"Good morning, Mr. Hodgson and Mr. Javier."Jasper's heart leaped into his throat when he realized who was speaking.Sitting on the golf cart was none other than Alyssa herself! His blood felt both warm and cold, and a sense of awe washed over him. This happened despite the humiliation he endured from her yesterday.Yesterday felt more and more like a dream that never happened.Everyone present was stunned. Betty was the first to cry out, "How did you get in here?""Through the front entrance? I'm a VIP here." Alyssa gave her a lazy side-eye, making her anger go from zero to a hundred in a matter of seconds. Even Betty's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.After being humiliated by Alyssa that day, she couldn't even look at a pair of flats without getting PTSD.Sophia's expression was one of being taken aback. Meanwhile, Minnie was enthralled by Alyssa. Who was this beautiful young woman? She was just how she envisioned her daughter-in-law to be—elegant, beautiful, regal.
Now Orlander and Minnie were truly starstruck.Winston Taylor's daughter? THE Winston Taylor from Belbanks?"Y-You're Mr. Taylor's daughter?" Orlander gasped, looking Alyssa up and down.Behind Alyssa, Sean scowled just the slightest. "People usually whip out their credit cards, not their fathers.""Yes. Mr. Javier and Mr. Beckett are aware of this as well." Alyssa grinned. "We've met."Jasper looked away briefly, thinking, "We've met? Was that all?"She spoke as if they were mere strangers."Ah, so you're all acquainted!" Orlander chuckled heartily. As someone experienced in politics, he knew just when to change his tune. "I'm terribly sorry for my ignorance, Ms. Alyssa!"He then shook Alyssa's hand."I'm sure I'm just an equal business match as Mr. Javier, no?" Alyssa's words sounded light on the surface but carried an imposing sense behind them.Orlander blinked rapidly. He found it amazing how someone so young could already carry such an imposing air. Like father, like da
"Besides, isn't it a bit sudden for you to come all the way here without notifying Mr. Hodgson or acknowledging our booking of this venue today just to pitch your offer? It sounds to me like you don't take this seriously at all.""Exactly!" Betty muttered.Alyssa sighed. "I know. But I couldn't help it. If I had come by any second later, Mr. Hodgson would have never had a chance to regret his decision.""Regret his decision?" Sophia shrieked. "What do you mean?"Alyssa ignored her and said to Orlander, "Mr. Hodgson, won't you consider working with us? You're not refusing my offer just because I'm a woman, are you? I was sent here on behalf of my brother Jonah. "As CEO of KS Group, he gave me permission to oversee everything in relation to this project. I can have him verify my statement if you don't believe me.""I believe you, Ms. Alyssa, but Javier and I truly do go a long way back. Our countless business partnerships have solidified my unwavering trust in them." Orlander's to
None of the Becketts knew what to do now. From Henry's arrest being leaked to public media to Sophia being detained for questioning—it all left what remained of their family reeling in utter shock."Why are you arresting me? Do you have any evidence?" Sophia cried, her composed demeanor caving like an avalanche.Betty could only gape in fear as the men led her mother away."Javier, Javier help me!" Sophia cried as the men brought her away. "Please help me!" Javier wanted to, but he couldn't risk losing composure in front of these people. He growled, "What is the meaning of this, Ms. Alyssa?""Whatever do you mean, sir? The Investigative Bureau is the one responsible for arresting your wife. Not me." Alyssa grinned."How did you know this news would come out at 3:00 pm? How could you have had the guts to spew all those baseless nonsense beforehand? It all points to you having been the mastermind behind this trickery!""That might be a stretch, Mr. Javier. My family business is a
"I appreciate the thought, Mrs. Hodgson." Alyssa nodded kindly. "But I'm a divorcee with no intention of remarrying anytime soon. I'd only waste you and your son's time in that regard.""Oh, never! So what if you've divorced? You're still a gorgeous, strong young woman, far more formidable than many other women your age!" Betty's cheeks grew hot with embarrassment and anger upon hearing this. She shot Alyssa a hateful glare, feeling like a fading star beside a bright sun. With Alyssa around, nothing else ever shone.Alyssa and Sean soon left in the golf cart, leaving the Becketts to their mess."Well, Javier, I take it you'd understand if we call this partnership quits. There will be better opportunities in the future." Orlander nodded at Javier, then quickly left with his wife.If he insisted on giving Javier this project, nothing good would come. His entire reputation might be dragged through the dirt.Meanwhile, while Javier was getting a headache trying to resolve the curren
In a matter of hours, the Beckett Group made the headlines nationwide and across all social media. A video of Sophia being dragged off the golf course had surfaced and soon became viral all across the web.A company as big as Beckett Group could have easily silenced such an internet movement. Unfortunately, Alyssa had gotten to them before they could, so it was useless.The company behind the news channel that streamed the 3:00 pm breaking news had KS Group as their main shareholder. Hence, they followed Alyssa's whims and instructions. In fact, if Alyssa asked, they could even make a silly remix of it and stream it 24/7.Some creative content creators had even turned Sophia and Betty's dumbfounded, shocked, and aggrieved expressions into stickers and emoticons. They soon became everyone's top-used stickers.Javier was doing all he could to quell the rumors by getting Sophia back from the Investigative Bureau, feeling as if he had lost a solid decade of his life.Meanwhile, Alys
Tatiana was always considerate and grateful, so Alyssa never really knew how to pamper her."Taty! Are you back in the city?" Alyssa asked happily over the phone."Yep, I'm at the school," Tatiana replied. She sheepishly asked, "Um … Are you doing anything tonight?""You wanna hang out?" Alyssa immediately knew what Tatiana was up to."Mhm!" Tatiana eagerly answered. "We haven't had a chance to properly spend time together since you came home. Why don't we have dinner tonight? My treat!""Just dinner? No drinks after?" Alyssa teased.Tatiana's tone took on a mischievous edge. "Drinks afterward, then! We'll go for some karaoke too. We haven't had that much fun in ages. I'll definitely sing better than you.""Hahaha! You're on!" Alyssa laughed. "We'll see who's the final victor tonight!"…During the board meeting at the Beckett Group, Javier emphasized three critical directives. The first was to eliminate any negative consequences resulting from the actions of Sophia and Henry,
"Don't cross the line, Jasper Beckett!" Javier cried, slamming his hand on the desk."Business is business, Dad. Keep the personal things out of it. That's what you've always taught us." Jasper languidly leaned into his chair, expression calm."You're greedy, that's what you are! Haven't you had enough? What should have been Justin's post was given to you already, yet now you still want to aim for the board? Why don't you just swap in as President yourself?" Javier roared.Jasper sneered, shooting his father a cold glare. "Haven't you benefited more from me being in my current position? Ever since I was young, you have set a price on every single thing I wanted to attain. "You know full well why I'm in the CEO's chair today, so why act like the innocent victim here? We're the only ones in this room. Don't you get tired of putting on this act?"Javier was left red-faced and speechless. "Me as VP, in exchange for the company's salvation from a serious crisis. It's your choice." J
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
Julien's merciless, hate-filled words hit Jonah like a ton of bricks. The pain was unbearable, a gut-wrenching ache that shattered his heart.Under the dim lighting, Julien vaguely noticed a sorrowful tear forming at the corner of Jonah's eye. But before it could fall, Jonah forced a blink, swallowing his emotions whole. Despite Jonah's attempt to brace himself, sorrow engulfed him, a tidal wave of despair. His features mirrored the devastation ripping through his heart. As Evan opened the driver's side door, Julien lurched forward and vomited again. The sickening sound of him retching echoed in the air as if he were expelling everything inside him. "Judas, Mr. Lovelace looks like he's suffering from alcohol poisoning. We should take him to the hospital."Evan's worry deepened at Julien's condition. Jonah wordlessly removed his suit jacket and began cleaning the mess in the car. His chest tightened painfully as he watched Julien groaning, clearly suffering. Then, without he
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