"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
After coming out from Harper Corporation, Preston made a call to Zoe the moment he got into his car. "You are indeed a genius, Zoe! How did you come up with such a well-crafted plan? I'm sorry that I raised my voice at you previously." "I've told you that I won't disappoint you, Uncle Preston. Just listen to me next time and you'll have good days ahead of you," Zoe boasted light-heartedly. That mastermind was amazing. Even if she had three heads, she wouldn't have been able to come up with a detailed and evil scheme like this. "Oh, right. There's something that I have to tell you." Preston grinned slyly. "It's about what you said last time. You said that if we released the video of Lauren having a meltdown, we wouldn't have to get our hands dirty." "Oh? Are you telling me that Grandpa intends to separate the lovebirds himself?" This time, Zoe was quick off the mark. "You're smart." In his luxury car, Preston crossed his legs relaxedly. He sipped on the tea that his secretar
A voice, raspy and weak, sliced through the air behind Landon and Jordan. They both turned around immediately. To their surprise, they saw Angelina on crutches a distance away from them. She was limping toward them with much difficulty. Landon's pupils constricted. "Ms. Angie! What happened to you?" Jordan's face ran pale in fright. He rushed forward to support her. Angelina tried her best to bear with the pain. She shook her head slightly. "I'm fine…""What do you mean you're fine? Your leg is badly injured. How can you bandage it up so simply? What if your wound gets infected? You might become handicapped!" Jordan's heart ached for her. He was on the brink of tears. When they were young, Jordan and Angelina met at training camp. No explanation was needed for how close they were. "That's not important. The most important thing is that Madam Lauren… Madam…" Angelina felt so terrible that she couldn't string her sentences together. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stare
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