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
Nyla paused, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she said, "Because of me? That's impossible."Five years ago, Gabriel had confessed his feelings for her, but that seemed like a lifetime ago.Now, he had a family with Jane and even a child.How could he possibly still have feelings for her? She didn't think herself attractive enough to make him leave Jane."I'm just repeating what I heard. Don't take it seriously," Valarie said. "Who knows what's going on in his head? Maybe he just doesn't like Jane anymore and is using you as an excuse.""Hmm. Alright, I've got to go. I have an experiment to prepare for," Nyla said.After ending the call, Nyla didn't dwell on Valarie's words. Instead, she set her phone aside and focused on preparing the lab equipment for her experiment.…News of Gabriel's divorce had reached Damon, who sat in his office on the top floor. His sharp eyes narrowed, and his entire demeanor turned icy, radiating danger.It seemed Gabriel was preparing
"That's more like it," Valarie chirped.Nyla couldn't help but say, "Valarie, stop bullying Brandon all the time."Brandon turned to her and sighed dramatically. "Aunt Nyla, since you mentioned it, I have to say something. You have no idea what I've been through these past six months, I— Ouch!"Before he could finish, Valarie pinched his waist. "What was that? Tell me, Brandon. Have you been unhappy these past six months?""N-No... I've been very happy..." Brandon winced."Have I bullied you then?" Valarie pressed."No..." Brandon murmured.Valarie huffed. "If not, then keep your mouth shut, or Nyla will really think I mistreat you." Brandon gave her a pitiful look, lowering his head like a scolded puppy.Before they married, Valarie had been gentle and beautiful in his eyes. But after marriage, he realized how wrong he had been.Gentle and beautiful? All an illusion.If he stayed out drinking and came home late, he'd have to choose between sleeping on the couch or outside.
Taking Mia to work was exhausting, but every time she smiled at Damon, it made everything worth it."She'll be fine. Didn't you just say she loves us both equally? She'll cry for a bit, but if you stop taking her to the office, she'll get used to being at home," Nyla reasoned.Seeing Nyla's determination, Damon finally relented. "Alright, we'll try it tomorrow. But if she cries too much, you'll have to take her to the office.""Deal!" Nyla said....After getting ready for work the next morning, Damon kissed Mia on the cheek and headed for the door.As soon as he changed his shoes at the entrance, she reached her little arms toward him, asking to be held. She had grown so accustomed to going to the office with him every day that it had become a reflex.Damon glanced at Nyla. "Nyla, maybe today we should—"Nyla interrupted, "Nope. You go to work. And if you're free for lunch, don't bother coming home. If you need to work late, no rush to come back either."Damon chuckled. "You'
"Brandon, from now on, I'm entrusting Valarie to you," Jonathan said. "She's been spoiled by us and can be a little willful at times. I hope you'll be patient with her in your marriage, and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together."Brandon held Valarie's hand tightly, his expression solemn. "Dad, don't worry. I'll cherish her with all my heart."Jonathan nodded, stepping down from the stage. He discreetly wiped away his tears.After exchanging vows and rings, Valarie and Brandon sealed their love with a kiss, surrounded by cheers and applause.…On the way home from the wedding, Nyla glanced at Damon. "I saw Mr. Weir wipe his tears so many times today. When Bunny gets married, you'll definitely be just like him, sneaking off somewhere to cry."Damon's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his gaze sharpening. "No one will ever be good enough for my daughter. If she never gets married, we'll take care of her for the rest of our lives."Nyla raised an eyebrow and
"Of course! When's the wedding?" Nyla asked.Valarie shook her head. "We haven't decided yet. He'll come to my house in a few days to discuss it with my parents."Nyla raised an eyebrow. "You're about to get really busy. Planning a wedding alone will take a lot of work.""Yeah, I'm already getting a headache just thinking about it," Valarie replied....For the next few months, Valarie was completely consumed by wedding preparations and work, barely having time to catch her breath.The wedding was set for August 8th, leaving them with less than six months to finalize everything.Valarie even traveled abroad several times to meet with designers and ensure her wedding dress was exactly what she wanted.Beyond the dress, she and Brandon spent hours discussing every detail—from the venue to the wedding favors and bouquet choices....After months of nonstop planning, the big day finally arrived.Valarie was already up, getting her hair and makeup done at 2:00 a.m.By the time N
Valarie looked up and saw the approaching glow.When the figure finally stopped in front of her, she realized it was Brandon.Frowning, she asked, "Where did you go? I waited so long for you. And what are you hiding behind your back?"Brandon flipped his phone face-down on the table, revealing the flowers he had hidden. Then he dropped to one knee."Valarie, I had planned a perfect proposal for you, but when you asked earlier about the meaning of wearing a wedding dress, I knew I couldn't wait any longer."Before I met you, my life revolved solely around work. I never paused for anyone—I never cared whether the sun was rising or setting, or if the moon was full or waning. But everything changed after I met you."I began cherishing the thought of greeting you every morning, sharing meals with you, and standing by your side for life."Valarie, I want every morning to begin with us waking up together, and every night to end with us holding each other as we fall asleep."Finally, B
Of course, every time they visited Valarie's home, Phoebe would subtly—or sometimes not so subtly—hint that they should get married.Brandon had always assumed Valarie wasn't interested in marriage since she never responded to those hints. He hadn't considered proposing.But today, seeing her so excited about picking out baby clothes made him start to imagine a future with her—building a family, raising a child.That thought filled his heart with warmth.After more than three hours of shopping, they finally left the mall, their arms full of bags.Once they loaded everything into the car, Valarie turned to Brandon. "I'm starving. Let's grab something to eat."Brandon nodded. "Sure. What are you in the mood for?""I'm not picky. Is there anything good around here? I don't feel like going too far," she replied.Brandon paused, then said, "There's a place with ethnic cuisine nearby. I went there once for a business meeting—it was pretty authentic. Want to give it a try?""Sounds g
Nyla was silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright. If you ever need Damon to help figure out Brandon's thoughts, just let me know.""I will. Don't worry about us, though. You just gave birth. Your main priority should be resting," Valarie said."Okay," Nyla replied.Valarie lingered in the bedroom for a while, but when she saw Nyla looking tired, she stood up and left.Downstairs, only Brandon was in the living room.Valarie walked over to him and asked, "Where's Damon?""He had something to take care of for work, so he went to the study. How's Aunt Nyla?" Brandon asked."She seems to be doing well, and the baby is adorable. Oh, right, I forgot to ask what the baby's name is. I only know her nickname is Bunny," Valarie said.Just thinking about Mia Sumner's cute little face made Valarie smile. She was already looking forward to the day the baby would call her godmother.A flicker of something crossed Brandon's eyes. "You really like kids, huh?""Of course! I've said befor
Once they were in the car, Nyla suddenly recalled Damon's phone call earlier. "By the way, what did Alexander want?"After a brief pause, Damon glanced at her. "He said Ms. Kinsey left you an inheritance and asked when we'd be able to go to Meristate to take care of it."Nyla pressed her lips together before replying, "Call him later and tell him to donate it or keep it for himself. I don't want it.""Alright," Damon replied.When they arrived home, Damon helped Nyla settle onto the couch, placing a pillow behind her back for support. Then, he said seriously, "Nyla, you've been through enough. Let's not have any more kids after this."During her first pregnancy with Mason, Damon hadn't been around, so he hadn't realized how difficult it was for her.Now, experiencing this pregnancy with her, every checkup and blood draw made his heart ache.Once Nyla gave birth, he planned to get a vasectomy. Two kids were enough for them.Nyla shot him a look. "This wasn't exactly planned, was
More than half an hour later, Nyla finally stirred from her nap.When she opened her eyes, she found Damon sitting by her bed, watching her. She froze for a moment, caught off guard.Rubbing her eyes, she realized he was still there and confirmed she wasn't dreaming.She slowly sat up, her voice still heavy with sleep. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in your study working?""I missed you, so I came to see you," Damon replied.Nyla narrowed her eyes. "You definitely have something to say if you're here all of a sudden."Damon chuckled, a little helpless. "I guess I can't fool you.""Of course not. I know you too well. Ever since I got pregnant, you've never come to see me like this in the afternoon," Nyla said."Alright. Go freshen up first, and I'll wait for you downstairs," Damon suggested."Okay," Nyla replied.After washing up, she went downstairs and sat beside Damon. "Alright, tell me. What's going on? You're acting all mysterious."Damon hesitated for a moment befo