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
Preston looked like he was trying to conceal his ill intentions. Landon stared at him through his dark and ferocious eyes. That stare was full of threat indeed! In an instant, Preston felt like he was being choked. His chest tightened.However, on second thought, he figured that he didn't have to fear Landon. He was his uncle and Cornelius' only son. All he wanted was to fight Landon to death, no matter the cost. Cornelius stayed silent for a moment. Then, he said in a low voice, "Preston, all these while, Landon's reputation in the outside world and his business capabilities are pristine. In other words, he is the best candidate to be Harper Group's president. "You have to give us a reason why you're stepping out to oppose this." Preston puffed up his chest and lifted his head high. He shot a quick side glance at Landon's frigid face before turning to Cornelius. "Dad." "We are at a work meeting right now," Cornelius reminded. One thing that Cornelius always disliked about
There was no way that they were going to miss out on such tantalizing news. So, everyone lifted their bottoms off the seat and reached out for the documents on the table. Cornelius alone remained seated, a statue amidst the flurry of activity. He displayed neither emotion nor took any action. The reason for that was that he had seen the diagnosis report countless times in private, all thanks to Zoe."If any one of you dares to move even an inch…" Landon's roar shook the entire meeting room. His bloodshot eyes flared, a ferocious glint reflecting the raw anger simmering beneath the surface.These people were not just the corporation's board of directors. They were also his elders. After being shouted at, each of them lowered themselves onto their seats. They no longer dared to reach for the documents on the table. "What is it, Landon? Are you trying to avoid facing reality? Or are you afraid to accept reality?" Preston sneered slyly. He mocked him as best as he could. "Deep do
Preston coughed. "I… I'm fine!" The handkerchief that he was using to cover his nose had become bloody. It was obvious how ruthless Landon had been. The meeting resumed, albeit in an awkward situation. Just then, Cornelius picked up the documents on the table and started flipping through them casually. Under Landon's imperiousness, Cornelius was the only one who dared to make a move. "Is this a genuine report, Preston?" Cornelius asked with a look of disbelief on his face. Preston roared, his voice thick with indignation, "If it's not real, then I'll grovel at Landon's feet myself! It has the accredited testing organization's stamp, for crying out loud! Get it verified if you don't believe me!"Landon's scowl deepened into a thundercloud. His eyes flicked to Cornelius, skepticism etched on his face. Cornelius, in Landon's experience, wouldn't be this placid if he had just learned about this. Furthermore, this psychological analysis report was regarded as classified inform
Within Solana City, Harper Group stood as an economic giant, second only to the domineering Beckett Group.The skyscraper was tens of stories high and had more than a thousand rooms. Landon thought about how Lauren was being secretly locked in one of the rooms. He couldn't imagine the kind of fear and suffering that she was going through. A tremor seized Landon's hands, all ten fingers vibrating uncontrollably. A white-hot ache lanced through his entire body, twisting and searing its way to his heart, threatening to rip it from his chest.Preston was not going to reveal Lauren's location to him. He wanted to hide his most cherished treasure from him so that he could feel the pain in his heart. He wanted to aggravate and infuriate him. But what he really couldn't believe was…Angelina was skilled. It wouldn't be a problem for her to go against ten or even 20 other people on her own. Moreover, she had a gun on her. She wouldn't hesitate to kill Preston's men on the spot at any cruci
Lauren's lips were pale and her eyes were red and swollen. With much difficulty, she opened her mouth to speak and only managed to make a sound after a while. "Landon… What took you so long? What took you so long… So long…"Every single time she questioned him in that weak voice of hers, Landon felt like he was being shot in the heart. He was consumed by regret and suffering. He tried to answer her. But he was unable to get a single word out. "Something bad happened to Angie. Angie… Will she die?" Lauren thought about the image that she saw on the screen. In an instant, her eyes widened in fear and her entire body started convulsing in Landon's arms. Landon was scared out of his wits. Even every breath pained him. He answered, "No… Angelina will be fine. I'll take you to the hospital immediately, Lauren!" …Simultaneously, the board meeting was dismissed after such a big ruckus. Only Cornelius and Preston were left in the meeting room. "See, Dad? That lady from the Beck
In the evening, Xavier drove Jasper to meet with Newton. Along the way, news broke out that Sheryl had been bailed out. Xavier slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Why is it so hard to get rid of that woman?" "She is Justin's right hand," Jasper said, eyes shut as he leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "You could even say she knows more about his secrets than anyone. As long as she's useful, Justin won't discard her so easily. This is how he operates."Xavier shook his head, teeth gritted. "Where the hell did she even come from? When you had me investigate her, I found nothing. Her background was spotless. "What's in her past that Justin would go so far to keep it hidden? A man like him can have any woman he wants, yet he clings to her—some pretty-faced idiot who only seems to make things harder for him."Jasper's gaze turned glacial. Xavier's casual remark struck him.He was right. Justin wasn't short on capable subordinates. So why Sheryl?Was Sh
This time, the injection did not bring the excruciating pain that once made Amber wish for death. Her chapped lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed deeply into Remy's eyes. He, too, looked at her, his expression unreadable yet intense. Between them, no words were needed."Damien… Thank you…" Though her voice was barely audible, the weight of her words sank deep into Remy's heart. For once, he did not object to being called Damien.The truth was, ever since Amber had been taken, an unbearable pressure had settled over him, making each breath feel like a punishment—every day since had been plagued by self-reproach and regret.If he hadn't stopped her that night and let her go sooner, could she have avoided Sheryl? Could she have been spared the torture and humiliation?"You should know that those who enter this place never leave. Most don't even make it out alive."Remy's gaze was unwavering. Taking advantage of the surveillance blind spot, he placed his
"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,