Jonah? There was a mystery surrounding Jonah?Every word was like a blooming poppy, drawing Julien in, tempting him to the point where it was difficult to resist. But that was only because of how deeply he loved Jonah.And that love was the chink in Julien's armor, leaving him vulnerable to manipulation. In the end, Julien wavered. In a heavy voice, he asked, "How long will this take? I need to go home to celebrate my lover's birthday." "It'll be quick." Uri Holland shut his gloomy eyes. He turned to his side and slipped a hand into his pocket. He gestured to Julien. "Let's take my car. This way." …As the black vehicle sped through the dark winter night, colorful lights flashed past them on both sides. Seated in the passenger seat, Julien held onto that bouquet of white roses in his arms as he gazed out the window with a restless, doubtful expression. As Uri drove, he glanced at Julien's strikingly handsome, almost ethereal face as he drove, his gaze unreadable."What'
Julien was gradually losing his patience. He glanced at his watch before snapping, "If you've got something to say, spit it out. I'm not wasting more time here.""Do you like watching movies, Dr. Lovelace?" Uri disregarded Julien's growing frustration and chuckled slyly. "I know Jonah does. I've got a film he'll find quite special."As soon as he finished, the large screen came to life, casting a glow on Julien's confused face.The surround sound system produced amorous-sounding laughter, making it an immersive experience. Julien recognized Jonah's voice quickly. But the other one—the warm, crisp, pleasant voice—belonged to a stranger."Jonah, do you love me?" the man in the video asked gleefully. "I do." Jonah's deep, raspy voice quivered slightly with emotion. "I love you. Very much. I'll love you forever." Jonah was typically so composed and restrained. Hearing this level of raw passion in his voice was jarring. "What if… I died one day?" The man's voice was gentle th
Uri pressed on, "More than that, how absurd is it that he found a ridiculous substitute like you? Did he truly think that he was so deeply in love with Blake? Was it because his love for Blake was so unforgettable that he needed someone to ease his lovesickness?"Substitute, substitute, substitute! The word sliced through Julien's suffocated heart like a sharp knife.He had never dared to hope he would be the only one Jonah ever loved. But it would be enough for him to be Jonah's last. He didn't care about the past. Yet, what he couldn't bear was that it was his face—so similar to Jonah's ex-lover—that had drawn Jonah in and made him fall in love.Uri laughed mockingly. "If I had the chance, I'd ask Judas if he was being fair to Blake by finding a new lover. I'd want to know if he was being fair to you by making you Blake's substitute."His laughter was so hysterical that tears streamed down his face. In an extremely sarcastic tone, he continued, "I doubt Jonah feels he made a
The night was silent and cold, and a chilling breeze suddenly swept across Jonah's face.Judas. That was a name he had not heard in ages. It echoed from a bloody, misty place far away, igniting a storm of turmoil in his chest. The voice that carried it felt vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it immediately."Who are you? Are you an ex-Cloudtop member?" Jonah turned away from Alyssa immediately and lowered his voice as much as he could. "Jonah…" In an instant, Alyssa sensed something was wrong when she noticed the shift in his expression."Judas, high status really does make one forgetful, doesn't it?" Uri's icy, sinister voice pierced through Jonah's thoughts like a venomous snake. "It seems that the ever noble Judas has eyes only for Blake.""You're… Uri Holland?" An uncertainty clawed at Jonah, and a sharp pain shot through his heart. The night closed in around him like a crushing, mottled wall. Blake—his hidden ex-lover—haunted him still, a scar he dared not revisit.
Jonah could not bear to think about the void that would swallow him if he lost Julien. The skies could fall and crush him, turning his life into a hopeless wreck. Gasping for breath, Jonah raced into the villa, which was cold, dark, and silent.Suddenly, memories he had buried deep surged back, overwhelming him. He gripped the hem of his shirt, struggling to steady his breathing while anguish clawed at him. Since Blake's death, he had never returned to this place.The man he loved had died when Jonah loved him most, and the depth of that devastation was unfathomable to anyone who had not experienced it themselves. But this was not the moment to drown in sorrow.Jonah called out Julien's name again and again as he searched every room in the house for him. When he reached the second floor, he spotted lights flickering in the home theater. His heart raced as he burst inside."Julien!" Julien sat alone on the couch, a dazed look in his eyes. Scattered around his feet were white ros
The once pristine white rose petals were now marred by the dark stain of Julien's blood."Let's end it here." Julien's voice was soft, yet those four words shattered Jonah's heart into fragments."Julien, I will not allow you to leave me!" Every muscle in Jonah's body trembled with desperation. A ferocious rage ignited in his eyes. "I know who I love. You are not a substitute for anyone! Julien, don't leave me… I cannot let you go!" Panic coursed through him.He cried and pleaded, desperately trying to hold Julien back. Torn between gentleness and force, he was willing to accept any outcome as long as the man he adored stayed with him.The first time it happened, Jonah had barely survived the emotional turmoil. If it happened again, it would drive him to the brink of insanity and death.His breathing became ragged; his bloodshot eyes blazed with determination.With open arms, Jonah moved to embrace Julien, who had been reduced to pieces. But just as he leaned in, a sharp pain
"But I just love him… I can't stop myself from loving him," Jonah said.Alyssa blinked hard to stop herself from crying. Many a time, Julien was like the male version of herself. At the same time, Jonah's love for Julien was just like how Jasper used to love her. How could he be so affectionate and tolerant if he wasn't in love with him to the core? "Lyse… I was wrong. I've made a grave mistake." Jonah's broad shoulders trembled violently. "It was true that I was attracted by Julien's looks. However, what I love is his soul. "At the same time, I was afraid of Julien leaving me because of my past with Blake… So, I didn't dare to be honest with him. I was too embarrassed to tell him the truth. I wanted to give him a perfect relationship. "I was wrong… If I had known… If I had known that it would turn out like this…"Jonah choked back his tears and couldn't bring himself to continue speaking. The thorns on that stalk of rose that he was clutching tightly onto pierced into his palm
Alyssa's fiery red sports car was rammed into from the right! Fortunately, the black vehicle and her red car were the only vehicles on the entire freeway. If there happened to be any big cars that passed by at this time, the outcome would've been unimaginable. "Damn it!" Alyssa couldn't help but curse through gritted teeth. Her forehead was covered in cold sweat. Any sensible person could tell that this car had hit her on purpose. Clenching her teeth, Alyssa put the pedal to the metal. Right after, she swerved to the left. Yet another bang sounded. Their car doors grated against one another, emitting terrifying sparks. Through the blazing sparks, Alyssa seized this opportunity to turn her sweaty face to the side and glance at that black vehicle that had come like a devil in the night. Alas, the car windows were tinted. Since their surroundings were pitch dark, she couldn't get a good look at the driver at all.That being said, Alyssa came back to her senses at that momen
In the evening, Xavier drove Jasper to meet with Newton. Along the way, news broke out that Sheryl had been bailed out. Xavier slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Why is it so hard to get rid of that woman?" "She is Justin's right hand," Jasper said, eyes shut as he leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "You could even say she knows more about his secrets than anyone. As long as she's useful, Justin won't discard her so easily. This is how he operates."Xavier shook his head, teeth gritted. "Where the hell did she even come from? When you had me investigate her, I found nothing. Her background was spotless. "What's in her past that Justin would go so far to keep it hidden? A man like him can have any woman he wants, yet he clings to her—some pretty-faced idiot who only seems to make things harder for him."Jasper's gaze turned glacial. Xavier's casual remark struck him.He was right. Justin wasn't short on capable subordinates. So why Sheryl?Was Sh
This time, the injection did not bring the excruciating pain that once made Amber wish for death. Her chapped lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed deeply into Remy's eyes. He, too, looked at her, his expression unreadable yet intense. Between them, no words were needed."Damien… Thank you…" Though her voice was barely audible, the weight of her words sank deep into Remy's heart. For once, he did not object to being called Damien.The truth was, ever since Amber had been taken, an unbearable pressure had settled over him, making each breath feel like a punishment—every day since had been plagued by self-reproach and regret.If he hadn't stopped her that night and let her go sooner, could she have avoided Sheryl? Could she have been spared the torture and humiliation?"You should know that those who enter this place never leave. Most don't even make it out alive."Remy's gaze was unwavering. Taking advantage of the surveillance blind spot, he placed his
"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,