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
All of Julien's anger had dissipated in an instant."You must be exhausted from the past couple of days of working. You haven't had dinner yet, have you?" Jonah held up a plastic bag in his hand. He continued, "I remembered that you mentioned you don't usually eat carbs. Instead, you have fried chicken to reward yourself when you're under a lot of stress and tired. So I've brought you some fried chicken. I don't know what flavor you like, so I bought several."Julien swallowed hungrily. In the end, he still let Jonah enter the office.But to save his pride, Julien put on a poker face and sat back in his chair, refusing to look at Jonah. "There's no need to be so polite, Mr. Jonah. Helping the sick and injured is my duty as a doctor, so I'll always perform to my best.""Is someone angry?" Jonah asked instead, ignoring how distant Julien was being.Julien blinked quickly. "W-Who's angry here? Not me.""If you weren't angry, why were you crying?"Julien's heart pounded wildly,
"Mr. Jonah, you're such an intelligent man. I'm sure you must know what I want based on this kiss alone, no?" Julien panted out, cheeks flushed as he clung to Jonah's neck.Jonah's lips pulled tight for a moment, now stained with oil. His hands clenched slightly as he said, "Wipe your mouth first next time."Julien licked his lips and grinned sneakily. "No."…Alyssa spent her days deep in thought after hearing about her mother's past from Mandy. She lost her appetite after feeding Winston his dinner and ended up staring out the window in the hallway in a daze.She found herself suddenly embraced by a familiar body, feeling the man's presence instantly surround her.Jasper hugged her tight, tucking his chin into her neck as he murmured, "Aren't you going to eat anything? I had Xavier buy so many of your favorite foods.""I'm not hungry." Alyssa's dim eyes grew downcast."Not hungry? I still remember how you finished an entire grain bowl in the middle of the night." Even now, Ja
Alyssa's eyes lit up with the brilliance of a thousand suns. She immediately hugged Jasper by the waist. She asked, "Why did you say so?"He wrapped an arm around her waist. Their figures overlapped on the beach. He replied, "It was a wild guess.""Hmph…" Her mouth was downturned, visibly disappointed.It worried Jasper to see Alyssa upset. Panicking, he racked his brain and explained, "I remember that Kontina is the closest country to the Northuria Sea. Isn't Kontina's maritime territory connected to the Northuria Sea? I can't think of any other country that fits the description."That makes me wonder if your mom had illegally migrated from Kontina to escape from something back in Kontina. After all, Belbanks boasts the second largest port in Cyrris."Alyssa anxiously asked, "Why does it have to be Kontina? Doesn't Tsulu border the Northuria Sea as well?""Tsulu is a little too far. Besides, didn't Mandy say that your mom was badly injured when Dominic found her? There were no s
"That's fine too, but you should keep it a secret from Winston. He's still unwell, after all." Jasper looked concerned at the mention of Winston. He seemed to regard Alyssa's father as his family now.Alyssa nodded and lowered her gaze. "I won't ask Winston about it. I won't force him to talk if he doesn't want to. I'll learn about Mom's past through my own investigation."There's just one thing that boggles my mind. What exactly was it about my mom's past that Winston wanted to keep it a secret? I'm fine with him keeping things from me when I was a child, but as my mom's only daughter, I deserve to know everything about her now that I'm all grown up."I don't care if Mom had a spotty background. Even if she were a wanted criminal internationally, she would always be mommy dearest to me."Jasper listened to her words silently as he grappled with the heartache. He was transported back to the time he lived at the filthy and dingy slums, where he recalled hearing insults and curses hu
Landon took a step forward expressionlessly but was stopped by Preston.Preston forced a smile. "Landon, let's be civil here. Zoe is your sister, after all. Don't be angry at her. I've watched you and Zoe grow up. I still remember how much you doted on her when you were still a kid…""This is our family matter. Do you even have a say in this?" Landon replied frostily, without a care for Preston.The smile froze on Preston's face."Landon, he's your uncle. How could you talk to him with that attitude?" Penelope's face flushed in anger and embarrassment.Landon ignored Penelope and focused on Zoe. He said, "I need to talk to Zoe. Can the two of you step out for a bit?"Zoe shook like a leaf in Penelope's arms. Of course, Penelope would never leave Zoe to face Landon alone. She immediately declined, "We're all family here, including Preston. Just spit it out.""Fine. I wanted to be respectful, but you don't seem to care for Preston and Zoe's dignity. So be it; not like I care." L
Zoe's forehead was dotted with sweat. She clutched tightly onto the bedsheet.She had always taken Landon as a man of courage but lacking in wits. No matter what she had done, all it took was some sweet talking and begging to make him turn a blind eye to her mistakes.Now, it seemed that she had been gravely mistaken all the while. Landon had wittily exposed her and Preston. The reason he had fallen for her lies in the past was due to his unconditional trust in her.They were no longer siblings at this point; just enemies, and Landon was a formidable one at that. No wonder the sly Preston had battled Landon for years to no avail!Preston remained glowering at Landon, who had no patience for him. Landon shoved past Preston and stood in front of Zoe. "Zoe Harper, my advice for you is to lay low and don't try anything funny." Landon's murderous squint gave Zoe goosebumps. He added, "If you harass Lyse, Jasper, and Lauren again, not even Grandpa could protect you from the consequence
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
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