Justin continued, "That medicine is indeed very rare. But over the years of treatment and medication, I've built some connections in the medical field. My friend has this medicine, and I can ask him to get it for you.""Really? That's great!" Jasper's face lit up with joy. "How can I repay you for your help, Justin?"Justin's gaze was mysterious as he smiled. "Although I'm in Mosgravia, I've long heard about how much you cherish Ms. Alyssa. Someday, when I return to Solana City, would you oppose me becoming friends with her?"Jasper's heart wrenched, and he clenched his grip on the teacup."Mr. Justin, you're really putting Mr. Beckett in a difficult position. Ms. Alyssa is the apple of his eye. He would even build a house to hide her if he could. Even if you're his brother, I doubt he'd be willing," Sheryl half-jokingly said, but her words concealed a hidden meaning.She implied that women were not the only thing Jasper might not be willing to give up for Justin. It could also be
Sheryl continued, "After growing up, I only further tried to win Jasper's heart for the sake of my family's interests. I've never had feelings for him. I've never loved him."Justin smirked, leaning down and lifting her chin with his fingertip. "Then, are you just using me too?"With tears in her eyes, Sheryl swore, "I truly care for you, Mr. Justin. I'm loyal to you. I would even die for you!""Don't say such gloomy things. Stand up and talk." Justin's tone softened as he helped her up.But Sheryl still felt uneasy inside. She couldn't read Justin's emotions. Having worked for him for so long, she had never seen him angry. This only added to her unease."Did you have me fabricate a new identity to replace that lady and get close to Jasper again?""Apart from occasionally being foolish in matters of the heart, Jasper is the smartest person I know. How could you possibly replace her if you don't even know the details of his relationship with that lady?"Smelling the tea, Justin s
That night, moonlight cast a silvery glow on the ground while the night breeze rustled the trees outside the window.Closing his eyes, Jonah clutched a cross in his hands, devoutly praying in front of the statue of God.Since the passing of his former beloved, he had day after day sought self-redemption through prayer, repenting for the sins he had committed.Countless times in the past, it had all been for him.But now, standing once again before the statue of God, Jonah found himself unable to discern his own feelings. He felt lost and adrift.He breathed out a long sigh. Just as he turned away, the doors of the church were suddenly pushed open.A chilly wind rushed in, dispersing the sorrow between his brows.The next moment, that slender and graceful figure with fox-like eyes tore through the desolation and caught his gaze."Jonah..."Julien's slender figure stood alone in the center of the doorway. His eyes were brimming with tears. "You've come looking for me... Why didn
Judas—this title remained vague in Jonah's mind. No matter how many memories it invoked, those times were long gone."Dr. Wooten, it's me. Jonah.""Judas! I really can't believe I'd live to see the day you'd contact me. How have you been all these years?""I'm doing well."Jonah paused, then said in a low voice, "Are you free right now? I have an urgent matter and need your help.""You don't even need to ask, Judas. I'll do anything for you. No questions asked."…In less than half an hour, a man carrying a large medicine box arrived at Jonah's villa.This man, referred to as "Dr. Wooten" by Jonah, was named Evan Wooten.Unlike regular doctors, he was an underground doctor.During the time when Jonah was still known as "Judas", many of his men were unable to seek treatment at regular hospitals and had to go to underground clinics.Jonah had met Evan then, who had lost his medical license. Jonah recognized his talent and hired him as his personal doctor, giving him a carefree
Evan felt quite troubled upon hearing that."Judas, among the wounds on your friend's body, two in particular are extremely deep. Describing them as skin-deep wounds wouldn't be an exaggeration. I'll need to tend to them before I can know the specifics."As Jonah stared at the bloody wounds on Julien's back, his heartache spread throughout his body."Some of the wounds may need stitches, and it's unlikely that there won't be any scarring."When Evan noticed Jonah's increasingly gloomy expression, he smiled wryly and comforted, "It's no big deal for a young man to have a few scars. It adds to his masculinity, doesn't it? Your friend shouldn't be too fussy about it, right?"Jonah's brows furrowed deeply.Fussy?Julien was a man who refused to do chores and who would want to change his entire outfit from head to toe if he got a drop of grease on it.If he wasn't fussy, there couldn't be any fussy person in the world.In his mind, Jonah could already see Julien's frantic reaction
In the darkness, Jonah's neck and earlobes flushed red.His breathing became heavy as he slowly raised his hand. He landed his warm palm on Julien's abdomen, gently caressing the smooth skin."Do you still think this is a dream?"Under Jonah's touch, Julien trembled as if electrified. Finally, he leaned in and grabbed Jonah's face, kissing him fiercely.Their silhouettes intertwined, filling the room with their kissing sounds."Jonah, can you let me be with you? I don't want anything. Just let me be with you. I don't mind, even if we can never be public."Jonah's dark eyes shimmered with profound affection.He couldn't hide it or contain himself any longer. He knew exactly what he was doing. At this moment, he was more awake than ever before."From now on, I'm yours. Yours alone."With tears in his eyes, Julien nestled into Jonah's bare yet strong chest. He felt a happiness he had never felt before.…Lately, Jameson had been busy dealing with the troubles brought to the com
Amber's pupils trembled in fear, and her slender legs under her skirt shook violently."Last time I visited him, I felt like his eyes were all over you."Jameson grabbed her chin forcefully, lifting it with enough force to crush her jawbone. "I can confirm he's taken an interest in you."It seems he isn't as refined as I thought. Since he can't obtain the real person, having a fake around for a feast of the eyes and to satisfy his desires might not be a bad choice."Amber's eyes were red-rimmed, with tears glistening as they emitted a plea of helplessness. "Mr. Schmidt... please... please don't send me to Mr. Justin."I've been loyal to you for so many years... Please don't send me away... I beg you!""What value do you have?"Jameson, who had been holding back his anger since his return, unleashed it all on Amber. He pushed her forcefully in the chest.Amber stumbled back two steps, banging into the wall with a dull thud. Her back felt cold and painful."Carl, pack her things
"D-Did something happen?" Amber wasn't concerned for Jameson. She just needed to have everything under control to protect herself."Sigh! Mr. Schmidt went to see Mr. Justin and found out that Mr. Justin sent the drug that Mr. Schmidt failed to deliver to the Taylors. All these while, Mr. Justin had never interfered with Mr. Schmidt and Ms. Alyssa's business."Now, at this juncture, he decided to show up as the good guy. Wouldn't this paint Mr. Schmidt, the one who used the drug to threaten Mr. Winston, as a petty man? "Ms. Alyssa would hate and despise him even more. Mr. Justin is throwing Mr. Schmidt under the bus to make himself look good. Mr. Schmidt had every right to be outraged!"Comparisons are odious.Jameson had a well-thought-out plan, but Justin's interference had painted him like a fool."Mr. Justin is not doing this for Mr. Jasper but for Ms. Alyssa."Carl sighed, "Mr. Schmidt had suspected Mr. Justin had feelings for Ms. Alyssa multiple times. From the looks of th
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