As Alyssa was no longer in love with Jasper, she shed off any pretense of a demure lady and doubled over in laughter. "Why would I be upset over nothing? I'm a Taylor. It's hard to faze me. Don't you think you've underestimated me?""That's good to hear." Jasper looked glad."Why did you come all this way to tell me that?" Alyssa wondered, never once considering that he might have done so out of love for her.After all, he had had many chances to fall for her in the three years of marriage. It didn't make sense for him to suddenly develop feelings now. That would be a ridiculously delayed response."Alyssa, at the end of the day, I am indebted to you. Ours might have been a paper marriage, but that was no excuse for my poor treatment of you," he tried to explain his behavior. "So, if there's a chance, I'd like to make it up to you.""Make it up to me? Sure." She cast him an indifferent glance. "How about you promise to keep out of my sight and stay out of my business? That's all
The day after the KS World Hotel scandal, Betty dressed up nicely to meet with Ada at the presidential suite of Berenike Hotel.It was clear to her that Betty fell short in comparison to Alyssa in terms of fashion sense, class, and eloquence. In ordinary circumstances, Ada would never have considered associating with such a superficial person were it not for the fact that Betty was a Beckett."Madam Ada, KS World's contractual breach has led to the postponement of your wedding. Even I was worried when I heard the news. Their handling of the situation was amateur and careless."It was highly unprofessional of them to expose client's information online. This case will no doubt be the perfect cautionary tale in the industry," Betty indignantly bashed KS World Hotel, oblivious to the sullen look on Ada's face.She went on, "Had you chosen Berenike Hotel, you wouldn't have gotten into this mess.""Are you implying that I was bad at decisions?" confronted Ada, who took a sip of the bl
"You cannot allow the others to read your mind through your actions. It's a risky behavior," Javier cautioned Betty."Got it, Dad."Then, Javier made a video call to Jasper. Jasper's stoic face appeared on the screen.Seeing that, Betty clung tighter onto Javier's arm in an attempt to put on the act of a loving family.Jasper ignored her and asked, "What's the matter?""Your sister has secured the partnership with Ada Kingsley. We just need you to formalize the agreement," Javier instructed him. "Meet her as soon as you can and close the deal.""You won't need me at all if Ada is on board," Jasper answered with a smirk. "Congratulations in advance, Betty. You've won a project from Alyssa that will surely help your career."As you are a capable woman, I will leave the contract signing to you. I wouldn't want to steal your thunder."Betty smoldered in anger, but without Jasper's help, she could not resolve the awkward situation with Ada."Jasper, Betty is your little sister. She
After escaping from Landon that night, Lauren found herself unable to sleep. Upon returning home, she discovered her injuries. She had a severe scrape on her elbow that was bleeding and oozing pus. The stinging pain brought tears to her eyes.As she had hurt herself after sneaking out, she kept quiet about her wounds and quickly tended to her injuries with whatever was available in the first aid kit. Then, she snuggled with her teddy bear under the covers, but that didn't help. She ended up tossing and turning throughout the night.Between sleep and consciousness, a flood of memories inundated her mind.She remembered the degrading experience of being forced to eat lunch in a squalid restroom. She also remembered the humiliating incident of being dunked headfirst into a trashcan by a male student under Zoe's command. She recalled the shocking discovery of a dead rat hidden in her bag and her cherished novel torn into shreds by Zoe's cruel hands.And then there was the harrowi
"I'm Ms. Lauren, the daughter of Javier Beckett. Why do you listen to Betty but not me? Go, now!" Lauren growled.The butler scurried off to get her a car with a sullen look.…The city shimmered with the glow of night lights. In a luxury lounge in ACE, Zoe and a few rich kids in Solana City drank alcohol and smoked. She looked more like a female gangster than a young lady from an esteemed family.Zoe went to Yoarkley for her studies after graduating junior high. She didn't have many friends left in Solana City. The ladies and gents that night were from the same social clique in her junior high class and her lackeys to bully Lauren."How's Lauren these days? I haven't seen her since we graduated. Isn't she keeping an unusually low profile for a Beckett?" someone wondered aloud.Another gossiped, "Hey, I heard from my mom that Lauren's mentally challenged. That's why Madam Sophia doesn't parade her around.""Seriously? No wonder she always seemed dumb and slow in junior high. L
An eerie hush filled the air of another luxury lounge despite the deafening music reverberating from beyond its walls.Dressed in black from head to toe, Landon had left his silk shirt partly unbuttoned, exposing a glinting silver necklace that swayed in rhythm with his breath. Landon took a languid sip from his red wine and crossed his slender legs. He casually brushed away a drop of red wine in the corner of his lip with his fingertip. He looked leisurely and even insolent, but his eyes were an icy, unfathomable depth.A row of men stood in the lounge. Landon downed the red wine and snapped his fingers. His bodyguards split into two lines and revealed a badly beaten man on the floor who was tied up."M-Mr. Harper, it's my fault. Please …" After losing a few teeth to the beating, the man spoke with a lisp. Drool mixed with blood fell from his mouth."Tsk. Your blood is all over the floor." Landon shot him a disdainful look and arched a brow, questioning, "Do you know how expen
Zoe and her friends couldn't help but share a laugh at Lauren's expense. Lauren was darting around the room like a lost kite. Drunk customers shoved and pulled her around. Some perverted patrons even groped her. Her attempts at dodging the unwanted advances were met with reprimands. That was better entertainment than any comedy."Hahaha! That retard! Why has she not changed from junior high at all? Did she stop growing by then?" Zoe laughed and pointed at the screen. "Betty, I'm dying to know. Where did you stash that stupid bear?""I hid it at …" Betty laughed and whispered something into Zoe's ears.Zoe laughed loudly. "What a brilliant idea! That dimwit won't stand a chance of finding it anytime soon."…Lauren desperately scoured the space beneath the tables and was kicked multiple times by the customers. She suffered bruises all over her body.She stood there, dazed and trembling, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort. Her mind went blank at the funny looks of t
Landon almost melted from Lauren calling his name. He swallowed hard as he surprisingly found his blood rushing.The tears that rolled off her reddened eyes sent ripples across his heart. Almost instantly, he put aside the memory of that night when she left him behind."Oh, did Alyssa give it to you?" He scrunched up his eyes and wiped away her tears with his coarse fingertips.She gave him a hard nod. Her nose was red."Where? Did you lose it in the club?"She nodded again, her eyes red from crying."Don't worry. I'll help." He took her hand and led her to the stage with everyone's eyes on them.A dreamy light was cast on them, creating a picturesque scene.Lauren timidly looked at her feet but stole occasional glances at him. He might look unfriendly, but she had to admit that he was beautiful. He had chiseled and regal features that were unrivaled and a pair of hawkish eyes.She pursed her lips as she stealthily checked out his features and etched his face in her memory.
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
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
"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
"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
"Sir!" Sheryl shouted. She was just about to get to Justin's side when two shots were fired near her feet. Screaming, she dropped to her knees, threw her arms over her head, and scurried under the table like a terrified animal.The air in the room grew heavy with menace.Justin, known as the devil of the night, was a man who thrived on chaos. His power and influence stretched across continents, and he'd faced countless threats without flinching.But as his visitor approached, an unfamiliar dread coiled in his chest. His hands gripped the couch's armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The terror was suffocating."Get out, all of you," the man commanded, his voice cold and sharp.The man remained fixated solely on Justin while Justin's guests fled in terror. "Help! Somebody!" Sheryl screamed, her voice muffled as she cowered under the table.No help would come. Outside, the others were either unconscious or dead.A deafening bang shattered the silence. The man fir
"I will take it if my condition flares up," Remy said, his voice devoid of emotion as he stared blankly at the bottle in his hand. With a feigned smile, Sheryl replied, "Sir instructed me to ensure you took the pill."A chill ran down Remy's spine. Knitting his brows together, he questioned, "But why?" "This is Sir's order. Why are you questioning it?" Sheryl's smirk turned cold and mocking. "What, are you afraid Sir has ill intentions toward you? Have you lost your trust in him?"Remy held his breath. "No, that's not it." "Remy, swore before Sir to serve him loyally for the rest of your life. You pledged to give him your very being. You haven't forgotten that, have you?" Tilting her chin slightly upward, Sheryl shot him a frosty sidelong glance. "Even if Sir fed you poison, shouldn't you take it without hesitation? Why are you hesitating? Don't disappoint Sir."The suffocating pressure in Remy's chest intensified. It felt as though someone had a rifle trained on him, forcin
Hell on Earth? This place resembled a decrepit hospital. But why had Sheryl described it as "hell on Earth"?Amber's body convulsed uncontrollably, her consciousness flickering between clarity and haze. Fragments of memory surfaced—a dim recollection of drinking with Carl in the cellar after The Millennium's closure. She'd despised working with Carl but had cozied up to him for the sake of extracting information.Carl had revealed that "Sir" was deeply entrenched in the pharmaceutical industry. With connections to Mosgravia's government officials and elite circles, "Sir" wielded considerable power and ran a thriving business. Since his business revolved around pharmaceuticals, clinical trials were inevitable. To facilitate this, Sir owned a private hospital in Mosgravia.That hospital, however, was merely a façade. Beneath its sterile exterior, three basement levels housed patients—unwilling subjects for experimental drugs.Amber shivered. This place bore an uncanny resemblance t
"Amber will be fine," Jasper said confidently. "Based on Justin's way of doing things, he won't harm her for now. She's still useful t o him. He'll exploit her to control you and Alyssa, and to keep me from taking him down."Gripping Jasper's arm, Axel pleaded, "Jasper, I have to save my wife… What should I do?" His eyes were red, brimming with unshed tears.Steadying his breath, Jasper replied, "Even if it comes to killing Justin, it shouldn't be your hands that get dirty. I'll do it.""Are you kidding me? If we're taking that bastard down, we do it together!" Axel's expression was fierce and unyielding. "We went through the same military academy. We have to fight side by side!""Justin is my older brother. It's my family's matter to handle. And don't think I'm doing this for your sake—I have my own reasons."After a moment of silence, Jasper's voice softened. "I came to see you today for another reason. When you get home, don't blame Lyse. She's been torturing herself with g