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
That night, the Taylor siblings left Solana City and returned to Belbanks. The cities weren't that far from each other. It only took the siblings less than two hours to reach Belbanks via the highway.Solana City was the country's economic center. It was rich in resources. It was a great place for businesses to expand and develop, so countless companies competed for a spot there. However, Belbanks was an entirely different story. Over the past century, the Taylors were the only ones dominating the city.The Taylor family's businesses gave one-third of the Bellbanks population their jobs. Hence, the family was known as the Ruler of Belbanks. It could be said that Belbanks would remain a small ordinary town without the Taylors' influence. After all, they were the ones who brought about such a massive change in the city's economy. Soon, the siblings arrived at Stellus."Oh, Ms. Alyssa! When did you return to this city?" Don Blackwell, the elderly groundskeeper of Stellus, w
Jonah looked down at his screen. "Speak of the devil," he mumbled when he saw Jasper's name on the screen. "Mr. Beckett," he greeted coldly after answering the call.Silas frowned immediately. He leaned forward just to listen to the phone conversation. "Mr. Taylor, I'm looking for Alice. I'd like to talk to her about something." Jasper's deep voice was tinged with a trace of anxiety."Alice is busy with something else right now.""When is she available to talk, then?""She'll always be busy when it comes to you."Jonah had always been nice and polite. But he'd always go for his target's weak spot whenever he started insulting them. Silas clenched his fists excitedly. He was cheering his older brother on.Meanwhile, Jasper fell silent, his expression now stormy. "First of all, the fact that Alice changed her phone number means she doesn't want you to contact her anymore. Even if you two have yet to get legally divorced, you shouldn't disturb her. That's the minimum respect
Alyssa looked at the handsome man in front of her.He had sunk down on one knee while looking up at her affectionately."I heard that my dear sister wants to punish me." The man's lips curled into a mischievous smile."Axel …" Alyssa murmured in a soft tone."Whew! I was so relieved when I heard you call my name."Axel Whitaker was the fourth scion of the Taylor family. No one would have thought that a cold and distant man like him was capable of smiling at his sister brightly.He wrapped a muscular arm around Alyssa's waist and held her tenderly. Then, he stuck his other hand into his trench coat's pocket and fished out a bar of chocolate. Axel proceeded to tear open the packaging with his teeth before feeding the chocolate to Alyssa."This chocolate bar is a local specialty at Artoria. Besides, it's your favorite as well. Give it a taste.""Axel!"Alyssa leaned forward to hug Axel tightly. For some reason, she felt like crying all of a sudden. Soon, her tears started stainin
"Haha! Hasn't anyone warned you about ripping your pants if you're not careful? You should be mindful of your own limits!" Axel burst into laughter on the spot.It had been a very long time since he was able to laugh so heartily. After all, the atmosphere at the secret spy headquarters was always very tense and serious.Jonah's expression softened as he watched his younger brothers mess around. At that moment, he couldn't help but reminisce about the past. "Speaking of gifts, look at what I got Lyse."Axel's eyes glinted mischievously as he showed the others a silver rectangular box while looking excited. After punching in a complex passcode, Axel opened the box and revealed the contents for all to see. Jonah froze up while Silas inhaled sharply in return."The R&D department in the headquarters created this gun recently. There's a mix of ammo and tranquilizers in this revolver. Lyse can spin the cylinder to the left if she is in danger. The tranquilizers are more than enough t
Alyssa ended up staying at Stellus for the next three days.She barely slept as she wanted to craft the perfect emerald bracelet, the exact replica of the one Newton had given her. If she got tired, she'd nap in the workshop. Once she woke up, she'd take a few bites of food before continuing work.The other men worked their respective jobs during the day. They turned down all business and social invitations just to have dinner with their sister at night.Jonah and his brothers prepared a fancy dinner that night. It consisted of Alyssa's favorite dishes. Still, she played with her food moodily while propping her cheek with a hand. The men were anxious about Alyssa's current state. But they didn't know how to help her out.They knew nothing about jewelry, after all."Ms. Alyssa." Alyssa snapped out of her thoughts before turning to look at Don wearily.The latter placed a beautiful jewelry box in front of her."What's this, Uncle Don?" "Why don't you open it and find out for y
Alyssa followed Jasper into the study. The door closed behind her with a soft click. She didn't move to switch on the lights or sit down. Instead, she stood quietly in the dim room.They faced each other, eyes locked. In the darkness, their gazes seemed brighter, charged with emotions that neither could put into words. Whatever stirred within them was tangled and silent—kept at bay by something unspoken, as if a wall had formed between heart and mouth. After a pause, Alyssa offered a faint smile. Her voice was soft, almost courteous. "Go ahead, Mr. Beckett. I won't be staying long tonight—I've made other arrangements."It was clear she didn't want to be alone in a room with him.Jasper's chest tightened, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion he couldn't define. His voice was rough when he finally spoke. "You didn't vote against the motion at today's board meeting. I wanted to know… are we still on the same side?"Alyssa's gaze lowered, her voice steady and calm. "You didn't object
In the evening, Xavier drove Jasper to meet with Newton. Along the way, news broke out that Sheryl had been bailed out. Xavier slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Why is it so hard to get rid of that woman?" "She is Justin's right hand," Jasper said, eyes shut as he leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "You could even say she knows more about his secrets than anyone. As long as she's useful, Justin won't discard her so easily. This is how he operates."Xavier shook his head, teeth gritted. "Where the hell did she even come from? When you had me investigate her, I found nothing. Her background was spotless. "What's in her past that Justin would go so far to keep it hidden? A man like him can have any woman he wants, yet he clings to her—some pretty-faced idiot who only seems to make things harder for him."Jasper's gaze turned glacial. Xavier's casual remark struck him.He was right. Justin wasn't short on capable subordinates. So why Sheryl?Was Sh
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