In the blink of an eye, Julien's body tilted forward. He swiftly clutched onto Jonah's sturdy shoulders, finding refuge in the firm hold.Responding with quick reflexes, Jonah intervened to prevent Julien from toppling over, firmly securing him with a grip around his waist.In that moment, the duo struck a pose reminiscent of a classic romantic scene from a soap opera, leaving Axel, who stood nearby, in utter amazement."Uh, sorry about that." Julien's cheeks blushed with embarrassment. Having harbored a lot of pent-up anger, Julien found solace in the embrace, his frustration easing."No need to apologize. If anything, we should be sorry," Jonah asserted without hesitation, effortlessly lifting Julien in a princess-style embrace.The unexpected move by Jonah caught Julien off guard, causing his heart to pound loudly in his chest.Julien recognized his penchant for indulging in earthly pleasures, engaging in flirtation with handsome men, and succumbing to temptation after a few
Alyssa held Axel intimately in the living room, and Axel also embraced his sister. If they weren't siblings, others might think they were a newlywed couple cherishing their reunion."Axel, you went through a lot this time," Alyssa pouted."It's not a big deal. I just brought someone back. It's nothing exhausting," Axel replied while gently patting her head. His eyes filled with longing and tenderness. "As long as you'd be happy, I'd even kill him for you."Upon hearing that, Sean was scared out of his wits, and Silas almost spat out his tea!At this moment, Jonah descended the stairs. "He's asleep.""He's probably exhausted. Let him rest." Alyssa sighed. "I was too impatient. This might backfire. If Julien doesn't agree to help, I can't force him by threatening him.""Lyse, don't worry." Jonah sat beside her, gently encircling her shoulder with his arm. "You have us. We're here to help you with things you can't accomplish on your own.""Exactly, Lyse," Silas added in to
"Hey, sweetheart, what's on your mind? Your eyes are wandering."Axel noticed Alyssa's vacant gaze and reached out and waved before her eyes."Axel, I ..."Alyssa pondered the resemblance to the woman who bore a striking likeness to her, causing her to hesitate before uttering her thoughts."What's wrong, Lyse? You've always been straightforward. Why are you hesitating now?" Axel asked in surprise."It's nothing."That woman was only a chance encounter. Besides, she was far away in Mosgravia.Even if she had a slight doubt in her heart, she couldn't investigate it through that woman. She could only investigate through Zoe.However, delving into these matters seemed futile.Jasper had explicitly stated in front of Newton that their relationship was a thing of the past. Any possibility of rekindling their connection was long gone.Despite this explicit declaration, she still found herself hesitating and was at a loss. Alyssa sneered quietly, curling her lips into a chilly smi
Silas widened his eyes, almost tempted to go over and kick his cheeky younger brother."I've simply never encountered such a handsome man before, so I was a little curious! What if he's someone who enjoys cross-dressing?"Alyssa sighed while holding her forehead. Silas' imagination was indeed vivid!Axel chimed in, "Why would any typical heterosexual guy be interested in other men?"Silas retorted, "That just means I'm young. Only older folks lose their curiosity!"The brothers bantered and bickered, and the night concluded.…The following day, Julien slept until noon due to jet lag.When he finally opened his eyes, he heard a persistent knocking on the door.Initially, he was reluctant to open it, but the person outside was relentless and patient. The knock continued without pausing."What's going on? You're so annoying!"Julien sprung up from the bed, marched to the door, and flung it open irritably.Julien was stunned to see Jonah dressed impeccably in a suit.Jonah ma
"Jonah."Julien raised his eyebrow deviously. He suddenly leaned closer to him. "Do you know that inexplicably nice people often have ill intentions?"Jonah looked at Julien, and the latter's glistening eyes instantly peered straight into his soul.They were extremely close. Jonah could feel his eyebrow brushing against the tip of Julien's nose.Jonah shuddered. He stared deeply into his eyes. "What are you implying?""Did you come here to please me by Alyssa's orders? Or were you genuinely concerned about my leg injury?"Julien's voice was not as feminine as his face. Yet, it carried a seductive and alluring tone to it."You are Lyse's guest and also Mandy's nephew. It makes sense for me to do this for you." Jonah looked down once again."Huh, no wonder you're the president. Your lips are sealed shut."Julien didn't like the answer he received. He turned around, unwilling to face Jonah. "You can leave now. Also, I'm booking my flights now and will fly first thing in the mor
Jonah entered his study and sat at his desk. The smile that hung on his face remained.He stretched his neck slightly backward and tugged on his tie. He undid the buttons around his collar. Finally, he could breathe.A silver cross fell from the opening on his shirt. It glistened faintly under the light.Jonah closed his eyes slowly. He took a deep breath to calm his restless heart down.At this moment, Julien's beautiful androgynous features weren't the ones occupying his mind. It was another man—a man he thought he had forgotten yet still longed for—his old flame.Jonah turned toward the bookshelf wall and picked two books.The bookshelf made a "click" sound, and a secret compartment appeared to reveal an exquisite safe. He punched the man's birthday and his own, and the safe opened.There were a few framed photos, a sealed envelope, and a black velvet jewelry box in the safe.Jonah opened the jewelry box. In it was a pair of diamond rings, perfect for a couple.He picked
The atmosphere turned awkward all of a sudden. There was a subtle yet palpable hint of tension.Julien's eyes gradually widened, as if he had heard something that wounded his ego deeply. His face contorted and flushed red. After a prolonged pause, he finally exclaimed, "Huh?""I think you've stayed too long in Mosgravia, Dr. Lovelace. It must be difficult for you to understand Solanian now. Do you want me to explain it in Grunslandish for you?" A sharp glint flashed in Alyssa's eyes, her smile carrying a sense of subtle pressure. Women hardly displayed such a smile.It exuded the arrogance of a person of great power and the unyielding confidence of a man. The sheer intimidation of it weighed so heavily that it shackled Julien's carefree spirit like a ball and chain."Are you saying I didn't want to take Jasper as a patient because I can't heal him? Is that what you're implying?" Julien retorted through gritted teeth. "I don't see any other explanation." Alyssa shrugged."Pah
Alyssa touched her chin. She didn't think it was a problem. Julien could never have imagined that the woman he despised, standing before him, was, in fact, Dr. White—the very culprit behind his "kidnapping" that had dragged his name through the mud.Otherwise, he would rather hope the ground would open up and swallow him. He would rather die than face this utter humiliation. "Dr. Lovelace, do you still doubt this man's character—a man Dr. White is willing to save?"Alyssa nonchalantly asked with a smile, "Don't you think you are questioning your idol's character?"She was guilt-tripping him. She had no choice but to use this method to deal with this conniving man.Julien pursed his lips. He dragged a chair and slowly sat again as he wandered into deep thought."Okay, I will take a look for Dr. White's sake."Alyssa was overjoyed. She curled her lips ever so lightly. "I thank you on behalf of Dr. White."It was rare for Axel to come back to the country, so he wasn't in a hur
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