Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Cyrus tightened his grip on his cup. His voice carried a hint of melancholy as he said, “And Lauren loves him deeply too.”
“With Landon’s personality, it’s inevitable that there will be another heart-wrenching entanglement,” Jeremy expressed his concern.
Losing Lauren, Landon might spiral into a hysterical frenzy. He wouldn’t let any Harpers who harmed Lauren off the hook. He wouldn’t spare himself either.
Alyssa could tell Cyrus’ feelings for Lauren. After thinking for a moment, she spoke calmly, as if she had reached a decision.
“Cyrus, if you’re not too busy, why not take a few days off and join us to spend time with Lauren? With an extra person around to liven things up, she might feel better.”
Jeremy glanced at her discreetly, knowing her intentions.
“I’ll definitely be there if Lauren needs me.” Cyrus’ lashes fluttered as he tried to restrain himself. “But right now, she needs you and Landon more than she needs me.”
Alyssa fell silent.
She wasn’t deliberately trying to matchmake Cyrus and Lauren. She just wanted everyone around her to be happy. She couldn’t bear to see her brother suppress his emotions and suffer from lovesickness.
Time ticked by.
After what seemed like an eternity, Lauren returned to the living room with a sheet of paper. She handed over her portrait to the three of them.
They gathered eagerly and flipped the paper over.
On the pristine white paper, the man’s gaze was as cold as a blade, his eyebrows sharp, and his facial contours strikingly handsome.
The drawing was extremely vivid.
Jeremy stared at the portrait and couldn’t help but marvel inwardly that it was indeed an impressively striking face.
Just as he raised his gaze, he noticed Alyssa and Cyrus staring at the portrait in astonishment. Their expressions mirrored each other’s.
There was shock, surprise, and disbelief on their faces.
“Lyse, Cyrus, what’s wrong?” Jeremy couldn’t help but worry.
Alyssa’s hand trembled uncontrollably as she held the portrait. Her eyes suddenly reddened. “Lauren, are you sure this is what he looks like? Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Lauren nodded firmly.
In an unusual departure from his usual composure, Cyrus fixated on the portrait, his usually steady demeanor giving way to a tense stillness, his eyes tinged with red.
Concerned, Lauren approached him, noting the uncharacteristic reaction. “Cyrus, are you alright?”
Cyrus responded hoarsely, “I’m sorry. I need to go to the restroom. Where is it?”
Jeremy raised his hand, indicating the direction. Cyrus immediately left with purposeful strides.
“Lyse, do you recognize him?” Jeremy hugged Alyssa by the waist and asked with anxious urgency.
Alyssa took a deep breath, striving to quell her tumultuous emotions. “He bears a striking resemblance to my late brother, Damien, who perished in a plane crash.”
Jeremy and Lauren widened their eyes in disbelief.
Damien’s untimely demise had left an enduring wound in the Taylor family’s collective heart. Tears welled in Alyssa’s eyes as she reflected on the painful memory.
“Our family refrained from discussing Damien ever since his passing, especially in the presence of Mandy and Cyrus. Not out of forgetfulness, but because his memory was too painful to confront.”
Alyssa closed her eyes, inundated by memories. The ache of loss resurfaced, threatening to overwhelm her. “I can still vividly recall the day of Damien’s passing. Clad in his pilot uniform and a piece of luggage in hand, he stood in the sunlit courtyard, waving goodbye with such vitality.
“We never imagined it would be our final farewell.
A fleeting goodbye transformed into an eternal parting.
Jeremy’s grip on Alyssa tightened, a heavy sadness settling upon him like an oppressive weight, suffocating in its intensity.
He wanted to offer solace, yet any words seemed feeble in the shadow of such profound loss.
Lauren’s sudden realization jolted her, her gaze following Cyrus’ departure with concern etched on her features.
“The person in the portrait doesn’t only look like Damien; he is the spitting image of him!”
Alyssa’s trembling fingertips tightened around the paper. “But the authorities confirmed there were no survivors from Damien’s flight. It’s inconceivable…”
“This is unbelievable.”
Jeremy gently caressed Alyssa’s shoulder. His voice was slightly hoarse as he said, “Even if you didn’t see his body, the chances of surviving such a plane crash are nearly zero.
“Plus, if Damien miraculously survived the crash, why didn’t he reach out to the family?”
“Could it just be a coincidence?”
As Cyrus returned, his attempt to conceal his emotions faltered, his reddened eyes betraying his inner turmoil. “Could this person be Damien’s double? How else could they resemble each other so strikingly?”
“It’s a possibility,” Jeremy murmured.
“After the plane crash, Winston and Mandy never lost hope. They tirelessly searched for Damien, leveraging every connection they had.
“Mandy’s refusal to accept his loss, fueled by the absence of definitive proof, kept her clinging to the belief that her son might still be out there.
“Damien’s supposed death anniversary was never recognized by her; instead, she celebrated his birthdays, holding onto the hope that he’d return from what seemed like an extended journey.”
Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. “I can’t fathom how Mandy would react if she encountered this person. She’d be driven to find him, even if just to catch a glimpse.”
Cyrus studied the man’s face intently. “He bears resemblance to Damien, yet his eyes lack Damien’s warmth. Damien’s gaze was like a tranquil waterfall, but this man’s eyes seemed devoid of emotion, like a cold blade.”
A heavy silence descended, thick with unspoken thoughts.
Jeremy’s jaw tightened as a realization dawned on him.
“Speak your mind, Jeremy. It’s alright,” Alyssa urged, sensing his turmoil.
“Lyse, remember the woman who looked exactly like you? The one that Jameson kept by his side.”
“You mean Amber? I remember.”
“Jameson used her to deceive me, making me believe she was you. It was a trap.”
Jeremy’s expression darkened with doubt. “This man’s resemblance to Damien seems too convenient. It’s intertwined with Landon and Lauren’s situation. Could Jameson have a hand in Preston and Zoe’s affairs?”
Jeremy’s words snapped Alyssa out of her somber reverie.
Their minds couldn’t help but gravitate toward that possibility, and the more they considered it, the more plausible and concerning it seemed.
“We’ve discussed this before. Preston and Zoe lack the capability to find such a skilled accomplice on their own. There must be someone behind the scenes aiding them.”
Jeremy’s eyes gleamed with insight as he methodically analyzed, “What if it’s Jameson seeking revenge? It’s conceivable. Moreover, Cyrus mentioned earlier that the killer is likely a foreigner. Jameson has been in Kontina for years; it wouldn’t be difficult for him to recruit assistance for Harper and Zoe.”
“Revenge? If Jamiper wanted revenge, it should be directed at us. What does it have to do with Landon and Lauren?” Alyssa’s frustration bubbled to the surface. “Does he have nothing better to do than meddle in the Harper Group’s affairs?”
“Lauren is my sister, and Landon is like a brother to me,” Jeremy replied, his voice tinged with suppressed anger and loathing. “Now, do you understand, Lyse?”
Aware of Lauren’s presence, he tempered his words, though his emotions simmered beneath the surface.
Jameson was a deceitful manipulator, a predator masquerading as a friend, and a malevolent force lurking in the shadows. It seemed plausible that he would seek revenge on those close to Jeremy, since he couldn’t directly target him.
Jameson was acutely aware that Lauren held the highest place in Landon’s heart. Deliberately, he entrusted the knife to the Harpers, intending to wield it as a weapon to shatter the bond between
Landon and Lauren. He wanted Jeremy’s loved ones to experience the pain of losing someone dear.
This pain undoubtedly felt like using a blunt knife on Jeremy’s heart.
Alyssa’s breath slowed as she pondered deeply. “Your analysis holds merit, Jeremy, but these are distinct circumstances. Does Jamiper need to employ the same tactic twice?
“He orchestrated the manipulation of a woman resembling me to undermine you, clouding your judgment. Why dispatch an assassin resembling Damien? It seems superfluous.
“Moreover, Jameson was known for his meticulous nature. Wouldn’t we connect the dots and discern his involvement if he repeated the same scheme? Would he be so careless as to leave a trail for us?”