As soon as Jasper finished speaking, a sharp scream came from the restaurant. Landon suddenly remembered that Vanessa was still in there. She definitely wouldn't sit still. Letting her stay in the same place with Alyssa alone would surely lead to trouble!"Jasper, something has happened! I've got to go! And I can only meet with you tomorrow!" Just as Landon was about to end the call, Jasper asked, "Where are you?" At this time, another piercing exclamation came through. It was way harsher than the first. "At the Trivedian restaurant in KS World Hotel!" After saying that, Landon immediately headed back to the restaurant. The moment he pushed open the door, he was shocked by what was happening before his eyes. Alyssa was grabbing Vanessa by the hair with her left hand. Her right hand was forcefully pressing her head down onto the table. Meanwhile, Vanessa couldn't move at all as both of her wrists were shackled by Alyssa's other hand. This simply looked like the scene of a
"Give it up. It's not going to happen," Alyssa said firmly. "I won't eat with you."Landon clucked his tongue. "Why so harsh? Remember how I helped you teach Dylan a lesson? Think of this meal as thanks for that. Can't you do that?"Alyssa smiled mockingly. "As far as I'm aware, Jasper's the one who helped me out. It's inappropriate for you to take credit for something your best bud did.""Have I done anything to offend you, Ms. White? Why can't you give me a chance?" Landon looked her in the eye. "Is it because you already have Jonah? Does he have the guts to tell the world you're his girlfriend? Because I do!""Mr. Harper, it doesn't matter who came first or last when it comes to relationships. But having shame and morals does." Alyssa's simple sentence was enough to make Landon pale. "I may not have the best upbringing, but I do know what shame is.""When I married Jasper, my heart belonged to him and only him. Now that Jonah's my boyfriend, he's all I can see. I don't mind if
"Fuck! Have you lost your fucking mind, Jasper?" Landon's eyes bulged.Alyssa looked ashen. Her arm fell to her side limply, and cold sweat beaded over her forehead. He and Jasper were exact opposites—he treated women gently while Jasper was too harsh with them!Jasper clenched the hand that had grabbed Alyssa's arm. His lips parted as he stepped back, looking stunned."Ms. White, your arm's dislocated! I'll take you to the hospital right now!" Landon said anxiously. He moved to help her, but she dodged him. "No, thanks. I'll deal with this myself.""How are you going to do that? You have a dislocated arm!""It's none of your business!" Alyssa was genuinely angry now. She glared at him, her hackles raised. Landon was stunned. He didn't dare move.Jasper stared at her. She was his ex-wife, but he felt like he'd never really known her. Throughout the three years of their marriage, he'd only seen her smile and laugh. She'd always been gentle, obedient, and even a little ingratiating
Landon clucked his tongue and ran after them. "She's right! It's inappropriate for you to treat her like this now that you two have divorced! I'll carry you, Ms. White!""Fuck off!""Fuck off!"The former couple spoke in unison. It was just that one of them saw red while the other's face was red. Landon couldn't help thinking that they were pretty similar.…At the hospital, Alyssa was taken into the clinic. Jasper and Landon waited in the corridor. "Damn, Jasper. How could you have treated her like that? Do you think she'd be able to handle your rough treatment? Or were you trying to rip her arm off?" Landon shook his head."How did you know she was working there?" Jasper looked at him coldly. There was a trace of anger in his eyes."I was there for a meal and happened to run into her. Before I arrived, she was doing hard labor at the unloading bay. You should've seen how hard she was working—no one would've believed she used to be a president's wife." He smiled slightly and so
Jasper used to be a cadet of the most elite military academy in the nation. He was enlisted in the army for three years after graduating from the academy. Hence, he was still strong and powerful as ever despite being a businessman.Silas' punch ended up bruising the corner of Jasper's mouth. The latter's body didn't even budge in the slightest."Holy shit! Is he another love rival of mine?" Landon screamed internally. Naturally, he dared not scream in Silas' face.He suddenly remembered the way Alice had mocked him earlier. Apparently, homewreckers mustn't be arrogant. Meanwhile, Silas tried to punch Jasper again out of fury. At that point, the latter would never give him another chance to strike at him. So Jasper dodged the punch swiftly."Jasper, didn't I tell you to stay away from Alice? Are you this shameless?"Silas panted heavily, his eyes now bloodshot. "I'll fucking skin you alive if anything happens to her! Hell, I'll make the Beckett Group pay for this!""Mr. Taylor,
Silas was still furious about what Jasper did. He was about to start ranting when Alyssa glared at him, which shut him up."What the hell? I'll go beat him up right now!" Sean exclaimed. Sean was about to get up and leave when Alyssa called out to him. "It's fine. You can't beat him in a fight anyway. He used to be a member of the Peacekeeping Forces, after all. You might get beaten up instead."She continued, "Besides, he didn't mean to hurt me. That man always underestimates his strength, after all. He doesn't care about me at all.""Why do you sound like you've known him for a long time, Ms. Alyssa?"Alyssa looked dazed for a moment. Then, she pursed her lips and kept mum.Sean didn't know her exact relationship with Jasper for now. She didn't mean to hide the truth from him. It was just that she was too lazy to explain everything to him.Alyssa's relationship with Jasper was already over. She no longer wished to have anything to do with him.…Silas brewed a cup of coffee
Soon, Jasper entered the tailor shop.The old tailor was ironing some clothes at that time. He was surprised to see a handsome customer walking into his shop."Ah, it's you!""Money is no issue here. I hope that you can help me out with something."Jasper opened the box with a light frown on his face."Oh, dear! What happened to the suit? Why is it all torn?" The tailor's heart broke at the sight of the torn suit."It's all my fault." That was the only excuse Jasper could come up with."That young lady spent such a long time making this suit just for you. I've witnessed the way she struggled when she worked on that suit. It's as though I helped make it."The old tailor shook his head sadly. "What a shame. This is such a nice suit.""Is there a way for you to fix it?" Jasper asked."How am I supposed to do that? I can easily patch up the inner fabric, but it will be difficult to fix the outer fabric."For some reason, Jasper tensed up when he heard the tailor's response."Ju
"But my sister is an upstanding businesswoman. It's very unfair for her to be slandered like that. Besides, this just had to happen when Lia and Jasper were about to get married …" Sophia said. "Upstanding? You mean dishonest!" said Newton scornfully. Sophia froze upon hearing his words.Newton continued, "Don't think I know nothing just because I'm old and no longer on the front lines. The Gardner Group dug its own grave by doing business dishonestly! Also, you don't have to threaten me with Jasper. If he wants to marry a woman from the Gardner family, then I shall disown him! You guys can go ahead and date whoever you want. You don't even have to come to my funeral when I die!" Newton ranted."Dad!" Javier sighed. Sophia was crying, but her gaze was icy. She was done being oppressed by Newton for more than twenty years! She wished he would die with regrets! "Grandpa!" Jasper strode toward Newton and reached out to stroke his back, but Newton pushed him away. "You don't have
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
The hospital ward grew heavy with silence. Mandy and Neil stared at Alyssa, stunned beyond words. "M-Ms. Alyssa, you knew that man was Mr. Damien?" Neil asked, disbelief etched into his voice. "Yes." Alyssa's reply was quiet, her lips pressed into a thin line. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "We found out when Cyrus took Damien's cigarette butt for a paternity test."Mandy approached Alyssa, her shoulders trembling slightly. "So, you and Cyrus knew… and you both kept it from me?" Mandy said, her voice catching in her throat, tears welling up. Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. "Mandy, I'm sorry. It was my decision. Cyrus had nothing to do with it."Mandy's tears fell freely now, her grief spilling out in raw sobs. "Do you know what it's been like for me all these years, thinking Damien was gone? Winston, Miley, Lyla, and Colene kept telling me to move on. I tried to accept that he was dead, that we'd never find his body. But I never did."Her vo
The hospital ward was bathed in a dim, yellow glow from the bedside lamp. The silence was thick, yet the room held a strange warmth—an unfamiliar comfort that felt oddly familiar to Remy.Pain radiated through his body as he struggled to sit up. His eyes fell on Mandy, who was asleep beside his bed. Her hair was a mess, and her swollen eyes suggested she'd been crying. She was sound asleep. Remy stiffened. His breath quickened as he stared at her fragile figure. Slowly, he leaned forward, his fingers lifting slightly, tempted to reach out.Just as his hand hovered close, Mandy's lashes fluttered. In her sleep, she murmured, "Damien… Damien… I miss you so much…" Tears slipped down her cheeks, silent and unbidden.A pang tugged at Remy's heart. Without thinking, he brushed away her tears with his calloused fingers. The moment his skin touched hers, a jolt shot through him, sharp and electrifying. Pain throbbed at his temples, but beneath it was a warmth he didn't want to let g
Justin's casual question hit Javier like a thunderclap. Shock rippled through him, freezing his expression. His voice trembled with fear as he barked, "What nonsense is that? Are you accusing me of causing Chester's death? I'm your father—how could you think I'd do such a thing?""It's not an accusation. Just the facts," Justin replied coolly, crossing his legs and savoring his tea with unsettling calm. "And I'm not condemning you. In fact, I understand why you did it. I'm facing the same dilemma now."Javier's breathing grew ragged. He had watched Justin grow from a child into the man before him—now a predator, circling with quiet menace."You were meant to be the heir as the eldest son," Justin continued, his voice smooth as silk. "But Grandpa favored Uncle Chester, handing him major projects, grooming him in plain sight. "Uncle Chester's reputation soon eclipsed yours. He was a natural leader, adept at business, with one fatal flaw—he was kind. Too kind. Unlike you."Justin
Nonetheless, night had fallen by the time Justin arrived at Seaview Manor. On his way there, he worked on two things. First, he secured the top legal team to get Sheryl out on bail as quickly as possible. Second, he tried reaching Remy—unsuccessfully. He had never lost contact with Remy before. Justin's face was as dark as the night itself. The moment he stepped inside Seaview Manor, Rory approached with a solemn expression. He gave a slight bow before speaking. "Mr. Justin, what took you so long? Mr. Javier has been waiting.""I was occupied," Justin replied coolly. Then, as if it were an ordinary evening, he allowed a faint smile. "Where's Jasper? Is he back here yet?" A conflicted look came across Rory's face. "Things between you and Mr. Jasper have soured. I doubt he'll want to see you anytime soon—or show up here.""Is that so? How disappointing."Justin's smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze lingered on Rory, sharp and bottomless. "So, he'd rather believe what he se
Jonah scoured every corner of the hotel, desperation clawing at his chest, but Julien was nowhere to be found. "Jonah!" Alyssa called out, breathless as she caught up to him. She grabbed his arm. "Calm down! I'll help you search for Jul!""I can't find him. He's gone," Jonah murmured, sinking to the floor. His tears mixed with sweat, creating dark patches on the ground. "Lyse… I fear… if I can't find Julien this time, I'll lose him forever."The agonizing thought of losing the love of his life pierced him. "No, you won't!" Alyssa gripped his arm tighter, her voice trembling with conviction. "If Jul had given up on you, he wouldn't have come here today. The fact that he showed up means he still cares."Jonah's eyes were bloodshot, filled with a pain too deep to hide. He shook his head slowly. "Julien came back for Jasper. He did it because he's loyal… because he's a good friend. Not because of me.""He does care!" Alyssa insisted. "If he didn't, he would've faced you without fli
"Don't say that. You've done really well so far!" Xavier said gently, his voice a steady anchor as he tried to comfort Julien.He continued, "Many people spend their whole lives unable to quit even common drugs. The substance Mr. Beckett took is far more potent. The fact that he's found any relief at all is remarkable."Jasper's senses gradually returned, but he was left drained, and his eyes struggled to focus. "Julien…" "I'm right here," Julien murmured, leaning in to gently wipe the tears and cold sweat from Jasper's face with a tissue. Struggling for breath, Jasper rasped, "Keep my condition… a secret… especially from her." Julien didn't need to ask who he meant. It had to be Alyssa. It wasn't pride that fueled Jasper's plea. It was something deeper—a desperate wish to shield Alyssa from the sight of his brokenness, to spare her the disappointment of seeing him like this.Xavier helped Jasper to stand before addressing Julien. "Dr. Lovelace, I hope you understand—the f
Xavier gasped for air, his eyes fixed on the washroom door, now barricaded. He felt a sudden, clammy dread. Lost in his throes of addiction, Jasper's eyes glazed over as he succumbed to the familiar pull of unconsciousness. He was a sitting duck, helpless and at the mercy of whatever came his way. With a fierce glare, Xavier snatched up a mop and stormed to the door, his voice sharp and strained. "Who's there?"A steady and low voice came from the other side of the door. "Mr. Hall, it's me. Julien." Xavier's grip loosened, the mop clattering to the floor as tears burst forth. "Dr. Lovelace!" "Don't panic. I'm the only one out here. There's no one else here." Julien's voice softened, laced with urgency. "Jasper is having an episode, isn't he? Let me in so I can take a look at him."Hastily wiping his face, Xavier shoved the cart aside and fumbled with the lock. The door creaked open, and Julien slipped inside, lithe and precise, locking it swiftly behind him. "Dr. Lovelace,
Alyssa's body trembled, disappointment and shock flashing in her eyes. "Jasper…" The reporters' cameras clicked furiously, capturing Jasper's retreating figure. The crowd exchanged puzzled glances."Jasper, where are you going?"Landon, dumbfounded, instinctively moved to chase after him, but Xavier grabbed his arm, stopping him forcefully. "Mr. Harper, leave him to me!" Without another word, Xavier took off after Jasper.A strange unease settled over Landon as he stared at the open door, a sense of impending doom creeping in."Landon, stay here and watch over Lyse. Julien has disappeared—I'm going to find him!" After saying that, the grim-looking Jonah strode out of the room too. "Hey! You—" Landon clenched his jaw in frustration. "Why am I always left behind to clean up the mess?"Meanwhile, the reporters surged forward, swarming Justin.Sheryl tried to shield him behind her, but in heels, she was no match for the jostling crowd. She was shoved about, her outfit rumpl