Alyssa jolted, and her gaze met Jasper's dark gaze. Her heart thumped heavily against her chest.Right now, Jasper's classy suit was stretched tightly against his muscles. Even if he didn't take off his clothes, she could visualize it."Jasper." Justin coughed, his face pale. Unexpectedly, he was the one who spoke up and tried to explain on Alyssa's behalf, as if they were hiding something from him. "Nothing happened just now. I just met Ms. Alyssa at the entrance of the hospital. I wasn't feeling well so… I asked her to push me upstairs.""Justin, did I even ask?"Jasper smiled lightly, although it turned into a slight grimace. Nevertheless, he still tried. "You're my brother, and Lyse is your sister-in-law. We're a family. She's helping you as a sister would."As he spoke, he strode to stand beside Alyssa. His gaze was gentle as he took over the wheelchair handles. "Let me do it.""Sorry for the inconvenience, Jasper." Justin smiled as well while his gaze darkened.Jasper be
Instantly, Justin could taste the stench of blood in the back of his throat. His organs felt like they were immersed in a vat of medicinal concoction. He felt so bitter that he couldn't say a word."As per my knowledge, there is no drug that can heal mental disorders. At most, it can only be controlled. If the patient takes too much medicine, they would become lethargic and lose the will to do anything."Alyssa shook her head in disbelief. "If drugs were useful, Lauren would have healed from her depression.""Ms. Alyssa is right, but that only applies to this country." Justin explained patiently and gently, "In the past two years, Mosgravia has been researching a drug to control the symptoms of mental disorders. Although it's still a supplementary drug, its effects are much better than our local drugs."Afterward, let Mr. Landon spend more time to accompany Lauren. Let her feel completely supported with love and care. I believe that Lauren's condition will improve vastly, which wou
The moon slowly rose in the inky night sky.When they were back at the manor, Jasper went to his study to do some work. Alyssa bathed alone and did some simple skincare. Without even blow-drying her hair, she stood on the balcony and let the breeze accompany her as she was lost in her thoughts.In her mind, Justin's words kept replaying, and she sifted through his words carefully as if she were using a fine-tooth comb.Justin was too much of a mystery.In her opinion, she felt that she was adept at reading others. When Jameson was love-bombing her, no matter how attractive his personality or features were, she still saw through everything and tore his mask to shreds.But from Justin, she couldn't sense a hint of animosity. Instead, he was gentle and charming, like a light spring breeze.What truly caught her off guard was his willingness to try out the new drugs for Lauren's sake. Even if his intentions were not entirely noble, this gamble was a bit too risky.Alyssa's brows wer
It was a difficult night for Jasper, whose soul was tormented the moment he saw Alyssa with Justin. When he was chatting with Justin, he forced a smile and made remarks that went against his true feelings.Only God knew how much he wanted to snatch Alyssa and hide her far away from Justin. He didn't want Justin to take another look at the woman who belonged to him and only to him."Stop it… Stop thinking about it…" Alyssa sounded tearful as she managed to let out fragments of words. After years of dating, this was the first time he had forced himself on her in such a ruthless manner that drove her to tears."Lyse, you're mine. Never look at him again. You shall only have eyes for me!" he growled as they inched toward climax.After that, he carried the limp Alyssa to the bedroom. He placed her in the bed and attempted to make love to her again, but she wept and gently slapped him on the cheek. "I hate you! That's enough. You're bullying me. You're being super annoying tonight, you k
Axel placed his hand in his pockets in a callous manner. Cocking his head, he asked, "Is Lyse here?"Rosie examined him. "Are you a friend of Madam's?""No."A realization set in. Rosie widened her eyes and stared at him vigilantly, "You're not an admirer, are you? Are you Mr. Beckett's love rival?"Rosie was acquainted with most of Alyssa's visitors to the villa, especially men. As Axel was a stranger to her, she did not trust him at all."Pfft." Smirking, he arched a brow playfully. "If I were her admirer, Jasper wouldn't have stood a chance! He would've been out of the game ages ago!"What a wild, arrogant man!Rosie was about to snap at Axel when she heard Jasper's worried tone. "Mrs. Rosie, do we have aspirin or ibuprofen at home?"At the same time, his eyes lit up when he found Axel at the door. "Axel, my dearest brother-in-law! It's you!""Oh, you sweet talker." Grinning, Axel marched in boldly. Rosie's jaw fell when she realized Axel was one of Alyssa's brothers. She c
Jasper grappled with heartache. The contrast between his tall figure and his helpless demeanor made him the more pitiful.Axel shot up from the bed and grabbed Jasper's collar. Fixing a piercing gaze on Jasper, he bellowed, "What have you done to my sister? Did you force her into BDSM?""No…""Why is she bruised all over? Fuck! You should've been the sub even in BDSM!" Axel's grip inadvertently tore one of Jasper's buttons loose. Their faces were mere inches apart.Axel continued, "We raised Lyse like she was our daughter. She is precious to us. Nothing good has happened to her ever since she dated you. How dare you mistreat her in such a way?"You may appear a gentleman on the surface, but your behavior in the bedroom is nothing short of savage. You should consider her feelings in the bedroom! How could you hurt her to satisfy your needs?"Stay there. I'm getting that housekeeper of yours to check the injuries on Lyse's body, and I'll double that on yours."Axel was visibly fur
Axel's pupils dilated from the shock, but he gathered himself in no time due to his professional training. The same cannot be said for Xavier, who was freaked out and screamed, "Oh, my God!"With steeled eyes, Jasper hugged Alyssa tightly and turned her face into his chest. "Lyse, don't look at it."He was concerned that the scene would only spook her out and exacerbate her fever symptoms. Little did he know that Lyse was undaunted after witnessing much worse horrors on the battlefield years ago.Far from feeling scared, she examined the scene with curiosity. At the same time, Axel grew excited at the situation. He opened the car door with a twinkle in his eye. "Damn it! Are people getting so professional now? Did he put on makeup? That was pretty frightening. I'll go check it out. If he's fine, I'll make sure he isn't!"Before Axel left the car, the victim got out of the car and ran away while dancing like a madman. Despite not being in the bustling downtown, the man's odd behavio
"Lyse is like Dr. House. She gets excited at the sight of corpses," Axel couldn't help but tease his sister."Did that guy drop dead just like that? By hitting his head against the divider?" Xavier grappled with the lingering fear when he recalled the horrifying expression on that man.Alyssa, having spent a mere few minutes with the corpse, suspected there was more to the man's death. She analyzed, "That might not be the case. Before he fainted, he exhibited symptoms of a seizure. "Besides, the muscles across his body contracted rhythmically while he lost consciousness. Epilepsy is a plausible cause of death, but we'll need to wait for the post-mortem report.""Epilepsy? People might think he overdosed." Axel pushed his tongue against his cheek, still indulging in the scene out of a horror movie just now. "I had experience dealing with some drug addicts when I was abroad. They looked exactly like the man just now when they were high or experienced withdrawal symptoms—zombie-like.
Jasper lay restrained on the bed, his body writhing violently as waves of agony crashed over him. A towel clenched between his teeth muffled his cries, though it could not silence the torment. Every inch of his skin felt as if it were being devoured by thousands of invisible ants—a relentless, gnawing pain brought on by withdrawal.He knew he could no longer rely on the medication. Time and again, the temptation clawed at him, urging him to surrender and take the easy way out. Relief was just a pill away. But Jasper's willpower, though battered, refused to shatter. Anne's words echoed in his mind, a guiding light in the darkness. She had always taught him to be a righteous man—one with a clear conscience. Curling into himself, Jasper shut his bloodshot eyes. He couldn't disappoint Anne. He couldn't let down those who believed in him. He had to resist the dark side. Outside the room, Xavier glanced at his wristwatch. Judging the timing to be right, he pushed the door open and l
"How about now? Is Ms. Altman at home?" Alyssa asked urgently."She isn't," Clark replied. "She drove out the back gate alone around 11:00 pm. Our security personnel stopped her then, but she said she was just going out for some fresh air because she had trouble sleeping. She promised she wouldn't be long, but it's strange—she hasn't returned even now."Alyssa's ears began to ring, her heart sinking like a stone.When she ended the call, her nightgown clung to her skin, drenched in cold sweat. Her trembling hand gripped the phone tightly.She thought of calling Jonah, but he was still searching for Julien in Mosgravia. He wouldn't be able to return in time. Silas wasn't home tonight; he was likely with Rose. Besides, he was more of an academic than a fighter—not someone who could help in a crisis. Getting him out of bed in the middle of the night couldn't possibly solve any of their problems. Axel had returned to his organization, leaving Cyrus as the only one accessible who mi
Amber's eyes reddened as she darted toward the trapdoor in The Millennium, tears streaming down her face.Remy had let her go. He actually spared her! Didn't this prove that he was Damien? That his true nature lingered, even if his memories of the past had been lost?Hope and excitement bubbled within her as she ran. She had to reach Alyssa immediately and share this evidence—this incredible news!Emerging from the trapdoor, Amber navigated the tangled paths among the weeds on the mountain behind The Millennium.Suddenly, she froze. Her breath hitched. Beams of white light shone from all directions, focusing on her. The cold, unyielding spotlights told her everything—she was surrounded, the target of an ambush. Amber's heart pounded in her chest. Cold sweat slicked her palms as her fingers clenched tightly around her dagger. The veins on the back of her hand throbbed with adrenaline.Six assassins in black emerged from the shadows, their flashlights cutting through the gl
Amber glared at Remy through her bloodshot eyes, thrusting her gleaming blade toward his chest. In her early days of being Jameson's follower, the first lesson drilled into her was how to kill quickly and efficiently. Refinement wasn't necessary—only results mattered. Yet, despite mastering the techniques, she had never put them into practice. Deep down, Amber feared the sight of blood and loathed the idea of taking a life.And now, of all people, it was Remy forcing her to cross that line.The blade's tip hovered mere inches from Remy's heart when hesitation gripped her. Axel's voice echoed in her mind, raw with emotion. "Amber, I keep feeling that Remy is my fifth brother, Damien. We miss him… We want him to come home!"Her pupils dilated. The blade wavered, its deadly intent dissipating.That single moment of doubt was all Remy needed. With a calm, calculated motion, he seized her wrist and twisted it sharply.Amber gasped in pain, her grip faltering as the blade clattered
The password to Jameson's room was Alyssa's birthday. Jameson had always believed himself to be a devoted man, taking pride in that notion. Yet, in Amber's eyes, his devotion was nothing more than a pathetic joke—a sentiment she couldn't help but detest.Taking a steadying breath, Amber began rummaging through the drawers and shelves with swift precision.Years of observation had taught her that Jameson had hidden several secret compartments in this room, places meant to conceal vital information. Unless Jameson or Carl disclosed their existence, even the police might not have uncovered them.After what felt like an eternity, sweat beading on her forehead, Amber discovered a hidden compartment beneath a floor sculpture.As she pried the brick loose, her breath hitched. Inside the compartment lay a waterproof plastic bag containing a document and a USB drive.Amber retrieved the document. Her heart raced as she realized its contents—a research report from Mosgravia's RC Biotech
Ever since getting together with Axel, Amber had lived each day in bliss. Yet, when Winston assured her that he truly accepted her and approved of her marriage to Axel, that bliss reached its peak. For so long, Amber had struggled with feelings of inferiority, never truly believing she deserved Axel's love. Deep down, she had resolved to step away if Winston disapproved or insisted Axel marry a woman from a reputable family—a match more fitting of his status.She wouldn't have hesitated to leave if it meant sparing Winston and Axel any conflict. Amber loved Axel wholeheartedly and was willing to sacrifice everything for him.But instead of rejection, she found warmth. The Taylor family embraced her as one of their own, showing her kindness and understanding rather than disdain for her past.She could never repay such compassion. "Winston… Thank you. Thank you…" Amber's tear-filled eyes glistened, their brightness undimmed despite all the darkness she had endured. Winston s
Amber stifled a laugh and teased, "Stop talking, Mr. Whitaker. You're going to sound like a broken record if you keep going." …After breakfast and a quick packing session, Axel departed from Heightsnew Villa. Amber spent her day helping the Taylors with various tasks. She assisted Mandy in organizing documents for Lovelace Group's projects, helped Lyla with cooking, and even joined Colene in feeding her horse. With Tatiana's due date approaching, Amber also pitched in for her shower preparations.Amber had always been a diligent person, but today, she seemed particularly intent on keeping herself busy. She was counting down the hours until nightfall. After dinner, the Taylors sat in the living room and chatted casually as they always did. The warm, familial atmosphere filled the space, and Amber joined in, her perceptive nature making her a seamless part of the group.When everyone retired to their rooms, Amber rose to help the helpers clear the table. "Amber." Startled
Axel and Amber had only spent half a month together before the former was called back to report for work. The night before his departure, they spent hours lost in each other, their passion unrelenting. Again and again, they exchanged kisses, their love pouring forth in an endless tide."Amber, three months… Just give me three more months." When their fervor finally waned, Axel held Amber close in his arms. They rested against the headboard, leaning into one another, too exhausted to move yet unwilling to let sleep claim them."Once I finish all the missions I've taken on, I'll hand in my resignation. After that, I'll spend all my time with you," Axel murmured, his voice steady with resolve. "We'll go wherever you want. If you want fun, I'll have fun with you. If you want chaos, I'll spend my life going crazy with you."Axel wasn't one for flowery words. He simply spoke from the heart. Right now, his heart only wanted Amber—forever.Amber nestled closer, her soft smile masking t
"Sir." Sheryl immediately stood and greeted Justin respectfully as he entered the room. "What are you doing here?" Justin's cold gaze swept over her as he strolled leisurely to the couch and sat down.Sheryl quickly explained, "I received a parcel for you from the administrative secretary half an hour ago. I thought it might be something important, something you wouldn't want too many people to handle. So, I waited for you to return and open it personally.""A parcel?" Justin frowned. Why would anyone send him a parcel to Beckett Group, of all places? How strange. Sheryl presented the parcel to him with both hands. He took it from her and then opened it right before her. After removing three layers of wrapping, each from outside and inside the box, the parcel turned out to contain only a plain white envelope. His expression darkened. It felt like someone was toying with him.Then, he looked down and opened the envelope, which contained a stack of photographs. Pinching a co