Alyssa still held Jasper's name in high regard. Jameson's eyes had a gleam when he saw his love rival calling up his crush. He called out softly, "Lyse."Her eyes deepened. She decided to pick up. "Hello?"Jameson was filled with disappointment as well as resentment toward Jasper.Meanwhile, Jasper gazed at the illuminated windows from a distance, uncertain of where she was or if he would get to see her. His voice was hoarse."Lyse, it's snowing. The first snow in Solana City this year.""Right," she responded flatly. "So, what's the matter?"Jasper was taken aback by her reaction. After a brief pause, he mustered the courage to suggest, "May I invite you to enjoy the snow tonight?""Do you have the memory of a goldfish?" she asked with a frown."Um, no.""Do you understand the state of our relationship now? Do you think it's appropriate for us to do that?""Well, it's still better than spending time with Jameson Schmidt," Jasper commented enviously.Simultaneously angered a
Jameson tightly embraced Alyssa the moment she fainted. His eyes grew darker as he spiraled into madness.…Meanwhile, Jasper found himself lightly dusted with snow. He waited faithfully by the entrance, prepared to spend the night there.Suddenly, the villa's gates swung open. Jasper jolted with excitement, only to feel his heart sink as he witnessed a pale Jameson marching toward him.He shot Jameson a tense look and curled his fists. He asked, "Where's Lyse?"Jameson adjusted his glasses with a menacing grin, filled with the triumph of a victor. He replied, "She'll be spending the night at my place. She won't be going home or watching the snow with you because she's resting now. "If you have any decency left and if you care about your image, you should leave immediately. I need to return to her."Jasper felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He retorted, "Jameson, are you happy now? You're only with Alyssa because you played dirty!""Sure. So what?" A greedy look fla
The next morning, Alyssa woke up groggily, still disoriented.Her eyes suddenly fluttered open, and she bolted upright in bed. She found herself in a monochromatic room, the scent of incense wafting through the air, making her feel relaxed."This is a man's bedroom ... Jameson's room?" Alyssa gasped, her head throbbing as if she had been struck in the head.The only thing she recalled from last night was the fight with Jasper. After that, her memory blanked. Heart racing, she quickly left the room.In the kitchen downstairs, Jameson was making breakfast for Alyssa. He was wearing a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up.He was bathed in the morning sunlight that cast a gentle, almost ethereal glow over his features. He looked like a soft painting.Jameson frequently cooked, but he never bothered with an apron as he never wore the same outfit twice."Jameson," Alyssa called out to him. He cast a gentle glance and said, "Lyse, you're up. How are you feeling?""Jameson," Alyssa b
"Lyse, Silas, Cyrus, Sean, and I are in front of Jameson's villa," Jonah said tersely, his voice as commanding as thunder. He provided her with a sense of security."Jonah, I'm all good. You guys overreacted …" Alyssa mumbled and massaged her temples, trying to visualize the absurd situation unfolding outside."Overreacting? Lyse, you spent the night at another man's place! As your brothers, we were almost in tears!" Silas yelled, his voice nearly hoarse."Did that guy lay a hand on you? Did you stay willingly, or did he trick you into it? I've got a pair of handcuffs ready for him!" Cyrus turned into a hot-blooded policeman, ready to barge in and arrest Jameson on the spot."Calm down! All of you!" Alyssa instructed, frantically slipping on her heels and leaving the villa. Outside, several luxury cars had surrounded the vicinity.Sean was the first to rush up to her, his eyes filled with tears. He held onto her shoulders and asked, "How are you? Are you okay? Did Jameson Schmidt
Jonah checked his wristwatch, his expression turning icy. He began, "Jameson, I know Lyse very well. She has never spent the night at a man's place in her life."Yet, she was at your place last night. I need an explanation.""You never allowed her to stay out, but you supported her when she decided to elope. For three years, you kept her marriage to that jerk a secret from Uncle Winston. "You let her suffer at her in-laws' place, living without any official recognition," Jameson stated calmly, taking a seat across from Jonah.Jonah's breath briefly stopped. Lips downturned, he taunted, "Oh, is that what you're doing? You're comparing apples to oranges. Lyse willingly married Jasper out of love. "As her brother, I might not agree with her decision, but I had to respect it. You, on the other hand, are a different case."Jameson's eyes wavered as he started to falter.Jonah continued, "I know Lyse isn't into you. If you persist, you'll not only anger her but also change my impres
Landon's private jet touched down at Solana City International Airport under the cover of night. Zoe descended the stairs from the aircraft, wrapped in an opulent fur coat, her radiant brown curls cascading around her. She slipped into the waiting car that had come to pick her up.After the incident with the counterfeit necklace, Landon had grounded Zoe, going so far as to confiscate her phone. He had wanted to cut off her communication with her terrible friends, who had a bad influence on her.In protest, Zoe had resorted to starving herself after bouts of crying and frustration. Penelope couldn't bear to see her daughter suffer. So she had persuaded Landon to release Zoe and send the latter back to Yoarkley for a period of self-reflection instead.By the time it was winter, Landon had reluctantly permitted Zoe to return to Cyrris. Boredom had consumed her in Yoarkley, and Landon hadn't visited her once. It had been too much!Zoe couldn't contain her frustration. "Where's Land
Lauren skipped over to the snowman, and Richie playfully kicked the snowball back. She retrieved it and carefully set it back atop the snowman while standing on her tiptoes.Richie joyfully wagged his tail while circling around Lauren, even playfully rolling by her feet."Haha! Richie, are you cold? I'll crochet a sweater for you someday!"Richie barked as though he understood her. He wagged his tail excitedly and then threw himself at her, showering her cheeks with affectionate licks."Hahaha! That tickles, Richie. Stop fooling around!" Lauren laughed and tumbled onto the snowy ground, and they both rolled around in the snow with delight.Landon gazed tenderly at Lauren and the heartwarming scene, which was rare in his life. He had once believed that an ordinary, happy life was beyond his reach. To his surprise, Lauren had brought him the happiness that every ordinary man deserved."Mr. Landon, I never expected Richie to get along so well with Ms. Lauren. He used to nip at alm
Lauren shook her head furiously. Her heart pounded. She stammered, "I-I got it. I will only do it with you. Don't be upset, okay?"Landon had been treating her exceptionally well over the past few days. He had gifted her beautiful clothes she had only seen on Betty before—clothes she had never owned.What's more, the food at the private villa was delicious, even if it wasn't quite on par with Alyssa's cooking.In addition, Landon took care of her in every way, from drying her hair to feeding her and even sharing a bed, all without crossing any boundaries. Since he had been so good to her, she couldn't bear to do anything that might upset him."Good girl."Her eyes shimmered like a starry night, nearly making Landon kiss her. However, a sudden thought made him reassess his behavior. Was he acting like a pickup artist?Still, he really wished that Lauren could stay by his side forever. The idea of her marrying another man, being intimate with him, and having children tore at his
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
Julien's merciless, hate-filled words hit Jonah like a ton of bricks. The pain was unbearable, a gut-wrenching ache that shattered his heart.Under the dim lighting, Julien vaguely noticed a sorrowful tear forming at the corner of Jonah's eye. But before it could fall, Jonah forced a blink, swallowing his emotions whole. Despite Jonah's attempt to brace himself, sorrow engulfed him, a tidal wave of despair. His features mirrored the devastation ripping through his heart. As Evan opened the driver's side door, Julien lurched forward and vomited again. The sickening sound of him retching echoed in the air as if he were expelling everything inside him. "Judas, Mr. Lovelace looks like he's suffering from alcohol poisoning. We should take him to the hospital."Evan's worry deepened at Julien's condition. Jonah wordlessly removed his suit jacket and began cleaning the mess in the car. His chest tightened painfully as he watched Julien groaning, clearly suffering. Then, without he
Jonah's gaze burned with a mix of longing, sorrow, and something deeply affectionate. The world swam back into focus as Julien looked at Jonah. Without preamble, he asked, "Are you new? How much do you charge per night?"Light-headed and grinning, Julien reached out a hand, his fingers brushing softly against Jonah's cheek. "You're pretty good-looking," he said, his voice slurred. Then his expression shifted. "Why do you… look so much like someone I hate with every fiber of my being?"Jonah's heart clenched. Even so, he slid his arms around Julien's waist. Trembling, he pulled Julien into his arms. "I'm new here. Could you help me meet my target tonight, Mr. Lovelace?"Julien's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Jonah. Jonah's eyes teared up as he held Julien's waist tightly. "I promise you won't be disappointed," he said, his voice deep. Watching from the shadows below the stage, Evan nearly gagged at Jonah's sultry tone. Was this really the Judas he knew? The man sounded downri
The bar was alive with striking lights and thundering music, and the air was thick with the scent of tobacco and alcohol. The atmosphere was one of moral decay—corrupt, degrading, and vile. "Where's Julien?" Jonah's voice cut through the noise, his tone icy and sharp. When Jonah stepped inside, the eyes of several men turned toward him, their gazes filled with illicit intent."Why, hello there. Are you here alone? Are you feeling lonely?" A sexy man sauntered over, draping himself over Jonah's shoulders. He let his hands linger with a playful squeeze. "If you're bored, I'd be happy to keep you company." Jonah's expression darkened. His hands trembled, veins bulging with barely contained rage. Suddenly, Evan burst through the crowd, his face twisting in alarm at the sight of Jonah surrounded by a swarm of predatory men. Evan yelled, "Don't touch him!" A heavy thump reverberated through the room. Gasps erupted as people scrambled back.The man who had draped himself over
Rafe stated, "But Beckett Group is in the middle of a storm right now. If I insisted on giving your corporation the project, my superiors would investigate me. I wouldn't be able to escape unscathed!""If you're investigated, I'll make sure you can still live a life of luxury—even if you lose your job." Justin's tone darkened. "But if you turn against me, you won't just suffer a few losses. You'll lose everything."Under the dim moonlight, Justin fiddled with his antique tea cup, his gaze narrowing. "You've worked so hard to get to where you are. Are you prepared to lose it all?"After ending the call, Justin turned to Remy, who stood quietly at the side. "Sheryl is still being detained. She can't be bailed out for another two days. I need someone to watch over the research lab. You'll handle that."Remy was taken aback. "I failed my last mission. Aren't you going to punish me?"Justin's smile was cold and insincere. "It wasn't your fault. You were ambushed. If not for that, I tru
Remy pursed his lips, bending down to pick up the fallen poker card. It was the King of Spades—an entry pass to Kings' Club. "My attacker was…" Remy's pupils constricted as he tightened his grip on the card. "It can only be that dear uncle of mine, always claiming to see me as his own son." Justin's lips curled into a sinister smile. "He's trying to get rid of my right-hand man, taking advantage of my internal feud with Jasper. Weakening me is just his first step toward gaining control over me."He's been a fugitive ever since his successful prison break, never returning to Cyrris after receiving his life sentence. His power base remains in Kontina. "I'm the last surviving Dutton. The Dutton Group, as a cover, has declared bankruptcy and severed all ties with the country. "My dear uncle has taken a huge risk just to target me. He sent his men to attack you in Solana City. What a delightful surprise. It seems he truly doesn't trust me, his only remaining family."Remy lowere