Clarissa furrowed her brows in anger. "Then… Then, what can we do? Does the law really have no hold against these financial tycoons?" "What Jasper means is that we need something that's even more earth-shattering." Alyssa looked into Jasper's dark eyes as if she was able to see right through him. "When going against Josh, we have to hit the bullseye so that he doesn't have a chance to get back up. "The only way is if he gets punished both by the heavens and on the earth." The look in Jasper's eyes reflected his understanding of Alyssa. He resonated with her so deeply that his blood pulsed through his veins. He couldn't help but put his arm over her shoulders and hold her. She was the one who understood his innermost feelings the most. Clarissa looked down as she thought about it deeply. After a moment, she lifted her eyes again and looked at them with a determined gaze. "Josh has a kink. He likes to record sex videos in secret. "Not only did he use the funds from the Bright
Landon carried Lauren back into their room. In a few swift moves, he removed her white cotton dress, which had been stained with colors. He picked her up and entered the bathroom with her. He ran a warm bath in the bathtub. Carefully, he lowered her into the tub. He was afraid that he couldn't refrain himself, so he didn't join her. Instead, he sat by the side of the bathtub, rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt, and wiped her body down gently. He realized that Lauren had become thinner recently. She wasn't as plump as she used to be when he fed her all the good food. Her tummy was flat, her prominent clavicle, her sharp chin…Landon pursed his lips. He couldn't stop the pain in his heart.All of a sudden, he started to regret it. If he hadn't taken over this position, he would have been able to accompany Lauren every day. Their days would be boisterous. Wouldn't that be lovely? But, if he hadn't fought for it, Harper Group would have ended up in Preston's hands in the en
All of a sudden, Landon was no longer motivated to go to work. As he kissed Lauren's moist lips, he lifted his hand to tug at his tie. "Don't…" Lauren panted softly. She grabbed his hand and said, "It's already tied. Don't ruin it. Wait until you come home…""Okay. Compensate me when I come back tonight then," Landon whispered in her ear in a sultry voice. Lauren blushed. She nodded shyly. Angelina had prepared breakfast. It was almost time, but she only stayed standing by the door. She knew that it was best that she didn't bother them. She could hear the sound of flirtatious remarks coming from the room. She lifted the corners of her lips into a slight smile. Landon always stuck close to Lauren until the very last moment before he left the house. "Here's a small gift for you, darling." Landon picked Lauren up and placed her on the chair in front of the vanity table. Then, he opened the rectangular jewelry box. "Ah… It's beautiful!" Lauren gasped as she laid her eyes o
Lauren and Angelina arrived at the venue together, but Angelina was stopped by members of the student union and security guards at the entrance."I'm sorry, but you can't enter without a student ID."The school had tightened security due to the previous incident, especially for large events like this one.After being rejected, Angelina looked embarrassed. Normally, she would have fought with anyone who stopped her, but she couldn't do that at school. She didn't want to embarrass Lauren and make her life difficult in school."Angie, I'll be fine," Lauren said, holding Angelina's slightly calloused hand and gently squeezing it. "If you're worried, just wait here for me. If anything happens, you can rush in to protect me, right?"Reluctantly, Angelina agreed. "Alright, Madam Lauren. I'll wait here. If you feel sick, just send me a text."Lauren nodded and followed the crowd into the auditorium.As the event began, the doors were closed.The timid Lauren didn't dare to sit in the f
Upon hearing Lauren's retort, Zoe was filled with rage. She clenched her fists so tightly that her meticulously adorned nails dug into the flesh of her palms.If it weren't for the people around them, she would have slapped Lauren already.Zoe took a deep breath. Smirking maliciously, she leaned close to Lauren's ear, speaking in a low, mocking tone. "You're right. You're not an idiot. You're a psycho."A psycho.She was a psycho.Lauren's mind buzzed loudly, and cold sweat soaked through her pure white cotton dress.At that moment, the piano music on stage began to play.The melodious notes flowed into her ears. But for her, they were like painful melodies, only intensifying her stress."Lauren, you've always wanted to be Landon's wife—to be Mrs. Harper. But do you think you're qualified? You know your illness best. Do you think you can give birth to a child with normal intelligence for Landon?"Zoe hit her sore spot, each word striking at her heart.Lauren lowered her head.
It had been three days since Josh last returned.That day, Clarissa received news that he would be back, so she went to the mall in the afternoon and bought an extremely sexy set of black lace lingerie.Not only that, she also managed to acquire a drug that could make men insatiable.After being toyed with by Josh for two years, her body was covered in scars. In his eyes, she was nothing but a tool for his pleasure, devoid of any attractiveness.So, she had to do something about it.However, if she wanted to enter Josh's study, she would have to make the move to seduce him.Time was running out, but regardless of the risks, she had to succeed in one go.That evening, Josh returned to Schmidt Manor.As soon as he came back, he went straight to his study, not even sparing a glance at Clarissa.After bathing with rose water, Clarissa applied body lotion from head to toe and wrapped herself in a robe. With the "chicken soup" she had prepared in hand, she mustered up the courage to
Jasper's jaw tensed as he felt nervous for both Clarissa and Alyssa. But his hacking skills were at the five-minute level, so he couldn't be of much help. Alyssa had to be the one to do the job.…The sound of water running came from the bathroom.Clarissa kept her eyes fixed on the progress bar on the screen, which had reached 50 percent. Her heart pounded wildly, putting her on tenterhooks.If Josh were to discover that she had tampered with his computer, she would surely be killed by that beast.60 percent… 70 percent… 80 percent...Just as the progress bar reached 90%, it suddenly froze.At the same time, the sound of running water from the bathroom stopped.In that instant, Clarissa's heart raced. Her entire body was drenched in a cold sweat, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.When she heard Josh's footsteps approaching the bathroom door, her heart sank in despair."It's over," she thought.Just before the bathroom door was opened, the progress b
Jameson elegantly raised his wine glass. His eyes were tinged with a hint of laziness. "What activities?""Mr. Cornelius is getting on in years and wants to step down. He's already decided to designate Landon as his successor, appointing him as the president of Harper Group and vice chair of the board."The news has spread throughout Harper Group. Once the board meeting next week concludes, Landon will officially take office.""Is that new? Everyone in the circle knows about it." Jameson sneered."At this critical moment, there's fierce infighting within Harper Group. After Mr. Bill's death, Preston, as Mr. Cornelius's only son, didn't get to inherit the throne. He can only watch the younger generation rise above him. He's probably boiling with anger right now.""What's the use of being angry when he's incompetent? If Preston was capable, he should have gotten his hands on the throne when Landon's father died. He wouldn't have to suffer being surpassed by the younger generation."
"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
Amber stifled a laugh and teased, "Stop talking, Mr. Whitaker. You're going to sound like a broken record if you keep going." …After breakfast and a quick packing session, Axel departed from Heightsnew Villa. Amber spent her day helping the Taylors with various tasks. She assisted Mandy in organizing documents for Lovelace Group's projects, helped Lyla with cooking, and even joined Colene in feeding her horse. With Tatiana's due date approaching, Amber also pitched in for her shower preparations.Amber had always been a diligent person, but today, she seemed particularly intent on keeping herself busy. She was counting down the hours until nightfall. After dinner, the Taylors sat in the living room and chatted casually as they always did. The warm, familial atmosphere filled the space, and Amber joined in, her perceptive nature making her a seamless part of the group.When everyone retired to their rooms, Amber rose to help the helpers clear the table. "Amber." Startled