With or without a lawyer, the outcome of Gabriel's case wouldn't have been much different."I understand... as long as you try your best. Even if the result isn't good, I'll accept it," Wren replied."Alright," Philip answered.…When Damon heard that shareholders from Nyce Tech wanted to sell their shares and flee, he snickered."Don't let them cash out. If they do, we won't be able to recover Prospectus Technology's previous losses," he instructed."Understood, Mr. Sumner," Spencer replied."Good. You can leave for now," Damon said.Spencer turned to leave the CEO's office but paused at the door when he saw Tom approaching."Mr. Genge," he greeted.Tom nodded. "I'm here to see Mr. Sumner. Is he available now?""Please wait a moment. I'll check," Spencer replied.Two minutes later, he returned and said, "Mr. Genge, Mr. Sumner is waiting for you inside.""Thank you, Mr. Hogg," Tom replied."You're welcome," Spencer answered.Tom entered Damon's office and went straight t
"I overheard it earlier. Apparently, Nyla is related by blood to a key member of the Nixons, but I don't know exactly who," Tom revealed.To be honest, he didn't even know who the main members of the Nixons were. He had only heard of them but had never met anyone from that family.From what he had gathered, even someone like Drake would need to schedule an appointment far in advance just to meet with them.Damon's gaze hardened. His first thought was of Nyla's mother. After her divorce from Harrison, she had reportedly left for overseas in a hurry.Could it be that she had somehow ended up becoming a member of the Nixons and gained a position of influence? If that were the case, it would explain why Drake was after Nyla.Damon looked up at Tom. "Got it. Is there anything else you know?""Drake's pretty guarded around me, so he doesn't let me in on much. But I do have a close relationship with one of his trusted associates."One time, we were drinking, and his associate let it sl
Tom nodded. "Okay... you be careful too."Once Damon's people arrived to secure Tom, he planned to find a way to escape the country, change identities multiple times, and hide out in some remote area.By then, even Drake would have trouble tracking him down."Got it," Damon replied.After Tom left, Damon circled the names on the list tied to business, crossed out a few, and sent the remaining names to Spencer. He instructed him to arrange meetings with those individuals.Despite finishing the task, Damon's tense expression didn't relax.Drake was proving to be even more formidable than expected. His extensive connections in the city suggested he'd been laying the groundwork for years.Could Drake have known about Nyla's background all along?As more questions swirled in Damon's mind, his expression grew colder.No matter what, he would not let anyone disrupt the peaceful life they had built.…That evening, Nyla was on her way to pick up Mason from school when her car was ab
Bruce Pollock quickly lowered his head, his voice tinged with fear. "I'm sorry, Boss... I didn't think it through.""This month's salary is docked. If this happens again, you won't stay by my side," the man warned."Understood," Bruce replied."Well? Are you just going to stand there and wait for me to move these cars myself? Get them out of the way!" The man's tone was icy, and his cold stare made Bruce shiver."I'll handle it right away!" Bruce answered.The man turned back to Nyla, his expression shifting to one of guilt. "Ms. Kinsey, I must apologize. My subordinates lack proper discipline. I take full responsibility and hope you can forgive their behavior."Nyla stared at him coldly. "There's no need to play the good cop. Who exactly are you, and why did you block my car?"The man chuckled lightly at the distrust in her eyes. "Ms. Kinsey, I truly am sorry. How about stepping out of the car so we can find a quiet place to talk?""I'm not getting out of this car. Who knows w
On the drive back, Drake glanced at his assistant, Anna Randolph, who was sitting in the front seat. "What's Alexander's current status?""Mr. Mummery, Mr. Kinsey has been meeting with clients these past two days. Aside from that, he's been staying at his hotel and hasn't done anything unusual," Anna reported."That's it?" Drake frowned, sensing there was more to Alexander's return.He suspected it had something to do with Nyla. After all, Edward was on shaky ground, and internal chaos was imminent."Should we assign more people to keep an eye on him?" Anna asked."No. Increasing surveillance might tip him off," Drake replied."Understood. Are we heading back to the hotel now?" Anna asked.Drake let out a cold laugh. "No. We're going to the Genge residence."…Not long after arriving at the Genges', Bruce returned with Tom in tow.Drake lounged on the couch, his posture relaxed as he watched Tom with an amused expression.On the other hand, Tom was visibly trembling with fea
Drake smirked. "You really think I'd let her find out?"Tom's face darkened. "Drake, so no matter what I do—whether I talk or stay silent—you never intended to let me or Valarie walk out of this alive, did you?""I've already told you, your survival depends on whether you tell me the truth. If you insist on lying and sealing your own fate, there's nothing I can do for you," Drake countered.Tom clenched his fists at his sides, a deep sense of regret washing over him.If only he hadn't accepted Drake's help in the first place, he wouldn't have ended up in this mess. Regret, however, was useless now.If it were just him, he wouldn't care whether he lived or died. But now that Valarie had been dragged into this, it felt as though Drake had seized him by his weakest point.Taking a deep breath, Tom was about to speak when the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the doorway.Everyone in the living room turned to look.Damon strode in, flanked by more than a dozen men who quic
"I'm sorry. I promise this won't happen again," Tom assured.Valarie removed the rope from around her and looked coldly at him. "Tom, your assurance means nothing to me, and I don't want to hear it. I just hope this is the last time I ever see you."With that, she turned and started to leave.Tom hurried to block her path. "Valarie, I didn't want this to happen either. I'll assign someone to protect you—"She cut him off sharply, "Enough! I don't need your protection. If you have time to worry about me, use it to clean up your mess so you stop dragging others down!"She spat the words with contempt, then stormed off without sparing him another glance.Tom moved to chase after her, but Damon stopped him."You're in no position to chase her. Even if you catch up, it won't change anything," Damon said.Tom froze in place, watching helplessly as Valarie disappeared.Seeing his pale face, Damon frowned. "She's gone. My men will escort you to safety and ensure Drake doesn't find you
After hesitating, Nyla spoke. "On my way to pick up Buddy today, Drake's men stopped me. He said he wanted to talk and share something about my mom, but I refused."Damon's expression darkened. "Understood. I'll assign more people to protect you and Buddy. He won't get another chance to approach you."Nyla bit her lip, lifting her gaze to his. "These past few days, I've been feeling uneasy, like something bad will happen."Sensing her anxiety, Damon pulled her into his arms and spoke softly to reassure her. "Don't worry, I'm here. As long as Prospectus Technology and I are standing, no one will harm you or Buddy.""Okay," she said quietly. "Let's eat. I don't want to think about this anymore.""Alright. Don't worry. I've got it covered," Damon replied.…Drake had barely left the Genge residence when his phone rang.Alexander was calling, requesting a meeting.Drake arrived at the restaurant Alexander mentioned, and a server led him to a private room."Mr. Kinsey, what can I
Valarie widened her eyes in surprise. "Alright, but there are a lot of questions here. It might take me a day or two to finish. You're not in a hurry, are you?""No rush, but the sooner, the better. I really appreciate your help," Damon said.Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Valarie smiled. "It's no trouble at all. I'm happy to help with the wedding preparations."After parting ways with Damon, Valarie returned to her office.As soon as she sat down, her phone rang. It was Brandon."Valarie, what did my uncle want? Did he give you a hard time?" he asked.Hearing the tension in his voice, Valarie set the file down. "Why would you think he would give me a hard time?"There was a brief silence before Brandon spoke again, his voice low. "I was worried he might blame you for my decision to leave the Sumner Group.""You're overthinking it. He asked me to help with something unrelated. If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up," Valarie replied."Valarie—" Brandon began.Before he co
Damon lowered his head to look at Mason and took the drawing from his hands.The picture showed a family of four—him, Nyla, Mason, and a little girl—standing under a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds.Damon smiled and pointed to the little girl in the drawing. "Who's this?""That's my little sister. I hope Mommy gives me a baby sister," Mason said earnestly."What if it's a baby brother instead?" Damon asked.Mason paused, then nodded confidently. "If it's a brother, I'll protect him too."Damon's smile deepened at Mason's innocent expression. "Well, it looks like our Buddy is growing up. You're already thinking about protecting your little sibling.""Daddy, when are you and Mommy going to give me a little sibling?" Mason asked."Soon. It won't be long now," Damon answered.Mason's eyes widened with excitement. "Really? Daddy, you're not lying to me, are you?""Of course not. When have I ever lied to you?" Damon asked.Mason huffed. "You've lied to me plenty of times.
"I've got it. You can let go. I promise I won't drop it," Stefan's roommate reassured him.Stefan's fingers tightened briefly before he slowly released his grip. "Yeah."His roommate carried the cake over to the others, calling them to share. He kept a piece for Stefan.That piece remained untouched until Stefan went to bed.…Over the next few days, Brandon appeared at the Weir Group every day. Sometimes, he brought food; other times, flowers.Valarie was beyond annoyed. She'd told him repeatedly to stop pestering her, but he refused to listen. Eventually, she ignored him altogether.On Friday evening, Valarie spotted Brandon's car parked by the curb as soon as she stepped out of the office.By then, she was used to seeing him there. She walked directly to her car, pretending he didn't exist.Just as she reached it, Brandon called out from behind, "Valarie."Valarie pressed her lips together and turned to face him. "What do you want?""Valarie, are you free tonight?" he ask
As Stefan stared at the candle, an unreadable emotion flickered in his eyes. He pressed his hands together, closed his eyes, and made a wish.After a moment, he opened his eyes and blew out the candle. "Thank you, Veevee.""No need to thank me. But I'm curious—what did you wish for?" Valarie asked.Stefan smiled. "If I tell you, it won't come true, right?""Fair enough. Here, this is your birthday present," Valarie said.When Stefan saw the black box she handed him, he looked surprised. "Isn't the present all those clothes?""Those were just extras. This is the real gift," Valarie replied.Stefan hesitated, taking the box. "Can I open it now?"Valarie nodded. "Of course."He carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. As soon as he saw what was inside, shock flashed across his face."This is..." he murmured.Inside the box was a key."I bought you an apartment near the university. That way, you won't have to stay in the dorms anymore," Valarie explained.Stefan immedia
Michelle reached for her phone on the table.Just before her fingers could brush it, Jayden's hand shot out faster, snatching it away.She looked up at Jayden, her teary eyes flashing with defiance. "Give me back my phone!"Jayden took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "Michelle, it's not too late to stop. If you really did send Stefan to get close to Valarie, then tell him to back off."Michelle nodded. "Fine. No matter what I say, you won't believe me. So, let's say I did send him. What are you going to do? Tell Brandon?"Jayden fell silent, unsure of how to respond. Before coming here, he hadn't even considered what he would do if Michelle was behind this.Would he tell Brandon? Or pretend he didn't know?"Whether you were behind this or not, you need to call Stefan and tell him to stop seeing Valarie. If Brandon finds out about your relationship, he won't believe anything you say again," Jayden warned.Michelle's eyes filled with disappointment. "So, you don't believe me eith
It usually took Stefan ten minutes to walk from the dorm to the school gate, but today, he made it in just five.The moment he saw Valarie, a wave of happiness surged inside him.He knew it now. He had truly fallen for her."I had some errands nearby and happened to pass by your school. Then I remembered I still had something to give you," Valarie explained.Stefan raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What is it?""You'll find out later. Let's eat first," she suggested.Stefan nodded. "Okay."…Neither Valarie nor Stefan noticed Jayden, who had secretly taken a photo of them from a distance.Behind Jayden, Yale frowned. "Jayden, isn't it a bit inappropriate to secretly take photos of Valarie?"Jayden glanced at him. "What's wrong with it? She's the one sneaking around on Brandon, having dinner with another man. I'm just taking a picture. What's the big deal?""But Valarie and Brandon broke up. She's free to date whoever she wants now. Besides... that guy could be her younger bro
"What's up?" Jayden asked."You free for dinner tonight?" Yale invited.Jayden checked his schedule—no meetings, no social engagements.Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Who else is coming?""Just the two of us," Yale replied."Alright, send me the details," Jayden said.…That evening, Jayden pulled up in front of a high-end restaurant in Saintornia.As he stepped out of his car, Yale's voice came from the side. "Jayden, what a coincidence. We arrived at the same time."Jayden looked over, then waited for Yale to catch up before they walked inside together.Once seated in a private room, Jayden studied Yale. "You asked me to dinner alone. There must be something you want to talk about."Yale chuckled. "Can't hide anything from you. Let's order first."After placing their orders and the server left, Yale leaned back and met Jayden's gaze. "What's your plan with Michelle and Brandon? Are you really trying to set them up?"Jayden's fingers tightened slightly around his glass. H
At present, nothing mattered to Brandon except Valarie. If Jayden insisted on forcing him to see Michelle, their friendship might not survive.Yale nodded. "Got it. I'll mention it, but I won't push it if he doesn't listen."He and Nolan had a clear view of the situation and weren't planning on getting too involved. They didn't want to end up stuck in the middle, trying to please both sides and failing.…The news of Brandon stepping down as CEO of the Sumner Group spread quickly through Saintornia.As soon as Michelle heard about it, she called Jayden."Jayden, I just saw online that Brandon resigned as CEO of the Sumner Group. What's going on?" Her voice trembled with worry.There was a brief silence on the other end before Jayden responded in a low voice. "I don't know yet. I'll ask around.""Jayden, do you think it's because of that exposé you had someone post online? Maybe you should have them take it down. I want to see him, but I don't want him to leave the Sumner Group
Valarie opened the door and stepped out.After she left, Brandon pulled out his phone and dialed Yale. "Got time for a drink tonight?""Sure. But last I checked, Valarie keeps a tight leash on you. You sure you can go drinking?" Yale asked.Hearing the teasing in Yale's voice, Brandon lowered his gaze. "She doesn't care what I do anymore."She didn't even want him now, so why would she care if he went out drinking?"Alright then. I'll call Nolan and Jayden. You and Jayden need to settle your beef anyway. You two fighting online all the time is just making people laugh at you," Yale grunted.Brandon frowned. "If you invite him, I'm not going. I don't want to see him."If Jayden showed up, the first thing he'd do was try to convince him to see Michelle. And right now, just hearing her name annoyed him.If it weren't for Michelle, things wouldn't have spiraled so far between him and Valarie."Fine, fine. I won't call him. See you at the usual place," Yale said."Yeah," Brandon h