That was how she heard the executives talking behind her back. "How dare they say that! You're the Taylor family's only daughter, and the daughter of the first wife. Are they out of their minds?" Alyssa's secretary, Sean Lynch, was furious. "Come on. That mindset is old-fashioned. Who cares about whether I'm the first wife's daughter? I don't care, so why should you bother?" Alyssa narrowed her eyes and pinched Sean's face. Instantly, the young secretary blushed."Alyssa, you're the future president of KS Group. Can you at least act with dignity? Don't tease Sean." Jonah frowned slightly. "What's the matter? Big bosses are allowed to tease their female secretaries. Why can't a female boss touch her male secretary's face?" Alyssa snickered. "It's his honor to be touched by me!"Jonah shook his head, his eyes showing only love and tenderness.Soon, the executives surrounded Jonah and Alyssa. Michael Grant, one of the VPs, took them to the VIP elevator, but Alyssa said, "I want t
Alyssa was shocked to see the name on Jonah's phone. "Should I answer it?" Jonah asked."Yes!" He slowly answered the call and put it on speaker, but he was in no hurry to speak. "Mr. Jonah, are you with my wife?" Jasper asked in a hoarse voice.Alyssa found his words incendiary and became furious in an instant. "Mr. Jasper, please mind your words. I'm your ex-wife.""Alice White, I knew you'd be with him." Jasper's tone was deep. "Should I be waiting at your house to be kicked out, then?"On the other end of the call, Jasper's expression turned dark. "I advise you not to be in such a hurry. We haven't completed the procedures, and the divorce certificate hasn't been issued. You're still legally my wife. Please be mindful of the Becketts' reputation as if it's your own.""You took Liana Gardner to Seaview Manor and forced me to sign the papers. Jasper Beckett, did you care for my reputation when you did that?" Alyssa sneered, then continued, "One-sided courtesy doesn't mea
Inside the ward, the sickly Newton instantly saw a lift in spirits upon seeing Alyssa. "Alice, come over here!"In the next second, Alyssa changed her persona and obediently stood beside Newton. "Grandpa, how are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?""Even if it hurts, I feel cured after seeing you." Newton pulled her hand and asked worriedly, "Alice, this bastard told me you guys are divorced. Is that true?""Yes. Grandpa, we're divorced." Alyssa's eyelashes trembled, and her heart felt empty."You blind bastard! You have such a great wife, yet you don't know how to appreciate her." Newton expended all his strength to get up and glared at Jasper.Jasper was worried about Newton's condition and dared not speak rashly."Grandpa, don't be mad at him. I don't want to continue this marriage. I think it's better for us to break up." Alyssa gently comforted him and patted his back.Jasper's eyes narrowed as he thought, "She's not complaining to my grandfather or using him to vent her a
"Liana? Are you okay?" Sophia was shocked, but she also wanted to laugh. Jasper quickly walked over to pull her up from the ground, but she refused to move."Jasper, it hurts. Carry me." Liana's knees felt numb, and she cried while whining. Seeing this, Alyssa crossed her arms and looked at the woman on the ground. She was really a fake bitch, making her a good match for Jasper, who was blind to her tricks. "Jasper … Alice pushed me!" Liana hid in the man's arms and glared at Alyssa viciously. "Lia, what are you talking about?" He was taken aback."Are you sure I pushed you?" Alyssa wasn't angry. Instead, she laughed and watched Liana's act."Could I have fallen to the ground by myself, then?" Liana was so angry that her gentle voice was a pitch higher."It's possible. After all, you look so weak you could die anytime. Maybe a breeze made you fall.""You … Are you jinxing me?" Liana's face was red from anger. "You clearly pushed me when I walked over. What, don't you dare
Alyssa held the steering wheel with one hand, looking extremely cool. She raced through the streets while listening to her favorite revenge song, "Burning Revenge."She was not afraid of Jasper finding out her identity. It was just that she couldn't wrap her head around why he had ignored her existence for three years only to suddenly become curious about her after their marriage came to an end.Sure enough, men were assholes. When they were given love and attention, they'd feel disgusted. In contrast, they'd take the initiative to get closer once they were abandoned and treated like trash. Suddenly, Alyssa looked in the rearview mirror and frowned. Not far behind, Jasper was chasing her in his Lamborghini."You want to give chase, huh? In your dreams." Alyssa smirked and floored the accelerator. The Bugatti drifted to the left like a flash of lightning before disappearing in the blink of an eye."Quick! Follow her closely." Jasper was in the passenger seat and urged.Xavier had
Back at Seaview Manor, Jasper was taken aback after being hung up on by his prideful ex-wife. The woman had become so cold, and she was no longer the wife who had begged him not to divorce her. It seemed she had felt nothing for him in the three years they were married and was simply tolerating him for some unknown purpose. The mere thought of it had him seething."Your coffee, Mr. Jasper."Xavier walked in only to find Jasper looking grave. He couldn't help but ask, "Have you … contacted Madam Alice? Have you gotten her new phone number?"Jasper pinched the bridge of his nose as irritation flashed in his eyes. He was infuriated after not achieving what he set out to do. He had believed he'd be better off after Alice left, only to end up boiling with anger after learning that she had gotten together with Jonah. "How dare she do this to me?" he thought."I'll find another opportunity. I don't want to think about her right now," he said and took a sip of coffee. The next moment, hi
Alyssa, meanwhile, was singing a heart-rending aria to Jonah dressed in a sky-blue dress, her voice resounding in the wind. Her hair was pulled up into a casual bun and secured by a jeweled pin. She was the very image of an alluring beauty.Jonah broke into applause once the song was over, his eyes brimming with indulgence. "Not bad. You were taught well. You would've been someone's duchess or something back in the day.""Do I look like I want to be someone's duchess? I want to be a queen who shines with confidence. Men aren't loyal anyway." She shattered the illusion of being a perfect lady in a split second as she cracked her knuckles."So what? We wouldn't have ourselves three stepmothers otherwise." Jonah smiled bitterly.Alyssa adjusted her skirts and sat beside him. The mere mention of her father's three other wives brought a complicated expression to her face."Lyse, it's been three years. They miss you. They care about you enough to ask me about you in private.""What are
Alyssa shot Sean a look, and the latter responded by opening the door."Ms. Alyssa! Ms. Alyssa!" Michael Grant, who had gotten into trouble yesterday, barged in through the door so quickly that Sean failed to hold him back. Alyssa frowned at the man who threw himself at her desk. "What are you doing here, Mr. Grant? I've approved your resignation. You're free to seek employment elsewhere.""This isn't fair, Ms. Alyssa! I've been working at this hotel for nearly two decades! I've given my all to this job and even gotten sick from it. Not even Mr. Taylor would do this to me. How could you fire me just like that?" Michael was sweating buckets as he yelled at her, red-faced."I've read through the particulars of every hotel executive. You're indeed ill with fatty liver and gallbladder polyps. Looks to me like the hotel is really profitable." Her smile was cold.Michael trembled when he picked up on the sarcasm in her words. "I had no idea that … that Elysian sold our hotel low-qualit
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