"Mr. Beckett's blood sample contained methamphetamine…" Rio's eyes widened in shock. He knew this substance all too well—it was a component found in crystal meth.Sebastian hesitated, then lowered his voice. "Also, if I'm not mistaken, Mr. Beckett was hospitalized due to severe withdrawal symptoms. He didn't take his drugs on time, and his body couldn't handle it. Would this count as evidence?""Dr. Bender, thank you for the crucial information you've provided. We greatly appreciate your assistance in this case!" Rio shook Sebastian's hand vigorously, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.Meanwhile, just around the corner, Cyrus stood with his back against the wall. He had heard every single word of their exchange. His chest burned with rage as he clenched his teeth. Pulling out his phone, he quickly texted Alyssa. "Lyse, the situation has changed. I can't join the investigation, but you must save Jasper this time."…An hour later, Rio strode back into the interrogati
The complexity of Jasper's case far exceeded Rio's expectations. There were so many underlying factors! "Firstly, I didn't know this was a narcotic, Chief Olson," Jasper explained calmly. "As you mentioned, this is a new drug that's only emerged in Solana City over the past two months. Most people haven't encountered it yet. Even someone as informed as you likely just started learning about it. How could I have known?"Secondly, I wouldn't have taken it if I'd known it was a narcotic. I'm dealing with health issues right now. Taking drugs would only harm me further. Why would I jeopardize my own life? Why would I not want to live a long life?"Jasper's posture was upright, exuding an air of sternness reminiscent of a disciplined soldier. His righteous demeanor made it hard to believe he was a man struggling with drug addiction. Who could look at him and think otherwise?While Rio mulled over the situation, Steven interjected with a serious tone. "Chief Olson, I strongly suggest qu
That night, Sheryl was brought into an interrogation room adjacent to Jasper's for questioning. Rio was Gabe's subordinate, but he wasn't privy to the full details of the situation. All he knew was that completing this task could give him an edge over his rival, Cyrus, and secure his standing within Gabe's ranks.To Rio, Cyrus was nothing more than a privileged man from a prestigious family, competing unfairly with those less fortunate. Rio was determined to prove himself superior, showing Cyrus how he dealt with Jasper, his future brother-in-law, and forcing him to admit defeat.Fearless in the face of wealth and authority, Rio boldly took on the president of Beckett Group, Jasper. He believed such audacity would earn him public admiration and a sterling reputation.However, Rio never considered the possibility that Sheryl might have her own stakes in this matter. To him, she was just another suspect."Mr. Beckett claims you provided him with the drugs," Rio began, his tone ster
Alyssa couldn't bring herself to go home, so she stayed at her office. Unease gnawed at her as long as Jasper's situation remained unresolved. Everything else seemed insignificant in comparison.When Cyrus updated her, a troubling realization struck—something was off about the witness, Sebastian Bender. As soon as Jonah, Silas, and Cyrus heard about Jasper's predicament, they agreed to travel overnight and meet Alyssa at the KS Group office.Worried that Alyssa and Sean might overexert themselves, the three brothers brought food to lighten the tense atmosphere with a touch of familial warmth."Sean, Taty asked me to bring this for you," Silas said, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "She made this soup herself and insisted you finish every last drop."A playful smirk tugged at his lips. "I checked the ingredients. They're all... nutritious for men."Sean's face flushed crimson as he pressed his lips together. Guilt flickered in his eyes. "She should be resting. She's due to give b
Silence filled Alyssa's office. Since the incident that led to Jonah and Julien's heartbreaking breakup, everyone had avoided mentioning Julien, even though the sorrow of it lingered like a heavy shadow.Alyssa had suggested the second option because she believed Julien might be the key to turning the tide in their favor. But where was Julien now?After the fallout, he had disfigured himself, consumed by hatred toward Jonah, and left without hesitation. Would he return? Could they even find him?"Let's try to think of something else," Cyrus said, shaking his head dejectedly. He understood Jonah's situation all too well. "I'll go look for him." Jonah closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them, they glistened with unshed tears. The redness in his gaze betrayed his heartbreak. "Some of my former subordinates are still in Mosgravia. I'll contact them for help. I'll find Julien, even if it means sacrificing sleep and meals. No matter what it takes, I'll bring him back."Silas
"Now that we're on this topic, there's something I need to tell all of you," Alyssa said, her expression grim. Her tone turned cold as she continued, "I highly suspect that Sheryl is actually Liana Gardner."Her words left the Taylor brothers stunned."I don't have concrete evidence—no confession, no DNA proof. But when I called her 'Liana' at that run-down hospital, she turned around. Her reaction was odd, to say the least. Beyond that, her mannerisms, habits, and private behavior are eerily similar to Liana's."Alyssa smiled confidently. "And most importantly, I trust my instincts.""No wonder!" Silas suddenly shot to his feet, his eyes wide. "When I first saw her at the hospital, when she brushed past me, I felt this strange sense of familiarity. So, she's Liana? That means my gut feeling was right all along!"Jonah's expression grew serious. "If that's true, Jasper is in even greater danger. Liana's return—under a new identity, working alongside Justin no less—means she's play
With years of experience as a criminal investigator and a naturally sharp mind, Cyrus' instincts flared the moment he heard Rio's question.Gabe slammed the table, his voice a thunderclap of rage. "Rio Olson! What nonsense are you spouting? Have I been too lenient with you? Dr. Gillis is a doctor, and I'm a police chief. How would I know her? Stop letting your imagination run wild!"Gabe's face flushed crimson as he glared at Rio.Unmoved, Rio stared back, confusion etched on his face. "Then why are you stopping me from investigating Sheryl by the book? I don't get it."Jasper's test results were positive, and we found drugs hidden in his office. That alone suggests drug abuse. To secure a conviction, we need to trace his supplier. Otherwise, this case will collapse in court."Let's not forget—Jasper's attorney is Steven Lynch, a top-tier ex-judge who's handled multiple high-profile cases."From his position outside the office, Cyrus could only catch fragments of the conversation
"You've been freed?" Justin asked, his voice distant."Sir, I'm really sorry for troubling you. You even had to make arrangements for me," Sheryl said apologetically. "I just made use of my connections. It's nothing. Besides, I figured they'd summon you—Jasper did get his medications from you, after all."Sheryl, still shaken from earlier, lowered her gaze. "Is that cop, Rio Olson, one of us? He seemed eager to arrest Jasper, so I thought you might have recruited him. But during the interrogation, he was relentless. He wouldn't go easy on me at all.""He is one of Mr. Barrett's men. That's enough for now."Sheryl mulled over it for a moment. Then, she lowered her voice and said, "Sir, Jasper can only be charged for drug use. As a first-time offender, it's not enough to keep him behind bars. I suspect he'll be bailed out by the day after tomorrow."Justin chuckled softly. "So?" "It's a shame we couldn't take him down for good," Sheryl said through gritted teeth."Jasper has Gr
Julien's questions sent the hall into an uproar. In an instant, the number of viewers on the live stream shot up to 50 million, and the comment section exploded."Dr. Lovelace has presented Mr. Jasper's examination reports. He never did drugs—he was framed! This is undeniable!""He risked his life to save Ms. Alyssa, yet ended up being manipulated, dismissed, and investigated like a criminal. He almost carried a lifelong stain on his name. What a despicable move by whoever did this!"Then, a comment appeared, saying, "Wasn't it Justin Beckett, the current president of Beckett Group, who orchestrated all of this? He set up his own younger brother just to seize power. What a vile man!"Yet, less than two seconds later, the comment vanished.But no matter how many trolls swarmed in or how quickly posts were deleted, the public's outrage could not be silenced. Suspicion against Justin surged, and tens of thousands of negative comments flooded the chat.Julien stood below the stage,
The once lively and fashion-loving Julien now seemed like a star that had lost its light. The radiance that once defined him had vanished. Julien walked past Jonah without stopping. The short distance between them gave Jonah a painfully clear view of the cross-shaped scar on Julien's cheek. His heart wrenched, the pain so intense that his vision blurred. He staggered. "Jonah, are you alright?" Fortunately, Landon was beside him and caught him just in time. Staring at Julien's slim figure, Jonah parted his dry lips, but no words came out.Bitterness filled the back of his throat, and his longing for Julien sent sharp, stabbing pains through his body.Julien stopped beside Jasper, offering him a small smile and a nod as a greeting.Then, his gaze turned fierce as he locked eyes with Justin's hypocritical expression."My name is Julien Lovelace. I was once Mr. Jasper's primary physician. Approximately six months ago, Mr. Jasper made a deal with Jameson to rescue Ms. Alyssa w
Alyssa stood at the doorway, her slim figure framed against the light, yet she seemed to tower over the room. Her presence commanded attention, filling the hall with an air of reverence and grandeur. From across the room, Jasper's dark eyes burned with intensity. To him, Alyssa was like a golden phoenix, its wings unfurling as it soared, radiating brilliance over everything in its wake. "Lyse!"Jonah and Landon stared in shock. They hadn't expected Alyssa to show up at the press conference. Camera flashes erupted once more."It's Ms. Alyssa Taylor!""We should address her properly now—she's the head of KS Group!" "Wait… Is she here to support Jasper? I thought they broke up?""What do you even know? They used to be in love!" Justin narrowed his eyes at Alyssa's frigid, determined expression. Slowly, his lips curled into a chilling, sinister smile.Alyssa met his gaze, suppressing the hatred surging within her. Then, with an air of composure, she turned to the crowd. "W
"That's rubbish. I never asked you to do anything like that!" Sheryl's bloodshot eyes burned with fury. She clenched her fists, longing to silence Sebastian."I didn't expect you to admit it," Sebastian said coldly. He reached into his chest pocket and pulled out his phone. After scrolling briefly, he held it up for all to see. "You were wary of me recording our conversations, but you never suspected I'd install a hidden camera in my office. This footage clearly shows you bribing and threatening me. With this evidence, denial is futile!"The crowd turned to Sheryl, their gazes heavy with shock and suspicion. When their eyes shifted to Justin, doubt lingered in the air.Sheryl's heart sank, her face draining of color.As cautious as she was, she had miscalculated. But it didn't matter. She had carried out the task herself, avoiding any direct mention of Justin's orders. Justin could still be saved.It was Sheryl who had fallen short in her responsibilities, and she was ready to tak
Jasper's eyes blazed with fury as he locked his gaze on Justin, a sharp, determined gleam in his dark eyes. "I will clear my name and restore my reputation, no matter the cost!" he declared, his voice ringing with resolve.The tension between Justin, standing on stage, and Jasper, positioned below, was palpable—like a killer whale facing off with a great white shark. The outcome was still uncertain."I, Landon Harper, swear on my name and the entirety of Harper Group that Jasper never did drugs. The whole situation was a setup!" Landon's voice resounded throughout the entire hall. The reporters buzzed with questions. "Who would do such a thing?"Landon refrained from directly naming Justin, aware that exposing the wolf in sheep's clothing would not be easy. Accusing him too hastily might provide Justin with an opportunity to counterattack, exploiting any gaps in their case.Landon had no fear of tarnishing his own reputation, but he was deeply concerned about the damage it m
Everyone turned to look behind them.Justin's icy gaze locked onto the doors, his expression dark and foreboding. The light pouring in from outside was blinding, piercing through the shadows like a blade. As the crowd squinted against the glare, two figures emerged, standing tall and resolute side by side.It was Jasper and Landon. Clad in a sleek black suit, Landon bore traces of dust but appeared otherwise unscathed. Jasper, however, was a stark contrast. His clothes were torn and bloodied, his appearance disheveled, but his demeanor was anything but defeated. Standing straight and proud, his frigid stare was enough to make the crowd shrink back, unwilling to meet his eyes."Mr. Justin," Landon began, his voice sharp and cutting, "you've gone to great lengths to keep Jasper from this press conference."Ever the rebel with the air of a street-hardened fighter, Landon didn't mince words. "To stop him, you sent assassins to ambush him. You had your people block his way in the
Meanwhile, the light above one of Taylor General Hospital's emergency surgery theaters flickered off. Moments later, the door swung open, and a doctor emerged, pulling down his surgical mask. Mandy hurried toward the doctor, her eyes brimming with worry. "How is that poor man doing?" "Mrs. Taylor, it's fortunate you brought him in when you did. Ten minutes later, and we might not have been able to save him. He went into shock from excessive blood loss, but he's stable now. I gave him a transfusion and sutured his wounds. He'll need rest and proper nutrition to recover fully."Relief washed over Mandy, and her tense body slackened. Her knees nearly buckled as she murmured, "Thank God… Thank God!" Once the doctor departed, Mandy instructed her driver to purchase the best blood-replenishing supplements available, sparing no expense.The driver had only been employed by the Taylor family for the past two years, so he was unaware of the true reasons behind Mandy's actions. To him, h
Soon enough, Jasper and Jonah found themselves surrounded by a horde of fighters. The atmosphere was charged with a vicious, merciless tension that heightened their awareness. They were now in the underground parking lot of Berenike Hotel.This was one of the Beckett family's properties, with Newton overseeing the construction personally.Berenike Hotel had always been the leader among all the five-star hotels in Solana City. Yet, on this day, when a critical press conference was about to begin, Justin chose to start a massacre in the hotel's parking lot, disregarding the potential damage to the hotel's reputation. His actions were utterly insane and perverse. "Shall we each take down ten of them?" Jonah nudged Jasper with his elbow. Narrowing his eyes, he added, "The press conference starts in ten minutes. Think you can wrap this up by then?"A cold, fierce glint flashed in Jasper's usually dull eyes. "I'll take down 15 and leave five for you." "Why only five for me?"Jasp
The golden iris stood as a symbol of triumph."Ms. Alyssa, we're on track. We'll make it to the press conference on time!" Sean declared, stepping on the accelerator with a fiery look in his eyes. "Safety first," Alyssa reminded him in a calm, steady voice. Surprisingly, at this crucial juncture, she appeared composed. "Taty is due soon, and you're about to become a father. As a family man, you shouldn't be as reckless as before." The thought of his unborn son brought a blissful smile to Sean's face, softening his fiery resolve.Alyssa closed her eyes, though her mind remained in overdrive. The truth was, she was forcing herself to stay alert. Ever since Amber's disappearance, she hadn't had a single restful night. The once carefree Alyssa, who could sleep through anything, was long gone. Her frayed nerves left her in a weakened state, but she held on.She had survived when others hadn't, and that resilience fueled her belief that she could endure again. This time, she wou