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
It was a late night at Seaview Manor.After Betty showered, she applied medication to the plastic surgery marks on her face. She was ready to enjoy some red wine."Nina? Nina!" Betty called her maid. Nina quickly ran over to her. "I'm here, Ms. Betty."Since Alyssa made Nina a spy, she took a lot of time figuring out ways to get close to Sophia and Betty. She tried to gain their trust.She knew Sophia was often suspicious and didn't trust anyone easily. However, Betty was less manipulative than her mother. It was easier for Nina to get close to Betty.So, Nina fawned over Betty and was willing to do anything for her. Finally, she had the opportunity to stay by Betty's side to serve her.She was a lowly servant who had served under Lauren before. If she hadn't done all these to get close to Betty, Betty would have long kicked her out of Seaview Manor.There was no way she could complete the mission Alyssa had assigned to her then. "Go to the wine cellar and get me a nice bott
"I went for aesthetic cosmetology tonight. Dr. McAslister gave me a jab. He said the jab will make me more relaxed. It should be more effective than the ones I used before."Sophia covered her head with her hands. Her eyes were filled with worry and panic. She continued, "After I took the jab, my body felt light and relaxed. Then, I fell asleep. But, when I woke up, Dr. McAlister asked, 'Who is Anne?'"Betty gasped. Goosebumps filled her entire body."Mom … W-What did you say? Dr. McAlister is in no business to know. How could you …"Betty knew the actual reason for Jasper's mother's death back then.On some level, Sophia was the culprit who had caused Anne to take her life.However, it had been executed with meticulousness. Sophia had bribed the maid who took care of Anne. The maid then swapped her medication for depression. She even asked Liana and Betty to spread rumors.As a result, Anne's condition worsened. She couldn't stand the physical and mental torture and leaped of
Nina trembled as she curled herself in the wardrobe with a red wine bottle in her hand.She was overwhelmed by shock, and her face drained of color. Her eyes were bloodshot, as if she had cried profusely.What was she supposed to do?She was frantically trying to find an answer in her mind.She wondered who she should break this groundbreaking secret to—Jasper or Alyssa?…After Betty helped Sophia settle in, she returned to her room.When she helped Sophia out of her clothes, she noticed needle marks on the latter's arms. Betty couldn't help but shudder at the thought of it.Javier and Sophia no longer stayed in the same room. Since Lyla's accident, the couple had had more bad blood between them.Had they been sleeping on the same bed and Javier had seen those needle marks, Betty had no idea how he would react to them.When she reached her room, Betty saw Nina standing outside the door blankly as she waited for her with a red wine bottle in her hand.She didn't look well.
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