On the way to the hospital, Landon watched a livestream showing Cyrus emerging from the academic building carrying a female in his arms. Although the woman was well covered, Landon could recognize Lauren in Cyrus' arms just by her form.Landon had always suspected Cyrus of having feelings for Lauren. He perceived it as a blatant act of stealing the love of his life, Lauren. She was his everything. Any man who so much as laid a finger on her would be crossing a line."I am in the police force too. What's the difference?" Hearing Landon's accusations, Cyrus calmly smirked at him.Surprisingly, Cyrus did not fluster in the face of Landon and Harper Group's men.Landon clenched his jaw as he approached Cyrus. "Lauren is my lover. How dare you stop me, her partner, from coming to her rescue in that dangerous and urgent situation? Do you really think I don't know what you're plotting? Want me to lay it out for you and embarrass you?""Landon Harper, are you dumb or naїve? You might not
"Lauren!" Landon's eyes lit up in excitement. He eagerly rushed toward Lauren and gave her a tight hug. His voice trembled fearfully. "I'm sorry for showing up late. It was my fault that you suffered injuries. I am fucking useless! Hit me if you like. Hit me as hard as possible!"Landon's men were taken aback by his behavior. No longer behaving like a devil, Landon was just a hopeless man in love. They marveled at Lauren, who had charmed Landon into his subservient ways."Landon, why would you speak to Cyrus in that way? Why?" Lauren, being autistic, had a tendency to fixate on things. Her stubbornness might be distressing for some. She insisted, "Why would you say that about Cyrus? I would've died if not for him! He saved me. So, how could you be so mean to him?"Her endless whys and hows would have triggered anyone. However, Landon only hugged her tight and whispered tearfully into her ear, "Lauren, you must have been so scared and shocked. I was a loser for not protecting you…"
Alyssa and Jasper grew solemn in front of the serious-looking Cyrus. "Cyrus, go ahead.""You're well known as a couple who seek justice and fight for what's right." Cyrus sounded sarcastic.His remark prompted Jasper to glance at Alyssa. Jasper caressed her nape while replying, "Well, I'm not that great. I'm only assisting Lyse. She's the one who's outstanding, smart, and kind.""Cyrus was just teasing us! How could you make me shoulder his taunts while you act like the humble one?" Squinting, she playfully elbowed Jasper."I didn't tease you. I meant it." Growing serious, Cyrus explained, "The two victims killed today by the man who held Lauren hostage were members of a school bullying group."Jasper's eyes darkened, and his face paled. Similarly, despair flashed across Alyssa's eyes. The fated couple had both experienced bullying before. Therefore, they hated bullying behavior more than anyone else."The murderer had a daughter who had been severely bullied by the five students
Jasper did not appear doubtful. Instead, he was riddled with guilt. "I'm not the best brother to Lauren, and I feel sorry about it. I've never fulfilled my responsibility as a brother. I was oblivious to her suffering at home and realized it many years later after Lyse informed me about it. I am a disappointment.""Don't think of yourself that way. You're a good brother, and I can attest to it." Alyssa gently leaned into Jasper's arms and kissed him on the neck. "Let's not forget that Lauren wouldn't have gotten together with a doting boyfriend without your help. That alone makes you a good brother to her."Jasper was tempted by her. He looked at her affectionately as he held her by the waist and kissed her on the lips.A dejected look flashed across Cyrus' eyes. Before he entered the car, he said to them, "I'll send the information to you later. You can do anything you want with the bullies as long as it's not something illegal."…As Jasper and Alyssa were concerned about Lauren
Landon trudged back to the living room while looking dispirited. Angelina happened to descend the stairs after having coaxed Lauren to sleep.When Landon lifted his gaze, he accidentally met her eyes, causing her to hang her head fearfully."Stop lowering your head. You're about to bury your head in the sand. What are you, an ostrich?" Frowning impatiently, Landon sat on the couch and put a cigarette between his lips. However, he hesitated to light it when he recalled Lauren hated the smell of cigarette smoke.Angelina did not look up. She had always carried herself with arrogance and aloofness in public, a stark contrast to her present self—unsure, submissive, and guilty. She wanted to dig a hole and hide due to shame."Come here."She strutted over to Landon. The short distance felt like it took forever."Is Lauren asleep?" Landon asked in a low voice."Yes." She stared at her feet. Her voice was shaky. "I'll pack my stuff and leave immediately. I will not be an eyesore to you
"Sure, Mr. Landon." Angelina picked up the hint and proceeded to change the sheets. There were other maids in the manor as well, but Landon only trusted Angelina to enter and clean a private space like his bedroom.The heavy and luxurious velvet curtain remained drawn. The dimly lit bedroom carried a stuffy smell; it smelled like sex.Angelina stole a glance at the messy sheets, unable to hide her joyful expression. It appeared that the couple had had a rather exciting night. She made a mental note to massage Lauren's waist after a night of being ravaged by Landon.Angelina quickly changed the sheets and covers. Then, she picked up the clothes scattered across the floor and gathered them in the laundry basket.Ever since Landon had expressed his desire to marry Lauren to the Harper family, and after he had formally made the proposal to the Beckett family, Angelina couldn't see a condom around the house.Clearly, Landon wished for Lauren to carry his child. Since they were having u
Lauren might be simplistic most of the time, but she seemed extra level-headed when she fought to go back to school. Landon had no choice but to cave in. He left the manor with a long face, wearing the damp jacket he had wrapped Lauren in earlier.Angelina had offered a new jacket for him, but he declined. All he said was, "Take good care of Lauren.""Of course, Mr. Landon." "One more thing." He paused in his tracks with an icy look. "Be vigilant. Make sure other men stay away from her.""Sure." Angelina froze. Cyrus' cheerful and handsome face flashed across her mind.…Clarissa had been troubled ever since she retrieved her dress from Rose. Losing sleep, she couldn't shake off Rose's harsh advice for her. Rose had warned her, "Domestic violence, once happened, will happen again.""Are you going to do nothing until he beats you to death?""You're going to die if you don't fight back!"Recently, Josh had regained Victor's trust and was welcomed back to the Schmidt Group after
Clarissa jolted in fear. "Besides, don't you know how much a kidney transplant costs? Your dad still proved himself useful to me when he was the Attorney General years ago. I would have seen it as an investment and saved him back then."But he's a dying old man now. Why would I waste my money and energy on a man who's about to meet his maker? I'm not doing charity." Josh looked away in disdain and snorted. "If your dad could wait, make him wait. If he can't, he only has himself to blame."After Josh left, Clarissa fell on her knees helplessly. She covered her face and wept.…In the evening, Clarissa changed into simple clothes to visit her father, Oscar Sparks, at the hospital. She covered every inch of her skin from head to toe to hide her bruises and scars from Oscar.Oscar had weakened to a point where he struggled to speak. Still, he tried to stop Clarissa from worrying about him because he was aware of her suffering in her marriage to Josh.Had the Schmidt family not fina
"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