broke out behind them. Jasper glanced back, his heart pounding.Warmth surged through his hardened heart as he saw Axel holding his own in a brutal fight against over a dozen assassins, skillfully subduing them one by one."Jasper!" All of a sudden, Jonah stopped in his tracks. Jasper turned to see what had caught his attention, and his heart sank. Standing at the alley's end, silhouetted against the light, was a tall figure radiating a presence that commanded fear. Though the man's face was obscured, his unyielding presence was unmistakable. It was Justin's right-hand man, Remy."Mr. Beckett, w-what should we do?" Xavier stammered.With a fierce glint in his eyes, Jonah took a step forward. "I'll hold him back. The rest of you, keep going." "Xavier, take Dr. Bender to the press conference immediately. Don't let anything stop you." J
"Maggie, I love you!" Xavier typed.Maggie replied, "Xave, you're not usually this corny. What happened?" Xavier couldn't bring himself to tell her that those words were his final ones if something happened to him.His phone buzzed again. It was Maggie sending another message that read, "I love you too, Xave." Tears filled Xavier's eyes. His lips quivered, and his heart raced. He cursed under his breath. It was time to go all out. With that, he grabbed the machete, swung open the car door, and swiftly took down two of Jasper's attackers.But Xavier wasn't a fighter. He had no real combat experience. It didn't take long before a blade sliced into his arm, the deep cut searing with pain.Jasper's eyes widened. He roared, "Xavier, get back in the car!"Distracted, Jasper's opponent swung a machete at his face. Xavier gasped, "Mr. Beckett!"Luckily, Jasper dodged the strike, his reflexes quick. He retaliated by snapping the attacker's arm.Xavier, pale and shaking with pain,
Frightened out of his wits, Xavier yelped, covering his head and crouching low in his seat. It wasn't that he was a coward. He had been brave in the past, but this situation was unlike anything an ordinary person would face.Working for Jasper meant Xavier didn't have to worry about his livelihood, but every day was a gamble with danger. If this continued, he might have to keep Nitroglycerin on hand just to survive.Jasper, with his strong, muscular frame, shielded Sebastian beneath him.He knew the attackers were after Sebastian, the witness, aiming to eliminate anyone who could tip the scales against them. If they could take down Jasper too, or at least injure him severely, it would be a bonus.These people were ruthless. Sebastian, oblivious to the danger, was muttering the Lord's Prayer under his breath. He didn't know that the man protecting him was sometimes more powerful than any deity."Don't lift your heads! Arrows aren't like bullets—they can pierce glass but not the
Time was ticking. The press conference was about to begin. Landon escorted Sebastian out of the manor and into Jasper's car. He glanced at Jasper, who sat in the back seat, his expression calm and composed.With concern etched on his face, Landon said, "Jasper, let me come with you. I can't feel at ease otherwise."Jasper met Landon's gaze, firm and aloof. "Don't worry, Landon. You've done enough. It's time for you to step back."If Landon continued to help, he would only get caught up in the chaos. Despite his current difficulty in articulating his feelings, Jasper couldn't forget that this was his best friend, the one he'd stood by for more than 20 years. Landon had endured so much to finally be happy with Lauren, and Jasper wasn't about to be the one to disrupt that hard-earned happiness. Understanding Jasper's stubbornness, Landon turned to Xavier. "Call me immediately if anything happens.""Don't worry, Mr. Harper," Xavier reassured. With that, Sebastian climbed into
That said, this strategy came with its own risks. It was as if Jasper and Axel were placing all their bets on Remy for the time being."Justin doesn't control someone without a reason. Since he has control over Remy, he will make full use of him."Jasper's chest tightened, a weight pressing down on him like a massive rock. He continued, "The only way to find Amber is to understand Justin's intentions clearly."…The press conference was scheduled for 5:00 pm at Berenike Hotel's Conference Hall A on Saturday. At 3:00 pm sharp, Justin sat in the president's office at Beckett Group, his expression frigid. He sat upright on the couch while Sheryl, standing beside him, carefully tended to the wound on his left ear, changing its dressing with caution. It had been only two days since he was shot in the ear. His flesh had been stitched up, and the stitches looked like a grotesque centipede crawling along his ear. There was no way to conceal the injury unless he donned a shoulder-lengt
"Remy beat Sheryl up?" Jasper repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. Having wiped away his tears, Axel leaned in to listen to the phone call."Yeah! I saw it with my own eyes in the surveillance footage. He punched her—brutally!" Xavier's voice was filled with astonishment. He exhaled sharply before continuing, "I thought they were a close-knit group. Looks like even they have internal conflicts!"After a brief pause, he ventured, "Mr. Beckett, do you think we could use this as a breakthrough? Maybe Remy has been at odds with Sheryl for a while, and he's tired of working under Justin. Perhaps all he needs is a little push to turn against them. After all, didn't Ms. Altman join us because she hated everything Jameson did?"Jasper didn't give a direct answer. Instead, he spoke quietly, "It's a clever thought, but it's still uncertain. We don't really know Remy's intentions. Our interactions with him have been few, and they've always been risky confrontations. I don't know what he
"Didn't you say you had no idea what I was talking about? In that case, this ear is useless to you. You're already a crippled man anyway. You might as well be deaf too." Axel's hands trembled with restrained rage. The temptation to end Justin's life surged through him—he wanted to pull the trigger, to rip him apart limb by limb. But he had made a promise to Jasper—no lives would be taken. A promise was a promise."I will rescue my wife. But you'll lose more than just an ear if I fail." Axel seized Justin by the hair, his reddened eyes brimming with tears. His voice cracked with fury and anguish. "I will make you suffer a thousand times the pain Amber has endured."Without warning, he released Justin and stormed out."S-Sir! I will get someone to take you to the hospital right away!" Sheryl crawled to Justin's side, panic-stricken as her eyes fell on the pool of blood spreading across the floor. Her trembling hands fumbled with her phone, unable to keep a firm grip as she scrambl