Axel's body shook intensely, and then he collapsed on the ground. He was paralyzed and unable to stand."Sorry, buddy. Take a rest for now. This thing won't harm you much," Landon said as he triumphantly raised the stun baton in his hand. "All of you Taylors have off-the-chart combat abilities. I have no choice but to resort to dirty tricks. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to penetrate your defenses.""Damn it! You're despicable!" Axel glared at him. His eyes alone seemed capable of tearing Landon apart."Regrettably, I'm resorting to despicable tricks for the sake of my only best friend." Landon sighed while displaying a resigned shrug.Jasper sprinted to the entrance of Alyssa's ward, but Tatiana blocked him."I want to see your sister," Jasper voiced his request as he looked at the girl with a pale face. Sweat streamed down his weary face.Tatiana bit her lip and remained silent."Please," he begged. Jasper's voice was filled with desperation as he hoarsely plead
Alyssa found herself pondering the reasons behind Jasper's choice to approach her now to address the past. She had never sought his apologies, yet he remained oblivious to her true desires.Alyssa felt a deep sense of disappointment and shame that permeated her, causing her to quiver with anger.While she typically wasn't one to easily shed tears, her tears streamed down involuntarily now. It was as if her tear ducts had suddenly given way.Jameson had never seen Alyssa lose control of her emotions like this. Jasper had almost destroyed the girl who used to be lively, confident, and proud."Lyse, don't cry. Please don't cry ..."Ignoring the presence of others, Jameson opened his arms and gently enveloped the emotionally distraught Alyssa in an embrace.Alyssa's whole body went limp. Her thoughts were hazy, and she leaned her forehead on Jameson's shoulder. Before long, her tears had soaked his shoulder.Jameson's heart raced, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.At t
At first, there was still a glimmer of hope for Jasper. However, he had consistently let Alyssa down, causing her pain and ultimately extinguishing that flicker of hope entirely.Waves of spasmodic pain gripped Jasper's heart, and at each surge, a hint of tears welled up at the corners of his eyes.He parted his dry lips and asked, "Do you really want to know?" "Of course. As a man who has loved Lyse for 15 years, I want to know everything about her," Jameson said with an almost uncontrollable sense of pride. Jasper fixed him with a penetrating gaze. After a moment, a breathtaking smile slowly formed on his pale face. His voice was hoarse and deep as he said, "Two years ago when she was still my wife, we had already become one." Jameson's pupils contracted. "Lyse was already my woman long ago." "Bastard!" Jameson's mind echoed with a resounding roar. Overwhelming anger compelled him to clench his fists and throw a fist at Jasper's face!He couldn't anyone fathom la
Landon called out, "Jasper!"It was as if Jasper was completely disconnected from the world. Jasper walked past Landon absent-mindedly and got into the car wordlessly.Worry filled Landon's heart once again.The luxurious car headed toward Seaview Manor."Xavier mentioned that the manor had been put up for auction. Many are vying to bid for it."Landon explained to him in a lowered voice, "Xavier had cleared everything in the manor. He had collected your mother's photographs and brought them to the Seaview Manor."He disposed of everything else at the garbage disposal and made sure to incinerate them, leaving no traces behind."Jasper? Jasper? Are you listening to me?""I don't want to go back to Seaview Manor, Landon. I want to visit Grandpa. I miss him."Jasper struggled to articulate the last word of his sentence, his voice catching in his throat.Landon looked at him, stunned. Jasper's eyes reddened, and tears streamed down his face as his shoulders trembled.He was cr
Julien was taken aback. "Are you not planning to become the company's president?""I've never wanted to be president. Everything I do is to help Alyssa and stand in for my father for the last time.""You're an amazing man, Julien."Julien's nose inched closer to the side of Jonah's face. His warm breath landed on his defined jawline. "Then, why don't you want to get married? Even if you like guys, you can still get married. Same-sex marriage is legal in Mosgravia."Jonah's breath quickened as a numbing sensation tingled at his fingertips like electricity.The wine from his glass spilled slightly onto the wooden table top, resembling a small pool of blood."I've submitted myself to God, even my romantic life. So, I will never have a partner and get married.""God is gracious. He will forgive you for your reckless behavior birthed from the care of your sister. He will also forgive you for using the alcohol to wash your sorrows away."The look in Julien's eyes deepened. His hand
Winston told everything to his wives, and they were flabbergasted. They wanted to follow him to his visit to Alyssa, but he stopped them. It took quite an effort to persuade them otherwise. He then instructed someone to send them back to Belbanks.Winston trailed after Neil and his bodyguard. When they exited the airport, he saw Jameson standing there. He stood by the luxury car, waiting for Winston."Hi, Uncle Winston." Jameson smiled as he shook Winston's hand firmly.Winston thought briefly. Then, he got into Jameson's car. Neil and his bodyguard drove behind them.After all, Jameson had mentioned that he had something to tell him about Alyssa.Typically, a man like him would need to get in line to meet a big shot like Winston, even if he was Victor's son. However, Jameson mentioned that whatever he wanted to discuss had something to do with Alyssa.So, he couldn't possibly sit around and do nothing.The luxury car drove to the hospital without a hitch. "Uncle Winston, I'
Winston listened attentively to everything Jameson said, maintaining silence throughout. The car was filled with the sounds of deep, resentful inhales and exhales. "Please calm down, Uncle Winston. You need to be mindful of your health." Jameson's face was filled with concern. "That Beckett rascal … How could he humiliate my daughter?" Winston held his chest in agony. It felt like his heart was bleeding. "Lyse may have experienced tragic events. However, those are in the past. I will take care and protect Lyse from now on."Jameson looked at Winston with a passionate gaze. "I swear I will love Lyse only. To the best of my ability, I will ensure she is the happiest woman alive."Uncle Winston, my love for Lyse has nothing to do with you being her father, the Schmidt Group, or the Taylor Group."It's her unique qualities, personality, and the essence of who she is that I love. No other woman had ever been able to replace how important Lyse is to me. Not a single one."Shock p
"Can you even handle it? Haha! If you had dealt with it correctly, Alyssa wouldn't be lying here suffering undeserving punishment," Winston scoffed. The glint in Jonah's eyes darkened. He was rendered speechless.Silas pursed his lips. He always had a way with words but had nothing to say now. "Jonah, come with me. I want to talk to you." Winston straightened his stiff back as he got up. He felt a tingling pain after sitting too long."Yes, Dad."Jonah came to help his father quickly. Then, both of them left the ward.…They arrived at the lounge. "What did you say?" Jonah was dumbfounded. He narrowed his eyes as he questioned, "You want Lyse to be with Jameson? Why?""I think the best way to get Lyse to walk out of the trauma Jasper had caused her is to have her start a new relationship. She should be with someone who cherishes her."Winston's eyes darkened. He had made up his mind. "Anyone could tell how head over heels Jameson is for Lyse. Plus, our families are a perfe
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