"I won't go back, and I won't meet with them tomorrow either! Do you know that I was almost—" Rose choked down her sobs at this point.There was a sudden silence on the other end.After a while, there was a change in George's attitude. His tone softened, but his words were more cutting."Rose, I know you're in a difficult situation. But at the moment, our family is facing difficulties. As a daughter of the Emerson family, sacrificing a bit for the family is reasonable, isn't it?"Your sister is about to be engaged to the second son of the Dalton family in Northuis. She has sacrificed a lot for our family, too."Rose's eyes turned crimson instantly as she asked word by word, "Did you know that those two men had evil intentions toward me from the beginning? Is that so?"George remained silent."You knew everything and still let me meet them. Is this how you put your daughter in danger?" Rose cried out in anger and frustration, tears streaming down her face.Silas didn't catch all
Rose's sudden cardiac arrest was no small matter. Silas took her to the hospital and notified Alyssa to come and visit.He knew his little sister's temperament. Keeping this a secret any longer would lead her to disown him as her brother.Early the next morning, Alyssa and Sean rushed back from Belbanks to the hospital where Rose was hospitalized in Solana City."Silas, what happened? How could Rose have a heart attack?" Alyssa was in distress, tears swirling in her eyes."The doctor said Rose has a weak constitution and a heart condition, but it's not too severe."A heart condition?Alyssa shivered, and Sean hurriedly supported her trembling figure.She felt awful for Rose.Not only was Rose her apprentice, but she was also her best friend. Yet she didn't even know about her physical condition.What a disappointment she was in her role as a mentor!Recalling Rose and her family's phone call last night, Silas clenched his fists silently.His voice was hoarse as he explained,
In the ward, Rose weakly leaned against the bedside, hooked up to an IV. The morning sunlight spilled onto her pallid face, creating a beauty that made others feel bad for her."Rose," Alyssa softly called her name, her eyes reddened.For a moment, she couldn't believe that the frail woman before her was the same carefree and cheerful apprentice she knew."Madam?" Stunned, Rose quickly pulled her needled hand under the blanket."What happened?"Alyssa sat by the bed and gently held Rose's hand, asking with concern, "How did it come to this? Who bullied you?"Rose bit her lip and remained silent."Tell me quickly. I'll stand up for you.""I was just dizzy from low blood sugar. It's nothing serious.""Even now, you won't tell the truth? Do you not know you have a heart condition? How long do you plan on keeping it from me?"Alyssa was so frustrated that her face was flushed, and she tightened her grip on Rose's hand. "Silas told me you received a call last night. After that c
Alyssa exclaimed, "What?"Alyssa abruptly stood up from her chair, staring at Silas in disbelief. "Illegitimate daughter? The Emerson family's illegitimate daughter?""So it's understandable that she hid her background from you." Looking at Rose's background check, Silas felt uneasy for some reason.Compared to those who openly expressed their sadness and misfortune, he felt more sympathetic toward Rose, who kept everything inside."Rose is such a fool." Alyssa felt as though her heart was cut with a knife, making it hard for her to breathe."The two foreign men Rose drank with last night are high-level executives from a foreign construction company. They're involved in business dealings with the Emerson family."Considering Rose's conversation with her father last night, it seems like the Emerson family arranged everything.""This is outrageous! Did they actually make their own daughter drink with clients for business? George, that heartless scum, is he out of his mind?"Aly
George would probably have regretted it if he had known that he was talking to Winston's second son, Alyssa's second brother. He might even wish he were dead."You don't need to talk so arrogantly here. If you dare to have any ideas about Rose again, you'll see me deal with you." Silas tilted his jaw slightly, smirking coldly.In terms of arrogance, who could be more arrogant than someone from the Taylor family?"You—" George was furious. He roared, "Who the hell are you?"Silas swallowed and somehow had the courage to put his hand around Rose's slender shoulder, pulling her into his arms.Caught off guard, Rose didn't dare to move, and her heart was in turmoil."I'm Rose's boyfriend."After saying that, Silas directly hung up the phone, not giving George a chance to retort.The ward suddenly became very quiet.Both Silas and Rose remained silent."Uh, don't get me wrong. I was caught up in the moment just now." Silas quickly tried to cover for his unintentional words."I di
At exactly 7:00 pm, after the business conference, all the big shots and elite figures of Solana City rushed to Berenike Hotel to attend the cocktail party.Alyssa sped in her black Bugatti, with Julien tightly gripping the door handle on the passenger side. He stared straight ahead, not daring to say a word throughout the journey.He was afraid that saying too much would make him throw up last night's dinner.Finally, when they arrived at the hotel, Alyssa executed a beautiful and precise drift, smoothly parking in the designated spot."Get out." Alyssa unbuckled her seatbelt.Julien didn't move. His face was as pale as paper.Noticing no response from him, Alyssa blinked and waved her hand in front of him. "Hey, what's wrong? Petrified?""I ... want ... to ... vomit." Julien's face turned purple, and he was not doing well at all.Alyssa yelled, directly kicking him out of the car. "If you need to vomit, do it outside, not in my car!"The moment the car door opened, Julien st
"Being the center of attention is not what matters. What matters is that Mr. Beckett likes it."Since Alyssa was not too far away, she could distinctly hear Renee's words. She raised her eyebrows slightly.Julien looked at Renee's pretentious look, and the nausea he had just suppressed seemed to rise again."Renee, do your best. Be considerate to Mr. Beckett, and he'll gradually be moved by you."Dominic didn't forget to belittle Alyssa. He sneered. "You're my daughter. No matter what, you're better than that divorced Alyssa. Renee, be confident. You're not inferior to Alyssa at all."It's just that you and Mr. Beckett lack a bit of fate, but that's not important. Fate can be created. Alyssa and Mr. Beckett embody the essence of a complete lack of fate. Otherwise, why would they be divorced?"As Alyssa listened silently to the father and daughter's big words, her cool face showed no emotion.Meanwhile, Julien stared at Dominic and his daughter leaving the parking lot with wide e
Renee remarked, "Look at the way you're putting it. Lyse, aren't you always low-key? You never attend such public events.""Oh? Then you'll have to get used to it," Alyssa retorted. Alyssa narrowed her eyes at Renee with an intriguing expression. "From now on, I'll frequently appear in public. I think we should meet often to catch up."Renee's face showed an awkward smile, but she was exploding with anger on the inside."Miss, please show your invitation," the staff politely asked Alyssa."I don't have an invitation," Alyssa said openly.Renee covered her mouth and laughed sardonically. She finally found a chance to turn the tables."Lyse, has it been a long time since you attended such high-end events? Don't you know you need an invitation to enter? You're causing trouble for the staff like this."The staff also looked awkward. "I'm sorry, miss. You can't enter without an invitation.""I'm Alyssa Taylor," Alyssa said indifferently.The word "Alyssa Taylor" was like a thunde
Jonah's gaze burned with a mix of longing, sorrow, and something deeply affectionate. The world swam back into focus as Julien looked at Jonah. Without preamble, he asked, "Are you new? How much do you charge per night?"Light-headed and grinning, Julien reached out a hand, his fingers brushing softly against Jonah's cheek. "You're pretty good-looking," he said, his voice slurred. Then his expression shifted. "Why do you… look so much like someone I hate with every fiber of my being?"Jonah's heart clenched. Even so, he slid his arms around Julien's waist. Trembling, he pulled Julien into his arms. "I'm new here. Could you help me meet my target tonight, Mr. Lovelace?"Julien's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Jonah. Jonah's eyes teared up as he held Julien's waist tightly. "I promise you won't be disappointed," he said, his voice deep. Watching from the shadows below the stage, Evan nearly gagged at Jonah's sultry tone. Was this really the Judas he knew? The man sounded downri
The bar was alive with striking lights and thundering music, and the air was thick with the scent of tobacco and alcohol. The atmosphere was one of moral decay—corrupt, degrading, and vile. "Where's Julien?" Jonah's voice cut through the noise, his tone icy and sharp. When Jonah stepped inside, the eyes of several men turned toward him, their gazes filled with illicit intent."Why, hello there. Are you here alone? Are you feeling lonely?" A sexy man sauntered over, draping himself over Jonah's shoulders. He let his hands linger with a playful squeeze. "If you're bored, I'd be happy to keep you company." Jonah's expression darkened. His hands trembled, veins bulging with barely contained rage. Suddenly, Evan burst through the crowd, his face twisting in alarm at the sight of Jonah surrounded by a swarm of predatory men. Evan yelled, "Don't touch him!" A heavy thump reverberated through the room. Gasps erupted as people scrambled back.The man who had draped himself over
Rafe stated, "But Beckett Group is in the middle of a storm right now. If I insisted on giving your corporation the project, my superiors would investigate me. I wouldn't be able to escape unscathed!""If you're investigated, I'll make sure you can still live a life of luxury—even if you lose your job." Justin's tone darkened. "But if you turn against me, you won't just suffer a few losses. You'll lose everything."Under the dim moonlight, Justin fiddled with his antique tea cup, his gaze narrowing. "You've worked so hard to get to where you are. Are you prepared to lose it all?"After ending the call, Justin turned to Remy, who stood quietly at the side. "Sheryl is still being detained. She can't be bailed out for another two days. I need someone to watch over the research lab. You'll handle that."Remy was taken aback. "I failed my last mission. Aren't you going to punish me?"Justin's smile was cold and insincere. "It wasn't your fault. You were ambushed. If not for that, I tru
Remy pursed his lips, bending down to pick up the fallen poker card. It was the King of Spades—an entry pass to Kings' Club. "My attacker was…" Remy's pupils constricted as he tightened his grip on the card. "It can only be that dear uncle of mine, always claiming to see me as his own son." Justin's lips curled into a sinister smile. "He's trying to get rid of my right-hand man, taking advantage of my internal feud with Jasper. Weakening me is just his first step toward gaining control over me."He's been a fugitive ever since his successful prison break, never returning to Cyrris after receiving his life sentence. His power base remains in Kontina. "I'm the last surviving Dutton. The Dutton Group, as a cover, has declared bankruptcy and severed all ties with the country. "My dear uncle has taken a huge risk just to target me. He sent his men to attack you in Solana City. What a delightful surprise. It seems he truly doesn't trust me, his only remaining family."Remy lowere
The hospital ward grew heavy with silence. Mandy and Neil stared at Alyssa, stunned beyond words. "M-Ms. Alyssa, you knew that man was Mr. Damien?" Neil asked, disbelief etched into his voice. "Yes." Alyssa's reply was quiet, her lips pressed into a thin line. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "We found out when Cyrus took Damien's cigarette butt for a paternity test."Mandy approached Alyssa, her shoulders trembling slightly. "So, you and Cyrus knew… and you both kept it from me?" Mandy said, her voice catching in her throat, tears welling up. Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. "Mandy, I'm sorry. It was my decision. Cyrus had nothing to do with it."Mandy's tears fell freely now, her grief spilling out in raw sobs. "Do you know what it's been like for me all these years, thinking Damien was gone? Winston, Miley, Lyla, and Colene kept telling me to move on. I tried to accept that he was dead, that we'd never find his body. But I never did."Her vo
The hospital ward was bathed in a dim, yellow glow from the bedside lamp. The silence was thick, yet the room held a strange warmth—an unfamiliar comfort that felt oddly familiar to Remy.Pain radiated through his body as he struggled to sit up. His eyes fell on Mandy, who was asleep beside his bed. Her hair was a mess, and her swollen eyes suggested she'd been crying. She was sound asleep. Remy stiffened. His breath quickened as he stared at her fragile figure. Slowly, he leaned forward, his fingers lifting slightly, tempted to reach out.Just as his hand hovered close, Mandy's lashes fluttered. In her sleep, she murmured, "Damien… Damien… I miss you so much…" Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent and unbidden.A pang tugged at Remy's heart. Without thinking, he brushed away her tears with his calloused fingers. The moment his skin touched hers, a jolt shot through him, sharp and electrifying. Pain throbbed at his temples, but beneath it was a warmth he didn't want to let g
Justin's casual question hit Javier like a thunderclap. Shock rippled through him, freezing his expression. His voice trembled with fear as he barked, "What nonsense is that? Are you accusing me of causing Chester's death? I'm your father—how could you think I'd do such a thing?""It's not an accusation. Just the facts," Justin replied coolly, crossing his legs and savoring his tea with unsettling calm. "And I'm not condemning you. In fact, I understand why you did it. I'm facing the same dilemma now."Javier's breathing grew ragged. He had watched Justin grow from a child into the man before him—now a predator, circling with quiet menace."You were meant to be the heir as the eldest son," Justin continued, his voice smooth as silk. "But Grandpa favored Uncle Chester, handing him major projects, grooming him in plain sight. "Uncle Chester's reputation soon eclipsed yours. He was a natural leader, adept at business, with one fatal flaw—he was kind. Too kind. Unlike you."Justin
Nonetheless, night had fallen by the time Justin arrived at Seaview Manor. On his way there, he worked on two things. First, he secured the top legal team to get Sheryl out on bail as quickly as possible. Second, he tried reaching Remy—unsuccessfully. He had never lost contact with Remy before. Justin's face was as dark as the night itself. The moment he stepped inside Seaview Manor, Rory approached with a solemn expression. He gave a slight bow before speaking. "Mr. Justin, what took you so long? Mr. Javier has been waiting.""I was occupied," Justin replied coolly. Then, as if it were an ordinary evening, he allowed a faint smile. "Where's Jasper? Is he back here yet?" A conflicted look came across Rory's face. "Things between you and Mr. Jasper have soured. I doubt he'll want to see you anytime soon—or show up here.""Is that so? How disappointing."Justin's smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze lingered on Rory, sharp and bottomless. "So, he'd rather believe what he se
Jonah scoured every corner of the hotel, desperation clawing at his chest, but Julien was nowhere to be found. "Jonah!" Alyssa called out, breathless as she caught up to him. She grabbed his arm. "Calm down! I'll help you search for Jul!""I can't find him. He's gone," Jonah murmured, sinking to the floor. His tears mixed with sweat, creating dark patches on the ground. "Lyse… I fear… if I can't find Julien this time, I'll lose him forever."The agonizing thought of losing the love of his life pierced him. "No, you won't!" Alyssa gripped his arm tighter, her voice trembling with conviction. "If Jul had given up on you, he wouldn't have come here today. The fact that he showed up means he still cares."Jonah's eyes were bloodshot, filled with a pain too deep to hide. He shook his head slowly. "Julien came back for Jasper. He did it because he's loyal… because he's a good friend. Not because of me.""He does care!" Alyssa insisted. "If he didn't, he would've faced you without fli