Jasper patted the back of Landon's hand to calm him down. The veins were bulging from the back of his hand. "I know that you have been investigating Bill's cause of death all these years. Moreover, you've always had your suspicions about Preston, who has the strongest motive. It's just that you haven't found any evidence. "Sylvia is now bringing up divorce with Preston out of the blue. She even drafted this divorce agreement with such exorbitant demands. I'm certain that she has something on Preston—something that is fatally threatening to him. "Even if it's unrelated to Bill's death, it has to be something that will cause him to suffer the consequences of his own actions and spend the rest of his life in prison." "It must have been Preston! Who else could it have been?" Landon was reminded of Bill's death once again. An immense pain filled his heart, and his eyes became bloodshot. "Back then, both he and my father went to Southsmire for an inspection. The helicopter that they we
In actual fact, Jasper had told Alyssa that he would go home earlier that night so that he could whip up some of his new dishes for her to try. However, Landon was the one who suggested for him to stay. It was also a time when he was in need of company. Jasper just couldn't turn him down. …Jasper and Landon arrived at the restaurant they frequented. Delicious-looking dishes were served up to their table in the private room. Yet, it was obvious that Landon didn't have much appetite. He hadn't touched his cutleries at all. All he did was down glasses of wine one after another. "You have to watch your gastritis. You should stop drinking if you can't take alcohol anymore." Jasper covered the top of Landon's glass with his palm. "You are the only one left in this world who still cares for me." Landon leaned back and smiled awkwardly. In an anxious tone, Jasper responded, "Are you saying that not being together means that she doesn't care about you anymore? You're hurting those who ca
"Lyse has helped you chase Freddy out of the picture. But there's still Cyrus, who is in love with Lauren. Even if Cyrus isn't in the picture, there will be other men. What are you going to do if Lauren insists that she doesn't want to be with you? Are you going to cut off all her potential marriages? "Are you going to forbid her from interacting with other men and getting married? Are you going to make her hold onto those illusory memories she had with you?" Landon stood there with a blank look in his eyes. His heart was being crushed. He felt like he could almost cough up blood. "You have to understand where the problem lies between you and Lauren." Jasper stood up slowly. His eyes were bright. "What you need to do isn't to get her back and keep her shackled by your side again and again. You shouldn't treat her like your possession. What you have to do is to change yourself for her sake. Be like a warm ray of sunlight that shines upon her. "You don't have to be together in
The frown on Cyrus' forehead became deeper. At the same time, his gaze got colder and colder. Cyrus asked, "In other words, you're asking me to back out?" Landon's throat was dry. He was about to answer when Cyrus continued, "Since the time I found out that you were both in love, I positioned myself as a bystander. I was afraid that you'd overthink things, so I even tried to avoid causing trouble. As much as I liked Lauren, I didn't dare to meet with her. "The chance has always been in your hands, Landon. I don't care if you both parted ways because of yourself or because of your family. Why can't you just give me a chance?" Cyrus' question was extremely critical, and it hit Landon like a ton of bricks. He gaped in shock. "You're both not in a relationship anymore. It's completely fine with me as I am pursuing her in a normal way. If you still have feelings for her, you can go ahead and profess to her. We can fight for her fair and square. Feel free to do your best to win her
Sylvia wasn't asking for a divorce. It was more like she had declared war against Preston. Preston was a money-grubber. His employees thought that he would hit the roof and go on a rampage. To their surprise, he simply gave a cold reply. "Got it," he said before leaving everyone and heading upstairs. This level of calmness was unusual. This peculiar response made them shudder and sent chills down their spine. Preston had just got into his empty room when he received a call from Sylvia. "Mr. Preston, you've been discharged from the hospital, and you're about to emigrate overseas to enjoy your later years. Isn't it about time to put the pedal to the metal and get the divorce settled?" Sylvia spoke with sarcasm. Every word of hers was choking him. "There's no meaning in dragging it on. The longer you put it off, the more likely I am to blurt something out of my mouth. If I ended up spewing some nonsense, wouldn't that just add to your predicament?" Preston picked up a fruit knife f
"In fact, I have long known that Landon inherited Bill's fine genes. He's fearless yet clear-headed. Moreover, he became good friends with Jasper, who is an outstanding elite in the business world. His future will only get brighter."I was the one who was too harsh in his upbringing. I always made use of Preston to put pressure on him. Not only that, I kept splitting hairs just to prevent his marriage with Ms. Lauren from happening. That was how everything spiraled out of control. "If I had known that it would come to this, I should have handed the power to Landon and retired long ago. He has always been my ideal successor! It's all my fault. As I aged, my suspicions grew, and so did my hesitation. The decisiveness that I had when I was young is nowhere in sight now…"Caspian consoled him immediately. "Please don't say that. Without your guidance all these years, how could Mr. Landon have lived such a smooth life? Your strict standards toward Mr. Landon were just your way of training
It was a dark and windy night. The moon was casting a dim and cold glow on everything beneath it. As agreed, Cornelius arrived at the study on the second floor of Primrose Manor. Preston was already waiting there, as expected. His lonely shadow on the floor was like a ghostly figure that had returned from hell to seek revenge. "Dad, I am your son, after all. I really never thought that you'd be so cruel toward me." Preston sat languidly on the couch. He grinned sinisterly. "I have always been respectful toward you. I have toiled hard for the corporation too. Yet, you're kicking me out because I have become handicapped? Aren't you being too heartless?" Cornelius suddenly sensed that something was wrong. He turned around to open the door but found that he couldn't pull it open!"Stop wasting your energy. Without my permission, you're not taking a single step out of Primrose Manor." Preston put a cigarette between his lips. However, he remembered that he no longer had a hand to light
Preston kicked Cornelius to the ground. Then, he got down on one knee, lifted his foot, and stepped on Cornelius' bleeding wound. Cornelius howled in extreme pain. "I'm not afraid to be frank with you too. It's about Bill's aircraft accident. I was the one who planned it all." "Why, you… You…!" Cornelius widened his eyes in disbelief. He stared straight at Preston's sinister face. However, he was in so much pain that he couldn't bring himself to say a word. "That year, I hired someone to destroy the helicopter's main gearbox in advance. That caused the aircraft to plunge into the sea. I did have a chance to save Bill. But I chose to leave him to die. "Poor Bill… Even as he died, he wouldn't have thought that it was his own younger brother who caused his death! Did you know? He watched as I swam up to the surface of the sea. His gaze was even filled with relief. There was not a hint of hatred in his eyes at all."Such a perfect and good-hearted man should just be reunited with God.
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