Axel slept in the guest bedroom that night while Alyssa and Jasper cuddled in their bed.Jasper let Alyssa rest her head on his arm while occasionally kissing her on her forehead, which was no longer hot to touch. Fortunately, her fever seemed to have reduced in intensity.Languid and flushed, she purred as she nestled comfortably in his arms. Her vulnerable state and misty eyes stirred a desire within him to conquer her, but he firmly refused to act upon it. The deeper his love, the more he needed to exert self-control."Did Axel… tell you any nonsense?" Alyssa couldn't help but worry, knowing that Axel took after Winston's foul mouth.He shook his head and tucked her in. "Rest early and get well soon. We need to get up early the day after.""Right. We need to attend Angelina's funeral." A pang of sorrow pierced through her. Her tears started to well. "The recent events are tragic. I really hope nothing of that sort repeats. I want happiness for everyone.""Of course, Lyse. We'l
The light in Jameson's eyes dimmed when he learned about it. "Make him wait for me in another lounge."After settling the other client, Jameson took some time off to join Aidan at the lounge next door. Right after he opened the door, Aidan, who was drinking alcohol to calm his nerves, shot up and rushed up to him.Aidan glared at him. "What went wrong? Why did people die from it?""Mr. Aidan, I'm afraid I have no clue what you're talking about," Jameson wondered with a calm smile, a stark contrast to Aidan's panic.Although no one else was in the lounge, Aidan made sure to speak in a whisper, "Are there quality issues with the latest delivery you provided for me? I distributed it just twice, and people had been overdosing and dying on it."Still smiling, Jameson brushed off Aidan's worries. "Drugs are poison. Isn't it normal for addicts to die from overdosing?""But I have not seen a man who went crazy and dropped dead after taking it twice!""Well, now you have." Aidan turn
Lily's Alzheimer's had progressed into the later stages, making Jameson desperate for the new drug to work in order to save her."Reach out to Chief Novak. Tell him to get someone dependable to clean up the mess.""Got it."At the same time, Jameson's phone buzzed. He immediately sat upright when he saw the caller ID. Taking a deep breath, he answered the phone, "Sir.""Did your experiment fail again?" Justin's resonant voice weighed on Jameson's heart. Jameson, though knowing that the blame fell on the research team, not him, still felt nervous when confronted. "Yes.""Oh, well. We have lots of ground-breaking work to be done." Justin's tone softened as if he was consoling himself. "But great idea there. I didn't expect us to get the Lovelaces involved in this scheme in no time. Jimmy, I was right about you. Looking back, I made the right decision to support and nurture you."Precious and distant memories flooded Jameson's mind at the mention of his nickname.The young and ad
The sky that had been overcast for days finally cleared up on the day of Angelina's funeral.Standing in front of her headstone in the silent cemetery, Landon placed a bunch of white daisies on her grave with a look of despair. Beside the bouquet rested the broken lucky charm.Following that, Alyssa and Jasper offered their bouquet. The rest of the Taylor siblings were also present, alongside Julien, Rose, and Jordan. They offered Angelina flowers and prayers.The women at the site wept while the men tried their best to hide their grief, offering comfort to their partners.Only Cyrus, the policeman who had experienced his fair share of life and death, teared up ever since he arrived at the scene. He did not share many encounters with Angelina, but every time they met, she left a deep impression on him, especially the time at the amusement park.When he first met Angelina, she gave the impression of being arrogant and uptight. After their first exchange, he found her a jolly and hu
Axel fixed his gaze in the direction of the forest. The lady, who seemed to sense his eyes on her, nimbly hid behind a tree.Meanwhile, Lauren wept in the wheelchair, staring deeply at Angelina's photo. She cried silently in deep grief, tears staining her cheeks. Worried about Lauren's health, Alyssa walked up behind her and placed both hands on her shoulders to offer comfort.Eyes swollen and twitching, Lauren gently revealed a new teddy bear from under her blanket, much to Alyssa's surprise. The teddy bear was similar to the one Alyssa had gifted Lauren.Ben, who was affected by the somber mood, said in a raspy voice, "This bear is no longer on sale in the country. I had someone purchase it from overseas, per Ms. Lauren's request."Lauren tried to get up from the wheelchair, but her legs gave away, perhaps from being bedridden for some time. Seeing that, Cyrus approached her to render assistance, but Landon was a step ahead of him.Landon carried Lauren in his arms and placed
Landon lowered his head with a bashful look. He confessed, "I'm the one who's worried that you might not want to attend."Choking on emotions, Cyrus went up and offered him a hearty hug.When Landon entered the car, he saw Lauren leaning her head against the car window and wrapped in the blanket while getting some shut-eye. In her feeble condition, she had pushed her limits by embarking on this outing even with the help of a wheelchair."The window is chilly. Come rest your head here." He opened his arms and pulled her into an embrace. Then, he rubbed his chin on top of her head.The car cruised toward the hospital.Leaning against Landon's chest, Lauren suddenly cast a puzzled look at him upon feeling something solid in his suit."Does it bother you?" After some hesitation, he retrieved Angelina's diary from within his jacket.Lauren's eyes, red from crying, widened in surprise. She recognized the notebook as Angelina's diary. One night, she couldn't fall asleep as Landon was o
Toying? Amber felt her racing heart skip a beat. Surrounded by Axel's scent, she quickly lost her passion. From Jameson to the tycoons she was forced to entertain, all men treated her like a plaything, and Axel was no different.She was delusional to think he'd be special, but he disappointed her.Suppressing the heartache, she flashed a bitter smile with tears in her eyes. "Mr. Axel, you seem to be in high spirits today. What do you wish to engage in? SM? 69?"Her voice was reeking with sexual appeal, and so was her body. However, the look in Axel's eyes hardened. Holding her shoulders, he pressed her back against the tree bark. He fixed his deep gaze on her face before staring at her chest, as though he was looking for a way to her heart. "You look pretty lovely in the windbreaker."Although his tone still had a playful edge, she blushed in embarrassment while attempting to remove the windbreaker. Pressing against her hand, he stopped her and put the windbreaker back on. "Keep
Amber's heart pounded against her ribcage as her organs contorted in fear. Despite the panic, she did not betray a hint of emotion. She owed her exceptional mental fortitude to the training administered by Jameson, which she now employed against him.In her silence, he grinned maliciously and advanced slowly toward her. All of a sudden, he produced a gun from his waist and pressed the muzzle against her sweaty forehead."M-Mr. Schmidt!" Carl turned pale at the sight as his heart leaped into his throat."Amber Altman, were you the traitor? Answer me," he confronted her word-by-word with a murderous look in his eyes.She stared into his eyes but remained silent."Answer me!" he roared, the veins in his hands bulging in anger."Yes," Amber admitted, knowing there was no escape. The moment Jameson aimed the gun, he had known about her betrayal. This was no interrogation.Driven by his ruthless nature, he wanted the woman—whom he had raised and molded into Alyssa's doppelgänger—to be
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