The Becketts might be one of the established elites in Solana City, but the stock price of the Beckett Group would have doubled following the news of the marriage with the Taylor Family.Alas, it was too late.…In the dark of the night, Alyssa looked out of the window with a vacant look and an empty heart. She replayed the memory of Jasper's shattered expression when he demanded to know why she had married him in the first place. Somehow, looking at the frustration and indignance on his face, she felt like she had abandoned him.She clenched her fist and shook her head hard. She reminded herself not to spare any sympathy for men, for that was how tragedies start.Jasper couldn't possibly fall in love with her now, not after she had waited for him for three years to no avail. Perhaps he had only pretended to look resentful and bitter in front of Winston to absolve himself of his cruelness in their marriage."So, why did you marry him?" Winston gritted his teeth and cracked his
After the birthday event, Newton called his family doctor to check on Lauren out of worry. He felt relieved when the doctor reported that everything was fine with her.In the corridor, two good-looking men leaned against the window sill. Jasper asked Landon for a cigarette, which he lit and took a long drag. The orange flame flickered between the willowing smoke."So, is Alice Alyssa Taylor, the unknown daughter of one of Winston Taylor's wives?" Landon felt that he was in a dream. The entire situation was rather inconceivable."Yeah." Jasper's fingers trembled when he flicked the ash."Fuck! Jasper, you hit the jackpot. How did you land this windfall?" Landon patted Jasper's shoulder as his eyes sparkled. "You turned out to be Winston Taylor's ex-son-in-law by accident. "Would you have taken off to greater heights if you didn't divorce her? With the backing of the Taylor Family, your dad and your evil stepmother would have to submit to you. You could do anything with the Beckett
Jasper never believed in coincidences. Still, when it involved Liana, he fervently wished that everything that had happened was a coincidence."Mr. Beckett!" Xavier jogged up to him, panting, and handed him a phone with both hands. "Here is the footage of Madam Sophia, Ms. Betty, and Ms. Gardner's activities from tonight that you requested! I gathered the files. Please take a look!""My guy, you're fast!" Landon changed his mind about leaving and went up to take a look.Jasper carefully poured through the footage, holding his breath."Looking at the footage, Ms. Gardner not only interacted frequently with Madam Sophia, but she also contacted Ms. Betty in private. What's more bizarre …" A gleam flashed across Xavier's eyes. "... is that Ms. Gardner did not show up in the vicinity when I checked the footage of Mr. Jonah and Ms. Alyssa entering the room.""Hah, that's interesting." Landon sneered. "If she wasn't even in the area, how did she know that Mr. Jonah and Ms. Alyssa were sh
Jasper was numb and calm, but his curt remark was damaging to Liana. She froze up and felt her cheeks burning in shame. It was as though she had been slapped a few times.Javier and Sophia were stunned by the turn of events. Only Betty had a guileful smile on her face. After the events from that night, she had seen Liana for who she was—an obnoxiously conceited bitch who had manipulated her to attack the others. Liana was unsuitable to marry into their family. Betty even hoped Jasper would cut Liana off forever instead of pausing the marriage."Jasper, are you giving me up?" Shocked and scared, Liana held to his arm as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Are you ditching me after you learned that Alice White is from the Taylor family? Did you regret your divorce?""Alice White or Alyssa Taylor, she has no bearing on my decision to put a halt to our marriage." He slowly but surely freed his arm from her grip. There was nothing but coldness in his eyes. He continued, "I've warned you n
"Jasper did not even inform us when he decided on the divorce. Of course, he wouldn't tell me his intention to call off the marriage!""Those are different things!" Sophia's voice was shrill, unlike her usual comforting tone. "Jasper does not love Alyssa Taylor at all. Unlike Alyssa, Lia is Jasper's childhood sweetheart. They have a deep bond!""Right. That's beyond me too. If they share a deep bond, what else did Liana want from him? Why couldn't she behave instead of stirring trouble with Ms. Alyssa? "She has humiliated our family with the infidelity drama in front of Dad. I will not help her this time, and I can't guarantee whether the marriage will happen!"His chest tightened when he recalled Newton's taunt. "I wouldn't have advised Jasper to seek divorce if I had known better. Liana is not the right match for our family; worse, she's a troublemaker. It's indeed hard to get along with those from different backgrounds!"Sophia's shoulders slumped when she realized that Javier
Liana was baffled by Sophia's slap."I warned you not to drag Betty into any plan of yours, or I won't help you out!""Aunt Sophia, I was wrong! It was a careless mistake! I will not do it again." Despite the boiling hatred in her, Liana had to beg for forgiveness repeatedly.Sophia looked at the lowly woman with disdain. She wouldn't have helped a stubborn and manipulative woman like Liana to marry Jasper if only there were a better candidate from the Kirkman Family.Still, she refused to give up on Liana after many years of grooming her niece. Disgusted by the night's events, she felt like she had swallowed a fly. Still, she had to endure the setback."Alice White is the daughter of the distinguished Taylor family. You cannot lay a finger on her. Winston Taylor is known for doting on his children. Your top priority is to win Jasper's heart and marry him according to the plan!" Sophia looked terrifying with her taut lips and the bright red lipstick."But he makes it clear that h
"How about the Beckett Group?" Alyssa asked."I heard they didn't make any progress too.""It's good to know that we haven't fallen behind. We're still on the starting line just like they are.""But we have more competitors than the Beckett Group! I heard that ten luxury hotels across the nation are fighting to host Ada Kingsley's wedding!""The Beckett Group and the Taylor Group are the benchmark for hotels in the nation. Ada Kingsley is too fussy to host her wedding in smaller hotels." She took a bite of the sandwich and squinted. She continued, "Keep in touch with her team. I want to move her with sincerity. She has an event in the country at the start of next month, where I'll meet her in person and secure the deal. Time for the Beckett Group to give up!"Whoever messed with her business deals would have to suffer. …Many young couples were waiting for their turn at the entrance to the city hall early in the morning. They were either hugging or taking photos sweetly.The
"It's fine as long as you make it here before 5:00 pm. We'll have to wait a day more if the city hall is closed." Alyssa dropped a chilly remark and marched to the entrance, leaving Jasper behind. His throat tightened.He was brought back to the day they registered their marriage three years ago. As he was notified of an emergency meeting by Yoarkley's project manager, he had no choice but to stay back at the company. After the meeting, he had to host a VIP who dropped by. When the meeting was over, it struck him that he had forgotten to inform Alyssa about the postponement of the marriage registration.The memories of that day were vivid and cruel. When he rushed over to the city hall, the place was almost empty. There, he found Alyssa alone, looking downcast. Her frail figure appeared lonely and pitiful.He did not expect her to wait a day for him. Her stubbornness was one of a kind.He had wanted to apologize to her. However, he did not do so because he struggled with mixed em
Alyssa followed Jasper into the study. The door closed behind her with a soft click. She didn't move to switch on the lights or sit down. Instead, she stood quietly in the dim room.They faced each other, eyes locked. In the darkness, their gazes seemed brighter, charged with emotions that neither could put into words. Whatever stirred within them was tangled and silent—kept at bay by something unspoken, as if a wall had formed between heart and mouth. After a pause, Alyssa offered a faint smile. Her voice was soft, almost courteous. "Go ahead, Mr. Beckett. I won't be staying long tonight—I've made other arrangements."It was clear she didn't want to be alone in a room with him.Jasper's chest tightened, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion he couldn't define. His voice was rough when he finally spoke. "You didn't vote against the motion at today's board meeting. I wanted to know… are we still on the same side?"Alyssa's gaze lowered, her voice steady and calm. "You didn't object
In the evening, Xavier drove Jasper to meet with Newton. Along the way, news broke out that Sheryl had been bailed out. Xavier slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Why is it so hard to get rid of that woman?" "She is Justin's right hand," Jasper said, eyes shut as he leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "You could even say she knows more about his secrets than anyone. As long as she's useful, Justin won't discard her so easily. This is how he operates."Xavier shook his head, teeth gritted. "Where the hell did she even come from? When you had me investigate her, I found nothing. Her background was spotless. "What's in her past that Justin would go so far to keep it hidden? A man like him can have any woman he wants, yet he clings to her—some pretty-faced idiot who only seems to make things harder for him."Jasper's gaze turned glacial. Xavier's casual remark struck him.He was right. Justin wasn't short on capable subordinates. So why Sheryl?Was Sh
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