Sean was panting as he rushed back to Alyssa's place, the chilly fall air clinging to him. His forehead glistened with sweat. Alyssa didn't immediately ask him about the outcome; instead, she strode to the coffee table and poured him a glass of warm water. She handed the glass over to him and said, "Take a rest first and have some warm water. It's cold outside, isn't it?"As Sean took the glass, the tips of his chilly fingers brushed against Alyssa's. It felt warm, and his heart skipped a beat."Have a seat and relax."Alyssa turned and sat on the couch. She had her legs crossed beneath her nightgown and her peach-colored velvet slippers perched on the tips of her toes.Sean's face was slightly flushed as he held the glass awkwardly in his hands. He took a moment to regulate his breathing before speaking, "Ms. Alyssa, everything turned out just as you expected. Bryan and Abigail knew each other, and they're much more than just friends!"Alyssa smiled. "Even if I knew what's
It was midnight. Jasper sat by the window in his study room, pouring himself a glass of red wine.The glass he was using at the moment was one of the presents Alyssa had given him. It was a pair of Baroque-style crystal wine glasses. The clear clinking of these glasses indicated their top-notch craftsmanship and exquisite quality. As he sipped the wine, he couldn't help but wonder if when she had gifted him these glasses, she had thought of spending a lifetime together with him.Jasper frowned. The wine in his mouth suddenly tasted even more bitter than a bitter gourd. Right at that moment, a knock sounded at his door. Xavier entered the room with several documents. "Mr. Beckett, I've completed the investigation on Abigail, just as you instructed. Rest assured, I even found information on where her ancestors are buried! Absolutely no oversight!" Xavier declared confidently. Previously, Jasper hadn't left a good impression on Alyssa because of Xavier. This time, he was parti
After the last meeting, the team members regained their hope. The once disheartened team became motivated again. Alyssa was an inspirational leader. Her employees weren't just her staff. They were also her devoted fans, captivated by her dazzling personality. Today, she was beaming with joy as she showed up for the regular meeting. During the meeting, she announced, "Ada has agreed to meet with me tonight. Whether it's going to succeed—let's put that aside first. At least it's a good start."The team members cheered. Bryan was the only one sitting at the far end. Although he had a delightful expression, his eyes showed no trace of joy. "Although we breached the contract first, I believe Ada's not a rigid person. I'm confident that my latest proposal can outperform the Beckett Group. And once she reviews it, she'll definitely be more pleased with it than the first version," Alyssa declared confidently. "Ms. Alyssa! You've got to show us!""Of course, I'd like to show it to e
Bryan's eyes were nearly popping out of their sockets. He staggered one step backward, almost losing his balance. "Do you still have anything to say now, given the multitude of witnesses and concrete evidence?"Sean was already considering what punishments Bryan should suffer. When he thought about how much Alyssa had endured in the past few days because of that wretched Bryan, his hatred for him ran so deep that his eyes turned red with loathing."I've got nothing to say."Although Bryan was petrified, his love for Abigail surprisingly overcame the fear. He had the courage and confidence to confront Alyssa and Sean. He confessed, saying, "It was me who stole the proposal and sold it to the media. I did it all. I'm willing to accept the consequences."But his defiant tone and the tension in his corded neck clearly contradicted what he had just said. Bryan was obviously defiant. Sean clenched his jaw. Seeing how defiant Bryan was, he really wanted to punch him in the face.
Bryan was cursing outrageously at Alyssa, as if she had killed his mother, bullied his wife, and desecrated his ancestors' graves. Sean was seething with anger upon hearing those words. However, Alyssa remained unfazed. Instead, she smiled and said, "Huh, this is quite interesting.""What did you say?" Bryan suddenly became flustered."I said, Abigail is quite interesting." Alyssa reached greedily for another piece of chocolate. Seeing her indulging in sweets, Sean couldn't help but smile. "You've only known Abigail for two months, and she has managed to outmaneuver you. You're even willing to sacrifice your future and challenge the conglomerate. Tsk, Ms. Grant is really something.""Alyssa, you're in no position to mock her! You're just an unscrupulous executive who abuses her power! If it weren't for you, Abigail could have had a good life as the heiress of the Grant family—you've ruined her life!"Bryan's emotions spiraled out of control as he bellowed, "Corrupt conglomera
Alyssa tilted her head, propping her cheek with her hand. "Otherwise, how is it possible for her to approach you that quickly and immediately get to the heart of the matter, which is the contract? "Do you really believe there's no one pulling strings behind her?"Bryan burst into tears on the spot. He felt profound regret. He regretted not because his future was ruined but because he had cherished Abigail as if she was precious when, in fact, she was a deceitful bitch!"Ms. Alyssa, I'll tell you everything I know!"Under Alyssa's relentless questioning, Bryan spilled all the details about how Abigail had instructed him to steal confidential business information. Sean recorded everything he said.Bryan was discreetly escorted to the police station. As Alyssa's secretary and the legal advisor of KS World Hotel, Sean would officially charge Bryan with corporate theft. Now that they had caught the fish, it was time to go after the shark. Looking at her perfectly organized desk,
Jasper's mistaken perception of Alyssa was unquestionably deserving of a spot in the hall of shame.Right at that moment, the intercom rang. Jasper put the call on speaker. "What is it?""Mr. Beckett, Ms. Alyssa's secretary is here to see you. He didn't have an appointment. Should we send him away?"Xavier rolled his eyes upon learning that Sean was here. He despised Sean very much, and their relationship resembled that of cats and dogs—in a perpetual state of conflict."Let him in," ordered Jasper in a cold and composed tone. The opportunity to meet the esteemed president of the Beckett Group was a rare privilege. However, Sean was connected to Alyssa, so Jasper was willing to make an exception.A few minutes later, Sean entered the office with a stoic expression. "Mr. Beckett, I came under Ms. Alyssa's orders to deliver something to you," said Sean as he placed a white box on Jasper's desk."What's inside?" Jasper's gaze was fixed on the box. "A bomb," Sean replied indiff
In a certain hotel's luxury suite, Abigail was riding through hell and high water to upgrade her way of life."Fuck! You're so good, Daddy!" Abigail moaned, panting against Matthew Farley. Glistening sweat rolled down their skin."That's it, doll … I love it when you call me that. Come on, who's your Daddy?" Matthew groaned, spouting out the entire spectrum of filth that was dirty talk.All Abigail wanted was for him to finish, however. It wasn't the first time she had slept with someone to get a promotion. This time, it was to become the general manager of the news department she was in.Just when the finish line was in sight, the hotel room door was unexpectedly thrown open.Abigail shrieked, quickly diving under the covers. Matthew, meanwhile, hurriedly pulled on his underwear. A chilling sensation shot down his spine like icy spikes as he turned to see who was at the door."H-Honey?" "So this is the whore you've been sleeping with, Matthew Farley?" Aurora Cristole, Matthe
The bar was alive with striking lights and thundering music, and the air was thick with the scent of tobacco and alcohol. The atmosphere was one of moral decay—corrupt, degrading, and vile. "Where's Julien?" Jonah's voice cut through the noise, his tone icy and sharp. When Jonah stepped inside, the eyes of several men turned toward him, their gazes filled with illicit intent."Why, hello there. Are you here alone? Are you feeling lonely?" A sexy man sauntered over, draping himself over Jonah's shoulders. He let his hands linger with a playful squeeze. "If you're bored, I'd be happy to keep you company." Jonah's expression darkened. His hands trembled, veins bulging with barely contained rage. Suddenly, Evan burst through the crowd, his face twisting in alarm at the sight of Jonah surrounded by a swarm of predatory men. Evan yelled, "Don't touch him!" A heavy thump reverberated through the room. Gasps erupted as people scrambled back.The man who had draped himself over
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