Dinnertime arrived, and the four of them were famished. To celebrate Silas and Rose's newfound romance, they decided to visit Belbanks' most renowned local restaurant.Jasper took the wheel while Alyssa sat next to him in the front passenger seat. They allowed Silas and Rose to claim the backseat. After all, they just got together. It was understandable that they would be all over each other. Alyssa and Jasper, however, couldn't help but avoid the rearview mirror. The only sounds reaching them were occasional smacks."Ouch, Rosie," Silas winced, rubbing his hand. "Can you be a little lighter? I am your husband, you know." His playful tone made it clear he wasn't bothered by their audience.Despite the playful pain, his affection was evident."Whose permission did you think you had to let your hands wander like that? Quite bold of you, isn't it?"Silas tightened his embrace around Rose's waist, sending a warm flush creeping up her cheeks. As Rose nestled against his chest, a wave
Alyssa said, "Silas, you're stuffing yourself silly! Rose hasn't even taken a bite because she is busy taking care of you. Is this how you care for her?"Alyssa savored the prawns and fish Jasper had prepared for her. Her eyes widened. "Silas, if you mistreat Rose in any way, I'll introduce her to Liam, Axel, and Cyrus. We'll see if you can still eat like that then!"Silas choked, sputtering in terror, nearly dropping his plate.Rose blushed and patted his back gently. Then, she offered him her water. "Madam, please stop teasing me.""R-Rose, cough. I'm sorry," Silas stammered, quickly putting some food on Rose's plate. His face flushed red, on the verge of tears. "It's my first time being a boyfriend. Please don't be mad I haven't been taking care of you. Give me some time. I'll learn, slowly... no, quickly, as fast as I can!"Rose, slightly embarrassed, pursed her lips. She playfully poked his chest. "There's no rush, Silas. We have plenty of time."Alyssa and Jasper exchanged
Silas grew serious."Calm down, Lyse. You need to watch out for your health," Jasper said, holding onto Alyssa's trembling hands. "Especially after you just ate. You have a weak stomach; getting angry might make it worse."Alyssa sat down angrily. Jasper quickly embraced her and kissed her temple.Though he was calming her down, she still quivered in anger.Rose said through uneven breathing, "This really is Josh's doing. I'd asked Clarissa before why she didn't rebel against him. Times have changed, after all. She could've sued for divorce and made Josh pay at any point in time so long as she had ample evidence."But… Clarissa was really terrified of Josh. It almost seemed like Josh had some deadly upper hand over her, making it so that she never dared make a move, even if it meant meeting her death at his hands one day. Clarissa ran off before I could finish talking to her."Silas' gaze darkened somewhat when he gazed at Rose's pale face. He'd noticed how she had reacted. It wa
Meanwhile, Lauren had finally gotten into Solana City Arts Academy after Landon pulled some strings, thus granting her a spot as an associate student.Lauren quickly began her first week of classes.Though she sat in the last row of each classroom every time and even hid herself behind the large easel, she still caught the attention of the male students in class.None of them were in the mood to pay attention anymore. They kept on arching their necks to get a peek at Lauren.But Lauren was so focused on listening in class and drawing that she never once noticed the other boys. She had to pay attention as she wanted to absorb everything the art teacher was saying. After all, Landon had helped her secure this spot, so she didn't want to waste it.When class ended, Lauren began clearing up her station.Some of the male students urged one of their friends forward in Lauren's direction. The male student then took a deep breath and walked over to the last row."Apologies for coming la
"From now on, I need to care for Landon just like how Alyssa had cared for Jasper," Lauren promised.Angelina felt both endeared and sad upon hearing this. She was glad that Landon and Lauren's relationship had been far less eventful than Jasper's and Alyssa's. Lauren would never suffer by Landon's side the way Alyssa had with Jasper.But it was a good thing that Alyssa was patient enough and that Jasper realized how he truly felt in time, finally enabling both of them to reunite."Angie, if Landon isn't coming home for dinner tonight, then there's no point for me to go back either." Lauren held Angelina's hand and said, "I want to practice in one of the drawing rooms. Can we have dinner at a restaurant later instead?""W-What did you just say, madam?" Angelina was stunned.Lauren was both autistic and had high social anxiety. She'd never had a meal outside the house, even after dating Landon for so long. Lauren was always hesitant whenever Landon got them a spot at a restaurant a
Lauren's pencils fell to the floor as she flinched in shock.She then saw a human body fall outside the window, followed by a loud slam.Lauren immediately rose from her chair, her body strung tight. She sheepishly walked over to the window and looked downstairs.Her mind went blank in an instant. She clasped her mouth in fright and stumbled backward, legs beginning to quiver.A woman had fallen off the building and was lying dead on the ground outside.Panic ensued just then as screams of terror rang out from downstairs.Lauren's heart pounded heavily in her chest. She grabbed her teddy bear and promptly ran out of the classroom, not even bothering to pack anything else."Angie… Angie, where are you?" Lauren cried as she ran through the hallways. The image of the dead woman had branded itself into her mind.After running to who-knows-where, there came frantic footsteps from behind Lauren, followed by panicked wails."Help! Someone has been murdered! Help!" Murdered?Lauren
It was a premeditated act of revenge."Chief Taylor, we've got bad news!" Another policeman rushed over, covered in sweat. "The killer is at the rooftop with a hostage! He threatened to jump to his death with the hostage if we refused to release him."Then, he handed a phone to Cyrus. Cyrus took the phone and saw the scene of Denver bellowing at the policemen with a female hostage in his arms.His eyes widened in shock as he recognized a pale-looking and tear-stricken Lauren in Denver's grip. His heart sank, and panic surged through his veins.How could Lauren be the hostage?Cyrus, who had always dealt with the toughest armed criminals with calm, found himself breathing unevenly. He immediately dashed toward the rooftop.At the same time, Angelina rushed toward him with fury in her eyes, holding Lauren's teddy bear."Is the hostage… Madam Lauren? Is that true?" She sounded teary.Cyrus nodded with a serious face. She looked like she was on the brink of a breakdown. She offer
Lauren's voice squeezed Cyrus' heart."Cyrus, save me…" Lauren's face was devoid of color. Tears rolled down her cheeks, which hurt to watch. He so wanted to comfort her, but such an attempt might provoke the criminal and place her in greater danger.He cast a deep glance at Lauren before shifting his attention to Denver's crazy eyes. He said, "Denver Whitman, please calm down. That young lady is innocent. She has no idea about your backstory and doesn't even know the five students. She's just an innocent outsider."How about this? I'll take her place as the hostage. You'll set her free."Lauren watched Cyrus approach Denver through tears, crushed by feelings of guilt. She thought, "How could I have been so dumb? I should've waited for Angie in the classroom. If only I had run faster!" Alas, it was too late to regret.Denver growled when he saw Cyrus approaching, "Don't come any closer, or I'll slit her throat and jump off this rooftop. We'll meet our end together!""You think I
"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