Jasper and Alyssa looked at one another in shock. Alyssa probed, "What did that man look like? Do you still remember his face?" "Of course I do." Angelina frowned. "He's… very good-looking." Jasper and Alyssa were speechless. They never expected Angelina to utter those words. "I'm not kidding. He's genuinely quite good-looking. His face is the type that leaves a lasting impression with just one glance.""Were there any other attributes he had?" Alyssa pressed on as she was unsatisfied with the answer. "He looked a bit familiar. I keep getting the nagging feeling that I've seen him somewhere…"Angelina knocked on her head with her fist, attempting to jog her memory. Immediately, Alyssa rushed forward and grabbed Angelina by her wrist. She said to her soothingly, "It's alright. It's okay. It's alright if you can't recall the details. Don't hurt yourself." Angelina locked eyes with Alyssa. Suddenly, her face lit up. "I remember now. He looked… somewhat like Mr. Cyrus!"
Betty covered her mouth, utterly shaken. Despite being promiscuous herself, she would at least make sure to maintain her modesty in public. Meanwhile, Zoe displayed no shame whatsoever. Not only was she openly enjoying herself with a man before her, but the sheer ecstasy on her face bordered on smugness! How could a bitch like Zoe even dare to entertain thoughts of marrying Jasper and becoming the wife of Beckett Group's president? She was far from qualified! Freddy was someone from a notable family. As such, he retained a sense of decorum despite his burning lust. The realization that they were being observed dampened his ardor. "Zoe, I can't…"Zoe harrumphed. "Useless piece of shit!" In disdain, Zoe shoved Freddy into the water. She emerged from the water completely naked and retrieved a towel from a nearby chair. Then, she wrapped it around herself, covering only the essential parts, leaving little to the imagination. Freddy was panicking in the water. As Zoe's ultimate
Amidst her mental distress, Lauren had also been injected with a high dose of sedative. Hence, she still hadn't stirred when morning came. Meanwhile, Landon stood resolutely in the freezing courtyard like a lone sentinel. His entire body had gone numb from the freezing cold. Though his face had paled considerably, he dared not budge. He was close to his limit, yet the hope of Lauren seeing him upon waking kept him rooted to the spot.Why this cruel twist of fate? Once inseparable, they were now denied even a glimpse of each other. Lost in thought, Landon was startled by the sound of approaching footsteps—hurried yet firm. "I'll take you home, Landon," Jasper's voice was low and strained, filled with frustration and deep concern for his friend. "You're being absurd! There's no point in you torturing yourself like this!" Landon groaned as he lowered his frigid gaze. His face was so stiff he could barely form an expression. "You once waited outside Heightsnew Villa to beg for
"Got it," Jasper muttered, ending the call. His expression was so grim it seemed like a storm cloud loomed over him. "This timing is suspicious! Betty sneaks out to meet Zoe in the middle of the night? It practically screams conspiracy. They're clearly in cahoots over the leaked report." Landon's eyes widened with anger. He clenched his fists, slamming them onto the bed with such force it felt like he might break it."I fear your sister, Zoe, has allied with Preston in secret. She may have also informed Mr. Harper Senior privately. Otherwise, their plan wouldn't have gone so smoothly. They've likely been planning this for some time." A memory flickered in Landon's mind. It was the night he delivered the engagement invitation to Cornelius and bumped into Zoe bringing him chicken soup. She had never been so caring before. In hindsight, her sudden kindness was obviously a calculated move. "She's not my sister!" Landon repeated, his eyes ablaze with hatred. With each repetition, he
Jasper squeezed Alyssa's hand, his gaze holding a somber weight. "There's something I need to discuss with you." …In the room, Lauren clung tightly to Angelina, her warm tears soaking Angelina's black suit. "Look, Madam Lauren. I'm right here with you. I'm completely fine," Angelina reassured her, returning the embrace. Though her voice was steady, tears welled in her eyes. "Those people only wanted to scare you. You're alright now. It's all over… "Such a thing won't happen again. Nothing but happiness awaits you and Mr. Landon." "Landon and I… do we even have a future?" Lauren's voice was barely a whisper. Angelina's chest clenched at that question. She promptly answered, "Don't think like that, Madam Lauren. What happened wasn't as big a deal as it seems. Mr. Landon, Mr. Jasper, and Ms. Alyssa will handle everything. Things will return to normal!" "Angie… I'm not stupid. I know why this happened. It's because of the Harpers. They don't want us together." Lauren's lashes
Back in their room, Jasper confided in Alyssa about Zoe and Betty. He could have kept it secret, but respecting Alyssa's wishes for transparency, he opted for honesty. Keeping secrets would land him in trouble, and the thought of facing Alyssa's wrath was enough to deter him.After all, appeasing an angry Alyssa wouldn't be an easy feat. She might not even let him touch her for days or even weeks, and no words could describe this sort of misery. Alyssa listened intently, her eyes narrowing dangerously. The look in her eyes was so intense that it would make anyone's heart race. "Lauren has endured so much unfair treatment, and it's all because of her sister, Betty." In the next second, Alyssa snatched up her teacup in a fit of anger and flung it across the room, shattering it into pieces. Jasper's chest tightened. He took Alyssa's hand and examined it carefully. He then cradled it gently between his palms and comforted her. "Getting so worked up like this isn't good for your
The more one knew their enemy, the higher their chances of victory. Just like Alyssa predicted Jameson's rash move against David, she also knew Betty would be brimming with pride right now.While the rest of the Becketts reeled from Lauren's ordeal, Betty reveled in worldly pleasures. She barhopped and indulged in excessive drinking. Fueled by alcohol, she even gossiped about her autistic sister with her unsavory friends. She exploited her family's pain for entertainment, releasing years of pent-up hatred.Since Sophia's death, Betty had kept a low profile. She didn't dare to make any rash moves either. However, after joining forces with Zoe, a realization dawned on her—even without Sophia, she could still hold her own against those people. She could manipulate them as she pleased. That night, chaos reigned in the private room. Betty was engaged in frenzied dancing with a charming male model, egged on by the surrounding crowd. Intoxicated by alcohol, she shamelessly struck vari
Landon spent a single, sleepless night at the hospital. He worked tirelessly, making phone calls to arrange a press conference and contacting renowned psychiatrists and psychologists worldwide, all to secure the best treatment for Lauren.Cornelius, however, seemed determined to overwhelm Landon. He disregarded Landon's well-being and dumped nearly all the company's affairs on him. Jordan could only watch helplessly, on the verge of tears.The next morning, while receiving an IV drip, Landon received a call from Angelina. Upon hearing that Lauren was more stable, he yanked the needle out immediately. Then, he got up and headed out the door as he threw on his black coat. "Jordan, get the car!" "Mr. Landon, waiting for the medication to finish wouldn't delay your visit!" Jordan exclaimed. Landon's suffering was evident. He'd lost a significant amount of weight in just two or three days, and it pained Jordan to see him like that."I'll be fine," Landon replied tersely, already st
Alyssa followed Jasper into the study. The door closed behind her with a soft click. She didn't move to switch on the lights or sit down. Instead, she stood quietly in the dim room.They faced each other, eyes locked. In the darkness, their gazes seemed brighter, charged with emotions that neither could put into words. Whatever stirred within them was tangled and silent—kept at bay by something unspoken, as if a wall had formed between heart and mouth. After a pause, Alyssa offered a faint smile. Her voice was soft, almost courteous. "Go ahead, Mr. Beckett. I won't be staying long tonight—I've made other arrangements."It was clear she didn't want to be alone in a room with him.Jasper's chest tightened, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion he couldn't define. His voice was rough when he finally spoke. "You didn't vote against the motion at today's board meeting. I wanted to know… are we still on the same side?"Alyssa's gaze lowered, her voice steady and calm. "You didn't object
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