"But do hurry. The celebration is about to begin."The door slammed shut behind Alyssa and the others.Ten minutes later, Josh and Morgan walked out of the hall. The former's watch was still stained with blood. A woman's wails and sobs of pain could be heard in the hall he had just left."Clean the mess up," Josh instructed Morgan."Yes, sir!""Alyssa Taylor really is something." Josh emanated a frosty air as he cracked his knuckles. "It's been a long time since I've met someone who dared challenge me. If she wants to play, I'll play along with her."…Alyssa felt incredibly satisfied after getting revenge for Tatiana. But the latter still felt uncomfortable.Knowing this, Alyssa gave her and Sean some alone time. The two went to the balcony to freshen up after the whole ordeal.Sean took off his coat and wrapped it around Tatiana's shoulders, since she was quivering in the cold. "Here. The wind is stronger here.""Did you … tell my sister about the other night when Brie me
Alyssa hummed a tune and headed for the event hall, knowing that Brie was done for good. That put her in a great mood.Given her understanding of Josh—no, her understanding of men in general—their egos often got the better of them. Now that Brie had disgraced Josh, she had landed herself in hot water.Alyssa believed Brie deserved everything that had happened for bullying Tatiana."Lyse." Suddenly, she heard a low and affectionate voice calling out from behind. Her heart skipped a beat, and she clenched her fists. No other man could make her flustered except for Jasper, the man whom she loved and suffered for.She inhaled deeply and calmed herself before turning around coldly. He stood a few steps away with an exquisite gift box in his hand. He marched up to her with a regal air about him."I'm here," he said to her tenderly. Alyssa replied flatly, "Okay."He pursed his lips and looked apologetic. "I'm sorry. I wanted to come early and lend you a hand, but I still … got late.
"I'll always speak the truth, even if it means taking a punch. You have an amazing body," Jasper reiterated with sincerity.He was probably the most classy playboy ever, flirting around with a straight face."Shut up! Stop talking!" Alyssa snapped at him. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes blazed with anger. "Stay away from me, or I'll castrate you!""That's fine. I'm not interested in having kids anyway. It's not like I have a crown to pass down," he replied, gazing at her in a daze.Defying her, he took a step closer. They could pick up each other's scent at that distance. He confessed, "I'm only interested in you, Lyse. Telling me to stay away from you is the same as killing me.""Well, consider yourself dead, then! Bye!" She turned and stomped away indignantly with red cheeks.She knew Jasper wasn't to blame for the accident just now, but he shouldn't have commented on her body in the first place.It was no surprise that Jasper was friends with Landon; birds of a feathe
"Miley," Jasper calmly greeted her, abruptly inserting himself into their conversation.Miley was taken aback as she sized up the handsome man before her. Her expression wavered, and she exclaimed, "Are you Mr. Beckett, the president of Beckett Group?""It's just Jasper. We can keep it casual," Jasper introduced himself and politely extended his right hand for a handshake. His stunning eyes radiated warmth and joy.He appeared to be a gracious and honest man, quite unlike the rumors that painted him as ruthless and deceptive.Miley was about to shake hands with Jasper out of courtesy when Alyssa held her back. Alyssa glowered at Jasper and warned him, "You'd better not think of currying favor with my sister and earning brownie points. I can see through your plan."He flashed a bitter smile and awkwardly retracted his hand.Miley was confused by Alyssa's brash attitude. She had no idea that Alyssa and Jasper were once married for three years.Looking flustered, Alyssa pressed h
Miley's unexpected return was a delightful surprise for the Taylors. Mandy, Miley's mother, appeared on the verge of tears, her eyes glistening with joy. However, she maintained her usual composed demeanor, a skill she had perfected over the years. It had been a long time since anyone had witnessed her shed a tear.On the other hand, Lyla and Colene couldn't contain their emotions, and they wept as they embraced Miley. To an outsider, it might seem as if Mandy was Miley's stepmother."Are you done yet?" Winston wondered with a disgruntled look. "It's my turn!"Everyone was rendered speechless. Lyla and Colene had no choice but to let go of Miley.Winston eagerly enveloped Miley in a heartfelt hug, sobbing even louder than his wives. "Oh, my dear daughter! I've missed you so much! I thought you had forgotten all about me after marrying Jeremy. I've raised a little rebel, it seems!"Again, everyone was dumbfounded by Winston's antics. Alyssa's lips twitched as she froze on the s
Meanwhile, Rose was waiting at the red light at an intersection not far away from KS World Hotel. She was taking a call with her Bluetooth earpiece in her pink Ferrari.She barked, "Send me the blueprint for the Bastian Fashion Week walkway! If the person in charge on their end gives us trouble again, tell them that Rose Emerson will never work with them!"Not only that, but I'll also make things difficult for them if they ever plan to host a fashion show at Solana City."When the light turned green, Rose stepped hard on the accelerator out of anger. The Ferrari dashed across the road like a streak of pink lightning.At the same time, a sleek black Mercedes-Benz E-Class approached from the opposite direction. One of the vehicles attempted a left turn, while the other tried to make a right turn at high speed."Oh, crap!" Rose cussed. She had been so distracted with her call that she hadn't noticed the black Mercedes-Benz. As they hurtled toward each other, she slammed the brakes
Silas continued, "However, the law clearly states that a driver shouldn't use the phone while driving, and they shouldn't be wearing heels."Feeling a little guilty, Rose immediately curled her toes in her heels. She argued, "B-But you crossed the road marking when you made the turn, so you're the one responsible!""That depends on the verdict of the traffic police, but I have no time to reach out to them. Why don't you do that? I'm in a hurry," he retorted. He handed her a business card from his wallet. "Here's my phone number and my work address. After you're done, just update me on the next steps.""What's with that attitude? Are you seriously going to leave the mess to me? But I'm short on time too!" she protested, unhappy at his aggressive and irresponsible behavior. She tossed the business card back at him and grumbled, "How can I be sure you're not a scammer trying to pull a fast one?""A scammer?" Silas laughed at the absurd notion, finding the woman with the unconventi
The birthday party was about to start. Alyssa smiled. She felt glad to see Winston and Newton engaged in an animated conversation at the front."Oh, is this real? That's Newton Beckett!" a guest exclaimed."Hey, you're right! He looks great for his age.""Newton is quite close to Mr. Taylor. It's uncommon to see such good friendships these days. One might mistake Mr. Taylor for Mr. Beckett's son!""I heard that Javier Beckett's wife is hosting her birthday celebration at Berenike Hotel tonight. It's quite intriguing to see Mr. Beckett attending Lyla Nelson's birthday party instead of attending his own family event."The guests shared hushed chuckles and snorts."Mr. Beckett obviously doesn't approve of his daughter-in-law, Sophia Kirkman. She's been embroiled in bribery and counterfeit scandals for the past six months. Besides, her niece cheated on Jasper Beckett. Of course Mr. Beckett dislikes Sophia.""I think Jasper Beckett and Alyssa Taylor would make a great couple. I read
"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