Cyrus was also stunned. He hadn't expected this incident to be related to Javier's former wife, Anne Bartley.Her death was a confusing case from years ago. If brought to light, it would undoubtedly lead to a grim fate for Sophia.No wonder Sophia had been so desperate to kill Nina."Jasper." Alyssa gazed at Jasper with concern.At this moment, Jasper was staring at the phone with dark eyes. The tears in his eyes were more heartbreaking and hard to look at than the broken screen."What do you mean by no one? There's Liana!"This matter involved Liana too?Alyssa felt a chill down her spine.It was evident that Jasper's mother's death hadn't been an accident but a carefully orchestrated plot by Sophia.When Alyssa had been married to Jasper, she had asked Rosie about Anne's death. However, Rosie had always been hesitant to talk about it and had kept the details about it a secret.Rosie had mentioned that Jasper didn't like anyone probing into Anne's death.She had also said t
In the urgency of the moment, Alyssa exerted all her strength and wrapped her arms around Jasper from behind, securing his tense waist tightly."Jasper! Lyse is right!"Cyrus also stepped forward, blocking Jasper's way. He looked into the latter's pale face. The sadness in his eyes made Cyrus feel deeply distressed."Taking a life demands a price. You're a good person. Why give your life for these wicked animals? If you really want revenge for your mother, you have to stay rational and clear-headed."Yes, Sophia deserves to die. But if you take action, it just means one life for another. Is it worth it for that bitch? If something happens to you, what about Lyse? Have you thought about her?"Cyrus had said so much, but it seemed like only the last two sentences acted like a strong and effective sedative for Jasper.Alyssa was exerting all her strength on Jasper's back. She closed her eyes, tightly holding onto his waist. Even though her face was soaked with cold sweat, she presse
Too much had happened that night.Even Cyrus, a professional police officer, couldn't fully digest it. He had initially wanted Jasper to go home and rest. Yet Jasper was extremely stubborn and insisted on providing his statement.His current condition wasn't good at all.Seaview Manor was a place that brought him unbearable grief and hatred. It was now somewhere he couldn't bring himself to stay.But if he went to Newton's place, he feared he wouldn't be able to hold back his emotions and might break down in front of Newton. That would make the old man worry.Jasper stood at the entrance of the police station in a daze and suddenly forced a bitter smile.The president of Beckett Group, who was worth tens of billions, was now like a lost soul with nowhere to go.It was pitiful, ridiculous, and truly tragic."You can stay at my place tonight," Alyssa said in a gentle tone, making Jasper spin around and stare into her eyes in disbelief.He even thought that he might be hearing th
At this moment, for the first time in his life, Jasper felt a sense of vanity. He suddenly wanted to take a picture and send it to Landon."Who said only you can come here? Look, I'm here too!" he thought."Jasper, what are you looking at?"Alyssa glanced at him with surprise. "Do you know that the look in your eyes just now was like a thief's?""Sorry." Jasper quickly withdrew his gaze, feeling like he had lost control again."Except for the last room on the left on the second floor, you can go into any other room you like. The fridge in the kitchen should have some ingredients Sean left there. If you want to eat, make it yourself. I don't have a chef here," Alyssa said calmly, turning to go upstairs.“Why can't I go into that room?” Jasper asked foolishly."Because that's my bedroom."Alyssa suddenly stopped, looking back at him with a faint smile."Don't worry. I don't have any secrets that can't be seen, nor do I have any old lovers that I can't forget. If you want to visi
"I'm going upstairs."Suddenly, Alyssa felt a weight on her back, and her body leaned forward sharply.Jasper hugged her tightly from behind, enveloping her entirely. He wished he could meld her into his body.His firm and warm chest pressed against her slender back. His intense heartbeat pounded into her, making her head dizzy. A soft and tingling sensation spread from her back to her chest."Jasper," Alyssa called hoarsely as her breathing became rapid.There was a clear sense of resistance in her tone, but this time, she didn't struggle."How could it not be worth mentioning? I won't allow you to say that."Jasper tightened his embrace, his arms holding onto her fragile waist. Meanwhile, his hot breath sprayed onto her neck. "20 years ago, I lost the most important person in my life."20 years later, I found the only woman in my life. I don't want to lose you again. You're everything to me. Lyse, after losing you, every day I live feels like hell."Death wasn't frightening.
"Alright, it's just a small injury. Don't worry—Ah!"Alyssa's vision blurred for a moment as Jasper lifted her up around the waist. Instinctively, she pressed against his chest."I'll take you to your room. You have a first aid kit at home, right? I'll help you bandage it." Jasper stared intently at her as he carried her and headed upstairs."I don't need you to do it. I'm a professional surgeon. I can bandage it myself."Alyssa clenched her hand into a fist as she pounded on his chest. Yet she dared not to use too much force, so it was more like scratching an itch."Besides, I hurt my arm, not my leg. What's the use of carrying me? I can walk by myself!""I know, but I want to carry you." Jasper spoke his mind.Alyssa's fist pressed against his solid chest, her breathing erratic. She even forgot to resist. A rosy blush colored her cheeks.…Jasper carried Alyssa into her bedroom.To his surprise, her room was unexpectedly simple. Although the decor was luxurious, with top-no
It wasn't a heavy slap. Compared to before, Jasper could treat this as a gentle caress from Alyssa. The thought made him smile.Meanwhile, Alyssa wondered what was wrong with the bastard. Had he no shame?"W-Why are you taking my clothes off?" Alyssa asked, wrapping her arms around her chest as she blushed unknowingly.Jasper gazed tenderly at her. "I'm tending to your wound."What an outrageous reason! Jasper was really getting worse by the day!"You … you could have waited until I was dressed in something more suitable or cut my sleeve off right away. Why did you have to strip my shirt off?" Alyssa's face was flushed red as she glared at Jasper.Even her chest had a pink flush on it now. "How shameless can you be?""We used to be married, Alyssa. We've slept together both during marriage and after the divorce," Jasper replied.Alyssa's breath hitched for a moment. Her lips pulled taut as she recalled how Jasper had begged her to satiate him that night. The feeling of his wa
What Jasper would give to devour Alyssa whole. That way, she would always be a part of him and could never escape."Jas—mmh—" Alyssa's words were muffled as Jasper ravaged her lips. Her eyes were moist, whether from grievance or from being overwhelmed by the kiss.Jasper wasn't going to let her go that easily. Their night was surely going to be a sleepless one.He was able to skirt his hand around her injury and gently remove the final shred of clothing on her body.With it, Alyssa's defenses crumpled. Her body softened under his touch in an instant."I'll … I'll be gentle this time, Lyse. Can you trust me, please?" Jasper murmured.Alyssa closed her eyes as she moaned softly. Jasper took that as a 'yes'.The temperature in the room increased as their passion was unleashed.Jasper kissed Alyssa again, no longer restraining himself, though he was gentle.He had improved since last time. Alyssa didn't feel any pain anymore. Instead, she felt pure waves of pleasure that made her
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
Despite his age, Newton exuded the same energy and sharpness he had in his younger days, even when surrounded by the board members brimming with vigor. Despite his quiet presence in the wheelchair, an intimidating atmosphere clung to him. In an instant, Javier was transported back to the days when he worked under Newton's strict supervision."Good day, Mr. Javier and all fellow board members. I assume no one has any objections to my presence at this meeting?"Newton's gaze swept across the room, a perfunctory smile gracing his lips."Of course not. You are part of the corporation's board of directors!" the members responded immediately.Newton nodded. "Much has happened within the corporation lately. Our shares have been fluctuating amid the controversy. "As you all know, I had intended to retire after dedicating most of my life to this company. I wanted to step aside for the younger generation rather than hover over them like a specter, micromanaging everything. "However,
Jasper's arrival plunged the conference room into an uneasy silence, and heavy tension settled over the space. Justin looked up, his expression a frozen mask. A palpable chill emanated from him. Javier's eyes widened in surprise. "Jasper? What are you doing here?" "Even though I'm no longer the president of Beckett Group, I remain a shareholder and board member. It's only natural for me to be here," Jasper replied smoothly as he strolled to his seat. As he passed behind Justin, he abruptly stopped. Without a moment's notice, he struck the back of Justin's chair. The sudden impact made Justin flinch. "Am I right, Justin?" Justin's expression darkened. Forcing a smile, he replied, "As a board member, you have the right to attend, even if you're no longer involved in operations. There's no issue.""If that's the case, why wasn't I informed about this meeting?" Jasper lowered himself into his seat, legs slightly parted, exuding an air of indifference. Yet, beneath the nonc
Beckett Group was, in essence, Javier's heart and soul, forged from his own labor. "Justin set me up, framed me for drug addiction, and bribed my primary physician to give false testimony—all so he could drag me down. The fact that he dared to target me like this means he's willing to betray anyone."Jasper took a deep breath, forcing down the rage roiling inside him as Javier remained silent. "Fine. Even if you insist this is just a family matter, Justin's reputation is already in ruins, and the corporation's stock prices are fluctuating. Are you really going to stand by him, even now?""Justin has explained everything to me. He wasn't aware of the bribery. That female doctor who worked for him acted on her own. Besides, she's been arrested. The backlash against Justin will settle in time…"Jasper listened, his face unreadable, but his heart clenched painfully. A lump rose in his throat, suffocating him.He had lost his mother at a young age, but he had never longed for his fa
Julien's merciless, hate-filled words hit Jonah like a ton of bricks. The pain was unbearable, a gut-wrenching ache that shattered his heart.Under the dim lighting, Julien vaguely noticed a sorrowful tear forming at the corner of Jonah's eye. But before it could fall, Jonah forced a blink, swallowing his emotions whole. Despite Jonah's attempt to brace himself, sorrow engulfed him, a tidal wave of despair. His features mirrored the devastation ripping through his heart. As Evan opened the driver's side door, Julien lurched forward and vomited again. The sickening sound of him retching echoed in the air as if he were expelling everything inside him. "Judas, Mr. Lovelace looks like he's suffering from alcohol poisoning. We should take him to the hospital."Evan's worry deepened at Julien's condition. Jonah wordlessly removed his suit jacket and began cleaning the mess in the car. His chest tightened painfully as he watched Julien groaning, clearly suffering. Then, without he
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