"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
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Jasper grabbed his lower elbow on the right with his left hand but failed to stop the shaking. The ballpoint pen fell with a thud onto the floor.Feeling odd, Alyssa finally paid him attention and checked him out. He looked pale, and his hair was a mess. She spotted dust on his black suit and some tear and wear near the lapel and shirt collar.What was he up to before this? Why did he appear a little disheveled?Puzzled, she picked up the pen and handed it to him.Finally, the two forms were signed. The staff wrapped up the procedure, and the divorce was finalized."All the best to both of you."Staring at the divorce certificate as she left the city hall, she struggled to describe her feelings. They dragged out the divorce to the point that she had gotten over the initial heartache. More than anything, she felt a wave of relief.She had once lived solely for love and learned her lesson. After reuniting with the Taylor family, her only wish
At that moment, Alyssa so wanted to be Colene's pet, Bobo, and tear that bastard into pieces! In the three years of marriage, they had slept in separate rooms and never held hands. She was disgusted at how he shamelessly initiated the skinship after the divorce.His heart seemed to have broken into half."Mr. Beckett!" A Porsche stopped in front of them. Xavier hopped out worriedly. "Are you mad? You should have gone to the hospital after the car crash! You're not taking your health seriously!""It won't kill." Jasper struggled to open his eyes. Still, he couldn't see Alyssa clearly. "You're the mad one."Alyssa was stunned. She finally learned the reason behind his tardiness and why he was so out of it to the point that he couldn't hold a pen.He had been involved in a car crash!"You should have gone to the hospital! Do you think you're invincible? What if there's internal bleeding? The delay might lead to paralysis, do you know that?" She glared at him as her heart leaped to
"Mr. Beckett!"…Jasper woke up to find himself lying on a patient bed."Alyssa …" The first thing out of his mouth was Alyssa's name."The tendon in your right hand is injured. We observed some light concussion and a bit of blood clot, but they shouldn't pose an issue." Alyssa stood by the windows with her back against the light, leaving him with the sight of her lovely silhouette.When Jasper was in a coma, Xavier filled in Alyssa with the details of the car crash. Xavier claimed that Jasper had not slept at all. He found Jasper in the study filled with suffocating cigarette smoke in the morning."I think he must have lost his focus because he didn't sleep well. His headache might have affected his driving as well."Alyssa was aware of the intensity of Jasper's headache. For that reason, he had rarely driven himself anywhere in recent years. He had pulled off sleep deprivation, heavy smoking, and refusal of medical treatment in one day."Who are you torturing yourself for?
The issuance of the divorce certificate ended Alyssa and Jasper's three-year entanglement. If memory served her right, Jasper and Liana were set to marry after Newton's birthday. After years of waiting, it was Liana's time to show off the title of Mrs. Beckett to the world.Alyssa had nothing but good wishes for the couple. After all, the two deserved each other.Alyssa went home to Belbanks in the evening, accompanied by her two brothers and Sean."Lyse!" Alyssa heard a singsong voice from afar when she stepped foot in Heightsnew Villa. Smiling ear to ear, she responded, "Taty!"Tatiana, the ninth Taylor sibling, and Winston's youngest daughter, ran up to Alyssa with joy and anticipation."Lyse, I missed you so!" Tatiana hugged Alyssa with teary eyes and an adorable red nose."Look at you! Little crybaby, are you upset that I'm back?" Alyssa wrapped her arms around Tatiana's waist and gave the latter a kiss on the forehead. Although she was as tall as Tatiana, at that instan
Tatiana stuttered, "Y-Yes!" "I'll go to your performance with Ms. Alyssa." Sean beamed at Tatiana like a big brother. He was close to Alyssa and Tatiana because he watched them grow up. He even recalled how the young Tatiana, around six or seven years old, always followed Alyssa around with snot on her face, sucking on a lollipop.Alyssa did not notice the blush on Tatiana's cheeks because the latter was easily embarrassed. Little did she know that Tatiana had a crush on Sean for seven years."Let's go. I'm famished. I've been missing Lyla's cooking for days! Time to eat!" She held Tatiana's hand and traversed the villa."Mom's still in the kitchen. Dinner is not ready yet because you're back early." Tatiana swung Alyssa's arm, just like she had done since she was young."Oh! I'm hungry, though." Alyssa's stomach was growling from hunger."How about some snacks?" Sean smiled and unwrapped a chocolate bar he fished from his jacket pocket. Then, he attentively fed it to her.Sh
Mandy was prepared to take the bullet for everyone else as long as Lyla and Colene were not implicated."Why didn't you tell me? You should have known better than my daughter! Don't you feel bad watching her living in hell?" Winston was taking out his anger on Mandy."Winston, it's all my fault." Mandy slowly rose from her seat. She couldn't be more humble as the proud daughter of the Lovelace Family. "Don't blame it on Lyse. Fault me instead. I did not pay enough attention to her."Alyssa felt her chest tightened. She was about to defend Mandy when the hot-tempered Colene shot up from the couch and blurted out, "Don't blame it on Mandy! I'm responsible too! I knew about Lyse's marriage from the start!""What?" Winston's eyes popped out of his head."M-Me too …" Lyla meekly raised her hand. "I knew about it … way before this.""Lyla, even you are involved … They are a bad influence on you!" His head was spinning when he learned that the innocent Lyla had learned to lie.Tears fi
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
Sebastian understood what Alyssa wanted. There wasn't substantial proof to prove that Jasper had abused drugs in the first place. The substance found in his blood was simply supporting evidence. As long as they found the right opportunity to reveal that, it wouldn't completely exonerate him, but it could at least divert public suspicion."Okay, okay… I'll do that. I'll do everything you say!" Sebastian promised. …After emerging from the Bender residence, Landon took Zayne away to keep him under close watch and ensure Sebastian wouldn't retract his statement. Landon planned to release him only after Sebastian fulfilled Jasper and Alyssa's request."Landon, it's really nice to see you. How's Lauren doing lately?" Afraid of looking at Jasper, Alyssa had no choice but to speak with Landon."She's doing great." A tender look came across Landon's eyes at the mention of Lauren. Landon blushed and continued, "We're now trying for a baby." "Really? That's wonderful!" Alyssa was
While Alyssa spoke, Jasper remained expressionless next to her. Even so, he still couldn't help but peer at her from the corner of his eye. Others might feel that she was being too assertive and aggressive with that fierce gaze in her eyes, but for Jasper, that evoked an inexplicable feeling within him. To him, she looked even more attractive than she normally was. It was as if she gave off a captivating glow. Sebastian slumped to his knees again. Alyssa's words struck him like a ton of bricks. Still, he had already chosen the wrong side—Sheryl's side. What could he do now? He had no choice but to see it through to the end.After all, he had seen the news two days ago. Jasper was no longer the president of Beckett Group. He held no authority anymore. Aligning with Justin had seemed like the right decision.If he betrayed Justin and switched sides, he would surely be doomed."Mr. Jasper... Ms. Alyssa," Sebastian stammered, desperation etched into his voice. "What's the point of