Some hotel guests started crowding in the lobby to watch the drama."Ms. Beckett, please calm down. You'll ruin your reputation if you keep causing trouble here. Why don't we discuss this matter in the parlor?"The front desk manager was so nervous that he kept sweating profusely. At the same time, he did his best to convince Betty to calm down. "If your employee has the guts to steal from a VIP like me, doesn't that mean she'll do worse things to the other guests?" Betty slammed a hand on the marble counter. Then, she placed her other hand on her hip. She kept glaring at the manager furiously the whole time. The crowd exchanged looks with each other. Some of them obviously recognized Betty.They knew that she was a daughter of the Beckett family. But if they didn't look at her face, they would have thought it was a shrew causing trouble for the hotel."I-I didn't steal anything!" the housekeeper stammered timidly with her head bowed."How dare you talk back to me!"Betty j
Jasper felt that he treated Alice very well other than the fact that he didn't love her. When she was still living at Seaview Manor, she enjoyed all the luxuries money could give. The housekeepers there served Alice well, and no one caused her any trouble.Heck, Jasper even gave her a supplementary credit card. He was never one to skimp out on money, after all. Alice never used that card in her purchases over the past three years. Still, her life as the Beckett family's young madam was much better than her life as a medical aide in the nursing home.How dare Alice say such things in public! She made it sound like she had gone through many hardships and torment!The more Jasper thought about it, the angrier he became. His eyes started to become bloodshot as he gritted his teeth tightly. "Tch! You sure are stubborn, huh? Since you're the manager of this hotel, I'll be straightforward. Your hotel needs to provide me with a solution regarding this incident today."Betty continued
Everyone was shocked when they heard the statement.Betty and her friends dropped their jaws in astonishment as well. Sean showed the necklace to Betty. A cold expression was apparent on his handsome face."Ms. Beckett, take a look at this necklace. Is it the one you lost?""W-Well …"Betty accepted the necklace and studied it. Then, she started shrieking at the top of her lungs. "Ah! My poor necklace! What happened to it? Who ruined my necklace?"Everyone stared at the necklace. Soon, they realized that the necklace was broken into a few segments."Our manager ordered us to search every inch of the presidential suite the moment she received news of your missing necklace. In the end, we found it under the couch."The thing is, your necklace was already ruined when we found it. We don't know what happened to it as well," Sean explained coolly."See? I told you she's just causing a fuss over nothing! She didn't remember where she had left the damn thing! That's why she was just
Jasper and Alyssa made eye contact with each other, And everyone went silent. It was as though time had been frozen for a moment. "That's Mr. Beckett! It really is him!" Someone quickly recognized Jasper. "J-Jasper!" Betty didn't expect to see him there. Naturally, she felt anxious.Deep down, she was still scared of Jasper. Even though Sophia kept referring to him as the bastard son of the Beckett family, he was still in charge of the Beckett Group."Xavier, take Betty away. Hurry up," Jasper ordered stonily.Some people were recording and taking photos of the whole incident quietly. If Jasper were to drag the matter out any longer, the Beckett Group's reputation would be at risk. All thanks to Betty's actions. Xavier quickly dragged Betty out of the lobby without wasting any time.Alyssa chuckled coldly on the inside before averting her icy gaze.That was Jasper's true form. He was cold and emotionless, just like a robot.He could care less about the victim and culprit in
Alyssa's gaze hardened immediately. She looked very distant all of a sudden. "It seems that Ms. Gardner spoiled you a lot. You're a lot more shameless than before." "Don't drag other people into our problems!" Jasper snapped angrily. "Stay away from me if you don't want me to insult you! I want nothing to do with you, Mr. Beckett! You may contact me only when it's time to finalize our legal divorce! Goodbye!" Jasper was used to Alice looking at him lovingly over the past three years. Her eyes tended to sparkle happily whenever she saw her. Now, her eyes held nothing but coldness and contempt. It made him feel awful."I won't let you leave!"Alyssa started laughing. "Am I supposed to stay just because you said so? What, do you think I'm your pet dog? Must I follow your every order?" "There's no need for you to say such harsh things. You know very well that's not what I meant." Jasper frowned in displeasure."Harsh things? Haha! You really are dense, aren't you? Can't you te
Jasper accompanied Alyssa to the infirmary. The doctor wasn't there, so Alyssa grabbed iodine and bandages before treating her injury skillfully. "I'll do it," Jasper offered coldly while approaching her. Alyssa turned away from him in frustration. She replied icily, "It's fine." Jasper was known to be a stubborn man. He was an extremist, in a sense. He could either ignore Alyssa as though she didn't exist or meddle in her affairs whenever he felt like it. Hence, he grabbed Alyssa's wrist tightly. "Just stay put, Alice!" he commanded. Alyssa was surprised by the order. Soon, she felt a cool sensation coming from her wrist.Jasper was applying the ointment to Alyssa's injury. He focused on dabbing the cotton bud on her injury as gently as he could. His long eyelashes lowered slightly when he looked down at Alyssa's wrist. Whenever he exerted force with his bony wrist, Alyssa could see the light blue veins underneath his pale skin. They made his hand look very attractive.
On their way to their destination, Alyssa stared out the window. She didn't glance at Jasper.Obviously, she was being hostile to him.Jasper kept glancing at Alyssa from time to time. There were times when he wanted to ask her a question, but he found it difficult to speak up.Newton's villa was located in Crescent Bay in Solana City. Stretches of mountains surrounded the area, making it tranquil and scenic. The neighborhood was like a paradise hidden from the rest of the city."Grandpa, I'm here to visit you!" Alyssa smiled brightly the moment she stepped into the villa. Her clear voice was akin to a nightingale's sweet call. Truthfully speaking, she was a little worried because of what happened to the bracelet. She had to spend a long time mustering her courage. Then, she finally walked through the front door. "You're here, Alice! I missed you so much!" Newton exclaimed from his wheelchair. Ben was wheeling him out.The old man perked up instantly when he finally saw his
Alyssa looked a little surprised. But she quickly lowered her head. Even though she did her best to suppress her emotions, Jasper could still see a hint of embarrassment in her eyes.It made his heart pound wildly. His cheeks flared in embarrassment as well.At that moment, Jasper's phone started vibrating in his pocket. He fished it out to look at the caller ID. Then, he left the study immediately.Jasper leaned against the wall in the corridor as he stared at the word "Lia" on his phone screen. Finally, he picked up the call silently."Jasper, are you still mad at me?" Liana's cries drifted from the other end of the line before Jasper could say anything."No," he replied emotionlessly.But Liana clearly felt that Jasper was still angry at her. "C-Can you come over to my place right now? I miss you so much, Jasper! I can't even sleep because of how much I miss you …"Liana confessed to Jasper in a soft and sweet tone."Not tonight. I need to keep Grandpa company.""You're a
The golden iris stood as a symbol of triumph."Ms. Alyssa, we're on track. We'll make it to the press conference on time!" Sean declared, stepping on the accelerator with a fiery look in his eyes. "Safety first," Alyssa reminded him in a calm, steady voice. Surprisingly, at this crucial juncture, she appeared composed. "Taty is due soon, and you're about to become a father. As a family man, you shouldn't be as reckless as before." The thought of his unborn son brought a blissful smile to Sean's face, softening his fiery resolve.Alyssa closed her eyes, though her mind remained in overdrive. The truth was, she was forcing herself to stay alert. Ever since Amber's disappearance, she hadn't had a single restful night. The once carefree Alyssa, who could sleep through anything, was long gone. Her frayed nerves left her in a weakened state, but she held on.She had survived when others hadn't, and that resilience fueled her belief that she could endure again. This time, she wou
In an instant, the woman burst into tears. Remy, in an alarmed state, scanned the area outside the car. Satisfied that he was momentarily safe, he loosened his grip on the woman, only to discover his palms were damp. The woman's face was drenched in tears. As he stared into her misty eyes, recognition dawned on him—she was the woman who had chased him at the hospital, frantically calling him "Damien". This could only mean she was Damien Taylor's mother. Remy straightened abruptly, putting distance between himself and Mandy. A surge of emotion tightened his chest, leaving him shaken. Silence blanketed the car. Despite her usual composure, Mandy was overwhelmed. Her tears were unstoppable as she gazed at him. Nothing else seemed to matter. At that moment, Mandy's driver opened the car door and climbed in, saying, "Mrs. Taylor, here are the desserts you ordered for Mr. Taylor—"Remy's reddened eyes darkened. His muscles tensed as he reached for the door handle, ready to l
"Younger brother?" Jonah echoed. The mention of Damien brought a sharp pang to his chest. Memories of the plane crash flashed before his eyes. He continued, his voice tight with emotion, "Even if he is my brother, he allied with the devil and chose a corrupt path. I am severing ties with him!"With that, Jonah slammed his arm down, a decisive gesture."Jonah! No!" Jasper shouted.In the next instant, Remy, with an almost unnatural calm, grabbed the blade of the dagger with his bare hand. Blood began to flow from his palm.Jonah's heart twisted in agony. Family meant everything to him, yet here he was, inflicting harm on one of his own."I didn't come here to stop you," Remy said, his voice low and strained as he met Jonah's reddened eyes. "But I must stop both of you. This is my mission."Jonah stared at him, stunned. "Why—""Because I work for Sir. I have no choice but to follow orders."Turning to Jasper, Remy said, "Go." …After watching them leave, Remy trudged through
Jasper and Jonah went to get Sebastian and Xavier out of the car. The four of them then bolted toward the other end of the alley. A clamor broke out behind them. Jasper glanced back, his heart pounding.Warmth surged through his hardened heart as he saw Axel holding his own in a brutal fight against over a dozen assassins, skillfully subduing them one by one."Jasper!" All of a sudden, Jonah stopped in his tracks. Jasper turned to see what had caught his attention, and his heart sank. Standing at the alley's end, silhouetted against the light, was a tall figure radiating a presence that commanded fear. Though the man's face was obscured, his unyielding presence was unmistakable. It was Justin's right-hand man, Remy."Mr. Beckett, w-what should we do?" Xavier stammered.With a fierce glint in his eyes, Jonah took a step forward. "I'll hold him back. The rest of you, keep going." "Xavier, take Dr. Bender to the press conference immediately. Don't let anything stop you." J
"Maggie, I love you!" Xavier typed.Maggie replied, "Xave, you're not usually this corny. What happened?" Xavier couldn't bring himself to tell her that those words were his final ones if something happened to him.His phone buzzed again. It was Maggie sending another message that read, "I love you too, Xave." Tears filled Xavier's eyes. His lips quivered, and his heart raced. He cursed under his breath. It was time to go all out. With that, he grabbed the machete, swung open the car door, and swiftly took down two of Jasper's attackers.But Xavier wasn't a fighter. He had no real combat experience. It didn't take long before a blade sliced into his arm, the deep cut searing with pain.Jasper's eyes widened. He roared, "Xavier, get back in the car!"Distracted, Jasper's opponent swung a machete at his face. Xavier gasped, "Mr. Beckett!"Luckily, Jasper dodged the strike, his reflexes quick. He retaliated by snapping the attacker's arm.Xavier, pale and shaking with pain,
Frightened out of his wits, Xavier yelped, covering his head and crouching low in his seat. It wasn't that he was a coward. He had been brave in the past, but this situation was unlike anything an ordinary person would face.Working for Jasper meant Xavier didn't have to worry about his livelihood, but every day was a gamble with danger. If this continued, he might have to keep Nitroglycerin on hand just to survive.Jasper, with his strong, muscular frame, shielded Sebastian beneath him.He knew the attackers were after Sebastian, the witness, aiming to eliminate anyone who could tip the scales against them. If they could take down Jasper too, or at least injure him severely, it would be a bonus.These people were ruthless. Sebastian, oblivious to the danger, was muttering the Lord's Prayer under his breath. He didn't know that the man protecting him was sometimes more powerful than any deity."Don't lift your heads! Arrows aren't like bullets—they can pierce glass but not the
Time was ticking. The press conference was about to begin. Landon escorted Sebastian out of the manor and into Jasper's car. He glanced at Jasper, who sat in the back seat, his expression calm and composed.With concern etched on his face, Landon said, "Jasper, let me come with you. I can't feel at ease otherwise."Jasper met Landon's gaze, firm and aloof. "Don't worry, Landon. You've done enough. It's time for you to step back."If Landon continued to help, he would only get caught up in the chaos. Despite his current difficulty in articulating his feelings, Jasper couldn't forget that this was his best friend, the one he'd stood by for more than 20 years. Landon had endured so much to finally be happy with Lauren, and Jasper wasn't about to be the one to disrupt that hard-earned happiness. Understanding Jasper's stubbornness, Landon turned to Xavier. "Call me immediately if anything happens.""Don't worry, Mr. Harper," Xavier reassured. With that, Sebastian climbed into
That said, this strategy came with its own risks. It was as if Jasper and Axel were placing all their bets on Remy for the time being."Justin doesn't control someone without a reason. Since he has control over Remy, he will make full use of him."Jasper's chest tightened, a weight pressing down on him like a massive rock. He continued, "The only way to find Amber is to understand Justin's intentions clearly."…The press conference was scheduled for 5:00 pm at Berenike Hotel's Conference Hall A on Saturday. At 3:00 pm sharp, Justin sat in the president's office at Beckett Group, his expression frigid. He sat upright on the couch while Sheryl, standing beside him, carefully tended to the wound on his left ear, changing its dressing with caution. It had been only two days since he was shot in the ear. His flesh had been stitched up, and the stitches looked like a grotesque centipede crawling along his ear. There was no way to conceal the injury unless he donned a shoulder-lengt
"Remy beat Sheryl up?" Jasper repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. Having wiped away his tears, Axel leaned in to listen to the phone call."Yeah! I saw it with my own eyes in the surveillance footage. He punched her—brutally!" Xavier's voice was filled with astonishment. He exhaled sharply before continuing, "I thought they were a close-knit group. Looks like even they have internal conflicts!"After a brief pause, he ventured, "Mr. Beckett, do you think we could use this as a breakthrough? Maybe Remy has been at odds with Sheryl for a while, and he's tired of working under Justin. Perhaps all he needs is a little push to turn against them. After all, didn't Ms. Altman join us because she hated everything Jameson did?"Jasper didn't give a direct answer. Instead, he spoke quietly, "It's a clever thought, but it's still uncertain. We don't really know Remy's intentions. Our interactions with him have been few, and they've always been risky confrontations. I don't know what he