Embarrassment flickered across Wren's face as she muttered, "I didn't… I just didn't know the situation before, okay?""If you don't know the situation, then don't meddle," Gabriel rebuked.After a moment of silence, Wren stole a glance at Gabriel and softly said, "Gabriel, this time it's my fault. I'm sorry. But Wil absolutely cannot be sent back to Jane. Who knows how she'll treat him? She's already proven she's capable of terrible things."Just thinking about Jane intentionally causing Wilhelm's allergic reaction made Wren's skin crawl. What kind of mother could be so cruel?"I know what I'm doing. From now on, if Jane contacts you, don't respond," Gabriel instructed.Wren quickly nodded. "Okay… I understand…""If there's nothing else, you can go. I have work to do," Gabriel dismissed."Alright… I'll leave now…" Wren answered.As Wren walked out of the villa, she finally let out a sigh of relief.Just as she was about to call her driver, her phone rang.Seeing that it was
Jane smiled and praised, "You're such a good boy, Wil. Come here—Mommy wants to tell you something."Hesitant but trusting, Wilhelm slowly moved closer to her.The moment he was within reach, Jane grabbed his collar, her expression dark and menacing. "When I called you earlier, why didn't you come immediately?"Terrified, Wilhelm turned pale, tears brimming in his eyes. "Mommy… I was scared…""Scared of what?" Jane demanded."Scared you'd hit me… Waaaah…" Wilhelm cried.When Wilhelm had been staying with Gabriel, he'd worried he'd never see his mother again.But now, seeing her up close, she seemed frightening—nothing like the gentle mother he used to know.Jane's patience snapped at the sound of his crying. "Shut up! If you keep crying, I'll throw you out!"Wilhelm immediately clammed up, though he couldn't stop the little hiccups that followed. His face was streaked with tears, making him look pitiful.Just then, the door to the room opened, and Wendy walked in carrying som
Gabriel smiled. "Grandpa, rest assured—I'm not here to scheme against you. I've come to return the gaming company to the Wilkie Group free of charge."Pedro's sharp eyes narrowed coldly. "You're being this generous? I don't buy it.""Of course, I have conditions," Gabriel replied evenly."And what are they?" Pedro asked."I want a divorce from Jane, full custody of Wilhelm, and for the Wilkies to send Jane abroad permanently. She's not to return," Gabriel stated firmly.Pedro raised an eyebrow, surprised.Returning such a lucrative gaming company just for a divorce? As for sending Jane abroad—that was already part of his plan.Pedro remained silent, but Gabriel showed no impatience. He sat quietly, waiting for a response.After a long pause, Pedro finally spoke, his tone icy. "How do I know you're not bluffing? You could strip the company of its core assets and leave me with an empty shell."Gabriel chuckled. "Of course not, Grandpa. That gaming company may generate hundreds o
Jane's words were met with Pedro's cold stare, causing her to stiffen. "Grandpa, don't tell me you're actually considering this!""That gaming company generates hundreds of millions in profit every year," Pedro said pointedly."So what? You're willing to force me into a divorce for the sake of a company?" Jane questioned."Jane, recovering that company would stabilize the Wilkie Group's finances. And let's face it, there's no love left between you two. Dragging this out serves no purpose," Pedro replied.Jane laughed bitterly. "Grandpa, you've said it all, haven't you? What more can I say? But don't forget—Gabriel has Nyce Tech. If I divorce him, we lose half of Nyce Tech."Pedro shook his head at her naivety. "Nyce Tech was established before your marriage. Even if some of its profits were earned after, he's had plenty of time to hide assets. You won't get a dime."The fact that Gabriel had been able to remain so low-profile within the Wilkies for years proved how difficult it w
After receiving the shares, Jane said coldly, "Tell Gabriel to send the divorce papers to the villa. Once the one-month cooling-off period is over, we'll finalize the divorce."Pedro nodded, a rare smile crossing his face. "There's no need to wait a month. You can get divorced today."Time was of the essence. Neither he nor Gabriel had the patience to wait.Jane scoffed, her expression mocking. She had expected this seemingly smooth process to come with strings attached."Fine. Have Gabriel come over," she said.…Gabriel arrived quickly.After transferring ownership of the gaming company back to Pedro, he and Jane headed to the courthouse to finalize the divorce.As Jane held the divorce certificate in her hand, she couldn't help but laugh bitterly. Her life had truly become a joke.Outside the courthouse, Gabriel glanced at Jane, who sat in her wheelchair, and handed her a document."Jane, consider this my compensation for five years of marriage. From now on, we'll go our s
At that moment, Wendy emerged from the kitchen and was met with the sight of Gabriel and Jane locked in a tense standoff, while Wilhelm sobbed uncontrollably nearby.She hurried over, frowning. "Ms. Wilkie, Mr. Hackett, if you're going to argue, at least don't do it in front of the child."Jane scoffed. "We're divorced. What do you expect?"Wendy froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Divorced? For real?"At the mention of the word "divorced," Wilhelm's sobs grew louder, his cries piercing the room.Frustrated by the noise, Jane snapped, "Stop crying! All you do is cry! Can't you do anything else?"Wilhelm flinched at her outburst but continued crying even harder.Gabriel took a deep breath and turned to Wendy. "Take Wilhelm upstairs and pack his things. I'll be taking him with me."Wendy hesitated. "You're taking Mr. Wilhelm away?""Yes. I have custody," Gabriel answered.Wendy glanced at Jane, who remained silent, her expression cold.Understanding the situation, Wendy sigh
Wilhelm's eyes were red, filled with reluctance as he looked at Jane. "Mommy… I don't want to leave you…"At that moment, Jane was overwhelmed by a wave of sorrow.The thought of Wilhelm being taken away by Gabriel, with no guarantee she'd ever see him again, made her heart ache as if it were being torn apart.She hugged Wilhelm tightly and looked up at Gabriel. "I don't want your money anymore. I want custody of my son!"They were divorced now. Gabriel would undoubtedly remarry soon. When he had a new wife and child, there would be no place for Wilhelm in his life.Gabriel's expression remained cold. "Jane, are you insane? What makes you think I'd ever give you custody?"Considering her past actions—hitting Wilhelm and intentionally giving him allergenic food—Gabriel was resolute in not leaving Wilhelm in her care."I gave birth to Wilhelm! How dare you take him away? You're just doing this to chase after Nyla! Why even bother with Wilhelm?" Jane spat.He despised her so much.
Jane's face flushed with anger as she exclaimed, "He's my son too!""But I hold custody now," Gabriel said firmly. "Don't waste your time trying. He's staying with me."Without another word, Gabriel ordered Wilhelm to be picked up from the study."Gabriel, you can't just take Wilhelm away like this!" Jane cried.Gabriel motioned to his guards. "Take her upstairs."Jane shouted after him, "Even if you take him today, I'll find a way to get him back!"Gabriel cast her a cold glance. "You're welcome to try. Let's see if you have what it takes to fight me."The guards escorted Jane upstairs.When Wendy returned with Wilhelm a few moments later, Gabriel was the only one in the living room.Wilhelm clung to Wendy, unwilling to move.Wendy patted his head, her voice gentle. "Mr. Wilhelm, go with your father."Compared to Jane's volatile behavior, Wendy believed Wilhelm would be better off with Gabriel.Wilhelm stayed put, unwilling to let go of Wendy.Gabriel stepped forward and
"Yeah, I just got home. How's your mother doing now?" Valarie asked."Her condition is stable. Veevee… I need to ask you something," Stefan said.A flicker of surprise crossed Valarie's eyes. "What is it?"There was a brief silence before Stefan spoke again. "Never mind, it's nothing important. Get some rest. Goodnight."Before Valarie could respond, he had already hung up.She set her phone down, deciding to invite Stefan out for dinner in the next few days and have an honest conversation with him.…After the surgery, Michelle remained unconscious for a full day before finally waking up.The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Jayden sitting by her bedside."Michelle! You're awake!" Jayden exclaimed, relief flooding his voice as he quickly pressed the call button for the doctor.Once the doctor confirmed she was out of danger, Jayden exhaled deeply."Michelle, do you have any idea what I went through while you were unconscious? Please, don't ever do something so reckless a
The moment Brandon spoke, silence blanketed the room.Yale and Nolan both looked visibly uneasy.Jayden froze for a second, then his face twisted with disappointment. "Fine! From now on, we're strangers!"With that, he shoved Nolan aside and stormed toward the hospital entrance.Nolan frowned and turned to Brandon. "Brandon, Jayden was just upset. Did you really have to make it so final? How are you going to fix things later?""I don't plan to fix anything. Because of him and Michelle, Valarie and I fought countless times. Do you really think I should sacrifice my girlfriend for two so-called friends?" Brandon retorted.Seeing the indifference in his expression, Nolan suddenly regretted sending that message earlier. If he hadn't texted Brandon about Valarie being with another guy, none of this would have happened."I'm heading home," Brandon said before turning to Valarie, taking her hand, and leading her out of the hospital.Watching them leave, Nolan felt a surge of frustrati
A cold gust of wind blew through, and Brandon felt his heart sink.From the moment he first laid eyes on Valarie, he had made up his mind—he had to be with her, to marry her.He had pursued her for five years. They had finally gotten together, only to break up soon after.He had tried everything to win her back, but no matter what he did, she only seemed to drift further away.Was it really impossible for them to be together?"Valarie, you told me to stay away from Michelle for a month, and I did."Tonight, Jayden called to say that Michelle tried to commit suicide and is in the hospital being resuscitated. I still didn't go see her."I know I made a lot of mistakes before, but I've been trying to change. Can you give me one more chance?" he pleaded.Valarie remained silent for a long time. She knew she still had feelings for Brandon. When she met his pleading gaze, she felt herself softening.Finally, she looked at him and nodded. "Alright, but this is the last chance I'm giv
Brandon didn't respond. He stepped out of the elevator, seized Valarie's wrist, and yanked her behind him.Valarie nearly lost her balance. As she steadied herself, she heard his cold warning. "Stefan, stay away from Valarie. If you don't, you won't be able to handle the consequences."Stefan met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "Mr. Sumner, you just made her almost fall. Let go of her."Brandon let out a sarcastic laugh. "She's my girlfriend. It's none of your business."Valarie immediately yanked her wrist free. "Brandon, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this in the middle of the night?"Brandon turned to her. "And what about you? What are you doing here so late? Don't tell me you've actually fallen for this kid who's younger than me."At first, he hadn't taken Stefan seriously. He had assumed Valarie was just using him to get back at him.But as she grew kinder to Stefan, panic began to creep in.Brandon was terrified that she really liked Stefan
Stefan looked at Valarie, his eyes red. "Veevee, thank you! I'm sorry for causing you trouble.""It's fine, it's not a big deal. Go check on your mom," Valarie said.After Stefan left, Valarie turned to the nurse. "Can I pay the hospital fees now?"The nurse nodded. "Yes, you can."Once Valarie finished paying and the nurse confirmed the transaction, she said, "Ms. Weir, I'll have my colleagues move Mr. Foley's mother back to her room now.""Okay," Valarie replied.She didn't argue with the nurse. After all, the hospital was just following protocol. Stefan's mother had been behind on payments for over two weeks, and the fact that they hadn't moved her out sooner was already lenient.Before long, Stefan's mother was back in the ICU.Seeing the medical equipment reconnected, Stefan let out a breath of relief.After confirming his mother's condition was stable, he turned to Valarie. "Veevee, I really don't know what I would've done without you tonight. Thank you. I promise I'll f
Yale shook his head. "No idea. Let's check on Michelle first."He had no intention of getting involved in whatever had happened between Brandon and Valarie."Alright," Nolan replied.When they reached the ER, Michelle was still being treated.Jayden sat in a chair in the hallway, head down, lost in thought. Hearing footsteps, he slowly looked up.When he saw that Brandon wasn't with them, he let out a bitter laugh. "Of course, he didn't come. Heartless bastard."Yale sighed. "Jayden, you can't blame Brandon for this. He promised Valarie he wouldn't see Michelle for a month."Given Brandon's personality, he wouldn't break his promise, no matter the trouble Michelle stirred up."So a stupid promise means more than someone's life?" Jayden shot back.Yale frowned. Seeing that Jayden wasn't in the mood to listen to reason, he didn't argue. In his opinion, Michelle had brought this on herself. If she thought attempting suicide would make Brandon cave, she was dead wrong.If he we
Nyla looked at Valarie. "What do you mean, giving each other looks? Just eat. I made your favorite—spicy chicken."Valarie nodded. "Okay."As they ate, Damon glanced at Brandon. "When are you going back to the company?"It had been nearly a month since Brandon left the Sumner Group. If he stayed away much longer, the people he had trained might start siding with someone else.Brandon paused mid-bite, instinctively glancing at Valarie across the table. She didn't even look his way.After a brief silence, he lowered his gaze. "In a few days.""Alright." Damon didn't press the issue.Brandon was the CEO of the Sumner Group. Damon couldn't keep treating him like a subordinate.Halfway through the meal, Brandon's phone rang.Seeing Jayden's name on the screen, he frowned and ignored it. But the phone rang again. And again.After declining multiple calls, he realized the others at the table were all looking at him.He picked up the phone. "It might be urgent."Stepping aside, he
"I just wanted to see if you'd tell me the truth. Now I know—you don't trust me," Jayden said.Michelle cried, "Fine! I admit it. I sent Stefan after Valarie. I wanted him to ruin her relationship with Brandon! Go ahead and tell Brandon if you want! I don't care!"She stood, ready to leave.Before she reached the door, Jayden's voice echoed behind her."I won't tell Brandon," he said. "But I won't help you anymore, either. There's still time to stop this. You can walk away now."Michelle's footsteps faltered momentarily, but she didn't turn back. She had never regretted her choices—why would she stop now?As long as she could have Brandon in the end, she wouldn't give up.If Jayden refused to help, she'd just have to figure it out on her own.…That evening, as Valarie got off work, she received a call from Nyla."Valarie, come over for dinner tonight! Oh, and by the way, I sent you a thank-you gift last night. Make sure you accept it," Nyla said.Valarie had seen Nyla's mon
"Whether or not you're having me followed, who I choose to spend time with is my business. I hope you'll stop prying into my private life," Valarie said.Brandon grabbed her wrist, his voice low and firm. "Valarie, the month is almost up. Don't forget the promise you made."She pulled away. "There's still a week left. We'll talk when the time comes."With that, she turned and left.Brandon watched her go, frustration darkening his face.The anonymous photos he'd received that morning were still fresh in his mind, making his expression even stormier.Forcing himself to stay calm, he pulled out his phone and called his assistant. "Find out who sent those photos to my email this morning."After hanging up, his mood remained grim. It was time to give Stefan a warning.Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang again.His eyes flickered with annoyance at the unfamiliar number. Without hesitation, he rejected the call and blocked it.Ever since he'd cut off Michelle, she'd been