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
Meanwhile, Liana was also crying on the other end of the line."Alice knew that Grandpa never liked me, yet she kept using him just to cause trouble for me! She's such a shameless bitch!"Jasper kept staring at Alyssa the whole time, so he didn't hear what Liana said.Alyssa was bawling her eyes out without a care in the world, but Jasper could feel her raw emotion. His heart pricked in pain whenever he saw a teardrop dripping off her chin. "What's wrong, Alice? Please don't scare me." Newton had been through a lot in life, yet he couldn't help but panic when facing a woman's tears.Alyssa kept sobbing the whole time. "Grandpa, I … I broke the bracelet! I've been trying so hard to fix it, b-but I just can't …"That's why I thought I could make a new bracelet which is the same as the old one, but … but I was afraid that you'd get mad at me once you find out …"She continued crying. "I'm sorry for lying to you, Grandpa! I'm so sorry …"Alyssa trembled as she cried her heart out.
Alyssa followed Jasper into the study. The door closed behind her with a soft click. She didn't move to switch on the lights or sit down. Instead, she stood quietly in the dim room.They faced each other, eyes locked. In the darkness, their gazes seemed brighter, charged with emotions that neither could put into words. Whatever stirred within them was tangled and silent—kept at bay by something unspoken, as if a wall had formed between heart and mouth. After a pause, Alyssa offered a faint smile. Her voice was soft, almost courteous. "Go ahead, Mr. Beckett. I won't be staying long tonight—I've made other arrangements."It was clear she didn't want to be alone in a room with him.Jasper's chest tightened, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion he couldn't define. His voice was rough when he finally spoke. "You didn't vote against the motion at today's board meeting. I wanted to know… are we still on the same side?"Alyssa's gaze lowered, her voice steady and calm. "You didn't object
In the evening, Xavier drove Jasper to meet with Newton. Along the way, news broke out that Sheryl had been bailed out. Xavier slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Why is it so hard to get rid of that woman?" "She is Justin's right hand," Jasper said, eyes shut as he leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "You could even say she knows more about his secrets than anyone. As long as she's useful, Justin won't discard her so easily. This is how he operates."Xavier shook his head, teeth gritted. "Where the hell did she even come from? When you had me investigate her, I found nothing. Her background was spotless. "What's in her past that Justin would go so far to keep it hidden? A man like him can have any woman he wants, yet he clings to her—some pretty-faced idiot who only seems to make things harder for him."Jasper's gaze turned glacial. Xavier's casual remark struck him.He was right. Justin wasn't short on capable subordinates. So why Sheryl?Was Sh
This time, the injection did not bring the excruciating pain that once made Amber wish for death. Her chapped lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed deeply into Remy's eyes. He, too, looked at her, his expression unreadable yet intense. Between them, no words were needed."Damien… Thank you…" Though her voice was barely audible, the weight of her words sank deep into Remy's heart. For once, he did not object to being called Damien.The truth was, ever since Amber had been taken, an unbearable pressure had settled over him, making each breath feel like a punishment—every day since had been plagued by self-reproach and regret.If he hadn't stopped her that night and let her go sooner, could she have avoided Sheryl? Could she have been spared the torture and humiliation?"You should know that those who enter this place never leave. Most don't even make it out alive."Remy's gaze was unwavering. Taking advantage of the surveillance blind spot, he placed his
"Mr. Lexington," the doctor greeted respectfully, lowering his head slightly. Everyone at the base knew who Sheryl and Remy were. They were the ones in charge, the decision-makers. So, everyone obeyed their orders without question. To the staff unaware of the facility's true purpose, Sheryl and Remy stood at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Unbeknownst to them, someone more powerful lurked in the shadows."How has she been these past few days?" Remy asked, his expression unreadable."She's had some adverse reactions, but there are no signs of organ failure yet. Honestly, I'm surprised. She looks frail, but her body is incredibly resilient—stronger than some men, even."The doctor scoffed. "But I'm not sure if she'll make it past her fourth injection today. Last month, four test subjects didn't survive beyond that point. Their bodies have already been sent to the incinerator." Remy's jaw tensed. His voice was husky as he said, "As I've instructed, this woman must be kept alive.
Xavier seethed as he took in the insincere smile on Justin's face. Deep down, he was cursing him with every profanity imaginable. "Whatever makes you happy."Ignoring Justin's dark gaze, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead as he strode past him.Out of nowhere, Justin chuckled and asked, "Did you really think you had people on your side during the board meeting?"Jasper halted, his eyes narrowing. "Grandpa tried his best to shield you, but his health is failing by the day. How much longer do you think an old man can protect you?"Lowering his gaze, Justin idly adjusted the ruby cufflinks on his sleeves. His voice was casual yet cutting. "And Lyse—after how ruthlessly you discarded her, do you still believe she'll stand by you no matter what? That she'll fight alongside you like before?"The intense midday sun accentuated the sharp, aloof, and pallid features of Jasper's face as he stood, unyielding, in its glare. His pulse quickened. Finally, he answered, his voice a low rasp. "R
As the board meeting concluded, the crowd gradually dispersed.News of Justin securing his position as president and Alyssa joining the board quickly spread through Beckett Group.After the meeting, Alyssa escorted Newton back to Crescent Bay while Jasper remained at the corporation to handle some matters.With Xavier accompanying him, Jasper strode toward the chairman's office, his expression cold and unreadable.Nearby, a few employees huddled together, whispering."Psst! Do you think Alyssa joining the board means she's teaming up with Jasper to take down our new president?""People have been saying they broke up since they haven't been seen together for a while," another speculated."But at the press conference, Alyssa openly condemned Mr. Justin. That looked like she was siding with Jasper. So, are they still together or not?""Come on, to people like them, personal feelings don't matter—only their own interests do. Even if they broke up, they can still work together if it
When Jonah reached the bedside, he leaned in slowly, giving Julien an unobstructed view of his tanned skin, well-defined abs, and that devastatingly captivating face. Reclining against the headboard, Julien found himself lost in Jonah's eyes. His breath hitched, and his mind momentarily blanked as Jonah's mesmerizing gaze locked onto him. What could he do? His heart still betrayed him, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He was a fool—a pathetic fool. Jonah braced his arms on either side of Julien's head, his dark eyes overflowing with a raw, possessive affection. It was as if he sought to consume Julien—just as he had last night."Julien, does it still hurt—" "Fuck you!" Julien's bloodshot eyes blazed as he swung his hand, landing a sharp slap across Jonah's face. The illusion of his frailty shattered. A crimson handprint bloomed on Jonah's cheek in a split second, the flesh puffing up visibly. But the sting barely registered. Not when the ache in Jonah's chest was alr
Justin frowned as a hint of surprise flashed across his dark eyes. He had assumed Newton's unannounced appearance at the board meeting—along with Alyssa's involvement—was a coordinated effort with Jasper to overthrow him as president. After mentally running through hundreds of countermeasures, the one possibility he hadn't considered was that everything would proceed smoothly in his favor. Javier was equally stunned, though this outcome aligned with his desires. Today, Justin wasn't merely his son but a constant shadow looming over him, a silent predator watching his every move and reminding him that his past actions weren't completely buried. Instead, this secret loomed like a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment, obliterating everything he'd built. And the person holding the detonator was Justin—his eldest son whom he had trusted above all others. With a dim gaze, Javier watched Justin rise to his feet amid the applause. Suddenly, Justin's voice seemed distant,
Justin curled his lips into a smirk, scoffing in silence. Newton had gone to great lengths to bring Alyssa into Beckett Group. This was his way of decentralizing power and keeping it in check, and he wanted to prevent Justin from having complete control. Unlike others, Javier couldn't hold himself back. He blew his top instantly, his face turning red like a tomato. "Dad, have you lost your mind? Don't you know who she is? She is KS Group's president—our direct competitor!"KS Group is also bidding for Project A5. No matter how much you favor her, you should at least recognize the limits. If you promote her, it's a blatant conflict of interest—outright cronyism!" Newton sneered. "I might understand your concern if I were promoting someone other than Alyssa."His gaze hardened. "Cronyism? A conflict of interest? I wonder who you're really talking about."With those words, he cast a knowing, enigmatic glance at Justin's blank expression. Just then, a board member from Javier's