Sean nodded and took out a stack of documents from his briefcase before distributing them to the directors."A non-disclosure agreement?" The directors were shocked. Some of them felt insulted and asked, "What is the meaning of this, Ms. Alyssa? We're all close friends of your fathers and helped him build the company from scratch. Do you not trust us? Is this how you show your respect?"Alyssa responded calmly, "Please don't misunderstand. I'm only doing this to protect my father, KS Group, and all your shares as much as possible. It has nothing to do with my respect for anyone. This NDA is just a safety precaution meant to keep those who mean harm in check."Not only are you all my father's business partners, you're also his friends. I trust none of you would do something to ruin my father's reputation. This agreement is a mere backup. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a need for contracts in the business world anymore, don't you agree?"Alyssa had already spoken in a gracious and resp
Alyssa marched fast, saying, "I purposely set up this trap for Dominic. All we have to do is for him to take the bait."Sean was surprised. "What?""You don't really think that NDA is functional, do you?" Alyssa's gaze was cold as she continued, "There's always a fly on the wall. Even if Winston doesn't go to the hospital after this incident, news of it is still bound to spread. Dominic will naturally jump on this opportunity to strike now that he's seen it himself. "If we want to get rid of him, we need to wait for him to take the first move. I can't retaliate if he doesn't strike first."Sean immediately understood Alyssa's intentions. He gave her a thumbs up. "Woah. You're really cunning, Ms. Alyssa. Oh, wait. I meant—you're a genius!"…Alyssa arrived at her father's side just as the medics left. Winston's condition had already stabilized.His mental state, however, was in shambles."Have you told my family?" Alyssa's eyes were wet with tears as she stood in front of Jas
Alyssa crouched down by the couch and gently nudged Winston. She said in the softest tone she could muster, "What's wrong? Feeling shy? Oh, Winston. It's no big deal. Who in their right mind would be so obsessed over something like this? That'd be a terrible testament to their character."Plus, our family owns KS Group. If I were to take a dump out by the entrance, the directors and staff would have no choice but to stay silent about it!"Both Jasper and Neil were at a loss for words.They knew Alyssa was trying to console Winston, but there were better ways to console someone—better analogies to be used.Winston remained silent with his back toward Alyssa."You've been through so many ups and downs in life, Winston. You're not going to let this little hurdle drag you down, are you?" Alyssa was getting more anxious now. "Hey, Winston! Can you pull yourself together? You still have so many wives and kids to look after. What do we do if you don't toughen up?""Lyse," Winston finall
"Hahaha! Hurry up and take out our best wine, my dear! I'm going to enjoy myself tonight!" Dominic chuckled, feeling immensely pleased after what happened with Winston today. The loud noise he made shocked the cockatiel resting nearby."Why won't he just go to hell? Why won't he just go to hell?" The cockatiel squawked, sounding exactly like Dominic."Haha! Did you cast a spell or something, birdie? Winston is actually going to die soon, hahaha!" Dominic chuckled, playing with the cockatiel."Why are you yelling, Dad? You woke me up from my nap," Renee said, yawning as she descended the stairs. She asked lazily, "What happened to get you so excited?"Dominic lounged on the couch and grinned. "Winston fell sick in front of everyone during the board meeting today!""Really?" Renee exclaimed in joy.Renee had grown up hearing Dominic's incessant complaints about Winston. Hence to her, Winston's family was their number one enemy.Dominic would often boast about his capabilities to R
Dominic clasped his daughter's hand, looking excited. "Just you wait, sweetie. Our lives are soon going to change for the better.""Dad, can you find a way to snatch Jasper Beckett from Alyssa for me once you get rid of Uncle Winston and take over KS Group?" Renee asked hopefully, holding onto her father's arm."Jasper Beckett? Not in the slightest chance!" Dominic flung Renee's hand away. He felt so angry when he thought about how Jasper had humiliated him twice and even smashed his phone."Why not? Weren't you so supportive of me getting together with him before?" Renee pouted. "Wouldn't you be proud to be the father-in-law of Beckett Group's CEO? Heck, it'd be the greatest thing in the world for you.""You can marry whichever rich heir you want amongst Belbanks' elite families, just not Jasper Beckett!" Dominic rose to his feet in a fit of rage. "We can set your relationship matters on the back burner for now. "Once I put an end to Winston and take over the company, I'll natur
As night fell, Jameson went to Schmidt Residence to have dinner with Victor. The once lively dinner table was now silent, with only Victor and Jameson sitting by it.Jameson told Victor what happened in the Taylor family while eating.Victor chuckled out loud. "I was wondering why that old fox Winston hasn't been making an appearance recently. So he's in the ICU? I still remember how he used to boast about his good health. Health my ass! I bet he's worn himself out with all those wives of his!"Jameson silently drank his water.Victor raised his glass to Jameson. "Now that Winston Taylor has fallen, his family and company must have descended into chaos. They're only acting like everything's fine on the surface. If something happens to Jonah Taylor, then KS Group really will have no one to lead them now. We'll have a chance to get our revenge against them!"Just then, someone called out, "This is our time, Dad!"Josh strode into the dining room, lips twitching from excitement even
Winston was immediately hospitalized at the VIP ward of a Belbanks hospital owned by the Taylors.When Alyssa and Jasper sent Winston to the hospital, Jonah and Julien had been waiting for them. After a few days of separation, Alyssa noticed that Julien had lost weight and looked pallid. It was as though he had recently recovered from a serious illness.Without wasting time, the hospital staff wheeled Winston into the treatment room, and Julien followed suit. Before entering the room, he turned to cast one last glance at Jonah, mouthing, "Don't worry. I got you."Everyone's heart sank when the doors slammed shut. Jonah stared squarely at the room with bated breath and heartache. Winston's ailment and Julien's health weighed heavily on him.That morning, Julien had complained about a dull pain in the wounds on his back. Jonah had wanted him to rest, but upon learning about Winston's health issue, Julien scrambled up with renewed vigor and insisted on traveling to Belbanks.On their
Jonah tentatively asked, "Lyse, would you harbor resentment toward me if I ever lied to you?"Alyssa's eyes widened in astonishment. "Resentment" was a weighty term to introduce into their conversation. She hadn't anticipated such a question from Jonah."Jonah, did something happen? Why that sudden question?" She grabbed his muscular arm and swung it gently. "Just tell me what's on your mind. Don't give me a scare, okay?"Jonah stared at the ground with a dispirited look on his face."Jonah, no matter what you did, I'll always see you as my brother. I won't hate you." Alyssa choked up with emotions, perhaps from the compounding stress of Winston's situation and Jonah's moody remark. "Whatever happens, just know that you're the best. You're irreplaceable!""You silly goose." Smiling wryly, he stroked her head softly as Jasper watched on.In the past, Jasper would have turned green in envy at the sight. However, he was solely concerned about Jonah at that moment. For some reason, h
"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
Beckett Group was, in essence, Javier's heart and soul, forged from his own labor. "Justin set me up, framed me for drug addiction, and bribed my primary physician to give false testimony—all so he could drag me down. The fact that he dared to target me like this means he's willing to betray anyone."Jasper took a deep breath, forcing down the rage roiling inside him as Javier remained silent. "Fine. Even if you insist this is just a family matter, Justin's reputation is already in ruins, and the corporation's stock prices are fluctuating. Are you really going to stand by him, even now?""Justin has explained everything to me. He wasn't aware of the bribery. That female doctor who worked for him acted on her own. Besides, she's been arrested. The backlash against Justin will settle in time…"Jasper listened, his face unreadable, but his heart clenched painfully. A lump rose in his throat, suffocating him.He had lost his mother at a young age, but he had never longed for his fa