Sophia asserted, "I was the one who saved you when she turned her back on us! Your father and grandfather haven't stopped losing faith in you since that scandal at your grandfather's birthday!""Dad would never! He loves me the most!" Betty whined.A loud smack was heard as a hard slap landed on Betty's cheek. "What have I taught you all these years? Never, ever talk back to me!"Betty's ear was ringing with the force of the hit. She curled away, cupping her swelling cheek as she ground her teeth angrily."Now you've been toyed around again by that rotten brat Zoe Harper. Tell me. What else are you good for at this point? If you were born a man, this family would have crashed and burned in your hands!" Sophia was channeling all the rage she felt suffering at Jasper and Javier's hands. She continued, "If you didn't have what it takes, you should have just listened to what I say like your sister, Lauren, and not continuously give Alyssa Taylor the upper hand!"If your sister wer
The servants inhaled sharply, some even covering their mouths in shock. Did Sophia intend to take advantage of her marital status to turn the household upside down?All eyes were on Zoe and Penelope, the latter of whom had a look of utter surprise on her face."Darling, is what Mrs. Beckett is saying true?" Penelope asked Zoe.Zoe swiftly put on her act of innocence. "Of course not! Betty was the one who came up with the idea of getting someone to mimic the jewelry for Ada Kingsley!" Zoe said. Betty glared at her like she might slit her throat right now. "Stop with your filthy lies, Zoe Harper! You were the one who wanted to persuade Ada and make Alyssa fall from her pedestal! You were the one who came up with this idea!""Alyssa … Alyssa Taylor? What does this have to do with her?" Penelope asked, still surprised."I …" Now Zoe was stumped. She swallowed nervously, thinking Betty must be determined to end things with her now that she had brought up Alyssa."Where do you
"You were in Yoarkley for years. Only you would have the connections to find someone to do this dirty deed for you! If you lie to me again, I will call Tyson right now and have him fly over this instant!" Landon threatened. "Fly over?" Zoe retorted through gritted teeth. "That means you would have completed your preparations already. That means you might have even bought that man's favor. He'll just come and tell lies about me!"Things halted at this stalemate. "You really are quite cunning, Zoe Harper," Sophia said. Knowing that there was no way this conversation would progress in her favor with its current direction, she decided to bring up Alyssa again. "You used my daughter as a pawn to attack Alyssa, taking advantage of our competition with KS World Hotel to fulfill your little plan. If it succeeded, you'd win and never be found out as the culprit. "You could even push the blame entirely onto Betty! Unfortunately for you, Ms. Alyssa was Alexa herself. Otherwise, your e
There was a ringing in Betty's ears that consumed her senses entirely."Mom, save me! Mom!" she shrieked as the police dragged her away.Sophia couldn't bother to keep herself composed anymore. She dived at the policemen, trying to grab onto her daughter. "My Betty was framed! She's framed! How could you arrest her on the basis of a lie? What kind of law enforcement are you?"Landon stared coldly as Sophia and Betty wailed their lungs out. He just wanted the police to take them away as soon as possible so that he could finally have some peace."Please let go, Mrs. Beckett, or else we'll take you in for interfering with police duty!""But sir, my daughter is innocent! She is the one who framed her—Zoe Harper. She is standing right there!" Sophia glared at Zoe."This has nothing to do with me! Even if I did commission that counterfeit, I could just pay some fines. I have nothing to do with that information stealing whatsoever. Your daughter is the one who bit more than she could
Zoe retorted, "You can be an incel all your want, but Alyssa Taylor will never have eyes for you! You'll only end up with nothing!" "Zoe Harper!" Landon roared at his sister, making her flinch, frightened. "Even if she doesn't marry me, that still does not give you an excuse to harm, humiliate, or defame her! "She is a well-educated, respectable, and honest woman. Even though she's quick and lethal at times, she would never be the first to intentionally harm another person. "If, like you said, she tried to harm you, then you must've caused her trouble first!"Zoe was so angry she might pass out."Need I also remind you to give up on Jasper as soon as possible? The one woman he's interested in is Alyssa herself. Any person can see that fact clear as day except himself," Landon sneered.Even the way Landon mocked his friend was restrained!"You are coming with me to apologize to Alyssa tomorrow morning, in person," Landon snapped, then turned to leave."Are you out of your min
Yet those words had to come from his kin—his beloved kid sister. A deep part of him still didn't want to see her suffer from too harsh a punishment. The conflicting emotions pained Landon to no end."Are you having PMS or what?" Jasper flicked away the ash on his cigarette. "Seriously. What the hell is up with you?"Landon took a deep breath. "Zoe was the one who had someone make the counterfeit jewelry for Betty."Jasper's eyes darkened, but he remained silent."Did you know this from the start?"Jasper nodded. "I did."Guilt plagued Landon's heart. "Jasper, my sister is—""There's something else you should know now that it has come to this point." Jasper huffed out a puff of smoke. "Your sister was also the one who set up the reporters to catch Alyssa unaware."Landon's expression fell, as if he was stuck in quicksand that he could not pull himself out of.A moment later, he murmured weakly, "I'm sorry, Jasper."Jasper merely said, "The person who should be saying that is y
In the three days Alyssa stayed at home, she did nothing except eat and sleep like a farmed animal. Her three stepmothers took exceptional care of her. Lyla whipped up delectable dishes, leading to Alyssa gaining over three pounds in three days."I'm turning into a pig if I keep eating!" Alyssa groaned."Alright, just one last meal, dear," Lyla and Colene coaxed her toward the dining hall.With Winston and Jonah away in another state for an important event, Alyssa found herself sharing lunch with her stepmothers."Ms. Alyssa, good news!" Sean rushed in with a grin on his refreshing face. "The police have arrested Betty Beckett for suspected business crime. Sophia Kirkman is worried dead for her daughter, and Javier Beckett is busy bailing his daughter out!""It took them three whole days to arrest Betty. The Solana City Police Department certainly isn't as efficient as our Belbanks police," Alyssa remarked without surprise and gracefully dabbed her mouth with a napkin."They
Colene plugged her fingers into her ears and mumbled, "Nope, not listening to you!"Alyssa was speechless at her antics."There was indeed some history between Lyla and Sophia. Lyla wouldn't have retired from the entertainment industry at the peak of her career if not for that woman." Mandy's unfeeling voice seemed to materialize out of thin air, causing Colene and Alyssa to yelp in shock."Gosh, what are you doing, Mandy? You have a talent for sneaking up on people silently. Are you an apparition?" Colene rested a hand on her chest. It was funny that she never acted cute in front of Winston, but she was unusually adorable around Mandy."Mandy, since when did you show up? I had no idea." Alyssa sighed with relief, grateful that it wasn't Lyla who had walked in on them."I've been here since the beginning of your 'private conversation,' which was far too loud to be considered private," Mandy quipped, briefly glancing outside the door before closing it. She went up to them an
This time, the injection did not bring the excruciating pain that once made Amber wish for death. Her chapped lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed deeply into Remy's eyes. He, too, looked at her, his expression unreadable yet intense. Between them, no words were needed."Damien… Thank you…" Though her voice was barely audible, the weight of her words sank deep into Remy's heart. For once, he did not object to being called Damien.The truth was, ever since Amber had been taken, an unbearable pressure had settled over him, making each breath feel like a punishment—every day since had been plagued by self-reproach and regret.If he hadn't stopped her that night and let her go sooner, could she have avoided Sheryl? Could she have been spared the torture and humiliation?"You should know that those who enter this place never leave. Most don't even make it out alive."Remy's gaze was unwavering. Taking advantage of the surveillance blind spot, he placed his
"Mr. Lexington," the doctor greeted respectfully, lowering his head slightly. Everyone at the base knew who Sheryl and Remy were. They were the ones in charge, the decision-makers. So, everyone obeyed their orders without question. To the staff unaware of the facility's true purpose, Sheryl and Remy stood at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Unbeknownst to them, someone more powerful lurked in the shadows."How has she been these past few days?" Remy asked, his expression unreadable."She's had some adverse reactions, but there are no signs of organ failure yet. Honestly, I'm surprised. She looks frail, but her body is incredibly resilient—stronger than some men, even."The doctor scoffed. "But I'm not sure if she'll make it past her fourth injection today. Last month, four test subjects didn't survive beyond that point. Their bodies have already been sent to the incinerator." Remy's jaw tensed. His voice was husky as he said, "As I've instructed, this woman must be kept alive.
Xavier seethed as he took in the insincere smile on Justin's face. Deep down, he was cursing him with every profanity imaginable. "Whatever makes you happy."Ignoring Justin's dark gaze, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead as he strode past him.Out of nowhere, Justin chuckled and asked, "Did you really think you had people on your side during the board meeting?"Jasper halted, his eyes narrowing. "Grandpa tried his best to shield you, but his health is failing by the day. How much longer do you think an old man can protect you?"Lowering his gaze, Justin idly adjusted the ruby cufflinks on his sleeves. His voice was casual yet cutting. "And Lyse—after how ruthlessly you discarded her, do you still believe she'll stand by you no matter what? That she'll fight alongside you like before?"The intense midday sun accentuated the sharp, aloof, and pallid features of Jasper's face as he stood, unyielding, in its glare. His pulse quickened. Finally, he answered, his voice a low rasp. "R
As the board meeting concluded, the crowd gradually dispersed.News of Justin securing his position as president and Alyssa joining the board quickly spread through Beckett Group.After the meeting, Alyssa escorted Newton back to Crescent Bay while Jasper remained at the corporation to handle some matters.With Xavier accompanying him, Jasper strode toward the chairman's office, his expression cold and unreadable.Nearby, a few employees huddled together, whispering."Psst! Do you think Alyssa joining the board means she's teaming up with Jasper to take down our new president?""People have been saying they broke up since they haven't been seen together for a while," another speculated."But at the press conference, Alyssa openly condemned Mr. Justin. That looked like she was siding with Jasper. So, are they still together or not?""Come on, to people like them, personal feelings don't matter—only their own interests do. Even if they broke up, they can still work together if it
When Jonah reached the bedside, he leaned in slowly, giving Julien an unobstructed view of his tanned skin, well-defined abs, and that devastatingly captivating face. Reclining against the headboard, Julien found himself lost in Jonah's eyes. His breath hitched, and his mind momentarily blanked as Jonah's mesmerizing gaze locked onto him. What could he do? His heart still betrayed him, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He was a fool—a pathetic fool. Jonah braced his arms on either side of Julien's head, his dark eyes overflowing with a raw, possessive affection. It was as if he sought to consume Julien—just as he had last night."Julien, does it still hurt—" "Fuck you!" Julien's bloodshot eyes blazed as he swung his hand, landing a sharp slap across Jonah's face. The illusion of his frailty shattered. A crimson handprint bloomed on Jonah's cheek in a split second, the flesh puffing up visibly. But the sting barely registered. Not when the ache in Jonah's chest was alr
Justin frowned as a hint of surprise flashed across his dark eyes. He had assumed Newton's unannounced appearance at the board meeting—along with Alyssa's involvement—was a coordinated effort with Jasper to overthrow him as president. After mentally running through hundreds of countermeasures, the one possibility he hadn't considered was that everything would proceed smoothly in his favor. Javier was equally stunned, though this outcome aligned with his desires. Today, Justin wasn't merely his son but a constant shadow looming over him, a silent predator watching his every move and reminding him that his past actions weren't completely buried. Instead, this secret loomed like a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment, obliterating everything he'd built. And the person holding the detonator was Justin—his eldest son whom he had trusted above all others. With a dim gaze, Javier watched Justin rise to his feet amid the applause. Suddenly, Justin's voice seemed distant,
Justin curled his lips into a smirk, scoffing in silence. Newton had gone to great lengths to bring Alyssa into Beckett Group. This was his way of decentralizing power and keeping it in check, and he wanted to prevent Justin from having complete control. Unlike others, Javier couldn't hold himself back. He blew his top instantly, his face turning red like a tomato. "Dad, have you lost your mind? Don't you know who she is? She is KS Group's president—our direct competitor!"KS Group is also bidding for Project A5. No matter how much you favor her, you should at least recognize the limits. If you promote her, it's a blatant conflict of interest—outright cronyism!" Newton sneered. "I might understand your concern if I were promoting someone other than Alyssa."His gaze hardened. "Cronyism? A conflict of interest? I wonder who you're really talking about."With those words, he cast a knowing, enigmatic glance at Justin's blank expression. Just then, a board member from Javier's
Despite his age, Newton exuded the same energy and sharpness he had in his younger days, even when surrounded by the board members brimming with vigor. Despite his quiet presence in the wheelchair, an intimidating atmosphere clung to him. In an instant, Javier was transported back to the days when he worked under Newton's strict supervision."Good day, Mr. Javier and all fellow board members. I assume no one has any objections to my presence at this meeting?"Newton's gaze swept across the room, a perfunctory smile gracing his lips."Of course not. You are part of the corporation's board of directors!" the members responded immediately.Newton nodded. "Much has happened within the corporation lately. Our shares have been fluctuating amid the controversy. "As you all know, I had intended to retire after dedicating most of my life to this company. I wanted to step aside for the younger generation rather than hover over them like a specter, micromanaging everything. "However,
Jasper's arrival plunged the conference room into an uneasy silence, and heavy tension settled over the space. Justin looked up, his expression a frozen mask. A palpable chill emanated from him. Javier's eyes widened in surprise. "Jasper? What are you doing here?" "Even though I'm no longer the president of Beckett Group, I remain a shareholder and board member. It's only natural for me to be here," Jasper replied smoothly as he strolled to his seat. As he passed behind Justin, he abruptly stopped. Without a moment's notice, he struck the back of Justin's chair. The sudden impact made Justin flinch. "Am I right, Justin?" Justin's expression darkened. Forcing a smile, he replied, "As a board member, you have the right to attend, even if you're no longer involved in operations. There's no issue.""If that's the case, why wasn't I informed about this meeting?" Jasper lowered himself into his seat, legs slightly parted, exuding an air of indifference. Yet, beneath the nonc