Sophia was in disbelief. How could this have happened?Sophia was nothing without her status as the Beckett Group's chairman's wife. No one would pay her any respect.It was precisely because she was Javier's wife that Jasper and Alyssa had been tiptoeing around her, making it impossible to target her directly.Jasper and Alyssa would undoubtedly tear her apart if she lost Javier's protection."From now on, you're not allowed to step out of Seaview Manor without my orders. If you dare to disobey, I'll send you abroad, and you won't set foot in Solana City again.""How can you be so unreasonable, Javier? I attended the funeral with good intentions to help clean up the aftermath!"It's Alyssa, that vicious bitch, who keeps attacking me. She wants to ruin Beckett Group. It's because of her that things have escalated to this point!" Sophia frantically defended herself."Do you think I'm a fool?"Javier no longer wanted to hear her nonsense. His tone was harsh and filled with hatred
"Also, you know about Lauren's situation. If I divorce, I'll definitely send Sophia abroad. The farther, the better. I fear that Lauren will not be able to bear the separation from her mother, and it may worsen her condition."Rory nodded in understanding, realizing the dilemma Javier was facing."I asked you to find out Jasper's whereabouts. Did you find him? Where has he gone?" Javier asked."Sorry, Mr. Javier. You know Mr. Jasper is quite skilled. If he doesn't want anyone to find him, no one can," Rory replied helplessly.Javier didn't say anything and dialed Jasper's number on his phone.After several attempts, Jasper finally answered."It's so late. Do you have something important?""Jasper, I—""If this is about me returning for a project meeting, you don't need to waste your breath. I won't go." Jasper's attitude was cold. There was no affection whatsoever in their exchange.Javier pressed his lips and asked in a low voice, "Jasper, do you have time tomorrow? Come with
Rory said, "Okay. I'll get it now."Only after Rory left did Javier dare to reveal his vulnerability. He slumped down. Guilt and pain swept over him like a storm, tormenting him in unspeakable ways.At this moment, his mind was chaotic, filled with various voices."I don't know when it started, but I've become someone who can't be separated from you.""Every morning, the first thing she thinks about is how she should die. But when she thinks of Jasper, she can't bear to leave her young son like that.""Even if my mother once loved you, the moment she leaped from Seaview Manor's balcony, she no longer does."Javier opened his eyes abruptly, his heart pounding uncontrollably.Just then, Rory returned with a glass of warm water."Rory, how much do you remember about Anne's situation 20 years ago?"Rory was startled for a second, then replied, "I have a good memory. Didn't you choose me as your secretary because of that? If you have any questions, just ask.""Back then, Anne had
Landon was shocked. His mouth was slightly agape for a while."Jasper, have you realized that you actually have a masochistic tendency? You've got the inclination to become a henpecked husband."At this rate, you'll have to surrender all your credit cards. Damn, will I be the one to foot the bill now every time we go out?""Had you not been the one who has been footing the bills whenever we went out before?" Jasper asked nonchalantly.Landon was rendered speechless.Indeed.Jasper was a complete homebody with no recreational hobbies other than work, exercise, and boxing. From what he remembered, Landon had always been the one initiating everything.He often visited Seaview Manor with a driver and bodyguards to take Jasper out. Jasper rarely took the initiative to plan anything.But Landon was happy with it and had no complaints.Although he lost his father at a young age, he knew he had received plenty of love from his family. On the contrary, Jasper seemed to have everything,
"But can Javier do the same? He's inherently a selfish person. He has never loved my mother. He only loves himself. I don't even deserve Lyse's forgiveness. It's impossible for him to get my mother's."Landon sighed softly, feeling sorry for his buddy.At this moment, a phone call interrupted the heavy atmosphere."How's the situation?" Landon put the call on speaker and asked eagerly."We've got a problem, Mr. Harper." The person sent to track Jeffrey sounded anxious."Just as Mr. Beckett expected, Jeffrey does have a local gang supporting him in Tsulu. We found out that this group is notorious in the area, colluding with Tsulu's officials and merchants."Drug trafficking, arms smuggling, murder ... They're involved in almost every kind of crime. Over the years, they have grown deep roots, and even Tsulu's government and royal family can't do anything about them."Jasper and Landon exchanged serious glances. They knew the situation would be tricky but didn't expect it to be thi
It was late at night. Betty carried a food container and stood outside the door. She knocked gently."You haven't eaten anything all day. You can't keep going like this. I brought some food for you. They're all your favorites. Open the door, Mom."However, there was no response from inside the room.Betty started to feel uneasy, so she turned the doorknob. To her surprise, the door was not locked.She felt a surge of anger.The servants of the Beckett family were opportunistic and snobbish.News of Javier wanting to divorce Sophia had spread throughout the Beckett family. Seeing Sohpia lose power, they started to neglect her.They said they delivered her food, but she didn't open the door. However, the door was not even locked. They were just lying down on the job.Betty entered cautiously. The room was pitch dark, making her shiver involuntarily.Suddenly, moans of pain echoed from the bedroom.Betty's anxiety heightened, and she ran toward the bedroom door.Upon opening th
It seemed that Sophia couldn't meet her demise so soon. Otherwise, Betty's future in the Beckett family would be precarious, and no one would bother planning her future for her.…On the other side, Tristan was packing up at the hospital, preparing to leave Solana City temporarily.Suddenly, his phone rang.Seeing that it was Alyssa calling, Tristan smiled and immediately answered."Ms. Alyssa.""Dr. McAlister, are you still in Solana City?""Yes, I haven't left yet, but I'm about to head to the airport. What do you need?"Alyssa paused for a moment and then said in a low voice, "Don't leave tonight. I'll reschedule your flight for you.""Did something happen?"Tristan appeared concerned. "Do you have other arrangements? If so, I won't leave."In fact, he had no intention of leaving. He wasn't afraid of trouble. He was worried he couldn't help her."Betty will be at your hospital in a while. She must have come to see you for Sophia."At that moment, Alyssa was in the villa
Betty sat alone in her sports car, taking a long time to gather courage before getting out and entering the hospital.She didn't dare bring anyone else with her. This matter had to be kept confidential, and every additional person who knew about it was an additional risk.Betty tried pushing the door, and it unexpectedly opened.The hospital was deserted, as if it had been anticipating her arrival.At that moment, Betty's phone rang.Displayed on the screen was Tristan's number that she just saved."Hello?" she answered, trying to remain composed while looking around cautiously."Ms. Betty, I'm waiting for you in the office on the second floor. Come on in."After saying that, Tristan promptly ended the call without wasting any words.Betty clenched her teeth and went up to the second floor. She approached the office door and pushed it open.Inside, Tristan, in a white coat, was sitting on the sofa with a smile, watching her.When Betty saw him, her pupils constricted.She f
"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
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