Feeling sorry, Sean apologized, "I'm sorry, Ms. Alyssa. I didn't take good care of Ms. Tatiana. I accept any punishment.""L-Lyse, don't! Sean has been busy enough. He tried his best to look after me well, so please don't punish him!" Tatiana pleaded with a pale face, worried that Sean might get into trouble because of her."Hmph. There's no denying that he's at fault. Sean, your punishment is to bring Taty out tonight and have the best dinner in Belbanks. You need to bring her to her favorite dessert place, too. Do not come home until it's late at night. Got it?" Alyssa instructed him, looking stern.Tatiana was taken aback by Alyssa's orders. She mumbled, "L-Lyse …"Sean's heart skipped a beat as he stared at Tatiana through his tears. He said, "Ms. Tatiana, please bear with me tonight."Tatiana was, in fact, overjoyed at the private date with Sean, but she had some reservations."Taty, don't worry about it. I'm at home to take care of everything. You deserve a break after your
Mandy trembled at the thought of even asking for Axel's help, knowing that Axel was resentful toward her and the entire Taylor family.Despite Mandy's sacrifices and true love for Winston and her stepchildren, Axel had stubbornly perceived her as a homewrecker. Without Mandy opening the polygamous floodgate, Winston wouldn't have gone on to marry Lyla and Colene.Axel probably wondered if Winston would have stayed monogamous had it not been for Mandy's presence.As Winston's second wife, she bore the brunt of criticisms and prejudices more than the other two wives.Mandy replied to Alyssa, "I'll get this done right away. I'm calling Julien now."She always attended to Alyssa's concerns promptly. She dialed Julien's number, and soon, they heard Julien's surprisingly youthful voice from the other end. He greeted, "Aunt Mandy, I've missed you!""Julien, have you been busy lately? You didn't call me at all. Did you have too much fun and forget about me?" Mandy teased him."Gosh, no!
"Did you know who else received the heart transplant instead of their daughter? It went to the Solana City mayor's son! The poor girl left the world after much suffering because she couldn't wait for the next donor," lamented Julien. Even Alyssa felt heartbroken upon hearing the story. As a doctor, she empathized with Julien.Mandy replied, "Julien, I understand what you feel, but—""Aunt Mandy, I will never provide any treatment to high officials or tycoons. Since they are filthy rich and powerful, I believe they can get any doctor they want. I'm just a hot-tempered doctor who might even harm their life if I ever treat them. You should ask Mr. Beckett to hire another doctor."Mandy gaped. Before she could say a word, Julien hung up."Lyse, I'm sorry. Even his parents can't do anything about him, not to mention me," Mandy sighed.Alyssa felt her chest tightened. She pressed her lips and comforted Mandy, "Don't blame yourself for that. It's not your fault. You tried your best. I'
Axel chuckled amusedly. "That's because Julien Lovelace is gay."Alyssa had goosebumps from the revelation. Axel advised her, "You'll need to get a man to seduce him. He doesn't get hard for women."Then, he grinned wickedly. "Hey, why don't you get Silas to do the job for you? He's got broad shoulders and a nice ass. I bet he's considered a ten in the gay community. That Lovelace guy will definitely thirst for Silas!"Alyssa snickered. Was this the first time Axel had ever complimented Silas?…Half a month later, Jasper was discharged from the hospital. Newton picked him up on that day, keeping a low profile to avoid media attention.In the car, Newton held Jasper's hand tightly and stared intently at Jasper's head, causing Jasper to shiver.Curious, Jasper asked, "Grandpa, what's wrong with my head?""You look good in a military haircut," Newton remarked, caressing his head."That was my hairstyle throughout the military school. They called me the 'hot guy,'" Jasper sai
Jasper's eyes widened. He was utterly confused. "What do you mean? She's no longer working here?""The day before, the hotel management received an official update about Ms. Alyssa's transfer to KS Group headquarters. She has officially left her role as the hotel manager, and she'll take up a new role once she reports to HQ.""What about the hotel?""A senior personnel from KS World's overseas branch will be transferred here to take over the manager role in Solana City," Avery informed Jasper. Avery was reminded of Alyssa's busy schedule and the unforgettable memories of their time working together. She smiled at Jasper and recounted, "Ms. Alyssa produced great results within a year of managing the hotel. She's brought us back on track, motivated the employees, and achieved the highest sales record in ten years."Mr. Taylor is extremely pleased with her work. The transfer did not come as a surprise at all. She should develop her career in a better environment. Working in the ho
Jonah subtly nodded at Alyssa, accompanying it with a warm smile as he extended his hand. "Lyse.""Coming!" Alyssa responded, gracefully stepping out of the car in her sleek black YSL heels. The swaying of her black skirt revealed the fair complexion of her slender legs, a captivating sight for anyone.She placed her hand in Jonah's palm and alighted the car.The two senior executives greeted her, "Good afternoon, Ms. Alyssa!"Acknowledging them with a nod, Alyssa replied, "You must have waited for a while. It's cold out here. Let's head in."When the siblings showed up in public, everyone marveled at their good looks.Someone gasped, "Wow, Ms. Alyssa looks more stunning than on TV!""Absolutely. Even with the handsome Mr. Jonah by her side, I can't help but focus on her. She's so pretty that anyone would instantly fall in love with her."People who had previously complained about Alyssa were now praising her upon seeing her, well before she had even started working. She was, u
"I heard from Winston that Lyse is starting work at KS Group. Which department and role will she undertake? Since I have some time today, shall I give her a tour?" Dominic offered.Alyssa and Jonah exchanged glances in the face of Dominic's enthusiasm. Jonah replied flatly, "We'll have to wait for Dad's further instructions. I'm sure he will assign Lyse a suitable role to make use of her talent. We'll update you when we get the news.""Oh, of course! Sounds good. I'll wait for the good news, Lyse!" Then, Dominic thought of something and smiled at Lyse. "By the way, Renee sent you a gift when she heard you're joining KS Group. She's got it delivered to your office. Go check it out!"Renee Taylor was Dominic's only child and Alyssa's cousin. The two had not met for a while, and they didn't exactly share a good relationship.Alyssa flashed a smile in amusement. "Is it? That's thoughtful of her."The group made their way to Alyssa's new office. When they were near, Sean pointed at t
Dominic's smile froze after hearing Alyssa mock Renee.…Jonah and Alyssa entered her new office. When the door shut behind them, she snickered and sat on the couch. "Renee is such a bitch. She's already giving me trouble before I officially join the company—always so impatient."Jonah poured her a glass of water and sighed. "She competed for stickers with you in preschool. When you were in elementary school, you competed against her for the lead role in a dance performance."She's been competing against you for her entire life, but she's never won once. I would have given up if I were her, but I'm surprised by her persistence.""She has been losing to me when we were young. She'd be naive to think that she could win when we are now adults," remarked Alyssa. She took a sip of water with a glint in her eyes. "Things are different now. If she works against me, I will not hesitate to get rid of her, even if she's family.""Of course, you won't. You always retaliate against those who
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