"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
Nicholas stood frozen in place. His mind was buzzing.It wasn't until the nurse called out to him that he took slow, heavy steps toward the ward.Natalie appeared frail and gaunt as she leaned against the bed. Her eyes widened with panic, mirroring a startled deer, as she tightly held Alyssa's hand.Standing by the window, Alyssa gently stroked Natalie's back. She whispered soothing words to help calm her emotions.Nicholas watched dumbfoundedly at the door.Phoebe, who had been tending to Natalie for almost a decade, sometimes struggled to manage Natalie due to the torment of her illness. Alyssa had just met her, so how could they already get along so well?And under Alyssa's comfort, Natalie's emotions stabilized entirely without the use of tranquillizers. It was simply unbelievable."Nat!" Nicholas walked over with a pale face. He pulled Natalie into his arms and held her tightly."Mrs. Novak, you kept asking me where your husband was just now, right? He's here now." Alyssa'
The wind whistling past on the rooftop seemed to transform into invisible blades."Of course," Nicholas replied in a low voice, without any unnecessary words.Having been in office for many years, he understood the principle of speaking according to the situation well.He knew that speaking too much often led to mistakes, especially when facing the woman before him, whom he recognized as no ordinary person. Alyssa was courageous and possessed the intelligence of a shrewd strategist.After all, she was the woman Jameson deeply loved."In that case, we share the same goals. We shouldn't be enemies but comrades fighting side by side." Alyssa smiled faintly."Ms. Alyssa, I don't feel I need to fight side by side with you."Nicholas' eyes turned cold. "You're a magnate, and I'm a public servant. Our paths should diverge. But regardless, thank you for saving my wife. I'll repay this kindness in the future. If not, perhaps in the next life."Alyssa frowned."I need to go back to take
"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
"Don't be so pessimistic, Jonah," Alyssa said. Perhaps having just seen Jasper and going through that heart-stopping moment made Alyssa emotional. Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "If you truly love someone, you don't need to possess him to find happiness. Isn't it enough to know he's alive, well, and living freely somewhere in this world?""You're right, Lyse." Sorrow filled Jonah's voice as he smiled bitterly. "Julien has already lost and sacrificed too much for my sake. I don't deserve to have such a good man. He'll only find true happiness by leaving me."…After Justin took over as president of Beckett Group, his first move was to wrest control of the A5 Project bid from Jasper's hands.Though Jasper had failed as the leader of Beckett Group, as the eldest son, it was only natural for Justin to inherit the position of power. Justin was aware of lingering opposition within the corporation. Some doubted whether he possessed the decisiveness and singular capabili