Landon organized a heartwarming and sumptuous dinner party at the fortress that evening. Lauren loved plushies, so cute stuffed toys were displayed around the fortress. Every table had a pair of teddy bears. One was a silly-looking brown bear in a black suit, representing Landon. The other, representing Lauren, was a light pink bear in a white wedding dress leaning against the brown teddy. Due to Lauren's health condition, she couldn't consume overly greasy foods. Thus, most of the dishes served at the dinner reception were dishes catered to her palate. Every dish was made using top-grade ingredients that were flown in. They might be plain, but everyone was satisfied with them. Lauren couldn't consume alcohol either. Thus, there was not a single glass of alcohol at the tables that evening. Instead, the drinks were replaced with various juices and teas. During the newlyweds' toast, Landon prepared a glass of his handmade sweet tea for Lauren. After being in the hospital for an
All of a sudden, a glimmer flashed across Lauren's clear eyes. She stared straight at the audience. Her lashes fluttered, and her pink lips started quivering. Her eyes turned red. They glistened as she welled up with tears. "Darling. Darling? Are you okay?" Landon started panicking when he noticed that Lauren was crying. "A-An-Angie…" Lauren stuttered.Her lips trembled, and her voice was extremely raspy, as if she had been parched for a long time. Though her voice barely rose above a murmur, Landon caught every word. He heard her loud and clear! "Lauren! You… You can speak?" Landon was so agitated that tears filled his eyes. He lost it. "Lauren! You really can speak?" "Lan-don…"Lauren lifted a finger and pointed to the spot below the stage nearest to them. She had a wide smile on her face, yet tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I… see… Angie…"Landon looked in the direction that Lauren was pointing at. There was no one there. Without Angelina, he wouldn't hav
Alyssa put her palm to her forehead. She was speechless. Sean, that brat… How hard did he go? He did it on purpose, didn't he?"Taty, how did you find out, then?""After that time, I haven't been feeling very well. I've been feeling sluggish… I thought I was tired because of insufficient rest, so I didn't think too much about it. "It wasn't until recently, when I started feeling nauseous, that I felt that something was wrong. I went out secretly the night before last to buy a pregnancy test kit. I tested yesterday morning and…"Even though this was good news, Alyssa's hair stood on end as she listened to Tatiana. She even felt really guilty. She had been focusing on looking after Lauren and helping her out all she could. Sean, as her subordinate, was also in the thick of things. They all failed to care for Tatiana, who looked pale but was still trying to keep her spirits up. Tatiana was pregnant at such a young age. She felt stressed both physically and mentally. She was not
Nonetheless, Axel was the one who thought too much into it. Amber's phone was switched off. His glimmer of hope died down once again. He left the balcony dejectedly. He had only taken a few steps when he saw…At the other end of the corridor, Yuliana was sitting on the floor with her back against the wall. She had a bottle of wine in her hand and was completely wasted. The expensive dress she was wearing had stains of red wine on it. Her hair was in a mess, and strands of hair were stuck on her cheeks. She was like a drunkard slumped on the ground. At the same time, there was a tall man with broad shoulders standing in front of her. Axel was surprised to see that that man was Liam. Axel toyed with an unlit cigarette between his lips. He cocked his head and observed them curiously. Yuliana was kicking her legs around like a child throwing a tantrum. Even so, Liam showed no sign of being annoyed. He simply watched her quietly with a tender, loving smile on his face. In
The atmosphere was heavy and tense. The theory Liam had formed through Winston was now confirmed by Axel. Massive waves of emotions surged within him. He felt like someone had pulled the rug from under him. Every ounce of energy drained from his otherwise unrelenting body, and he slumped forward. "Liam, Dad has been able to force himself to hold on because of Jonah and Julien, as well as Lyse and Jasper's efforts. It wasn't easy for them to journey with Dad and get through all that. He won't be able to take another blow or suffer again. "If you're unable to end it properly with that princess of yours, your relationship with her will surely become a threat to our family in the future." Axel narrowed his eyes. The look on his face was cold. "If you can't bring yourself to do it, I can do it on your behalf. I'm not afraid of embarrassing myself, and I'm not afraid of being mean either." "No. I don't need your help." Liam lowered his eyes and tried to hide away his pain. In
Jasper's chest tightened as he listened silently. "If he says 'yes' tonight, we will register our marriage first thing tomorrow morning." Jonah was always the calm and restrained type of person. At this moment, however, there was a sense of happiness in his voice. A slight tremble accompanied his every word, as if he was forcing himself to hold his excitement back. "Same-sex marriage is legal in Bernardia. There can be no better opportunity than this." "Congratulations, Jonah," Jasper said in a low voice, which carried a hint of envy. "I have been keeping this thought to myself for a really long time. I didn't know who to tell. It didn't feel right to tell Lyse either."Jonah chuckled awkwardly. "After thinking about it, I figured you are the only one I can tell." "It is my privilege to be the first to find out about your good news." Jasper smiled. He gave them his blessings from the bottom of his heart. "I give my sincerest blessings to the both of you. You and Julien m
Jasper's heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drum solo threatening to burst through his chest. He clenched his hand into a fist against the door. "Why not?" Winston was perplexed. "Jasper treats you the best. The relationship between both of you has already stabilized, and you've lived together for so long. Why don't you just register your marriage? That way, things will get a lot easier once your relationship is legally recognized." Alyssa pressed her lips together lightly. "A marriage certificate makes no difference for Jasper and I." "How is there no difference? If you ask me, the most realistic way to express one's love is to give their lover a status that no one else can replace!" Winston's gaze was fiery, and he started getting a little emotional. "The only person I have married legally was your mother. She is the only one who has a special place in my heart. She was the only wife I had legally. Although it has been many years since she passed, her place in my hear
"I'm sorry, Lyse." Winston shut his eyes, which were now welled up with tears. "I can't tell you the reason. But please trust me on one thing—what your mother and I had was eternal. She's the only one I love, even till today." "Dad…""Truth be told, during those days when I was really ill, there was one thing I thought about every day. I thought about giving up on treatment and just letting it all go. That way, I would be able to be reunited with your mother in heaven sooner." Alyssa rested her head on Winston's knees and let out a long sigh. The ambiguity of Winston's response made her feel even more troubled. It gave her an even stronger desire to pursue the truth about Jennifer's life story. …Xavier was startled to see Jasper returning to his room. "That was a quick proposal, Mr. Beckett! Did madam say 'yes'?" Jasper shook his head dejectedly. "I didn't propose." "What? Why not? This is such a great opportunity!" "I'll wait for another chance in the future." Jas
Jonah's gaze burned with a mix of longing, sorrow, and something deeply affectionate. The world swam back into focus as Julien looked at Jonah. Without preamble, he asked, "Are you new? How much do you charge per night?"Light-headed and grinning, Julien reached out a hand, his fingers brushing softly against Jonah's cheek. "You're pretty good-looking," he said, his voice slurred. Then his expression shifted. "Why do you… look so much like someone I hate with every fiber of my being?"Jonah's heart clenched. Even so, he slid his arms around Julien's waist. Trembling, he pulled Julien into his arms. "I'm new here. Could you help me meet my target tonight, Mr. Lovelace?"Julien's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Jonah. Jonah's eyes teared up as he held Julien's waist tightly. "I promise you won't be disappointed," he said, his voice deep. Watching from the shadows below the stage, Evan nearly gagged at Jonah's sultry tone. Was this really the Judas he knew? The man sounded downri
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