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.
Landon led Lauren to another lounge, where the escorts were drinking with three other young men. The men were Landon's friends in Solana City.Lauren blushed at the intimacy among the strangers, to the point she wanted to bury her head in the sand. Landon had to drag her into the room.Upon their entrance, the men started whistling and cheering.One of them joked, "Oh! Hello there, future sister-in-law! Aren't you young and successful for nailing down Landon at this age?"She panicked and paled at the joke."Shut your trap! She's …" Landon stopped himself before introducing Lauren. He was reminded of Jasper's remark and quickly explained, "She's my sister. Stop with that nonsense!""Hey, Landon, her teddy bear is pretty expensive, though. You could easily rack up tens of thousands of dollars in spending per visit to ACE. "That will be hundreds of thousands a year if that lucky customer swings by daily! And this is all for her teddy bear? You can supply her a ton of teddy bears
"How about now? Is Ms. Altman at home?" Alyssa asked urgently."She isn't," Clark replied. "She drove out the back gate alone around 11:00 pm. Our security personnel stopped her then, but she said she was just going out for some fresh air because she had trouble sleeping. She promised she wouldn't be long, but it's strange—she hasn't returned even now."Alyssa's ears began to ring, her heart sinking like a stone.When she ended the call, her nightgown clung to her skin, drenched in cold sweat. Her trembling hand gripped the phone tightly.She thought of calling Jonah, but he was still searching for Julien in Mosgravia. He wouldn't be able to return in time. Silas wasn't home tonight; he was likely with Rose. Besides, he was more of an academic than a fighter—not someone who could help in a crisis. Getting him out of bed in the middle of the night couldn't possibly solve any of their problems. Axel had returned to his organization, leaving Cyrus as the only one accessible who mi
Amber's eyes reddened as she darted toward the trapdoor in The Millennium, tears streaming down her face.Remy had let her go. He actually spared her! Didn't this prove that he was Damien? That his true nature lingered, even if his memories of the past had been lost?Hope and excitement bubbled within her as she ran. She had to reach Alyssa immediately and share this evidence—this incredible news!Emerging from the trapdoor, Amber navigated the tangled paths among the weeds on the mountain behind The Millennium.Suddenly, she froze. Her breath hitched. Beams of white light shone from all directions, focusing on her. The cold, unyielding spotlights told her everything—she was surrounded, the target of an ambush. Amber's heart pounded in her chest. Cold sweat slicked her palms as her fingers clenched tightly around her dagger. The veins on the back of her hand throbbed with adrenaline.Six assassins in black emerged from the shadows, their flashlights cutting through the gl
Amber glared at Remy through her bloodshot eyes, thrusting her gleaming blade toward his chest. In her early days of being Jameson's follower, the first lesson drilled into her was how to kill quickly and efficiently. Refinement wasn't necessary—only results mattered. Yet, despite mastering the techniques, she had never put them into practice. Deep down, Amber feared the sight of blood and loathed the idea of taking a life.And now, of all people, it was Remy forcing her to cross that line.The blade's tip hovered mere inches from Remy's heart when hesitation gripped her. Axel's voice echoed in her mind, raw with emotion. "Amber, I keep feeling that Remy is my fifth brother, Damien. We miss him… We want him to come home!"Her pupils dilated. The blade wavered, its deadly intent dissipating.That single moment of doubt was all Remy needed. With a calm, calculated motion, he seized her wrist and twisted it sharply.Amber gasped in pain, her grip faltering as the blade clattered
The password to Jameson's room was Alyssa's birthday. Jameson had always believed himself to be a devoted man, taking pride in that notion. Yet, in Amber's eyes, his devotion was nothing more than a pathetic joke—a sentiment she couldn't help but detest.Taking a steadying breath, Amber began rummaging through the drawers and shelves with swift precision.Years of observation had taught her that Jameson had hidden several secret compartments in this room, places meant to conceal vital information. Unless Jameson or Carl disclosed their existence, even the police might not have uncovered them.After what felt like an eternity, sweat beading on her forehead, Amber discovered a hidden compartment beneath a floor sculpture.As she pried the brick loose, her breath hitched. Inside the compartment lay a waterproof plastic bag containing a document and a USB drive.Amber retrieved the document. Her heart raced as she realized its contents—a research report from Mosgravia's RC Biotech
Ever since getting together with Axel, Amber had lived each day in bliss. Yet, when Winston assured her that he truly accepted her and approved of her marriage to Axel, that bliss reached its peak. For so long, Amber had struggled with feelings of inferiority, never truly believing she deserved Axel's love. Deep down, she had resolved to step away if Winston disapproved or insisted Axel marry a woman from a reputable family—a match more fitting of his status.She wouldn't have hesitated to leave if it meant sparing Winston and Axel any conflict. Amber loved Axel wholeheartedly and was willing to sacrifice everything for him.But instead of rejection, she found warmth. The Taylor family embraced her as one of their own, showing her kindness and understanding rather than disdain for her past.She could never repay such compassion. "Winston… Thank you. Thank you…" Amber's tear-filled eyes glistened, their brightness undimmed despite all the darkness she had endured. Winston s
Amber stifled a laugh and teased, "Stop talking, Mr. Whitaker. You're going to sound like a broken record if you keep going." …After breakfast and a quick packing session, Axel departed from Heightsnew Villa. Amber spent her day helping the Taylors with various tasks. She assisted Mandy in organizing documents for Lovelace Group's projects, helped Lyla with cooking, and even joined Colene in feeding her horse. With Tatiana's due date approaching, Amber also pitched in for her shower preparations.Amber had always been a diligent person, but today, she seemed particularly intent on keeping herself busy. She was counting down the hours until nightfall. After dinner, the Taylors sat in the living room and chatted casually as they always did. The warm, familial atmosphere filled the space, and Amber joined in, her perceptive nature making her a seamless part of the group.When everyone retired to their rooms, Amber rose to help the helpers clear the table. "Amber." Startled
Axel and Amber had only spent half a month together before the former was called back to report for work. The night before his departure, they spent hours lost in each other, their passion unrelenting. Again and again, they exchanged kisses, their love pouring forth in an endless tide."Amber, three months… Just give me three more months." When their fervor finally waned, Axel held Amber close in his arms. They rested against the headboard, leaning into one another, too exhausted to move yet unwilling to let sleep claim them."Once I finish all the missions I've taken on, I'll hand in my resignation. After that, I'll spend all my time with you," Axel murmured, his voice steady with resolve. "We'll go wherever you want. If you want fun, I'll have fun with you. If you want chaos, I'll spend my life going crazy with you."Axel wasn't one for flowery words. He simply spoke from the heart. Right now, his heart only wanted Amber—forever.Amber nestled closer, her soft smile masking t
"Sir." Sheryl immediately stood and greeted Justin respectfully as he entered the room. "What are you doing here?" Justin's cold gaze swept over her as he strolled leisurely to the couch and sat down.Sheryl quickly explained, "I received a parcel for you from the administrative secretary half an hour ago. I thought it might be something important, something you wouldn't want too many people to handle. So, I waited for you to return and open it personally.""A parcel?" Justin frowned. Why would anyone send him a parcel to Beckett Group, of all places? How strange. Sheryl presented the parcel to him with both hands. He took it from her and then opened it right before her. After removing three layers of wrapping, each from outside and inside the box, the parcel turned out to contain only a plain white envelope. His expression darkened. It felt like someone was toying with him.Then, he looked down and opened the envelope, which contained a stack of photographs. Pinching a co
"Don't be so pessimistic, Jonah," Alyssa said. Perhaps having just seen Jasper and going through that heart-stopping moment made Alyssa emotional. Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "If you truly love someone, you don't need to possess him to find happiness. Isn't it enough to know he's alive, well, and living freely somewhere in this world?""You're right, Lyse." Sorrow filled Jonah's voice as he smiled bitterly. "Julien has already lost and sacrificed too much for my sake. I don't deserve to have such a good man. He'll only find true happiness by leaving me."…After Justin took over as president of Beckett Group, his first move was to wrest control of the A5 Project bid from Jasper's hands.Though Jasper had failed as the leader of Beckett Group, as the eldest son, it was only natural for Justin to inherit the position of power. Justin was aware of lingering opposition within the corporation. Some doubted whether he possessed the decisiveness and singular capabili