Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
“Are you asking me to give up on you? At this dangerous time? Amber Altman, what do you take me as?” Gripped by worry, he gritted his teeth and approached her, but she stumbled backward.
He argued, “Even if you refuse to leave with me, you cannot possibly return to Jameson’s side. He wanted you dead alongside me. Don’t you get it?”
“That’s true. Jameson Schmidt wanted us dead, but you’re still alive. Isn’t that right?” She flashed an impassive, heartless smile, yet her heart was torn apart. “I can only live knowing that you’re alive. If we stick together, Jameson will never let you go, and we’ll never enjoy a day of peace.
“Axel, I have important business here. I don’t have the luxury to be in love. That’s not what I want. But I will always remember the romance we once shared.”
With that, she ran into the hellish ocean of flames, leaving him shouting futilely behind her. “Amber Altman! Come back!”
Her tears scattered in the chilly breeze.
The fire turned the entire villa into a ruin. Not a living being escaped the tragedy.
Ten men, dressed in black and holding flashlights, launched a search in the scorched building.
Meanwhile, Carl stood outside the scene with a pale face and teary eyes. “Search carefully! I need to see her, alive or dead!” “Yes, sir!”
At that moment, he heard a series of heavy and familiar footsteps approaching him from behind.
“Amber… Altman?” He turned around, his features contorting in a mix of shock and delight when he saw Amber, covered in dirt and blood.
“Call off the search. Axel Whitaker is gone.” Amber cast an icy glance at Carl. With a smirk, she added, “I’m sorry for letting down Mr. Schmidt again.”
Startled, Carl rushed up to her and interrogated her in a repressed voice, “Did you let him go?”
“Do you think I’m all-powerful? Of course I didn’t.”
“Amber, this is a final warning. Got it?” Carl grasped her shoulders firmly and panted heavily. “The next time you run into Axel Whitaker, you must kill him!”
She flashed him a fearless smile. “What if I don’t?”
“We’re longtime colleagues. I don’t want you dead!” Carl was ten years older than Amber. Indeed, she had grown up in front of his eyes. He had formed a bond with her because he’d been by her side ever since she enrolled in special training in her teens.
“Amber, just be patient! Let’s all be patient. Once Mr. Schmidt completes the drug experiment for Sir, he’ll gain power over the Schmidt Group and monopolize the country’s pharmaceutical industry! He’ll crush the likes of KS Group and Walsh Group!
“When the time comes, you’ll reap your rewards. We’ll live a good life. Serving Mr Schmidt is your only way out!” A greedy look flashed across her eyes. He did not mind sharing the secret plan with Amber inhis desperate attempt to convince her.
Her eyes wavered. Carl’s words matched Axel’s speculation. However, she was more surprised by the new clue. The enigmatic “sir” appeared to be the mastermind of Jameson’s scheme.
Carl, getting emotional from his heartfelt speech, suddenly pulled Amber into a hug. Despite feeling disgusted by him, she did not shove him away.
She needed to coax Carl, Jameson’s right-hand man and a key to Jameson’s secrets. Only then would she get closer to the crux of Jameson’s evil business operations.
“Amber, listen to me. You must kill Axel Whitaker the next time!” Inhaling deeply, Carl promised her in a tender tone, “I’ll talk to Mr. Schmidt about this. Just listen to me. Stay alive, no matter what it takes!” “Got it,” she replied softly with disgust and indifference in her eyes.
In the deep of the night, Alyssa was soundly asleep by Jeremy’s side while he pored through the financial reports and project proposals. All of a sudden, he heard a knock on the door, followed by Rosie’s worried voice. “Mr. Walsh, Madam Alyssa, are you asleep?” Jeremy tiptoed to answer the door to avoid waking up Alyssa. “Mrs. Rosie, it’s late. Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”
“Mr. Walsh, Mr. Axel is here!”
“Mr. Axel? Lyse’s brother?” He was taken aback.
“Yes! He looks quite upset. He’s in the living room. Please check on him!” Mrs. Rosie reported.
At that time, Alyssa rubbed her eyes groggily and shuffled up to Jeremy in her fuzzy slippers. “Jeremy, did you just say that Axel was here?”
“Sorry for waking you up.” He gently held her by the waist with a tender look.
She leaned against him, their bodies separated only through a layer of silk fabric. “I’m fine, but I’m worried about Axel. He won’t show up late at night for no good reason. Jeremy, let’s meet with him now.”
…
Jeremy’s and Alyssa’s jaws dropped when they saw Axel standing in the living room with torn clothes and a blood-stained face. Alyssa had never seen Axel in such a disheveled state in her life. He had always appeared invincible.
Of course, Axel would never reveal to Alyssa the times he flirted with death during his missions.
“Axel, what’s wrong? Are you injured?” Alyssa hurried up to him and ran her fingers across his shoulders. Her face turned white from the shock.
“Lyse, I’m fine,” Axel replied.
He was an empty shell of his self. His eyes were vacant, and his voice low. Worried sick, she asked, “How could you claim you’re fine? What happened to your face and your clothes?”
Moments later, Axel looked up with restrained feelings that threatened to inundate him. Breathing slowly, he began, “Lyse, I’ve not asked you for any favors these years. This time, I need a favor from you. Please.”
Jeremy widened his eyes in shock at Axel’s sorry state. He had seen Axel’s many sides. Axel was cynical, playful, and sometimes ruthless, but he had never revealed such desperation.
Alyssa shook Axel by the shoulders and croaked, “Axel, what’s with the formalities? Just ask away!”
“Can you save her?”
“Who?”
He choked on his emotions. “Amber Altman.”
Jeremy and Alyssa were caught off guard. This was the first time they heard Axel mentioning a woman’s name.
Axel lowered his gaze and grabbed the pack of blue pills from his jacket. He placed them in Alyssa’s palm.
She put on a look of disbelief. “Axel, where did you get your hands on these pills?”
“It was Amber.” Pressing his lips, he gathered himself and recounted the eventful night. Jeremy and Alyssa listened intently, holding their breaths. The heart-stopping story gave them goosebumps, making their hair stand.
“Jameson Schmidt is still the mastermind in the end. Right?” Jeremy clenched his fists resentfully. “He falsely presented these mysterious pills as common drugs and made Aidan Lovelace market them. At the same time, he exports these pills overseas by buying out the drug dealers.
“This might appear like a typical drug smuggling operation, but Jameson was in fact running experiments on the drug users. It was never his intention to make money from these pills!”
Alyssa chimed in, “Drug trials are a notoriously complicated and lengthy process, spanning from initial research to clinical trials and regulatory approval. This could take anywhere from five to ten years. Besides, animal testing cannot beat human experimentation in terms of precision.”
The deeply unethical nature of the scheme incensed Alyssa further. “By amassing sufficient test subjects, they could gather comprehensive clinical data and accelerate the R&D timeline from a decade to a mere two or three years!
“We could only assume that the drug was pretty potent from Jameson’s bold decision to undertake such risks. If his efforts paid off, he could monopolize the market!
“On another note, Nicholas Novak might have been behind Xavier’s arrest the last time. Colluding with authorities had always been a tactic out of the Schmidt Group’s playbook. I’m sure he has been helping out the Schmidts in the drug experiments as well!”
With exceptional logical thinking, Alyssa immediately pieced the puzzle using the clues provided by Amber.
“I wanted to leave with Amber, but she refused. She wanted to stay by Jameson’s side to spy on him.” A
elhet piercing pain shot through Axel’s et chest when he recalled the determined final look from Amber. “Lyse, I need Amber to be safe. I don’t want anything happening to her!”
Alyssa clutched his cold hands and questioned, “Axel, are you…”
He choked up while staring at Alyssa’s lovely face. Though Amber once resembled Alyssa, she was now unmistakably her own person instead of a substitute.
Amber was unique; she belonged to him and only him.
Overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, Axel declared with unwavering resolve, “Alyssa, I’ve fallen for her. I love Amber Altman.”
Alyssa and Jeremy found themselves speechless at Axel’s newfound feelings. They had always perceived Axel as a carefree player who never knew how to love, a man who cherished his freedom more than anything else.
The truth came as a shock to the couple, especially to Alyssa, who knew Axel better than anyone else.
When she first requested Axel to get closer to Amber, he grinned evilly and promised to carry out the mission flawlessly. He might lose an organ in the process, but never his heart.
He had completed his mission. Though Alyssa had no idea if he had sacrificed his organs at any point, one thing was for sure he gave his heart to Amber.
“Are you being serious, Axel?” she asked him for confirmation, gaping at him.
Axel returned her gaze with seriousness. “Lyse, I never understood your obsession with Jeremy, but I think I know now.”
He did not address her question, but his reply was more touching than a mere confirmation.
Jeremy, standing behind them, closed his eyes bitterly. He stated, “Axel, you and Amber have my full support if you’re truly in love with each other.”
“Me too, Axel.” Alyssa inhaled sharply. Her eyes sparkled with determination.
Their encouragement moved Axel. He said in a shaking voice, “Lyse, does it bother you that Amber once worked for Jameson? Do you mind her looking like you “
