If Nyla died, not only would Lucia refuse to pay him, but she might also turn on him and accuse him of murder.Kenneth had no power or influence, and with Mabel in jail, there was no way he could fight against Lucia. Keeping Nyla alive was more advantageous for him now."Are you crazy? Clark Sumner might already know we've kidnapped her. The longer we wait, the worse it gets for us!" Lucia yelled."As soon as I see the money, you can kill her. I won't care," he replied.Lucia was furious. "It's the middle of the night. How can I transfer money now? We'll have to wait until the bank opens in the morning!"Kenneth was just as useless as his daughter, Mabel, always messing things up. Even if she could transfer the money, she would have to use an overseas account to avoid detection."I don't care. I just want the money," he insisted.As they argued, a distant light grew closer.Lucia was appalled and ordered, "Hurry! Take her to the rooftop!"Realizing the urgency, Kenneth stopped
As the knife pierced Nyla's hand, she let out a muffled groan, her face turning pale from the pain. Blood flowed from her wound, creating a gruesome sight.Lucia smirked and pulled the knife out, causing blood to spurt.Nyla bit her lip hard to stifle a scream.Lucia's smirk widened at Nyla's pained but restrained expression. "Didn't think you were this tough. Let's see how long you can last."Lucia raised the knife again, aiming for Nyla's heart.Just as the blade was about to reach its mark, a sharp pain shot through Lucia's wrist, and the knife clattered to the ground.Lucia stared in disbelief at the dart lodged in her wrist. She looked up and saw someone running toward her.Panicking, she bent down to retrieve the knife, but a powerful kick sent her flying before she could. She hit the ground hard and spat out blood before losing consciousness.Spencer quickly kicked the knife away and helped Nyla up. "Ms. Jayston, are you okay?"Nyla was shocked to see Spencer. She hadn'
On the way to the hospital, Nyla kept glancing at Damon. She looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated.Damon turned to her, his voice deep. "What do you want to say?"Nyla bit her lip. "Mr. Sumner, I was just wondering… How did you know I was kidnapped? And how did you find me?""Spencer had some experimental data he wanted to ask you about. When he couldn't reach you on the phone, he went to your house and found you missing. So, we investigated," he explained casually, but Nyla felt a surge of gratitude."Mr. Sumner, I really appreciate it… If you and Mr. Hogg hadn't arrived in time, I might not have survived the night."Damon's expression remained indifferent. "Don't think too much about it. The most important thing for you now is to recover."Nyla fell silent and lowered her gaze, deciding she must find a way to repay Damon.As they neared the hospital, Nyla looked at him again. "Mr. Sumner, it's already very late. You can drop me off at the hospital entrance, an
Nyla struggled throughout the journey, trying to make Clark put her down, but to no avail.When Clark finally placed her on the emergency room bed, he pressed her hands down and said in a low, serious tone, "Nyla, I'm in a bad mood right now. You'd better behave."Detecting the threat in his voice, Nyla shook off his hands and looked at him coldly. "What does your bad mood have to do with me? If you like obedient behavior, you should go find Jordyn. I'm not capable of being as understanding as she is."Clark stared at her impassive profile and suddenly smiled. "Nyla, are you jealous?"Nyla frowned, unsure of where he got that idea from. She didn't want to argue with him, so she let him think whatever he wanted.Soon, the doctor arrived, conducted a thorough examination, and rebandaged Nyla's injured hand. He advised her to stay in the hospital for a few days for observation.Once in the hospital ward, Nyla noticed that Clark hadn't left and felt a flicker of annoyance. "You can l
"Jordyn, it seems I've been too kind to you lately, and you've forgotten your place," Clark remarked.The pain in Jordyn's scalp made her eyes well up with tears, and Clark's menacing expression terrified her."Clark… what are you saying? I don't understand…""You don't understand? If that's the case, then you should go outside Nyla's ward and stay there until you do," he said.Jordyn's face paled as she realized what was happening. "I didn't know… Ms. Jayston called and said she was kidnapped. I thought she was trying to get you to go to her place… I'm sorry…"The moment she finished speaking, Clark slapped her hard. The force was so great that if he hadn't been holding her hair, she would have fallen.Jordyn let out a cry of pain, feeling her face burn as it started to swell.Clark looked at her with a chilling glare. "She is my wife. Even if she was manipulating me, as long as I'm willing, it's not for you to interfere. If you don't want to end up dead, don't try to test my l
"Vicious?" Nyla scoffed. "Is it not vicious when your daughter had her colleague plot against me, almost ruining my face? Or when she deliberately had someone kneel in front of me, filmed it, and posted it online to incite people to cyberbully me?"And kidnapping me, almost getting me killed—don't tell me that's not vicious?"Jade tried to retort but was momentarily stunned by Nyla's icy gaze, forgetting what she was going to say.Seeing Nyla's sharp-tongued response, Clement said coldly, "Nyla, your father is not well. If he finds out about your kidnapping, he'll likely be very worried."Nyla shot a sharp look at Clement, her hands tightening under the covers. She was about to respond when the door to the room was suddenly pushed open."Mr. Pollard, you're quite bold, even daring to threaten people."Clement stiffened as he turned and saw Damon's cold gaze fixed on him. He looked visibly uneasy. "Mr. Sumner, what brings you here?"As a department manager of a Prospectus Technol
"Do as you like," Damon said."Okay. Uncle Damon, you're busy with work. If you don't have to, don't waste your time coming to see me," Nyla commented.Damon raised an eyebrow, his gaze scrutinizing Nyla. "Is this how you treat someone who saved your life?"Nyla looked up at him and said slowly, "It's precisely because you saved my life that I should be more grateful. I don't want to waste your time when you're so busy, Uncle Damon."Seeing her repeatedly address him as "Uncle Damon", a constant reminder of their relationship, Damon suddenly leaned in closer.Startled by his magnified face, Nyla backed away quickly, as if avoiding the plague.Just as Damon was about to speak, the door to the room was pushed open."Nyla—" Clark's voice halted abruptly when he saw Damon.From Clark's perspective, Damon's movement seemed like he wanted to kiss Nyla.Clark's expression turned icy as he strode to the bedside, glaring at Damon. "Uncle Damon, I've told you before to stay away from Ny
Clark sneered and was about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. Seeing it was Jordyn, he coldly ended the call."Nyla, do you really think my uncle likes you? If he genuinely cared about you, he wouldn't have tried to seduce you while you were still my wife. The fact that he's acting like this now just shows he's playing with you…"Nyla was disgusted by Clark's words and looked at him coldly. "Clark, I've told you before—don't assume everyone is as vile as you.""Vile? Is he having inappropriate thoughts about you as an elder not vile?" he taunted.Nyla's expression turned even colder. "What right do you have to criticize others? You haven't even dealt with your mistress and her unborn child. Clark, the truly vile person here is you."Clark's expression darkened, and his gaze toward Nyla was filled with chilling anger."Nyla, it seems you're not learning your lesson." He smirked and dialed a number on his phone. "Stop looking for a kidney donor for my father-in-law."Nyla was
Mary pulled a document from her bag and handed it to Emerald. "You can check it carefully—it has Edward's signature."Emerald's expression remained cold as she took the papers. Sure enough, Edward's signature was on the last page.She slammed the document onto the table. "I heard Edward's health has been declining. Does he still have the energy to authorize you to attend the meeting?""Of course. After all, Brian lost a leg and can't inherit the Nixons anymore. But Vik is still perfectly fine. As Edward's son, he has every right to the family legacy," Mary announced.Emerald's face twisted with anger. "Mary, if you say one more word about Brian, I'll tear your mouth apart!"Mary chuckled. "Emerald, I'm just stating facts. Why are you so mad?""Shut up!" Emerald hissed.Tension crackled between them, but the other Nixon members quickly grew impatient.Cortez frowned. "Are we holding this meeting or not? If not, I'm leaving. I didn't come here to watch you two argue."Suppressin
Mary looked at Vik expressionlessly. "Of course. He was ready to make you pay for Brian's leg. Do you still see him as your father?"Vik's expression shifted. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "But... he used to treat us well..."Although Vik had been deeply disappointed when he discovered that Edward was willing to sacrifice his leg for Brian's, he still couldn't bring himself to harm his father.Mary let out a cold laugh. "He did treat us well in the past, but didn't we treat him well, too?"She had been with Edward since she was 20, willingly playing the role of the woman he kept outside his marriage. She had once believed that Edward truly loved her.But today, she had come to a painful realization: no matter what, she and Vik would never compare to Brian and Emerald in Edward's heart.Even after Emerald and Brian drugged him and nearly killed him, Edward had chosen to stand by them. If that were the case, then Mary wouldn't hesitate to be ruthless either.Vik couldn't a
The day Vik was locked up was the longest and most agonizing of his life. He no longer wanted to live in constant fear. If they kept fighting with Emerald, they could end up dead.Mary looked at him. "Vik, do you really think Emerald will let us go? Do you think you can hide the truth about Brian's accident forever?"Vik's face went pale, and his entire body trembled. "Mom... I don't know what to do. I don't want to fight anymore. I'm scared."Mary stepped closer, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Vik, look at me."At her commanding tone, Vik summoned the courage to lift his head."The only thing we can do now is fight Emerald and Brian," she said."If we succeed, you'll never have to worry about Brian finding out about the accident because I won't let him live. If we fail, then the outcome will be the same as if we hadn't fought at all."She paused. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Think carefully about whether you want to fight."Vik swallowed hard. After a long
"You!" Edward was so enraged that he fainted on the spot.Mary sat down in a chair, her expression calm as she dialed a number on her phone. "Bring Vik back."Mary had already received word when Vik was taken by Emerald's men. She hadn't acted immediately, planning instead to use the situation to test Edward's feelings toward Emerald.To her surprise, Edward showed no concern for her or Vik.After hanging up, she glanced at Edward, still unconscious on the bed. As she thought about all the years she had spent with him, her gaze grew colder.Soon, the doctor knocked and entered. "Ms. Jewell, did something happen to Mr. Nixon?"Mary looked at the doctor, her voice cold. "From now on, I don't want his health to improve. You know what to do."The doctor's eyes widened in shock, but he quickly nodded. "Understood, Ms. Jewell.""Good. You can go now," she dismissed him.…An hour later, Vik was brought into the hospital room by Mary's men. He took a deep breath and pushed open the
Mary smiled. "Guess."Edward narrowed his eyes and tried to press the nurse's call button, but Mary quickly grabbed his hand to stop him."Edward, don't you think you've been too heartless toward me and Vik?" she asked calmly."Mary, Vik is my son, and so is Brian. If Vik caused Brian to lose a leg, don't you think he should pay for that with his own leg?" Edward shot back."You have two sons. One has already lost a leg. Are you really going to make the other one disabled too? If I were you, I'd make Vik your only heir—train and support him," she countered.Edward scowled. "Call Vik back here first, then we'll talk about the rest."Mary smirked and said slowly, "No need. As long as you're alive, you'll still be able to help me and Vik. How you stay alive, though, doesn't matter."She called out to the door, "Daniel, come in here."Daniel Belcher pushed open the door, looking surprised when he saw Mary holding Edward down on the bed."Ms. Jewell, what's the matter? Why did you
Edward did not believe Mary's explanation. He stared at her blankly, his face expressionless. After managing the Nixons for so many years, his cold gaze carried an undeniable pressure.Mary's anxiety was palpable. She nervously shifted her gaze, unwilling to meet his stare.The silence stretched on until Edward finally broke it, his voice chilling. "If you don't tell me, I'll have someone investigate."Mary panicked. "No! Please, don't!"If anyone discovered that Vik was responsible for Brian's car accident, Vik's life would be ruined. And Edward would never forgive him.But now, Mary had no choice but to tell Edward the truth. If she kept lying, Edward would surely see through it. She was trapped in a no-win situation."Since you don't want me to investigate, then tell me the truth," Edward demanded.Taking a deep breath, Mary hesitated for a long moment before finally giving in. She spoke slowly. "Brian had an accident and lost one of his legs."Edward's eyes widened in shock
Delia stared at Emerald, her eyes wide with disbelief, filled with confusion and helplessness. "I just wanted to move out. When did I say I wanted to sever ties with you?""Moving out is the same as severing ties, isn't it? I told you I wouldn't give you another penny. After you leave, are you really going to stay in contact with me?" Emerald asked.Delia was momentarily choked by Emerald's words. It took her a while to respond. "I just want to become independent, not sever ties with you."Of course, deep down, she also wanted to prove that the man she loved wasn't wrong. She had decided long ago that she would never marry anyone but Andre.Emerald didn't look at her and said nothing further.Delia sat down, continuing to stare at her. "Mom, how did you suddenly collapse and end up in the hospital? Do you have any test results? Let me see them."Emerald's tone remained cold. "Don't worry. I'm not going to die.""Mom, don't say such ominous things!" Delia whined.Emerald pursed
Emerald shook her head, wanting to refuse, but suddenly her vision went black, and she fainted.When she regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital room. She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, recalling how she had collapsed in the study earlier.Fully awake now, she sat up slowly and noticed an IV in her arm. She couldn't help but frown.The door to the room opened, and Filipe walked in.When he saw that Emerald had woken up, a look of relief flashed in his eyes. "Madam, you're finally awake! You've been unconscious for an entire day!"Emerald could hardly believe what she was hearing. Her frown intensified, and she asked, "How could I have been unconscious for so long?""The doctor said you've been sleep-deprived for a long time, and with the recent emotional strain, it caused you to cough up blood.“From now on, you need to get at least eight to ten hours of sleep each day, or your health will continue to decline," Filipe explained.Emerald's face darkened
"We'll see how long you can hold out!" Emerald challenged.Delia sneered. "Fine, you said it. Don't go back on your word!""Don't worry, I won't." With that, Emerald turned sharply and walked away.Once in her study, she sank into a chair. Her icy expression slowly turned to one of exhaustion.She had spent years fighting to become the head of the Nixons. But now, one of her children had lost a leg in a plot, and the other was infatuated with a man utterly unworthy of her.For the first time, she felt like a failure.Even though she had finally gained control of the Nixons, what was the point? She was still alone.Lost in thought, Filipe hurriedly knocked and entered. "Madam, Mr. Jayston was secretly taken from the hospital!"Emerald's angry voice echoed. "What were those people at the hospital doing? How could they let him be taken, with so many people watching?"Harrison was her only leverage over Nyla. If he disappeared, she would lose control of Nyla. But, as she considere