Zoe sneakily raised a brow. "Of course, dear Uncle Preston.""The board meeting is around the corner. Your grandpa will officially announce Landon's appointment as the president of Harper Group. After that, he and Lauren Beckett will get engaged. "Hah! Your brother is successful in his career and relationship. I guess our show has come to an end." Preston shoved a cigarette between his lips and moved it up and down."Who said so? The show's about to start!" Zoe snorted."My dear niece, what do you have in mind?""An idea struck me. Perhaps we were working toward the wrong direction all along." Zoe lazily leaned against the headboard and suggested chillingly, "Landon Harper is a tough nut to crack. If so, why don't we work on Lauren Beckett instead? "For one thing, she's dumb. She's been a loser since middle school and is easy to manipulate. All I need to do is to appeal to her conscience, convince her with facts, and explain the consequences. She'll change her mind about the en
"Mr. Landon, did anything happen to the company?" Frowning, Angelina prodded. She had noticed his low mood when he stepped into the house. However, that did not mean Lauren wasn't attuned to Landon's feelings. Angelina's keen observation stemmed from years of serving Landon. No one knew him better than she did. Landon clutched two dice from the board game in his palm. "I met Zoe today. She is in the hospital. Mom and Grandpa are protecting her.""You've met her?" Angelina's eyes wavered in shock. She whispered, "Did it go well?"He smirked. "She dares not pull anything under my watch.""Still, better to be safe than sorry," she replied worriedly. "Zoe must have worked with Preston to get back to Solana City. She's on bad terms with you, and she will definitely form an alliance with Preston to defeat you as revenge.""Well, she'd better hurry up. Don't keep me waiting." He gritted his teeth, nearly crushing the dice. "I happen to be coming up with an excuse to get rid of that bi
Landon was stunned. Bitterness arose when he realized that he had been too harsh.Indeed, the desserts were Lauren's way of expressing her love. He was wrong to think of it as just any ordinary dessert, hurting her and disregarding her effort.He was mad at himself for being a lousy partner to Lauren."They were already mucked up in the first place anyway. It's okay if they are ruined." Lauren beamed at him, though her smile looked forced. "I'll make them for you again next time."While she was speaking, Landon surprisingly picked up the smashed desserts from the ground and savored them without hesitation. He praised, "Oh, it smells so good and tastes so sweet! I'm out of words to describe your skill. Darling, you bake so well!"Even when his mouth stuffed with the dessert, he managed to add, "Darling, do I have the honor to enjoy this every day? Oh, never mind. That'll be too much work for you. I'm fine with tasting it once in a while!""They're dirty! Stop picking them off the
"Too many oysters? Hah! You little prick, feeding me an oyster feast and even spicing it up with something else!" Landon muttered to himself. …The oysters seemed to have worked to boost Landon's libido. He made love a few times to Lauren that night, his body covered in sweat as he humped her. All she could do was to beg him for mercy."Darling, when are we going to make a group of baby pandas?" When they inched toward the climax, he pressed his moist, warm lips against her reddened ears and asked flirtatiously.Sweaty, she wrapped her legs around his fine waist as their bodies collided, but she seemed preoccupied with thoughts.…After Winston's condition stabilized, he demanded to recover in Heightsnew Villa, claiming he had had enough of the smell of disinfectant.Jonah spent a fortune and generously transformed a huge bedroom into a patient ward, even purchasing all the medical equipment Winston needed. Julien was conveniently appointed Winston's doctor.Winston scanned th
The Taylors merrily surrounded Winston. At the same time, two couples were helping Lyla to make ravioli in the kitchen.Lyla's cooking skills were exceptional. Even if it was ravioli-making, she could produce ravioli of various colors, each carrying a different flavor."Lyla, you're spoiling Winston," Alyssa grumbled good-naturedly while folding the ravioli. Each one of her ravioli looked round and plump. "It's just ravioli, but you're here making them rainbow-colored. What more does he expect? He's really a piece of work.""Your dad loves ravioli. It was my idea to make colorful ravioli, so no. He did not give me trouble at all." Lyla flashed a contented smile. "Since I'm making ravioli for him anyway, I'd rather make a bigger batch for everyone to enjoy.""You, Mandy, and Colene are spoiling that old man. It is usually the other way around in other families." Alyssa snorted. "Did my mom spoil him too when she was still around? That couldn't have been the case, right?""Well, r
"Lyse, Jasper, I have new updates on the Schmidt Group," Jonah announced.Upon hearing that, Lyla glanced at Alyssa and sensibly said, "Taty and I will leave the kitchen now.""It's fine, Lyla. We're family. There's nothing to be kept secret." Alyssa's expression grew serious. "Jonah, go ahead."Sean's ears perked up as well. Alyssa had ordered him to focus on recovery and his relationship with Tatiana ever since he got severely injured by Jeffrey and nearly lost his left arm from being beaten up by the Schmidts' men. She had refused to involve him in other affairs since.However, after years of working with Jonah in the business field and later serving Alyssa, Sean remained passionate and loyal. He had no interest in fancy titles or handsome compensation, only wishing to be of use to Alyssa and Jonah.Sean had not worked on anything important after Sophia's case came to a close, which made him feel a little empty inside."Lyse, remember that Tsulu holiday resort project that Jos
The atmosphere at the dinner was cheerful. Winston's mood lifted upon seeing the ravioli dish, and he even invited Jasper to stay for dinner.The tables were full of couples who put on proper fronts while secretly flirting with each other. Later at night, Jonah returned to his study to pore over the piles of documents. Winston's illness sent the KS Group into a frenzy. On top of that, Dominic's misuse of company funds created more headaches for them.Fortunately, Jonah was capable of handling the crisis and steering the KS Group back on track. After working for a while, he removed his silver-rimmed glasses and massaged his temple while enjoying some shut-eye. "Phew, that was tiring. I wonder when Alyssa will take over and let me retire."He then heard a knock and went up to answer the door."Mr. Jonah," Julien cooed, leaning against the doorframe with a flirtatious grin. "Do you need a late-night private massage service?"Looking tired, Jonah scanned Julien from head to toe. "Dr
Julien remained infatuated with Jonah's sexual appeal, but Jonah felt his heart skip a beat. He forcefully removed Julien's hands from him and freed himself from the hug, much to Julien's disappointment. Julien's body stiffened."Yes, Mandy," Jonah replied calmly.Then, he marched to the door and opened it without hesitation. He was greeted by Mandy's smile. She said, "I knew he was here. I could tell that the two of you share a good relationship."Jonah and Julien indeed shared a "good" relationship. Jonah flinched, merely responding with a faint smile."Julien, come with me to my bedroom. I need to talk to you." Mandy gestured to Julien with a grin, causing Julien's heart to sink.Julien cast a worried and loaded look at Jonah, but Jonah avoided his gaze and stared at his feet.…Julien followed Mandy back to her bedroom. After locking the door behind her, she put on a serious look. Julien feigned sleepiness and yawned. "Aunt Mandy, why are you looking for me late at night?"
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
Jasper strode out of the room and hurried down the stairs, his pace so brisk that Xavier had to jog to keep up. As Jasper reached the living room, he spotted Justin sitting upright in his wheelchair, alone. Their eyes locked when Jasper was just a few steps away.Hostility flickered between their gazes.Curling his lips upward into a slight smile, Justin asked, "Jasper, heading out at this hour?"Xavier gritted his teeth, loathing the self-righteous air Justin exuded, as if he always held the upper hand. The sight made him want to charge forward and knock Justin clean off his wheelchair."It's late. Why aren't you in bed?" Jasper asked coldly, his tone as sharp as his glare. "It seems that broken body of yours is still holding up.""Jasper, you seem to be in a rush. Did something happen? Do you need my help?" Justin maintained the smile on his face, disregarding Jasper's sarcastic remark. "It's none of your business."Without another word, Jasper swept past him. Justin's
Jasper lay restrained on the bed, his body writhing violently as waves of agony crashed over him. A towel clenched between his teeth muffled his cries, though it could not silence the torment. Every inch of his skin felt as if it were being devoured by thousands of invisible ants—a relentless, gnawing pain brought on by withdrawal.He knew he could no longer rely on the medication. Time and again, the temptation clawed at him, urging him to surrender and take the easy way out. Relief was just a pill away. But Jasper's willpower, though battered, refused to shatter. Anne's words echoed in his mind, a guiding light in the darkness. She had always taught him to be a righteous man—one with a clear conscience. Curling into himself, Jasper shut his bloodshot eyes. He couldn't disappoint Anne. He couldn't let down those who believed in him. He had to resist the dark side. Outside the room, Xavier glanced at his wristwatch. Judging the timing to be right, he pushed the door open and l
"How about now? Is Ms. Altman at home?" Alyssa asked urgently."She isn't," Clark replied. "She drove out the back gate alone around 11:00 pm. Our security personnel stopped her then, but she said she was just going out for some fresh air because she had trouble sleeping. She promised she wouldn't be long, but it's strange—she hasn't returned even now."Alyssa's ears began to ring, her heart sinking like a stone.When she ended the call, her nightgown clung to her skin, drenched in cold sweat. Her trembling hand gripped the phone tightly.She thought of calling Jonah, but he was still searching for Julien in Mosgravia. He wouldn't be able to return in time. Silas wasn't home tonight; he was likely with Rose. Besides, he was more of an academic than a fighter—not someone who could help in a crisis. Getting him out of bed in the middle of the night couldn't possibly solve any of their problems. Axel had returned to his organization, leaving Cyrus as the only one accessible who mi
Amber's eyes reddened as she darted toward the trapdoor in The Millennium, tears streaming down her face.Remy had let her go. He actually spared her! Didn't this prove that he was Damien? That his true nature lingered, even if his memories of the past had been lost?Hope and excitement bubbled within her as she ran. She had to reach Alyssa immediately and share this evidence—this incredible news!Emerging from the trapdoor, Amber navigated the tangled paths among the weeds on the mountain behind The Millennium.Suddenly, she froze. Her breath hitched. Beams of white light shone from all directions, focusing on her. The cold, unyielding spotlights told her everything—she was surrounded, the target of an ambush. Amber's heart pounded in her chest. Cold sweat slicked her palms as her fingers clenched tightly around her dagger. The veins on the back of her hand throbbed with adrenaline.Six assassins in black emerged from the shadows, their flashlights cutting through the gl
Amber glared at Remy through her bloodshot eyes, thrusting her gleaming blade toward his chest. In her early days of being Jameson's follower, the first lesson drilled into her was how to kill quickly and efficiently. Refinement wasn't necessary—only results mattered. Yet, despite mastering the techniques, she had never put them into practice. Deep down, Amber feared the sight of blood and loathed the idea of taking a life.And now, of all people, it was Remy forcing her to cross that line.The blade's tip hovered mere inches from Remy's heart when hesitation gripped her. Axel's voice echoed in her mind, raw with emotion. "Amber, I keep feeling that Remy is my fifth brother, Damien. We miss him… We want him to come home!"Her pupils dilated. The blade wavered, its deadly intent dissipating.That single moment of doubt was all Remy needed. With a calm, calculated motion, he seized her wrist and twisted it sharply.Amber gasped in pain, her grip faltering as the blade clattered
The password to Jameson's room was Alyssa's birthday. Jameson had always believed himself to be a devoted man, taking pride in that notion. Yet, in Amber's eyes, his devotion was nothing more than a pathetic joke—a sentiment she couldn't help but detest.Taking a steadying breath, Amber began rummaging through the drawers and shelves with swift precision.Years of observation had taught her that Jameson had hidden several secret compartments in this room, places meant to conceal vital information. Unless Jameson or Carl disclosed their existence, even the police might not have uncovered them.After what felt like an eternity, sweat beading on her forehead, Amber discovered a hidden compartment beneath a floor sculpture.As she pried the brick loose, her breath hitched. Inside the compartment lay a waterproof plastic bag containing a document and a USB drive.Amber retrieved the document. Her heart raced as she realized its contents—a research report from Mosgravia's RC Biotech
Ever since getting together with Axel, Amber had lived each day in bliss. Yet, when Winston assured her that he truly accepted her and approved of her marriage to Axel, that bliss reached its peak. For so long, Amber had struggled with feelings of inferiority, never truly believing she deserved Axel's love. Deep down, she had resolved to step away if Winston disapproved or insisted Axel marry a woman from a reputable family—a match more fitting of his status.She wouldn't have hesitated to leave if it meant sparing Winston and Axel any conflict. Amber loved Axel wholeheartedly and was willing to sacrifice everything for him.But instead of rejection, she found warmth. The Taylor family embraced her as one of their own, showing her kindness and understanding rather than disdain for her past.She could never repay such compassion. "Winston… Thank you. Thank you…" Amber's tear-filled eyes glistened, their brightness undimmed despite all the darkness she had endured. Winston s