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
Angelina glared at the door with a threatening gleam in her eyes. She raised her arm, pointing her gun at the man who barged into the villa.Right as she was about to pull the trigger, the intruder swiftly kicked her weapon away. The pain in her hand caused her to sweat over the forehead.Before she had a chance to breathe, she snatched a fruit knife from the coffee table and aimed it at his chest. The two engaged in a hair-raising battle.Angelina was trained in Close Quarters Combat, a technique learned by assassins, from a young age. However, she gradually found herself weakening after ten rounds of fighting with the devilish intruder, who was a killing machine.She narrowly missed a few of his fatal attacks, nearly getting her throat slit."Ouch—" Soon, the intruder figured out the flaw in her technique and attacked her accordingly. He pinned her arm, grabbed the knife from her, and kicked her hard on the back.Angelina limply collapsed onto the floor after the attack. As if
Lauren's phone was confiscated, and she was asked to get into a car. Drenched in cold sweat, her petite frame trembled as she stood beside Remy, desperately clutching her teddy bear.In the face of unknown danger, she did not cry or make a fuss. Neither did she beg Remy to spare her. Instead, she stood there like a lovely, vulnerable doll open to abuse, which only evoked pity.Before leaving the villa, Remy stole two more apples. This time, he munched on one of them while handing Lauren the other.He asked, "Do you want one?"She slowly raised her head. Her cheeks and lips were pallid. Strands of her hair clung onto her cheek from all the sweating. She replied in a soft voice, "Did the Harper Group… make you pick me up?"He silently withdrew the apple he had offered her."Are you going to kill me?" she questioned.To that, he replied sinisterly, "Slash slash.""Don't give Angie trouble if I'm your target." Lauren felt more determined and brave at the thought of saving Angelina.
"Teddy bear… My teddy bear…"In the suffocating darkness, Lauren had her back firmly against the ice-cold wall. She curled up into a ball and was shivering all over. Remy had taken her teddy bear away from her. It was like her soul had been broken and all her energy was sucked away from her. Her mind was blank. Cold sweat dripped down the side of her cheeks like raindrops."Landon… Where are you… Please save me…"Suddenly, all the lights in the room lit up. A beam of cold, white light shone on Lauren's face. The harsh light made her feel like she was being interrogated. Her mental state, which was already on the brink of falling apart, was being triggered once again. "Landon… I'm scared… Landon…" Lauren shut her eyes. Even so, tears continued to flow from the slits of her eyes. She couldn't recall anything. Even every loving moment that she spent with Landon in the past was gradually drifting away from her mind. The memories became distorted, and they drifted further and
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
Axel and Amber had only spent half a month together before the former was called back to report for work. The night before his departure, they spent hours lost in each other, their passion unrelenting. Again and again, they exchanged kisses, their love pouring forth in an endless tide."Amber, three months… Just give me three more months." When their fervor finally waned, Axel held Amber close in his arms. They rested against the headboard, leaning into one another, too exhausted to move yet unwilling to let sleep claim them."Once I finish all the missions I've taken on, I'll hand in my resignation. After that, I'll spend all my time with you," Axel murmured, his voice steady with resolve. "We'll go wherever you want. If you want fun, I'll have fun with you. If you want chaos, I'll spend my life going crazy with you."Axel wasn't one for flowery words. He simply spoke from the heart. Right now, his heart only wanted Amber—forever.Amber nestled closer, her soft smile masking t