"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
After Nyla gave her statement, she was about to leave when an officer stopped her."Ms. Jayston, the suspect wants to see you. She says she won't say anything until she meets you. Can you please cooperate and speak with her?" the police officer asked.Nyla frowned, suspecting that Lucia might have ulterior motives.Seeing her concern, the officer continued. "Don't worry. You'll be separated by glass, so she won't be able to harm you."Nyla agreed reluctantly. "Alright then."When she arrived, Lucia was already waiting on the other side of the glass.Lucia looked calm, probably knowing that no matter how much she hated Nyla, she couldn't do anything now.Nyla picked up the phone and spoke in a cold tone. "What do you want to say to me?"Lucia smirked. "Nyla, do you think you've won?"Nyla remained indifferent, her gaze devoid of any emotion. She thought even hating Lucia seemed excessive."You're overthinking it. I've never tried to win against anyone. Your own greed and extre
Nyla was suddenly yanked from behind and slammed to the ground.A large truck roared past her. Her body ached, but she felt numb, sitting on the ground in a daze."Are you alright?" The person who had pulled her to safety waved a hand in front of her face, thinking she was stunned by the recent events.Nyla nodded. "I'm okay… Thank you…""Are you really sure?""Yes."After confirming she was truly fine, the good Samaritan reminded her to stay alert while crossing the street, then left with a frown.Instead of going home, Nyla went to visit Harrison.…When Nyla arrived, her father was undergoing dialysis.Wren was surprised to see her and quickly wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes, forcing a smile. "Nyla, what brings you here?"Nyla sat beside her and lowered her gaze. "I came to see my dad."Wren sighed. "We don't know when a matching kidney will be found… Your father's health is deteriorating, and each dialysis session is very painful. It breaks my heart to see
Nyla frowned and leered at Harrison. "Dad, what are you saying?! If you say something like this again, I won't come to see you anymore."Before Harrison could respond, Wren quickly spoke up. "Alright, Harrison, stop. You should consider how much this upsets Nyla."Seeing the sadness in Nyla's eyes, Harrison sighed and didn't say anything more.After settling Harrison back into his room, Nyla was about to leave when she couldn't help but ask, "Dad, has the cause of the Harris Pharmaceuticals accident ever been determined?"Harrison was taken aback and then frowned. "Why are you asking about that all of a sudden?""I recently watched some safety accident videos and wanted to know what happened during that incident. After all, I work in a lab and need to be cautious to prevent similar accidents," she lied."I don't remember the specifics. It's been so long, and I'd prefer not to talk about it," Harrison replied.Noticing Harrison's reluctance, Nyla didn't press further. "Alright, I
Nyla looked up at Clark and saw the apology in his eyes.She nodded and said, "Yes, I've thought it over. I've been too cold toward you. And between spouses, it's not just about forgiveness."Clark was momentarily stunned, then his eyes filled with joy. "Nyla, are you serious?"He had expected that Nyla would still be angry and that he would have to spend time placating her. To his surprise, her attitude had changed in just a morning. She was no longer as cold and resistant as before.Nyla smiled. "Of course. Although I haven't completely forgiven you yet, I realize I shouldn't continue to hold grudges. I'll move back to the villa in a couple of days.""Really?"Although Clark didn't understand why Nyla had suddenly changed her mind, the important thing was that she was willing to come back to him. Nothing else mattered."Yes, just come and pick me up when the time comes," she replied."Alright."Seeing Nyla's demeanor soften from before, Clark hesitated for a moment, then car
"Yes, here to discuss business," Damon said.Clark smiled and replied, "Then I won't keep you. Nyla, let's go inside."Nyla nodded, her gaze lowered, and followed Clark into the restaurant.Damon's expression darkened as he watched their retreating figures, his displeasure almost palpable.Spencer internally groaned at the disgruntlement emanating from Damon—why was he always the one suffering?After a moment of hesitation, Spencer finally mustered the courage to remind Damon, "Mr. Sumner, the meeting time is approaching."Damon didn't respond, scowling as he walked inside.…Clark was in a good mood tonight. Nyla wasn't as cold as before, and he had managed to turn things around with Damon.Under the candlelight, his gaze toward Nyla softened considerably. "Nyla, I'm so glad you're willing to give me another chance. I promise I won't let you down!"Nyla barely registered his words, nodding absentmindedly. "Yeah, I believe you."She continued to cut her steak, the light cast
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