"Can I join you?" Jasper asked, his demeanor warm and friendly.Nicholas replied simply, "Sure." Jasper gracefully sat opposite him, arriving alone with no backup.A palpable tension hung in the air even before a word was spoken. "Mr. Beckett," Nicholas began, "a man of your stature wouldn't be drinking coffee in a place like this." Nicholas then took a deep drag of his cigarette. His eyes were grim. "So, this isn't a coincidence. You've been following me.""It's not what you think," Jasper countered. A slight twitch of Jasper's lips accompanied his sincere gaze. "My wife told me everything that happened at the nursing home. She knew you'd be here if I couldn't find you at home. After all, both of us prioritize our wives. We might take detours, but we always end up in the same place, don't we?"An intelligent man would never directly communicate what he meant.Nicholas continued to smoke. "Are you and Ms. Alyssa married?"Jasper blinked and said, "Not yet.""Then, addressi
The corridors along the VIP ward were quiet and deserted. There was no one in sight.A female nurse came to check on Edgar after doing her rounds. As she left, a figure dressed as a nurse silently slipped into the ward.The ward was silent; Edgar was sound asleep.The man quickly took a syringe and plunged it into Edgar's withered arm.Surprisingly a light sleeper, Edgar bolted awake, his eyes wide with alarm. "W-Who are you?" It was the first time the man had done something like this. He panicked and stammered, "I-I am a new nurse. I'm here to do my rounds." "Nonsense! My daughter personally selected a nurse for me. Who the hell are you?"This man set off alarm bells in Edgar's head. He reached for the call button, but the man reacted swiftly, clamping a hand around his neck."I'm sorry, Mr. Edgar. At this point, I have no choice!"A sinister glint flickered in the man's eyes as he tightened his grip. Edgar's mouth gaped open, his pale complexion turning a sickly purple.
On the way out through the airport halls, the police carefully covered Joseph's handcuffed hands with clothes to avoid creating unnecessary commotion. Despite that, whispers and curious glances followed them. The travelers even took pictures and posted them online.In the interrogation room, Joseph, who always cultivated an image of elegance and reason, now pounded the table with his cuffed hands, screaming in frustration, "Didn't Aidan confess to everything? I don't know anything about his illegal drug business, and it has nothing to do with me. Who put you up to this? Why target me and the Lovelace Group?"Cyrus stared coldly at the man he once called Uncle Joseph. His lips formed a thin, impassive line. "Mr. Joseph, is that foresight you're displaying, or perhaps a guilty conscience? I haven't even mentioned drugs, yet you're already incriminating yourself."Joseph broke out in a cold sweat under Cyrus' unyielding gaze. He attempted to leverage their relationship to his advanta
The news of Aidan's suicide sent shockwaves through Solana City.Upon receiving the news, Alyssa hurried to Solana City with Mandy. Jasper followed them, fearing someone would hurt Mandy during this sensitive period."Cyrus told me the police found what seems to be a suicide note from Aidan in his coat jacket. It mentioned remorse for his actions and letting his grandfather and father down," Alyssa shared in her villa. Meanwhile, Jasper took it upon himself to warm two glasses of milk. He handed one to Mandy and the other to Alyssa. "This all happened so suddenly. Why… How…" Mandy trailed off, her voice thick with disbelief. It was one bad blow after another, and it all happened within a night. Mandy, a woman known for her composure, was starting to unravel. "I watched Aidan grow up. He was always so competitive. They raised and groomed him to be the successor. This must have been a crushing weight on him—the biggest sin he'd ever committed. Aidan must have felt completely co
Carl's blood ran cold at Jameson's words. He couldn't bring himself to speak. "I told you to keep Nicholas under close watch, and as I expected, he's been communicating with someone." A cruel, mocking laugh escaped Jameson's lips. "Didn't I tell you? In this world, only the dead can be truly trusted.""You're a genius, Mr. Schmidt!" Admiration and shock warred on Carl's face. "But, how did you realize something was off with Chief Novak?""He asked me about the drug development progress the other day, completely out of the blue. Never before has he bothered himself with such minor details."Jameson circled the table, picking up a photo from a stack. He studied it with chilling coldness. The picture captured Jasper placing a lighter in Nicholas' hand during their meeting at a café.A long moment passed before Jameson crumpled the photo into a tight ball, his eyes hardening with repressed fury."Are you planning to..." Carl ventured cautiously. "Forgive my bluntness, but Chief Nova
Mandy began, "Everyone, I'm sure you've all heard about what happened recently at the Lovelace Group. This is an emergency, so I will keep it brief." Mandy took the center seat at the meeting table, exuding power and fearlessness. "Effective immediately, I will be taking over from my brother, Joseph and assume the position of Lovelace Group's chairman." The room erupted in an uproar. "Ms. Lovelace… No, I mean, Mrs. Taylor. You've married into the Taylor family. You can't be making decisions for the Lovelaces now." Someone mocked, "Furthermore, you had a falling out with Mr. Edgar to be with Mr. Winston. Don't think we've forgotten how you cut ties with the Lovelace family. "For the past 20 years, you never cared about Lovelace Group. Now that it's in trouble, you're the first to step in and claim it. Don't you think trying to get a slice of the pie makes you look bad?"The others joined in criticizing Mandy."It has been half a month since Lovelace Group got into trouble.
"Julien…" Upon witnessing Julien's entrance, Mandy was moved to tears. Everyone else in the room was shocked to see Julien at first. Their shocked faces were subsequently replaced by looks of disdain shortly after. Everyone knew that Julien had been outcasted by the Lovelace family long ago. He wasn't allowed to participate in the corporation's operations. To them, he was simply a doctor who only studied CT scans in his doctor's office. They believed Julien knew nothing about the business world. Not just that, he was previously embroiled in a scandal. The photos of him being intimate with Jonah were exposed to the whole wide world, bringing humiliation to the Lovelace family. "This is a board meeting, Mr. Julien. It's not like those bars and nightclubs that you frequent. You're being a little too tactless!" The arrogant board member from before mocked Julien. His insult made everyone else chuckle. "The place you're occupying belongs to the Lovelace family. I am also part of
Once the board meeting ended, the announcement about Mandy's and Julien's appointment was released to all Lovelace Group employees. Julien exited the meeting room. The moment he entered the chairman's office, he plunged into Jonah's arms. He nuzzled his sweaty face against Jonah's shoulder. He could finally feel at ease, knowing that he was finally back in his lover's presence. He also let go of the confident persona he was putting up and melted into Jonah's embrace."Congratulations, Mr. Julien. You've succeeded in taking over." Jonah lifted his hand and stroked Julien's hair gently. In a gentle and raspy voice, he said, "You are someone with status and a title now. You are the second-in-command in the Lovelace family. I'll have to rely on your support in the future, Mr. Julien." Julien clicked his tongue. "Forget it." Julien let out a long sigh. He said in a coy voice, "If you hadn't bulk purchased Lovelace Group's shares in secret to stabilize our share price, our corpora
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
"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