"Alyssa… you do?" Newton's bleary eyes brightened slightly.Alyssa hesitated before whispering, "But Grandpa Newton, my idea is quite drastic. It might even affect Beckett Group's shareholder equity—including yours and Mr. Javier's interests."Newton's expression shifted as he pieced it together. "Alyssa, you're thinking of—""Yes," she admitted. "During the recent drop in Beckett Group's share prices, I seized the opportunity to acquire a small portion of shares. I already hold some."If you're willing, could you transfer part of your shares to me? This would make me one of the major shareholders and secure me a seat on the board of directors. Together, we, along with Jasper, could hold enough shares to counter Mr. Javier and Justin."At the very least, we'd prevent Justin from gaining complete control of the corporation."Alyssa frowned as she weighed the pros and cons aloud. "Right now, Mr. Javier is siding with Justin. Even if Justin doesn't gain ownership of Mr. Javier's sha
Sitting upright, Jasper didn't want to impose. "Alright, then. Whatever you're comfortable with," he said to Steven. Noticing the haggard look on Jasper's face, Xavier said out of concern, "Mr. Beckett, I'll send you back to Seaview Manor so you can get some rest." "No, let's go to Beckett Group." Jasper lowered his eyes. In a deep voice, he continued, "The regular meeting with higher-ups starts in an hour. Inform all department directors to be in the conference room on time."…An hour later, Jasper arrived at Beckett Group Tower. He disregarded all the strange looks he was getting from the employees as he made his way through the building. With Xavier trailing behind, he took the private elevator directly to the conference room.Nevertheless, the look in his eyes dimmed the moment he opened the doors. Xavier blurted out, "What's going on? Where is everyone? I notified everyone about the meeting!" As Jasper stared at the empty conference room, something started simmerin
Jasper's gaze followed the movement of Justin's finger, landing on the nameplate on the desk.The nameplate that once read "Jasper Beckett, CEO" had been replaced with "Justin Beckett" without Jasper's knowledge.Justin had been impatient—erasing all traces of Jasper in the Beckett Group overnight."We held an emergency board meeting yesterday morning," Justin said, his tone calm yet cutting. "With an overwhelming majority vote, I've replaced you as the corporation's CEO." He leaned forward, resting his chin on a triangle formed by his well-defined fingers. "Have your secretary hand work over to mine soon. I've packed your belongings and sent them to Seaview Manor. Thanks for all your hard work these years, Jasper. You can leave the future of the Beckett Group in my hands now."The room fell into a tense silence. Jasper's lashes quivered briefly before he broke into a smile. With one hand in his pocket, he sank onto the couch with a calm, almost careless air. Legs slightly apar
The atmosphere in the room was oppressive, the air seemingly turning ice cold. The tension was so thick that it felt as if it could be cut with a knife."What do you think?" The smile on Justin's face widened as his roguish gaze fixed on Jasper from behind.Instead of answering him directly, Jasper delivered a more cutting response. He scoffed. "I get it now." Tilting his sculpted chin upward, a vicious gleam flashed in his eyes. "Someday in the future, you'll regret the decision you made 20 years ago."Justin's brows furrowed deeply at the remark."That was your one and only chance to get rid of me. Too bad you missed it." With that, Jasper turned on his heel and strode off, exuding the confidence of a lone ranger.As the door swung shut, Justin tightened his grip on the pen, the veins on the back of his hand pulsating with tension.…After finishing work that morning, Alyssa learned about Jasper's bail through the trending topics on Twitter. At the same time, a shocking
"Cyrus, go ahead!" Alyssa leaped to her feet, her anticipation palpable."Sebastian Bender himself doesn't have any history of illegal activities, and his income records appear clean. But there's something odd about him."Alyssa pressed, "How so?" "I looked into Sebastian's assets and income sources. His son is a gambling addict and his wife is gravely ill. Despite being in a high-income bracket, his son has drained the family of nearly everything, leaving Sebastian with just a house and a car."Yet, just two days ago, Sebastian managed to pay for his wife's bone marrow transplant surgery and covered her hospitalization fees—over 500,000 dollars in total. On top of that, he cleared his son's debts of more than three million dollars owed to loan sharks."Alyssa had put the call on loudspeaker, so Sean caught every word. "That son of his is an absolute piece of trash!" Sean exclaimed, his frustration boiling over. "He'd be better off dead!"Cyrus added, "The most suspicious par
Sebastian recognized the stunning Alyssa immediately. Alarm bells rang in his head as he stumbled back a step. "W-What are you doing here?"Everyone in Solana City knew about Alyssa and Jasper's inseparable bond. Guilt churned in Sebastian's stomach. He couldn't even meet Alyssa's bright, piercing eyes, knowing he had betrayed Jasper."Dr. Bender, please step into my car. There's something we need to discuss." Alyssa's slight smile masked the storm brewing beneath her calm exterior."There's nothing to talk about," Sebastian stammered, fumbling with his keys in a desperate attempt to escape. Turning on his heel, he headed toward his house. But Alyssa's voice cut through the tension. She sneered. "When you schemed against Mr. Jasper, you didn't just wrong him. You wronged KS Group—the company that stands behind him. You should've known I'd come for you."Sebastian froze, his back to Alyssa, trembling."You stupid bitch! What are you trying to do to my father? How dare you thre
Alyssa's chest rose and fell. The tip of her nose and her eyes were red. She simply stared blankly at Jasper and couldn't say a word. Without Jasper around, she never realized that fear was an emotion that she could feel. She wasn't afraid of God or the devil. She had fought the dark and evil forces of the world with bravery. But fear overtook her when Jasper appeared just in time to shield her from danger.She wanted to cry, her heart softening. The façade of strength she had built crumbled, leaving her feeling like a fragile pebble in Jasper's hands.She had never known she could feel fear like other women, but it was only with him.Ignoring the pain in his back, Jasper held Alyssa by her trembling shoulders, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. Once he confirmed she wasn't physically hurt and was likely in shock, he exhaled in relief."M-Mister…"Wide-eyed and mouth agape, Sebastian watched Jasper appear out of nowhere. He was shaking uncontrollably, as if his soul had lef
Alice White stared at the divorce papers on the table and realized that her husband had already signed them. Then, she looked toward the window. Jasper Beckett's upright figure reflected in her watery eyes. He looked charming under the afternoon sun but also cold and domineering. Even from behind, he radiated aloofness. "I've signed it. You should also hurry and sign it. I want to finish all the legal procedures before Lia returns." Jasper had his hands clasped behind him and didn't turn to look at her."We've already agreed on the assets before marriage, so there won't be any issues with that. However, I will compensate you with another 20 million and a villa on the outskirts. After all, you'd be leaving without anything else. It'd be hard for me to explain that to Grandpa later if you do." Alice was stunned and upset. "Does … does Grandpa know you're divorcing me?" "So what if he knows? Do you think it'll affect my decision?" After hearing that, Alice felt faint and grasp
Alyssa's chest rose and fell. The tip of her nose and her eyes were red. She simply stared blankly at Jasper and couldn't say a word. Without Jasper around, she never realized that fear was an emotion that she could feel. She wasn't afraid of God or the devil. She had fought the dark and evil forces of the world with bravery. But fear overtook her when Jasper appeared just in time to shield her from danger.She wanted to cry, her heart softening. The façade of strength she had built crumbled, leaving her feeling like a fragile pebble in Jasper's hands.She had never known she could feel fear like other women, but it was only with him.Ignoring the pain in his back, Jasper held Alyssa by her trembling shoulders, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. Once he confirmed she wasn't physically hurt and was likely in shock, he exhaled in relief."M-Mister…"Wide-eyed and mouth agape, Sebastian watched Jasper appear out of nowhere. He was shaking uncontrollably, as if his soul had lef
Sebastian recognized the stunning Alyssa immediately. Alarm bells rang in his head as he stumbled back a step. "W-What are you doing here?"Everyone in Solana City knew about Alyssa and Jasper's inseparable bond. Guilt churned in Sebastian's stomach. He couldn't even meet Alyssa's bright, piercing eyes, knowing he had betrayed Jasper."Dr. Bender, please step into my car. There's something we need to discuss." Alyssa's slight smile masked the storm brewing beneath her calm exterior."There's nothing to talk about," Sebastian stammered, fumbling with his keys in a desperate attempt to escape. Turning on his heel, he headed toward his house. But Alyssa's voice cut through the tension. She sneered. "When you schemed against Mr. Jasper, you didn't just wrong him. You wronged KS Group—the company that stands behind him. You should've known I'd come for you."Sebastian froze, his back to Alyssa, trembling."You stupid bitch! What are you trying to do to my father? How dare you thre
"Cyrus, go ahead!" Alyssa leaped to her feet, her anticipation palpable."Sebastian Bender himself doesn't have any history of illegal activities, and his income records appear clean. But there's something odd about him."Alyssa pressed, "How so?" "I looked into Sebastian's assets and income sources. His son is a gambling addict and his wife is gravely ill. Despite being in a high-income bracket, his son has drained the family of nearly everything, leaving Sebastian with just a house and a car."Yet, just two days ago, Sebastian managed to pay for his wife's bone marrow transplant surgery and covered her hospitalization fees—over 500,000 dollars in total. On top of that, he cleared his son's debts of more than three million dollars owed to loan sharks."Alyssa had put the call on loudspeaker, so Sean caught every word. "That son of his is an absolute piece of trash!" Sean exclaimed, his frustration boiling over. "He'd be better off dead!"Cyrus added, "The most suspicious par
The atmosphere in the room was oppressive, the air seemingly turning ice cold. The tension was so thick that it felt as if it could be cut with a knife."What do you think?" The smile on Justin's face widened as his roguish gaze fixed on Jasper from behind.Instead of answering him directly, Jasper delivered a more cutting response. He scoffed. "I get it now." Tilting his sculpted chin upward, a vicious gleam flashed in his eyes. "Someday in the future, you'll regret the decision you made 20 years ago."Justin's brows furrowed deeply at the remark."That was your one and only chance to get rid of me. Too bad you missed it." With that, Jasper turned on his heel and strode off, exuding the confidence of a lone ranger.As the door swung shut, Justin tightened his grip on the pen, the veins on the back of his hand pulsating with tension.…After finishing work that morning, Alyssa learned about Jasper's bail through the trending topics on Twitter. At the same time, a shocking
Jasper's gaze followed the movement of Justin's finger, landing on the nameplate on the desk.The nameplate that once read "Jasper Beckett, CEO" had been replaced with "Justin Beckett" without Jasper's knowledge.Justin had been impatient—erasing all traces of Jasper in the Beckett Group overnight."We held an emergency board meeting yesterday morning," Justin said, his tone calm yet cutting. "With an overwhelming majority vote, I've replaced you as the corporation's CEO." He leaned forward, resting his chin on a triangle formed by his well-defined fingers. "Have your secretary hand work over to mine soon. I've packed your belongings and sent them to Seaview Manor. Thanks for all your hard work these years, Jasper. You can leave the future of the Beckett Group in my hands now."The room fell into a tense silence. Jasper's lashes quivered briefly before he broke into a smile. With one hand in his pocket, he sank onto the couch with a calm, almost careless air. Legs slightly apar
Sitting upright, Jasper didn't want to impose. "Alright, then. Whatever you're comfortable with," he said to Steven. Noticing the haggard look on Jasper's face, Xavier said out of concern, "Mr. Beckett, I'll send you back to Seaview Manor so you can get some rest." "No, let's go to Beckett Group." Jasper lowered his eyes. In a deep voice, he continued, "The regular meeting with higher-ups starts in an hour. Inform all department directors to be in the conference room on time."…An hour later, Jasper arrived at Beckett Group Tower. He disregarded all the strange looks he was getting from the employees as he made his way through the building. With Xavier trailing behind, he took the private elevator directly to the conference room.Nevertheless, the look in his eyes dimmed the moment he opened the doors. Xavier blurted out, "What's going on? Where is everyone? I notified everyone about the meeting!" As Jasper stared at the empty conference room, something started simmerin
"Alyssa… you do?" Newton's bleary eyes brightened slightly.Alyssa hesitated before whispering, "But Grandpa Newton, my idea is quite drastic. It might even affect Beckett Group's shareholder equity—including yours and Mr. Javier's interests."Newton's expression shifted as he pieced it together. "Alyssa, you're thinking of—""Yes," she admitted. "During the recent drop in Beckett Group's share prices, I seized the opportunity to acquire a small portion of shares. I already hold some."If you're willing, could you transfer part of your shares to me? This would make me one of the major shareholders and secure me a seat on the board of directors. Together, we, along with Jasper, could hold enough shares to counter Mr. Javier and Justin."At the very least, we'd prevent Justin from gaining complete control of the corporation."Alyssa frowned as she weighed the pros and cons aloud. "Right now, Mr. Javier is siding with Justin. Even if Justin doesn't gain ownership of Mr. Javier's sha
Also at a loss, Javier yelled anxiously, "Dad! Dad, are you okay? Get an ambulance now!" Panic erupted in the conference room, the air thick with chaos.Justin pushed through the crowd and knelt beside Newton, his gaze heavy with feigned concern as he studied Newton's pale, pained face. "Grandpa, are you having one of your episodes? Please, hang in there."Leaning closer, he whispered with a sinister chuckle, "You wouldn't want to miss seeing me take over Jasper's position as president of Beckett Group."Newton's bloodshot eyes widened as he struggled to speak. "Y-You... m-monster..."Justin's lips curled into a cold smile. "What a flattering compliment. Thank you."…Newton was rushed to the hospital after collapsing.Despite the urgency, neither Javier nor Justin accompanied him as the outcome of the critical board meeting loomed. With Jasper detained, Ben was the only one to stay by Newton's side.Watching Newton being wheeled into the ER, Ben's chest tightened with sorrow
The board members were stunned into silence. One by one, they rose from their seats, greeting Newton respectfully. At Beckett Group, Newton's presence was akin to that of a king. Though he had long stepped away from the corporation's daily affairs, his influence remained unparalleled.He was not only an honorary board member of Beckett Group but also held similar titles in other renowned corporations. In the corporate world, Newton was nothing short of a legend.His unexpected arrival at the board meeting sent shockwaves through the room. The first words out of his mouth—an objection to the proposed motion—made it clear where his loyalties lay—with Jasper."Dad, what are you doing here?" Javier exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise as he rushed forward to steady Newton, who was visibly trembling.Justin narrowed his eyes as he stood up slowly. He was the last to rise to his feet. A flicker of something sinister danced in his gaze, an abyss of calculated intent hidden behind an