Panic gripped Dominic, who almost had a heart attack. He could tell that everyone present, including Edward, must have signed the NDAs, as no one told him about the agreement."You were the only one at the meeting who didn't sign an NDA. Besides, only an employee could access the security control room to steal the security footage," Sean explained, displaying the evidence he had gathered while glaring at Dominic.Dominic looked worried and frustrated. "KS Group employs a huge number of employees. There are thousands of employees working in just this building, and many have access to the control room. You're just attempting to pin all the blame on me!"Alyssa smiled in amusement and shook her head. "I wouldn't have easily traced it back to you if you had uploaded the footage through the public WiFi at a train station, airport, or café."Perhaps you're not too familiar with the technicalities of committing such an act because of your age. You decided to upload the footage with your p
The directors stared at each other hesitantly. Finally, one of the eldest directors spoke up with a cautious and polite smile. "We will vote for you, Ms. Alyssa. We shall follow your orders in the future."The rest of the directors immediately agreed with him.The rest of the meeting went on smoothly after Alyssa settled Dominic. After checking off her three items on the agenda, she gracefully sat up in her chair and beamed at the directors. "I appreciate you taking the time to attend the meeting. "Let's work well together for the future of KS Group. I won't take up more of your precious time. That's all for today."Then, she marched toward the door in great strides with Sean following closely behind. Once again, she came to a stop behind Dominic and turned to face him. Slowly bending over, she whispered to him with disdain, "Just look at you. You have nothing to defeat me with."Dominic shook in anger.She cautioned him, "Uncle Dominic, I won't hurt you if you find a nice place
Jasper gently held Alyssa's chin as he kissed her on the lips, smudging her lipstick. He traced her lips with his, as he relished in her loveliness.After reveling in a passionate kiss, they parted right before flames of desire further consumed them. Staring at her flushed cheeks and moist lips, he smiled in satisfaction. "Your lips are lovelier than the roses.""You're such a clingy man. Every time we meet, you will ask for a kiss or more. Can you give me a breather? Gosh!" She slid into his arms and poked him on the chest, her favorite move when she flirted with him.Every time she was in a low mood, she'd poke or caress his chest. The physical touch almost always cheered her up."Well, I want to kiss you and take you. Will you allow me to? Hm?" Jasper whispered affectionately, his lips brushing against her earlobe. Shuddering slightly, she offered an answer in the form of a deep blush on her cheeks.They cuddled on the couch and stared at the flaming roses, savoring each mome
Corey gasped in shock, "Word by word?"Victor barked at him, "Of course! Nonsense!""Uh, Mr. Josh said… marrying that bitch is the dumbest decision you made in your life.""Oh, fuck him!" Victor punched his bed and glowered in resentment. "The dumbest choice I made in life was putting unconditional trust in him, nurturing and promoting him to the role of company president. It was my error in judgment."At the end of the day, Victor acknowledged that he had made unwise decisions as he recalled the events that had happened at the cocktail party. Josh had schemed against him and Lily but kept it a secret for years, which led to his reputation loss and created a crisis for the Schmidt Group. He was suddenly gripped with the murderous urge to face off against Josh in the detention center."Mr. Josh also claimed that Mr. Jameson did not come home to Solana City from Kontina to help you out. Mr. Jameson has always been sharpening his knife and bidding his time to avenge his mother and
Jameson had openly displayed his ambitions. Victor finally saw his true colors.Had he not fallen for Jameson's perfect acting, and had he trusted Josh more, he wouldn't have met with the dilemma. He regretted not keeping Josh as the president, instead oppressing him and unknowingly offering Jameson an opportunity to take power.It didn't matter if Jameson helped the company out of the crisis. Victor knew that he would go against his own interest by negotiating with a sly opponent like Jameson, even if Jameson were his son.Trying to be rational, Victor calmed down and caved in. His tone softened. "Jimmy, I allow Lily to stay with us at the Schmidt Manor, but I can't transfer the stocks to you as you wish."Jameson adjusted his glasses. He quipped, "Well, but didn't Josh transfer his stocks to you as you wish?""Josh is serving concurrent sentences; I'm afraid he'll spend the rest of his life in prison. Since Clarissa has divorced him, I will be the one to inherit his company shar
Bad news spread like wildfire. News of Dominic being kicked out of the board of directors and fired due to misappropriation of company funds spread through the company in no time. It was certainly a cathartic event.Dominic's abuse of power was a known secret within the company for many years. Therefore, everyone was glad to see Alyssa purging individuals like Dominic right after she was appointed the company president.Dominic went home in despair. Upon stepping into the house, he flung his coat at the maid in anger. Taken aback by his action, the maid failed to catch the coat in time. The coat fell onto the floor. However, such an insignificant event triggered Dominic, who went up and kicked the maid, causing her to wince in pain on the floor and struggle to get up.He growled, "Useless thing! Get lost!"At that moment, Renee rushed over with a worried look. "Dad, is it true that you're sacked?"Even Renee, who only cared about shopping and getting beauty enhancements, had heard
Jameson was caught off guard by Remy's direct question. Remy said to him, "Just send me that person's full name, address, and photo. Nothing more." Then, he returned to drinking.Jameson stared at Remy's face with a fake smile. "I don't need you to kill. All you need is to get hold of this person to make things easy for my men. That's it.""Got it. Send me the details." With that, Remy downed the last shot of vodka, rose from the seat with hands in pockets, and marched steadily out of the door.Amazingly, he managed to walk straight even after all the drinking.Jameson notified him, "I've arranged a premium suite for you. You may take a rest upstairs.""Sir has made lodging arrangements for me, and I shall only listen to him." Remy shut the door behind him, leaving Jameson standing alone in the dark.Jameson grabbed his phone and searched for a name. The search results returned a few news articles from many years ago, but the photos were clear.Amber happened to enter the lounge
All Landon wanted was for Lauren to lounge around. He did not expect anything from her, except to wait for him at home. That was the idea of a happy married life he pictured.While staring deeply at Lauren's sleeping face, Landon felt aroused, but he managed to keep his desire under control. He leaned over to plant soft, greedy kisses over her. After caressing her face and professing his love for her a few times, he reluctantly left the bedroom.Downstairs, Angelina and a newly promoted secretary were waiting for him. Now that Angelina had been appointed as Lauren's assistant and bodyguard, Landon needed someone trustworthy by his side. Hence, she recommended her junior, Jordan Diaz, to take her place as Landon's newest secretary."Mr. Landon!" The two of them greeted him at the same time."Angie, guard the house and look after Lauren." With Jordan's help, Landon put on his black coat. He solemnly repeated the daily reminder to Angelina, "Call me if anything happens, even if I'm in
Jonah's gaze burned with a mix of longing, sorrow, and something deeply affectionate. The world swam back into focus as Julien looked at Jonah. Without preamble, he asked, "Are you new? How much do you charge per night?"Light-headed and grinning, Julien reached out a hand, his fingers brushing softly against Jonah's cheek. "You're pretty good-looking," he said, his voice slurred. Then his expression shifted. "Why do you… look so much like someone I hate with every fiber of my being?"Jonah's heart clenched. Even so, he slid his arms around Julien's waist. Trembling, he pulled Julien into his arms. "I'm new here. Could you help me meet my target tonight, Mr. Lovelace?"Julien's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Jonah. Jonah's eyes teared up as he held Julien's waist tightly. "I promise you won't be disappointed," he said, his voice deep. Watching from the shadows below the stage, Evan nearly gagged at Jonah's sultry tone. Was this really the Judas he knew? The man sounded downri
The bar was alive with striking lights and thundering music, and the air was thick with the scent of tobacco and alcohol. The atmosphere was one of moral decay—corrupt, degrading, and vile. "Where's Julien?" Jonah's voice cut through the noise, his tone icy and sharp. When Jonah stepped inside, the eyes of several men turned toward him, their gazes filled with illicit intent."Why, hello there. Are you here alone? Are you feeling lonely?" A sexy man sauntered over, draping himself over Jonah's shoulders. He let his hands linger with a playful squeeze. "If you're bored, I'd be happy to keep you company." Jonah's expression darkened. His hands trembled, veins bulging with barely contained rage. Suddenly, Evan burst through the crowd, his face twisting in alarm at the sight of Jonah surrounded by a swarm of predatory men. Evan yelled, "Don't touch him!" A heavy thump reverberated through the room. Gasps erupted as people scrambled back.The man who had draped himself over
Rafe stated, "But Beckett Group is in the middle of a storm right now. If I insisted on giving your corporation the project, my superiors would investigate me. I wouldn't be able to escape unscathed!""If you're investigated, I'll make sure you can still live a life of luxury—even if you lose your job." Justin's tone darkened. "But if you turn against me, you won't just suffer a few losses. You'll lose everything."Under the dim moonlight, Justin fiddled with his antique tea cup, his gaze narrowing. "You've worked so hard to get to where you are. Are you prepared to lose it all?"After ending the call, Justin turned to Remy, who stood quietly at the side. "Sheryl is still being detained. She can't be bailed out for another two days. I need someone to watch over the research lab. You'll handle that."Remy was taken aback. "I failed my last mission. Aren't you going to punish me?"Justin's smile was cold and insincere. "It wasn't your fault. You were ambushed. If not for that, I tru
Remy pursed his lips, bending down to pick up the fallen poker card. It was the King of Spades—an entry pass to Kings' Club. "My attacker was…" Remy's pupils constricted as he tightened his grip on the card. "It can only be that dear uncle of mine, always claiming to see me as his own son." Justin's lips curled into a sinister smile. "He's trying to get rid of my right-hand man, taking advantage of my internal feud with Jasper. Weakening me is just his first step toward gaining control over me."He's been a fugitive ever since his successful prison break, never returning to Cyrris after receiving his life sentence. His power base remains in Kontina. "I'm the last surviving Dutton. The Dutton Group, as a cover, has declared bankruptcy and severed all ties with the country. "My dear uncle has taken a huge risk just to target me. He sent his men to attack you in Solana City. What a delightful surprise. It seems he truly doesn't trust me, his only remaining family."Remy lowere
The hospital ward grew heavy with silence. Mandy and Neil stared at Alyssa, stunned beyond words. "M-Ms. Alyssa, you knew that man was Mr. Damien?" Neil asked, disbelief etched into his voice. "Yes." Alyssa's reply was quiet, her lips pressed into a thin line. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "We found out when Cyrus took Damien's cigarette butt for a paternity test."Mandy approached Alyssa, her shoulders trembling slightly. "So, you and Cyrus knew… and you both kept it from me?" Mandy said, her voice catching in her throat, tears welling up. Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. "Mandy, I'm sorry. It was my decision. Cyrus had nothing to do with it."Mandy's tears fell freely now, her grief spilling out in raw sobs. "Do you know what it's been like for me all these years, thinking Damien was gone? Winston, Miley, Lyla, and Colene kept telling me to move on. I tried to accept that he was dead, that we'd never find his body. But I never did."Her vo
The hospital ward was bathed in a dim, yellow glow from the bedside lamp. The silence was thick, yet the room held a strange warmth—an unfamiliar comfort that felt oddly familiar to Remy.Pain radiated through his body as he struggled to sit up. His eyes fell on Mandy, who was asleep beside his bed. Her hair was a mess, and her swollen eyes suggested she'd been crying. She was sound asleep. Remy stiffened. His breath quickened as he stared at her fragile figure. Slowly, he leaned forward, his fingers lifting slightly, tempted to reach out.Just as his hand hovered close, Mandy's lashes fluttered. In her sleep, she murmured, "Damien… Damien… I miss you so much…" Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent and unbidden.A pang tugged at Remy's heart. Without thinking, he brushed away her tears with his calloused fingers. The moment his skin touched hers, a jolt shot through him, sharp and electrifying. Pain throbbed at his temples, but beneath it was a warmth he didn't want to let g
Justin's casual question hit Javier like a thunderclap. Shock rippled through him, freezing his expression. His voice trembled with fear as he barked, "What nonsense is that? Are you accusing me of causing Chester's death? I'm your father—how could you think I'd do such a thing?""It's not an accusation. Just the facts," Justin replied coolly, crossing his legs and savoring his tea with unsettling calm. "And I'm not condemning you. In fact, I understand why you did it. I'm facing the same dilemma now."Javier's breathing grew ragged. He had watched Justin grow from a child into the man before him—now a predator, circling with quiet menace."You were meant to be the heir as the eldest son," Justin continued, his voice smooth as silk. "But Grandpa favored Uncle Chester, handing him major projects, grooming him in plain sight. "Uncle Chester's reputation soon eclipsed yours. He was a natural leader, adept at business, with one fatal flaw—he was kind. Too kind. Unlike you."Justin
Nonetheless, night had fallen by the time Justin arrived at Seaview Manor. On his way there, he worked on two things. First, he secured the top legal team to get Sheryl out on bail as quickly as possible. Second, he tried reaching Remy—unsuccessfully. He had never lost contact with Remy before. Justin's face was as dark as the night itself. The moment he stepped inside Seaview Manor, Rory approached with a solemn expression. He gave a slight bow before speaking. "Mr. Justin, what took you so long? Mr. Javier has been waiting.""I was occupied," Justin replied coolly. Then, as if it were an ordinary evening, he allowed a faint smile. "Where's Jasper? Is he back here yet?" A conflicted look came across Rory's face. "Things between you and Mr. Jasper have soured. I doubt he'll want to see you anytime soon—or show up here.""Is that so? How disappointing."Justin's smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze lingered on Rory, sharp and bottomless. "So, he'd rather believe what he se
Jonah scoured every corner of the hotel, desperation clawing at his chest, but Julien was nowhere to be found. "Jonah!" Alyssa called out, breathless as she caught up to him. She grabbed his arm. "Calm down! I'll help you search for Jul!""I can't find him. He's gone," Jonah murmured, sinking to the floor. His tears mixed with sweat, creating dark patches on the ground. "Lyse… I fear… if I can't find Julien this time, I'll lose him forever."The agonizing thought of losing the love of his life pierced him. "No, you won't!" Alyssa gripped his arm tighter, her voice trembling with conviction. "If Jul had given up on you, he wouldn't have come here today. The fact that he showed up means he still cares."Jonah's eyes were bloodshot, filled with a pain too deep to hide. He shook his head slowly. "Julien came back for Jasper. He did it because he's loyal… because he's a good friend. Not because of me.""He does care!" Alyssa insisted. "If he didn't, he would've faced you without fli