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
"Is it because she's Sophia Kirkman's daughter?" Angelina asked.Landon's voice was hoarse when he answered, "Yes." "But if you truly like her, then you should try and work things out together." Angelina really wanted her boss to be with Lauren. She was such an endearing girl. Angelina continued, "If you were in a relationship with Ms. Lauren, you'd literally save her from a life of suffering. Betty Beckett wouldn't dare do anything to her sister anymore.""As if she dares to now." Landon's eyes darkened."But wouldn't you feel much more secure with Ms. Lauren by your side all the time? Think about it—if Ms. Lauren became your wife, that'd be the greatest slap in Betty's face. "She wouldn't even dare come near Ms. Lauren anymore. Because if she did, she'd be waging war against all of us. You wouldn't even need to tell me before I cut her tongue out!" Angelina explained.She was this close to calling Lauren "Madam".He cursed, pondering when they would finally have the chan
"Lyse, I grew up with Landon. I know him in and out. He may be fond of women, but he doesn't just sleep with anyone." Jasper tried his best to console Alyssa while defending his friend. Landon continued, "He wouldn't dare do anything to Lauren. She's my sister, after all.""Like hell! Landon would sleep with anyone who isn't related to him!" Alyssa yelled. "You'd better get on your knees and pray Landon didn't so much as touch Lauren, or I'm cutting his fingers off one by one!""Alright," came the calm reply.Alyssa was taken aback. "What?" "I said, alright. I agree with your decision. If something did happen, you can get to work on his left hand. I'll go for the right one."Alyssa was truly left speechless now.Hoes before bros, indeed.…Lauren was transferred to a general ward after her surgery. She lay weakly in bed, face as pale as the hospital gown she wore."How do you feel? Does it still hurt?" Landon asked tenderly, gazing into her doe-like eyes.Lauren shook her
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