Clarissa was so overwhelmed by her emotions that she found herself at a loss for words. "You… have given me a second chance at life.""You're too kind, Ms. Sparks," replied Jasper with a gentle smile. "You are the one who redeemed yourself."Alyssa then asked, "Oh, yes. What did you want to say earlier, Ms. Sparks?""Josh will never get out of prison." Clarissa handed her a USB flash drive, her eyes reddened with emotion. "There is a recording of a phone conversation Josh had with someone, which I secretly recorded that night. "Last week, he slept with a girl on a cruise ship. In a bid of excitement, he injected the girl with drugs, resulting in her death."Afterward, he engaged the person on the phone to dispose of the girl's body. I waited until he was asleep and then checked his phone to record the person's number. "Before disclosing our findings, we can initiate a police investigation. I trust we will soon apprehend the accomplice responsible for disposing of the body."Th
Jameson choked back bitterness. His voice, strained to the point of hoarseness, threatened to give out. With unparalleled seriousness, he uttered, "Do you have any idea how much effort I've poured into this day just to witness justice finally served upon Josh? "Even if you're avenging Jonah, couldn't you have waited until after tonight? Why expose everything at the party?"Alyssa met his accusation with a cold, indifferent stare."My mother... endured immense humiliation. I remained silent for 15 years, all to ensure she received the justice she deserved. I wanted Josh to grovel at her feet and apologize to her!"Jameson's pale lips quivered. "Lyse… I was on the verge of success. Why deny me that chance? Why?""Mr. Schmidt, your mother's situation is heartbreaking, but I won't halt my revenge for you." Alyssa's gaze was glacial. "Perhaps you had a personal motive for keeping that bastard alive—to handle him later and protect the Schmidt Group's interests. "However, I refuse to
Jameson cracked his knuckles as he instructed through clenched teeth, "Head back to the Millennium!"…A storm cloud hung over Jameson's face as he entered the Millennium. Anyone could see his simmering rage."Carl," Jameson barked, his voice laced with ice, "get Amber down here. Now."Carl scurried to obey, his heart hammering in his chest.After more than ten minutes, Amber appeared in the basement, where the incompetent and traitorous were often dealt with. A metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air as the door creaked open."Mr. Schmidt." Amber bowed deeply. Despite her outward composure, her heart was beating wildly. Jameson lounged on a maroon couch in the dim, oppressive light, swirling a glass of crimson wine. He then drank the wine to wet his throat. "Josh has been charged with corruption, bribery, and sexual assault. He was apprehended by the police at the party organized by the Schmidt Group. Are you aware of this?"Amber attempted to mask her fear as she re
It wasn't me… Mr. Schmidt… I wouldn't…" Amber's voice trembled as she struggled to articulate each word. Her eyes held a shaky semblance of innocence as if she were being wrongfully accused.No one understood the consequences of betraying Jameson better than her. She didn't fear death itself. On the contrary, she dreaded dying for no good reason at all. Thus, she fought to defend herself. "Mr. Schmidt, what would I gain from betraying you? Only Mr. Moses and I are privy to this information. Wouldn't you discover the truth swiftly if I had acted against you? Why would I be foolish enough to wish for my own demise?"Besides, I'm practically under constant surveillance here. How could I have possibly contacted Ms. Alyssa or Mr. Beckett? How could I betray you?"Her words chipped away at Jameson's rage. She'd hit the right point. Seeing a chance to salvage the situation, Amber continued, "Mr. Schmidt, you gave me this life. Without you, I have nothing. In the past, I've even tried t
Amber stared fixedly at Axel, having no choice but to force a polite smile under the glare of countless surveillance cameras. But her stiff expression failed to convince both herself and Axel.Meanwhile, Jameson sat in the security room, watching Amber and Axel's every move. There were high-end cameras and microphones installed in the room that could even pick up the sounds of their breathing."I didn't expect to see you here, Ms. Altman." Axel cocked an eyebrow. "I've truly missed you since we last met. I couldn't stop thinking about when we'd meet again. Who knew that would be tonight?""I never expected to meet you here too, Mr. Whitaker." Amber smiled stiffly.Amber knew Axel only said those things because they were under surveillance. But her heart still nervously trembled when Axel said he'd missed her.Since both Amber and Axel were very experienced in such situations, Jameson didn't notice anything off about them whatsoever."It seems like we are fated to meet." Axel's ey
There was a silent rule in The Millenium, which was that no one else could bring Amber out of the place besides Jameson himself. Yet Axel was breaking that rule right now!He was the only man who was bold enough to do so anyway.Amber was terrified at first. But she then saw how determined and calm Axel was. Thus, all her worry disappeared, leaving her to close her eyes and lean against his chest.Amber just wanted to leave with Axel right now, no matter where she went."Mr. J-Jameson, Axel Whitaker has taken Ms. Altman away!" Carl exclaimed, panicked. Though Carl knew that Jameson had only ever treated Amber as a lowly substitute for Alyssa Taylor for all the years and even humiliated Amber again and again, no one was allowed to take Amber away regardless.Axel was basically provoking Jameson beyond his limit!"Go after them with the men!" Jameson ordered, panting angrily. "Bring Amber back no matter what it takes!"…Axel's Aston Martin sped through the highway while his ha
Axel began, "I came to see you because I was worried something might happen to you.""What could possibly happen to me? I'll be fine, so don't do this again." Amber didn't dare look up to meet Axel's eyes. She was trembling slightly as goosebumps erupted on her skin. "Please seek out trouble elsewhere from now on, Mr. Whitaker. "I hope I never see you at The Millenium again. Or should I say… I hope to never see you again after tonight."Axel's eyes darkened. "You can't really stop me."Amber gnawed on her lip. She knew Axel was intelligent enough to understand her implied meaning. Why was he still so stubborn then?These Taylors were too troublesome!Axel slowly observed Amber's expression with unreadable eyes. Though Amber was known to be deadly and beautiful, she was still behaving like a delicate, pitiful little bunny before him. Even though she looked very similar to Alyssa, Axel still saw a different, startling beauty from her every time they met.No wonder Jameson would s
"The Millennium is the only place I've learned how to live in. Besides, it's the most suitable place for someone like me. I don't need any other options," Amber said.She needed to distance herself from Axel before it was too late."What if I wanted to take you with me? Would you come with me if I could bring you somewhere Jameson or his friends could never find you?" Axel gazed seriously at Amber."No," Amber said without hesitation, a pitiful smile on her face. "I live and die as Mr. Jameson's puppet."Axel slowly straightened up, the desire in his eyes fading away. He unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt and said, "I understand now. In that case, let's just get on with things.""What… things?" Amber hadn't yet caught up with Axel's pace."Well, we're alone in a hotel room late at night. What things do you think we could do? Play cards?" Axel's gaze was cold, with no trace of tenderness in them anymore. "Do you want to shower first or should I? Or should we shower together?"Am
"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