Jonah took a few steps and stood in front of Jasper. He looked down on Jasper's pale face with contempt."Jasper, you truly deserve to die." The next moment, Jonah suddenly leaned forward, knocking Jasper off the chair! The two men fell heavily, and Sean exclaimed in shock, "Mr. Jonah! Be careful!" Jasper's back suffered a severe blow, and it felt as though his internal organs shook with it.Suddenly, a glint of coldness flashed in his eyes. Jonah stared at him with a fierce gaze. He held a sharp cross-shaped dagger high, aiming at Jasper's pupils, as if about to deliver a cruel punishment.Sean panicked and shouted, "Mr. Jonah! Stop!" He comprehended Jonah's feelings entirely. He, too, shared his resentment toward Jasper for robbing Alyssa of her innocence.However, Jonah would be caught up in endless trouble if he harmed Jasper, and Alyssa would be plunged into deep self-blame! This was never the situation Alyssa wanted to see. Jonah should not soil his hands for su
Jonah and Sean left.However, the news of the CEO of KS Group's sudden visit to Beckett Group had rapidly spread throughout the building.Landon helped Jasper back to the office. Xavier also came along as he was unable to shake off his concerns. His arm was dislocated, and his clothes were covered with sweat out of pain, but he didn't utter a word.Landon noticed something was off and then realized Xavier was injured, too. He quickly arranged for someone to take Xavier to the hospital for treatment."Jonah normally appears gentle and refined. But when he goes berserk, damn ..." Landon sighed, finding no words to describe the horror."It's all for his sister. I understand him," Jasper said wearily. He sat on the sofa with his neck tilted back, feeling physically and mentally exhausted.If someone else had bullied Alyssa, he might have acted even more recklessly than Jonah.Thinking about Jonah's parting words, Jasper's breath hitched. He felt as though his blood froze in his
"Stupid! How can that woman be so stupid?" Jasper pondered."Lauren is a witness. Suppose you can't believe others; at least trust Lauren. I'm really surprised. How can you have no memories at all after being intimate with a woman? It's so bizarre!""I don't know. I really don't know ..."Jasper clutched his head. He felt a sharp pain in his heart."That day was the anniversary of my mother's death. I was in a bad mood and drank too much alcohol. Later, I would sometimes even dream of being intimate with Alyssa in bed. I thought it was just a dream. I really didn't expect that we had a night together.""I recall you were still involved with Liana two years ago. You explicitly stated that you intended to reconcile with Liana eventually. "You were convinced that you and Alyssa would end up divorcing because she held no significance in your heart. Doesn't it sound absurd now, Jasper? But those were your own words at the time, weren't they?"Jasper was emotionally shaken by Landon'
Jameson's eyes betrayed a flicker of indiscernible emotions upon hearing Carl's words. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Did you find anything about the man I asked you to investigate? The one that was getting close to Amber."Carl hesitated momentarily before showing a troubled expression and admitted, "I sincerely apologize, Mr. Schmidt. I ... couldn't find anything.""Nothing?" Jameson raised an eyebrow."Yes, I'm ineffective," Carl admitted. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. "I've tapped into all my connections to gather information on that man. But his background is so immaculate. It's like it's encrypted, leaving no trace or any leads.""Oh? Well, he sounds like an interesting person." Jameson smirked, but his eyes lacked any amusement. "I had you assign people to monitor Amber closely. Is she behaving herself?""Of course, Ms. Altman is either at The Millennium or in the villa you arranged for her. She hasn't gone anywhere else.""Keep an eye on her, and d
Axel's lips curled with his usual unruly smile as he discreetly observed Jameson. On the night at the bar, the woman resembling Lyse left in haste and got into a car belonging to the Schmidt family. The alley was dimly lit, and the car's interior remained obscured in darkness. Axel couldn't distinctly identify the man who was with Amber that night.Still, being a top special agent, his remarkable ability to observe and remember details allowed him to confidently surmise that the man was likely Jameson."You must be Lyse's fourth brother. I have heard a lot about you and am pleased to finally meet you in person." Jameson immediately put on a friendly smile and greeted Axel."Oh? You recognize me?" Axel raised an eyebrow. He felt a little surprised that Jameson recognized him. "Lyse and I were childhood friends. My father and Uncle Winston were also good friends. I used to visit your house often as a child," Jameson replied in a gentle tone, smiling. "I know Mrs. Taylor had
Tatiana gently shook her head. "No, based on what I've heard from Mandy and others, it appears that Dad isn't pleased with Uncle Victor's two sons. So, he has been avoiding this matter. But Uncle Victor seems persistent and has even regarded Lyse as his daughter-in-law."Axel sneered. "Hmph! That old man overestimated himself! Lyse is like a celestial beauty. Pairing her with those jerks from the Schmidt family is simply a waste! Winston probably thinks the same. That's why he didn't agree.""Winston does have some insight sometimes," Axel muttered under his breath. …"Lyse, I'm here." Jameson entered the room, moving with a quiet and measured step.A deep ache seized his heart as he noticed Alyssa sitting beside the bed, appearing somewhat drowsy. She seemed to be worn and feeble. Despite being a schemer with numerous misdeeds, he demonstrated unmatched sincerity in his love for Alyssa.In this life, he would marry no one but Alyssa. His feelings had remained unchanged fo
Through the passage of time and a multitude of shared experiences, Axel's mindset subtly and gradually shifted.After a while, Tatiana woke up abruptly. She straightened up in surprise, and her eyes stared vacantly into the distance. She used her hand to wipe away the drool from the corner of her mouth."Why did you wake up already? Nap a little longer," Axel chuckled. Her cute expression reminded him of Alyssa's childhood days."S-Sorry, Axel!" Tatiana panicked. She blushed when she realized that her drool had stained Axel's shoulder."I-I dirtied your shirt. I'll wash it clean when we get home! I'm sorry!"Axel couldn't help but feel sorry for his youngest sister when he observed her distress. The Taylor siblings often revolved around Alyssa, subconsciously considering her the youngest. Little did they realize that Tatiana was the one who needed more concern as she was the youngest in the family. Yet, she was often overlooked."It's okay, don't worry about it," Axel ass
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
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