Alyssa remained unfazed by Sophia's hypocritical behavior. She had divulged that information to tell Mandy that Alyssa was not only used but also a gold digger from a rural village. Rosaline and Liana were secretly delighted.The Taylors and the Becketts were at odds. Jonah was Winston's eldest son and held a prestigious status. There was no woman out of his reach. How could he possibly want a woman the Becketts had abandoned? It was funny to even think about it.Jasper frowned in displeasure. "That's personal. You have no right to discuss it.""Jasper, it may be personal, but it concerns the Becketts and the Taylors. I'm just trying to prevent any potential shock when people find out that your ex-wife is here. I'm doing this for everyone's sake!" Sophia continued to fuss. "Does it concern both families? Didn't Ms. White divorce Mr. Beckett? Divorce means no ties anymore. So why do you think that Ms. White is affecting your family?" Mandy asked with a sneer. "Did she sign a co
"Wait."For some reason, the conversation irritated Jasper. Sternly, he asked, "Ms. White, don't you owe Liana an apology?"Landon sighed helplessly, resisting the urge to stuff his socks into Jasper's mouth.A dull pain throbbed in Alyssa's heart. She turned around to cast him a blank stare. Her disappointed gaze pierced Jasper's soul. "She didn't do it! Alice didn't do it!" Just at that moment, a sweet, gentle voice cut through the air. It arrived unannounced, like lightning on a clear day, foiling the plot that had been carefully planted. When Alyssa turned her gaze toward the source of the voice, there was a glimmer in her eyes."Lauren!"A girl clad in a simple white dress was hurrying toward them. She was sporting a ridiculous crown of dense curls, which was Betty's doing. Lauren had always been Betty's imaginary enemy in their family. Betty envied her little sister's beauty. She always looked for new ways to bully her. Whenever they appeared in public, she would
Jasper narrowed his eyes. And he turned his piercing gaze to Liana's pale face. When he let go of her waist, Liana clung to him desperately. She ignored the pain in her hand. "No, Jasper, it's not true! Alice provoked me first! I didn't provoke her! Lauren's mind isn't good, don't believe her!""Her mind isn't good? Well, I think the only thing not good about her is her hairstyle. She explained everything clearly," Landon sneered. For Jasper's sake, he didn't say anything too harsh. He couldn't believe that Jasper, the playboy, would treat Liana like his true love. He wasn't easy to please, yet he was sticking to her like he was under a spell. "Ms. White didn't hurt you, right?" Jasper took a deep breath, his voice tense. With the witness present, Liana broke into a cold sweat. She dared not lie again."So, you slandered her?" Jasper's words cut through Liana like a knife."N-No, I—"Liana began to shiver in fear, her body trembling like a leaf. Suddenly, she fainted from
After receiving treatment, Liana was transferred to a normal ward. The doctor said she wasn't seriously injured. Although the wound was a little deep, it didn't require stitches. She had fainted because of her excessive panic and mental tension. "You finally woke up, Liana!" Rosaline cried by her bed. She sobbed as if she was in Liana's wake. "I thought I would never see you again!" "Alright, alright, stop mourning. Jasper isn't here. There's no point in crying so loudly. You're bothering me," Sophia said. She crossed her arms and asked, "Have you figured out how to handle this situation?""Which situation?" Rosaline wiped away her tears, a little confused."Which situation? Don't tell me you've messed up more than once?" Sophia sneered as she glared at her useless younger sister. "Your failures are more than your successes. Do I look like a magical genie? I've been supporting you so that your daughter ends up with Jasper. With that bird brain of yours, do you think your da
"Mr. Beckett! It's all my fault! It's all my mistake!" Rosaline thought it would be better to admit her wrongdoing instead of waiting to be questioned. She couldn't let this matter affect her daughter and ruin her chances of marrying into a noble family. So she rushed over with a sorrowful expression. And she knelt in front of Jasper. "The Gardners are in trouble. Our cash flow is broken, and our factories are closing down one after another. When the Becketts refused to help, we were forced into a corner by the Taylors. We were left with no choice …"So I discussed it with Liana's father, and we decided to sell some family assets for the sake of our company's finances. I secretly sold Liana's jewelry. Liana didn't even know of it! "If I had known that the necklace was the token of your love to Liana ... Even if I starved or died of poverty, I would never have sold it!" Liana secretly heaved a sigh of relief before pretending to be shocked. Tears welled in her eyes, and she cri
As the night fell, they arrived at the ACE. It was one of Landon's properties. Jasper was feeling extremely depressed. So, he did something he had never done before—he went out to drink with his friends. Landon picked him up personally. Jasper rarely took the initiative to contact him. "Sometimes, I feel like I'm your mistress," Landon murmured into Jasper's ear. In front of others, he was bold and fearless. But he turned chatty and gossipy whenever he was around Jasper."I've never stooped so low for any woman. But I'm like a mistress waiting for her man when it comes to you. You just have to give me a booty call, and I'll doll up and come running to you. Aren't I the best? C'mon, admit it! Even I feel touched by my actions!" "You've never stooped low for any woman?" Jasper glanced at him. "Well, you were stooping pretty low for Alice." "That was a one-time thing! It's mainly because your ex-wife is too outstanding, and I ... I can't help myself," Landon said. Jasper resi
After returning from the charity auction, Alyssa locked herself in her room. She refused to come out. She was in an unusually low mood. In the evening, Jonah and Silas visited their sister. Although Alyssa came downstairs, she seemed listless. She was lacking her usual vigor."Lyse, I heard about what happened at the auction from Mrs. Taylor," Jonah said as he gently held his sister's bandaged hand. He stroked it tenderly. "How's your injury? Did Sean take care of dressing the wound for you? Does it still hurt? Is there any infection?""I have basic first aid. I can take care of it myself. Sean's already worried about many things. I don't want to bother him with something this small," Alyssa replied sullenly. She quickly pulled her hand back."Sean is becoming less reliable! If I hadn't bumped into Mrs. Taylor at home and learned about what happened to you at the auction, we would've been kept in the dark!" Silas said, his eyes filled with rage. "Tomorrow, I'll deliver a subpoen
"I-I …" Tears welled up in Lauren's eyes as she choked on her words."You just want to go against our wishes! Since we look down on Alice, you decide to help her out. All because you wanted to show how special you are! Do you really think you're a heroine for doing that?" Betty's pretty face was now twisted into one of hatred and anger. "Stop being stupid! Mr. Landon will never have feelings for you! Stop being delusional!" "Ms. Betty, what are you doing?" Mrs. Rosie rushed into the room before pulling Lauren into a hug.The other housekeepers in Seaview Manor were used to such dramas. Besides, they'd rather stay away from the conflict. Mrs. Rosie was the only one who dared to defend Lauren. "Get out, Mrs. Rosie! This is none of your business!" Betty snapped at her in frustration."I think you should be the one leaving this room!" Mrs. Rosie comforted Lauren, who was trembling in fright. She eyed Betty up and down. She warned, "If you leave this room right now, I'll preten
The board members were stunned into silence. One by one, they rose from their seats, greeting Newton respectfully. At Beckett Group, Newton's presence was akin to that of a king. Though he had long stepped away from the corporation's daily affairs, his influence remained unparalleled.He was not only an honorary board member of Beckett Group but also held similar titles in other renowned corporations. In the corporate world, Newton was nothing short of a legend.His unexpected arrival at the board meeting sent shockwaves through the room. The first words out of his mouth—an objection to the proposed motion—made it clear where his loyalties lay—with Jasper."Dad, what are you doing here?" Javier exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise as he rushed forward to steady Newton, who was visibly trembling.Justin narrowed his eyes as he stood up slowly. He was the last to rise to his feet. A flicker of something sinister danced in his gaze, an abyss of calculated intent hidden behind an
"You've been freed?" Justin asked, his voice distant."Sir, I'm really sorry for troubling you. You even had to make arrangements for me," Sheryl said apologetically. "I just made use of my connections. It's nothing. Besides, I figured they'd summon you—Jasper did get his medications from you, after all."Sheryl, still shaken from earlier, lowered her gaze. "Is that cop, Rio Olson, one of us? He seemed eager to arrest Jasper, so I thought you might have recruited him. But during the interrogation, he was relentless. He wouldn't go easy on me at all.""He is one of Mr. Barrett's men. That's enough for now."Sheryl mulled over it for a moment. Then, she lowered her voice and said, "Sir, Jasper can only be charged for drug use. As a first-time offender, it's not enough to keep him behind bars. I suspect he'll be bailed out by the day after tomorrow."Justin chuckled softly. "So?" "It's a shame we couldn't take him down for good," Sheryl said through gritted teeth."Jasper has Gr
With years of experience as a criminal investigator and a naturally sharp mind, Cyrus' instincts flared the moment he heard Rio's question.Gabe slammed the table, his voice a thunderclap of rage. "Rio Olson! What nonsense are you spouting? Have I been too lenient with you? Dr. Gillis is a doctor, and I'm a police chief. How would I know her? Stop letting your imagination run wild!"Gabe's face flushed crimson as he glared at Rio.Unmoved, Rio stared back, confusion etched on his face. "Then why are you stopping me from investigating Sheryl by the book? I don't get it."Jasper's test results were positive, and we found drugs hidden in his office. That alone suggests drug abuse. To secure a conviction, we need to trace his supplier. Otherwise, this case will collapse in court."Let's not forget—Jasper's attorney is Steven Lynch, a top-tier ex-judge who's handled multiple high-profile cases."From his position outside the office, Cyrus could only catch fragments of the conversation
"Now that we're on this topic, there's something I need to tell all of you," Alyssa said, her expression grim. Her tone turned cold as she continued, "I highly suspect that Sheryl is actually Liana Gardner."Her words left the Taylor brothers stunned."I don't have concrete evidence—no confession, no DNA proof. But when I called her 'Liana' at that run-down hospital, she turned around. Her reaction was odd, to say the least. Beyond that, her mannerisms, habits, and private behavior are eerily similar to Liana's."Alyssa smiled confidently. "And most importantly, I trust my instincts.""No wonder!" Silas suddenly shot to his feet, his eyes wide. "When I first saw her at the hospital, when she brushed past me, I felt this strange sense of familiarity. So, she's Liana? That means my gut feeling was right all along!"Jonah's expression grew serious. "If that's true, Jasper is in even greater danger. Liana's return—under a new identity, working alongside Justin no less—means she's play
Silence filled Alyssa's office. Since the incident that led to Jonah and Julien's heartbreaking breakup, everyone had avoided mentioning Julien, even though the sorrow of it lingered like a heavy shadow.Alyssa had suggested the second option because she believed Julien might be the key to turning the tide in their favor. But where was Julien now?After the fallout, he had disfigured himself, consumed by hatred toward Jonah, and left without hesitation. Would he return? Could they even find him?"Let's try to think of something else," Cyrus said, shaking his head dejectedly. He understood Jonah's situation all too well. "I'll go look for him." Jonah closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them, they glistened with unshed tears. The redness in his gaze betrayed his heartbreak. "Some of my former subordinates are still in Mosgravia. I'll contact them for help. I'll find Julien, even if it means sacrificing sleep and meals. No matter what it takes, I'll bring him back."Silas
Alyssa couldn't bring herself to go home, so she stayed at her office. Unease gnawed at her as long as Jasper's situation remained unresolved. Everything else seemed insignificant in comparison.When Cyrus updated her, a troubling realization struck—something was off about the witness, Sebastian Bender. As soon as Jonah, Silas, and Cyrus heard about Jasper's predicament, they agreed to travel overnight and meet Alyssa at the KS Group office.Worried that Alyssa and Sean might overexert themselves, the three brothers brought food to lighten the tense atmosphere with a touch of familial warmth."Sean, Taty asked me to bring this for you," Silas said, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "She made this soup herself and insisted you finish every last drop."A playful smirk tugged at his lips. "I checked the ingredients. They're all... nutritious for men."Sean's face flushed crimson as he pressed his lips together. Guilt flickered in his eyes. "She should be resting. She's due to give b
That night, Sheryl was brought into an interrogation room adjacent to Jasper's for questioning. Rio was Gabe's subordinate, but he wasn't privy to the full details of the situation. All he knew was that completing this task could give him an edge over his rival, Cyrus, and secure his standing within Gabe's ranks.To Rio, Cyrus was nothing more than a privileged man from a prestigious family, competing unfairly with those less fortunate. Rio was determined to prove himself superior, showing Cyrus how he dealt with Jasper, his future brother-in-law, and forcing him to admit defeat.Fearless in the face of wealth and authority, Rio boldly took on the president of Beckett Group, Jasper. He believed such audacity would earn him public admiration and a sterling reputation.However, Rio never considered the possibility that Sheryl might have her own stakes in this matter. To him, she was just another suspect."Mr. Beckett claims you provided him with the drugs," Rio began, his tone ster
The complexity of Jasper's case far exceeded Rio's expectations. There were so many underlying factors! "Firstly, I didn't know this was a narcotic, Chief Olson," Jasper explained calmly. "As you mentioned, this is a new drug that's only emerged in Solana City over the past two months. Most people haven't encountered it yet. Even someone as informed as you likely just started learning about it. How could I have known?"Secondly, I wouldn't have taken it if I'd known it was a narcotic. I'm dealing with health issues right now. Taking drugs would only harm me further. Why would I jeopardize my own life? Why would I not want to live a long life?"Jasper's posture was upright, exuding an air of sternness reminiscent of a disciplined soldier. His righteous demeanor made it hard to believe he was a man struggling with drug addiction. Who could look at him and think otherwise?While Rio mulled over the situation, Steven interjected with a serious tone. "Chief Olson, I strongly suggest qu
"Mr. Beckett's blood sample contained methamphetamine…" Rio's eyes widened in shock. He knew this substance all too well—it was a component found in crystal meth.Sebastian hesitated, then lowered his voice. "Also, if I'm not mistaken, Mr. Beckett was hospitalized due to severe withdrawal symptoms. He didn't take his drugs on time, and his body couldn't handle it. Would this count as evidence?""Dr. Bender, thank you for the crucial information you've provided. We greatly appreciate your assistance in this case!" Rio shook Sebastian's hand vigorously, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.Meanwhile, just around the corner, Cyrus stood with his back against the wall. He had heard every single word of their exchange. His chest burned with rage as he clenched his teeth. Pulling out his phone, he quickly texted Alyssa. "Lyse, the situation has changed. I can't join the investigation, but you must save Jasper this time."…An hour later, Rio strode back into the interrogati