Justin's smile was nothing more than a mask for his malice. The sarcasm in his voice made one's skin crawl.
Javier snorted, then burst into laughter. It grew louder and wilder by the second until his cackling echoed through the empty corridor. For the first time in his life, he laughed without restraint-completely unguarded.
As the eldest son of the Beckett family of his generation and the chairman of Beckett Group, he had been subjected to the strictest upbringing since childhood. His manners, etiquette, even his posture—everything had been meticulously shaped in the image of aristocracy.
He had lived his entire life within invisible lines drawn for him.
To meet the expectations of an heir, he had always followed the rules, playing every role to perfection—an obedient son, a respectable chairman, a stern father.
There was barely a moment when he could truly be himself.
No—there was one. Only once in his life had he chosen to live for himself. That was when he brought Jasper's mother into the family, defying immense pressure.
And yet, in the end, he still lacked the courage to acknowledge Anne as his rightful wife. Though she was the love of his life, he had subjected her to endless suffering. He forced her to bear a child who grew up under the stigma of being illegitimate, mocked and ostracized by others.
The only time he followed his heart, he ruined everything.
His life was, in truth, a joke.
A cruel, ridiculous joke.
Both Alyssa and Jasper were stunned. They had never seen Javier like this.
Justin fixed his frigid gaze on Javier, who was shaking with laughter. "Why are you laughing?" he asked coldly.
"Why? I'm laughing at you. You calculated every move, used every ruthless means, and in the end, you've only been chasing a ghost."
The amusement in Javier's eyes vanished instantly. He stepped closer, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Justin's. "I am your father. You can scheme all you like, but you are still no match for me."
He enunciated each word with chilling clarity.
"I've already notified all board members of an emergency board meeting in three hours," he added.
Justin's expression darkened.
An emergency board meeting? And he, president of the corporation, had heard nothing?
"Dad, don't you think it's inappropriate to keep me in the dark about a board meeting? I am the president."
His lips curled, his gaze turning glacial.
"There's nothing inappropriate about it." Javier met his bottomless stare without flinching. With nothing left to fear, he was eerily calm. Because three hours, you will no longer be the president of Beckett Group. And you will no longer be my son. Cóntent
"Jasper is my only son. As for you, you're nothing but a vicious, bloodthirsty monster born of that psychotic woman."
The words struck like thunder. Everyone was stunned into silence.
Jasper and Alyssa exchanged a glance. In each other's eyes, they saw the same shock, the same turmoil-something only the two of them could understand.
A vicious glint flashed across Justin's eyes. His smirk twisted as he growled, "So you've made your decision."
Every word he uttered carried a suffocating pressure.
"Indeed I have."
Javier turned to Jasper, and for the first time, a trace of warmth lit his eyes. "I'll transfer all my shares to Jasper. He will not only inherit my stake but also my position as the chairman of both the corporation and the board."
"Dad, why..."
Jasper's eyes widened, the sheer shock leaving him momentarily speechless.
Justin's expression stiffened. "What did you say? Surely this is some kind of joke?"
Javier cast him a cold glance. "Do I look like I'm joking? I meant every word. Furthermore, everything I've said is legally binding. From this day forward, Beckett Group belongs to Jasper and Jasper alone if you want to take it from him, you're welcome to try."
Justin's lips pressed into a thin line. His shoulders trembled beneath his tailored suit
as he let out a laugh filled with pure, unrestrained fury. "Aren't you afraid you'll regret
this?"
A faint smile appeared on Javier's face. His eyes reddened, glistening with unshed tears. "There is nothing I regret more than bringing you into this world."
The moment the words fell, a series of rapid, authoritative footsteps echoed down the corridor.