A cold glint flickered in Jameson's eyes, masking the savage fury unleashed by the pain and desperation as his wound was torn open."Lyse… I know you despise me, but you can't slander me like this…" "I slandered you? Jameson, you've really gone off the deep end. You dared to do such a thing but don't have the guts to admit to it?" Alyssa stared straight at his pale and gloomy face. There wasn't any fear within her, only a heart-wrenching resentment. "Mrs. Schmidt looked like she was having an episode because of what I said, but I already felt something was off when she was seizing and foaming at the mouth. "In the past, you've said that your mother's heart was weak. But when I checked on her eyes and pulse at the time, she wasn't presenting with symptoms of a heart attack, let alone a seizure. "Subsequently, red spots started to form on her skin. Pairing all that with the way you're reacting right now, I have reason to believe that you injected Mrs. Schmidt with some poisonous
Even though Axel barely showed any emotion on his face, Amber knew he was on the verge of breaking down. One word from her—a futile attempt at comfort—and his carefully held emotions would explode."Jonah… Jasper…"The moment Axel laid eyes on his family, his body trembled. His strong, unyielding façade crumbled as tears finally broke free."Don't cry, Axel." Jonah went up and embraced Axel. He patted his back lightly. "Crying wouldn't solve any of our problems. The most important thing now is to rescue Lyse." "It was all my fault… It was all my fucking fault!" Axel gave himself a hard slap. "I was the one who neglected Lyse… I was the one who lost her. I deserve to die." "Axel, it had nothing to do with you." Jasper walked over slowly, his footsteps heavy, eyes bloodshot and sunken. "I'm the one to blame. "I'm Lyse's partner, and I've sworn to all of you that I'd protect her… Yet, I've messed everything up. I'm sorry." He had messed it all up. He'd spoken similar ones bef
"Let's look into them, then. We'll find her. We'll search the islands one by one!" Axel wiped his tears away. His eyes had become bloodshot. "Let me inform Liam to deploy more manpower to Kontina as soon as possible." "I've informed Liam, even though I really didn't want to." Jonah had an extremely bitter smile on his face as he took a deep breath. "Now, as we try to keep our family stable, we must also mobilize all the resources we have to track Lyse down. Liam is already rushing to Kontina. I'm sure he has the authority to mobilize some manpower." Jasper looked at Jonah with a firm and fiery gaze. In a concerned voice, he remarked, "With Liam's high status and power, I'm afraid that he'd be criticized for acting on his own accord. I don't want it to affect his future." "Future, status, and all that don't mean anything!" Axel couldn't bear the agony in his heart. With tears in his eyes, he exclaimed, "Nothing is more important than Lyse. "We'll set out tomorrow… No, let'
Alyssa's cell phone was long gone. There was no television or computer in the room either. She had no idea how many days had passed since arriving on this island. Having been injected with a high dose of tranquilizer, although she was awake, she was almost paralyzed from the neck down. In this state, she was like a hopeless yet appealing live mannequin. The silence in the luxurious and chilly room was suffocating. Even the wind and waves couldn't be heard. Clearly, this room was quite some distance away from the sea. It was a gilded cage that Jameson had crafted for her.Alyssa's limp body lay on the light yellow bedding. She was no longer wearing the outfit she had on when she came. Instead, she was forced to change into a thin, red-colored lace nightgown. Like a delicate rose, she seemed to wither, inch by inch, losing all signs of life.A female helper on the island had dressed her in that nightgown.Despite Jameson's cruelty toward everyone else, he had never forced hims
Jameson failed to get even a drop of water into Alyssa's mouth. The water flowed from the glass and downward along Alyssa's chin to her neck. "You're being really bad, Lyse. But this is who you are." Jameson narrowed his eyes a little. He filled his mouth with water, then grabbed her chin to force her mouth open. "Mmph!" Suddenly, he pressed his lips onto hers, releasing the warm water, little by little, into her mouth. Yet, this was not enough. He lingered, refusing to pull away as he carefully tasted this sweetness. At the same time, the look in his eyes gradually became dazed as his eyes filled with gratification.Alyssa's eyes, on the other hand, turned red with anger. She clenched her fists tight and couldn't stop shaking in his arms. She wanted to bite down on his misbehaving tongue, but as if anticipating her move, he pinched her jaw, preventing her from closing her mouth. She was powerless against him.Jameson heaved, finally pulling away from her lips reluctantly.
A medication that could make her lose her memory? Alyssa heard that part about losing her memory. In an instant, she broke out in a cold sweat. Her heart throbbed painfully. What medication was that? Why would there be memory loss involved? What in the world was Jameson going to do to her? "Ms. Alyssa is a stubborn woman straight down to her core. If you're not going to have her take the medication but instead try to move her with your sincerity, making her feel touched or making her loyal to you will just be a pipe dream. "If that were possible, Jasper would've lost a long time ago. Would this have dragged on till today?" "But Lyse had a miscarriage in the past. Her physical condition hasn't been the same since she recovered from it." Bitterness filled Jameson's eyes. The pain in his chest made him inhale sharply, as if it was his child whom Alyssa had lost. "It's still okay if all that medication does is wipe out Lyse's memories. "However, there are many prohibited co
"Lyse, you're finally awake!" Jameson held Alyssa's soft hands tightly as he caressed and kissed them longingly. He had been so anxious that he was on the brink of tears. "You've been sleeping for 24 hours. You really scared me to death. I was afraid that you were unwell!"I got a doctor to come over while you were asleep and got you injected with glucose. You can't keep going on without food. No matter how much you hate me, you shouldn't torture yourself. Is it even worth it this way?" As a doctor, Alyssa knew she couldn't hold up much longer. This bastard, Jameson, was right. Even if she wanted to kill him, she needed to gather enough strength to do so. "I'm craving meat," Alyssa uttered without looking at him. After five days, Jameson finally invoked a normal response from her. The quiver in his eyes reflected the joy within him. "Sure… I'll have the kitchen staff prepare something for you now. It'll be ready soon. Hold on, Lyse!"Less than an hour later, the kitchen sta
Alyssa trembled uncontrollably in Jameson's arms. A twinkle of hope lit up in her eyes. Could it be her brothers? Was it Jasper? They found her, didn't they? Emotions surged fiercely within her, and tears of anguish filled her eyes. She was this close to bursting out in tears. However, after being drugged by Jameson, her limbs were limp and devoid of energy. Escaping his grasp was impossible."A visitor?" Jameson's elegant face paled instantly. "Just one?" "Yeah. A man." Upon hearing this, Jameson didn't let his guard down. Instead, he felt as if his heart were being constricted by a thorny vine. The pain made his heart cramp.In the next second, before he could respond, a series of heavy, chilling footsteps echoed through the dining room as the man strode in confidently."Mr. Schmidt." The man's voice was deep and hoarse, like golden sand under the bright sun. Alyssa's heart raced with anticipation as she looked up. That glance was a seismic event for her. Her moist
"Mr. Lexington," the doctor greeted respectfully, lowering his head slightly. Everyone at the base knew who Sheryl and Remy were. They were the ones in charge, the decision-makers. So, everyone obeyed their orders without question. To the staff unaware of the facility's true purpose, Sheryl and Remy stood at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Unbeknownst to them, someone more powerful lurked in the shadows."How has she been these past few days?" Remy asked, his expression unreadable."She's had some adverse reactions, but there are no signs of organ failure yet. Honestly, I'm surprised. She looks frail, but her body is incredibly resilient—stronger than some men, even."The doctor scoffed. "But I'm not sure if she'll make it past her fourth injection today. Last month, four test subjects didn't survive beyond that point. Their bodies have already been sent to the incinerator." Remy's jaw tensed. His voice was husky as he said, "As I've instructed, this woman must be kept alive.
Xavier seethed as he took in the insincere smile on Justin's face. Deep down, he was cursing him with every profanity imaginable. "Whatever makes you happy."Ignoring Justin's dark gaze, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead as he strode past him.Out of nowhere, Justin chuckled and asked, "Did you really think you had people on your side during the board meeting?"Jasper halted, his eyes narrowing. "Grandpa tried his best to shield you, but his health is failing by the day. How much longer do you think an old man can protect you?"Lowering his gaze, Justin idly adjusted the ruby cufflinks on his sleeves. His voice was casual yet cutting. "And Lyse—after how ruthlessly you discarded her, do you still believe she'll stand by you no matter what? That she'll fight alongside you like before?"The intense midday sun accentuated the sharp, aloof, and pallid features of Jasper's face as he stood, unyielding, in its glare. His pulse quickened. Finally, he answered, his voice a low rasp. "R
As the board meeting concluded, the crowd gradually dispersed.News of Justin securing his position as president and Alyssa joining the board quickly spread through Beckett Group.After the meeting, Alyssa escorted Newton back to Crescent Bay while Jasper remained at the corporation to handle some matters.With Xavier accompanying him, Jasper strode toward the chairman's office, his expression cold and unreadable.Nearby, a few employees huddled together, whispering."Psst! Do you think Alyssa joining the board means she's teaming up with Jasper to take down our new president?""People have been saying they broke up since they haven't been seen together for a while," another speculated."But at the press conference, Alyssa openly condemned Mr. Justin. That looked like she was siding with Jasper. So, are they still together or not?""Come on, to people like them, personal feelings don't matter—only their own interests do. Even if they broke up, they can still work together if it
When Jonah reached the bedside, he leaned in slowly, giving Julien an unobstructed view of his tanned skin, well-defined abs, and that devastatingly captivating face. Reclining against the headboard, Julien found himself lost in Jonah's eyes. His breath hitched, and his mind momentarily blanked as Jonah's mesmerizing gaze locked onto him. What could he do? His heart still betrayed him, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He was a fool—a pathetic fool. Jonah braced his arms on either side of Julien's head, his dark eyes overflowing with a raw, possessive affection. It was as if he sought to consume Julien—just as he had last night."Julien, does it still hurt—" "Fuck you!" Julien's bloodshot eyes blazed as he swung his hand, landing a sharp slap across Jonah's face. The illusion of his frailty shattered. A crimson handprint bloomed on Jonah's cheek in a split second, the flesh puffing up visibly. But the sting barely registered. Not when the ache in Jonah's chest was alr
Justin frowned as a hint of surprise flashed across his dark eyes. He had assumed Newton's unannounced appearance at the board meeting—along with Alyssa's involvement—was a coordinated effort with Jasper to overthrow him as president. After mentally running through hundreds of countermeasures, the one possibility he hadn't considered was that everything would proceed smoothly in his favor. Javier was equally stunned, though this outcome aligned with his desires. Today, Justin wasn't merely his son but a constant shadow looming over him, a silent predator watching his every move and reminding him that his past actions weren't completely buried. Instead, this secret loomed like a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment, obliterating everything he'd built. And the person holding the detonator was Justin—his eldest son whom he had trusted above all others. With a dim gaze, Javier watched Justin rise to his feet amid the applause. Suddenly, Justin's voice seemed distant,
Justin curled his lips into a smirk, scoffing in silence. Newton had gone to great lengths to bring Alyssa into Beckett Group. This was his way of decentralizing power and keeping it in check, and he wanted to prevent Justin from having complete control. Unlike others, Javier couldn't hold himself back. He blew his top instantly, his face turning red like a tomato. "Dad, have you lost your mind? Don't you know who she is? She is KS Group's president—our direct competitor!"KS Group is also bidding for Project A5. No matter how much you favor her, you should at least recognize the limits. If you promote her, it's a blatant conflict of interest—outright cronyism!" Newton sneered. "I might understand your concern if I were promoting someone other than Alyssa."His gaze hardened. "Cronyism? A conflict of interest? I wonder who you're really talking about."With those words, he cast a knowing, enigmatic glance at Justin's blank expression. Just then, a board member from Javier's
Despite his age, Newton exuded the same energy and sharpness he had in his younger days, even when surrounded by the board members brimming with vigor. Despite his quiet presence in the wheelchair, an intimidating atmosphere clung to him. In an instant, Javier was transported back to the days when he worked under Newton's strict supervision."Good day, Mr. Javier and all fellow board members. I assume no one has any objections to my presence at this meeting?"Newton's gaze swept across the room, a perfunctory smile gracing his lips."Of course not. You are part of the corporation's board of directors!" the members responded immediately.Newton nodded. "Much has happened within the corporation lately. Our shares have been fluctuating amid the controversy. "As you all know, I had intended to retire after dedicating most of my life to this company. I wanted to step aside for the younger generation rather than hover over them like a specter, micromanaging everything. "However,
Jasper's arrival plunged the conference room into an uneasy silence, and heavy tension settled over the space. Justin looked up, his expression a frozen mask. A palpable chill emanated from him. Javier's eyes widened in surprise. "Jasper? What are you doing here?" "Even though I'm no longer the president of Beckett Group, I remain a shareholder and board member. It's only natural for me to be here," Jasper replied smoothly as he strolled to his seat. As he passed behind Justin, he abruptly stopped. Without a moment's notice, he struck the back of Justin's chair. The sudden impact made Justin flinch. "Am I right, Justin?" Justin's expression darkened. Forcing a smile, he replied, "As a board member, you have the right to attend, even if you're no longer involved in operations. There's no issue.""If that's the case, why wasn't I informed about this meeting?" Jasper lowered himself into his seat, legs slightly parted, exuding an air of indifference. Yet, beneath the nonc
Beckett Group was, in essence, Javier's heart and soul, forged from his own labor. "Justin set me up, framed me for drug addiction, and bribed my primary physician to give false testimony—all so he could drag me down. The fact that he dared to target me like this means he's willing to betray anyone."Jasper took a deep breath, forcing down the rage roiling inside him as Javier remained silent. "Fine. Even if you insist this is just a family matter, Justin's reputation is already in ruins, and the corporation's stock prices are fluctuating. Are you really going to stand by him, even now?""Justin has explained everything to me. He wasn't aware of the bribery. That female doctor who worked for him acted on her own. Besides, she's been arrested. The backlash against Justin will settle in time…"Jasper listened, his face unreadable, but his heart clenched painfully. A lump rose in his throat, suffocating him.He had lost his mother at a young age, but he had never longed for his fa