The police found the kidnappers' base while the livestream was still in progress. Numerous police cars surrounded the old manor. Red and blue lights flashed in the ominous darkness while the piercing sirens broke the stillness of the night.Zoe, who was as resilient as a cockroach, roused herself before Betty, who remained unconscious on the ground. Zoe was scared out of her wits when she heard the police sirens. She was about to escape when a few familiar figures barged into her line of sight."Lauren!"Landon was the first to rush forward. In the midst of his anguish, a ray of hope appeared within his crimson, tear-filled eyes. Landon had always been fearless. Despite knowing full well that there were cold-blooded mercenaries on Shelland Island who would not hesitate to kill, he accompanied Jasper there without hesitation. But right now, his face was as white as a sheet. With shaky steps, he stumbled his way through the room. The living room offered a grim tableau—Betty
Alyssa trembled with anger and tears in her eyes as she roared, "From the moment you stepped into this manor, every move you made was being recorded by hidden cameras and live streamed. The entire country has witnessed your crimes. Preston has tricked you from the start, yet you continue to hide the truth! Will you wait until it is too late to face reality?" Zoe was stunned, her mouth agape, blood staining her lips. "I-I know! I know!"Mason, the most cowardly among them, realized he was less powerful compared to the others. Crawling to Jasper's feet with his incapacitated limbs like a wounded sea lion, he said, "Two men came and took Lauren and the other woman away! Zoe even addressed one of the men as 'Mr. Carsen,' but he ignored her completely! "Mr. Jasper, Mr. Landon! Zoe tricked us into coming here! She threatened us—if we didn't beat Lauren up, she would kill us all! We were coerced into this—ah!"Jasper's cold glare bore into Mason as he kicked him in the face. "How dare
Preston laid out two demands in his ransom call—no guns and Landon had to come alone. "Jasper, Lyse, and Cyrus," Landon said. "You guys handle the situation here. I'll go meet Preston."Without a second thought, Landon turned and headed for the door."Landon!" Jasper cried out, his heart hammering in his chest. He lunged forward and grabbed Landon's arm. "This is Preston's trap! He might kill you; you cannot go alone!""I know he wants to kill me," Landon said with a humorless smile that quickly twisted into a grimace. It was a sight that tugged at the others' hearts."Landon, we'll go with you!" Alyssa declared with determination in her gaze. "We can stay hidden and wait for an opening. That way, we can save Lauren and Angelina for sure!"Landon shook his head. "Lyse, thank you, but I can't take that risk. If giving up my life means Lauren and Angelina can come back safely, then that's a price I'm willing to pay."Alyssa's eyes welled with tears, and Jasper's heart sank furthe
Aware that this was an added challenge by Preston, Landon abandoned the fight and sprinted for the elevator a dozen feet away. He frantically hammered the elevator button. A few seconds later, the door creaked open slowly.To his dismay, inside the elevator stood five attackers, each wielding sharp blades. …Preston was relaxing in a pool lounger, smoking his favorite cigar brand. He played his favorite clubbing music from his phone, which was already out of style.Every few minutes, he would look at his watch. Then he would smack his lips with satisfaction and continue to rest his eyes.After 20 minutes, the elevator facing the entrance to the pool slid open with a ding.Preston's eyelids fluttered open a fraction before a jolt of awareness sent them springing wide. He watched as Landon stepped over the bodies beneath him with heavy but determined footsteps. He slowly made his way to the pool, as if he were the God of War, returning triumphantly after a bloody battle.Land
"Mr. Landon!" Angelina shrieked in pain from above him.Landon looked up in dread, and his pupils dilated in shock. Angelina, hands tied, stood dangerously near the edge of the 32-foot-tall diving platform at the swimming pool, with Frank pointing a gun at her head.The height of the springboard was alarming, as the pool was dry."Angie!" Landon's blood-stained white shirt was drenched in sweat. He took two steps forward but was forced back when Frank pointed the gun at him."I'm sorry, Mr. Landon…" Tears brimming, Angelina choked on her emotions.Landon cast a deep look at her. "No. You've never wronged me or owed anyone anything. Angie, it was my fault that you got into this situation. I should be apologizing to you instead."His words sent a sharp pain through her chest. She had experienced highs and lows over her years of working for Landon. Nothing fazed her, except for his apology."Where's Lauren?" Landon's desperate tone echoed throughout the pool area.Upon hearing tha
Without hesitation, Landon yelled in a hoarse voice, "I'll never make a pick! I want to save both of them!""Landon Harper, are you trying to get your hands on both of them?" Cackling manically, Preston turned to face Angelina, who was held on the springboard. "Angelina, your hard work and loyalty are worth it. Look! He's keen to make you his mistress!""You bastard! Vile son of a bitch! You'd better shut your fucking mouth!" Angelina bellowed at Preston. "If you want revenge, take my life! Release Madam!""Stay still!" Frank jabbed the back of her head with the muzzle of the gun."Tsk tsk. She's a feisty bitch." Preston shook his head.Even as pain seeped through every part of Angelina's body, she remained fueled by rage. She yelled at Landon, "Mr. Landon, don't mind me! Save Madam—you must save her!""I want both!" His eyes took on a murderous look as he reiterated his stance with determination."Landon, you own a lot. Stop being greedy. You can't have your cake and eat it," P
Surprisingly, Preston had the time to laugh at the situation. He quipped, "I'm afraid time is running out for someone here, though. My dearest nephew, haven't you made your choice?"The water in the glass tank had reached Lauren's chest."Mr. Landon!" Angelina urged him in a quivering voice. Their worried eyes met, and time and space seemed to come to a stop. He remembered saying to her, "Angie, come work for me."She had once said to him, "Mr. Landon, I will stay loyal to you no matter the circumstance."At that moment, she smiled at Landon through tears as she recalled their first encounter. The mirage of the teenage boy who made her heart flutter overlapped with Landon's handsome figure."I do not want you to hesitate. No matter what happens, always choose Madam," she gently muttered a heartfelt remark to Landon that sounded like a grand and touching farewell.She added, "You and Madam must live happily forever after.""No—"In a split second, Landon seemed to have underst
A gunshot echoed in the pool area. However, it was Preston who fell lifelessly onto the ground after being shot.The special forces flooded the pool area, firing two shots from their laser guns at the bulletproof glass. The tank instantly shattered into pieces as water gushed out.…Two members of the police sacrificed their lives in the rescue operation. It turned out that Preston had been colluding with underground forces to smuggle military artillery using his power as the executive director of Harper Group. Since he possessed heavy artillery, it made the rescue operation more challenging.Thankfully, the micro camera that Landon carried with him recorded the gory and ruthless battle. Thanks to him, Cyrus managed to equip his men with advanced weapons to break the tank and save the hostage.However, Lauren was on the brink of death when she was sent to the ICU. Her pulse was weak, and she was in critical condition after drowning and suffering organ injuries from the beatings.
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,
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