Suddenly, Renee became excited. "Dad, has Mr. Beckett arrived?" she asked."Yes, he's here."She eagerly added, "Have you discussed the new project with him? You must tell him that the proposal was my idea!"A man born with a silver spoon like Mr. Beckett has seen countless beautiful women. I'm sure none of them can grab his attention," Renee commented with a smug smile. "I'm sure he'll be interested in me. After all, I'm highly educated and broad-minded. In addition, I'm beautiful, not to mention my distinguished background. "Once he notices me, he'll be drawn to my talents. Then, I'll captivate him, and eventually, he will fall for me!"Her cheerful tone sounded like she had already won Jasper's heart and was one step closer to marrying into the wealthy Beckett family. In the next second, Dominic's gaze turned menacing. He replied in a low voice, "Hmph! Let me offer a piece of advice. Don't get too happy.""What do you mean by that, Dad?"Dominic answered, "Jasper is a di
Javier sat in the audience and looked disdainfully at Jasper. "Look at all the company presidents here. Which one of them shaved their head to get a crew cut? Are you still serving in the military?"You should pay more attention to your image. Also, you had surgery before. There's a scar on your scalp. Why didn't you wear a wig to cover it?"Jasper lowered his gaze, his tone cold yet confident as he replied, "Everyone in Solana City knows about my injury. So, covering it would be pointless. Besides, even if I'm bald, it won't affect my good looks."Javier pursed his lips upon hearing that. Despite having low opinions of many aspects of his son, he had to admit that Jasper had inherited all the best traits from him and Anne. Jasper was basically flawless and perfect. "I'll have someone make a realistic wig for you tomorrow. Then, I'll send it over to you," Javier insisted. In fact, it was not about the wig. Javier simply did not like that Jasper was going against him. Hence, he w
With Renee's ankle twisting, her arms flailed frantically in mid-air. The Hermès bag she held soared, leaving her in a comically awkward sprawl on the ground."Ouch! I-It hurts!" she yelped.She sat on the floor as tears welled up in her eyes. Even her lips were quivering uncontrollably. In a typical scenario, a man would step forward to help a beautiful woman in distress, especially when she fell because of the man. Who would have thought Jasper was unaffected by the situation?He walked away fast. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from Renee's sight.At that moment, Xavier rushed over, too. He merely glanced at Renee, who was pathetically lying on the ground. Then, he followed behind Jasper and left. In just a short span of seconds, Renee started to question her appearance. She had always been confident with her looks.It was often said that people would hesitate to help an older lady who fell, but why didn't anyone help Renee? She was a gorgeous woman, after all. Dom
On the west side, in a hotel, Jasper entered the lobby with his suit drenched in sweat. His phone, held in his sweaty palm, vibrated continuously.He looked down at the screen and saw an incoming call from an anonymous number."Hello," Jasper said in a deep voice, his throat felt dry. "Mr. Beckett, it's room 2051, on the 20th floor. "A stranger's voice on the other end said, "I left the key card in the flowerpot in the 20th-floor stairwell. If you want to save Ms. Taylor, you need to act quickly. Delaying any further could lead to unwanted consequences! Make sure you don't regret your decision."Jasper was about to take a step forward when his face suddenly darkened. He asked, "Who are you, really? Did you send me those pictures?There was silence on the other end. "Are you a paparazzo or acting on someone's orders? How did you get the hotel room key card?" Jasper, with quick thinking, asked the most crucial question."Good question, Mr. Beckett. But I can't disclose those d
Jasper couldn't explain. He had to leave immediately."I'll call your brother and have him come to pick you up right away!" After saying that, Jasper turned to leave. "Jasper! No, please don't go."Zoe threw herself at him, tightly hugging him from behind, her naked body pressed against his. She pleaded, "Jasper, I'm scared. I'm really scared. Please don't leave me, okay?" Jasper looking disgusted. He ordered coldly, "Let go." "No! I don't want to!" Zoe, without hesitation, pressed her body against his masculine back and continued, "Throughout my life, I've never had a boyfriend, and my body has always been untouched by anyone …""Now that you've seen my body, Jasper, you can't just walk away without taking responsibility!""Taking responsibility?" Jasper bit his lip and said, "I'll only be responsible for one woman in my life, and that's Alyssa." Following his statement, he forcefully disentangled Zoe's arms from his and broke free.Zoe couldn't match the strength o
Jameson donned a patient's gown in a hospital VIP ward. Then, he reclined in bed. His handsome and delicate face lost its color, and his lips resembled pale, wilting petals, portraying a frail image that evoked sympathy."Mr. Schmidt, why are you so foolish?"Todd stood by the bed, still visibly shaken. "Mr. Schmidt, do you realize how dangerously close you came to being seriously hurt by that horse? If it had trampled you, you might have lost your life right then, and all your hardships and plans in Kontina would have been for nothing!" Jameson gradually opened his eyes and smirked. "Todd, it seems you're genuinely concerned and care about me."Todd was startled. Tears welled up in his eyes as he began, "Mr. Schmidt …"He had been with Jameson for eight years, first as a runner and now as a secretary. Although his role had changed, his status hadn't. He remained a devoted subordinate. Jameson was exceedingly shrewd and suspicious, maintaining a cold and guarded distance from e
Faced with Alyssa's honesty, Jameson felt a surge of anger. His hands clenched the bed sheets tightly. "I've been married to Jasper for three years, but I've known him much longer than that. It's definitely longer than you might think." Alyssa spoke calmly, as if chatting with a friend, but she couldn't deny that mentioning those past events still caused an ache in her heart. She continued, "Once, there was nothing in my life but him. Later, he divorced me, and it felt like he had taken my entire heart with him. My body had a void from then on, like an irreparable disability. "If you were me, could you ignore it? Could you pretend that nothing ever happened?" "Lyse, I …" "But don't think that I'm so dependent on Jasper that I can't live without him. That's too extreme."Alyssa waved her hand, a momentary sadness crossing her beautiful eyes. "Life must go on. I just need some time." "Lyse, no matter how long it takes, I'm willing to wait for you."Jameson's pale face sho
Alyssa slammed the bathroom door and sat on the toilet. She bit her lips and scrolled through Twitter's trending topics and comments in a frenzy.Large beads of sweat fell onto the screen one by one."Hahaha! I knew it. Men are all the same. They just can't stay loyal. Wasn't there a rumor about Jasper getting close to the Taylor family's daughter? He kept defending her, and now he's involved with Zoe. How can he be so unfaithful?""It's officially confirmed. He's the scumbag of the century!""It's all a lie. Let me tell you—Jasper just wants to marry into the Taylor family and become a billionaire son-in-law! If he really ends up with Alyssa, it's a union between the Beckett and Taylor dynasties. With Winston as his father-in-law, who would dare to challenge him in the whole of Andgalbia?""Huh? Jasper's a billionaire himself. He doesn't need Alyssa." "Hah, don't be naive. Who doesn't like having more money?"Alyssa's eyes grew cold as she raised her hand, tightly gripping her
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