"Didn't you say you had no idea what I was talking about? In that case, this ear is useless to you. You're already a crippled man anyway. You might as well be deaf too." Axel's hands trembled with restrained rage. The temptation to end Justin's life surged through him—he wanted to pull the trigger, to rip him apart limb by limb. But he had made a promise to Jasper—no lives would be taken. A promise was a promise."I will rescue my wife. But you'll lose more than just an ear if I fail." Axel seized Justin by the hair, his reddened eyes brimming with tears. His voice cracked with fury and anguish. "I will make you suffer a thousand times the pain Amber has endured."Without warning, he released Justin and stormed out."S-Sir! I will get someone to take you to the hospital right away!" Sheryl crawled to Justin's side, panic-stricken as her eyes fell on the pool of blood spreading across the floor. Her trembling hands fumbled with her phone, unable to keep a firm grip as she scrambl
"Remy beat Sheryl up?" Jasper repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. Having wiped away his tears, Axel leaned in to listen to the phone call."Yeah! I saw it with my own eyes in the surveillance footage. He punched her—brutally!" Xavier's voice was filled with astonishment. He exhaled sharply before continuing, "I thought they were a close-knit group. Looks like even they have internal conflicts!"After a brief pause, he ventured, "Mr. Beckett, do you think we could use this as a breakthrough? Maybe Remy has been at odds with Sheryl for a while, and he's tired of working under Justin. Perhaps all he needs is a little push to turn against them. After all, didn't Ms. Altman join us because she hated everything Jameson did?"Jasper didn't give a direct answer. Instead, he spoke quietly, "It's a clever thought, but it's still uncertain. We don't really know Remy's intentions. Our interactions with him have been few, and they've always been risky confrontations. I don't know what he
That said, this strategy came with its own risks. It was as if Jasper and Axel were placing all their bets on Remy for the time being."Justin doesn't control someone without a reason. Since he has control over Remy, he will make full use of him."Jasper's chest tightened, a weight pressing down on him like a massive rock. He continued, "The only way to find Amber is to understand Justin's intentions clearly."…The press conference was scheduled for 5:00 pm at Berenike Hotel's Conference Hall A on Saturday. At 3:00 pm sharp, Justin sat in the president's office at Beckett Group, his expression frigid. He sat upright on the couch while Sheryl, standing beside him, carefully tended to the wound on his left ear, changing its dressing with caution. It had been only two days since he was shot in the ear. His flesh had been stitched up, and the stitches looked like a grotesque centipede crawling along his ear. There was no way to conceal the injury unless he donned a shoulder-lengt
Time was ticking. The press conference was about to begin. Landon escorted Sebastian out of the manor and into Jasper's car. He glanced at Jasper, who sat in the back seat, his expression calm and composed.With concern etched on his face, Landon said, "Jasper, let me come with you. I can't feel at ease otherwise."Jasper met Landon's gaze, firm and aloof. "Don't worry, Landon. You've done enough. It's time for you to step back."If Landon continued to help, he would only get caught up in the chaos. Despite his current difficulty in articulating his feelings, Jasper couldn't forget that this was his best friend, the one he'd stood by for more than 20 years. Landon had endured so much to finally be happy with Lauren, and Jasper wasn't about to be the one to disrupt that hard-earned happiness. Understanding Jasper's stubbornness, Landon turned to Xavier. "Call me immediately if anything happens.""Don't worry, Mr. Harper," Xavier reassured. With that, Sebastian climbed into
Frightened out of his wits, Xavier yelped, covering his head and crouching low in his seat. It wasn't that he was a coward. He had been brave in the past, but this situation was unlike anything an ordinary person would face.Working for Jasper meant Xavier didn't have to worry about his livelihood, but every day was a gamble with danger. If this continued, he might have to keep Nitroglycerin on hand just to survive.Jasper, with his strong, muscular frame, shielded Sebastian beneath him.He knew the attackers were after Sebastian, the witness, aiming to eliminate anyone who could tip the scales against them. If they could take down Jasper too, or at least injure him severely, it would be a bonus.These people were ruthless. Sebastian, oblivious to the danger, was muttering the Lord's Prayer under his breath. He didn't know that the man protecting him was sometimes more powerful than any deity."Don't lift your heads! Arrows aren't like bullets—they can pierce glass but not the
"Maggie, I love you!" Xavier typed.Maggie replied, "Xave, you're not usually this corny. What happened?" Xavier couldn't bring himself to tell her that those words were his final ones if something happened to him.His phone buzzed again. It was Maggie sending another message that read, "I love you too, Xave." Tears filled Xavier's eyes. His lips quivered, and his heart raced. He cursed under his breath. It was time to go all out. With that, he grabbed the machete, swung open the car door, and swiftly took down two of Jasper's attackers.But Xavier wasn't a fighter. He had no real combat experience. It didn't take long before a blade sliced into his arm, the deep cut searing with pain.Jasper's eyes widened. He roared, "Xavier, get back in the car!"Distracted, Jasper's opponent swung a machete at his face. Xavier gasped, "Mr. Beckett!"Luckily, Jasper dodged the strike, his reflexes quick. He retaliated by snapping the attacker's arm.Xavier, pale and shaking with pain,
Jasper and Jonah went to get Sebastian and Xavier out of the car. The four of them then bolted toward the other end of the alley. A clamor broke out behind them. Jasper glanced back, his heart pounding.Warmth surged through his hardened heart as he saw Axel holding his own in a brutal fight against over a dozen assassins, skillfully subduing them one by one."Jasper!" All of a sudden, Jonah stopped in his tracks. Jasper turned to see what had caught his attention, and his heart sank. Standing at the alley's end, silhouetted against the light, was a tall figure radiating a presence that commanded fear. Though the man's face was obscured, his unyielding presence was unmistakable. It was Justin's right-hand man, Remy."Mr. Beckett, w-what should we do?" Xavier stammered.With a fierce glint in his eyes, Jonah took a step forward. "I'll hold him back. The rest of you, keep going." "Xavier, take Dr. Bender to the press conference immediately. Don't let anything stop you." J
"Younger brother?" Jonah echoed. The mention of Damien brought a sharp pang to his chest. Memories of the plane crash flashed before his eyes. He continued, his voice tight with emotion, "Even if he is my brother, he allied with the devil and chose a corrupt path. I am severing ties with him!"With that, Jonah slammed his arm down, a decisive gesture."Jonah! No!" Jasper shouted.In the next instant, Remy, with an almost unnatural calm, grabbed the blade of the dagger with his bare hand. Blood began to flow from his palm.Jonah's heart twisted in agony. Family meant everything to him, yet here he was, inflicting harm on one of his own."I didn't come here to stop you," Remy said, his voice low and strained as he met Jonah's reddened eyes. "But I must stop both of you. This is my mission."Jonah stared at him, stunned. "Why—""Because I work for Sir. I have no choice but to follow orders."Turning to Jasper, Remy said, "Go." …After watching them leave, Remy trudged through
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
In an instant, the woman burst into tears. Remy, in an alarmed state, scanned the area outside the car. Satisfied that he was momentarily safe, he loosened his grip on the woman, only to discover his palms were damp. The woman's face was drenched in tears. As he stared into her misty eyes, recognition dawned on him—she was the woman who had chased him at the hospital, frantically calling him "Damien". This could only mean she was Damien Taylor's mother. Remy straightened abruptly, putting distance between himself and Mandy. A surge of emotion tightened his chest, leaving him shaken. Silence blanketed the car. Despite her usual composure, Mandy was overwhelmed. Her tears were unstoppable as she gazed at him. Nothing else seemed to matter. At that moment, Mandy's driver opened the car door and climbed in, saying, "Mrs. Taylor, here are the desserts you ordered for Mr. Taylor—"Remy's reddened eyes darkened. His muscles tensed as he reached for the door handle, ready to l
"Younger brother?" Jonah echoed. The mention of Damien brought a sharp pang to his chest. Memories of the plane crash flashed before his eyes. He continued, his voice tight with emotion, "Even if he is my brother, he allied with the devil and chose a corrupt path. I am severing ties with him!"With that, Jonah slammed his arm down, a decisive gesture."Jonah! No!" Jasper shouted.In the next instant, Remy, with an almost unnatural calm, grabbed the blade of the dagger with his bare hand. Blood began to flow from his palm.Jonah's heart twisted in agony. Family meant everything to him, yet here he was, inflicting harm on one of his own."I didn't come here to stop you," Remy said, his voice low and strained as he met Jonah's reddened eyes. "But I must stop both of you. This is my mission."Jonah stared at him, stunned. "Why—""Because I work for Sir. I have no choice but to follow orders."Turning to Jasper, Remy said, "Go." …After watching them leave, Remy trudged through
Jasper and Jonah went to get Sebastian and Xavier out of the car. The four of them then bolted toward the other end of the alley. A clamor broke out behind them. Jasper glanced back, his heart pounding.Warmth surged through his hardened heart as he saw Axel holding his own in a brutal fight against over a dozen assassins, skillfully subduing them one by one."Jasper!" All of a sudden, Jonah stopped in his tracks. Jasper turned to see what had caught his attention, and his heart sank. Standing at the alley's end, silhouetted against the light, was a tall figure radiating a presence that commanded fear. Though the man's face was obscured, his unyielding presence was unmistakable. It was Justin's right-hand man, Remy."Mr. Beckett, w-what should we do?" Xavier stammered.With a fierce glint in his eyes, Jonah took a step forward. "I'll hold him back. The rest of you, keep going." "Xavier, take Dr. Bender to the press conference immediately. Don't let anything stop you." J
"Maggie, I love you!" Xavier typed.Maggie replied, "Xave, you're not usually this corny. What happened?" Xavier couldn't bring himself to tell her that those words were his final ones if something happened to him.His phone buzzed again. It was Maggie sending another message that read, "I love you too, Xave." Tears filled Xavier's eyes. His lips quivered, and his heart raced. He cursed under his breath. It was time to go all out. With that, he grabbed the machete, swung open the car door, and swiftly took down two of Jasper's attackers.But Xavier wasn't a fighter. He had no real combat experience. It didn't take long before a blade sliced into his arm, the deep cut searing with pain.Jasper's eyes widened. He roared, "Xavier, get back in the car!"Distracted, Jasper's opponent swung a machete at his face. Xavier gasped, "Mr. Beckett!"Luckily, Jasper dodged the strike, his reflexes quick. He retaliated by snapping the attacker's arm.Xavier, pale and shaking with pain,
Frightened out of his wits, Xavier yelped, covering his head and crouching low in his seat. It wasn't that he was a coward. He had been brave in the past, but this situation was unlike anything an ordinary person would face.Working for Jasper meant Xavier didn't have to worry about his livelihood, but every day was a gamble with danger. If this continued, he might have to keep Nitroglycerin on hand just to survive.Jasper, with his strong, muscular frame, shielded Sebastian beneath him.He knew the attackers were after Sebastian, the witness, aiming to eliminate anyone who could tip the scales against them. If they could take down Jasper too, or at least injure him severely, it would be a bonus.These people were ruthless. Sebastian, oblivious to the danger, was muttering the Lord's Prayer under his breath. He didn't know that the man protecting him was sometimes more powerful than any deity."Don't lift your heads! Arrows aren't like bullets—they can pierce glass but not the
Time was ticking. The press conference was about to begin. Landon escorted Sebastian out of the manor and into Jasper's car. He glanced at Jasper, who sat in the back seat, his expression calm and composed.With concern etched on his face, Landon said, "Jasper, let me come with you. I can't feel at ease otherwise."Jasper met Landon's gaze, firm and aloof. "Don't worry, Landon. You've done enough. It's time for you to step back."If Landon continued to help, he would only get caught up in the chaos. Despite his current difficulty in articulating his feelings, Jasper couldn't forget that this was his best friend, the one he'd stood by for more than 20 years. Landon had endured so much to finally be happy with Lauren, and Jasper wasn't about to be the one to disrupt that hard-earned happiness. Understanding Jasper's stubbornness, Landon turned to Xavier. "Call me immediately if anything happens.""Don't worry, Mr. Harper," Xavier reassured. With that, Sebastian climbed into