The truth was, Jasper not only failed to experience true love, but he also felt increasingly helpless in this relationship.A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Jasper responded, and Xavier entered the office with a document."I've looked into it, Mr. Jasper. KS World Hotel returned Elysian Home's products and terminated all collaborations with Gardner Group nine days ago. Taylor Group hadn't exposed the quality issue to the media at that time. It was more of the public's assumptions."Jasper knew the series of events that took place after that. Next, Liana announced their wedding and hired ghostwriters to attack Alice. Only then did Taylor Group expose Gardner Group for their quality issue, leading to the current crisis. Gritting his teeth, Jasper took an aspirin to alleviate the headache. His hands were shaking. "I heard there was a vice general manager named Michael at KS World Hotel. He received a huge sum from Gardner Group before Ms. Alyssa was appointed. She fo
Jasper returned to Seaview Manor, completely drenched. Rosie hurried over with a cloth, but he waved her away. He headed upstairs with a long face."W-What's wrong with him? Did someone offend him?" Rosie asked in concern. "You should comfort him later. He had been deceived," responded Xavier."Huh? He's sharp and smart, though. He had been deceived? Have you reported to the police? We have to call the cops." Rosie was surprised.Xavier shook his head. "It's … It's complicated. The police can't do anything about it. Fortunately, justice prevailed over evil.""I told him to download an anti-scammer app long ago. He just wouldn't listen. Look at him now. He's a victim."Xavier smiled bitterly at the thought of Jasper having finally met his match. It wouldn't have been this serious if it was money-related, but the liar made use of Jasper's pride!… A pale-faced Jasper headed upstairs. He appeared lifeless."Mr. Jasper, Ms. Gardner is here. Mr. Javier is asking for you. He's
"I told Ms. Gardner not to touch the box on the headboard because it's important to you." Rosie looked at the angry Liana ambiguously.Rosie intentionally mentioned how much Jasper cared about Alice's gift to provoke Liana into revealing the truth."I threw it away," Liana confessed angrily, just as Rosie had anticipated.Fury filled Jasper's eyes as he asked, "Where is it?" "Jasper, why do you care about a gift from Alice? You're divorced. I'm your fiancée. Have you considered my feelings when you cherish her gifts?" Her eyes became teary. Her acting was so natural, thanks to Sophia's teaching."I'm asking you. Where is it?" Jasper's tone turned cold, and he ignored her tears. Shocked, she forgot to keep up her act and stammered, "I-It's in the trash bin in the backyard …"Jasper ran to the backyard. He was drenched in the rain instantly. He rolled up his sleeves and searched through the trash bin for the box."Jasper! Stop! Look how filthy it is!" Liana yelled from the corr
Liana walked away, sobbing.The maids were gushing about her hysterics. Her visits never failed to end up with antics and her leaving the place with tears. They wondered if she deemed Seaview Manor as her personal playhouse.Jasper sat still on the couch. He stared at the jumble of cloth for a long time."Mr. Jasper, it's getting late. Here's some milk. You need to get some sleep." Rosie handed him a glass of warm milk. A heavy sigh escaped Rosie's lips as she gazed upon the ruined suit. "What a shame." Her words meant something deeper."The next time Lia stops by, keep an eye on her. Stop her from entering my room and study. Oh, and Alice's room too," Jasper instructed in a low voice."Don't worry. Your wish is my command. I will watch her every move," Rosie promised confidently.She then added, "Luckily, I locked Madam Alice's room. Otherwise, Ms. Gardner might have sneaked in and caused a mess.""Don't put it that way, Mrs. Rosie. Lia isn't that bad of a person. After all,
Gardner Group was on the verge of collapse. Not only did they fall from grace, but more than ten of Elysian Home's physical stores in Solana City were now deserted.Worst still, Jasper had decided not to help them out. If they did not come up with a solution soon, they would be done once the funding from Beckett Group ran out.Meanwhile, Taylor Group won the public's favor upon exposing the Gardners' true colors. After a long period of flying under the radar, KS World Hotel was finally gaining some attention."I've been doing as you asked. I've been keeping an eye on Michael ever since you fired him. As you'd expected, he has been in personal contact with Dylan. It happened not only once," reported Sean.Sean held Alyssa's hand as he manicured her nails. He exclaimed, "Everything is unfolding just as you predicted. You totally hit the bullseye. You know what he was thinking.""He embezzled the hotel's funding and conspired with Dylan behind our backs. I guess they have a deep bo
Landon went to a Trivedian restaurant in the hotel with the lady, Vanessa James. As soon as the dishes were served, Vanessa began to take pictures of the exquisite food. Looking at how naive she was, Landon felt annoyed. "What's with the photos? Haven't you seen food before?"Vanessa reluctantly put her phone away and started to eat in silence.As they neared the end of the meal, the restaurant manager approached and asked, "Mr. Harper, are you pleased with our food today?""Not bad. The texture of the meat was pretty tender. I quite like it." Landon had a questionable private life. But being born into a wealthy family gave him certain refinement in his manners and speech."What are you talking about? The meat was so chewy. It didn't taste good at all." Vanessa slammed the utensils on the table. Landon's face fell in an instant. His gaze darkened. "We sincerely appreciate your feedback and will strive to serve you better next time. Much apologies!" The manager bowed deeply.
Wearing a slightly frivolous and seductive smile, Landon said, "Let's have dinner tonight. I'll come and pick you up. Tell me what you want to eat. I'll make a reservation." "I have a boyfriend, Mr. Harper." Alyssa frowned, and there was a hint of irritability in her voice."Well, I don't even care that you have an ex-husband, let alone this." When it came to relationships, Landon had always been shameless and unscrupulous. As long as he liked it, he didn't mind going against morality. "If you're afraid, we can do it secretly in my private villa. It's secluded, and my cook has the standard of a three-star Michelin chef. I can tell them to make preparations in advance." Alyssa knitted her brows. "Why isn't my coffee here yet?" she thought.She wanted to splash it in his face to sober him up!Right then, Landon's phone rang. It was a call from Jasper. "I need to answer a call, so please excuse me." With that, he walked away. "What a shameless man! I didn't even ask you to
As soon as Jasper finished speaking, a sharp scream came from the restaurant. Landon suddenly remembered that Vanessa was still in there. She definitely wouldn't sit still. Letting her stay in the same place with Alyssa alone would surely lead to trouble!"Jasper, something has happened! I've got to go! And I can only meet with you tomorrow!" Just as Landon was about to end the call, Jasper asked, "Where are you?" At this time, another piercing exclamation came through. It was way harsher than the first. "At the Trivedian restaurant in KS World Hotel!" After saying that, Landon immediately headed back to the restaurant. The moment he pushed open the door, he was shocked by what was happening before his eyes. Alyssa was grabbing Vanessa by the hair with her left hand. Her right hand was forcefully pressing her head down onto the table. Meanwhile, Vanessa couldn't move at all as both of her wrists were shackled by Alyssa's other hand. This simply looked like the scene of a
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
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,