Alyssa recalled how Landon and Lauren held hands and looked at each other lovingly. She was touched and envious of their love.Lauren had found her love. Alyssa wondered when it would be her turn."Ms. Alyssa, you are nice to Ms. Lauren too. I will help you no matter what it takes," said Nina.Alyssa held her hand and replied, "Thank you, Nina, but please look out for your safety. Don't push yourself. If you run into danger, let me know right away."We can abort or give up on our plans—as long as you're safe. Got it?"Nina nodded with tears in her eyes. Since Nina hadn't had anything, Alyssa made her some food and even served Lyla's pickles. It was a simple but satisfying meal.Nina wolfed down the food, clearly famished. Alyssa sat across from her, resting her chin on her palm and smiling. Alyssa asked, "Is it delicious?""Yes! It's good!" Nina exclaimed after licking the plate clean and wiping her mouth. "Ms. Alyssa, you're an excellent cook. Mr. Jasper is fortunate to have
Betty couldn't fathom Zoe's audacity in proudly announcing her engagement. It seemed like sheer madness.As the Beckett Group president, Jasper was so powerful that Javier had no control over him. What could the Harpers do about Jasper?However, she chose not to confront Zoe directly, choosing instead to observe as Zoe unwittingly made a mockery of herself and turned the Harper family into the laughingstock of Solana City. "Whatever. I don't mind as long as you're happy. I wish you and Jasper a happy marriage," Betty said to Zoe reluctantly."By the way, do you remember Mayor Hodgson's son? He was interested in you, but you weren't into him, so the blind date didn't work out," Zoe suddenly changed the topic.Mayor Hodgson's son? Betty recalled the guy, Freddy Hodgson. Sophia had brought Betty to meet with Mayor Hodgson and his wife at a golf course earlier. It was a blind date masked as a meeting, as Sophia intended to get Betty acquainted with Freddy.In the end, the mayor and
David's driver perished at the scene, and the badly injured bodyguard seated in the front passenger seat battled for his life in the emergency room.Fortunately, as David was seated in the back, he suffered facial injuries from the glass shards after the front collision. Despite bleeding from the head, he survived the accident.However, a comminuted fracture in his legs left him permanently crippled.Victor enlisted experts from across the country to treat David, but none could successfully rehabilitate David's legs.One day, the Schmidts sat in their living room—a heavy feeling hung in the air. Daisy sobbed uncontrollably, but it was unclear if her grief was genuine. She wailed, "Why did this happen? David used that road often, and it was a straight road. How did he get into an accident?"Everyone was moody. Only Jameson crossed his legs and sipped on his tea, unconcerned. He remarked nonchalantly, "The frequency of using a road doesn't reduce your chances of getting into an ac
Jameson halted in his tracks and squinted when he heard the icy voice from behind. Yawning, he turned around and questioned, "Josh, what's the matter? It's late, and I'd like to rest.""Jimmy, you put on a good show. Isn't it killing two birds with one stone?" Josh commented as he took a few steps closer, examining Jameson with a sharp gaze."Huh?" Jameson tilted his head, feigning ignorance.Cutting to the chase, Josh accused, "You set up David's car accident, didn't you?"Jameson still acted like he was confused. "What?"Seeing through Jameson's act, Josh continued, "You sent your men to screw up David's car, but you didn't want him dead, just crippled. "Then, you offered a solution to Dad by introducing Ms. Alyssa to him, which earned you cookie points. You proved yourself capable of sharing his worries. Bravo, Jimmy! That was some slick move."Jameson adjusted his glasses and lifted his chin. He erupted into a series of laughter that echoed in the corridor, sending goosebum
Victor, worried about David, called Winston that night to make sure that Winston and Alyssa were at home. The following day, he went to the Taylors' residence at Belbanks with Jameson.Upon arrival, he immediately wailed without a care for his image, "Oh, Winston! You have to save our poor David!"Winston and Mandy welcomed him at the door. Winston secretly chuckled at Victor's disheveled look. After a lifetime of competition between them, Victor had finally given up."What's wrong, Victor?" Mandy was surprised to see Victor in such distress.Victor, rushing toward them, accidentally tripped on a rock. He fell to his knees in front of the couple, grimacing from the pain in his hand. Winston and Mandy were left speechless by the unexpected scene.Suppressing a snicker, Jameson helped Victor up. Then, he asked, "Dad, are you hurt anywhere?"Victor truly loved David. Without even worrying about his appearance, he grabbed Winston and explained, "Winston, David got into a serious car
David remained in a coma. In reality, he was awake, but the doctor had opted to keep him sedated to shield him from potential emotional distress.An hour elapsed, and Alyssa emerged from the room, flanked by the hospital director and two medical professors. She wore a somber expression.Victor hurried over and inquired, "Lyse, how's David?"The other family members, the secretaries, and the bodyguards surrounded the medical team as well.Frowning, Alyssa hesitated before delivering the grim news, "Uncle Victor, the situation is not optimistic. David has a severe fracture that's challenging to mend. The chances of successful healing are close to none, and there's only a 20 percent probability of him ever walking again."The Schmidt family seemed devastated by the revelation. If not for Josh and Daisy supporting Victor, he might have collapsed.Only Jameson leaned against a corner of the wall out of everyone's vision and grinned."Ms. Alyssa, please save my brother's legs, even if
The Schmidts exchanged funny looks with each other, suspecting a relationship between Alyssa and Jameson, given their intimate behavior.However, given Jameson's standing in the family, he was not an ideal match for Alyssa."I'm okay," Alyssa replied, steadying her breath before struggling to free herself from Jameson's arms.She refused to cause any misunderstanding under the many watchful eyes. Jameson awkwardly froze and clutched his fingers stiffly.Victor rushed to the scene at that moment, followed by his staff. He inquired, "Lyse, how's the situation?"She wiped away the sweat on her forehead and sighed helplessly. "Uncle Victor, I tried my best, but I only saved his left leg because his injuries were too severe.""W-What about the other leg?""It has to be amputated," she dropped a bomb that nearly caused Victor to faint.He mustered, "It's … It's alright. I know you gave your best. I'm grateful that you managed to save one of his legs."Alyssa revealed in honesty, "By
The air in the spacious corridor hung heavy.Jasper was stung by the sight of Alyssa leaning weakly in Jameson's arms. Tears welled up in his eyes. Jasper thought that Alyssa's relationship with Jameson developed speedily during his absence. Feeling bitter, he stared at his feet and tightened his grip on Newton's wheelchair handle.Jameson did not flinch at Newton and Jasper's presence. He addressed Alyssa with affection and concern, "Lyse, you've just completed a difficult surgery. You're exhausted and need rest. I'll send you home."Alyssa, however, brushed aside his concern and approached Newton with a worried expression. Kneeling, she gently held Newton's wrinkled hand. "Grandpa, why are you at the hospital? Do you feel unwell?"Jasper pursed his lips after he was ignored by Alyssa. She seemed only to have eyes for Jameson."I'm fine. It's just a heart issue. It flared up, so Jasper insisted on sending me to the hospital at night," Newton explained while looking at Alyssa lo
Searching for Amber without direction would be pointless. Jasper made a swift decision to bring Alyssa back to the manor, shielding her from the relentless chill of the wind. Once inside, he immediately began organizing the search. He deployed his men and contacted Landon, requesting additional support.The two of them sat together on the couch.This time, there was no space between them. It was as though an invisible force drew them closer, their proximity feeling natural yet electric. Neither could say who had moved first.Alyssa, however, was in no mood to dwell on their closeness. Wrapped in her down jacket, she curled up on the couch, her arms hugging herself tightly. A quiet frostiness emanated from her as she sat in silence, listening to Jasper's calm and methodical calls to mobilize his team.In the past, his composed presence would have been enough to ease her mind. But now, her thoughts were a tangled mess, each one like a razor claw tearing at her heart. The pain was u
"Ms. Gillis, I've searched her thoroughly. She doesn't have anything on her." Sheryl's brows knitted in frustration. "How can that be? Where's her cell phone?" "There wasn't one." Sheryl, no longer concerned about dirtying herself, stepped forward, grabbed Amber by her hair, and forced her to meet her gaze."You bitch," Sheryl snarled. "You came to The Millennium at this hour for a reason. What did you find? Hand it over, and I might spare your worthless life!"Amber spat a mouthful of bloody saliva directly onto Sheryl's face."Fuck! You bitch!" Glaring at Amber, Sheryl rolled her sleeves up and slapped her twice in the face. Even so, it wasn't enough to quench her fury. She yelled, "Take her back!" Two of Sheryl's subordinates moved forward, dragging a limp Amber away. Sheryl's reddened eyes burned with fury as she wiped the spit off her face. She was teetering on the edge of madness."Search the area! Retrace her steps and leave no stone unturned!"…Jasper drove to
Jasper strode out of the room and hurried down the stairs, his pace so brisk that Xavier had to jog to keep up. As Jasper reached the living room, he spotted Justin sitting upright in his wheelchair, alone. Their eyes locked when Jasper was just a few steps away.Hostility flickered between their gazes.Curling his lips upward into a slight smile, Justin asked, "Jasper, heading out at this hour?"Xavier gritted his teeth, loathing the self-righteous air Justin exuded, as if he always held the upper hand. The sight made him want to charge forward and knock Justin clean off his wheelchair."It's late. Why aren't you in bed?" Jasper asked coldly, his tone as sharp as his glare. "It seems that broken body of yours is still holding up.""Jasper, you seem to be in a rush. Did something happen? Do you need my help?" Justin maintained the smile on his face, disregarding Jasper's sarcastic remark. "It's none of your business."Without another word, Jasper swept past him. Justin's
Jasper lay restrained on the bed, his body writhing violently as waves of agony crashed over him. A towel clenched between his teeth muffled his cries, though it could not silence the torment. Every inch of his skin felt as if it were being devoured by thousands of invisible ants—a relentless, gnawing pain brought on by withdrawal.He knew he could no longer rely on the medication. Time and again, the temptation clawed at him, urging him to surrender and take the easy way out. Relief was just a pill away. But Jasper's willpower, though battered, refused to shatter. Anne's words echoed in his mind, a guiding light in the darkness. She had always taught him to be a righteous man—one with a clear conscience. Curling into himself, Jasper shut his bloodshot eyes. He couldn't disappoint Anne. He couldn't let down those who believed in him. He had to resist the dark side. Outside the room, Xavier glanced at his wristwatch. Judging the timing to be right, he pushed the door open and l
"How about now? Is Ms. Altman at home?" Alyssa asked urgently."She isn't," Clark replied. "She drove out the back gate alone around 11:00 pm. Our security personnel stopped her then, but she said she was just going out for some fresh air because she had trouble sleeping. She promised she wouldn't be long, but it's strange—she hasn't returned even now."Alyssa's ears began to ring, her heart sinking like a stone.When she ended the call, her nightgown clung to her skin, drenched in cold sweat. Her trembling hand gripped the phone tightly.She thought of calling Jonah, but he was still searching for Julien in Mosgravia. He wouldn't be able to return in time. Silas wasn't home tonight; he was likely with Rose. Besides, he was more of an academic than a fighter—not someone who could help in a crisis. Getting him out of bed in the middle of the night couldn't possibly solve any of their problems. Axel had returned to his organization, leaving Cyrus as the only one accessible who mi
Amber's eyes reddened as she darted toward the trapdoor in The Millennium, tears streaming down her face.Remy had let her go. He actually spared her! Didn't this prove that he was Damien? That his true nature lingered, even if his memories of the past had been lost?Hope and excitement bubbled within her as she ran. She had to reach Alyssa immediately and share this evidence—this incredible news!Emerging from the trapdoor, Amber navigated the tangled paths among the weeds on the mountain behind The Millennium.Suddenly, she froze. Her breath hitched. Beams of white light shone from all directions, focusing on her. The cold, unyielding spotlights told her everything—she was surrounded, the target of an ambush. Amber's heart pounded in her chest. Cold sweat slicked her palms as her fingers clenched tightly around her dagger. The veins on the back of her hand throbbed with adrenaline.Six assassins in black emerged from the shadows, their flashlights cutting through the gl
Amber glared at Remy through her bloodshot eyes, thrusting her gleaming blade toward his chest. In her early days of being Jameson's follower, the first lesson drilled into her was how to kill quickly and efficiently. Refinement wasn't necessary—only results mattered. Yet, despite mastering the techniques, she had never put them into practice. Deep down, Amber feared the sight of blood and loathed the idea of taking a life.And now, of all people, it was Remy forcing her to cross that line.The blade's tip hovered mere inches from Remy's heart when hesitation gripped her. Axel's voice echoed in her mind, raw with emotion. "Amber, I keep feeling that Remy is my fifth brother, Damien. We miss him… We want him to come home!"Her pupils dilated. The blade wavered, its deadly intent dissipating.That single moment of doubt was all Remy needed. With a calm, calculated motion, he seized her wrist and twisted it sharply.Amber gasped in pain, her grip faltering as the blade clattered
The password to Jameson's room was Alyssa's birthday. Jameson had always believed himself to be a devoted man, taking pride in that notion. Yet, in Amber's eyes, his devotion was nothing more than a pathetic joke—a sentiment she couldn't help but detest.Taking a steadying breath, Amber began rummaging through the drawers and shelves with swift precision.Years of observation had taught her that Jameson had hidden several secret compartments in this room, places meant to conceal vital information. Unless Jameson or Carl disclosed their existence, even the police might not have uncovered them.After what felt like an eternity, sweat beading on her forehead, Amber discovered a hidden compartment beneath a floor sculpture.As she pried the brick loose, her breath hitched. Inside the compartment lay a waterproof plastic bag containing a document and a USB drive.Amber retrieved the document. Her heart raced as she realized its contents—a research report from Mosgravia's RC Biotech
Ever since getting together with Axel, Amber had lived each day in bliss. Yet, when Winston assured her that he truly accepted her and approved of her marriage to Axel, that bliss reached its peak. For so long, Amber had struggled with feelings of inferiority, never truly believing she deserved Axel's love. Deep down, she had resolved to step away if Winston disapproved or insisted Axel marry a woman from a reputable family—a match more fitting of his status.She wouldn't have hesitated to leave if it meant sparing Winston and Axel any conflict. Amber loved Axel wholeheartedly and was willing to sacrifice everything for him.But instead of rejection, she found warmth. The Taylor family embraced her as one of their own, showing her kindness and understanding rather than disdain for her past.She could never repay such compassion. "Winston… Thank you. Thank you…" Amber's tear-filled eyes glistened, their brightness undimmed despite all the darkness she had endured. Winston s