Alyssa couldn't help but sit up straight, her heart pounding as she fixed her gaze on the stage.Miley instantly picked up on the change in Alyssa's behavior as they were seated next to each other. The look in her eyes deepened.All eyes in the room shifted from Jameson to the stage.Underneath the stage, Newton gleefully patted Jonah and Victor, who were seated beside him. "Heh heh! It's time for my grandson's gift!"Newton was confident that Jasper wouldn't let Jameson steal the limelight with an inferior gift. "By the way, Victor, judging from your son's behavior … Is he interested in Alice?" Newton wondered curiously with an arched brow."Alice?""Ah, sorry. It's Alyssa's nickname. I'm used to calling her that," Newton explained. He hadn't shaken off the habit.Victor pursed his lips with an unreadable expression on his face. He remarked, "Jimmy, my fourth son, has been living abroad without my supervision for a long time. I have no idea what's on his mind.""Don't you th
Winston smirked at Jasper's thick-skinned behavior."I haven't prepared anything extravagant, but I believe it's the thought behind a gift that truly matters. I hope Madam Lyla likes it," Jasper humbly remarked.Alyssa rested her chin on her hand and raised an inquisitive eyebrow at him. It was rare for him to show such a friendly side to anyone. He was indeed a good actor."Since Mr. Beckett has put thought into the gift, let's see what it is," Winston replied somewhat reluctantly. Lyla smiled helplessly at Winston's expression. He clearly held some disdain for Jasper.Jameson found Winston's expression rather comical and believed that Jasper could never make amends with the Taylor family after offending them with his poor treatment of Alyssa.When Lyla and Winston unveiled the gift, they discovered a golden tiara adorned with diamonds inside a glass box.Lyla's heart raced, and tears welled up in her eyes."Lyla, what's the matter?" Winston gently asked, noticing her emotional
It was impossible not to be moved by Jasper's efforts.Winston was incredibly touched by Jasper's explanation, and he no longer treated Jasper with hostility. "Jasper, thank you. I can see your effort and sincerity in the gift. You must have gone through a lot of trouble for this.""Mr. Taylor, you're most welcome," Jasper replied with calm, but his heart was drumming in joy as he clenched his fists. Winston had finally called him by his first name!He felt as though he had finally gained the approval of an in-law after years of taunting for his relationship with Alyssa. He might even lose sleep over this milestone.In contrast, Jameson wrestled with anger when he witnessed Jasper's triumph and Winston's praise. He couldn't believe he had lost to Jasper in this round, despite all his careful planning. It was a bitter defeat.With a smile, Jasper announced, "I have another gift for Madam Lyla. It's a joint gesture from me and my grandfather. On behalf of Beckett Group, we will cont
"Do you know why you lost to me despite all your efforts?" Jasper snickered. "Even if I were being slick, I did it to impress Alyssa. But you wanted more than that. You were destined to lose to me when you insisted on bringing your sick mother to the party."With that, Jasper walked away. Feeling suffocated, Jameson cast a threatening glance at him.…The party went on merrily. Since Jasper had secured a victory, he happily searched for a corner for a well-deserved smoke.Not long after he had ventured out of the hall, he heard a beautiful voice calling to him, "Jasper Beckett!"He gulped and spun around to see Alyssa rushing to him in her sexy heels.Her eyes sparkled like the starry night, her soft hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her lips were as red as a rose.He had a sudden urge to embrace her tightly and kiss her.Before long, she stood right before him. They gazed at each other, the air thick with tension, and heard each other's ragged breaths.There was palpabl
Holding Alyssa's hand, Jasper rushed down the opulent yet deserted corridor, like two young aristocrats who were defying societal rules and eloping.Her gaze was fixed on his broad back, which provided her with a sense of security. Her chest heaved, and her palms grew sweaty.She had to admit that she felt a little attracted to him. At the same time, she berated herself for still having feelings for him over mere hand-holding, after having fallen in love with him twice, 13 years and three years ago, respectively.She felt rather indignant for being weak when it came to Jasper.In contrast, he appeared to be in high spirits, jogging alongside her until they reached the door of a luxurious suite.A surge of panic and embarrassment washed over her. In anger, she yanked her hand from his grasp and hissed, "What is this? How dare you disrespect me on my turf? You know I could always get my brothers to beat you up right now."He paused in surprise. Realizing she had misunderstood his i
Alyssa's attention was immediately drawn to a beautiful ebony box on the coffee table. Her expertise in antique collections allowed her to discern that the box contained something truly rare."What a lovely box …" She gasped and stared at it."Don't just admire the box. You should see what's inside." Jasper encouraged her, standing by her side and utterly captivated by her beauty.Confused yet eager, Alyssa wiped her sweaty palms on her dress. Her endearing action only deepened Jasper's affection for her, and he felt an irresistible desire for her.Carefully, she opened the box to reveal a pink top and a green-stemmed glass goblet that seemed like something out of a dream.She exclaimed in delight and covered her mouth.Winston had collected antiques from all over the world, but he had never acquired an item from the Regency Era. The glass goblet finally filled that gap, and Alyssa was thrilled by the find."I stumbled upon this glass goblet in a Yoarkley collector's collection
"I don't know how to dance … I'll skip," Lauren excused herself. She had been sipping juice and enjoying cake on the couch until Landon had suddenly invited her to dance.Having watched her parents and Betty dance before, Lauren felt that dancing wasn't something she could do. Besides, she believed she would never have a chance to be in the spotlight anyway."It's alright if you don't know. I can teach you, Lauren," Landon reassured her, placing his hands on her shoulders.She hung her head low, a tiny patch of cream at the corner of her lips. She mumbled, "I'm not dancing, Landon. They all dance well. "I would only embarrass you because I don't know how to dance. Besides, I don't like crowded places. I panic when there are too many people around."Landon was shocked and upset. Lauren's second excuse was the real reason behind her refusal to dance. Despite his attentiveness, he had let his excitement get the better of him, forgetting that she suffered from autism and social pho
"May I invite you to a dance?" Silas inquired.Rose stood up gracefully and placed her hand in his palm. "Of course."Silas noticed the tears glistening in the corners of her eyes in the soft light. He tightened his grip on her hand, which startled her, prompting a futile attempt by her to break free from his hold."Is something wrong? Do you regret your decision?" Silas inquired, raising an eyebrow."No, but why did you pinch my hand?" Rose grumbled."I can't pinch your feet, can I?" he teased, finding humor in the odd question."You—" Rose began, but her retort was cut short as Silas twirled her gracefully by the waist. After a dizzying spin, she found herself dancing to the rhythm of the music with him."Did you cry just now?" he whispered, glancing at her reddened eyes as his hand rested on the small of her back."No, no tears. I was yawning," she denied, but was taken aback by how observant he was."Alright, I could have been mistaken.""Mistaken? You certainly were," sh
Jasper strode out of the room and hurried down the stairs, his pace so brisk that Xavier had to jog to keep up. As Jasper reached the living room, he spotted Justin sitting upright in his wheelchair, alone. Their eyes locked when Jasper was just a few steps away.Hostility flickered between their gazes.Curling his lips upward into a slight smile, Justin asked, "Jasper, heading out at this hour?"Xavier gritted his teeth, loathing the self-righteous air Justin exuded, as if he always held the upper hand. The sight made him want to charge forward and knock Justin clean off his wheelchair."It's late. Why aren't you in bed?" Jasper asked coldly, his tone as sharp as his glare. "It seems that broken body of yours is still holding up.""Jasper, you seem to be in a rush. Did something happen? Do you need my help?" Justin maintained the smile on his face, disregarding Jasper's sarcastic remark. "It's none of your business."Without another word, Jasper swept past him. Justin's
Jasper lay restrained on the bed, his body writhing violently as waves of agony crashed over him. A towel clenched between his teeth muffled his cries, though it could not silence the torment. Every inch of his skin felt as if it were being devoured by thousands of invisible ants—a relentless, gnawing pain brought on by withdrawal.He knew he could no longer rely on the medication. Time and again, the temptation clawed at him, urging him to surrender and take the easy way out. Relief was just a pill away. But Jasper's willpower, though battered, refused to shatter. Anne's words echoed in his mind, a guiding light in the darkness. She had always taught him to be a righteous man—one with a clear conscience. Curling into himself, Jasper shut his bloodshot eyes. He couldn't disappoint Anne. He couldn't let down those who believed in him. He had to resist the dark side. Outside the room, Xavier glanced at his wristwatch. Judging the timing to be right, he pushed the door open and l
"How about now? Is Ms. Altman at home?" Alyssa asked urgently."She isn't," Clark replied. "She drove out the back gate alone around 11:00 pm. Our security personnel stopped her then, but she said she was just going out for some fresh air because she had trouble sleeping. She promised she wouldn't be long, but it's strange—she hasn't returned even now."Alyssa's ears began to ring, her heart sinking like a stone.When she ended the call, her nightgown clung to her skin, drenched in cold sweat. Her trembling hand gripped the phone tightly.She thought of calling Jonah, but he was still searching for Julien in Mosgravia. He wouldn't be able to return in time. Silas wasn't home tonight; he was likely with Rose. Besides, he was more of an academic than a fighter—not someone who could help in a crisis. Getting him out of bed in the middle of the night couldn't possibly solve any of their problems. Axel had returned to his organization, leaving Cyrus as the only one accessible who mi
Amber's eyes reddened as she darted toward the trapdoor in The Millennium, tears streaming down her face.Remy had let her go. He actually spared her! Didn't this prove that he was Damien? That his true nature lingered, even if his memories of the past had been lost?Hope and excitement bubbled within her as she ran. She had to reach Alyssa immediately and share this evidence—this incredible news!Emerging from the trapdoor, Amber navigated the tangled paths among the weeds on the mountain behind The Millennium.Suddenly, she froze. Her breath hitched. Beams of white light shone from all directions, focusing on her. The cold, unyielding spotlights told her everything—she was surrounded, the target of an ambush. Amber's heart pounded in her chest. Cold sweat slicked her palms as her fingers clenched tightly around her dagger. The veins on the back of her hand throbbed with adrenaline.Six assassins in black emerged from the shadows, their flashlights cutting through the gl
Amber glared at Remy through her bloodshot eyes, thrusting her gleaming blade toward his chest. In her early days of being Jameson's follower, the first lesson drilled into her was how to kill quickly and efficiently. Refinement wasn't necessary—only results mattered. Yet, despite mastering the techniques, she had never put them into practice. Deep down, Amber feared the sight of blood and loathed the idea of taking a life.And now, of all people, it was Remy forcing her to cross that line.The blade's tip hovered mere inches from Remy's heart when hesitation gripped her. Axel's voice echoed in her mind, raw with emotion. "Amber, I keep feeling that Remy is my fifth brother, Damien. We miss him… We want him to come home!"Her pupils dilated. The blade wavered, its deadly intent dissipating.That single moment of doubt was all Remy needed. With a calm, calculated motion, he seized her wrist and twisted it sharply.Amber gasped in pain, her grip faltering as the blade clattered
The password to Jameson's room was Alyssa's birthday. Jameson had always believed himself to be a devoted man, taking pride in that notion. Yet, in Amber's eyes, his devotion was nothing more than a pathetic joke—a sentiment she couldn't help but detest.Taking a steadying breath, Amber began rummaging through the drawers and shelves with swift precision.Years of observation had taught her that Jameson had hidden several secret compartments in this room, places meant to conceal vital information. Unless Jameson or Carl disclosed their existence, even the police might not have uncovered them.After what felt like an eternity, sweat beading on her forehead, Amber discovered a hidden compartment beneath a floor sculpture.As she pried the brick loose, her breath hitched. Inside the compartment lay a waterproof plastic bag containing a document and a USB drive.Amber retrieved the document. Her heart raced as she realized its contents—a research report from Mosgravia's RC Biotech
Ever since getting together with Axel, Amber had lived each day in bliss. Yet, when Winston assured her that he truly accepted her and approved of her marriage to Axel, that bliss reached its peak. For so long, Amber had struggled with feelings of inferiority, never truly believing she deserved Axel's love. Deep down, she had resolved to step away if Winston disapproved or insisted Axel marry a woman from a reputable family—a match more fitting of his status.She wouldn't have hesitated to leave if it meant sparing Winston and Axel any conflict. Amber loved Axel wholeheartedly and was willing to sacrifice everything for him.But instead of rejection, she found warmth. The Taylor family embraced her as one of their own, showing her kindness and understanding rather than disdain for her past.She could never repay such compassion. "Winston… Thank you. Thank you…" Amber's tear-filled eyes glistened, their brightness undimmed despite all the darkness she had endured. Winston s
Amber stifled a laugh and teased, "Stop talking, Mr. Whitaker. You're going to sound like a broken record if you keep going." …After breakfast and a quick packing session, Axel departed from Heightsnew Villa. Amber spent her day helping the Taylors with various tasks. She assisted Mandy in organizing documents for Lovelace Group's projects, helped Lyla with cooking, and even joined Colene in feeding her horse. With Tatiana's due date approaching, Amber also pitched in for her shower preparations.Amber had always been a diligent person, but today, she seemed particularly intent on keeping herself busy. She was counting down the hours until nightfall. After dinner, the Taylors sat in the living room and chatted casually as they always did. The warm, familial atmosphere filled the space, and Amber joined in, her perceptive nature making her a seamless part of the group.When everyone retired to their rooms, Amber rose to help the helpers clear the table. "Amber." Startled
Axel and Amber had only spent half a month together before the former was called back to report for work. The night before his departure, they spent hours lost in each other, their passion unrelenting. Again and again, they exchanged kisses, their love pouring forth in an endless tide."Amber, three months… Just give me three more months." When their fervor finally waned, Axel held Amber close in his arms. They rested against the headboard, leaning into one another, too exhausted to move yet unwilling to let sleep claim them."Once I finish all the missions I've taken on, I'll hand in my resignation. After that, I'll spend all my time with you," Axel murmured, his voice steady with resolve. "We'll go wherever you want. If you want fun, I'll have fun with you. If you want chaos, I'll spend my life going crazy with you."Axel wasn't one for flowery words. He simply spoke from the heart. Right now, his heart only wanted Amber—forever.Amber nestled closer, her soft smile masking t