Daimon smiled affectionately as he held Oasis in his arms, but his sharp eyes never left the computer screen. With a few swift keystrokes, he uncovered the truth—this account belonged to the hacker who had just attacked his company. His gaze darkened.He turned back to Oasis, his voice gentle but probing.“Sweetheart, can you tell Daddy who was using this computer before you?”It was a simple question, asked with a soothing tone. But to Oasis, it felt like a trap. He couldn’t tell the truth, not without breaking his promise to Joxan.Pulling out his best trick, Oasis pouted and clung to Daimon’s arm.“I was alone, Daddy! I was just playing a game,” he whined dramatically. Then, with a sly glint in his eye, he added, “Why are you being so fussy? Do you not like me anymore? Maybe I should go tell Mommy you’re bullying me.”The gathered teachers and staff tensed, exchanging nervous glances. Meanwhile, Oasis doubled down on his performance—his lips trembled, his big eyes filled with fake
Daimon, however, had no patience for pleasantries. His gaze was sharp, his voice edged with worry. "How is she? I was told she was stable—why is she suddenly in danger again?"At the mention of Enlyan, Mini’s face darkened. Her simmering anger reached its boiling point. She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "And why are you asking me? Since when did I become a doctor? How would I know?"Her words were sharp, but it wasn’t just irritation—it was resentment. The moment she thought about everything Enlyan had endured, everything Iris was suffering now, she felt like she was going to explode. "If it weren’t for you, my Iris wouldn’t even be here right now!"Daimon’s jaw tensed. He exhaled sharply, trying to keep his temper in check. "Mini, don’t talk to me like that," he warned. His voice was strained, but he forced himself to remain civil—for Iris’s sake. "You think I wanted this to happen? I never wanted her to be hurt."Mini scoffed, her eyes burning with resentment. "Oh, really? How l
Daimon’s heart pounded in his chest as he took a step forward, brushing past Mini despite her resistance. He needed to be sure."Kid, what did you just call her?" His voice was sharp, urgent.Mini moved to stop him again, but Daimon barely registered her presence. His attention was solely on Joxan.Now that he looked closer, the boy’s features were strikingly familiar. Not to the current Iris, but to the Enlyan he had once known. And those eyes...A storm raged inside Daimon’s mind. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen it before. If Joxan was Enlyan’s son, and he was four years old...Could he be his son?His pulse skyrocketed. "Tell me," he demanded, his voice betraying a rare tremor. "What did you just call her?"Joxan didn’t react. He didn’t even glance at Daimon.His focus remained solely on Enlyan, his voice soft but steady. "You promised, Mommy. You said when your job was stable, you’d take me and Jessica to the zoo. But now you’re lying here..."Tears welled in his eyes, but he r
Daimon’s gaze darkened, his fingers drumming against the armrest.Ertha didn’t like the tone of that message one bit. Mr. Austin wasn’t someone they could afford to provoke.And if Daimon wasn’t careful, things could spiral out of control very soon.Daimon waved Ertha away, leaning back against the cold hospital wall. His head felt like a chaotic storm, thoughts clashing and overlapping. He had never felt this lost before.His mind drifted back five years—to the pregnancy test he found too late, to the nights Enlyan quietly endured treatments, hoping to conceive. She had tried so hard, and he… he had only given her indifference. Not because he didn’t care, but because he didn’t know how to face her.Deep down, he had wanted that child. He had even restructured the company's shares, intending to leave a portion as a gift, whether it was a boy or a girl. He thought it was the least he could do. But then—Katrina appeared, claiming to be pregnant with a child from the Blackwood family.Da
Daimon frowned slightly. "Why would I do that on purpose?" He could sense the hostility in Joxan’s tone, the distrust beneath his words.The boy’s lips pressed together tightly before he blurted out, "Because you—"He stopped himself just in time. His chest rose and fell as if he were holding back something explosive."Because I what?" Daimon asked, his voice softening.Joxan suddenly turned his back to him, crossing his arms in frustration. His small figure looked stubborn but heartbreakingly vulnerable."Because you don’t like my mom, me, or my sister! You just want us to disappear, don’t you?"He didn’t say it out loud, but Daimon could feel the weight of those unsaid words hanging between them.Joxan’s jaw tightened, then he stood up and said coldly, "Leave. My mom won’t want to see you when she wakes up."Daimon sighed. "I’m her boss."Joxan turned, his eyes flashing. "Then I’ll tell her to quit."That cut deep. Daimon felt an unexpected ache in his chest. The boy didn’t just dis
Daimon’s face darkened even more. "He still hasn’t revealed who was in the computer room before him?""No, the young master insists he was alone in the room. Maybe we were wrong to suspect him?"Ertha had watched Oasis grow up, and seeing him cry so bitterly made his heart ache. Even Daimon, despite his cold exterior, felt a pang of guilt. But remembering the stolen business secrets, he exhaled slowly and said, "Tell Katrina not to punish him.""Understood. I knew you wouldn’t be too harsh on him. Should we head back and check on him now?"Daimon’s expression remained unreadable. "No, I have something else to handle."Without another word, he turned and walked away. Ertha watched him go, puzzled. Daimon had always been protective of Oasis—why did he seem so distant now?But Daimon wasn’t ignoring Oasis; he had another priority. Instead of going home, he drove straight to a secured warehouse, where the wreckage of the car was stored.Surveying the mangled remains, he crouched down, sea
"Baby, I'm so sorry… Mommy didn’t mean to make you worry."Enlyan reached for his trembling hands, guilt filling her chest as she held them tightly.Daimon stood still, his expression unreadable as he listened to her soft words. The way she called Joxan baby made something stir inside him. A question burned at the tip of his tongue, but given the situation, he swallowed it back. Now wasn’t the time.Joxan clung to his mother, his small frame shaking as he finally let himself cry like the child he was.The doctor and nurse stood awkwardly nearby, exchanging glances before looking toward Daimon for direction.Clearing his throat, Daimon finally spoke. "Joxan, your mom just woke up. Let the doctor check on her, okay?"Joxan hesitated, his brows knitting together. But after a moment, he obediently stepped back.Without thinking, Daimon reached out and took the boy’s hand. Joxan instinctively tried to pull away, but his tiny fingers were no match for Daimon’s firm grip.Daimon didn’t let g
His voice was low and firm as he said, "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Mr. White won’t be able to come for the time being. I’ll be handling everything here."The moment Enlyan heard that, her entire body tensed. Her heart sank."What do you mean? Why can’t he come? What happened?"Austin had been a constant presence in their lives. No matter how busy he was, he always made time for them.For him to be unable to come now… something serious must have happened.A sense of unease spread through Enlyan as she stared at Daimon, waiting for his answer.Daimon’s face darkened as he watched Enlyan’s obvious concern for Austin."Is he really that important to you?" The thought alone made him furious.It was one thing for the kids to look forward to Austin’s arrival, but Enlyan’s anxious expression—like she truly relied on him—felt like a thorn in his heart.His tone turned cold. "How would I know? His secretary said there’s a family issue, so he couldn’t come. No matter how important you th
Her mind whirled with schemes and calculations. One way or another, she had to find a way to get rid of Iris for good—without leaving any trace that could link back to her.She stomped her foot in irritation, glaring at Oasis, who was still lying unconscious on the bed, his small face flushed with fever.“Useless!” she muttered bitterly. “I went through hell to give birth to you, just so you could live the life of a young master. Yet here you are, lying there doing nothing. Why can’t you think of a way to help your mother for once?”Of course, Oasis didn’t respond—he couldn’t even hear her. And even if he did, he was just a child—too young to grasp her cruel words. Katrina huffed in frustration, wringing her hands as she tried to come up with a plan. She couldn’t let Iris take everything from her.Just then, the door creaked open, and she heard the low murmur of voices outside. Daimon and Ertha had just come out of the study. Forcing a look of concern onto her face, Katrina hurried ov
Ertha paused and shook his head, keeping his tone neutral. "No, nothing about the company, Miss Katrina. I’m just here to see the boss. We’ll talk later." Without giving her a chance to question him further, he quickly moved past her and entered the study.Katrina’s heart pounded with unease as she watched him go. Something wasn’t right—Daimon’s secrecy, the doctor’s vague explanation, and now Ertha’s haste. Her instincts screamed that there was more going on than just Oasis’s health.Katrina's heart pounded as she pressed her ear closer to the study door, straining to catch every word. The hallway was empty, and she knew she was risking a lot by eavesdropping, but curiosity burned inside her.Inside the study, Daimon's voice remained calm but razor-sharp. "So, someone tampered with the car before Iris drove it that day?""Yes, sir," Ertha confirmed. "I reported it to the police. They've started investigating, and a few witnesses mentioned seeing a suspicious figure enter the garage t
Once back at home, Daimon was greeted by Katrina, who rushed toward him with tears streaming down her face. “Daimon, I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to punish Oasis a little. I didn’t think he’d be so stubborn. I’m sorry. I really am. It’s my fault.”Her tears and frantic apology irritated Daimon, but he tried to keep his composure. “I know you acted out of concern. How is Oasis? Has he seen the family doctor yet?”“He’s still being examined,” Katrina replied, her voice trembling. Her red eyes showed genuine worry, but Daimon was too focused on the situation to respond with much sympathy. He walked briskly toward Oasis’s room with Katrina trailing behind him.Inside, Oasis lay on the bed, his face flushed with fever. He mumbled weakly, "Cold..." Daimon’s heart tightened at the sight. He placed his hand on the boy’s forehead, feeling the heat radiating off him.“In the future, don’t touch the child like that again,” Daimon muttered sternly to Katrina.Katrina’s face crumpled, and she w
His words, while thoughtful, still left her feeling flustered. "I told you, I don’t need you! Why can’t you just listen to me?" Before she could finish, Daimon scooped her up effortlessly and, without another word, placed her back on the bed."If you're tired, you can rest. And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m not going anywhere," Daimon said, his tone firm yet oddly considerate. He then sat down on the nearby sofa, opening her laptop and diving into his work.Enlyan lay there, feeling too embarrassed to speak as he conducted a video conference.She felt like an outsider in her own room as he casually dealt with business matters, as though she wasn’t there. But what truly surprised her was how little Daimon seemed to care about her presence. His work was on full display in front of her, with no attempt to hide the company’s struggles."Sir, the company’s confidential files have been leaked. The damage is already done, and the immediate loss is 300 million. What should
Enlyan watched the exchange quietly, her heart sinking further. She sneered bitterly to herself, the bitterness weighing heavily on her chest."See?" she thought. "This is the man you once loved with everything you had. This is the father of your daughter."Her eyes narrowed as she reflected on the contrast of Daimon's reaction to Oasis's fever. He was nervous, yes, but not in the way a parent should be. It was a far cry from the kind of care he would’ve shown if it were another child—perhaps Katrina's.How could he be so indifferent to the life and death of his own flesh and blood? Even if he did care, could he truly be as worried as he would be for someone else's child?She shook her head slightly, her thoughts spiraling with the realization that the man before her—who had once been everything to her—could never be the father she had hoped for their child.The realization left her feeling hollow and betrayed."What happened to Oasis?" Daimon demanded, his voice low and full of fury.
Enlyan scoffed bitterly, but tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. The realization hit her hard—loving him had always been a losing battle. She had loved him with everything she had, yet he had never once looked at her the same way.Even if he was good to her now, it was only because of her status and what she could offer him professionally. Men like Daimon were practical and realistic—love had nothing to do with it.A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she wiped away her tears, forcing herself to regain her composure.She whispered to herself, "Never again."Enlyan wiped the tears from her cheeks and picked up her phone, turning it back on. The screen lit up, and she hesitated for a moment before dialing Austin’s number. He answered almost immediately.“Iris, did he give you a hard time?” Austin’s voice was tense with concern.“No,” Enlyan replied softly, trying to keep her voice steady. “To him, I’m just a stranger now.”Austin let out a sigh of relief, a faint smile in his tone.
Austin still wanted to say something, but before he could, Daimon suddenly snatched Enlyan’s phone from her grip and spoke coldly into the receiver."Mr. White, handle your own matters. As for Iris, I'll be the one taking care of her."Enlyan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Daimon! What the hell are you doing? Give me my phone!" she yelled, reaching for it, but Daimon stepped back, completely ignoring her protests.Consumed by a surge of jealousy and frustration, Daimon didn’t give Austin a chance to respond before ending the call and switching the phone off. The possessiveness blazing in his eyes made Enlyan’s blood boil."Daimon, are you out of your damn mind? That was my phone, my boss, my friend! Who gave you the right to interfere like that?" she snapped, her voice trembling with fury.She looked like a furious little kitten, baring her claws and ready to fight. The way her eyes flashed with anger cut right through Daimon’s heart, but his irritation only grew stronger. He couldn’t
Enlyan felt her heart jolt, but she refused to show it. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the warmth that flickered in his gaze and the determination in his tone. Why is he doing this now?Daimon quietly poured a glass of warm water and placed it on the bedside table before settling into a chair next to Enlyan’s bed. He opened his laptop, his voice low and gentle as he spoke.“You’re injured—get some rest. I won’t bother you. If you need anything, just call me. You don’t have to treat me like your boss right now. Just think of me as... your personal caregiver.”Enlyan shot him an incredulous look. Caregiver? This man had truly lost his mind! She scoffed, trying to mask her confusion.“You’re the president of the company,” she argued. “I can’t just treat you like some... male nurse. Besides, there’s a gender issue here!”Daimon raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “Gender issue?” he repeated, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Are you worried because you’re bei
Daimon’s eyes flickered with something unreadable as he felt the emptiness on his face and hands. It was like his heart had been left hollow too. He thought back to the endless, sleepless nights in that cold, empty bedroom—nights where he had nothing but memories to keep him company.And now, after five years, she was right in front of him—alive, breathing, her emotions dancing openly across her face. Seeing her here made his heart feel warmer than it had in years. Even if she refused to admit who she really was, even if she kept pretending to be someone else, it didn’t matter. Sooner or later, he would break down that wall and see the truth behind her disguise.A faint smile curved on his lips, one so full of warmth and affection that it sent a shiver down Enlyan’s spine. She couldn’t help but feel uneasy. What’s wrong with him? The man who had always been so cold and distant was now looking at her as if she was his entire world.Was he crazy? What game was he playing this time?“Dai