"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
On the street opposite the KS Group building, Jameson leaned casually against his car door, hands in pockets, basking in the twilight glow as he fixated on the building's entrance.He had been waiting for Alyssa to reach out to him. Even if they couldn't meet, he would be satisfied with a text from her.Disappointment settled in, confirming his suspicions that he did not hold any weight to her. Worse, he knew for sure that Alyssa had a place for Jasper in her heart. It was concealed beneath the aftermath of her divorce and reluctance to admit her feelings.Jameson adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and put on an icy look that contrasted the brilliant glow around him."Jimmy!"Upon hearing Alyssa's sweet voice, he immediately put on a warm smile. "Lyse, you're finally here."She shuffled up to him, hands on her back, and tilted her head quizically. "From the sound of it, you've waited for a long time. Is that true? I thought you just arrived."Her demeanor was like a cheerful tee
"Well, I just thought you might not be able to save me. I mean, you won't be rescuing a damsel in distress. You'll just be adding to my troubles," Alyssa made up an excuse. She added, "Jasper has a different physique. He's stronger than the average guy. He stands a better chance of surviving the surgery. I might not have been successful in saving you if you were injured, and I'd be burdened with guilt for the rest of my life."Jameson frowned, his heart sinking."Oh, by the way, welcome to Belbanks! Can I treat you to dinner tonight?" Alyssa extended an invitation with a smile, not wanting his trip to Belbanks to be in vain."Lyse, come with me to Solana City. We'll have dinner there," he said, his eyes suddenly brightening. "I'll also bring you to a place you'll love."After some consideration, she nodded. She wasn't particularly keen on the place Jameson had in mind. In fact, she planned to return to Solana City to meet with Cyrus as they were investigating the assailant behind
Alyssa thought Jameson's remark made sense.After settling the bill post-dinner, Alyssa excused herself and headed to the restroom.In her absence, her phone buzzed on the table. Jameson, leaning forward, slid her phone over and answered a call with a cold expression.Jasper's tender voice called out, "Lyse, are you free to talk now? Lyse?"Jameson sat in silence, listening as Jasper continued with a growing concern, "Lyse, where are you now? Can we meet?"Finally, Jameson smirked and ended the call. Within moments, Jasper called again.This time, Jameson chuckled and blocked Jasper's number before returning Alyssa's phone to its original position.Alyssa returned to the table shortly after, having reapplied her lipstick, her face radiant. She said, "Thanks for waiting. Let's go."Admiring her beauty, Jameson smiled and agreed, "Sure."…Alyssa sat in the front passenger seat as Jameson drove her to the east side of the city. She asked with curiosity, "Where are we going?""
Alyssa handled the situation gracefully, careful not to let any discomfort show on her face that might be mistaken as disdain by Jameson. She might be feisty and blunt, but she was raised to never look down on anyone."It's alright. If we're denied entry now, we can always come back when it's open. Let's go," Alyssa suggested, refusing to burden Jameson further. In a light-hearted tone, she added, "If you ever fancy horse riding, just drop by my family's racecourse. It's essentially the same experience."As she prepared to leave, Jameson unexpectedly seized her hand, his grip tightening. With a pleading tone, he urged, "Lyse, don't go. We need to get in today."Her fingers trembled as she instinctively tried to free herself, but Jameson's grip held firm. This insistence and forcefulness was a side of him she had never witnessed before.The security guards exchanged glances and sternly warned them, "Please leave, or we may have to handle this differently. Mr. David is hosting gu
Jasper silently lamented. How could he possibly be responsible for what happened in Alyssa's dream? Regardless, he had indeed scarred Alyssa with his poor treatment of her."Why don't you contact Mr. Jonah instead? We learned that Madam had gone home to Belbanks. I believe Mr. Jonah must know where she is," Xavier threw out a good suggestion.Jasper glared at him. "It's absurd that, as president of Beckett Group, I have to call her family because I couldn't locate her. What if Jonah doesn't know either? Should I call all her brothers then? Get out of my sight.""Okay. I'm leaving!" Xavier quietly left the office, knowing that Jasper was in a foul mood.After the door closed, Jasper dialed Jonah's number right away. Jonah picked up and spoke with an emotionless tone, "Mr. Beckett, how's your injury?"Jasper ignored the question and worriedly asked, "Mr. Jonah, is Lyse with you?""No, she's not. Why? Is she unreachable?"Jasper breathed heavily and informed Jonah, "She's not answe
As Jameson spoke, he reached out for Alyssa's hand. He then recalled her uneasiness, and his hand stopped mid-air. He curled his fingers.Alyssa's heart skipped a beat when she saw him reaching out.At that moment, Jameson's secretary, Carl, ran over, panting. He exclaimed, "M-Mr. Schmidt, I have bad news."Jameson knitted his brows. "What's wrong?""Mr. David has led the horse for Ms. Alyssa to the racecourse!Upon learning that, Jameson adjusted his glasses with a burning rage in his eyes.…David sent a horse trainer to present the guests with a magnificent champagne-colored Golden Ausman horse."Mr. David, this horse is truly rare! I've heard of Golden Ausman horse before, but seeing it in person is a first!""This horse probably costs a good ten million."David gleefully replied, "Ten million dollars? You're underestimating its value." He gently caressed the horse's smooth skin. "These pure-bred horses from Bahari are rare. They fetch at least 15 million."The guests ga
That night, Alyssa stayed in the presidential suite of Solana City's KS World Hotel. She couldn't bring herself to return to her own manor—not yet. The lingering memories of her breakup with Jasper were still too raw, and the thought of revisiting their former home felt like reopening an unhealed wound.The following morning, she was awakened by a knock at the door. Groggily, she slipped on her night robe and opened it to find Sean standing there, carrying a complete set of brand-new hiking gear.Alyssa smiled. "Thank you, Sean." "Ms. Alyssa, it's freezing today. Are you sure you want to go hiking?" Sean walked into the living room and placed the items neatly on the couch. He still felt somewhat worried. "It's alright if it's cold, as long as the weather is good."Alyssa gazed out the window. The sun was shining brightly. The thought of going hiking with Jasper today made it impossible for her to conceal the sweet smile on her face and the delight in her eyes. She still love
Remy's eyes were bloodshot; his expression twisted with disgust as he stared at Sheryl. He could hardly fathom how someone so deranged and vile had once been close to Jasper. Even if Jasper and Alyssa had separated, Sheryl was nowhere near worthy of Jasper's side; she was not even fit to be the dirt on Alyssa's shoes.A sudden flash of memory struck him—the image of Alyssa during that traffic accident. He recalled her mustering all her strength to crawl out of her wrecked car, her face bloody, her body broken yet defiant. He had never seen such a fierce spirit in a woman before.His heart pounded uncontrollably, the memory triggering a sharp pain in his temples. Remy closed his eyes, gasping for breath.Sheryl broke into wild, unhinged laughter. Her entire body shook as she spat out her words, "Oh, Jasper, you poor, clueless fool!"If he ever discovers that the woman he's been tormenting all this time is actually his savior—the one he's been desperate to repay—that would be an eart
Sheryl's eyes lit up. "And what might that reason be?"Justin's lips curved into a faint smirk, his voice calm yet carrying a cold, ethereal tone. "Besides Ms. Alyssa, there's another woman who holds great significance to Jasper. She's the only one who can compel him to act without hesitation." Remy, usually a man of few words, abruptly spoke up. "Is she the one you've mentioned before? The woman who saved Jasper on the battlefield?""After Jasper retired from the military, he was plagued by PTSD. He came back shattered, dispirited, even on the brink of taking his own life."During that time, I often spoke with him over the phone, urging him to hold on, to keep living. I reminded him that if I could endure this half-disabled existence, then surely, he could find a reason to go on."Justin's tone was leisurely, as though recounting something insignificant. He continued, "I told him that if he were gone, what would become of Beckett Group? More than that, he would leave Dad and G
A first-rate Wiktorian mansion was located in a secluded and quiet area on the East Side. It was Justin's private residence. Outsiders were unaware of its existence. Sheryl arrived in the early hours of the morning, rushing to report to Justin, only to bump into Remy, who exuded an unmistakable air of coldness. His eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn't slept in days. A menacing vibe surrounded him, and his eyes burned with feral intensity. Sheryl felt unsettled and longed to flee his presence."You're like a ghoul," she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes before knocking on the door to enter Justin's study.Remy remained expressionless in the face of her contemptuous remark. He followed her into the room. In his classically-decorated study, Justin sat in his wheelchair, idly toying with a colorful cockatiel in its gilded cage.Jameson once possessed an exquisite, costly cockatiel at The Millenium. A devoted follower of Justin, the former idolized the latter, mimicking
Alyssa released Jasper's hand and quickly opened the car door. "Mr. Beckett, see you there, rain or shine." The warmth of her touch left his fingers as she withdrew. Jasper instinctively curled his fingers inward, his mouth parting to say something—anything—but hesitation held him back.Without waiting for his response, Alyssa slipped out of the car and disappeared into the night without a backward glance. It wasn't until she was fully gone that he whispered in a low, hoarse voice, "See you there, rain or shine." …When Alyssa returned to the parking lot, Sean was standing worriedly beside the car, waiting for her. Seeing her approach, eyes glistening with unshed tears, he knew she had just seen Jasper. A dull ache tugged at his heart, and he was certain their conversation had been anything but pleasant."Ms. Alyssa," he began softly, "I know you're relentless in everything you pursue. But some things in life… they just can't be forced. Sometimes, letting go can be its own k
Xavier was confused. He caught the tie bar in his hands and asked, "What's this, Mr. Beckett?" Jasper closed his eyes to rest. He tugged at his tie knot but still felt suffocated."It was from Sheryl," he answered. Xavier let out a cry. "This filthy thing is from that wild woman? I don't want it!" With a disgusted look on his face, Xavier hurled the tie bar aside. "I'm already seeing someone. I don't want my girlfriend to misunderstand me." "Girlfriend?" "Yeah, Mr. Beckett. Maggie is my girlfriend." With his eyes closed, Jasper frowned. "She's become of age?" Xavier didn't know how he should react. "She's already in university, Mr. Beckett. Am I that much of an animal in your eyes?" Suddenly, the memory of himself and Alyssa rescuing Maggie flashed through Jasper's mind. Just then, Xavier exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Beckett, look!" Jasper opened his eyes slowly, and his heart jolted. Standing alone before his car was Alyssa, framed against the piercing headlights,
Alyssa balled her hands into fists as she pressed them against the faux rock. All her focus was now directed onto Sheryl instead of Jasper. At this moment, Sheryl picked up the tie bar from its box. While Jasper was distracted, she clipped it onto his tie. Jasper was taken aback. He quickly stepped back, but Sheryl was quicker, and the tie bar was clipped on. "Mr. Jasper, it suits you really well." Sheryl's eyes were captivating, and her voice was sultry. If she were speaking with any other man, they would be easily captivated by her. "It looks like I made the right choice." Jasper's eyes dimmed. Yet, out of courtesy and because Sheryl worked for Justin, he did not react in any way that would put her in a difficult spot. Alyssa's eyes reflected a deep sorrow as she watched them, her gaze carrying the silent desolation of a snowstorm beginning to overtake her heart. Even so, she forced herself to stay rational. She pulled out her cell phone, wanting to record Sheryl's ever
Jasper stumbled into the hotel's back garden and stopped by the pond. He panted hard, feeling as if he were drowning. Even so, he could not return to his usual composure. As he shook all over, he bent down and grabbed a handful of snow. The bone-piercing cold spread through his body, but he still couldn't suppress the throbbing pain in his temples. His eyes became bloodshot. He stuffed that handful of snow into his mouth and swallowed all of it. He couldn't suppress it. He couldn't suppress it at all.The pills. He needed those pills! "Mr. Jasper? What are you doing here?" Sheryl's surprised voice came from behind Jasper.He held his breath, his fingers tightening around the snow in his grasp, veins bulging as he clenched his fists. Slowly, he straightened his back and turned to face her. "I came out for some fresh air," he answered in an extremely hoarse voice. Sheryl narrowed her eyes and studied him. "Mr. Jasper, you look awful. Are you feeling unwell?" "I'm fine." A
When Justin and Alyssa stepped into the banquet hall together, another uproar swept through the hall. Everyone focused their astonished gazes on the pair. "I'm not dreaming, am I? The one accompanying Alyssa isn't Mr. Jasper, but another man?" "That man has such a confident air about him. His looks and bearing are comparable to Mr. Jasper's!" "Ms. Alyssa has so many brothers in the Taylor family. Could it be one of her brothers whom we have never seen?" "Justin!" Javier was pumped up in an instant. Beaming, he strutted to the front of Justin and Alyssa. Justin? The room fell silent as the crowd exchanged confused glances."Hey, Dad." Justin smiled, his eyes looking clear and bright. Alyssa was a daughter from a wealthy aristocratic family. Although she and Javier used to be on bad terms, she still attended the Beckett family's event. She politely greeted Javier. "Mr. Javier, my father is resting up at home and is unable to make it. So, he got me to come especially to