Julien paused and sighed. "That said, I feel like Jasper will choose the former—his career. A man who's reached the top in life will never let himself fall back to the bottom. Especially someone as prideful and with such high self-esteem as him.""Beckett Group is the result of Jasper's sweat and effort. I was his wife for three whole years. I know better than anyone how hard he worked to get where he is today." Alyssa shook her head in anguish. "He will never give up on Beckett Group, no matter how much it drains him.""There's no cure for drug addiction. The only way to overcome it is through sheer willpower. All I can do is help him find some relief. I'm sorry, Lyse," Julien said, his voice strained with pain."Don't say that, Jul. You've done a lot for Jasper. You've done more than enough…" Alyssa blinked, her eyes swollen. "Oh, right. Mandy and I visited Uncle Joseph the other day. He asked me to pass on a message to you. He wanted me to tell you… that he's sorry."A long si
The sky was gray as freezing rain fell in the midst of the wind and snow, making Alyssa's heart feel even heavier.An hour later, Newton's car came to a stop at a cemetery in the western suburbs. The car door opened, and Ben, holding an umbrella, helped the faltering Newton out. Newton chose not to use his wheelchair and instead walked slowly into the cemetery."Miss Alyssa, this cemetery isn't considered expensive. It's where commoners are buried. Given Mr. Beckett Senior's family background, could he possibly have friends among ordinary people?" Sean asked, watching Newton with a perplexed expression. "Who could Mr. Beckett Senior be visiting in this terrible weather? He's not even using his wheelchair. It's making me really curious."Alyssa stared out the window with a gloomy gaze. After some hesitation, she opened the door, got out, and quietly followed behind them, careful not to be noticed.After a while, she saw Newton and Ben stop in front of a gravestone. They bowed deep
As soon as Newton spoke, Esther flew into a rage, her bloodshot eyes glaring at him as she charged forward.Alyssa's heart raced, and she prepared to intervene. But before she could act, Ben stepped forward, grabbing Esther's wrists with a firm grip, preventing her from moving or harming Newton."Bastards! Demons! All of you Becketts are ruthless demons!" Esther's eyes bulged with fury as she struggled and shouted, "I won't give up! Your grandson will pay for his crime, or you can get rid of me right now!"The heated confrontation quickly attracted the attention of the cemetery's security guards. Two of them rushed over and restrained Esther, pulling her away."Mr. Newton, this is a serious issue. We can't just ignore her," Ben said, his usual tenderness replaced with a sharp, determined gaze. "If she goes out and spreads rumors, it could cause a public uproar and severely damage Beckett Group's reputation. Do you want me to take care of her?""What are you talking about?" Newton,
Newton's eyes widened as he clenched his fists. "Alyssa… you—""I saw and heard everything that happened at the cemetery today." Alyssa took a deep breath, her voice steady. "Grandpa Newton, was what Ms. Rollins said true? Did Justin really cause her daughter's death?"Newton's pupils constricted. He closed his eyes, as if trying to avoid Alyssa's questions. Alyssa's gaze sharpened. "Grandpa Newton, your reaction has already answered my question."Newton remained silent. "I know what's on your mind. Justin is Mr. Javier's eldest son, and he grew up right alongside you. Even though you might favor Jasper, you wouldn't want something from the past to tarnish Justin's reputation. After all, he was still a minor back then. No matter what he's done, as a Beckett, you'll do anything to protect him."Alyssa's words hit the mark, each one piercing with precision. She continued, "But you also believe his actions were unforgivable. You've been angry but too afraid to expose him. Keepin
"Grandpa." Jasper's breaths were heavy, and his eyes were dark as the night, concealing deep concern within. Unfortunately, his amygdala had been damaged by drugs, sealing off his intense emotions. Despite the turmoil within, there was no way for those feelings to escape. As a result, Jasper appeared completely cold and heartless. Newton and Alyssa exchanged knowing glances, seemingly able to read each other's minds. Newton quickly wiped his tears and forced a kind smile. "Hey, Jasper… Thankfully, Alyssa was here to look after me, so I'm fine now. Don't worry."Alyssa's thoughts were still fixed on Newton's earlier advice. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she spaced out. It wasn't until she sensed a cold, masculine presence beside her that she lifted her head, only to find Jasper's intense gaze locked on hers. He pursed his lips slightly, lowering his eyes.In that instant, it was as if someone had pressed the pause button on her heart. Her cheeks flushed pink as she panicked
On the way home from the hospital, Alyssa replayed Jasper's words in her mind, recalling the promise they'd sealed with a high five. Her heart swelled with a mix of emotions that she could barely define. Watching the snowfall outside, her eyes shimmered with tears. Softly, she murmured to herself, "Alyssa, he came to see you of his own accord and was willing to go along with what you wanted. Isn't that enough?"You no longer have the right to be carefree and proud in front of him. You need to be grateful."As Sean drove, he glanced into the rearview mirror. Seeing Alyssa's desolate expression stirred a deep sorrow within him. Being separated from Jasper had turned Alyssa's world upside down. If Jasper were to die, Alyssa's life would be completely shattered. Perhaps having Jasper alive was the best outcome fate could offer after all they had endured, however bittersweet it was. "Ms. Alyssa, it's late. Why don't you go home to rest instead of heading back to KS Group? You'll s
Could that be the case? Could Justin really have harbored such sinister plans at such a young age?Alyssa wasn't keen to believe in a conspiracy, but she had begun to suspect something two years ago. How could a 15-year-old manage to rescue Jasper from the kidnappers' hideout? Even an adult would have struggled to pull that off. It would have been impossible for a teenager like him. Moreover, the kidnapper—Gustav Holm, infamously known as "Crazy Gustav" among gangs—was a vicious criminal with numerous kills to his name. And yet, Justin freed a captive right under his nose. Forget Gustav; if Alyssa herself had been in his place, Justin's return to the Beckett family would have been out of the question. Snapping back to reality, Alyssa quickly pulled out her phone and called Silas. As soon as he picked up, she said, "Silas, can you help me retrieve a case file? I need to look at something." Silas sighed. It was either radio silence from Alyssa or a shocking request like this. "L
Coincidentally, both Jasper's and Newton's expressions darkened, and they both fell into silence. It was as if they had read each other's minds and learned that neither of them wanted to let Justin in. Yet, their unwelcome guest had already taken the liberty of coming in. Ben, who had been waiting at the door, reluctantly opened it for Justin. "Grandpa, I heard that your condition suddenly flared up. How are you feeling? Are you feeling better now?" Then, as if only just noticing Jasper in the room, Justin's eyes flickered briefly. He gave a warm smile. "Oh, Jasper. You're here too." Jasper's expression remained grim. He nodded slightly. "Hey, Justin." "If I'd known Jasper was here, I would've come tomorrow instead. I don't want to disrupt your rest." Justin wheeled himself over to Newton's bedside. "It's fine, Justin," Newton replied, though his smile seemed forced. "But it's late, and you're not in great health yourself. You didn't have to make a trip to visit me." Just