Winston and Alyssa's older brothers were on a business trip abroad. Only the female family members were at home.Jameson was not a stranger to the family. However, it was late at night, and the family was taking care of Lyla. Not wanting to disturb her family, Alyssa discreetly ushered Jameson into the guest room.To her surprise, Miley was already in the room, enjoying tea."Miley, are you still up?" Alyssa introduced Jameson to him, "Oh, this is my friend. He's Jameso—""I know. He's Jameson Schmidt, the fourth son of the Schmidt family. I remember him from Lyla's birthday party," Miley said and calmly set her tea on the table.With a smile, she remarked, "Lyse rarely has any friend of the opposite sex apart from her brothers. You're the first, Jameson.""It's my honor," Jameson replied with a seemingly genuine smile. "I'm more honored to have a chance to meet with the future first lady of Kontina."Jameson's comment took Alyssa aback.Miley answered flatly, "I'm just Lyse's
Carl reached into his bag, pulling out a plastic bag containing a syringe. He explained, "After reviewing the surveillance footage, we discovered that David's men were responsible."Jameson smirked with half-closed eyes. "David is as malicious as Josh but lacks Josh's effectiveness. His methods are crude, always leaving behind evidence. A halfwit like him doesn't deserve my time.""But we can't let this slide, can we? It would be too cowardly!" Carl gritted his teeth.Leaning back, Jameson enjoyed some shut-eye. "Of course not. I'll make him pay for what he did to me. He broke my arm, so I'll break his leg. That's only fair, right?"Carl concurred, "Of course! You're already showing mercy by not taking his life, all because he's your brother!"Jameson thought, "David does not deserve to be called a brother."He wagged his finger, stating, "If it were Lyse who got injured that day, I would have gotten rid of David Schmidt by now."…After taking a bath and applying skincare, Aly
Alyssa and Miley heard Colene's muffled shouts from the horse's back, followed by a chorus of laughter.Speechless, Alyssa said, "Well, I don't mind, as long as Colene's happy."Miley slowly sat on the couch and looked hesitant to speak. Alyssa sat by her side and took her arm. "Miley, you must have something to discuss with me when you knock on my door this late. Is it related to Jameson?""I remember he visited our home when he was younger. You seemed close to him," Miley said flatly."Yes. We were classmates in elementary school," Alyssa reminisced. "I fended off the class bullies for him, and he started sticking around me because he was grateful."I didn't have many friends in the class due to my family background. Since everyone kept their distance, I had no choice but to be friends with Jameson."To be honest, it was a happy time in my childhood. Later, Jameson went to Kontina with his mom, and we lost contact for 15 years.""So, he's practically a stranger after all these
The doors of the three cars opened simultaneously. Zoe and Penelope disembarked from their respective vehicles, followed by the gray-haired Cornelius, dressed in an opulent black fur coat. Holding a walking stick with a golden eagle carving, he exited the car with Zoe's help, looking stern."Dad, be careful," Penelope cautioned while approaching him.Cornelius let out a heavy sigh at the sight of the Becketts' gate. "Jasper did not show up at all when you visited the Becketts to discuss marriage. Is that right?"She bit her lips and nodded shamefully. "Yes.""You're useless."Zoe silently pouted, seemingly unhappy at her mom as well.Penelope explained fearfully, "You know Jasper's character well. Even Javier can't force him to do anything against his will. Sophia, as his stepmother, is of no use at all."Ever since Penelope's husband's passing, Landon had been the pillar of support for their small family. Without Landon, Cornelius would have looked down on Penelope even more.
Javier and Sophia were home at Seaview Manor. He was checking the news on his phone with a sour expression.Despite enlisting the top PR team in the nation to handle the scandal between Jasper and Zoe, online discussions showed no signs of abating. As the president of the Beckett Group, Jasper's reluctance to make a public appearance or issue a statement only fueled speculations, tarnishing his reputation.Meanwhile, Sophia sat at the dresser, applying hair care products to the long locks she had invested time and money in over the years. Back in the day when she slept with Javier to advance her career, Javier loved caressing her smooth and silky hair during their intimacy."Come here, Javier," she commanded, turning around to gesture at him."What's the matter?" Javier replied, never once looking away from his phone."Come over. Touch my hair. I've been taking good care of them every day for you," she purred with a seductive twinkle in her eyes. "Touch it and let me know if i
Sophia sneered, remarking, "Jasper deeply wounded Alyssa when they divorced. And his relationship with Zoe is questionable."Considering Alyssa's intolerant and strong-willed personality, is it possible for her to accept Jasper? It might be beyond what she finds acceptable."Javier's expression grew serious at the mention of the probability that Alyssa might find the situation beyond acceptance. But before he could speak, a knock on the door interrupted.Following that, Barry's anxious voice came through. "Mr. Javier, Madam Sophia, the Harpers are here.""Just say I'm not here," Javier answered without hesitation while frowning."Mr. Javier, Harper Group's chairman, Mr. Cornelius, came along as well. Are you sure you don't want to meet him?"Suddenly, Javier's heart sank."You see that, Javier?"With her arms crossed, Sophia smiled nonchalantly. "Until Jasper and Zoe's marriage is settled, our family won't have a peaceful day. Even Cornelius is here. If this continues, it won't
Jasper casually placed his left hand in his pocket on the white marble-carved spiral staircase. His tailored gray suit outlined his figure as he descended the stairs elegantly.Zoe stared at his handsome face and forgot to cry, half-opening her mouth in astonishment.Jasper was truly the fantasy of all women.Zoe was willing to lose her dignity and shame just to cling to him. She felt that she didn't make the wrong move.No matter what, she must obtain him."Mr. Jasper, what do you mean by that? You bullied my granddaughter, but now it has become her fault?" Cornelius's gaze was sharp as he questioned coldly.Jasper smirked. "You've understood. There's no need for me to repeat it and embarrass your granddaughter again, don't you think?"His words left everyone in shock.What did he mean by that?Did something happen during that night they spent together?Instantly, Zoe's face turned pale. She hid in Cornelius's arms and bit her lip, afraid to make a sound."Y-You!"Being of
At that moment, Jasper found himself to be laughable. He had thought that, despite Zoe's bad behavior, there should still be a trace of innocence in her. After all, she was his best friend's only sister.However, he had misjudged her. Her relationship with Landon was only by blood, and Zoe was nothing like Landon in other aspects.She had already been corrupted, perhaps even inherently bad from the beginning. The only reason Jasper had seen the good in her was the fact that she was Landon's sister.Since that was the case, he didn't need to show mercy for the sake of his best friend."Zoe! What nonsense are you talking about? Getting hit by a car? If something happens to you, how can I continue living?" Penelope pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her tears."Zoe is my only granddaughter, my precious jewel! She has been raised with the utmost care since childhood. She had never suffered any hardship."She cursed herself just to prove her innocence to you. This shows that every
This time, the injection did not bring the excruciating pain that once made Amber wish for death. Her chapped lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed deeply into Remy's eyes. He, too, looked at her, his expression unreadable yet intense. Between them, no words were needed."Damien… Thank you…" Though her voice was barely audible, the weight of her words sank deep into Remy's heart. For once, he did not object to being called Damien.The truth was, ever since Amber had been taken, an unbearable pressure had settled over him, making each breath feel like a punishment—every day since had been plagued by self-reproach and regret.If he hadn't stopped her that night and let her go sooner, could she have avoided Sheryl? Could she have been spared the torture and humiliation?"You should know that those who enter this place never leave. Most don't even make it out alive."Remy's gaze was unwavering. Taking advantage of the surveillance blind spot, he placed his
"Mr. Lexington," the doctor greeted respectfully, lowering his head slightly. Everyone at the base knew who Sheryl and Remy were. They were the ones in charge, the decision-makers. So, everyone obeyed their orders without question. To the staff unaware of the facility's true purpose, Sheryl and Remy stood at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Unbeknownst to them, someone more powerful lurked in the shadows."How has she been these past few days?" Remy asked, his expression unreadable."She's had some adverse reactions, but there are no signs of organ failure yet. Honestly, I'm surprised. She looks frail, but her body is incredibly resilient—stronger than some men, even."The doctor scoffed. "But I'm not sure if she'll make it past her fourth injection today. Last month, four test subjects didn't survive beyond that point. Their bodies have already been sent to the incinerator." Remy's jaw tensed. His voice was husky as he said, "As I've instructed, this woman must be kept alive.
Xavier seethed as he took in the insincere smile on Justin's face. Deep down, he was cursing him with every profanity imaginable. "Whatever makes you happy."Ignoring Justin's dark gaze, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead as he strode past him.Out of nowhere, Justin chuckled and asked, "Did you really think you had people on your side during the board meeting?"Jasper halted, his eyes narrowing. "Grandpa tried his best to shield you, but his health is failing by the day. How much longer do you think an old man can protect you?"Lowering his gaze, Justin idly adjusted the ruby cufflinks on his sleeves. His voice was casual yet cutting. "And Lyse—after how ruthlessly you discarded her, do you still believe she'll stand by you no matter what? That she'll fight alongside you like before?"The intense midday sun accentuated the sharp, aloof, and pallid features of Jasper's face as he stood, unyielding, in its glare. His pulse quickened. Finally, he answered, his voice a low rasp. "R
As the board meeting concluded, the crowd gradually dispersed.News of Justin securing his position as president and Alyssa joining the board quickly spread through Beckett Group.After the meeting, Alyssa escorted Newton back to Crescent Bay while Jasper remained at the corporation to handle some matters.With Xavier accompanying him, Jasper strode toward the chairman's office, his expression cold and unreadable.Nearby, a few employees huddled together, whispering."Psst! Do you think Alyssa joining the board means she's teaming up with Jasper to take down our new president?""People have been saying they broke up since they haven't been seen together for a while," another speculated."But at the press conference, Alyssa openly condemned Mr. Justin. That looked like she was siding with Jasper. So, are they still together or not?""Come on, to people like them, personal feelings don't matter—only their own interests do. Even if they broke up, they can still work together if it
When Jonah reached the bedside, he leaned in slowly, giving Julien an unobstructed view of his tanned skin, well-defined abs, and that devastatingly captivating face. Reclining against the headboard, Julien found himself lost in Jonah's eyes. His breath hitched, and his mind momentarily blanked as Jonah's mesmerizing gaze locked onto him. What could he do? His heart still betrayed him, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He was a fool—a pathetic fool. Jonah braced his arms on either side of Julien's head, his dark eyes overflowing with a raw, possessive affection. It was as if he sought to consume Julien—just as he had last night."Julien, does it still hurt—" "Fuck you!" Julien's bloodshot eyes blazed as he swung his hand, landing a sharp slap across Jonah's face. The illusion of his frailty shattered. A crimson handprint bloomed on Jonah's cheek in a split second, the flesh puffing up visibly. But the sting barely registered. Not when the ache in Jonah's chest was alr
Justin frowned as a hint of surprise flashed across his dark eyes. He had assumed Newton's unannounced appearance at the board meeting—along with Alyssa's involvement—was a coordinated effort with Jasper to overthrow him as president. After mentally running through hundreds of countermeasures, the one possibility he hadn't considered was that everything would proceed smoothly in his favor. Javier was equally stunned, though this outcome aligned with his desires. Today, Justin wasn't merely his son but a constant shadow looming over him, a silent predator watching his every move and reminding him that his past actions weren't completely buried. Instead, this secret loomed like a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment, obliterating everything he'd built. And the person holding the detonator was Justin—his eldest son whom he had trusted above all others. With a dim gaze, Javier watched Justin rise to his feet amid the applause. Suddenly, Justin's voice seemed distant,
Justin curled his lips into a smirk, scoffing in silence. Newton had gone to great lengths to bring Alyssa into Beckett Group. This was his way of decentralizing power and keeping it in check, and he wanted to prevent Justin from having complete control. Unlike others, Javier couldn't hold himself back. He blew his top instantly, his face turning red like a tomato. "Dad, have you lost your mind? Don't you know who she is? She is KS Group's president—our direct competitor!"KS Group is also bidding for Project A5. No matter how much you favor her, you should at least recognize the limits. If you promote her, it's a blatant conflict of interest—outright cronyism!" Newton sneered. "I might understand your concern if I were promoting someone other than Alyssa."His gaze hardened. "Cronyism? A conflict of interest? I wonder who you're really talking about."With those words, he cast a knowing, enigmatic glance at Justin's blank expression. Just then, a board member from Javier's
Despite his age, Newton exuded the same energy and sharpness he had in his younger days, even when surrounded by the board members brimming with vigor. Despite his quiet presence in the wheelchair, an intimidating atmosphere clung to him. In an instant, Javier was transported back to the days when he worked under Newton's strict supervision."Good day, Mr. Javier and all fellow board members. I assume no one has any objections to my presence at this meeting?"Newton's gaze swept across the room, a perfunctory smile gracing his lips."Of course not. You are part of the corporation's board of directors!" the members responded immediately.Newton nodded. "Much has happened within the corporation lately. Our shares have been fluctuating amid the controversy. "As you all know, I had intended to retire after dedicating most of my life to this company. I wanted to step aside for the younger generation rather than hover over them like a specter, micromanaging everything. "However,
Jasper's arrival plunged the conference room into an uneasy silence, and heavy tension settled over the space. Justin looked up, his expression a frozen mask. A palpable chill emanated from him. Javier's eyes widened in surprise. "Jasper? What are you doing here?" "Even though I'm no longer the president of Beckett Group, I remain a shareholder and board member. It's only natural for me to be here," Jasper replied smoothly as he strolled to his seat. As he passed behind Justin, he abruptly stopped. Without a moment's notice, he struck the back of Justin's chair. The sudden impact made Justin flinch. "Am I right, Justin?" Justin's expression darkened. Forcing a smile, he replied, "As a board member, you have the right to attend, even if you're no longer involved in operations. There's no issue.""If that's the case, why wasn't I informed about this meeting?" Jasper lowered himself into his seat, legs slightly parted, exuding an air of indifference. Yet, beneath the nonc