"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
Clarissa looked puzzled but accepted the documents regardless. She carefully checked the contents, and she shot up in surprise. Her heart raced in excitement. "I-Is this…""Mr. Beckett found a kidney donor match for your father," Alyssa addressed Clarissa gently like she would a friend. "It's difficult to find a matching donor. I believe you understand the complexity since you've been searching for a long time. Even wealthy patients struggle to find a matching donor. Forcing a kidney transplant will only result in adverse reactions that ultimately lead to kidney failure. Mr. Beckett, I dare say, has utilized all his resources to find this matching donor.""You… You…" Staring at the documents containing life-saving information for Oscar, Clarissa sobbed. Her tears stained the papers and smudged the printed words."Ms. Sparks, you're a good daughter. Anyone else would have given up by now," Jasper remarked coolly and earnestly."What… do you want me to do?" She hung her head as she c
"Is there no need to sign an agreement? Ms. Alyssa, are you sure?" Clarissa stared at Alyssa in shock. "Aren't you worried that I would change my mind after the transplant and refuse to help you out? I thought you businesspeople always dismissed oral agreements and emphasized the importance of putting everything down in black and white.""I'm doing this to show you that you always have a choice, regardless of the deal we have struck." Alyssa flashed a faint smile, looking as calming and reassuring as ever. "If you sign the agreement, you'll turn this into a formal deal. If you don't, you can think of it as a battle to avenge your family."I will not blame you if you choose to return to the Schmidt family under pressure after the transplant surgery. As a doctor, my priority is saving lives. Not only that, as General Sparks was a great mentor to my brother, I'll do this to return his favor on my brother's behalf."Even as an outsider, Jasper felt awestruck by Alyssa's remarks and marv
"Mr. Beckett, we have dealt with the three students per your and Madam Alyssa's orders. The family company of one student was on the brink of bankruptcy after getting embroiled in some scandals, including questionable product quality. The police followed the trail of evidence and uncovered criminal evidence against his father, who was arrested this morning."Another student was found to hire prostitutes, organize group sex, and have a penchant for BDSM. I made someone else distribute his photos and videos online from an overseas IP. Netizens are now 'enjoying' his works. I'm afraid his father's political career has met an end because of his scandal," Xavier reported with enthusiasm.Jasper nodded in satisfaction. "How about the remaining student?""Well…" After a pause, Xavier lowered his voice, "The third student suffered the worst fate. From what I heard, he had been abducted. He was later found with ten or so slash wounds on his body, but none was fatal. He was castrated by the a
"Landon, you're home early today," Jasper replied to Landon's greeting."Darling, I'm home. Why don't you give me a hug after a long day?" Landon beamed as he opened his arms at Lauren. The black coat, which was loosely draped on his shoulders, fell onto the floor, but he did not bother to pick it up.Despite feeling oddly nervous, Lauren obediently went up to Landon and sneaked into his arms like an adorable kitten. He wrapped his tall and muscular body around her, carrying with him the warmth from the car heater that seeped into her skin. The warm sensation helped soothe her emotions."Landon, don't be angry," she mumbled in a voice only audible to them."Hm? Why would I be angry at you for no reason?" he whispered in a raspy voice."I-I…" Lauren had learned to carefully ponder her words before voicing them aloud. After some thinking, she chose to keep her thoughts to herself."If you've done something to upset me, just give me a kiss, and I won't be angry at you anymore." Land
Alyssa understood what Lauren was trying to say. She let out an awkward cough. It had already been a while since Alyssa was married and had a long-term partner. So, she wasn't too embarrassed to talk about the matters in the bedroom. She asked in a serious voice, "Lauren, are you ready to become a mother?" "A… mother?" Lauren was taken aback. She felt as if this word was far from her grasp. To be frank, she wasn't ready. She even felt like she was not yet an adult. Moreover, she had a condition. She wasn't even sure if her children would be affected. That said, she knew that Landon yearned to start a family with her. Each time they made love, when he was at his climax, he would mumble in her ear, "Let's start a family… Lauren, Let's have a few children… Doesn't matter if they're boys or girls. I will love them as long as they're yours…"A conflicted look came across Lauren's face. "I… haven't thought about that. Do you plan to bear children for Jasper, Alyssa?" This on
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