"Lyse, calm down. Listen to me!" Jonah felt a sharp pain in his chest, emotions swirling inside him. He knew he couldn't keep the truth from Alyssa but had to explain it in a way that didn't make things seem worse than they were."Jasper got hurt fighting Jameson on Rose Island. He's been unconscious since then. But don't worry, aside from being shot in the left shoulder, he has no other external injuries, and his internal organs are fine.""Left shoulder… again?" Alyssa's eyes brimmed with tears. Her heart ached for him. "Back on Shelland Island, Jasper hurt his left shoulder saving me. Now, he's been shot there again? His left shoulder will be ruined for life!"A tear rolled down her cheek as if the bullet had pierced her heart too."Don't worry, Lyse," Miley said quickly. "Jeremy and I found the best surgeon in Kontina to remove the bullet and operate. Jasper's arm will be fine. He might have some pain, but it won't stop him from living normally.""If it's just an external in
"Julien, what did you find?" Jonah approached Julien quickly, wrapping an arm around his waist and gently caressing him. With his other hand, he pulled the CT scan from Julien's grasp.Julien narrowed his eyes slightly. "Do you know how to read it?" Jonah was honest. He answered in a deep voice, "I don't. Please enlighten me, darling." Julien pouted, giving Jonah a playful jab in his firm abdomen with his finger.He knew Jonah's heart was heavy, and he wasn't in the mood to flirt. Regardless, Julien just wanted to lift his spirits after all the exhaustion. Julien had been tirelessly thinking of ways to help Jasper since the moment he stepped onto Kontinian soil."Jul…" Alyssa turned her head to look at Julien. With her eyes filled with tears, she looked extremely pitiful. "Lyse, I'm here with you too." Julien's chest tightened. He smiled. With a gleam in his eyes, he said warmly, "Don't be afraid. With me here, Jasper will definitely wake up." Alyssa nodded firmly. Eve
Ever since Alyssa woke, she had hardly left Jasper's side, forsaking sleep and rest with no regard for her own health.Three more days dragged by, though for her, it felt like months—years—decades.The time that passed was agonizing. This wasn't the first time Jasper had been hurt because of her. She had been through the fear and panic before, when his life hung by a thread or when he lay in a deep coma. Yet, this time was different. For reasons she couldn't understand, the calm and rationality she once had had vanished.She gripped his hand tightly, her fingers woven with his. Fear surged through her like an avalanche, threatening to drown her from the inside.This was a fear that she had never felt. That intense helplessness tormented her mentally every second of the day.In just one week, Alyssa, once proud and radiant, had withered like a pale white rose. She was gaunt, fragile, and exhausted. Her hospital gown looked so big on her emaciated frame that it looked like it
"Wake up and comfort me again," Alyssa thought, her mind pleading. Please. As she was sobbing, the door to the hospital ward was pushed open slowly. Landon walked in carrying a bowl of soup. When he saw the scene before his eyes, he froze on the spot and fell into a daze. His hands started trembling uncontrollably while he carried the bowl of soup. As a tall and strong man, his heart had long been filled with Lauren's love. A scene like this moved him, and he felt a sudden urge to cry.He waited until Alyssa's sobs died down. Then, he calmed himself down and walked to her side slowly. "Lyse, have something to eat. I brought some fish chowder. I remember that you like this, so I made some for you myself." Alyssa was silent for a long time. Landon peered to the side and noticed that her breakfast was still on the bedside table, untouched. He couldn't explain the heaviness and misery he felt in his heart. "Landon… I'm sure you really hate me, don't you?" Alyssa sat there
In the blink of an eye, Jasper had been gone for an entire month. As the president of Beckett Group and someone with such status and power, he disappeared just like that. Only Xavier was left to assist him with attending to urgent matters at the corporation. Even so, there were still a number of documents that had to be approved by Jasper personally. "The troops" were in a mess while the documents for "the king" had piled up as high as a mountain. In the end, the truth could not be hidden. Newton and Javier were finally alerted. Jasper had a close call with death and ended up severely injured in Kontina. He ended up in a deep coma for an entire week. As his grandfather and father, they couldn't believe that they had only just found out about this news. Their anger over being kept in the dark came like a bolt of lightning. Even as someone who used to be a powerful business leader, they almost couldn't take the news. After Newton found out about it, he was sent to a hospital
It had only been a few days since Alyssa last saw Jameson, yet he was no longer the refined, wealthy, and confident man she once knew. The air of leadership that used to radiate from him was gone.Now, the Jameson sitting across from her looked pale and worn out. His usually immaculate hair was slightly tousled, and his sharp eyes were now bloodshot.The once proud fourth son of the Schmidt family had fallen—reduced to a mere, lowly prisoner.Still, when he heard Alyssa was visiting, he made an excuse to go to the washroom. Splashing water on his face, he quickly combed his disheveled hair. His pride had been shattered years ago when he first went to Kontina, but he still wanted to appear somewhat presentable for her.Jameson's pride had vanished in that first year. From then on, the fourth son of the Schmidt family ceased to exist. All that remained was a man consumed by hatred and evil, stepping over the dead to claw his way to the top.He cleaned himself up only for Alyssa. Yes
As much as Jameson's deceit was repugnant, it was also his way of trying to keep Alyssa safe. Given Alyssa's fearless and astute nature, she might inadvertently cause a catastrophic disaster—one that would be unbearable for her."There's another thing that I can be sure of. The medication that Jasper took isn't fatal. It will not affect his physical health negatively." Jameson took a deep breath. He chuckled bitterly. "Otherwise, Sir wouldn't have suggested having you take that medication." "Me?" Alyssa widened her eyes in shock. Her face paled. "Sir will not harm you. So, the medication he gave you will not be fatal. However, he said that you will be in agonizing pain after you consume it, so…"The look on Jameson's face darkened gradually. His cuffed hands quivered slightly as if he were trying his best to suppress an intense emotion. He didn't need to continue explaining. Alyssa understood it all. "This 'Sir' asked you to have me take that medication. Although he didn't
Alyssa wasted no time, hurrying to the hospital with Sean by her side.As they drove, Sean noticed Alyssa's distressed look and felt a pang of deep concern. "Ms. Alyssa, you should really get some rest first. You're still weak, and pushing yourself like this isn't good for you!"Since returning, Sean had dropped the formal address, speaking more casually when he was anxious."I'm fine. I'm just worried about Grandpa Newton…" Alyssa closed her tear-filled eyes. Her heart was aching with sorrow. Newton's illness was a consequence of his heartache over his grandson Jasper, who lay unconscious from his injuries, and Alyssa, who had been like a granddaughter to Newton, was the one responsible for the situation.…When Alyssa arrived at the hospital, her suit was drenched in a cold sweat, and her legs felt like they were walking on clouds.Ben was already waiting outside the door to the hospital ward. "I'm sorry for being late, Mr. Gorham," Alyssa choked as tears welled up in her e
"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