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
Zoe enthusiastically leaned toward Newton and assured him, "Jasper and I will stay by your side tonight. I'll be here for as long as you stay."Hearing this, Jasper scowled. Alyssa noticed his expression. Unlike others, Jasper was unreserved in expressing his dislikes. With a quick temper and low emotional intelligence, he relied on capability rather than diplomacy for business deals.She remembered that he always scowled at her when they were married. Was he upset at Zoe?She looked away, refusing to pay him any attention. Even if he was unhappy with Zoe now, he must have been welcoming toward her when she knocked on his hotel room door on the night of the scandal."Ms. Zoe, I have undergone the checkups. It's not a huge issue at all. I can be discharged now," Newton replied. He always addressed Landon by his first name, but with Zoe, he stuck to "Ms. Zoe", seemingly keeping a distance between them.He teased, "If you stay by my side when I'm at the hospital, I might never get
Newton added, "Tomorrow, I'll get this little punk to make all three meals for you. He'll prepare a bath for you tonight. Ben is on leave for the next two days, so Jasper will take over all the housework."Jasper pressed his lips as his brows twitched in surprise. Managing household tasks was one thing, but entrusting him with cooking? Was Newton being a bit too callous about his health and safety?"Grandpa, I …" Alyssa began, her voice trailing off in hesitation.Just as she was trying to come up with a way to excuse herself, Jameson approached them calmly and flashed a warm and gentlemanly smile at Newton. Jameson said, "Mr. Beckett Senior, I'm afraid Lyse won't be joining you tonight.""Why?" Newton asked, his brow furrowed.Jameson sighed deeply, casting a sympathetic glance at Alyssa's fatigued expression. "Lyse has just performed a ten-hour surgery on my brother, David. She's utterly exhausted, almost fainting after completing the surgery.""What?" Newton leaned forward i
Those words from Victor seemed to carry a hint of sarcasm that likely didn't escape anyone in the room.Victor had long found out about Alyssa's divorce, with Jasper being her ex-husband. At that time, he showed his contempt, referring to her as a "gem in the rough" with strong disapproval.Entering into marriage with the Beckett family was already quite ridiculous. Marrying the illegitimate son, Jasper, served to diminish her social standing even more. He believed that his son, even if it were someone like Jameson, would be a far superior option compared to Jasper."Uncle Victor, are you thirsty? Shall I make you some tea?" Alyssa felt uneasy hearing this. She was aware of Victor's closeness to Winston, but such remarks about Newton were crossing the line."Lyse, I'm not thirsty! Plus, I haven't praised you enough!" Victor showed no restraint.Speechless, Alyssa couldn't find the words to respond.Zoe's intense dislike for Alyssa was evident in her darkened expression and
"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
Beckett Group was, in essence, Javier's heart and soul, forged from his own labor. "Justin set me up, framed me for drug addiction, and bribed my primary physician to give false testimony—all so he could drag me down. The fact that he dared to target me like this means he's willing to betray anyone."Jasper took a deep breath, forcing down the rage roiling inside him as Javier remained silent. "Fine. Even if you insist this is just a family matter, Justin's reputation is already in ruins, and the corporation's stock prices are fluctuating. Are you really going to stand by him, even now?""Justin has explained everything to me. He wasn't aware of the bribery. That female doctor who worked for him acted on her own. Besides, she's been arrested. The backlash against Justin will settle in time…"Jasper listened, his face unreadable, but his heart clenched painfully. A lump rose in his throat, suffocating him.He had lost his mother at a young age, but he had never longed for his fa