Jasper held back the urge to roll his eyes as he tapped out of the chat.…Alyssa, seated in another room, repeatedly scrolled through the malicious comments online. Heartbroken and tearing up, she nearly crushed the phone screen. Silas and Liam kept her company, not knowing what to do except to exchange looks because they'd never come across such a situation."Lyse, don't fret about it. Jonah and Julien aren't in the entertainment industry. The scandal will die down after a while," Silas comforted Alyssa.He sighed, feeling sorry for Jonah."Sure, the gossip will eventually die down, but Jonah and Julien will be scarred forever." Alyssa closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm herself. "Jonah is the president of KS Group. We might own the company, but Jonah's reputation and public image have taken a huge hit. "This is what the mastermind wishes to see—to tarnish Jonah's reputation so that he couldn't face the public."Julien isn't a public figure, but the Lovelace family i
Silas and Liam exited the room and closed the door behind them to offer Alyssa and Julien some privacy."Julien…" Alyssa called out to him softly.Suddenly, she found herself at a loss for words. It did not seem like an appropriate time to comfort him or discuss his relationship with Jonah. After what felt like a long silence, Julien hung his head low as a tear rolled down his cheek. "Lyse, I'm sorry."Shaking her head furiously, she gently comforted him, "Julien, this is not your fault. You don't owe anyone an apology. There's nothing wrong in loving Jonah.""It's my fault…" Julien mumbled with his head kept low like a criminal. His confident self was nowhere to be seen. "Aunt Mandy was right. I ruined Jonah's life. Things would have been different if I had listened to her."Lyse, I am at fault. I'm being selfish. I would rather be the one to pay the price. I'm willing to sacrifice anything as long as Jonah isn't hurt. I would like everything to go back to how it was, but I thi
"What?" Enraged, Alyssa snapped impatiently, "Son of a bitch! How dare they challenge me when I'm still pissed at them? It's time to teach them a lesson!""Jonah is with Winston. I haven't informed them about the Lovelaces yet." The look in Jasper's eyes hardened. He whispered, "We all know the reason the Lovelaces are here. "Jonah ought to refrain from appearing during this delicate period. The same goes for Winston. Otherwise, the Lovelaces would make a greater fuss about it. God knows what they'd resort to doing.""Hah! Try me." Her eyes were filled with rage when she recalled the suffering that the Lovelaces inflicted on Julien. "Julien is a kind young man who got beaten up all because he wanted to treat Winston. "The Lovelaces clearly treat Julien as their punching bag! How dare they call themselves his family? They have no right to!"Jasper nodded knowingly. "Well, this is a conflict between the Taylors and the Lovelaces. As an outsider, it's not my place to interfere in t
Aidan followed closely behind Joseph with fury as he ranted and badmouthed Julien. If he could, he would crucify Julien. "That's why we couldn't find him for days! It turns out he went to Jonah Taylor. Jonah Taylor kept him hidden!"Just look at him! He led a promiscuous life with the foreigners abroad, but he didn't change his ways after coming home. Not only that, he got involved with Jonah Taylor out of anyone else. It's a disgrace to the family! If Grandpa learned about this—""Shut up!" Joseph's irritation increased when he heard Aidan's rants. If only he could seal Aidan's lips! "As the oldest son, you're outperformed by Julien in medical expertise, and you don't have talent in business either. "How could you even fail at making Julien toe the line? That was a simple task. You are a good-for-nothing!"Anger pulsed through Aidan. He felt unfairly implicated. Meanwhile, Joseph's eyes were colored by rage. "If you had told me about Julien's ridiculous affairs early on, the scan
"Do you even deserve to call yourself Julien's family?" With a chilling expression, Liam stepped forward, "This is an eye-opening situation on one of my rare trips back home. "I'm curious as to what kind of family would physically hurt their child over a personal grudge, even going as far as to strip him of his human rights and keep him grounded.""Right! You must be an animal to do that!" Silas chimed in indignantly."You know nothing. This is a Lovelace family affair. Those who go against our family rule shall be punished. It's something we've long agreed on. I bet it must be hard for a non-monogamous and disrespectful family like the Taylors to wrap their head around morals." Joseph snickered at Liam and Silas. In contrast to Aidan's quick temper, Joseph was calm and calculative as he took a swipe at the Taylors.Frowning hard, Liam cracked his fingers. "Say whatever you want, but you shouldn't dream of getting anywhere near Julien with me around, not to mention bringing him
Upon hearing Nathan's commands, the hooligans who had their hands in their pockets suddenly brandished weapons out of nowhere."H-How dare you?" Aidan's voice trembled. He seemed badly shaken. "Do you not know our family's standing in Belbanks? We're just second to the Taylors! You're only bringing trouble to yourselves if you mess with us!""Haha! Even a kid knows that the Taylors are the wealthiest in Belbanks. But I haven't heard of the Lovelace family." Nathan stretched his neck to loosen his muscles. Then, he snickered. "Anyway, I've finally met the Lovelaces in person. Second to the Taylors, huh? I guess that's only in Belbanks. Once you step out of this city, you're a fucking nobody! Hahaha!"The other gang members joined Nathan in his laughter. Silas guffawed. Even Liam, who always looked serious, betrayed a grin."You—" Aidan was at a loss for words. Joseph glared at his useless son, who not only made a joke out of himself but also made the Lovelace family into a laughin
"I'd be damned! That chick is so hot!" A few of the Ivory Gang members, attracted by Alyssa's beauty, were distracted from the fight.Jasper keenly picked up on the vulgar remarks. He quickly pulled Alyssa into a hug in a protective stance. He had to always be on his guard because Alyssa was simply too stunning."What are you staring at? And be polite!" Nathan, aware of Alyssa's status, went up to slap the three guys on their heads."Stop it! Stop fighting!" Julien bellowed at the men.He wasn't angry over his family being beaten, just disappointed at how his esteemed father had brought security over to provoke the Taylors and even got into a fight with the gangsters. In his eyes, Joseph was no different than the hooligans."Enough! Back off!" Nathan said and yawned. He didn't care to continue the fighting as the Lovelaces seemed badly defeated by the Ivory Gang anyway."Dad, how could you do this as the head of the Lovelace family?" Julien confronted Joseph, clenching his fist a
Joseph finally broke when his son publicly challenged his ego as the family patriarch. Staring Julien down, he was about to approach the latter when a slim figure glided out of nowhere and stopped him."Mandy?"In the next second, they heard a deafening slap. Mandy, filled with resentment, had slapped Joseph on the face. The impact of her slap caused his cheek to swell and his ears to ring."Mandy, did you just slap me? But I'm your brother!""My brother? Do I even have one?" She flashed him an indifferent smile. "I thought I was kicked out of the Lovelace family just like Julien. By the way, you're just a son adopted by the Lovelace family."The revelation of Joseph being an adopted son caught Aidan and Julien off guard. It was a family secret that had never been disclosed to the younger generation. Mandy must have been intent on humiliating Joseph by openly bringing up his bloodline."Technically, I am the only daughter who carries the Lovelace blood. You're only benefiting fro
Alyssa followed Jasper into the study. The door closed behind her with a soft click. She didn't move to switch on the lights or sit down. Instead, she stood quietly in the dim room.They faced each other, eyes locked. In the darkness, their gazes seemed brighter, charged with emotions that neither could put into words. Whatever stirred within them was tangled and silent—kept at bay by something unspoken, as if a wall had formed between heart and mouth. After a pause, Alyssa offered a faint smile. Her voice was soft, almost courteous. "Go ahead, Mr. Beckett. I won't be staying long tonight—I've made other arrangements."It was clear she didn't want to be alone in a room with him.Jasper's chest tightened, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion he couldn't define. His voice was rough when he finally spoke. "You didn't vote against the motion at today's board meeting. I wanted to know… are we still on the same side?"Alyssa's gaze lowered, her voice steady and calm. "You didn't object
In the evening, Xavier drove Jasper to meet with Newton. Along the way, news broke out that Sheryl had been bailed out. Xavier slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Why is it so hard to get rid of that woman?" "She is Justin's right hand," Jasper said, eyes shut as he leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "You could even say she knows more about his secrets than anyone. As long as she's useful, Justin won't discard her so easily. This is how he operates."Xavier shook his head, teeth gritted. "Where the hell did she even come from? When you had me investigate her, I found nothing. Her background was spotless. "What's in her past that Justin would go so far to keep it hidden? A man like him can have any woman he wants, yet he clings to her—some pretty-faced idiot who only seems to make things harder for him."Jasper's gaze turned glacial. Xavier's casual remark struck him.He was right. Justin wasn't short on capable subordinates. So why Sheryl?Was Sh
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