Alyssa was reminded of the past the moment she heard Javier had arrived. Knowing he had never been particrly fond of her, she rose to her feet. "Grandpa Newton, I''ll step out for a while so you and your family can have some space."


    Jasper''s gaze darkened, his heart skipping a beat. He was about to ask her to stay, but Newton beat him to it.


    Grabbing Alyssa''s slightly cold hands, Newton pulled her back down beside him. "What nonsense are you spouting, Alyssa? You''re not an outsider. If anything, you''re closer to me than my own son. You''re my most beloved granddaughter-inw!"


    Tears welled in Alyssa''s eyes. "Grandpa Newton..."


    Newton snorted. "Just be yourself, even in front of Jasper''s father. Do as you please. You and I are family. As for him and me.... Hmph, that''s another matter entirely."


    At that, Jasper''s lips curved faintly.


    Momentster, Ben led Javier in, with Rory trailing behind. Javier was usually impably dressed, carrying himself with quiet authority. But today, he looked utterly defeated. Even Newton couldn''t hide his shock.


    "What happened to you, Javier? How did you end up like this?"


    "Dad..." Javier''s voice was hoarse. After a sleepless night, his eyes were bloodshot. "There''s something important I need to discuss with you in private."


    "What is it? Just say it here."


    Newton had already shared the greatest secret of his life with Alyssa and Jasper. To him, there was nothing left to hide.


    "If you won''t say it, then save it for another day. I want Alyssa and Jasper to stay with me today. It''s so rare that they visit, and I don''t want to waste a single moment of our time together."


    A suffocating silence settled over the room.


    "Mr. Javier, now that it hase to this, just say it!"


    Rory could no longer hold back. He stepped to Javier''s side, his reddened eyes zing. "Mr. Justin is no longer the innocent, gentle man he once was. That version of him is gone. Now... Now, he''s a monster through and through!


    "Your family has never truly been united, never worked toward the same goal. And now, if you keep thinking only of yourself, it won''t just be Mr. Beckett Senior or Mr. Jasper who suffers.


    "Mr. Justin will drag the entire Beckett family into ruin. You''ve already made one grave mistake. You can''t afford to make another!"


    Javier lowered his head, his fists clenched tightly. He looked like a taut string stretched to its limit, ready to snap.


    Impatient, Newton barked, "What on earth happened? Just spit it out!"


    Alyssa frowned. "Mr. Javier, does Justin have some leverage over you? Did he ckmail you into surrendering your shares and stepping down as chairman?"


    Javier''s head snapped up in shock. Alyssa had struck the truth with uncanny precision.


    Jasper looked at her, his eyes filled with admiration.


    Rory gasped. "Ms. Alyssa... how did you know?"


    "Justin''s murder of the helper has already been exposed. With more evidence, it''s only a matter of time before the police apprehend him."


    Alyssa''s gaze hardened, turning cold and razor-sharp. Yet when she spoke, her


    voice carried a calm steadiness—a quiet assurance that everything was firmly within her grasp.


    She continued, "But now, after being


    questioned over Zachary''s death,


    he''s entangled in yet another


    homicide. His reputation—both


    publicly and within thepany-is


    already copsing


    He no longer


    deserves to remain as president.


    "So to secure his position, he would stop at nothing to seize more shares. Jasper and I are beyond his reach and Grandpa Newton has already transferred his shares to us. That leaves only one person he can target-you, Mr. Javier."


    Jasper''s eyes burned with intensity. "Dad, everyone you can trust is in this room. If something''s weighing on you, tell us now before it''s toote. We still have time to strategize and stop Justin."


    "Dad!" Atst, Javier broke. He copsed to his knees before Newton, his head hanging low. "It''s all my fault. I''vemitted a grave sin. I wronged you and my only younger brother, Chester. I don''t deserve forgiveness!"


    Newton''s eyes widened, his breathing turning ragged. "What..... what are you saying?"


    Rory dropped to his knees too, guilt etched across his face. "Mr. Beckett Senior, please don''t me Mr. Javier. I was the one whomitted those sins. Mr. Javier never wanted to go along with it. I was the one who convinced him.


    "I''ll turn myself in first thing tomorrow morning. Mr. Javier had nothing to do with it. It was my idea, and I carried it out. I killed Mr. Chester!"


    Newton''s expression shattered. He heard every word, yet none of it seemed to register. His body began to tremble uncontrobly. "Chester... Are you saying Chester didn''t die of a heart attack? you... you were the ones who killed him? You conspired... to take the life of my youngest son? My favorite son?"