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
Drake smiled faintly. "I want to marry Nyla."Alexander scoffed. "Ambitious, aren't you?"If Nyla successfully inherited the Nixons' legacy, Drake's status would soar as her husband.Drake pulled out a chair and sat across from Alexander. "If I'm engaged to her, I can legitimately support her return to the Nixons. Don't you agree?"He leaned forward. "I don't have lofty ambitions. I only want the MK Company. Once she's secured her position, we can annul the marriage anytime. This arrangement benefits you without costing you a thing."Alexander tapped his fingers on the rim of his glass, considering Drake's proposal.After a prolonged silence, he said, "MK could be yours, but I don't trust you.""Mr. Kinsey, we can draw up a contract if trust is an issue. That way, if I break my word, you'll have legal recourse," Drake suggested.Alexander didn't respond immediately. "Leave for now. I need to think it over."He also needed to gauge Nyla's reaction to learning about her ties to
As Nyla took the photo, her hands trembled slightly.The woman in the fitted dress, standing on the far left of the photo with her hair neatly pinned back, bore an uncanny resemblance to the image of her mother stored in Nyla's memory.Time seemed to have left barely any trace on her face, which looked almost identical to how Nyla remembered it.Her fingers tightened around the photo as she stared at it.After a long pause, she placed it on the table and pushed it back toward Alexander."Mr. Kinsey, first of all, I can't verify if this photo is even real. And second... if she truly felt regret, why didn't she come back to see me after leaving the country all these years ago?" Nyla voiced her doubts.Alexander frowned. "Your mother didn't want to disrupt your peaceful life.""Then why are you disrupting mine now?" she shot back. "If I'm not mistaken, the 'master' Buddy mentioned must be you. You've given him a lot of money and are now approaching us. What is your purpose?"Her s
Nyla turned on her heel and walked out.If Emerald had genuinely been unable to see her because of some life-threatening circumstances, Nyla could have understood.But judging by the photo, it was clear that Emerald had been living a good life.For Alexander to claim that Emerald "missed her" felt like a cruel joke. That supposed longing wasn't even worth the price of a plane ticket.Back in her car, Nyla sat quietly, forcing herself to calm down before starting the engine and driving away.Not long after she left, Alexander pulled out his phone and made a call.There was a note of helplessness in his voice as he spoke. "Aunt Emerald, Nyla seems very resistant to the idea of going to Meristate."A cold, distant female voice answered on the other end. "No matter what it takes, you must bring her back.""I understand," Alexander replied with a sigh. "But you've really given me quite the challenge this time.""I'm busy. Figure it out yourself," the voice snapped before promptly h
Nyla looked at Theo with confusion. "Mr. Wilkie, we're not close, and I don't think I can help you with anything.""Ms. Kinsey, you're the only one who can help me." Theo gazed at her intently, speaking slowly. "Before Jane went abroad, she sold her 10% stake in the Wilkie Group to Mr. Sumner for a low price of 7,000,000 dollars."Now, I want to buy those shares back from him. Could you help me by talking to him? I'm willing to pay 30,000,000 dollars for the shares."His expression was earnest, but Nyla frowned. "I don't understand business matters, and I don't have the power to intervene. You should discuss this with Damon."Theo sighed deeply."My grandfather has already met with Mr. Sumner. He wants us to buy the shares back at market price, but the Wilkie Group nearly went bankrupt recently."We're just starting to recover and don't have that kind of money. That's why I'm asking you to help us plead with Mr. Sumner."If you're willing to help, Ms. Kinsey, I'm prepared to tra
Nyla knew she wasn't some extraordinary beauty, and she had a child.Yet, as she thought about Drake's previous investigations into her and his ties to the Nixons, her brow furrowed. A fleeting thought crossed her mind, but it vanished before she could grasp it."Nyla, how about I ask Tom about this another day?" Valarie suggested.Although Nyla didn't want anything more to do with Tom, she couldn't bring herself to care when it came to Nyla."No need," Nyla replied. "Didn't you say Damon was the one who saved you yesterday? He might know. I'll ask him.""That works," Valarie said.Afterward, Nyla lost her appetite and barely ate before parting ways with Valarie and heading to Prospectus Technology.…When Spencer saw her, he looked visibly surprised. "Ms. Kinsey, what brings you here? Mr. Sumner is in a meeting right now, but you can wait for him in his office.""Alright." She nodded and entered Damon's office. She hadn't been seated long when he returned."Nyla, what are yo
Damon let out a chuckle, his expression full of mockery. "A better life? Then where were you when the Jaystons went bankrupt? Why didn't you take her to Meristate to live this so-called better life then?"Let's not pretend—your real reason for coming back is obvious. No need to spout these hypocritical lies."The other end of the call fell silent.Alexander hadn't expected Damon to uncover his real reason for his arrival to Saintornia so quickly.After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Even if my motives aren't entirely pure, taking her and Buddy to Meristate would undeniably offer them a better life, wouldn't it?""A better life? Or a life of constant fear? I won't let her become a pawn in your family's power struggles. If you want to take her and Buddy, you'll have to go through me first," Damon gritted through his teeth."If she comes to Meristate with me, she'll have a strong chance of inheriting the Nixon fortune. Mr. Sumner, you haven't even asked Nyla how she feels—how do y
"Rain boots?" Damon guessed."No," Nyla replied curtly."Galoshes?" Damon tried again.Nyla didn't bother responding."Knee-high socks?" Damon ventured."No! They're torn socks! Didn't you see the little ripped parts I drew?" Nyla cried."I thought those were just wear and tear," Damon reasoned.For a moment, Nyla doubted her artistic ability. Was she really that bad at drawing?"Damon, be honest with me. Are my drawings really that abstract?" she asked.Damon hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Not exactly. Some words are just harder to draw. Maybe try simpler ones next time."Mason, unbothered, chimed in, "Daddy, stop sugarcoating it. Her drawings are abstract."Damon glared at him. "Be quiet."Mason crossed his arms. "Fine. But I'm definitely not playing Pictionary with Mommy again!""Then I'll play with her!" Damon countered.Mason and Nyla were both speechless.Truthfully, Nyla didn't want to play this game anymore, either. She quickly said, "Alright, it's get
Damon nodded. "Alright. I'll do everything I can to grow Prospectus Technology. I'll bring you back."Nyla couldn't help but smile. "Good. Don't look so serious. After all, she is still my mom. She wouldn't go that far."Damon forced a small smile. "When are you leaving?""In three days," Nyla answered."That soon?" Damon asked."Yes. So I want to spend these next three days with you and Buddy," Nyla replied.Damon nodded. "I'll clear my schedule for the next three days. I'll also call Buddy's kindergarten to excuse him from class.""Okay," Nyla replied.Just then, there was a knock at the door, followed by Mason's voice. "Mommy? Are you in there? I finished my list!"Nyla quickly wiped her tears and said, "I'm here, Buddy! Wait for me in the living room. I'll be right out."She turned to Damon and said, "I'll go check on Buddy. Finish up here and join us when you're done."Damon nodded silently, and Nyla left the study.After a quick stop in the bathroom to wash her face a
"Damon, I'm sorry, but I don't have another choice," Nyla apologized."What do you mean you don't have a choice? You didn't even ask or discuss it with me—you just decided to leave on your own. You didn't think about how I'd feel at all. How could you be so selfish?" Damon demanded.Nyla stared at him, shocked, her eyes welling with tears. "Would it have mattered if I asked you? You can barely handle Drake, let alone fight against the Nixons!"Damon let out a bitter laugh, his hands falling from her shoulders as he took a step back. "So... it's my fault. If I weren't so useless, I'd be able to protect you and Buddy."Seeing the pain in his expression, Nyla reached out to him. "Damon, that's not what I meant—"He pulled his hand away, his voice cold. "It doesn't matter what you meant. The result is the same—you and Buddy go to Meristate, and I stay here. If you had already made your decision, why did we even get married?"Nyla took a deep breath, meeting his eyes. "I won't take Bu
Watching Mason dash away, Nyla couldn't help but smile. But that smile quickly faded as she thought about their imminent separation."Nyla, why are you staring after Buddy like that?" Damon's voice snapped her back to reality.She turned to him, quickly masking her sadness. "Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about how fast time flies. Buddy's already five years old."Damon slid an arm around her waist. "It might feel fast to you, but not to me. When I think about the five years we lost, I can't help but feel regret. If we'd been together all that time, the three of us would've been so happy."The mention of those lost years made Nyla sigh.If only she had trusted Damon more back then, they wouldn't have missed out on so much time together.And now, just as they had reunited, they were about to be separated again."I'm sorry, Damon..." she murmured.Seeing the guilt in her eyes, Damon pulled her into his arms, his voice soft. "There's nothing to apologize for. For me, as long as
After getting dressed and stepping out of the break room, Nyla spotted Damon sitting behind his desk, looking refreshed as he worked.She shot him a glare, unable to suppress her annoyance.Damon rubbed his nose, feeling a bit guilty. "Honey, why didn't you rest a little longer?""It's almost time to pick up Buddy from school. Are you still busy with work?" Nyla asked."There's just a little left to do, but I can finish it at home. Let me grab my things, and we'll pick up Buddy together," he answered.Nyla considered telling him to stay and finish his work but remembered they only had three days left together. She nodded. "Okay, I'll wait for you."Five minutes later, they were on their way downstairs.Since Nyla had driven over, Damon decided to take her car to pick up Mason.During the ride, Nyla stared out the window, lost in thought about how to tell Damon she'd be leaving for Meristate.Damon noticed something was off but didn't press her. He figured he'd wait until after
Seeing the flicker of guilt in Alexander's expression, Nyla said, "If you really feel sorry for Buddy and me, promise me one thing.""What is it?" Alexander asked."If I ever ask for your help after going to Meristate, you have to help me no matter what," Nyla said.Alexander smiled. "You might find that once you become the Nixons' successor, I'll be the one asking you for help.""So, is that a no?" Nyla asked.Seeing her serious expression, Alexander finally nodded. "Fine, I promise.""Let's hope you won't break your word," she replied.Alexander offered, "If you don't believe me, I can swear on my life."Nyla shook her head. "That won't be necessary. I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving now."…Nyla headed straight to Prospectus Technology.Damon was surprised to see her arrive unexpectedly. "Nyla, why are you here at this hour?""I missed you, so I came to see you," Nyla answered.Her gaze was tender, filled with love—and a hint of sorrow so subtle it was almos
Emerald looked at Nyla and asked, "What are your conditions?""First, Buddy stays in Saintornia. He can't come to Meristate with me. Second, I need you to provide resources to Damon's company to help him take it international. Third, I want full control over my marriage decisions," Nyla stated firmly.Emerald narrowed her eyes and pondered briefly before letting out a soft laugh. "Once you join the Nixons, you and Damon will belong to two entirely different worlds."As for Buddy—if you leave him here, his life trajectory will end up just like yours. Are you sure you want to leave him behind?"Nyla's second condition wasn't difficult for Emerald to guess. She could see where this was heading, though Nyla clearly underestimated the Nixons. Even with abundant resources, Damon could never compete with them.As for Nyla's third condition? Once she was in Meristate, who she wanted to marry would hardly be her decision to make."I'm sure," Nyla said resolutely. "You want me to go to Mer
A moment later, Nyla entered the restaurant.Alexander stood quickly and led her toward their table."Nyla, just a heads-up—your mom's used to giving orders, so her words might come across as commanding. Be prepared," he said again, his tone cautious."Okay," Nyla replied evenly, following him.In less than two minutes, they arrived at the table."Nyla, this is your mom," Alexander said, then turned to the woman sitting before them. "Aunt Emerald, this is Nyla. Doesn't she look just like you?"Emerald and Nyla's eyes met, neither speaking for several long moments.After what felt like an eternity, Emerald raised her chin slightly. "Sit down."Her tone was devoid of any warmth.As Nyla looked at the woman in front of her, she found it impossible to reconcile this commanding figure with the gentle, loving mother she remembered from childhood.She sat across from Emerald and spoke directly. "I've heard from Alexander that you want me to go to Meristate."Emerald nodded, her gaz
"Exactly, Mr. Sumner, please help us out!"Damon's expression remained indifferent while facing the hopeful gazes of the group. "I can help you, but tell me—what can you offer in return?"He wasn't a philanthropist, and given these people had previously worked against Prospectus Technology, there was no way he would let them off easily."Mr. Sumner, whatever you ask—if we can do it, we will!"The others echoed in agreement, desperate to save their businesses.Damon nodded. "Alright, I have only one condition—join me in taking down Drake."Relief washed over the group. Some even looked incredulous.Was that really his only condition? After all, even if Damon hadn't explicitly asked, they'd likely side with him against Drake once their companies were back on their feet.The humiliation Drake had subjected them to was a bitter pill none of them were willing to swallow."Mr. Sumner, that's it? That's all you're asking?"Damon turned his cold gaze to the man who spoke. "Yes. But l
"If you force her, she'll resist even more. And don't forget, she has unresolved feelings about the past," Alexander reminded her.Emerald's face darkened. "What does she have to resent? If it weren't for what happened back then, she wouldn't even exist. She should be grateful I brought her into this world!"Alexander frowned. "If you want her to follow you to Meristate, you'll need to tone it down. She's not like Brian and Delia, who grew up with you.""Fine. I'll meet her tomorrow and see," Emerald replied.After divorcing Harrison and moving abroad, Emerald had initially thought about Nyla often. But over time, as her business grew and she had Brian and Delia, her thoughts of her eldest daughter faded.Now, she only cared about Nyla because the Nixons needed her as a successor. Otherwise, she might never have thought about her again.Emerald knew she had wronged Nyla, but she had gone through so much over the years. Besides, she had a son and a daughter who listened. She no lo