The drama ended with Jasper promising not to meddle in the Gardner Group's business.After Sophia and Javier left, Newton looked around at the mess in anger. "What a shame! All the men in our family just have to fall for those scheming Gardner women!" Jasper bent down to pick up the things on the floor while his mind spun. Could someone have replaced Jonah at the meeting in Yoarkley? But Jasper knew Javier wouldn't have recognized the wrong person. They had clashed against each other multiple times in the business world, after all. There was no way Javier could have been mistaken unless he was showing early signs of dementia.Jasper picked up a hand fan and asked, "Grandpa, is this yours?" Newton sighed and said, "Just look at me. I must have lost my senses in anger. Bring it to me." Newton's gaze softened at the sight of the fan. "Alice made me this fan herself. The patterns and calligraphy are all her own work."Alice knew calligraphy? She also knew how to draw? Jasp
"By the way, how's Lyse doing in Solana City? She was ruthless in taking out the Gardner Group. But if she doesn't hold up well, I'm afraid she will bring their wrath upon herself. "Liam and Axel won't return, so you two must protect her at all times, understood?" Winston said plainly, but there was a caring look in his eyes."Yes, Dad.""Don't worry, Dad. I'll kill whoever dares to bully Lyse!""Killing isn't necessary, but you can make them wish they were dead," Winston said. Then, he sipped his wine. After dinner, Winston and Jonah left the table first. When Silas was about to leave, he realized his brother had left his phone on the table. Right then, it started vibrating, and he saw Jasper's name on the screen. Silas was tipsy. He scanned his surroundings and coughed softly before answering the phone. "Is anything the matter, Mr. Beckett?""I'm looking for Alice," said Jasper. His tone made Silas angry. "What's your problem, Jasper? Who gave you the right to make Alice
"Is … Is it?" Alyssa touched her face. It felt as warm as toast. She immediately looked away shyly. "Maybe it's because I've had a little to drink.""Weren't you on your way to the cellar? Your face is red before you've even had a drop," Sean pointed out. He was an elite employee but an amateur when it came to real life. He had no idea that Alyssa was just feeling horny. "You're so annoying!" Alyssa rolled her eyes at him and walked off in embarrassment. Sean was left standing there miserably. He didn't know how he had offended her. He had no choice but to tag along behind her.They arrived at the wine cellar. It held nearly a thousand bottles of red wine, all of which were prepared for Alyssa by Jasper. He knew that she had a hobby of having a drink or two. Every bottle of wine was expensive, and many of them were limited editions bought at auctions. Alyssa owned more than twenty bottles of some wines that even Winston didn't have. If she were to sell them, she could afford
Alyssa: "That's enough! You guys are so childish. Jasper must have investigated us because he suspects Silas' identity. You showed up twice to protect me, so I think he realized you aren't Jonah. If that's the case, then you guys don't have to hide anymore. If he wants an answer, I'll give him an answer!"The moment she spoke up, her older brothers immediately stopped fooling around. Alyssa's gaze darkened as she swirled the red wine in her glass. The weekend arrived in the blink of an eye. After public pressure, the Gardner Group held a press conference at a five-star hotel. A lot of reporters showed up. The Gardner family wasn't that influential on their own. Liana's engagement with Jasper made the Gardner family the center of attention overnight.A black Maybach was parked by the roadside opposite the hotel's entrance. Inside it, Jasper watched the press conference on his iPad indifferently. "Mr. Beckett, Mr. Newton reminded you not to bother about Gardner Group." Xavier
After Alyssa finished the chocolate, she put the remaining bar back in Sean's breast pocket and patted his chest. She said, "You're pretty in shape." Sean's heart thumped wildly, and he blushed. He was four years older than her. He had visited the Taylor residence often when he was a kid. His father had been the head of KS Group's legal department and was valued by Winston very much.Sean remembered that the first time he saw Alyssa was in the back garden of Heightsnew Villa. He had spotted the pretty little girl from far off, and she had raced toward him adorably. He had thought that he was dreaming, so he rubbed his eyes. She appeared before him wearing a white dress that made her look like an angel. "Hey, do you have any candy?" Alyssa hopped off her skateboard. She gave it a kick and caught it in her hand."Huh?" Sean was flustered and cursed at himself for having feelings for a girl younger than him. However, she was just too beautiful. Who wouldn't be mesmerized? "It's fi
Then, the voices of two men sounded out!"Mr. Gardner, I wouldn't have used cheap second-hand mattresses to replace high-end ones if it wasn't to help you make money! But I got caught by that new CEO of Taylor Group and lost my job. No one in Solana City will accept me! You can't just watch me suffer!""Don't tell me you were helping me. Haven't you also pocketed a hefty sum? Added with the money I gave you, you won't starve even if you spend the rest of your life jobless."One of the voices was Michael Grant's, and the other was Dylan Gardner's! The reporters were flabbergasted. Dylan broke out into a sweat. He steadied himself against the table as he nearly lost his balance. "What is this?! Who played it? Switch it off! Hurry up!" The audio clip stopped playing, but new images appeared on the screen. They were pictures of Michael and Dylan visiting a nightclub together! "Mr. Gardner! This is not what you promised me! You promised to protect me!""I have protected you. I hav
The picture that appeared was from the court's official webpage. It was from three years ago. Silas was wearing a robe and debating in court passionately. The app Jasper developed could find information on any person within five minutes. All it needed was a clear image of them uploaded to the app. The results were more accurate than those from search engines.However, it had taken up to ten minutes to search Silas up. He was obviously someone who very seldom went out in public or took pictures. He didn't have any social media accounts either. He was just an officer, but why was he so secretive? "Jonah Taylor … Silas Taylor …" Jasper thought for a moment and suddenly widened his eyes. "Could he be …" Jasper narrowed his eyes, and a stormy expression appeared on his face. His mouth went dry. He found it hard to breathe. So Alice never rejected anyone and immediately got close to Jonah after leaving him. Now, she had something going on with another guy from the Taylor family! Who d
Last night, Alyssa secretly found Michael. He was drowning his sorrows in a bar. She informed him about the press conference scheduled for tomorrow. Alyssa warned Michael that Dylan would undoubtedly sell him out to save himself."No way! You're not going to manipulate me like this! Forcing me to testify? I'm not that naive!" Michael protested."If you keep being so stubborn, then you're the one acting foolish," Alyssa replied.And so, Alyssa and Michael struck a deal last night."To be honest, I have evidence of the secret dealings between you and Dylan. I haven't handed it over to the authorities yet. Considering your past loyalty to my Dad's leadership, I'm giving you one last chance." Alyssa revealed.Michael reflected on the past twenty years. He recalled how he started as a humble banquet hall supervisor and worked his way up to become the deputy manager. He acknowledged that his success was not solely the result of his efforts. It was also due to Winston's recognition and s
The board members were stunned into silence. One by one, they rose from their seats, greeting Newton respectfully. At Beckett Group, Newton's presence was akin to that of a king. Though he had long stepped away from the corporation's daily affairs, his influence remained unparalleled.He was not only an honorary board member of Beckett Group but also held similar titles in other renowned corporations. In the corporate world, Newton was nothing short of a legend.His unexpected arrival at the board meeting sent shockwaves through the room. The first words out of his mouth—an objection to the proposed motion—made it clear where his loyalties lay—with Jasper."Dad, what are you doing here?" Javier exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise as he rushed forward to steady Newton, who was visibly trembling.Justin narrowed his eyes as he stood up slowly. He was the last to rise to his feet. A flicker of something sinister danced in his gaze, an abyss of calculated intent hidden behind an
"You've been freed?" Justin asked, his voice distant."Sir, I'm really sorry for troubling you. You even had to make arrangements for me," Sheryl said apologetically. "I just made use of my connections. It's nothing. Besides, I figured they'd summon you—Jasper did get his medications from you, after all."Sheryl, still shaken from earlier, lowered her gaze. "Is that cop, Rio Olson, one of us? He seemed eager to arrest Jasper, so I thought you might have recruited him. But during the interrogation, he was relentless. He wouldn't go easy on me at all.""He is one of Mr. Barrett's men. That's enough for now."Sheryl mulled over it for a moment. Then, she lowered her voice and said, "Sir, Jasper can only be charged for drug use. As a first-time offender, it's not enough to keep him behind bars. I suspect he'll be bailed out by the day after tomorrow."Justin chuckled softly. "So?" "It's a shame we couldn't take him down for good," Sheryl said through gritted teeth."Jasper has Gr
With years of experience as a criminal investigator and a naturally sharp mind, Cyrus' instincts flared the moment he heard Rio's question.Gabe slammed the table, his voice a thunderclap of rage. "Rio Olson! What nonsense are you spouting? Have I been too lenient with you? Dr. Gillis is a doctor, and I'm a police chief. How would I know her? Stop letting your imagination run wild!"Gabe's face flushed crimson as he glared at Rio.Unmoved, Rio stared back, confusion etched on his face. "Then why are you stopping me from investigating Sheryl by the book? I don't get it."Jasper's test results were positive, and we found drugs hidden in his office. That alone suggests drug abuse. To secure a conviction, we need to trace his supplier. Otherwise, this case will collapse in court."Let's not forget—Jasper's attorney is Steven Lynch, a top-tier ex-judge who's handled multiple high-profile cases."From his position outside the office, Cyrus could only catch fragments of the conversation
"Now that we're on this topic, there's something I need to tell all of you," Alyssa said, her expression grim. Her tone turned cold as she continued, "I highly suspect that Sheryl is actually Liana Gardner."Her words left the Taylor brothers stunned."I don't have concrete evidence—no confession, no DNA proof. But when I called her 'Liana' at that run-down hospital, she turned around. Her reaction was odd, to say the least. Beyond that, her mannerisms, habits, and private behavior are eerily similar to Liana's."Alyssa smiled confidently. "And most importantly, I trust my instincts.""No wonder!" Silas suddenly shot to his feet, his eyes wide. "When I first saw her at the hospital, when she brushed past me, I felt this strange sense of familiarity. So, she's Liana? That means my gut feeling was right all along!"Jonah's expression grew serious. "If that's true, Jasper is in even greater danger. Liana's return—under a new identity, working alongside Justin no less—means she's play
Silence filled Alyssa's office. Since the incident that led to Jonah and Julien's heartbreaking breakup, everyone had avoided mentioning Julien, even though the sorrow of it lingered like a heavy shadow.Alyssa had suggested the second option because she believed Julien might be the key to turning the tide in their favor. But where was Julien now?After the fallout, he had disfigured himself, consumed by hatred toward Jonah, and left without hesitation. Would he return? Could they even find him?"Let's try to think of something else," Cyrus said, shaking his head dejectedly. He understood Jonah's situation all too well. "I'll go look for him." Jonah closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them, they glistened with unshed tears. The redness in his gaze betrayed his heartbreak. "Some of my former subordinates are still in Mosgravia. I'll contact them for help. I'll find Julien, even if it means sacrificing sleep and meals. No matter what it takes, I'll bring him back."Silas
Alyssa couldn't bring herself to go home, so she stayed at her office. Unease gnawed at her as long as Jasper's situation remained unresolved. Everything else seemed insignificant in comparison.When Cyrus updated her, a troubling realization struck—something was off about the witness, Sebastian Bender. As soon as Jonah, Silas, and Cyrus heard about Jasper's predicament, they agreed to travel overnight and meet Alyssa at the KS Group office.Worried that Alyssa and Sean might overexert themselves, the three brothers brought food to lighten the tense atmosphere with a touch of familial warmth."Sean, Taty asked me to bring this for you," Silas said, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "She made this soup herself and insisted you finish every last drop."A playful smirk tugged at his lips. "I checked the ingredients. They're all... nutritious for men."Sean's face flushed crimson as he pressed his lips together. Guilt flickered in his eyes. "She should be resting. She's due to give b
That night, Sheryl was brought into an interrogation room adjacent to Jasper's for questioning. Rio was Gabe's subordinate, but he wasn't privy to the full details of the situation. All he knew was that completing this task could give him an edge over his rival, Cyrus, and secure his standing within Gabe's ranks.To Rio, Cyrus was nothing more than a privileged man from a prestigious family, competing unfairly with those less fortunate. Rio was determined to prove himself superior, showing Cyrus how he dealt with Jasper, his future brother-in-law, and forcing him to admit defeat.Fearless in the face of wealth and authority, Rio boldly took on the president of Beckett Group, Jasper. He believed such audacity would earn him public admiration and a sterling reputation.However, Rio never considered the possibility that Sheryl might have her own stakes in this matter. To him, she was just another suspect."Mr. Beckett claims you provided him with the drugs," Rio began, his tone ster
The complexity of Jasper's case far exceeded Rio's expectations. There were so many underlying factors! "Firstly, I didn't know this was a narcotic, Chief Olson," Jasper explained calmly. "As you mentioned, this is a new drug that's only emerged in Solana City over the past two months. Most people haven't encountered it yet. Even someone as informed as you likely just started learning about it. How could I have known?"Secondly, I wouldn't have taken it if I'd known it was a narcotic. I'm dealing with health issues right now. Taking drugs would only harm me further. Why would I jeopardize my own life? Why would I not want to live a long life?"Jasper's posture was upright, exuding an air of sternness reminiscent of a disciplined soldier. His righteous demeanor made it hard to believe he was a man struggling with drug addiction. Who could look at him and think otherwise?While Rio mulled over the situation, Steven interjected with a serious tone. "Chief Olson, I strongly suggest qu
"Mr. Beckett's blood sample contained methamphetamine…" Rio's eyes widened in shock. He knew this substance all too well—it was a component found in crystal meth.Sebastian hesitated, then lowered his voice. "Also, if I'm not mistaken, Mr. Beckett was hospitalized due to severe withdrawal symptoms. He didn't take his drugs on time, and his body couldn't handle it. Would this count as evidence?""Dr. Bender, thank you for the crucial information you've provided. We greatly appreciate your assistance in this case!" Rio shook Sebastian's hand vigorously, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.Meanwhile, just around the corner, Cyrus stood with his back against the wall. He had heard every single word of their exchange. His chest burned with rage as he clenched his teeth. Pulling out his phone, he quickly texted Alyssa. "Lyse, the situation has changed. I can't join the investigation, but you must save Jasper this time."…An hour later, Rio strode back into the interrogati