Mandy's emotional cry reverberated down the hallway.Naturally, Remy heard her voice too. He was slightly stunned. His eyes met the teary-eyed, middle-aged woman standing a few feet away from him. For some reason, his heart felt heavy. Even breathing stirred up some unfathomable feelings within him. It felt just like that heavy feeling he had when he watched Alyssa, injured all over, crawling out from her car that had flipped over. "Damien… Is that you? Damien!" Even though Mandy was always a noble and composed person, her face was covered in tears at this very moment. She choked with sobs and had lost her composure. "Damien… It's me, your mom! You're still alive… I can't believe that you're still alive!" Mom?Dumbfounded, Remy stared at the woman who was approaching him. It was as if someone had put his heart on pause. His slender fingers quivered slightly as he pinched a cigarette in between his fingers. In the next second, the splitting pain in his head pulled him ba
"It's not a coincidence!" Alyssa sat up straight. Bright-eyed, she continued, "Mandy isn't wrong. There is a man who looks exactly like Damien! "I know him. His name is Remy Lexington. I interacted with him when Jameson held me captive on Rose Island in Kontina!" The Taylor family members were floored. "Lyse! In that case, is he Damien?" Winston queried urgently. Alyssa gritted her teeth and remained silent. She wondered why Remy would have appeared at the hospital at a time like this. There could only be one possibility—he was the one who rammed into her car that night. He was also the one who sent her to the hospital. Yet, the first person she saw when she regained consciousness was Justin. Jameson, Remy, Justin…Suddenly, she came to a realization. Terror spread throughout her entire body. A seemingly unrelated yet extremely horrifying thought popped into her mind. She didn't believe in coincidences. All coincidences were inextricably linked with one another, albeit i
The next morning, Jasper jolted awake from his sleep. For some reason, the shock caused him to break out in cold sweat. The air felt thin. He made his way out from under the covers and picked up his phone from the bedside table. He squinted as he checked his phone. To his surprise, he had over 20 missed calls from Newton. Ever since his discharge from the hospital, his head would throb every night. He wasn't sure if this was a side effect, but he had been having wakeful nights for the past three to four days. Last night, he felt that he wouldn't be able to take it if he went on like that. Thus, he took some sleeping pills, which helped him to fall asleep till the day broke. Jasper got up while massaging his sore temples. He was just about to ring Newton back when he heard Xavier's voice from the other side of the door. "Mr. Beckett, are you awake?" "What is it?" "Mr. Beckett Senior is here. He's asking for you downstairs." After washing up, Jasper changed into a smart
Watching Jasper being unperturbed, Newton slumped back against the couch. A disappointed look filled his eyes. How could everything get back to square one just like this? Even if he couldn't accept this outcome, how could Alyssa take it? In a deep voice, Javier prompted, "Jasper, you have your regular meeting in the morning. It's about time for you to leave, isn't it?" Jasper turned around without showing any emotions on his face and strode out the door. …Alyssa was still in a stage of recovery. She had been feeling groggy and had slept the entire morning away. She didn't even have breakfast or lunch. It was in the late afternoon that she gradually stirred.When she saw Jonah, Silas, and Cyrus watching over her by her side, her heart was warmed despite being badly wounded by Jasper. "Lyse, do you feel better now?" Jonah asked in a husky voice. He gave her bony hands a gentle squeeze. Looking at Jonah's face, Alyssa suddenly felt like he had weathered through so much overni
Jonah, Silas, and Cyrus were dumbfounded. Even though Alyssa didn't seem to express much on her face, her tone was obviously much gentler. Her voice didn't have that coldness and distance that she used to keep all men, other than her brothers and Jasper, at a distance. Could a traffic accident have led to her enlightenment and transformed her as a person?Silas clenched his teeth. He had no choice but to allow Justin to enter the room. "Thank you." The smile reached Justin's eyes as he beamed. He maneuvered his electric wheelchair before Alyssa and placed the thermal lunch box on her bedside table. Alyssa pursed her pale lips briefly. "Thank you for the effort, Justin, but I'm not very hungry now." A gentle gleam shone through Justin's clear eyes. He chuckled. "You didn't have breakfast or lunch. Are you sure that you aren't hungry, Ms. Alyssa?" Alyssa widened her eyes. "How… How did you know?" "I'm staying right next to your ward. I've been waiting for you to wake up."
"Is he still capable of performing in that regard? Lyse is someone who has received Jasper's love. Will she be okay with someone who's already teetering on the edge of the grave?" Cyrus questioned.Jonah was speechless. "Justin is just physically challenged. He's not impotent." Silas rolled his eyes at him. "Plus, there's something my darling says." Cyrus asked, "What is it?" "The way to test if a man is lustful is to see if he's breathing. If he's still breathing, that means he's lustful." Jonah and Cyrus were at a loss for words. "Is Justin a fool? Lyse is such a magnificent and attractive woman. I don't believe that he isn't attracted to her!" …Justin opened the lunchbox in the hospital ward and transferred some warm soup into a bowl. Then, he laid out a few delectable dishes on Alyssa's bedside table. Alyssa faked a smile. "Thank you, but I really don't have much appetite right now." Justin didn't say a word. He simply carried the bowl of soup in front of her.
"Oh? Hey, Jasper." A look of surprise flashed across Justin's face. He was still holding up the bowl in his hand. Jasper snapped back to his senses. In a low voice, he responded, "Hey, Justin." "Since Jasper's here, it won't be appropriate for me to stay." Justin placed the bowl down gently and gave Alyssa a caring smile. "Ms. Alyssa, remember to eat and rest up well. I shall not stand in the way. See you." "That's alright!" Without warning, Alyssa grabbed onto Justin's arm. She forced herself to hold back her tears and appear indifferent. "Leave after I finish the soup." "But…""Even though Mr. Jasper is here, I don't feel it's inappropriate for you to stay, Justin." Suddenly, Alyssa glanced over at Jasper, who was standing straight over there. She curled her lips upward into a smile he hadn't seen in a long time, stimulating his senses."Mr. Jasper, you don't feel that it's inappropriate in any way for you to meet with your own brother, do you?" Jasper uttered, "Not at
The only time Alyssa had ever become soft-hearted and gave her all was because of Jasper. The color drained from Jasper's face slowly. His charming eyes were deep and dark, and they carried complex emotions within them. With a gloomy gaze, Justin bent forward and picked up the bouquet of flowers on the ground. He maneuvered his wheelchair to the side of the tea table and placed the lilies into the vase, stalk by stalk. "It's a pity to throw this away. They look pretty nice." With his back against Jasper and Alyssa, his lips turned upward into an obscure smile. Seeing that Alyssa had closed her eyes, Jasper said in a husky voice, "Rest well, then." Upon saying that, he turned around and walked toward the door mechanically. "Jasper," Alyssa called out to him. He stopped in his tracks but did not turn around. "From today onward, let's go our separate ways. We'll no longer have anything to do with one another." Alyssa curled her fingers around her blanket so tightly that
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,