"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
"Lyse, I—" Jasper was cut off by a sweet voice. Rose purred, "Madam Alyssa, I'm sorry for being late!"Alyssa turned around and saw Rose, which put a smile on her face. "Rose! It's not late at all! I was worried you might be too busy with the Bastion Fashion Week to attend!"Rose ran over and gave Alyssa a warm hug. "How could I be absent after you invited me? Of course I had to be here!"At that moment, Rose noticed Jasper's jarring presence, and her expression crumbled. She asked, "Madam Alyssa, are you going to sit at the same table as him? Isn't it nauseating?"Alyssa shot a brief glance at Jasper and replied, "It is."He was hurt by her words but remained thick-skinned, suggesting, "Lyse, if you feel sick at my sight, you can always look away."He implied that he had no intention of moving to another table.Rose couldn't help but roll her eyes at Jasper's audacity."I can't not look at you. You're gigantic," Alyssa replied, chuckling at his words."You can put on a bl
"Gosh, are you hurt anywhere? Why didn't you call me? I could have taken you to the hospital!" Alyssa exclaimed, gripping Rose's shoulders nervously."I'm fine. I just have some neck pain," Rose replied, moved by Alyssa's concern."You should get it checked. There might be internal injuries that could cause more pain later," Alyssa suggested.Jasper suddenly chimed in, "I'll get that arranged after the birthday party. I can get a physician to check on you at any time."Rose was taken aback by his thoughtfulness.Alyssa held Rose again, appearing irritated as she said, "That's not necessary. I'm a surgeon myself, and I can take care of my mentee. I appreciate your offer, Mr. Beckett."He smiled wryly. She had dismissed his offer once more."After that idiot crashed into my pink Ferrari, he didn't even apologize and had the audacity to confront me with an attitude. He tossed me a card to 'buy a new car' and walked away!" Rose complained, her anger resurfacing. "Do you think he w
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
The hospital ward grew heavy with silence. Mandy and Neil stared at Alyssa, stunned beyond words. "M-Ms. Alyssa, you knew that man was Mr. Damien?" Neil asked, disbelief etched into his voice. "Yes." Alyssa's reply was quiet, her lips pressed into a thin line. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "We found out when Cyrus took Damien's cigarette butt for a paternity test."Mandy approached Alyssa, her shoulders trembling slightly. "So, you and Cyrus knew… and you both kept it from me?" Mandy said, her voice catching in her throat, tears welling up. Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. "Mandy, I'm sorry. It was my decision. Cyrus had nothing to do with it."Mandy's tears fell freely now, her grief spilling out in raw sobs. "Do you know what it's been like for me all these years, thinking Damien was gone? Winston, Miley, Lyla, and Colene kept telling me to move on. I tried to accept that he was dead, that we'd never find his body. But I never did."Her vo
The hospital ward was bathed in a dim, yellow glow from the bedside lamp. The silence was thick, yet the room held a strange warmth—an unfamiliar comfort that felt oddly familiar to Remy.Pain radiated through his body as he struggled to sit up. His eyes fell on Mandy, who was asleep beside his bed. Her hair was a mess, and her swollen eyes suggested she'd been crying. She was sound asleep. Remy stiffened. His breath quickened as he stared at her fragile figure. Slowly, he leaned forward, his fingers lifting slightly, tempted to reach out.Just as his hand hovered close, Mandy's lashes fluttered. In her sleep, she murmured, "Damien… Damien… I miss you so much…" Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent and unbidden.A pang tugged at Remy's heart. Without thinking, he brushed away her tears with his calloused fingers. The moment his skin touched hers, a jolt shot through him, sharp and electrifying. Pain throbbed at his temples, but beneath it was a warmth he didn't want to let g
Justin's casual question hit Javier like a thunderclap. Shock rippled through him, freezing his expression. His voice trembled with fear as he barked, "What nonsense is that? Are you accusing me of causing Chester's death? I'm your father—how could you think I'd do such a thing?""It's not an accusation. Just the facts," Justin replied coolly, crossing his legs and savoring his tea with unsettling calm. "And I'm not condemning you. In fact, I understand why you did it. I'm facing the same dilemma now."Javier's breathing grew ragged. He had watched Justin grow from a child into the man before him—now a predator, circling with quiet menace."You were meant to be the heir as the eldest son," Justin continued, his voice smooth as silk. "But Grandpa favored Uncle Chester, handing him major projects, grooming him in plain sight. "Uncle Chester's reputation soon eclipsed yours. He was a natural leader, adept at business, with one fatal flaw—he was kind. Too kind. Unlike you."Justin
Nonetheless, night had fallen by the time Justin arrived at Seaview Manor. On his way there, he worked on two things. First, he secured the top legal team to get Sheryl out on bail as quickly as possible. Second, he tried reaching Remy—unsuccessfully. He had never lost contact with Remy before. Justin's face was as dark as the night itself. The moment he stepped inside Seaview Manor, Rory approached with a solemn expression. He gave a slight bow before speaking. "Mr. Justin, what took you so long? Mr. Javier has been waiting.""I was occupied," Justin replied coolly. Then, as if it were an ordinary evening, he allowed a faint smile. "Where's Jasper? Is he back here yet?" A conflicted look came across Rory's face. "Things between you and Mr. Jasper have soured. I doubt he'll want to see you anytime soon—or show up here.""Is that so? How disappointing."Justin's smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze lingered on Rory, sharp and bottomless. "So, he'd rather believe what he se
Jonah scoured every corner of the hotel, desperation clawing at his chest, but Julien was nowhere to be found. "Jonah!" Alyssa called out, breathless as she caught up to him. She grabbed his arm. "Calm down! I'll help you search for Jul!""I can't find him. He's gone," Jonah murmured, sinking to the floor. His tears mixed with sweat, creating dark patches on the ground. "Lyse… I fear… if I can't find Julien this time, I'll lose him forever."The agonizing thought of losing the love of his life pierced him. "No, you won't!" Alyssa gripped his arm tighter, her voice trembling with conviction. "If Jul had given up on you, he wouldn't have come here today. The fact that he showed up means he still cares."Jonah's eyes were bloodshot, filled with a pain too deep to hide. He shook his head slowly. "Julien came back for Jasper. He did it because he's loyal… because he's a good friend. Not because of me.""He does care!" Alyssa insisted. "If he didn't, he would've faced you without fli