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Novel Catalog
Chapter_4
Five days later, Jasper stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows in his office, his tall figure casting an imposing silhouette against the sprawling view of Solana City below. He had called his secretary, Xavier Hall, into his office for an update.
“How is the investigation on Alice White going?” Jasper’s voice was low, controlled, yet edged with an undercurrent of tension.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Beckett. There’s no progress,” Xavier reported nervously. “After Madam Alice left that night, she didn’t return to the sanatorium where she worked. I even went to her listed address, but it was fake. There are no families with the last name White in that area.”
Jasper’s gaze snapped to Xavier, his eyes narrowing. “The address is fake?” His voice was chilling, his patience thinning. “You’re telling me everything she told us was a lie?”
Xavier hesitated, then nodded. “I also checked with the local police station—there’s no record of her. She doesn’t exist.”
Jasper stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing. Who had he married? Was she hiding something, or was she part of a larger plan? The questions gnawed at him.
He took a deep breath. “She left with Jonah Taylor that night. There’s no connection there?”
Xavier shifted uneasily. “To be honest, if Mr. Taylor intentionally hid his involvement, it would be difficult for us to find any traces.”
Jasper’s anger flared at the mention of Jonah’s name. “Jonah Taylor—a man who’s as cold and ruthless as they come. How could he steal someone’s wife right under my nose?”
Xavier shifted uncomfortably. “Well… He’s not exactly stealing her. More like… taking over her duties.”
Jasper’s glare was enough to silence Xavier. He hadn’t given him permission to speak further.
Jasper couldn’t shake the image of that night—Jonah’s protective stance, the way he had shielded Alice from him. Why did she have this power over Jonah? He had always known Jonah to be indifferent, almost unfeeling. Yet, here he was, acting like a knight in shining armor. Was there more to Alice than he had realized?
The memories of his own words to Alice echoed in his mind. “Jasper, can we not get a divorce?”
“It’s because I love you!”
His jaw tightened. “Liar,” he muttered under his breath, anger flaring anew.
Before he could get lost in his thoughts, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. Liana.
He quickly answered, forcing his voice to sound neutral. “Lia? What’s the matter?”
“I’m in your company’s lobby. I brought some dessert for you. I want you to try it right away,” Liana’s voice was sweet, almost syrupy, over the phone. It made Xavier cringe.
“You’re in the lobby?” Jasper frowned, looking uneasy.
“Yes, Jasper. What’s the matter? Don’t you want to meet me?” Liana teased.
Jasper’s jaw tightened. “It’s nothing. Xavier will bring you up.” He ended the call quickly, his expression darkening. This situation was already complicated enough—he didn’t want any rumors about his divorce to spread, especially not while Liana was in the picture. His reputation could take a hit.
Before he could process more, his phone buzzed again. This time, the caller ID showed Grandpa.
His heart sank.
“Grandpa,” Jasper answered, trying to steady his voice.
“You fool! Bastard! Do you never listen to me?” Newton Beckett’s angry voice blasted through the receiver. “Haven’t I told you that you’re not to see that woman again if you marry Alice? But now you’re bringing her to the company? You’ve ruined everything!”
Jasper’s stomach churned. His grandfather’s voice was sharp, full of fury. He had known this would happen. Newton had always been particular about family image and reputation.
“Grandpa,” Jasper said carefully. “The three-year contract is up. You promised me that after three years of marriage to Alice, I could choose to stay or leave. I’ve chosen to leave.”
Newton’s voice cracked with anger. “You… you divorced her? After all she’s done for this family? How could you betray her like this?”
Jasper’s face hardened. He took a step closer to the door, his eyes scanning the office. “Grandpa, it’s over. I’m with the woman I love now. Alice has signed the papers, and we’ll file for divorce soon.”
Newton’s face paled, his anger turning to something closer to shock. “You really went through with it?” He looked like he might collapse from the news.
Jasper moved quickly to steady him, but Newton shoved him away in a burst of fury. “I don’t want anyone else! I want Alice back! Do you hear me? I won’t eat or sleep until she’s back with us!” He threw his cane down, his tantrum more childlike than anything else.
Jasper stood there, helpless. He wasn’t sure how to deal with this. “Grandpa, please. It’s over. Alice and I—”
Before he could finish, Newton fell backward, clutching his chest. Jasper and Javier, his father, rushed to his side in a panic.
“Dad, you can’t get so worked up! He just signed the papers, they haven’t filed yet!” Javier cried, trying to calm his father down.
The room was chaotic, and in the midst of the turmoil, Jasper was left with no choice but to call Alice, hoping she would be able to help.
But when the phone rang, he was greeted with an automated message. “The number you have dialed is not in service.”
Jasper’s grip tightened around the phone. “Damn it!” He slammed the device down, his frustration boiling over.
Meanwhile, across the city at the KS World Hotel, a crowd of executives waited anxiously for the new general manager to arrive. Whispers filled the air, many of them skeptical of the new manager’s ability to turn the company’s fortunes around.
“I heard the new general manager is a woman,” one murmured.
“Great, another one who’ll fail like the four men before her,” another muttered. “Mr. Taylor must be sending his least important daughter to handle this mess.”
Just then, a Rolls-Royce pulled up to the entrance, followed by several Maybachs. The executives went silent as they noticed the car’s exclusive 9999 license plate.
The door opened, and a pair of high-heeled shoes with signature red bottoms stepped out first. Then, a woman with long, flowing hair and a commanding presence emerged from the car. The crowd fell silent, staring in awe.
Alyssa Taylor, stunning and confident, stood tall before them. She flashed them a cool smile. “Hello, everyone. I’m your new general manager. And just to set the record straight—I’m not an illegitimate daughter. Sorry to disappoint you.”
The room went dead quiet. The murmurs from moments ago vanished instantly, replaced by palpable fear. Alyssa had just hacked into the hotel’s surveillance system while still in the car, showing them that she was far more capable than they had anticipated.