Charlotte stared in disbelief, her wide eyes filled with fear and guilt. Her face turned ashen."Uncle Damon..." she called out."Don't call me uncle," Damon replied icily. "I don't have a niece who betrays her own family. Since you've chosen to side with Drake, you've also chosen to stand against me and Prospectus Technology. From now on, we're business rivals, and I won't show you any mercy."His piercing gaze felt like the chill of a winter wind. "But since we once shared a bond, let me offer you some advice—stay far away from Drake. Otherwise, you won't even know how your end comes."With that, Damon brushed past her and left.Charlotte stood frozen, watching his figure disappear, too shaken to pursue him further.…Back in Damon's office, Spencer entered after a knock. "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Guinness from the Watson Group is here to see you.""I'm not seeing him. Tell him the Watson Group's issues have nothing to do with me," Damon replied."Understood," Spencer answered.In t
It was Percy's secretary who had said that the Watson Group would be in crisis if they offended Drake. That was why Percy had refused to work with Prospectus Technology.Now? They hadn't offended Drake, but they had offended Damon. If they had to offend someone, he'd rather it be Drake.Percy had worked with Damon for years. He knew Damon wasn't the type to push people to their breaking point. As for Drake, Percy had investigated him—he was a ruthless man.People who had worked with Drake had all suffered. Yet, no one dared retaliate because Drake was supported by the Nixons. Associating with someone like that would be dangerous.Percy's gaze shifted to the window, his expression grim. He couldn't shake the feeling that the tides were turning in Saintornia.…In the days that followed, executives from companies that had severed ties with Prospectus Technology flooded Spencer's phone with calls, all begging for a meeting with Damon.No matter how persistent they were, Spencer alw
Nyla Jayston was in her third month of trying to conceive when she saw a message on her husband Clark Sumner's phone from a contact named "Jordyn Cheatham".Jordyn: [I think my new nightgown is a bit tight. Why don't you come over and check if it fits?]Attached was a selfie of a woman in a deep V-neck red slip dress, her cleavage partly exposed, exuding seduction.Nyla's grip on the phone tightened. She scrolled up and found Clark and Jordyn's previous exchanges to be strictly work-related, which made her frown.'Was the text sent by mistake? Or…'A hand wrapped around Nyla's waist from behind, breaking her thoughts.Clark pressed his warm body against hers and gently nibbled her earlobe. "Honey, I'm all cleaned up. Do you want to do it on the couch or the bed?"Before Nyla could respond, Clark picked her up and laid her on the couch, his tall frame looming over her."Since you're not saying anything, I'll choose. Let's do it on the couch," Clark said, his voice husky and his
Nyla downed her drink in one gulp. She had never imagined Clark would betray her. Seeing him in bed with another woman felt like a dagger through her heart."I just can't believe it. He loved you so much. He didn't seem like the type to cheat. Maybe there's a misunderstanding," Valarie suggested.Nyla let out a cold laugh. "I saw it with my own eyes. How could that be a misunderstanding?"The room fell silent.Watching Nyla drink like there was no tomorrow, Valarie grabbed the glass from her hand. "Even if he cheated, you shouldn't punish yourself by getting drunk. What are you going to do now?""I'm getting a divorce. Just thinking about him with that woman makes me sick."Upon seeing the defiance in Nyla’s red eyes, Valarie's heart ached. "Don't think about it now. You need to rest. Decide what to do next once you’re calm. I'll take you home."Nyla shook her head. "No... I don't want to go back."Returning to that house would only bring back the sickening images of Clark’s be
On Nyla's way back, she hesitated for a long time before finally messaging Damon, someone whose contact she had had for three years but had never contacted.Nyla: [Uncle Damon... Can we pretend tonight never happened? I was really drunk and went to the wrong room.]She waited for a long time, but there was no response from Damon. Frowning, she sent another message.Nyla: [?]As soon as she sent it, a red exclamation mark appeared: [You are no longer friends with this user. Please send a friend request to continue chatting.]Nyla bit her lip. Damon had deleted her. He must not want to bring this up again. Relieved, she finally felt a bit of peace.…When Nyla got home, it was already past 6:00 a.m.As soon as she opened the door, she saw Clark sitting on the sofa. He turned sharply at the sound of the door, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night."Where were you last night? I called you dozens of times. Why didn’t you answer?"Clark stood up and walked quickly toward her, r
Nyla froze for a moment, then struggled desperately. Just the thought of Clark kissing another woman the night before filled her with disgust and rage."Let go!"Her struggles were futile against Clark, who only tightened his grip around her waist.As she fought, her towel loosened, revealing her body. His gaze darkened, and he felt a rush of desire.Their bodies were pressed tightly together, and Nyla quickly noticed the change in Clark. Furious, she bit him hard, tasting blood in their mouths.Instead of letting go, Clark's other hand slipped under Nyla's towel. She had nothing on underneath, having just come out of the shower. She stiffened and struggled even more fiercely."Clark, get off me!"Clark ignored Nyla, his fingers teasing her sensitive spots. "Nyla, you need me too, don't you?"Nyla’s struggles were in vain, and she grew increasingly desperate. As Clark positioned himself, she closed her eyes in despair. "Clark, don't make me hate you."Clark halted abruptly. Se
Seeing the coldness in Clark's eyes, Nyla realized how blind she had been to fall in love with such a man.Her eyes stung with unshed tears, but she refused to show any vulnerability in front of him. She yanked her hand away, took a deep breath, and headed upstairs. The only thought in her mind was to find a job quickly so she could move out and divorce Clark.She grabbed a random outfit, tied her hair up with a hairpin, and went back downstairs. She was never one to fuss over her appearance. In the past, she had dressed up for the Sumners' gatherings to make a good impression. Now, she couldn't care less.Hearing her footsteps, Clark looked up.Nyla wore a fitted white dress, her waist so slender it seemed it could be encircled with one hand. Her hair was secured with a jade hairpin, revealing her delicate neck. She was breathtakingly beautiful. The grace she exuded was just like when they first met. However, the look in her eyes now was devoid of any warmth."Let’s go," she said
Nyla lifted her head to speak, but Clark grabbed her hand and smiled. "Grandma, we're working on it!"Nyla tried to pull her hand away, but Clark's grip was too tight.If he wouldn't let her be, she wouldn't make it easy for him either. She turned to Marie. "Grandma, I'm looking for a job right now, so having children might have to wait."The room fell silent.Clark's grip on Nyla's hand tightened painfully, and she winced.Damon glanced at Clark's hand on Nyla, noticing the bulging veins, then looked away indifferently.Clark’s aunt, Anne Sumner, sneered. "Nyla, don't blame me for being blunt. You've been married for years. How can you not have a child yet? If it weren't for Clark insisting on marrying you, do you think your family could have ever married into the Sumners?"You should be grateful. If you don't want to have Clark's child, there are plenty of women who do. If someone else steps in, you’ll be the one looking foolish."Besides, Anne thought, "Who knows if Nyla is
It was Percy's secretary who had said that the Watson Group would be in crisis if they offended Drake. That was why Percy had refused to work with Prospectus Technology.Now? They hadn't offended Drake, but they had offended Damon. If they had to offend someone, he'd rather it be Drake.Percy had worked with Damon for years. He knew Damon wasn't the type to push people to their breaking point. As for Drake, Percy had investigated him—he was a ruthless man.People who had worked with Drake had all suffered. Yet, no one dared retaliate because Drake was supported by the Nixons. Associating with someone like that would be dangerous.Percy's gaze shifted to the window, his expression grim. He couldn't shake the feeling that the tides were turning in Saintornia.…In the days that followed, executives from companies that had severed ties with Prospectus Technology flooded Spencer's phone with calls, all begging for a meeting with Damon.No matter how persistent they were, Spencer alw
Charlotte stared in disbelief, her wide eyes filled with fear and guilt. Her face turned ashen."Uncle Damon..." she called out."Don't call me uncle," Damon replied icily. "I don't have a niece who betrays her own family. Since you've chosen to side with Drake, you've also chosen to stand against me and Prospectus Technology. From now on, we're business rivals, and I won't show you any mercy."His piercing gaze felt like the chill of a winter wind. "But since we once shared a bond, let me offer you some advice—stay far away from Drake. Otherwise, you won't even know how your end comes."With that, Damon brushed past her and left.Charlotte stood frozen, watching his figure disappear, too shaken to pursue him further.…Back in Damon's office, Spencer entered after a knock. "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Guinness from the Watson Group is here to see you.""I'm not seeing him. Tell him the Watson Group's issues have nothing to do with me," Damon replied."Understood," Spencer answered.In t
"What does her return have to do with you getting married?" Harrison asked, his confusion clear."She wants me and Buddy to move to Meristate," Nyla said softly."What?!" Harrison's face darkened. "She hasn't cared about you for years. She didn't even visit once. And now she's coming back to force you to leave your husband and move abroad? Has she lost her mind?!"After a brief hesitation, Nyla shared what she had learned from Alexander about her mother's plans.Harrison's anger flared as he processed the full story. "That's insane! She abandoned you for years, and now she expects you to inherit some foreign family's legacy? What about your life, your happiness? This is absurd!""That's why Damon and I decided to register our marriage now," Nyla said calmly. "We'll handle everything else as it comes."Harrison sighed deeply. "Alright, I understand. If you're not ready for a wedding now, we'll wait.""Thank you, Dad," Nyla replied.After lunch, Damon and Nyla prepared to leave w
Jane's cold voice came through the line. "I'm busy. What do you want?""The Wilkie Group might go bankrupt," Theo said bluntly. "Damon has already gathered substantial evidence of our illegal activities. Grandpa's getting old, and I can't hold the company together on my own. Can you come back and help me?"There was a moment of silence before Jane's mocking tone cut in. "Theo, when I was at the Wilkie Group, we didn't do anything illegal. How is it that the company started falling apart the moment you took over?"Theo forced down his rising anger and replied coldly, "Everything I've done was for the company's growth. When are you coming back?""I'm not coming back. Give up on the idea," Jane said sharply. "I've already sold my shares to Damon. The company has nothing to do with me anymore. You're on your own."She wasn't a fool. Theo's reason for asking her to return wasn't to pass the company to her. He wanted her to be the scapegoat for the things he'd done in the past. She migh
Drake laughed, his tone light. "Mr. Wilkie, are you still upset about that? Yes, I had to strong-arm you at first, but it was for the sake of our partnership."And look at the opportunities I've brought the Wilkie Group—several lucrative deals. If you play your cards right, overtaking Prospectus Technology will just be a matter of time.""Let's hope you're true to your word, Mr. Mummery," Pedro replied.Being stuck between Damon and Drake felt like walking on thin ice.Pedro couldn't shake the thought that the Wilkie Group might go bankrupt at any moment. If he'd known this was how the company would end up, he would have preferred it go bankrupt earlier. It would be better than living on the edge now."Don't worry. I'll have 100,000,000 dollars invested in the Wilkie Group soon. If you have any other requests, feel free to let me know anytime," Drake said."Alright. I'm feeling a little under the weather, so I won't be seeing you out, Mr. Mummery," Pedro said.As soon as Drake l
Pedro fell silent, his face dark and stormy as he said nothing.Damon wasn't in a hurry and didn't push for an answer. He waited calmly, confident that Pedro would eventually give him the response he wanted.After what felt like an eternity, Pedro finally looked up and spoke. "If I don't agree, will you hand those incriminating documents over to the police?""Mr. Wilkie, the moment you asked that question, you already knew the answer," Damon replied.Pedro took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Damon. "Fine. I agree. But if Drake discovers this, the Wilkie Group and Prospectus Technology will go down together."It was a no-win situation. If he didn't agree, Damon would expose everything, and the Wilkie Group would crumble. However, agreeing risked Drake discovering the betrayal, which would also spell doom for his company.Damon's expression remained steady. "Mr. Wilkie, rest assured. If you help me take Drake down, I'll hand over every piece of evidence I have against the Wilkie
Nyla nodded. "Alright. Just don't work too late.""I won't," Damon assured her as he answered the call and walked toward his study.His body tensed at whatever was said on the other end, and his pace quickened.Once he closed the door, he asked coldly, "Are you sure?"Spencer's voice came through clearly in the quiet room. "Yes, Mr. Sumner. I've got the footage. Ms. Sumner did meet with Drake two nights ago."Damon's gaze dropped. After a long pause, he said, "I see. Don't act yet—just keep an eye on her and observe what she does next.""Understood," Spencer replied.After hanging up, Damon tossed his phone onto the desk and let out a cold laugh. It seemed Charlotte had completely turned her back on him. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten involved with Drake....Over the next few days, Spencer gathered substantial evidence of illegal activities involving the Wilkie Group.When he handed the documents to Damon, he asked, "Mr. Sumner, should we hand this over to the police?
Once Nyla finished ordering, she handed the menu to Damon.After he placed his order, she finally said, "By the way, I told Valarie about our marriage today. I plan to invite her and Brandon over for dinner in a few days."Damon nodded. "Alright, it's up to you.""Also, when will you have time to visit my dad and tell him about us?" Nyla asked."I might be busy for the next couple of days. How about Saturday?" Damon suggested."That works," she replied.Looking at her seriously, Damon said, "Nyla, I owe you. Once everything is settled, I'll make it up to you with a proper wedding."Seeing the guilt and sadness in his eyes, Nyla took his hand. "Don't be silly. I've already said I don't care about that. As long as the three of us are together and happy, that's all that matters.""But I still feel like I've let you down," Damon said, his voice heavy with emotion. He loved her and couldn't bear the thought of her suffering, even a little. His heart ached for her."Enough of that!
"Understood, Mr. Sumner. Should we continue with the plan for the Wilkie Group?" Spencer asked."Yes," Damon replied.…The day passed quickly, and before long, evening arrived.After reviewing the last contract on his desk, Damon picked up his phone and called Nyla. "Nyla, I'll come pick you up soon. We're going out for dinner tonight."Nyla, who had just picked up Mason, raised an eyebrow. "What about Buddy?""Tonight is just for the two of us. We'll bring him next time," Damon answered."Alright, I'll drop him off first," Nyla said."Okay. See you soon." Damon smiled as he ended the call, grabbed his coat, and headed out.…Half an hour later, Damon parked in front of the villa and called Nyla. "Nyla, I'm outside.""Okay, I'm coming," she replied.Not long after, she emerged from the villa. She wore a brown cashmere coat over a beige V-neck sweater and a matching skirt. Her long, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders.Although her makeup was light, her delicate features