Xavier successfully navigated this hurdle. When he emerged from the interrogation room, he maintained a calm demeanor, but his legs trembled inside his trousers.Jasper had once again taken away his first time. He needed an increase in salary.To avoid suspicion, Alyssa left through the back door of the police station. Meanwhile, Jasper and Xavier, accompanied by Sean, walked out of the police station gates.They expected to be swarmed by reporters outside, but strangely, there was no one there.Scratching his head, Sean remarked, "There's no one here? I had my press release ready.""Perhaps someone already got wind of Xavier being released, so there was no need to pay off reporters to spruce up his image for free," Jasper said coldly."Such a jackass," Sean couldn't help but curse."I've already notified Beckett Group's PR Department to work overtime tonight to withdraw the trending hashtags and control public opinion. We'll try to minimize the impact."Jasper continued calmly
Nathan waved his hand dismissively. "Please don't say that, Mr. Beckett. I was simply following Colene's instructions. It's just a small favor. Besides, Harvey is one of our guys. As the Ivory Gang's leader, it's my duty to handle this trouble. If you want to repay the favor, just repay Colene."The group entered Nathan's luxurious office, which was quiet compared to the bustling activity outside.Jabari immediately recounted Harvey's words to them."Meds?" Jasper and Alyssa looked surprised.Xavier's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes, when he was dealing with me, he asked if I was buying meds. Is that their code language?"Jabari explained, "Strangely enough, Harvey insists that what he was selling was not drugs but a type of medicine. It's a banned medicine popular overseas that has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration here."It's said that taking this medicine can produce the same sensation as drugs, and it can't be detected even in urine tests. So, it has become particu
At the Millennium, upon learning that Xavier was safely released, Jameson was engulfed in rage. He smashed several antique crystal glasses into pieces."Please calm down, Mr. Schmidt." Nicholas' voice on the phone sounded cautious and respectful."Everything was planned perfectly. Jasper's secretary was supposed to be doomed. Who would have thought that the scum from the Ivory Gang would change his statement at the last minute and shoulder all the blame himself? It was too unexpected. I couldn't do anything.""The Ivory Gang pressured him?" Jameson widened his crimson eyes. He then slowly bent down to pick up a piece of broken glass and clenched it tightly in his palm.The blood seeped through his fingers, staining his pale hand with its vibrant hue.However, he felt no pain. Instead, the suffocating feeling in his chest eased a bit."Marc is already old. Years of fighting have left his body riddled with ailments. He's already retired to the background. Now, the Ivory Gang is und
Carl parted his lips anxiously but didn't know what to say."Carl, did Mr. Justin… lie to me?" Jameson suddenly asked hoarsely. "Is the medicine he gave me poison? Will I be dependent on it for life?"Before Carl could reply, he comforted himself with a smile, "But it doesn't matter. After all, Mr. Justin gave me this life... I have no complaints, even if he wants to take it away one day."I just... can't bear to leave Lyse. If I can't love her and be with her… I hope, at the very least, I can be the person who accompanies her to the end of her life."At the same time, there was a waterproof, delicate miniature tapping device silently capturing every sound in the room. It was hidden under the pot of red roses carefully tended by Jameson.Jameson checked and dismantled every nook and cranny in the private room, but he held the pot of roses dear, untouched. Any damage to its petals was met with severe consequences.He never imagined someone would hide a tapping device there...T
Before noon, Alyssa hurried back to Heightsnew Villa.Upon hearing her return, Colene immediately rushed down from upstairs. "Lyse!""Colene!" Alyssa hurried to greet her, and the two women hugged tightly. "Thank you for your help this time.""Don't say that. I'm already grateful that you and Jasper don't blame me. You don't know how scared I was."Colene's eyes were red. She kept patting her chest with her hand, still feeling scared. "Thank goodness Nathan sorted it out. If Xavier had landed in prison and Jasper got into trouble because of that jerk from the Ivory Gang, I would've been in tears. How could I still face you both?""Please don't say that. Even if you hadn't intervened, we would have found a way to get Xavier out."Alyssa's eyes softened as she gently patted Colene's back. "The Ivory Gang is such a big organization in Solana City with so many members. How could you possibly manage it?""The members are different now. They don't listen to their boss anymore."Colen
As Alyssa stared at the man in the photo, her heart clenched with each beat, then raced erratically.The yellowing border indicated the photo's age.In the image, Jonah and the man appeared intimately affectionate.Even though the photo couldn't speak, Alyssa could tell that Jonah and he were lovers. Their affection for each other was evident in the depth of their eyes.Jonah's smile in the photo was so bright and warm. Even Alyssa, who had been raised by Jonah since childhood, had never seen such a smile on his face, not even when he was with Julien.Somehow, a murky and inexplicable emotion lodged in Alyssa's chest, causing her discomfort.Suddenly, she heard steady footsteps outside the study.Alyssa quickly put the Bible back in its place and slipped the photo into her pocket.The door to the study clicked open.Jonah, wearing dark blue silk pajamas, entered leisurely. When he saw Alyssa, a smile crept on his face. "When did you come, Lyse? Did you wait for long?""Not to
Jonah continued, "After his identity was exposed, Khaos abandoned him, and Cloudtop hunted him down. Traitors always meet the same fate—death.""So... back then, you executed him as Judas?" Alyssa's voice trembled as a chill ran through her body.Jonah closed his eyes and shook his head in pain."When I became the leader, I swore that I would never kill. It was my bottom line. But back then... everyone was pressuring me and forcing me to execute him myself."Listening to this, Alyssa felt suffocated. Her heart pounded in fear."He didn't want to put me in a difficult position, so he grabbed the gun from my hand and shot himself."Jonah's tone was calm and low as he recounted the event again. If it weren't for the crimson in his eyes, Alyssa would have thought he was telling someone else's story.Would anyone in the world be able to bear such a devastating blow as watching their beloved take their own life before their eyes?If Jasper had done that, Alyssa might have picked up t
Jonah's pupils contracted sharply. His eyes rimmed with red from anguish.He had thought that those painful memories had gradually been buried with his self-restraint and the passage of time. Even after he officially got together with Julien, he hadn't touched any of the items he had treasured about that person.But when Alyssa angrily accused him and demanded that he burn the photo to show loyalty to Julien, his heart was wracked with pain, as if she were asking him to burn his own body.Alyssa stared at Jonah with frustration. His sorrowful and pained expression said it all. He couldn't bear to do it. He still had lingering affection for his ex.Even though that person had been dead for many years, he still held a significant place in Jonah's heart. It was profound enough to stir Jonah, who was typically calm and composed."Lyse... I haven't touched these things since Julien and I got together. I've let go of him. I really have."Jonah's eyes were bloodshot. He was almost plead
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
The hospital ward grew heavy with silence. Mandy and Neil stared at Alyssa, stunned beyond words. "M-Ms. Alyssa, you knew that man was Mr. Damien?" Neil asked, disbelief etched into his voice. "Yes." Alyssa's reply was quiet, her lips pressed into a thin line. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "We found out when Cyrus took Damien's cigarette butt for a paternity test."Mandy approached Alyssa, her shoulders trembling slightly. "So, you and Cyrus knew… and you both kept it from me?" Mandy said, her voice catching in her throat, tears welling up. Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. "Mandy, I'm sorry. It was my decision. Cyrus had nothing to do with it."Mandy's tears fell freely now, her grief spilling out in raw sobs. "Do you know what it's been like for me all these years, thinking Damien was gone? Winston, Miley, Lyla, and Colene kept telling me to move on. I tried to accept that he was dead, that we'd never find his body. But I never did."Her vo
The hospital ward was bathed in a dim, yellow glow from the bedside lamp. The silence was thick, yet the room held a strange warmth—an unfamiliar comfort that felt oddly familiar to Remy.Pain radiated through his body as he struggled to sit up. His eyes fell on Mandy, who was asleep beside his bed. Her hair was a mess, and her swollen eyes suggested she'd been crying. She was sound asleep. Remy stiffened. His breath quickened as he stared at her fragile figure. Slowly, he leaned forward, his fingers lifting slightly, tempted to reach out.Just as his hand hovered close, Mandy's lashes fluttered. In her sleep, she murmured, "Damien… Damien… I miss you so much…" Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent and unbidden.A pang tugged at Remy's heart. Without thinking, he brushed away her tears with his calloused fingers. The moment his skin touched hers, a jolt shot through him, sharp and electrifying. Pain throbbed at his temples, but beneath it was a warmth he didn't want to let g
Justin's casual question hit Javier like a thunderclap. Shock rippled through him, freezing his expression. His voice trembled with fear as he barked, "What nonsense is that? Are you accusing me of causing Chester's death? I'm your father—how could you think I'd do such a thing?""It's not an accusation. Just the facts," Justin replied coolly, crossing his legs and savoring his tea with unsettling calm. "And I'm not condemning you. In fact, I understand why you did it. I'm facing the same dilemma now."Javier's breathing grew ragged. He had watched Justin grow from a child into the man before him—now a predator, circling with quiet menace."You were meant to be the heir as the eldest son," Justin continued, his voice smooth as silk. "But Grandpa favored Uncle Chester, handing him major projects, grooming him in plain sight. "Uncle Chester's reputation soon eclipsed yours. He was a natural leader, adept at business, with one fatal flaw—he was kind. Too kind. Unlike you."Justin
Nonetheless, night had fallen by the time Justin arrived at Seaview Manor. On his way there, he worked on two things. First, he secured the top legal team to get Sheryl out on bail as quickly as possible. Second, he tried reaching Remy—unsuccessfully. He had never lost contact with Remy before. Justin's face was as dark as the night itself. The moment he stepped inside Seaview Manor, Rory approached with a solemn expression. He gave a slight bow before speaking. "Mr. Justin, what took you so long? Mr. Javier has been waiting.""I was occupied," Justin replied coolly. Then, as if it were an ordinary evening, he allowed a faint smile. "Where's Jasper? Is he back here yet?" A conflicted look came across Rory's face. "Things between you and Mr. Jasper have soured. I doubt he'll want to see you anytime soon—or show up here.""Is that so? How disappointing."Justin's smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze lingered on Rory, sharp and bottomless. "So, he'd rather believe what he se
Jonah scoured every corner of the hotel, desperation clawing at his chest, but Julien was nowhere to be found. "Jonah!" Alyssa called out, breathless as she caught up to him. She grabbed his arm. "Calm down! I'll help you search for Jul!""I can't find him. He's gone," Jonah murmured, sinking to the floor. His tears mixed with sweat, creating dark patches on the ground. "Lyse… I fear… if I can't find Julien this time, I'll lose him forever."The agonizing thought of losing the love of his life pierced him. "No, you won't!" Alyssa gripped his arm tighter, her voice trembling with conviction. "If Jul had given up on you, he wouldn't have come here today. The fact that he showed up means he still cares."Jonah's eyes were bloodshot, filled with a pain too deep to hide. He shook his head slowly. "Julien came back for Jasper. He did it because he's loyal… because he's a good friend. Not because of me.""He does care!" Alyssa insisted. "If he didn't, he would've faced you without fli