Suddenly, a cunning idea popped into Josh's head. He wasn't able to touch Alyssa. Instead, he could have some fun with her substitute and find an outlet for his hatred.Hence, he summoned his secretary immediately. With an evil look in his eyes, he instructed, "Get the owner of The Millennium to come see me. I want her to drink with me." …Amber wasn't seeing any clients that night. Even so, she was dolled up from head to toe. Her hair was silky, and she had a pair of heels on. She was dressed in a lilac silk dress. The long-fitting dress revealed most of her fair-skinned back, giving her a classy yet sexy look. This was the outlook that she had to maintain as The Millennium's owner. She was swirling the glass of red wine in her hand as she walked into the surveillance room that was filled with monitoring screens. Two surveillance staff stood up and greeted her immediately, "Good evening, Ms. Altman!" "How are things going? Was there anything unusual?" Amber pressed her l
Axel not only held the belief that he could escape but also nursed a burning desire to seek retribution for Jonah. He was determined to rid himself of that loathsome bastard, Josh.He couldn't wait any longer. Axel kept his hands in the pockets of his black coat. He dashed toward the private room that Josh was in.To his surprise, a pair of fair-skinned hands grabbed his arms and pulled him into the darkness. Axel's eyes widened. The muscles in his arms tensed up. He was about to lash out when…Axel looked into his ambusher's eyes. It was only then that he managed to get a good look at Amber's face. The space between the storage racks was tight, compelling them to press their bodies against each other."You…""Shh!"Amber put her hand over his mouth in a panic. Her forehead was covered with sweat. Right at that moment, a team of bodyguards happened to pass by just a few feet away from them. Amber waited until they could no longer hear the bodyguards' footsteps. Her wary
All of a sudden, Amber felt like she had lost her voice. It was as if someone had hit "pause" on her breathing. Axel stared at Amber's face, flushed red from her nervousness. A feeling of disdain rose in his heart. Was he going to die in Jameson's hands or hers? He hadn't forgotten that night when she had approached him with ulterior motives. He still remembered her poisonous hair stick that she had concealed in her hairdo. He found it rather intriguing that she and her boss, Jameson, were playing good cop, bad cop. They were most likely in cahoots. Tonight was probably part of their plan too. Was Jameson using her to set a honeytrap and having the princess save the hero? Did they think that he was dumb or that he wouldn't be able to resist women? Even if he were a pervert who was overwhelmed by his emotions, his inner devil would become an angel just by looking at her face. Axel's superficial smile made Amber shudder. She pursed her lips and pressed her back against t
Axel smirked. "I merely mentioned Josh's name, and you've already deduced that I'm here for revenge. Not only did you ascertain my intention to avenge someone, but you also discerned that it's Jonah I'm seeking vengeance for."Amber felt a rush of heat to her cheeks. She might be cunning in other respects, but in the presence of Axel, her mind seemed to go blank. It was as if she was walking straight into a trap."I am Mr. Jameson's employee. Regarding the matters involving the Schmidt Group, I—"Suddenly, Amber found herself silenced. This time, Axel was the one to cover her mouth. Simultaneously, they heard the footsteps of two black-clad bodyguards drawing near."Hm? I thought I heard someone talking." The footsteps stopped next to the storage shelves. Amber's forehead beaded with sweat, and her breaths grew shallow. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Yet, Axel's gaze was calm. He moved his hand to the back of her head. He weaved his fingers in her hair and ge
"You said that the Schmidt brothers were birds of the same feather. Are you saying that Jameson is an animal too?" Axel questioned. There was a tremor in Amber's lashes. "All female escorts who provide services to their customers at The Millennium are all doing so on their own volition." "Are you also a follower of his out of your own volition?" Axel narrowed his eyes as he pulled his hand away from her waist. At this time, Amber felt like her heart was being trampled on. Her heart ached. She replied in a hoarse voice, "Yes, it is of my own choice." Axel tilted his head and sniggered coldly. The look in his eyes became dim. It didn't matter what her reason for helping him was. It could be that she wasn't in her right mind, or that she had other intentions toward him. He had to always keep in mind that she was on Jameson's side. "Take this evidence with you and hand it to Ms. Alyssa and Mr. Jasper." Amber's eyes were fiery. "These are Josh's weaknesses. I'm sure that they
The sharp and hasty sound of Amber's silver heels echoed through the corridor as she made her way directly to Room S001. "Ms. Altman! You're finally here!" The supervisor and a few female escorts were standing by the door. They were trembling in fright and feeling at a loss. One of the ladies had wounds on her forehead where she had been hit. Blood was flowing down the sides of her face and dripping down to the floor. Another escort had a bruise around her eye. They were both badly injured. "That asshole! How could he be so cruel?" Amber's heart broke for them. She rebuked the supervisor, "Why are you just idling around? Can't you see that they're so badly injured? Why haven't you sent them to the hospital? What are you waiting for?" "Ms. Altman, there's no problem arranging for them to be taken to the hospital. However, it's crucial to address the crisis inside first!"The supervisor was perspiring in fear. "Mr. Josh is a big shot. Moreover, he is Mr. Jameson's older brot
"60,000 dollars? This is daylight robbery!" Josh gritted his teeth in anger. "You are Mr. Josh Schmidt, the Schmidt Group's ex-president. 60,000 dollars should be a drop in the bucket for you. You won't even feel the pinch, will you?" Amber jeered at him. Everyone present was dumbfounded. Amber bore a striking resemblance to Alyssa, not only in appearance but also in temperament and arrogance.The Millennium's supervisor stared at Amber with his jaw dropped. He was so terrified that it felt like his heart had stopped. However, more than that, he felt a little strange. They had worked together for such a long time, and somehow, she didn't feel like the Amber he knew. There were often customers at The Millennium who caused trouble after having too much to drink. As the owner, she had to step up to resolve the situation on multiple occasions. Situations like these always end in a peaceful resolution. She would never provoke them like that. Nevertheless, with Josh, she looked
"Y-You… hit me?" Josh's head was spinning. His mouth was full of blood, and he could barely speak clearly."You came to my place to cause trouble and even laid hands on my people. Josh, have I been too nice to you?" Jameson looked down on Josh with a cold smirk."Y-Your... place?" Josh stared at Jameson in shock."Mr. Schmidt owns The Millennium. Everything here belongs to him," Carl proudly explained from the side.Josh froze and became speechless at those words.The Millennium was the most prestigious club in the country, as well as a money-squandering haven where many dreamed of becoming members to show off their status. The mysterious boss behind it was actually Jameson?How could he, a discarded pawn who had just found a foothold in the Schmidt family, have such a large business? What kind of joke was this?"Since you've come here to spend money, I wouldn't have bothered you if you had behaved. But it looks like it's too difficult for you to do that."After saying that, Ja
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