Justin sat by the window with his eyes closed, basking in the warm, golden sunlight.His fair complexion and chiseled face gave him an air of nobility and an effortlessly captivating charm. If Alyssa hadn't already known the truth about him, she, too, might have been fooled by his appearance."Mr. Beckett," she greeted as she walked up to him. Justin slowly opened his eyes, lifting his chin to meet her gaze with a gentle intensity. "Ms. Alyssa, have you decided to accept my suggestion?" he asked. "Be honest with me—are there any side effects to this medication?" Alyssa's voice was hoarse, strained with emotion.Her eyes reddened as she continued, "I am not going to put my father's life at risk." Justin shook his head slightly. "I'm sorry, Ms. Alyssa. The only thing I can guarantee is that your father will survive. I can't promise anything beyond that."Alyssa balled her hands into fists. "I know you don't trust me. But right now, you have no other choice." Justin's gaze d
Alyssa narrowed her eyes, her gaze cold. The man before her often disguised his vile and vicious nature beneath a fragile exterior. Justin was everything Jasper wasn't—where Jasper was honest, strong, and serious, Justin exuded a chilling, sinister energy. He was like a snake in human form, cold and cunning. "Lyse, don't listen to his nonsense," Silas said bluntly. "He's just trying to unsettle you, luring you in with lies."Stepping forward, Silas positioned himself between Alyssa and Justin, confronting the latter. "Are you some plague or sewer pest? Why are you always around? You're not welcome here. Get out of Lyse's sight right now!" "Silas," Alyssa murmured, gently tugging at his shirt as she shook her head. Then, turning her emotionless gaze toward Justin, she said, "Mr. Beckett, you claim you can treat my father's condition. Care to elaborate?" Justin pressed a clean white silk handkerchief to his mouth and nose, releasing a couple of dull coughs and furrowing his br
Winston was wheeled into the ICU once again. Through the massive window, Alyssa studied her beloved father, lying unconscious in bed, looking as fragile as butterfly wings. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, and her body trembled. In the past, she had stubbornly gone her own way, ignoring everyone else in pursuit of love. Yet, Winston had always tolerated her without complaint. For a long time, she had been an ungrateful daughter. And now, in this very moment, she felt like she truly deserved to die. "Don't worry, Lyse. All of us—your brothers—are here with you. Cyrus and the others are rushing back as we speak."Watching Alyssa cry broke Silas' heart. "Lyse, don't cry! Dad was already ill to begin with. This was something that's been a long time coming. It's not your fault. Don't take it so hard. Don't blame yourself." "Silas is right, Lyse. This isn't because of you." Jonah gently placed his suit jacket over Alyssa's trembling shoulders. His voice was hoarse
"Say what?" Alyssa exclaimed. Her face turned pale with shock as she leaped to her feet. Worry surged through her, and her voice began to tremble. "Jonah, why didn't you tell me earlier? This is serious!""You've been really busy lately…" "So what? Even if I collapsed from exhaustion, I'd still crawl home. He's my father!" Overcome with anxiety, Alyssa grabbed her coat from the back of her chair and headed for the door. "Has Dad's condition stabilized? I'm on my way now!""Lyse, hold on. Listen to me." Jonah exhaled. His voice grew heavy. "This time, Dad's emergency hospitalization has a little something to do with you."Alyssa froze in her tracks. "What do you mean?" "Dad's wives and I have been trying to distract him— spending time with him, watching shows together—because we were afraid he'd see the news about you joining Beckett Group's board and pulling out of Project A5."With a hint of helplessness, Jonah continued, "But even after all that, we didn't expect one o
After parting ways with Alyssa, Jasper frowned as he stared into the night through the car window on the way back. Xavier exclaimed, "What did you say? Sheryl… is Liana?" The revelation struck like a bolt of lightning. Xavier slammed his foot on the brake, bringing the Maybach to a violent stop.Jasper, caught off guard, lurched forward and nearly hit the seat in front of him. "Don't you know who Liana and Sheryl are?" Jasper asked, straightening his posture. "You've been through all sorts of twists and turns. Why are you so rattled?"He tugged at his tie, frustration simmering within him. "I know who they are, but finding out they're the same person—it sends chills down my spine. My throat's dry just thinking about it."Xavier slammed his hands against the steering wheel, honking the horn by accident. "Damn it! Is Liana some kind of curse for you? Why does she keep haunting you like a ghost? Should I call in a sorcerer to perform a ritual or something? You've been ridiculousl
Just as Justin finished speaking, Sheryl heard a series of heavy footsteps behind her—each one sounding like an omen. "Ms. Gillis, it's been a while."Sheryl turned sharply, eyes wide in disbelief."Uri… It's you!""I see you still remember my name."With an insincere smile on his face, Uri walked past her and headed straight to Justin. "Right now, I, too, work for Mr. Beckett. He is my leader."Justin, seated in his wheelchair, lifted his teacup and took a sip. "Our team has become stronger. This is fantastic." Sheryl was momentarily stupefied. Then it clicked. Her eyes widened in realization. "Mr. Justin, the genius professor you mentioned who developed the drug—was it Julien?" A flicker of satisfaction crossed Justin's eyes. "As expected of someone I trained. You're as sharp as ever."Uri's sudden arrival made everything clear.After regaining her composure, Sheryl stepped forward, studying the hardness in Uri's expression. She then asked, "What are you planning?""U