Zander's POVDamn it! We were just minutes away from tumbling into bed together.The damned lights returned like a cold blade, ruthlessly severing the aura we had been wrapped in.The moment the power came back, it was as if the world snapped back onto its tracks.The flame that had just ignited between us was wavering under the sudden brightness.Jessica seemed to regain her senses with the return of the lights, pushing me away forcefully.I was still dazed, and stumbled backward from the force of her push.Each intimate moment we had just shared shattered like foam.But I was already aroused.My pants taut with the discomfort of my erection.When Jessica's gaze inadvertently swept over the evidence of my arousal, it was like a jolt of electricity, hitting me and causing every nerve to tremble with excitement.Yet the clear embarrassment on her face doused me with cold water, cooling the passion that had just been boiling.She quickly averted her head, avoiding my gaze.Then, she sai
Jessica's POVThere were two reasons for me saying that to Zander.First, I was ready to face the trouble head-on.Second, I was telling Zander that he didn't need to take care of me anymore.After all, I planned to divorce him. Our current intimacy was inappropriate.Zander immediately caught the implication in my words.His eyebrows furrowed. Then, he instinctively retorted, "You're not fully recovered. Why the rush to go to the company?"I looked at him, my tone resolute, "It's just a common fever. I'm not as fragile as you think. Moreover, can I hide here for the rest of my life?"Zander's lips twitched. He wanted to argue, but in the end, he sighed and said nothing.For a couple of years, he knew me well. Once I made a decision, it wasn't easy to change.He looked at me helplessly. I found the creamy mushroom soup suddenly tasteless.I watched him put down his knife and fork. I immediately stood up, taking his plate."I'll clean up today," I said.I stacked the dishes and carried
Jessica's POVTabitha's words had barely left her lips when Alvin and I exchanged a swift glance.We were confirming our shared suspicions in that instant.Ever since I received that malicious email, I had felt a vague connection to Frank, though lacking concrete evidence and unsure of his further moves.However, it seemed that he was not as formidable as I had imagined. His tactics were just so-so.Alvin nodded slightly and turned to Tabitha, his tone steady and calm, "I see. Release what we prepared earlier.""And that's all?" Tabitha questioned."One more thing, check who is absent now," Alvin added.Tabitha's face was etched with concern. She wanted to say something more but stopped herself, simply responding with an "Okay," before hurrying out of the office.The door closed. Alvin and I took out our phones to check Frank's live stream.On my phone screen, Frank's face loomed large. His expression was exaggerated and almost comical as he spoke at length.He waved his left hand tow
Jessica's POVFrank's voice was so loud. It seemed to make my phone vibrate with his fervor.However, it couldn't quite mask the lack of conviction in his words.Watching his performance, I couldn't help but sneer, "His mind is really strong. He's still lying at this point."Alvin also shook his head helplessly and said, "Otherwise, how could he have been causing so much trouble in Alpha for so many years? People like him have long cultivated a 'strong mindset'."Frank's channel was flooded with more viewers.More and more people began to question him based on the evidence we had released.Frank didn't want to respond, but he had to face it.Just then, there was a knock on his door.Frank was taken aback for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief.He muttered quietly, "Who's here at this time?"He got up to open the door. When the door opened, his face turned pale instantly.Several police officers stood sternly at the door, one of them saying, "Frank, you are suspected of spreading
Jessica's POVI stood quietly. Gazing at the bodyguard and the impressive convoy before me, my thoughts inevitably drifting back to my childhood.It was a time deeply branded by my family's unique background.My father, the legendary figure who once commanded the entire Mafia kingdom in the underworld, made a significant decision that changed the fate of our family - entering the business world.However, this decision was not without its challenges.Many rival Mafia families still harbored resentment towards us. They were seeking opportunities to provoke trouble.During those days, my life was surrounded by strict security measures.Whether it was my daily commute to school or occasional outings, I was always accompanied by a group of well-trained bodyguards.Later, Justin made an extremely cautious arrangement.He chose his most trusted subordinate, Johnny, to become my adoptive father.As a result, I spent most of my time living with Johnny.I only returned to New York, to the home
Jessica's POVI walked into the dining room, where the butler stood respectfully to the side, swiftly pulling out a chair for me.My gaze casually swept across the open kitchen, catching sight of a figure in a pristine white chef's uniform bustling about the stove.Justin seemed to notice my attention and explained, "This is the chef I've specially invited for today. He's a master chef from a three-star Michelin restaurant. His culinary skills are exceptional. You'll get to taste it."I nodded as he skillfully flipped the steak. His every movement was smooth and fluid, as if he was performing an exquisite dance.In no time, a perfectly cooked steak was served in front of me. The tender meat had a delightful caramel color.The side dishes were also arranged with care, resembling a piece of fine art.A small stir in my heart, Justin remembered my favorite medium-rare.As I took a couple of bites of the steak, savoring the wonderful taste of the meat, Aurelia, sitting opposite me, said w
Jessica's POVThe clear sound of the notification was jarringly out of place in the quiet room, instantly shattering my reminiscence.I walked over to the desk and saw a new email on the laptop screen.The unfamiliar sender piqued my curiosity. With a click of the mouse, I opened the email to find a video file attached.Could this be some kind of virus?Despite my concerns, my overwhelming curiosity led me to click play.As the video began to load and the image gradually clarified, my heart sank as if plunged into an icy lake.The video was a surveillance recording. The familiar layout and setting let me instantly identify it as Zander's office.In the footage, a man and a woman were seen entwined, subsequently engaging in intimate acts.The woman, with long and thick golden curls, was straddling the man's lap, slightly tilting her head back.It was Serena!And the man facing away from the camera was indeed Zander. I remembered the suit he was wearing. I must have been standing at the
Jessica's POVI don't know when I drifted off into a deep slumber, but I remember waking up to the sweet embrace of a dream.As the first rays of morning sunlight gently caressed my face, I awoke with an unprecedented sense of relief.Upon arriving at the dining room, Justin and Aurelia were already seated at the table.Justin was flipping through a finance magazine, while Aurelia sipped her morning tea quietly."Good morning," I greeted them with a smile.The maid approached and placed a glass of milk in front of me."Please replace it with juice, thank you." I instructed the maid on a whim.As usual, Justin casually cut his food while nonchalantly asking, "How many days do you plan to stay at home this time?"I was taken aback for a moment, realizing that deep down, I was looking forward to returning to Los Angeles.After pretending to ponder for a moment, I said, "I'll be heading back tomorrow.""What?" Aurelia looked at me in surprise.My face immediately felt hot. I coughed light
Jessica's POVI had a dream where I returned to my youth.Then, I saw Zander, too.I didn't know why, but the moment I saw him, I wanted him desperately. He seemed to know what I was thinking and strode over, grabbing my shoulders and kissing me fiercely."Zander, no, I mean... okay... oh," I moaned as he moved my underwear aside and began to slowly glide his tongue all around me. "Mm," he groaned, looking up at me. I felt like I was already close. It felt so good that I was.I succumbed to his advances, the warmth and pleasure so real.After the shuddering, I felt a sense of emptiness, as if he had never filled me. I struggled to hold him back as he prepared to leave, and in an instant, I opened my eyes. I found myself lying on a soft, warm bed. The bathroom door was tightly closed, with the sound of water running inside. That familiar, comforting feeling enveloped my mind.Wait, didn't I go drinking with Genevieve? But why did I go drinking?My head spun, unable to think clearly.At
Zander's POVI looked down at Jessica with a mix of frustration and concern.Her eyes were closed, her long lashes resting peacefully on her cheeks, indicating she was genuinely intoxicated rather than feigning drunkenness to curse at me.'This damned woman.'I cursed under my breath but bent down to lift her from the sofa.As I walked out of the private room, guests in the bar corridor stepped aside, forming a path as my bodyguards swiftly moved to shield us from the onlookers. Dwayne led the way with a respectful and upright posture, each step measured and rhythmic.Holding Jessica close, I left Racket. As soon as we stepped outside, a bodyguard who was less intoxicated assisted Genevieve. I spoke in a cold yet authoritative tone, "Arrange a car and have someone see her home."Then, I proceeded to my car with Jessica in my arms.Suddenly, I noticed subtle footsteps and turned to see Dwayne by my side. I frowned and asked, "I'm driving myself home. Why are you following me?"Dwayne's
Zander's POVHarrison Group Tower was nestled in the most bustling and expensive part of Los Angeles. My office, perched atop the tower, boasted the finest view, where I could be the first to witness the sunset over Los Angeles. Yet at that moment, I sat behind my desk, my thoughts drifting, utterly unable to concentrate. The sky outside the floor-to-ceiling glass panes gradually darkened.The scene of Jessica and I leaving the courthouse together kept replaying in my mind.This wasn't the first time Jessica had proposed divorce. Like last time, I had many ways to delay it, but I didn't.As Jessica turned and left, watching her resolute back, I felt a sharp pain in my heart. I still loved her. Yet our love was hurting each other.She had become restless due to Johnny's unresponsive state, but she never considered how much I wished my father were alive, even if in a coma like Johnny.That was an unbridgeable gap between us.A knock on the office door interrupted my thoughts. I gathered
Jessica's POV"Do you think I can't afford clothes like her?" Sybil glanced at me, her expression daring the clerk to challenge her.The clerk, seeing Sybil seemed ready to ignite, didn't dare to ask further questions and went to the fitting room to tidy up the clothes and brought them out, held a pile of clothes that reached half her height.Sybil's face froze at the sight of the towering stack of clothes in the clerk's arms.At that moment, Genevieve, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, mimicked Sybil and Tawny's tone, "Oh dear, can't you afford these clothes?"I couldn't hold back any longer and let out a chuckle.Sybil's face turned gloomy, saying, "It's just a few pieces of clothing, who can't afford them?"Holding her credit card between two fingers, Sybil handed it to the clerk, saying, "Check them out for me."The clerk hurriedly began to tally up the cost of dozens of items. After the clerk finished ringing up the clothes, she smiled at Sybil and said, "Miss Wickers, the to
Jessica's POVExiting the heavy doors of the courthouse, sunlight bathed me, yet I felt no warmth.Zander stood there quietly, his figure slightly forlorn. His lips trembled, on the verge of speaking, a look that left a bitter taste in my heart.I stopped and asked softly, "Anything you want to say?" Zander just stood in silence, as if time had frozen. After a long while, he shook his head gently.I let out a faint, bitter smile, "You're still like this, always keeping things to yourself. But from now on, I might not have the chance to hear what you want to say."Zander opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, no words came out.I didn't linger and turned to leave. I got into a taxi and messaged my best friend, Genevieve. "Dear Miss Woods, I've divorced. Could you accompany me to clear my head?"The message was barely sent when her reply popped up on my screen, "What? You divorced? What did that jerk Zander do?! I mean, of course, where should we meet?"I was amused by
Jessica's POVI immediately pressed the answer button on my phone."Jessica, we've been monitoring Mr. Wyatt's indicators, and they've just shown abnormal fluctuations, triggering the alarm. We'll arrange for a comprehensive physical examination. Just in case, you should come back to the hospital," the attending physician's voice echoed over the phone.Hearing this, my heart instantly clenched."What do you mean? He was fine when I left. Is it a sudden deterioration?""We're not sure of the cause of these fluctuations, so we need to conduct tests. It's just that if other treatments are needed, family members can make decisions directly," the attending physician replied."Okay, I'm coming right back!" I hung up the phone hastily and turned to rush to the hospital.However, Zander grabbed my arm at that moment.His grip was like a vise, preventing me from moving."Where are you going? Didn't you say you wanted a divorce?" Zander said in a deep voice.I twisted my wrist, but I couldn't b
Jessica's POVI sat quietly outside Johnny's hospital door throughout the night, watching as the sky gradually lightened.As I began to feel the weariness, a voice suddenly spoke from behind."Ms. Riddle? Is that you?" I was startled and turned to find Ned.He must have been coming for his shift. I straightened my clothes and stood up, "Yes, let's go in together." "Ms. Riddle, have you been sitting outside for long? You could have asked Emmett and the others. They're on duty and could have let you in," Ned said.I shook my head slowly, not wanting to disturb others' rest, and I needed this solitude to sort out my chaotic thoughts.Ned didn't press further. He silently followed by my side, but I could see the confusion and a hint of concern in his eyes.As a subordinate trained in the family, this was a rule set when Justin was still the mafia boss. They were not to question the arrangements and commands of their superiors. Although the Riddle Group has successfully transitioned into a
Zander's POVSunlight streamed through the window, gradually pulling me from a chaotic slumber.My consciousness slowly gathered in my mind, and sensing the bothersome light, I opened my eyes to find that it was already daytime. The lingering dizziness and headache made me instantly realize that I must have been drugged yesterday.I sat up abruptly and looked around. The room was empty, with no sign of anyone else. Only my suit and shirt were neatly folded on the bedside table.At that moment, a slight noise came from outside the bedroom, as if someone was walking cautiously.I frowned, and a name flashed through my mind, Tawny.The image of her handing me that glass of water last night replayed in my mind like a movie. I pursed my lips, got out of bed, and quickly put on the shirt placed on the bedside table. Usually, when I'm extremely angry, I become unusually calm.I strode to the door, flung it open, and saw Tawny coming towards me with a tray in her hands. The tray was filled wi
Jessica's POVAnger, grievance, and disappointment, a tapestry of emotions intertwined. I felt I couldn't bear any more, so I turned and left the villa. It was unknown how much time had passed before I regained my senses. The cold night wind played with my long hair, and the dull ache in my head made me realize I had been walking alone for quite some time.I couldn't believe that Zander, that jerk, believed Tawny wasn't capable of harm. He wouldn't even deign to listen to what I had to say. Tawny's hypocritical face lingered in my mind. At the business dinner, when she falsely accused me of splashing wine on her, I thought she was just a woman who loved to stir up trouble. But now, I realized she was far more sinister than I imagined.Just like a moment ago, I knew her admission was meant to provoke me, yet under those circumstances, my emotions were still affected by her. I couldn't help but sigh, turned around, and walked back, as my car was still parked near the villa. Cars rushed