Liana felt indignant when she heard Jasper say the word "forced."That was the first time Liana took the initiative to kiss him first. How could he see it as being forced?"But Jasper, I'm your fiancée! How could you? How could you say that of me?" Liana's eyes reddened with tears."You knew from the start that I never liked women who made the first move, nor can I tolerate intimate acts." Jasper's tone was icy.Liana muttered, "I know … I've always known …" Liana knew that due to his upbringing and childhood trauma, he always had a hard time being intimate with the opposite sex. Being able to communicate his emotions was already a big improvement for him.He was such a fine man. If it hadn't been Alyssa who took him away from her, it would have been some other woman.Jasper's hand curled into a fist, recalling Alice's cold gaze from afar. "You say you've always known, but you seem to have wilfully forgotten about it since we started dating again." What was this emotion he wa
Alyssa stood in the empty guest room, and no sound was heard. She fumbled for the light switch, calling, "Jonah! Jonah, are you there?"A low voice came from the bedroom, too low for her to hear.She quickly went into the bedroom, calling, "Jonah? Are you okay?!""Al-Alyssa, stay away!" Jonah yelled, his breath coming in harsh pants."What's wrong, Jonah? You're scaring me!" Alyssa went and opened the bedroom door.It was dark inside, but she could still see Jonah leaning against the foot of the bed. He looked like he had just taken a dive in the lake. He was soaked with moisture.He had taken off his suit, leaving only his white dress shirt sticking against his skin, the buttons open to reveal his flushed red skin."Jonah—""I've been … I've been drugged." Jonah closed his eyes, trying to stay conscious. "I tried a cold bath, but it … it didn't work. The drug's too strong!""How could this happen?" Alyssa cried, angry and panicked at the same time.She was masterfully skille
Newton's suggestion had Javier's and Sophia's faces falling flat on the table. Betty, on the other hand, nearly spat out her drink."Don't joke about these things, Grandpa!" Jasper said sternly.Winston was just as stunned as everyone else."You have three daughters, if I remember correctly?" Newton asked, to which Winston nodded."Yes, three. I have a total of nine children. They're enough for me for a lifetime now.""Ah, and are those three married yet?" Winston replied awkwardly, "My sixth child, Miley, has already married. She's currently overseas. My youngest, Tatiana, is still in school. I don't want her to marry just yet. Let her enjoy her youth and whatnot.""What about your third girl, the one you dote on? What was her name again? Al-something?"Winston's gaze turned gentle at the thought of his favorite daughter. "That's my eighth child, Alyssa."Jasper felt something like thunder hit him. His grip on his wineglass nearly slipped."Right! Alyssa! I remember seeing
Newton grew worried upon hearing Liana's words. "Why? What has happened to Alice?"Even Jasper's heart skipped anxiously.Sophia urged, "Just tell us, Lia. No one else is listening besides us.""Um … When I was taking a stroll earlier, I saw Alice and Mr. Taylor enter the same room. It looked like Mr. Taylor had too much to drink. Maybe Alice had gone to look after him?" Liana said innocently. She added, "I was worried at first, but since the two are officially dating, it's not an issue for them to stay alone together, right?"Jasper's hands balled into fists while Winston stood up from his seat. "Who is this woman you speak of?""Uh …" Liana said nervously, glancing at Jasper for salvation. Jasper felt all the blood rush to his head. Under everyone's shocked gazes, he turned and stormed off the venue. Meanwhile, Liana smiled to herself, gleeful that her plan was working. Alice's reputation would be kicked to the dust for good this time, and Jasper would finally see what a
But Jasper wasn't giving up that easily. He grabbed hold of her arm, stopping her from taking another step. His eyes were nearly bloodshot by now. "Did he touch you, Alice? Answer me!""Someone drugged Jonah!" Alyssa growled out, glaring at him."What?" Jasper gaped in shock."I managed to suppress the effects, but I can't do much else to deal with this fucked up cocktail of drugs, so I'm getting him to the hospital right now!" Alyssa flung Jasper's hand away, yelling, "I don't have time to deal with this nonsense right now, Jasper Beckett, but mark my words. If something happens to Jonah because of this, I'll make sure you and your family pay!"Her words were like blades that lodged themselves in Jasper's heart. It felt like someone had carved a hole into his very being. His cheeks were warm and flushed as if she had just slapped him in the face.Jasper never expected Alyssa to be so hostile toward him all for another man, nor had he ever seen such a ferocious, determined gaze.
Alyssa's voice was unbelievably soft. Still, it didn't fail to strike everyone present like a lightning bolt to the head.Newton's and Javier's jaws both fell to the ground. Liana felt a chill surge through her spine, spreading through her limbs. Her face had turned pale white, alongside Betty's and Sophia's.Who would have thought that Jasper's unwanted bride, whom everyone had treated like a lowly maid, was the daughter of Belbanks' most powerful family?Betty nudged her mother weakly. "Mom … Mom, is this real? Is this bitch—""Shut up!" Sophia screeched, pushing her daughter's hand away.Jasper was frozen in place, every emotion under the sun filling his chest up like a balloon. Confusion, shock, and awe flashed through his being every other second. It felt like he might drown under the weight of everything.How could his wife of three years, who had sacrificed herself taking care of his grandfather and tended to everything, be Winston Taylor's most beloved daughter, Alyssa
Newton's face was bone white as he quivered just the slightest. "What is this, Alice? What is going on?"He found it hard to change the way he addressed her."How is this possible?" Javier's ego couldn't handle the shame such news would bring if it were leaked to the public, nor could he stomach these claims. Javier said, "We have the state's best security here. They would have found the culprit by now! Everyone on the guestlist tonight are close friends and family. No one would dare to do this! There must be some misunderstanding. Maybe Jonah got food poisoning, or—""You can choose not to believe me, but the truth will come out eventually. Our doctors are very efficient at what they do, so the results should come out very soon," Alyssa said firmly, her gaze a cold, gleaming blade. She continued, "You said it yourself—you have the best security guarding this house tonight, with only family and friends attending the celebration. That means the culprit is most likely among you."
Lauren was sleeping in Landon's arms, her hand gripping his shirt collar as her eyelashes fluttered lightly. She looked like some angel from heaven.Landon glanced at her briefly but quickly looked away. He had years of experience with this, so he could easily shift his focus elsewhere. When he looked back at Betty, his tone had grown sharp and angry. "You'll be missing out if you leave now, Ms. Betty.""I … I wanted to go to the washroom …" Betty stuttered, heart pounding in her chest."You can go after."Landon walked past Betty, heading for Jasper and Alice.Betty's jealousy spiked when she noticed the red love bites on Landon's neck. Something exploded in her brain and started buzzing nonstop. If Landon hadn't drank the drugged wine, then—Betty's heart plummeted at the realization that Lauren had likely drunk it.Did they do anything? Did they sleep together?"Fuck! Damn you, Lauren Beckett!" Betty screamed internally."Lauren!" Alyssa and Jasper cried at the same tim
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,
Jasper's arrival plunged the conference room into an uneasy silence, and heavy tension settled over the space. Justin looked up, his expression a frozen mask. A palpable chill emanated from him. Javier's eyes widened in surprise. "Jasper? What are you doing here?" "Even though I'm no longer the president of Beckett Group, I remain a shareholder and board member. It's only natural for me to be here," Jasper replied smoothly as he strolled to his seat. As he passed behind Justin, he abruptly stopped. Without a moment's notice, he struck the back of Justin's chair. The sudden impact made Justin flinch. "Am I right, Justin?" Justin's expression darkened. Forcing a smile, he replied, "As a board member, you have the right to attend, even if you're no longer involved in operations. There's no issue.""If that's the case, why wasn't I informed about this meeting?" Jasper lowered himself into his seat, legs slightly parted, exuding an air of indifference. Yet, beneath the nonc
Beckett Group was, in essence, Javier's heart and soul, forged from his own labor. "Justin set me up, framed me for drug addiction, and bribed my primary physician to give false testimony—all so he could drag me down. The fact that he dared to target me like this means he's willing to betray anyone."Jasper took a deep breath, forcing down the rage roiling inside him as Javier remained silent. "Fine. Even if you insist this is just a family matter, Justin's reputation is already in ruins, and the corporation's stock prices are fluctuating. Are you really going to stand by him, even now?""Justin has explained everything to me. He wasn't aware of the bribery. That female doctor who worked for him acted on her own. Besides, she's been arrested. The backlash against Justin will settle in time…"Jasper listened, his face unreadable, but his heart clenched painfully. A lump rose in his throat, suffocating him.He had lost his mother at a young age, but he had never longed for his fa
Julien's merciless, hate-filled words hit Jonah like a ton of bricks. The pain was unbearable, a gut-wrenching ache that shattered his heart.Under the dim lighting, Julien vaguely noticed a sorrowful tear forming at the corner of Jonah's eye. But before it could fall, Jonah forced a blink, swallowing his emotions whole. Despite Jonah's attempt to brace himself, sorrow engulfed him, a tidal wave of despair. His features mirrored the devastation ripping through his heart. As Evan opened the driver's side door, Julien lurched forward and vomited again. The sickening sound of him retching echoed in the air as if he were expelling everything inside him. "Judas, Mr. Lovelace looks like he's suffering from alcohol poisoning. We should take him to the hospital."Evan's worry deepened at Julien's condition. Jonah wordlessly removed his suit jacket and began cleaning the mess in the car. His chest tightened painfully as he watched Julien groaning, clearly suffering. Then, without he
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