The light and shadows danced on the two figures who were entangled. Lauren's tiny frame trembled in his arms. She did nothing at all, but her innocence was a deadly attraction for Landon, who had breached the first base.Under the influence of the alcohol, he went all out. Lauren watched a flash across her eyes before feeling the weight of a man on her.Her body sank deeper into the couch, turning her into an imprisoned bird.Landon started breathing laboriously, but he continued kissing her aggressively and toying with her lips.At that moment, the female singer on the stage sang in a low and sultry voice, "I've been watchin' you for some timeCan't stop starin' at those ocean eyesBurning cities and napalm skiesFifteen flares inside those ocean eyesYour ocean eyes …"Lauren was dizzy from all the kissing, and her eyes were glossy."Mmph …" She struggled to breathe, then started twisting and turning underneath him. His eyes were burning from a new wave of desire she had j
Landon's sister?The two guys who shot up just now exchanged a look before sinking onto the couch again. The one with a bleeding head managed a feeble smile and chuckled, "Haha, it turns out it's Ms. Harper! Please forgive me!""Landon, what are you planning to do?" Zoe was spurting fire at the sight of Lauren in Landon's arms."Zoe, what are you planning to do?" Frowning, he shot the same question back at her."Hah, how dare you interrogate me? Is it because I am in your way? Do you feel like I've thwarted your plan?" She glowered at him.Landon responded, "I'm fine with you hitting him with a bottle because he disrespected you. But have you forgotten what I told you? I told you not to visit ACE unless necessary. Even then, you need to inform me beforehand, and I'll make the arrangements."Acting like a stern, concerned older brother, he continued, "Why are you always rebellious? You can't let me have a moment of peace. ACE is a rowdy place. I can't protect you in time if anythi
Alyssa did not have the time to blow her hair dry. She hastily put on a wool coat over her night robe and sped to KS World Hotel in her Bugatti with her hair still damp.During the drive, she made a rare call to Jasper after giving it some thought.Jasper was on a business trip at Edenfells City, approximately 62 miles from Solana City. The Beckett Group had bought a piece of land by the countryside to build a hot springs resort, which was already in the works.At that very moment, Jasper and Xavier, wearing safety helmets, were inspecting the construction progress under the lead of the person in charge.Just as Xavier was shining a flashlight for Jasper to read the blueprint, Jasper's phone rang. He frowned and impatiently dug out his phone. Alyssa's name lit up the screen, a golden glimmer amidst the darkness. He held his breath and felt his heart race. His hand was trembling slightly as he clutched the phone."I-It's Madam!" Xavier's face beamed with exhilaration."I know. C
The grating sound of the car tires against the parking lot ground echoed in the space. Sean watched as Alyssa drifted the Bugatti and parked it nicely into her parking spot.He wore a proud grin on his lips.Alyssa left her car, looking damp from the bath and seething in anger. She hissed, "Which room is that scoundrel in?""He's in the presidential suite on the hotel's top floor," answered a worried Sean. He lowered his voice and continued, "They just entered their suite. There's only one presidential suite on the top floor, so no other guests would be disturbed even if there's a commotion.""Got it."A few minutes later, Alyssa arrived at the door of the presidential suite in her stilettos, a bundle of murderous rage.Sean followed closely behind her. Judging by her demeanor, it seemed as though she was here to confront a cheating couple rather than rescue a young lady who had made a poor choice."Swipe the room card.""Of course, Ms. Alyssa," Sean acknowledged as he unlock
Landon's eyes widened at the perfect "couple" in front of his eyes. Jasper's remark was meaningless, but paired with his longing gaze and his deep, hoarse voice, he sounded like a man in love.After some contemplation, Landon's perspective shifted. He believed, to be precise, that Jasper was, at most, a man tormented by unrequited love.It was a pity Landon didn't have a phone with him. If not, he would have taken a photo of Jasper's cheesy expression and showed it to the latter."And it seems you never learn," Jasper frowned, his eyes simmering with anger as he chastised Landon. He continued, "We asked you not to make a move on Lauren, but you kept crossing our lines. Do you think it's unfair to be slapped thrice?"I, on the other hand, think that it's not enough. You should be slapped every time we run into you."We?Alyssa felt uneasy at the way Jasper had lumped them together. After all, he had once been a heartless man who wanted nothing to do with her."Mr. Beckett, pl
Was he the same man who had never performed an act of service as simple as pouring a glass of water?How could he have helped dry her hair? At that moment, it felt more like a horror story."Get your hands off me!" she hissed through clenched teeth, but the soft noises had stirred Lauren. Lauren curled up under the blanket but thankfully did not wake up."Go louder if you want to wake her up." Jasper curled his lips into a grin and went on drying her hair, happy that he had figured out her weakness."Well, at least be gentle! I've been dealing with hair loss, you know. Your rough handling might just make me go bald!" She scowled, her cheeks flushed with anger."Sorry. This is my first time drying someone's hair. I'm inexperienced …" Jasper apologized. As he worked the towel through her hair, he could feel a warm, fuzzy sensation inside.He promised, "I'll do it better the next time."Alyssa had goosebumps on her skin and retorted, "I'm only letting you do this because of Lauren.
After settling Lauren's matter, Alyssa returned to the villa with Sean. She replayed the scene where Jasper dried her hair, and she felt her throat drying.He had said to her, "Sorry. This is my first time drying someone's hair. I'm inexperienced …"That was bullshit. He had dated Liana for years. Even if they didn't score a home run, they must have done everything possible with each other. What was the point of acting all innocent?To her, Jasper and Landon seemed equally terrible. They were a bad influence on each other.Back home, Alyssa kicked off her heels and sat on the couch glumly instead of retiring to her bedroom. Sean handed her a glass of hot milk with concern. He advised, "It's way past midnight. Take some rest after you've had the milk.""How did Lauren and Landon run into each other? She has always been kept at home under the tight supervision of her family. So, what happened?" Alyssa wondered aloud.Alyssa did not feel sleepy at all as she couldn't shake off her
"Zoe, Lauren is not an idiot! You can't call her that!" Landon chastised Zoe, deeply disturbed by her hurtful description of Lauren.In his eyes, Zoe had always been an angel. Sure, she could be a bit petulant at times, but she was inherently kind and soft-hearted.However, in this particular moment, Zoe seemed contorted by rage and hatred, as if she had a personal vendetta against Lauren and wanted nothing more than to tear her apart.Was it all because he had spent the night with Lauren?Throughout his years of casual encounters, Landon had never witnessed Zoe reacting so strongly against any of his romantic partners. Why was she agitated just because he was being good to Lauren?"Y-You yelled at me for calling her an idiot. How could you …" Zoe's flushed face had now paled, and the icy, piercing look in Landon's eyes caused beads of sweat to form on her forehead."Lauren is not an idiot, Zoe. I never want to hear you say that again. If it happens one more time, I'll be genuine
Rafe stated, "But Beckett Group is in the middle of a storm right now. If I insisted on giving your corporation the project, my superiors would investigate me. I wouldn't be able to escape unscathed!""If you're investigated, I'll make sure you can still live a life of luxury—even if you lose your job." Justin's tone darkened. "But if you turn against me, you won't just suffer a few losses. You'll lose everything."Under the dim moonlight, Justin fiddled with his antique tea cup, his gaze narrowing. "You've worked so hard to get to where you are. Are you prepared to lose it all?"After ending the call, Justin turned to Remy, who stood quietly at the side. "Sheryl is still being detained. She can't be bailed out for another two days. I need someone to watch over the research lab. You'll handle that."Remy was taken aback. "I failed my last mission. Aren't you going to punish me?"Justin's smile was cold and insincere. "It wasn't your fault. You were ambushed. If not for that, I tru
Remy pursed his lips, bending down to pick up the fallen poker card. It was the King of Spades—an entry pass to Kings' Club. "My attacker was…" Remy's pupils constricted as he tightened his grip on the card. "It can only be that dear uncle of mine, always claiming to see me as his own son." Justin's lips curled into a sinister smile. "He's trying to get rid of my right-hand man, taking advantage of my internal feud with Jasper. Weakening me is just his first step toward gaining control over me."He's been a fugitive ever since his successful prison break, never returning to Cyrris after receiving his life sentence. His power base remains in Kontina. "I'm the last surviving Dutton. The Dutton Group, as a cover, has declared bankruptcy and severed all ties with the country. "My dear uncle has taken a huge risk just to target me. He sent his men to attack you in Solana City. What a delightful surprise. It seems he truly doesn't trust me, his only remaining family."Remy lowere
The hospital ward grew heavy with silence. Mandy and Neil stared at Alyssa, stunned beyond words. "M-Ms. Alyssa, you knew that man was Mr. Damien?" Neil asked, disbelief etched into his voice. "Yes." Alyssa's reply was quiet, her lips pressed into a thin line. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "We found out when Cyrus took Damien's cigarette butt for a paternity test."Mandy approached Alyssa, her shoulders trembling slightly. "So, you and Cyrus knew… and you both kept it from me?" Mandy said, her voice catching in her throat, tears welling up. Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. "Mandy, I'm sorry. It was my decision. Cyrus had nothing to do with it."Mandy's tears fell freely now, her grief spilling out in raw sobs. "Do you know what it's been like for me all these years, thinking Damien was gone? Winston, Miley, Lyla, and Colene kept telling me to move on. I tried to accept that he was dead, that we'd never find his body. But I never did."Her vo
The hospital ward was bathed in a dim, yellow glow from the bedside lamp. The silence was thick, yet the room held a strange warmth—an unfamiliar comfort that felt oddly familiar to Remy.Pain radiated through his body as he struggled to sit up. His eyes fell on Mandy, who was asleep beside his bed. Her hair was a mess, and her swollen eyes suggested she'd been crying. She was sound asleep. Remy stiffened. His breath quickened as he stared at her fragile figure. Slowly, he leaned forward, his fingers lifting slightly, tempted to reach out.Just as his hand hovered close, Mandy's lashes fluttered. In her sleep, she murmured, "Damien… Damien… I miss you so much…" Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent and unbidden.A pang tugged at Remy's heart. Without thinking, he brushed away her tears with his calloused fingers. The moment his skin touched hers, a jolt shot through him, sharp and electrifying. Pain throbbed at his temples, but beneath it was a warmth he didn't want to let g
Justin's casual question hit Javier like a thunderclap. Shock rippled through him, freezing his expression. His voice trembled with fear as he barked, "What nonsense is that? Are you accusing me of causing Chester's death? I'm your father—how could you think I'd do such a thing?""It's not an accusation. Just the facts," Justin replied coolly, crossing his legs and savoring his tea with unsettling calm. "And I'm not condemning you. In fact, I understand why you did it. I'm facing the same dilemma now."Javier's breathing grew ragged. He had watched Justin grow from a child into the man before him—now a predator, circling with quiet menace."You were meant to be the heir as the eldest son," Justin continued, his voice smooth as silk. "But Grandpa favored Uncle Chester, handing him major projects, grooming him in plain sight. "Uncle Chester's reputation soon eclipsed yours. He was a natural leader, adept at business, with one fatal flaw—he was kind. Too kind. Unlike you."Justin
Nonetheless, night had fallen by the time Justin arrived at Seaview Manor. On his way there, he worked on two things. First, he secured the top legal team to get Sheryl out on bail as quickly as possible. Second, he tried reaching Remy—unsuccessfully. He had never lost contact with Remy before. Justin's face was as dark as the night itself. The moment he stepped inside Seaview Manor, Rory approached with a solemn expression. He gave a slight bow before speaking. "Mr. Justin, what took you so long? Mr. Javier has been waiting.""I was occupied," Justin replied coolly. Then, as if it were an ordinary evening, he allowed a faint smile. "Where's Jasper? Is he back here yet?" A conflicted look came across Rory's face. "Things between you and Mr. Jasper have soured. I doubt he'll want to see you anytime soon—or show up here.""Is that so? How disappointing."Justin's smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze lingered on Rory, sharp and bottomless. "So, he'd rather believe what he se
Jonah scoured every corner of the hotel, desperation clawing at his chest, but Julien was nowhere to be found. "Jonah!" Alyssa called out, breathless as she caught up to him. She grabbed his arm. "Calm down! I'll help you search for Jul!""I can't find him. He's gone," Jonah murmured, sinking to the floor. His tears mixed with sweat, creating dark patches on the ground. "Lyse… I fear… if I can't find Julien this time, I'll lose him forever."The agonizing thought of losing the love of his life pierced him. "No, you won't!" Alyssa gripped his arm tighter, her voice trembling with conviction. "If Jul had given up on you, he wouldn't have come here today. The fact that he showed up means he still cares."Jonah's eyes were bloodshot, filled with a pain too deep to hide. He shook his head slowly. "Julien came back for Jasper. He did it because he's loyal… because he's a good friend. Not because of me.""He does care!" Alyssa insisted. "If he didn't, he would've faced you without fli
"Don't say that. You've done really well so far!" Xavier said gently, his voice a steady anchor as he tried to comfort Julien.He continued, "Many people spend their whole lives unable to quit even common drugs. The substance Mr. Beckett took is far more potent. The fact that he's found any relief at all is remarkable."Jasper's senses gradually returned, but he was left drained, and his eyes struggled to focus. "Julien…" "I'm right here," Julien murmured, leaning in to gently wipe the tears and cold sweat from Jasper's face with a tissue. Struggling for breath, Jasper rasped, "Keep my condition… a secret… especially from her." Julien didn't need to ask who he meant. It had to be Alyssa. It wasn't pride that fueled Jasper's plea. It was something deeper—a desperate wish to shield Alyssa from the sight of his brokenness, to spare her the disappointment of seeing him like this.Xavier helped Jasper to stand before addressing Julien. "Dr. Lovelace, I hope you understand—the f
Xavier gasped for air, his eyes fixed on the washroom door, now barricaded. He felt a sudden, clammy dread. Lost in his throes of addiction, Jasper's eyes glazed over as he succumbed to the familiar pull of unconsciousness. He was a sitting duck, helpless and at the mercy of whatever came his way. With a fierce glare, Xavier snatched up a mop and stormed to the door, his voice sharp and strained. "Who's there?"A steady and low voice came from the other side of the door. "Mr. Hall, it's me. Julien." Xavier's grip loosened, the mop clattering to the floor as tears burst forth. "Dr. Lovelace!" "Don't panic. I'm the only one out here. There's no one else here." Julien's voice softened, laced with urgency. "Jasper is having an episode, isn't he? Let me in so I can take a look at him."Hastily wiping his face, Xavier shoved the cart aside and fumbled with the lock. The door creaked open, and Julien slipped inside, lithe and precise, locking it swiftly behind him. "Dr. Lovelace,