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
"Mm," Damon hummed in response, flipping through some documents. "Buddy has a parent-child sports day at his kindergarten. I'll be attending.""Got it," Spencer replied.…Friday morning arrived quickly.After breakfast, the family of three headed to Mason's school.Nyla wore a pastel pink tracksuit with a simple white T-shirt underneath, her long hair tied in a neat ponytail. With light makeup, she looked effortlessly elegant.Damon wore a matching black tracksuit.Seeing him in casual wear, without his usual suits, Nyla thought it made him look several years younger. If not for his commanding presence, one might easily mistake him for a university student.Mason, dressed in a light gray tracksuit, looked adorable and well-behaved.As they walked into the school, they quickly attracted the attention of both parents and children.Noticing the admiring glances from his classmates, Mason walked with his head held high, exuding newfound confidence.His homeroom teacher, Laura,
Wilhelm gazed at Gabriel with hopeful eyes, full of anticipation.After a brief moment of eye contact, Gabriel finally nodded. "Alright. Sit here for a while. I'll call her and see if she's willing to come."Wilhelm's face lit up immediately. "Okay, thank you, Daddy!"He firmly believed that Jane would come once she received the call.Gabriel set Wilhelm down and stepped aside to make the call.A few minutes later, he returned with a grim expression. "Wil, your mom is in the hospital right now and can't come.""Oh." Disappointment flickered across Wilhelm's face, but he quickly masked it.His mother didn't want him anymore. If he upset his father, and the latter abandoned him too, then no one would want him.The thought filled Wilhelm with a deep sense of injustice, and his eyes reddened.Gabriel assumed Wilhelm was upset about Jane's absence.Squatting down to his level, he reassured him, "Wil, don't be sad. The next time the kindergarten has a sports day, your mom will defi
However, Wilhelm's sudden acceleration didn't match Gabriel's speed, causing him to stumble forward.Gabriel quickly grabbed the back of Wilhelm's shirt and pulled him upright. "Wil, are you okay?" he asked.Wilhelm, flushed and anxious, replied, "I'm fine, Daddy. Let's hurry, or we won't win!"The more Wilhelm rushed, the harder it became to synchronize their steps. They ended up stuck in place for several moments.Meanwhile, Damon and Mason crossed the finish line, securing first place.Nyla smiled as she wiped the sweat from Damon and Mason's foreheads with a tissue. "You two were amazing. Great job! Are you tired? Have some water."She pulled out a thermos and handed it to Damon while giving Mason a small, duck-themed water bottle.Mason took a sip and smiled brightly. "Thanks, Mommy!"His face beamed with happiness as he proudly held up his five stars, determined to keep trying to win the mysterious prize for his mom.Earlier, Mason had shared his plan for the grand pri
Mason glanced at Wilhelm, whose face was streaked with tears and snot, his expression filled with disdain.Seriously, how old was he to still be crying like a baby?Gabriel's already cold expression, darkened further as he felt the weight of the crowd's stares turning toward him and Wilhelm.It was like an icy wind sweeping through the playground. Everyone instinctively tugged their coats tighter.Having received significant donations from Gabriel, the principal had explicitly instructed Laura to ensure nothing upset him during the sports day.Seeing the scene unfold, Laura hurried over with a nervous smile and asked, "Wil, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"Emboldened by the attention, Wilhelm only escalated his tantrum. He threw himself to the ground, rolling and crying loudly, repeatedly demanding to see his mom.Gabriel felt his temples throb. Never in his life had he been so embarrassed."Wilhelm, get up!" he ordered, glaring at the boy on the ground.Wilhelm looked u
"No! I hate you! I don't want to live with you!" Wilhelm yelled."Whether you like it or not, the court decided you're staying with me," Gabriel stated flatly.As they argued, Nyla and Damon approached, holding Mason's hand.Wilhelm's eyes flickered with jealousy and resentment when he spotted Mason.Summoning unexpected strength, he broke free from Gabriel and lunged at him.Why did Mason get to have loving parents while his were abandoning him?!The attack was so sudden that no one could react in time.Mason was shoved to the ground, wide-eyed with shock.Wilhelm was about to strike him when Damon pushed him aside and pulled Mason up."Buddy, are you okay?" Damon asked, his voice full of concern.Mason nodded. "I'm okay, Daddy."Luckily, his thick winter coat had cushioned the fall.Wilhelm, sprawled on the ground after being shoved, stared blankly at the scene. He watched as Damon and Nyla fussed over Mason, checking him for injuries.When he had fallen, his mother had
If Wilhelm stopped wanting to see Jane, the bond between them would naturally fade over time."No! I don't want food!" Wilhelm cried, hurling Gabriel's phone onto the car seat.He began pounding on the car door, trying to open it. "I want to see Mommy! I want to live with her, not you!"Gabriel, his patience wearing thin, locked the doors with a sharp click and turned to Wilhelm, his expression darkening."Your mother doesn't want you. Even if you find her, she won't take you. I'm the only one you have now," he said."I hate you! I don't want to be with you! I don't want you as my dad!" Wilhelm screamed.Gabriel's restraint, already fraying after days of tantrums, finally snapped. He stared at his son and said coldly, "It doesn't matter whether you want me or not. No one wants you now except me."Jane didn't want Wilhelm. The Wilkies wouldn't want him either."That's not true!" Wilhelm sobbed uncontrollably. "Mommy wants me. Mommy's just mad. If I'm good, she'll take me back! S
Lydia nodded. "Okay, Ms. Kinsey."Shortly after, Lydia returned with Mason by her side.When Mason saw Gabriel and Wilhelm standing at the door, he frowned and turned to Nyla. "Mommy, why is Wilhelm here?"Nyla patted his head gently. "He's here to apologize to you.""Oh." Mason's response was wary, clearly unconvinced.Gabriel observed Nyla's affectionate interaction with Mason, his eyes flickering with a trace of emotion. He turned to Wilhelm. "What did you promise me before we came?"Wilhelm's reluctance was evident. He had agreed to apologize, but only under the threat of losing his chance to see his mother."Mason, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you yesterday. I hope you can forgive me," Wilhelm said, his voice subdued.Mason didn't respond immediately. Instead, he looked up at Nyla, silently seeking her guidance."Buddy, this is your decision to make," Nyla said softly. "I'll respect whatever you decide."Mason lowered his head, thinking for a moment.Finally, he s
Brandon sighed and placed the items on the desk. "Aunt Nyla, this crisis is unlike anything Prospectus Technology has faced before. If things go wrong, the company can go bankrupt."Uncle Damon prepared these after finding out Buddy is his son, but he hadn't found the right time to give them to you."Keep them for now. If Prospectus Technology collapses, he'll need this to start over."After a moment's silence, Nyla nodded. "Alright, I'll hold onto them. Is this the only reason you came?""Yes, I need to get back to work," Brandon replied."I'll see you out," Nyla offered.After sending Brandon off, she returned to the study and placed the documents and bank card in the safe upstairs.The next morning…As Nyla was getting dressed, Lydia knocked on the door."Ms. Kinsey, there's a man outside who says he's your brother," Lydia informed her.Brother?Thinking it was likely Gabriel, Nyla's expression turned cold. "I don't know him. Tell him to leave.""Understood," Lydia said
Damon put the file down and sat across from Nyla.Noticing two portions of breakfast on the table, he asked, "You haven't eaten either?""No," Nyla replied as she opened the packages and handed one to him. "I came to eat with you. Spencer told me he brought you breakfast this morning, but you didn't touch it.""I was too busy," Damon said."Being busy isn't an excuse to skip meals. I saw your assistants running around like crazy, and I heard they barely got any sleep last night. Is the issue with the company that serious?" Nyla asked."It's significant," Damon admitted. "Our chips might be causing malfunctions in our partner's machines. If that's confirmed, the company will face a massive compensation payout."Nyla frowned, worry flashing in her eyes. "I can't help much with work, but the least I can do is keep things in order at home. By the way, are you coming home tonight?""Probably not," he replied. "There's still a lot to handle.""Alright. Finish your breakfast. I'll hea
Gabriel took the document, skimmed its contents, and his face darkened."What is it?" Tom asked.Gabriel tossed the document onto the table with a cold laugh. "Nothing important. Damon's just trying to catch me off guard."The document contained evidence of Nyce Tech hiring paid posters to smear Prospectus Technology, but Gabriel wasn't worried.Soon enough, those allegations would become the truth.Tom glanced at the papers and grinned. "As long as it's not a big problem. Anyway, I should get going.""Fine, but don't forget your part in this," Gabriel said pointedly.There was a cold glint in Tom's eyes, though his smile remained. "Relax. I won't let you handle Prospectus Technology alone."After Tom left, Gabriel drained his wine in one gulp.As he prepared to head to his study, a maid approached with a concerned expression."Mr. Hackett, Mr. Wilhelm still refuses to eat," the maid informed him.Gabriel had brought Wilhelm straight back to the villa instead of letting him
Damon's expression was icy as he spoke. "I've already sent the head of R&D with a team to investigate. Let's wait for their findings before jumping to conclusions."He added, "The Agihop 6th Gen isn't out yet. If the issue does lie in the Agihop 5th Gen, we should prepare for the worst—compensation payouts and the possibility of... bankruptcy.""What?!" A collective gasp echoed through the room, disbelief etched on everyone's faces."All this over a single batch of faulty machines from the Longbow Company? Isn't that a bit extreme?""Exactly. If the problem is with the Agihop 5th Gen chips, wouldn't paying compensation suffice?""Mr. Sumner, aren't you exaggerating?"The notion that Prospectus Technology could face bankruptcy over a single chip seemed absurd.Meeting their skepticism with a calm demeanor, Damon elaborated, "The news about Longbow Company's machines breaking down after using our chips has already spread.They're attributing the issue to Prospectus Technology's p
Damon's expression remained unmoved. "As I said, we'll investigate thoroughly. Asking us to accept responsibility before the investigation is complete seems unreasonable, doesn't it?"Jeffrey let out a cold laugh. "Fine, Mr. Sumner. But I hope you act quickly. Every day of delay costs us millions. The longer this drags on, the more Prospectus Technology will have to pay."With that, Jeffrey turned and stormed out of the room.Damon, his expression as icy as ever, summoned the head of the R&D department to his office."Take two of your team members to the Longbow Company and investigate the root cause of the machine failures. Determine whether it's our chips," Damon instructed."Mr. Sumner, it can't be our chips! We've invested so much in their development, and they've been on the market for over three years without a single issue. The problem must be elsewhere," the department head replied.Damon's tone sharpened. "I want accurate results based on the investigation—not assumption
Upon noticing Nyla's flushed cheeks, Damon's eyes darkened further."Nyla, need some help with your bath?" he asked, his voice low and enticing.Nyla snapped out of her daze, quickly pushing him away. Her wary gaze made him look like some kind of dangerous predator."No need, I'll do it myself," she replied.If she let him help, they might not come out of the bathroom for two hours.Disappointment flickered in Damon's eyes. "You really don't need help?""Mm-hmm. Now go. If you have nothing to do, play with Buddy downstairs. I'm going to shower," Nyla said, grabbing her pajamas.She darted into the bathroom as though something was chasing her, locking the door behind her with a sharp click.Hearing the lock, Damon chuckled softly, shook his head, and left the bedroom.Downstairs, Mason was playing with toys in the living room. He didn't even glance up at the sound of Damon's footsteps, already able to distinguish between Damon and Nyla's steps. Just as Damon reached the sofa,
Damon raised an eyebrow and said flatly, "It's not about my approval. It's about ensuring the safety of the other children."Gabriel kept his gaze low, anger flickering in his eyes. What else could he say?"Understood. I've learned my lesson today, Mr. Sumner," he gritted through his teeth.The crowd began to disperse.Most parents hurriedly took their children and left, keeping a noticeable distance from Wilhelm and Gabriel as they passed, still wary that Wilhelm might lash out unpredictably.Before long, only Damon, Nyla, and Mason remained at the gate with Gabriel and Wilhelm.Gabriel turned to Damon with a cold expression. "If there's nothing else, Mr. Sumner, I'll take Wilhelm and leave now.""Mr. Hackett, shouldn't your son apologize to Buddy?" Damon asked.Gabriel's expression hardened.Taking a deep breath, he looked down at Wilhelm and said sternly, "Wilhelm, apologize to Buddy."Wilhelm lifted his chin defiantly. "I won't! I didn't do anything wrong!""Wilhelm, beh