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
Jasper's pupils trembled uncontrollably. Suddenly, the pain deep within his brain intensified, as if someone was punching his skull from the inside, trying to break free."Lyse."From the depths of his mind, he could vaguely hear himself calling that name."Jasper. Jasper, are you okay? You look awful," Justin asked in a concerned voice. Jasper ran his tongue across his teeth and blinked hard, his eyes already red. "I'm fine," he answered. Justin continued, "I'm telling you this because I don't want you to feel uncomfortable when I start officially pursuing Ms. Alyssa. Even though you two have broken up, you were once truly in love."He smiled slightly. "I don't want you to feel like I'm stealing the woman you loved. I just hope I can pursue the person I fancy without being influenced by anyone."Jasper's headache worsened, causing dizziness. Afraid that Justin might notice, he ended the conversation quickly. "I've already broken up with her. Whatever you do is none of my
Alyssa wasn't yet fully recovered. She was still limping when she walked. Despite that, she wouldn't allow herself to lie in bed like a useless person. Even though she was still in crutches and her left leg was still in a cast after resting for a week, she insisted on getting discharged from the hospital.She didn't inform Winston and his wives on the day of her discharge. Still, seeing Jonah, Silas, Rose, and Sean show up to take her home warmed her heart. "Lyse, are you and Jasper really…" Rose clung onto Alyssa's arm, which had grown noticeably thinner. She welled up with tears. "Yeah. It's over," Alyssa said with a soft smile, sounding almost relieved. "We were once deeply in love, and that was enough. I have no regrets."The urgency in Rose's voice made her eyes redden. "How can you say that? After being with him for so long, he never proposed or gave you the grand wedding you deserved. He owes you so much! How can it end like this?""Rose, even if Jasper did owe me somet
It was no wonder Axel hadn't been around recently. It turned out that he had accompanied Amber for her plastic surgery. "I found one of the best plastic surgeons in the world," Axel said. He walked over and stood next to Amber. They gazed deeply into each other's eyes, as if all they could see was one another. He explained, "Initially, we wanted to restore her original face completely. But the previous procedures she had undergone had changed her face so much, even altering her bone structure. Because of that, even the best surgeon could only restore about 80% of her original look."Alyssa exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my word... She's already so gorgeous at 80%. Wouldn't she be a goddess at 100%?"Everyone laughed, turning the atmosphere into a livelier one. "It's okay if my original face can't be restored," Amber said with a bright smile. "I'm just happy to have a fresh start."Her new look wasn't as strikingly beautiful as before, but it exuded a gentle elegance. Her face no
The moment Rosie spoke, the atmosphere in the car came to a standstill. The air turned frigid.Alyssa and Sean exchanged terrified glances. Alyssa then asked, "Mrs. Rosie, you said he's mentally disturbed… What do you mean?" Rosie felt a slight twitch around her eyes as if she had fallen into a deeply unsettling memory. She took a deep breath and explained, "I've been working with the Becketts for almost 30 years. "Among all the staff at Seaview Manor, apart from Mr. Durham and Mr. Odom, who assists Mr. Javier, few have been here as long as I have."When I first joined the Becketts, I was tasked with serving Mrs. Beckett and Mr. Justin, though I wasn't their personal helper. I was simply following the lead helper, doing heavy manual labor like laundry. More conscientious tasks—pouring and serving tea and the like—were outside my job description then."Initially, I thought Mrs. Beckett didn't like me because I came from a humble village and seemed careless. I later realized that
Caroline was deranged, and Justin tortured and killed animals. To make matters worse, Zachary, the Dutton family's heir and Justin's uncle, had brutally murdered his own lovers.A horrifying thought struck Alyssa—Was everyone in the Dutton family mentally disturbed?Did Justin inherit Caroline's insanity, which explained his wild behavior?"Is it true that Justin isn't sane?" Sean shook his head in disbelief. "But he looks completely normal! His emotions are absolutely stable!""That's what scares me the most. I'm afraid he has been disguising himself all these years, suppressing his true nature just to get closer to Madam. I'm worried he might harm you!" Rosie exclaimed, her eyes brimming with tears."Justin's torture and killing of animals suggest he has violent tendencies and a cold-blooded nature. This behavior indicates antisocial personality traits, but it doesn't provide sufficient evidence of a mental illness."Alyssa took a deep breath to calm herself. She continued with
Instantly, Alyssa's waterworks were turned on. Warm tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. She knew it. She had always known it. From the moment she first saw Remy, she was certain he was Damien. Despite his cold, heartless, and distant demeanor, that familiar sense of kinship had left no doubt in her mind."Madam, what's wrong?" Rosie quickly pulled out a handkerchief and hurried to wipe Alyssa's tears.Alyssa forced herself to stay calm. In a low, steady voice, she asked, "Cyrus, have you told anyone else about this?"Having worked on many cases over the years, Cyrus knew how to maintain his composure."No," he answered. "This is big news. I've only told you. I haven't mentioned it to Dad or Mom.""Good. For now, we need to keep this between us. Don't tell Dad or Mandy."Alyssa's chest tightened, her eyes burning with intensity. "I'm worried we'll tip off the enemy. Worse still, the person controlling Damien might hurt him if his identity is revealed."Cyrus responded with e
Jasper had been feeling mentally exhausted for three days since his fainting spell at the hospital.During a regular corporate meeting, he even zoned out and started nodding off in front of everyone.He turned down all evening business parties and social events, opting to return to Seaview Manor with Xavier.Xavier's eyes were filled with concern as he trailed behind Jasper. "Mr. Beckett, you haven't been doing well lately. Would you like to go to the doctor's?" "Which doctor?" Jasper felt a heaviness in his body, a throbbing in his head, and a chill in the air that made him uncomfortable in a way he couldn’t quite explain. "Dr. Lovelace is gone. Who else can solve my problems?"Xavier, deeply worried, sighed like a father fretting over his son. "But if you keep ignoring this, what will you do if it gets worse? After today's meeting, the higher-ups were already whispering about you behind your back. If rumors start spreading...""I am not sick," Jasper replied, his breath labo
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