"I know I messed up. You don't need to remind me." Jasper snubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. "But there's no going back for me anymore. I want Lyse. No one else in this life but her."…Lauren slept until the evening hours. When she woke up, Landon had prepared her dinner."Were you being serious when you said you wanted to go home with me, Laurie?" Landon asked, half-teasing.Lauren bit her lip and nodded, then shook her head. She wrapped her arms around her knees, toes wiggling lightly on the bed. The sight made Landon's breathing quicken slightly."I-I want to live with Grandpa, but I need to wait till I'm better … so he doesn't worry." Lauren's eyes were moist with tears."I understand." Landon gently caressed her hair. With a sly grin, he asked, "Do you trust me that much, Laurie? Do you know who I truly am? Do you have any idea how badly the world thinks of me? Aren't you worried you'll find yourself in danger if you come with me, hm?"Lauren slowly met his gaze
Alyssa left the hospital without so much as a word to Jasper. Though he'd left her with an incomplete puzzle, she wasn't going to grovel for the entire thing. She'd rather figure it out herself than ask. It was high time she stepped back into her spotlight after what she'd endured for three years.On the way back to the villa, Sean called her."Ms. Alyssa, we were unable to find any information on Jasper directly, but we did find some interesting things pertaining to Justin Beckett.""Being Beckett Group's CEO, it only makes sense that anything personally related to him is entirely off the records. You're getting smarter, Sean." Alyssa grinned.Sean savored the praise and continued, "Justin Beckett was a victim of a kidnap when he was 11 years old.""Kidnap?""Yes. But there is virtually no news about this incident on the World Wide Web, not even in the newspapers. The Beckett family must have silenced all potential leaks on this incident. "If it weren't for the police's reco
"What is this? Highway robbery?" Alyssa snapped, eyes scanning him up and down."You left in a hurry from the hospital, so I didn't have a chance to speak to you," Jasper said gently, ignoring her frigidity."We wouldn't have met there if it didn't concern Lauren's well-being. There's nothing more to say between us." Alyssa turned and marched straight for the villa gates. She added, "I'll have someone send over the next batch of medicine for the second stage of your healing. If you want to live a long life, make sure you take them on time.""Lyse, wait." Jasper reached out to hold her hand.But Alyssa stopped just then. "By the way, do relay a message of mine to Landon. I'm aware of his feelings for Lauren, and I vehemently disagree with it."Jasper blinked rapidly, frowning."I know I'm no longer Lauren's sister-in-law but an outsider, and even if I were still her in-law, I would never have the right to step in on her personal affairs so long as her parents were still breathin
Jasper knew mentioning the issues in the Harper family would only upset Landon, so he rarely brought it up, though it remained an area of concern for him.Alyssa continued, "Mrs. Harper is a woman with traditional beliefs. After her husband's unfortunate passing, the hope of the family now lies on Landon's shoulders. "If she already has a grudge against Betty, how could Lauren ever make it past her? Landon adores and respects his mother. "Do you think he'd challenge her just to be with Lauren? Don't forget that cunning sister of his, too, who's been using Betty as a pawn to get her way. Do you think she'd treat Lauren any differently?"If Lauren really stays by Landon's side, it would upset his entire family system and only cause more disturbance to her life. Would Lauren truly be happy, then? "Even if Landon loved her with all her might, their love would slowly crumble under the weight of all these obstacles sooner or later. Not to mention how innocent Lauren is—what could she
The familiar voice cut through Jasper's heart like a blade.Alyssa suddenly came back to her senses and tore away from Jasper's grip, as if she'd been caught doing something inappropriate. She shoved Jasper away, making the man stumble backward."What are you doing here, Mr. Jameson?" Alyssa asked curtly, unable to mask the shock in her eyes. Jameson bristled with killing intent, shaking just the slightest against the dark background. He shot Jasper a menacing glare, pushing at his glasses. It disappeared just as swiftly as it came, though not before Jasper picked up on it. In response, Jasper stirred up the deadliest energy he could muster, nearly snarling at Jameson. He was never one to lose when it came to this, especially not now when he stood before the woman he loved.Alyssa noticed Jasper's gaze. It looked like he was ready to tear Jameson limb by limb.Alyssa was perplexed by the animosity displayed. Was it all because Jameson stopped him from taking advantage of her?
There was rarely anything that could satiate Jameson. But one thing that could do the trick was crushing and torturing Jasper Beckett.Alyssa regained her composure and questioned, "Jameson, why are you here?""I've moved into a villa behind yours," he revealed with an affectionate gaze. She was utterly astonished and gasped, "What?"Equally shocked, Jasper's chest tightened as he sensed an impending threat."I said we're neighbors now, Lyse," teased Jameson, tilting his head and flashing a gentlemanly and youthful smile at her.Then, he extended his hand to her, saying, "Hello, new neighbor. Let's get along well in the future."Although she was taken aback, Alyssa regathered her composure and politely shook his hand, effectively keeping her ex-husband, Jasper, out of the conversation."Lyse, would you like to visit my new place?" Jameson invited her. Just like her, he was an opportunist. He added, "I bought a lot of fresh seafood, including salmon and lobsters—your favorite
A sudden gust of wind brushed past Jasper's nose. Jameson's punch was brutal and swift. Jasper would have been punched in the face if he hadn't been trained enough to dodge the ambush. From that deceptive move, Jasper could tell that Jameson was a wolf in sheep's clothing. There was another reason he could never let Alyssa be with Jameson. Never!The attack unfolded in the blink of an eye, so swiftly that not even Alyssa noticed the altercation as she proceeded toward Jameson's villa.Once again, Jameson hurled punches at Jasper, but the latter skillfully evaded each one. Jameson launched another kick that narrowly missed Jasper's chest.Jameson staggered backward, fighting to regain his balance, the veins in his seemingly feeble arms throbbing beneath his elegant silver cufflinks.Meanwhile, Jasper stood at the same spot despite suffering the attacks. Jameson adjusted his glasses, his eyes smoldering with rage.For years, Jameson had obsessively honed his skills under the guida
"Everything he did, he did it for you.""So, is he willing to harm others on my behalf?" Alyssa couldn't take it any longer and snickered. "He's attempting to justify his uncivilized behavior. He'd better not use that excuse anymore—it'll only embarrass me!""Alyssa!" Jasper called out to her, his tone laden with bitterness. He felt like he was being crushed. "I'm not trying to justify my actions. I just have one question for you—what do I mean to you?"Her breath caught, and her heart ached. In the dim light, she could see the shattered look in Jasper's eyes and the pain that was etched across his face.Jameson's sharp gaze bore into Jasper's pale face."If you stay out of my life, we might have a chance to be business partners in the future. If you remain stubborn, we can only be enemies," Alyssa cautioned. Then, she walked away slowly, holding Jameson without even glancing at Jasper.Jasper stood motionless for a long time, feeling as though the world had forsaken him.After
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