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
Ten minutes later, Landon brought Lauren to the ENT department. The doctor quickly did a series of checkups on Lauren while Landon and Angeline waited anxiously to the side."Will she be okay, doctor?" Landon finally asked."Some external trauma appears to have caused her eardrum to rupture," the doctor replied truthfully. "Most of the cases I encounter result from severe slaps or punches. Some serious cases end up with long-term tinnitus."Landon and Angelica's expressions fell as they feared for Lauren's health."Is full recovery possible, doctor?" Angelica asked worriedly, as if she was Lauren's sister."Yes. The perforation isn't too big, and you sent her here without a moment's delay, so it seems full recovery should … ""Should?" Landon gritted out."It will! Full recovery will occur! All that's needed is surgery and proper care afterward." The doctor quickly corrected himself, frightened by Landon's threatening glare."That had better be the case." Landon held Lauren in
Alyssa had just finished tending to Jasper's wound when Ben walked in. "How are you doing, Mr. Jasper?""Very well, thanks to Alyssa." Jasper shot her a fond look as he spoke.Alyssa instinctively looked away. Jasper used to be so stoic. What was with all this passion and emotion now? "You have our sincere thanks, Ms. Alyssa." Ben bowed, but Alyssa quickly helped him up."You don't need to do this, Ben. It was my duty, after all."Ben wasn't one to be nosy, but he still wanted to see Jasper be together with Alyssa again. "You're still as kind to Mr. Jasper as always.""Please don't misunderstand. I'm only doing this because Jasper is important to Grandpa." Alyssa smiled lightly. "I do what I do only for Grandpa's sake."Ben met her smile. Jasper, on the other hand, grinned warmly at her. He was used to her indignance by now. He just had to read her body language or pay attention to what she said. One of them was bound to tell him the truth."Mr. Jasper, if you're able to wal
Newton poured a glass of warm water for Jasper, handing it to his grandson, who sat across from him."Thank you, Grandpa." Jasper gratefully took the glass, sitting up straight. He cupped the glass with a hand around the body and another at the base."How's your injuries, Jasper?" Newton asked gently."They're mostly surface wounds but have healed a lot," Jasper replied, masking most of his weakness and pain. "Don't worry about me, Grandpa. I'm stronger than you think. I was in the army once, after all.""Then why didn't you fight back when your father hit you?" Newton scowled. "That vixen, Sophia, clearly influenced him to hurt you for no good reason. Why didn't you just snatch the whip away and hit her back?!"He'd called Jasper over just to question him about this.Jasper looked down at his glass of water. To Newton's surprise, he stayed silent.After a moment, Newton asked in a softer tone, "You're my grandson, Jasper, and blood of blood. You don't still feel like you owe it
Jasper slowly met Newton's gaze. "I've held back as much as I can. But there will not be a next time. Next time, I'm not holding back."Sorrow filled Newton's heart, reflecting on his face."I'm sorry, Grandpa. I shouldn't have brought this up." Jasper held his grandfather's hands. "I know you would have wanted Justin to lead this family if that hadn't happened to him. I know you've had the highest hopes for him since he was young.""Jasper … ""I owe everything to you, Grandpa, and to Justin, too." Jasper smiled lightly, forcing his tears back. "I never dared hope to have a grandfather who truly loved me, so now that I'm blessed with one, I daren't pray for more.""No, listen to me, Jasper!" Newton cried, placing both hands on Jasper's shoulders. "You and Justin are both my grandsons. I love you two just as equally! Even if your brother fully heals one day, or even if what happened to him never did, I would still choose you to take over the family business!"Jasper was stunned.
Their bodies pressed close to one another, heartbeats loud and clear in the still air. Alyssa's face was flushed, knowing she'd been caught red-handed. She struggled to get out of Jasper's grip, the man responding by curling his fingers around her waist."The cat got your tongue?""I-I was just here to say goodbye to Grandpa. I'm not interested in whatever family secrets you two were discussing! Now let me go!" Alyssa cried, wriggling out of his grip.Something delicate fluttered against Jasper's heart. Alyssa was quite the adorable sight, blushing and trying to hide herself."No secrets." Jasper grinned."Huh?" "I won't keep any secrets from you," Jasper murmured, leaning in until their lips were inches apart. He resisted the urge to kiss her. "Ask me whatever you want, and I'll tell you what you want to know, in full honesty.""Alright. What happened between you and your brother, Justin?" Alyssa asked curiously.Jasper's lips thinned for a moment as he shied away."Tsk. L
Usually, surgeries for the eardrums had to be scheduled way in advance. However, because the hospital was concerned Landon might actually demolish it, they arranged for Lauren's surgery to be done immediately the morning after.Landon hadn't slept a wink or had a bite since the night before, and Angelina followed suit.Angelina had stayed loyal to Landon for ten years, the only woman in his life for so long that had never been swapped or replaced. Angelina would always be by his side when a female companion was needed for whatever events he attended. Some people would come and compliment her for her looks and how well they looked together, but Landon would only chuckle and say, "I see you're a man of culture as well."Angelina knew very well that nothing beyond their current relationship would ever be possible and never hoped for such. She was privy to his habits by now and knew his boundaries when it came to other women. They could fool around and sleep together, but there
"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
Beckett Group was, in essence, Javier's heart and soul, forged from his own labor. "Justin set me up, framed me for drug addiction, and bribed my primary physician to give false testimony—all so he could drag me down. The fact that he dared to target me like this means he's willing to betray anyone."Jasper took a deep breath, forcing down the rage roiling inside him as Javier remained silent. "Fine. Even if you insist this is just a family matter, Justin's reputation is already in ruins, and the corporation's stock prices are fluctuating. Are you really going to stand by him, even now?""Justin has explained everything to me. He wasn't aware of the bribery. That female doctor who worked for him acted on her own. Besides, she's been arrested. The backlash against Justin will settle in time…"Jasper listened, his face unreadable, but his heart clenched painfully. A lump rose in his throat, suffocating him.He had lost his mother at a young age, but he had never longed for his fa