"I …" Betty stammered and faltered in the face of Landon's threatening presence. She took a step back in fear."Seems like you're pretty forgetful. I'll give you a final warning in front of your servants," Landon remarked with hostility. He continued, "Lauren is important to me. Whoever bullies her will be going against me and the Harper family!"His words resonated throughout the hall, causing Betty to break into a sweat and turn pale. Without Javier and Sophia around, she had no backup at all."You've been fortunate not because of your status as a Beckett but because you haven't pushed my limits, Betty. If you lay a finger on Lauren again, I'll make sure you rot in prison. Not even Javier Beckett could save you."With that, Landon lifted Lauren with his left arm and cracked his fingers on his right hand. He issued a stern warning, "Don't you fucking try me. I will not hold back even if we are family friends!"He squinted at the staircase when he spoke. Sophia sensed his chilli
As a secretary cum bodyguard, Angelina frowned at Nina's appearance and instantly shielded Landon. Nina approached them and fell on her knees, rendering them dumbfounded."Mr. Harper, would you please help Ms. Lauren? Could you?" Nina pleaded in tears as she knelt on the cold ground."Angelina, help her up," Landon ordered. "Stand up, and we'll talk."Angelina attempted to help Nina up, but Nina shook her head and refused to do so. She begged, "I won't get up unless you promise to help Ms. Lauren. I may be a humble servant, but I'll use my limited power to help her just this once!"Landon's heart grew heavy, and he demanded to know, "What is going on?"Nina wiped away her tears and shuffled up to Landon. Then, she gingerly rolled up Lauren's sleeve. Landon and Angelina were stunned by what they saw next.Lauren's pale arm was full of old and new bruises alike, enough to shatter anyone's heart. Landon's eyes flared with anger, and his muscles tensed beneath his shirt.He hissed,
Sophia leisurely filed her red nails on the couch as she made the remark.Amid Betty's outburst, she somehow felt that Sophia had been acting funny. Usually, Sophia would have jumped in and defended Betty when the latter was humiliated at home. After all, Betty was Sophia's favorite daughter. Besides, Sophia would not tolerate anyone stepping all over her at the Becketts' residence.However, Sophia's indifference was worrying. Betty wondered why Sophia had never intervened, especially when Sophia had clearly heard the commotion downstairs.Sophia nagged at her, "Betty, I do not wish to see this happening again at home. Remember, Lauren is my daughter too. How could you hit her as her elder sister? If your dad and grandpa hear about this, they'll fault me for raising you poorly."You're 25 this year, but why do you carry yourself like a manic depressive? You keep saying Lauren is abnormal, but you're not better than her!"Betty rushed up to Sophia, glowering as she asked, "Mom, I
Landon escorted Lauren into the car, with Angelina at the wheel as they departed from Seaview Manor's grounds. Inside the vehicle, he tenderly embraced Lauren and ran his fingers through her hair, his heart heavy with pain. He had dropped by Seaview Manor to invite Jasper for drinks. He'd never expected to run into the fiasco.He replayed the memories of Nina's indignant speech and Lauren's wounds on her arms with resentment. A searing pain surged through his body, unlike anything he had ever experienced. Although he had endured heartbreak after Alyssa's rejection, this anguish far surpassed any previous pain. Inhaling sharply, he rested his jaw on Lauren's head and shut his eyes. He vowed that he would keep his word to protect Lauren."Mr. Harper, where should we go next?" Angelina whispered, looking at him through the rearview mirror.Landon was caught off-guard by the question. He had told Betty he'd bring Lauren with him, but he couldn't host Lauren at his place. He'd be i
Alyssa was the first to break the silence. With a furrowed brow, she addressed Jasper, "What are you staring at? Don't you realize you're badly injured? Take off your clothes right now!""In front of everyone?" Jasper questioned hesitantly.She scolded him impatiently, "Goodness, are you feeling shy? They're all men, and your body looks the same as theirs."Xavier shuddered at the speed of Alyssa's speech. She had been gentle and obedient to Jasper in the past, but she had changed into a fiery woman.Jasper lifted his pale face and cast her a tender glance. Smiling wryly, he explained, "No, that's not what I meant. I just thought gathering everyone here for my treatment was unnecessary. I only need you."She glared at him and balled her fists. Jasper was one of the most thick-skinned guys she met.Newton, always observant, cleared his throat and urged the others, "Jasper's right. We can't be of much help here. Only Dr. Callaghan and Alice should stay, as she has experience in med
Jasper's gaze took on an unexpected, intense warmth shadowed by darkness.There was something oddly familiar about how Alyssa was tending to him right now. She took out some antiseptic cream and the medicine Omar Callaghan had given him and began cleaning out his injuries."Lyse," Jasper murmured.Alyssa said nothing, though the sudden increase in pressure in her application seemed to serve as a warning.Jasper winced at the pain but remained adamant. "You remind me of someone, Lyse. Someone I met a long time ago."Alyssa was focused on tending to his wounds and merely responded with, "Who?""I don't know either.""What do you mean you don't know?""I mean, I really don't know who they were," Jasper said as he recalled those memories from years ago—that person's lithe but strong figure appearing in mind. "I was still in the Peacekeeping Forces when I met her on the battlefield."Alyssa's hold on the cotton she was using faltered. Her heart fell into her stomach, pounding heavi
Alyssa's heart thudded in her chest, nearly coming to a stop as she was left stunned.She'd thought she was the only one who kept that memory from the battlefield so sacred. Who knew Jasper treated it with just as much importance, even trying his best to track her down all these years. If it had been any other woman, he would have easily found her.Unfortunately for Jasper, he didn't know White Dove had been right beside him all this time, even married to him once upon a time under the name of "Alice White".After parting ways with him in Luminara, Alyssa erased all traces of her in that war. She'd used a false identity to help as a medic in that war to avoid her father's fury. So how could Jasper have uncovered her true identity when she'd been so careful to leave no clue behind?"Are you okay? Was I too harsh, Lyse?" Jasper asked worriedly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get upset at you. I just wanted to make my stand clear. White Dove saved my life. The only thing I feel for he
Jasper then gently held her hand and kissed the back of her palm.Alyssa blushed furiously, flinching just the slightest in response. Yet she forgot to pull her hand away."I'm sorry, Alyssa. I'm sorry for making you listen to all that. Could you please forgive me this once?" Jasper asked earnestly, gazing into her eyes.Was this still Solana City's revered bachelor, Jasper Beckett? The man whom corporations feared to cross? Or had someone taken over his body?Alyssa cleared her throat lightly, saying nothing else as she watched Jasper kneel before her.A sense of glee welled up in her chest."What is wrong with you tonight?" she asked. "How could you just stand there and let your father beat you up?She wrinkled her nose, poking at his forehead as she snapped, "You're a 30-year-old man. Couldn't you have retaliated even a little bit? Do you two have a father-son relationship or a slave-master one?""Did you worry about me?" Jasper asked, tilting his head."You saved my life a
Jasper lay restrained on the bed, his body writhing violently as waves of agony crashed over him. A towel clenched between his teeth muffled his cries, though it could not silence the torment. Every inch of his skin felt as if it were being devoured by thousands of invisible ants—a relentless, gnawing pain brought on by withdrawal.He knew he could no longer rely on the medication. Time and again, the temptation clawed at him, urging him to surrender and take the easy way out. Relief was just a pill away. But Jasper's willpower, though battered, refused to shatter. Anne's words echoed in his mind, a guiding light in the darkness. She had always taught him to be a righteous man—one with a clear conscience. Curling into himself, Jasper shut his bloodshot eyes. He couldn't disappoint Anne. He couldn't let down those who believed in him. He had to resist the dark side. Outside the room, Xavier glanced at his wristwatch. Judging the timing to be right, he pushed the door open and l
"How about now? Is Ms. Altman at home?" Alyssa asked urgently."She isn't," Clark replied. "She drove out the back gate alone around 11:00 pm. Our security personnel stopped her then, but she said she was just going out for some fresh air because she had trouble sleeping. She promised she wouldn't be long, but it's strange—she hasn't returned even now."Alyssa's ears began to ring, her heart sinking like a stone.When she ended the call, her nightgown clung to her skin, drenched in cold sweat. Her trembling hand gripped the phone tightly.She thought of calling Jonah, but he was still searching for Julien in Mosgravia. He wouldn't be able to return in time. Silas wasn't home tonight; he was likely with Rose. Besides, he was more of an academic than a fighter—not someone who could help in a crisis. Getting him out of bed in the middle of the night couldn't possibly solve any of their problems. Axel had returned to his organization, leaving Cyrus as the only one accessible who mi
Amber's eyes reddened as she darted toward the trapdoor in The Millennium, tears streaming down her face.Remy had let her go. He actually spared her! Didn't this prove that he was Damien? That his true nature lingered, even if his memories of the past had been lost?Hope and excitement bubbled within her as she ran. She had to reach Alyssa immediately and share this evidence—this incredible news!Emerging from the trapdoor, Amber navigated the tangled paths among the weeds on the mountain behind The Millennium.Suddenly, she froze. Her breath hitched. Beams of white light shone from all directions, focusing on her. The cold, unyielding spotlights told her everything—she was surrounded, the target of an ambush. Amber's heart pounded in her chest. Cold sweat slicked her palms as her fingers clenched tightly around her dagger. The veins on the back of her hand throbbed with adrenaline.Six assassins in black emerged from the shadows, their flashlights cutting through the gl
Amber glared at Remy through her bloodshot eyes, thrusting her gleaming blade toward his chest. In her early days of being Jameson's follower, the first lesson drilled into her was how to kill quickly and efficiently. Refinement wasn't necessary—only results mattered. Yet, despite mastering the techniques, she had never put them into practice. Deep down, Amber feared the sight of blood and loathed the idea of taking a life.And now, of all people, it was Remy forcing her to cross that line.The blade's tip hovered mere inches from Remy's heart when hesitation gripped her. Axel's voice echoed in her mind, raw with emotion. "Amber, I keep feeling that Remy is my fifth brother, Damien. We miss him… We want him to come home!"Her pupils dilated. The blade wavered, its deadly intent dissipating.That single moment of doubt was all Remy needed. With a calm, calculated motion, he seized her wrist and twisted it sharply.Amber gasped in pain, her grip faltering as the blade clattered
The password to Jameson's room was Alyssa's birthday. Jameson had always believed himself to be a devoted man, taking pride in that notion. Yet, in Amber's eyes, his devotion was nothing more than a pathetic joke—a sentiment she couldn't help but detest.Taking a steadying breath, Amber began rummaging through the drawers and shelves with swift precision.Years of observation had taught her that Jameson had hidden several secret compartments in this room, places meant to conceal vital information. Unless Jameson or Carl disclosed their existence, even the police might not have uncovered them.After what felt like an eternity, sweat beading on her forehead, Amber discovered a hidden compartment beneath a floor sculpture.As she pried the brick loose, her breath hitched. Inside the compartment lay a waterproof plastic bag containing a document and a USB drive.Amber retrieved the document. Her heart raced as she realized its contents—a research report from Mosgravia's RC Biotech
Ever since getting together with Axel, Amber had lived each day in bliss. Yet, when Winston assured her that he truly accepted her and approved of her marriage to Axel, that bliss reached its peak. For so long, Amber had struggled with feelings of inferiority, never truly believing she deserved Axel's love. Deep down, she had resolved to step away if Winston disapproved or insisted Axel marry a woman from a reputable family—a match more fitting of his status.She wouldn't have hesitated to leave if it meant sparing Winston and Axel any conflict. Amber loved Axel wholeheartedly and was willing to sacrifice everything for him.But instead of rejection, she found warmth. The Taylor family embraced her as one of their own, showing her kindness and understanding rather than disdain for her past.She could never repay such compassion. "Winston… Thank you. Thank you…" Amber's tear-filled eyes glistened, their brightness undimmed despite all the darkness she had endured. Winston s
Amber stifled a laugh and teased, "Stop talking, Mr. Whitaker. You're going to sound like a broken record if you keep going." …After breakfast and a quick packing session, Axel departed from Heightsnew Villa. Amber spent her day helping the Taylors with various tasks. She assisted Mandy in organizing documents for Lovelace Group's projects, helped Lyla with cooking, and even joined Colene in feeding her horse. With Tatiana's due date approaching, Amber also pitched in for her shower preparations.Amber had always been a diligent person, but today, she seemed particularly intent on keeping herself busy. She was counting down the hours until nightfall. After dinner, the Taylors sat in the living room and chatted casually as they always did. The warm, familial atmosphere filled the space, and Amber joined in, her perceptive nature making her a seamless part of the group.When everyone retired to their rooms, Amber rose to help the helpers clear the table. "Amber." Startled
Axel and Amber had only spent half a month together before the former was called back to report for work. The night before his departure, they spent hours lost in each other, their passion unrelenting. Again and again, they exchanged kisses, their love pouring forth in an endless tide."Amber, three months… Just give me three more months." When their fervor finally waned, Axel held Amber close in his arms. They rested against the headboard, leaning into one another, too exhausted to move yet unwilling to let sleep claim them."Once I finish all the missions I've taken on, I'll hand in my resignation. After that, I'll spend all my time with you," Axel murmured, his voice steady with resolve. "We'll go wherever you want. If you want fun, I'll have fun with you. If you want chaos, I'll spend my life going crazy with you."Axel wasn't one for flowery words. He simply spoke from the heart. Right now, his heart only wanted Amber—forever.Amber nestled closer, her soft smile masking t
"Sir." Sheryl immediately stood and greeted Justin respectfully as he entered the room. "What are you doing here?" Justin's cold gaze swept over her as he strolled leisurely to the couch and sat down.Sheryl quickly explained, "I received a parcel for you from the administrative secretary half an hour ago. I thought it might be something important, something you wouldn't want too many people to handle. So, I waited for you to return and open it personally.""A parcel?" Justin frowned. Why would anyone send him a parcel to Beckett Group, of all places? How strange. Sheryl presented the parcel to him with both hands. He took it from her and then opened it right before her. After removing three layers of wrapping, each from outside and inside the box, the parcel turned out to contain only a plain white envelope. His expression darkened. It felt like someone was toying with him.Then, he looked down and opened the envelope, which contained a stack of photographs. Pinching a co