Tatiana instantly sobered up when Sean hugged her. Her entire face and neck blushed from the exchange between them."Ms. Tatiana, look out," Sean warned. He thought she was drunk from the way she failed to steady herself. Concerned, he pulled her closer with his hand on her waist.All of a sudden, his heart skipped a beat, and his throat went dry. He couldn't help but admire Tatiana's tiny waist in his grip.Still, as a gentleman, he quickly pulled himself together without betraying any hint of desire."Sean, please send Taty back. Thanks!" Alyssa yelled. She had always been observant, but she was much more relaxed and careless around family. Up until then, she failed to pick up the subtle tension between Sean and Tatiana.She waved at them and left, arm-in-arm with Jonah. It was only Tatiana and Sean alone after that. The air between them froze, leaving them rather flustered."Um, Lyse! Lyse!" Tatiana called out feebly, her heart pumping wild.Sean reassured her with a straig
On their way home, Alyssa grew drowsy as she rested her head on Jonah's shoulder. She had initially planned to ask Jonah what Liam had said to Jasper, but she quickly dismissed the thought, knowing it likely wasn't pleasant. Liam might appear soft and kind, but he could be more sharp-tongued than she was.She didn't want to hear what Liam had said about Jasper, not because she felt sorry for Jasper. Rather, she would be upset if her family disrespected the man she once loved with all her heart."Lyse, are you asleep?" Jonah suddenly whispered."No. What is it, Jonah?" she replied, her mind drifting."Can you sense it, too?"She cast him a confounding look.Jonah smiled. "Did you notice something between Sean and Taty? I could be mistaken, but I have a feeling they might be flirting."Oh.Wait. Flirting?She widened her eyes as she stared agape at him. "Jonah, did you have too much to drink? You're joking, right?""I don't joke about matters of the heart. You probably di
Alyssa's chest felt heavy, and she instinctively curled her numb fingers in response to the unsettling sensation.She couldn't help but wonder why Jasper had never treated Alice White as kindly as he had treated her, Alyssa Taylor."Jonah, I know my likes and dislikes. Maybe you're right—a relationship is never black and white, but that doesn't apply to me because I know what I want," she declared in a teary voice and gazed out the window. "My relationship with Jasper is complicated, but I no longer have any affection for him. I'll never repeat my mistake—wasting my youth on a man is a silly decision with no reward," Alyssa asserted. …Silence enveloped Sean and Tatiana as they journeyed back to her campus, each lost in their thoughts. The Porsche came to a halt at the school's quiet entrance in the middle of the night.Seated in the car, they both seemed to share an unspoken agreement not to get out. The crescent moon cast a soft light over the land, adding a romantic touch to
The moment Tatiana saw that woman, her pupils wavered as she trembled more violently in Sean's embrace. The woman was Brie Caldwell, a fellow student at the same school with the same major as Tatiana. Brie had caused trouble on numerous occasions, subjecting Tatiana to bullying and humiliation.Sean suddenly remembered that Alyssa had mentioned Tatiana's fear of crossing roads and speeding cars.When Lyla married Winston, their children were still quite young. Some jealous adversaries of Winston attempted to harm his children when they couldn't bring him down.At that time, their opponent assumed that Lyla was Winston's least favorite wife and that her child was also the least favored. This adversary went to the extreme of hiring assassins to target Tatiana, who was just seven years old, as revenge against Winston for winning business deals against them.Although Tatiana survived the incident with minor injuries and Winston completely decimated said opponent, she was traumatize
The driver threw a wad of cash at Sean like it was toilet paper."You—" Sean shot a fierce glare at the man behind the wheel. The Laferrari roared to life and swiftly disappeared into the night.Meanwhile, Tatiana trembled, her expression contorted into a deep frown as she witnessed Sean's humiliation."Gentleman, that's Mr. Schmidt's reward for you. Take it," Brie said. Once Josh was gone, she no longer put up a front.She leaned toward Sean, puffing her voluminous chest, and touched him on his sleeve. Brie began, "You look incredibly hot and refined. Why would you want to date a bitch? It's a blemish on your image. Why don't you—ugh!"Sean abruptly stepped back, his face stern. Brie, who had leaned into him, lost her balance and knelt on the floor.Tatiana couldn't help but chuckle, her hand covering her mouth."That hurts! Shit!" Brie cussed, feeling that her kneecaps had shattered from the fall. She couldn't stand up in pain and cast a teary glance at Sean as she pleaded,
During Tatiana's four years at the Solana Film Academy, Brie had worked with other schoolmates to give her trouble. Tatiana was a meek personality, so she endured the bullying to avoid escalation.However, Tatiana's fear gave way to a surge of anger after she witnessed Sean being humiliated by Josh and saw Brie making advances toward Sean. Tatiana had a steely look in her eyes and continued walking, completely ignoring Brie's provocation."Cheap bitch! Tatiana Taylor, stop right there!" Brie called out, but Tatiana maintained her stride.Tatiana eventually halted and turned around slowly. She grinned as Brie panted and limped toward her with bruised and bloodied knees.She questioned, "Cheap bitch? Who are you talking about?""The nerve to ask! It's you, of course!" Brie momentarily brushed aside her physical pain to seek vengeance."Oh, I thought you were introducing yourself for a moment," Tatiana teased her without any change in expression. That caught Brie by surprise, for
After Jasper was discharged from the hospital, he worked hard for three full days to clear the backlog of work that had piled up. Given his unstable health condition, he relied on supplements and Alyssa's prescribed medications to keep himself going.Apart from that, Xavier would apply the external creams and ointments daily onto Jasper's wounds. With all the effort, Jasper hoped he would recover soon. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to offer Alyssa any protection with his ailing body."Mr. Beckett, it's time to take your medication," Xavier announced as he brought the pills and a bottle of water on a tray. Jasper was in the midst of approving some documents and responded, "I'm busy now. Later.""Um, if you don't take your medications on time, I'll report it to Madam," Xavier declared. "She reached out to me that day and reminded me to make sure you take your medications on time. I'll need to report any issues to her right away. She'll be upset to learn that you're not listening."
Xavier shivered and stammered, "Uh, well, Mr. Beckett, I am worried for you! There has barely been any progress in your relationship with Madam. Who knows if I'll ever live to the day when you get back together!"You said you risked your life to save her, but her attitude hasn't changed. She hasn't visited you except for her daily check-in calls to me. I feel sorry for you."Xavier recalled that Alyssa had always prepared a feast whenever she learned Jasper would come home. Then, she'd wait for him by the door. She had given all her heart to him.But now, all she offered were icy glances that sent shivers through onlookers. Some things, once lost, were impossible to regain."That's fine," Jasper said and sighed. He rubbed his fist on his knee. "I will not give up on pursuing her, no matter how she treats me."There was a knock on the door. A female secretary announced, "Mr. Beckett, Mr. Harper is here to see you.""Let him in."Then, Landon smilingly entered, humming a tune with
Alyssa followed Jasper into the study. The door closed behind her with a soft click. She didn't move to switch on the lights or sit down. Instead, she stood quietly in the dim room.They faced each other, eyes locked. In the darkness, their gazes seemed brighter, charged with emotions that neither could put into words. Whatever stirred within them was tangled and silent—kept at bay by something unspoken, as if a wall had formed between heart and mouth. After a pause, Alyssa offered a faint smile. Her voice was soft, almost courteous. "Go ahead, Mr. Beckett. I won't be staying long tonight—I've made other arrangements."It was clear she didn't want to be alone in a room with him.Jasper's chest tightened, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion he couldn't define. His voice was rough when he finally spoke. "You didn't vote against the motion at today's board meeting. I wanted to know… are we still on the same side?"Alyssa's gaze lowered, her voice steady and calm. "You didn't object
In the evening, Xavier drove Jasper to meet with Newton. Along the way, news broke out that Sheryl had been bailed out. Xavier slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Why is it so hard to get rid of that woman?" "She is Justin's right hand," Jasper said, eyes shut as he leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "You could even say she knows more about his secrets than anyone. As long as she's useful, Justin won't discard her so easily. This is how he operates."Xavier shook his head, teeth gritted. "Where the hell did she even come from? When you had me investigate her, I found nothing. Her background was spotless. "What's in her past that Justin would go so far to keep it hidden? A man like him can have any woman he wants, yet he clings to her—some pretty-faced idiot who only seems to make things harder for him."Jasper's gaze turned glacial. Xavier's casual remark struck him.He was right. Justin wasn't short on capable subordinates. So why Sheryl?Was Sh
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