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
Sensing Nyla's struggle, Damon paused and abruptly released her.Nyla trembled with anger, torn between wanting to hit him and remembering that he had saved her life. She bit her lip hard and remained silent, though she was deeply hurt inside.What did he think of her? He knew she was Clark's wife—his nephew's wife—and still dared to do something like that!The more Nyla thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and tears streamed down her face. The Sumner men were all despicable!Damon's gaze grew colder in the darkness, his entire demeanor radiating chill, as he heard Nyla's sobs."Why were you so distant from Clark before, even wanting a divorce, but now you're having dinner with him as if nothing happened?" he asked.Damon's accusatory tone made Nyla frown. Even though he had saved her before, what he had just done and the question he was asking now were far beyond acceptable.She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and said coldly, "Uncle Damon, it's normal for a
Nyla went back to the restroom and splashed cold water on her face.Looking at her red eyes in the mirror, she couldn't help but smile bitterly.Damon must be disgusted with her now. He would probably be as cold toward her as he was before. Maybe that was for the best—they shouldn't have any connection at all.After calming down and letting her eyes return to normal, she left the restroom.When Nyla returned to the table, Clark's gaze immediately fell on her swollen lips."Nyla, what happened to your mouth?" Clark's expression was dark, and his tone was icy.Nyla looked completely out of place, as though she had just indulged in pleasure. With Damon in the restaurant, Clark couldn't help but be suspicious.Nyla maintained her composure. "I noticed my lipstick was smudged when I looked in the mirror, so I cleaned it off. I must have been too rough, which is why my lips are swollen.""Really?" Clark's eyes were fixed on her, his gaze filled with doubt.Nyla frowned, her expressi
As soon as Nyla finished speaking, Clark immediately agreed. His main priority was getting Nyla back by his side. Everything else could be dealt with later."Nyla, don't worry. I promise I won't overstep any boundaries. I swear."Nyla had heard these empty promises from him many times before and didn't take them seriously.Since she was going back, she was determined to protect herself. If Clark tried to force himself on her, she wouldn't let him get away with it."Okay. I'm heading back now. Drive safe," she said.…Over the next two days, Nyla rested and packed her things at home.On the day she was set to move, Valarie suddenly came to visit.Seeing Nyla unharmed, Valarie sighed in relief.However, her expression soon turned troubled. "Nyla, why didn't you tell me about being kidnapped?!"Noticing Valarie's disapproving look, Nyla explained, "I thought you were going through a rough time, and I didn't want to add to your stress. Since I'm fine, I didn't tell you."Valarie
Upon seeing Nyla's completely different attitude toward Clark—no longer the cold and distant demeanor she once had—Valarie's eyes flashed with frustration."Nyla, I hope you won't regret your decision today!" she said.With that, Valarie turned and walked away, feeling she might lose her temper if she stayed any longer.How had Nyla gone from being fine when she moved out previously to becoming so infatuated in less than a month?Fuming in her car, Valarie was about to start the engine when she suddenly had a troubling thought. When she had asked Nyla if she still had feelings for Clark, Nyla had hesitated. Moreover, her gaze toward Clark had been devoid of the previous affection and warmth—almost indifferent.Could it be that Nyla had some unavoidable reason for moving back?Valarie decided she would talk to her again in the near future.…After Valarie left, Clark said, "Valarie is always bad-mouthing me and ruining our relationship. You should have less contact with her in
Damon was reviewing documents in his office at Prospectus Technology when his personal phone suddenly rang.He answered, and Marie's booming voice came through. "Damon, come home for dinner tonight."Damon glanced at the pile of unfinished documents and immediately refused. "I'm busy.""No matter what, you must make time tonight. Otherwise, I'll go to your office and drag you home myself," Marie warned.Marie's commanding tone left Damon feeling helpless."There's too much to do today. I really can't make it," he said."No excuses. You must come back for dinner. Even with your busy schedule, you can always spare time for a meal," Marie insisted.Without giving Damon a chance to respond, Marie hung up.…By the time Nyla and Clark had moved Nyla's things back to the villa, it was already past 4:00 p.m.After taking a shower and changing clothes, they headed to the Sumner residence.As Clark pulled up to the entrance, Damon was about to walk in. Hearing the car, Damon turned a
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
Offending too many people could lead to trouble. If someone ever decided to stab Gabriel in the back, it was unlikely anyone would be willing to help him.Gabriel's eyes darkened as he glanced at Damon, but he quickly spoke up. "Mr. Sumner, your words seem a bit unfair. Wilhelm has always gotten along well with his classmates."Before Buddy transferred, there hadn't been any issues. Everyone can attest to that, and Ms. Ferrier can confirm it as well."It was indeed Wilhelm's fault this time, but kids pushing and shoving during arguments is normal. Accusing him of bullying other children feels like an overreach, don't you think?"Damon smiled. "I'm merely raising a valid concern, not accusing him outright. However, if he can publicly shove Buddy today, who's to say he won't shove another classmate tomorrow?""You're speculating about things that haven't happened. Mr. Sumner, it seems excessive to assume the worst about a child this young," Gabriel countered."Oh, you misunderstand
"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