Alyssa comforted Colene before turning her gaze toward Landon. "Landon, why did you suddenly come here?""Jasper notified me, of course," Landon replied with a gentle smile."He couldn't come himself and was worried about you and Madam Colene, so he asked me to come over. After all, people in the underworld still have a little respect for the Harper family."Colene, being her optimistic self, couldn't resist teasing, "Oh, Mr. Landon, don't be modest. Compared to your influence, I'm really nothing.""What influence do I have? It's all my grandpa's lingering influence." Landon chuckled wryly.Alyssa asked with concern, "How is Lauren? Is she okay?"Landon's eyes turned gentle at once. "She's gained some weight from my feeding, but she's doing well.""Has she... started speaking?"Landon's long lashes fluttered as he shook his head. "After we finish the wedding, I plan to take her on a trip around the world. We'll see a doctor along the way.""That sounds good." Alyssa smiled. "M
Nathan's case made no progress despite the Ivory being saved.Cyrus followed Alyssa's orders and had people secretly keep an eye on Aidan's movements.After taking care of Victor's funeral, Jameson visited Lily at Solana City's top nursing home.Thin as a stick, Lily sat in a wheelchair with her back to Jameson. A nurse attended to her as she basked in the sunlight in the courtyard.But seeing that, Jameson felt endless heartache. Her frail body seemed like it could turn to ashes at any moment under the sun, scattering in the wind."Mr. Schmidt, your mother's condition... is very poor," the doctor said worriedly while shaking his head."She's in the late stages of Alzheimer's. Not only is her memory fading, but her language abilities are also declining gradually. And with her heart condition, it's even more dangerous in this late stage of the disease."Jameson took a deep breath and pressed his pale lips tightly together."There's no miracle drug to cure Alzheimer's. My advice
"W-Who are you... Who are you?" Lily's bloodshot eyes widened, and she scratched wildly in the air, leaving two bloody marks on Jameson's face."You're not my son... Jimmy is not as wicked as you! He's not!"Jameson remained kneeling. Without moving, he watched Lily go mad with a cold and resolute expression.He felt like he was going mad too—just that his madness was quiet.Upon hearing the commotion, two nurses hurried over to restrain Lily, who was trembling and struggling."Call the police... Call the police... He's a murderer... A murderer!"But who would believe the words of a late-stage Alzheimer's patient?Lily shouted incoherently and was eventually pushed away by the nurses."Mr. Schmidt... don't be too upset. Madam Lily is not in her right mind now. Don't take her words to heart," Carl kept comforting Jameson.Witnessing the scene, even he felt extremely uncomfortable, let alone Jameson."How much longer... How much longer will it take?" Jameson closed his eyes. Hi
"They're backed by the Beckett Group. The only person who dares to do this is Jasper."Jameson slowly lifted his gaze, revealing the depth of darkness behind his golden-rimmed glasses. "Well, well, he's starting a social media war.""What's most annoying is that we can't remove this hashtag from the trending list! That would be like walking into his trap." Carl was quite smart.At that moment, a phone call came in.Jameson lowered his eyes and saw "Ms. Gillis" on the screen. He clenched his teeth and answered."Mr. Schmidt, why is there so much going on on your end? It's reached Mr. Justin's ears now. What's going on?" Sheryl's tone was stern, clearly demanding answers."It's Jasper's doing. He wants to make it chaotic and use public opinion to suppress me so that I can't act freely."Jameson was already simmering with rage, and with Sheryl's attitude, he was on the brink of exploding. "I'll call Mr. Justin to explain later.""Hmph! Save it. Mr. Justin is furious right now. He'
Jasper's eyes turned cold. Just as he was about to call the director of Solana Daily, Javier's call came in. He sensed trouble and wanted to avoid Alyssa while answering. Yet he feared she'd think he was hiding something, so he reluctantly turned and picked up the phone. His voice was barely above a whisper."Yes, Dad?""Did you order the release of that news about the human drug experimentation on Solana Daily's official Twitter?" Javier's tone was stern."Yes.""I've already issued orders to take it down. As for the hashtag, even if we don't remove it, someone else will!"Jasper frowned, and a vein throbbed on his forehead. "No, it can't be removed."Alyssa glanced at him with a poker face."It's not that I want to remove it; it's an order from above. First of all, this news is suspected to be fake news. It wasn't confirmed by the official source before being released."This has already caused a lot of pressure on the higher-ups. People are scared! If we don't handle it, trou
"Look, Lyse. It's always like this," Jasper said.Alyssa looked at him, feeling sorry for him. She didn't blame him or reproach Javier.Even though they had to go against Jameson, the bond Jasper and Javier forged during Lauren's incident was precious. Alyssa hoped they wouldn't create further divisions."But don't worry. Even if Solana Daily doesn't publish it, I'll make sure other media outlets continue to report on it. It's just that their influence may not be as strong as Solana Daily's." Jasper's eyes burned red with frustration.The spark had just ignited. He couldn't let it be extinguished like this."This isn't your dad's fault. It's pressure from above." Alyssa's voice was gentle as she soothingly calmed his emotions."But what surprised me is that Justin called to intervene in this matter at this critical moment. I've been with your family for three years. Beckett Group has faced numerous commercial crises in the past, but he's always been unmoved."This time, it's jus
Even though the keyword "human experimentation" had been blocked, the public still managed to bring the hashtag back to the top of the trending list in another way. They refused to let it quietly fade away.The hashtag continued to trend, causing one of the participants, Aidan, to panic and immediately contact Jameson."Jameson! What the hell is going on? Didn't you say it was just a popular soft drug from abroad? How did it suddenly become an untested banned drug?"Having faced humiliation from Sheryl and being unable to reach Justin, Jameson now had to deal with Aidan's frantic inquiries. He had the urge to take out a machine gun and randomly kill people on the streets.But he had to endure it.He rose from being a forsaken outcast of the Schmidt family to forging his own path in Kontina. Now, thousands bowed before him. His success stemmed from his boldness, astuteness, and ability to remain composed under pressure.Jameson downed an entire glass of whisky and gasped for breat
In the following days, Alyssa and Jasper split up to attend to their own tasks.Although Jasper didn't openly defy Javier anymore, he continued to fan the flames behind the scenes. He was determined to use the spotlight of public attention to flush Jameson out of his dark hideout.This day, as Jasper was preparing to attend a meeting, he received an unexpected call from Colene."Madam Colene." His voice was calm and polite.Unlike her usual sharp-tongued self, Colene was surprisingly gentle in her treatment of Jasper. She even showed a hint of remorse."Jasper, I haven't properly thanked you for last time. If it weren't for you showing up on time, the Ivory would have been swindled by that dickhead Jameson."I still shudder at the thought. If we really lose the Ivory… I don't know how my dad could go on living. I'll be too embarrassed to face Winston.""Don't say that, Madam Colene. Everything I did was only right," Jasper replied humbly. "The trust that you, Winston, and all th
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
"Don't say that. You've done really well so far!" Xavier said gently, his voice a steady anchor as he tried to comfort Julien.He continued, "Many people spend their whole lives unable to quit even common drugs. The substance Mr. Beckett took is far more potent. The fact that he's found any relief at all is remarkable."Jasper's senses gradually returned, but he was left drained, and his eyes struggled to focus. "Julien…" "I'm right here," Julien murmured, leaning in to gently wipe the tears and cold sweat from Jasper's face with a tissue. Struggling for breath, Jasper rasped, "Keep my condition… a secret… especially from her." Julien didn't need to ask who he meant. It had to be Alyssa. It wasn't pride that fueled Jasper's plea. It was something deeper—a desperate wish to shield Alyssa from the sight of his brokenness, to spare her the disappointment of seeing him like this.Xavier helped Jasper to stand before addressing Julien. "Dr. Lovelace, I hope you understand—the f
Xavier gasped for air, his eyes fixed on the washroom door, now barricaded. He felt a sudden, clammy dread. Lost in his throes of addiction, Jasper's eyes glazed over as he succumbed to the familiar pull of unconsciousness. He was a sitting duck, helpless and at the mercy of whatever came his way. With a fierce glare, Xavier snatched up a mop and stormed to the door, his voice sharp and strained. "Who's there?"A steady and low voice came from the other side of the door. "Mr. Hall, it's me. Julien." Xavier's grip loosened, the mop clattering to the floor as tears burst forth. "Dr. Lovelace!" "Don't panic. I'm the only one out here. There's no one else here." Julien's voice softened, laced with urgency. "Jasper is having an episode, isn't he? Let me in so I can take a look at him."Hastily wiping his face, Xavier shoved the cart aside and fumbled with the lock. The door creaked open, and Julien slipped inside, lithe and precise, locking it swiftly behind him. "Dr. Lovelace,
Alyssa's body trembled, disappointment and shock flashing in her eyes. "Jasper…" The reporters' cameras clicked furiously, capturing Jasper's retreating figure. The crowd exchanged puzzled glances."Jasper, where are you going?"Landon, dumbfounded, instinctively moved to chase after him, but Xavier grabbed his arm, stopping him forcefully. "Mr. Harper, leave him to me!" Without another word, Xavier took off after Jasper.A strange unease settled over Landon as he stared at the open door, a sense of impending doom creeping in."Landon, stay here and watch over Lyse. Julien has disappeared—I'm going to find him!" After saying that, the grim-looking Jonah strode out of the room too. "Hey! You—" Landon clenched his jaw in frustration. "Why am I always left behind to clean up the mess?"Meanwhile, the reporters surged forward, swarming Justin.Sheryl tried to shield him behind her, but in heels, she was no match for the jostling crowd. She was shoved about, her outfit rumpl
Mandy remained by Remy's side in the hospital ward, never once leaving him as he lay unconscious. At this moment, like countless other Cyrrisians, she was also watching the shocking turn of events at Beckett Group's press conference unfold through her phone. She saw Julien's unexpected appearance and how he presented his evidence, turning the tide just as Jasper was engulfed by public criticism. Though pride and relief filled her heart, a deep concern lingered.Julien and Jonah had not spoken of it, but everyone in the family could tell—they had broken up. Julien had left for Mosgravia without a word of farewell, only calling her once in haste to say he was fine. Jonah, on the other hand, rarely returned home, and when he did, he looked drained, his once-bright eyes now clouded with gloom that refused to lift.Mandy's heart ached for them both, yet she had no idea what had driven them apart.Now that Julien had returned to support Jasper, there was a chance he would cross pa