Zoe was terrorized by Landon's wrath. She had witnessed him teaching Donna and Gary a lesson. He hadn't even spared Gary, who had been serving him for years. The punishment he had inflicted on Gary seemed almost fatal.All of this chaos was because of Lauren. Zoe couldn't fathom why Landon would go to such lengths for an idiot. In comparison, she felt that she had been reduced to a joke as his sister.After leaving the villa, she returned to the Harper Residence with a resentful scowl. Throughout the journey, she couldn't hold back her tears when she reminisced about how Landon had used to spoil her.Amidst her anger, Zoe made a resolute decision. No matter what, she was determined to come between Landon and Lauren. She would never accept Lauren as her sister-in-law."Zoe, you're finally home!" Penelope called out. She teared up after a long separation from her daughter and came out to hug Zoe. "My darling, I thought your flight had landed earlier. Why are you only home now? I wa
Zoe's eyes burned with anger, and she trembled as she shared, "Landon hasn't been around for a long time because he's living with Lauren Beckett! He's even bought a place for her!"Penelope felt like a bolt of lightning had struck her, and her face paled."I hate Sophia and Betty, and I wouldn't want Lauren as my future sister-in-law. But Landon is infatuated with her! He raised his voice at me for that woman, and he even—" Zoe deliberately paused for suspense."What else did he do to you?""He hit me!" Zoe said, tears rolling down like a waterfall."Where did he hit you?""My face! He slapped me in front of his staff and that Beckett bitch! Mom, my face hurts!" Zoe moaned and reached for a hug as she cried her heart out.Penelope's heart ached for her beloved daughter. Her eldest son, who had always been obedient, had had the audacity to fight with his sister over Sophia's daughter. She couldn't help but wonder if Landon might one day sever ties with her, his own mother, as w
Lyla took a few seconds to get used to the bright light before her eyes widened in shock.A mannequin stood before her, dressed in a grand yet elegant red and black gown, its flowing train blooming like that of a dark rose. "It … it's beautiful," Lyla exclaimed, dazed."Lyse had that internationally-renowned designer, Sharon, make this just for you, Lyla!" Mandy cooed, holding onto Lyla's shoulders. "My goodness, and here I thought I had seen it all. I still feel like squealing in joy seeing Sharon's design before my eyes! It's absolutely gorgeous!"Alyssa had long been used to the world's praise for her designs under her alias, Sharon. Still, it couldn't beat the joy and pride she felt upon hearing praise from her own family.She silently basked in her joy, grinning."Sharon? This is too precious, Lyse!" Lyla cried, holding Alyssa's hand. Her cheeks were flushed with joy and bashfulness. "You must have put in a lot of money and effort to get this made, right? You really did
It was as if the sea itself had been crystallized into a single piece of jewelry."Thank you, Lyse …" Lyla croaked out tearfully. "I love it! Thank you so much …""I didn't want to use a more precious stone, lest Winston's gift pale in comparison, and I thought a lighter shade of crystal like this one was far more suitable for you." Alyssa beamed at her. "I enjoy crafting my designs according to the wearer's personality and aura. The fact that I designed it makes it exceed in value far more than the value of the crystal itself."Mandy and Colene then led Lyla to unveil the presents they had gotten for her.When Alyssa's phone began ringing, she stepped out into the hallway to check on it."Hello?" She answered in a flat tone."I called to report my status to you, Ms. Alyssa. I'm feeling much better now." Jasper's voice was especially tender tonight and irresistibly sensual. "Next time you would like to know how I'm doing, please don't hesitate to call me instead of going thro
Both Lyla and Sophia's birthdays happened to be on the same weekend.Sophia was so excited the night before that she barely got any sleep. All she could think of was how stunning she would be during her birthday celebration, with all eyes on her. She had even had photo reels of her from her glory days as an actress made, which would be played on loop onstage during the celebration for everyone to admire.Sophia ended up looking like the undead the next morning, with sunken hair, bloodshot eyes, and eyebags so dark and heavy that it looked like she had prosthetics on. Makeup was sorely needed, lest she looked like some ravenous ghoul.She was nearly 50 years old, after all. Unlike in her youth, when she would spend days shooting continuously, one sleepless night was enough to make all her wrinkles stand out in the spotlight."What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get my makeup artist!" she roared, pacing back and forth in her room. She even shattered an expensive crystal glass ou
Still, one couldn't help but find him to be much less enthusiastic than before.Lauren and Betty sat in front of their parents, with Lauren hunched tight around the teddy bear Alyssa had given her so as to comfort herself.Betty wore a cocktail dress that had just been released to the market recently, looking quite the model big sister beside Lauren."Tonight is Mom's big day, Lauren. Why didn't you put on any makeup?" Betty asked, a faux grin on her face as she gently caressed Lauren's long, sleek hair. "Do you not know how to? You should have told me earlier. I would have loved to help."Lauren tensed up instantly, her lips pressing tightly together."That perm I gave you before was such a good look on you. I could have given you one today, too," Betty snickered.All of a sudden, Lauren slapped Betty's hand away. Both Sophia and Javier were shocked by this. They had never seen their youngest daughter behave like this."Ow! What was that for, Lauren? It hurts!" Betty cried,
Betty was silently trembling with rage beside Lauren, her lips twitching. She wanted nothing more than to tear at Lauren's face right now.This fucking bitch! Did she really think that she could do as she pleased just because Landon was protecting her? Betty thought menacingly, "I'm going to kill you if it's the last thing I do!"…Though Sophia had insisted on a low-profile celebration, she had still allowed the media to get word of it. After all, she needed it like a fish needed water.The reporters were pacing around the hotel prior to Sophia's arrival. They quickly surrounded her when she arrived, though she remained behind a circle of bodyguards as she walked into the hotel, looking like some kind of big shot."Mrs. Beckett!""Madam Sophia!"The reporters cried, snapping all the photos they could get of her and her family.Javier was displeased with this turn of events but remained indifferent before the reporters."Your family has arrived for your wife's birthday celeb
The ballroom was a pitiful sight with how empty it was. The few men who had attended were Javier's business partners instead of anyone Sophia knew. The only women in the room besides Sophia and her daughters were the hotel staff and the pianist they hired! All the rich men's wives and mistresses who appeared to be on good terms with Sophia were nowhere to be found!Damn it! Damn it to hell!If the reporters hadn't been present right now, Sophia would have thrown a tantrum right then and there.Javier's brows furrowed just the slightest, but besides that, he didn't show much emotion.Meanwhile, Betty was shocked. She had known how bad her mother's relationships in their social circle were, but not to this extent!"Hurry up and take those photos! This is going to make the headlines!" a reporter cried, followed by frantic snapshots of the virtually empty ballroom."We can title this 'Madam Sophia Beckett's Birthday Bash—Truly Bashed! No Longer the Starlet of Yesterday'!" "This i
"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