"Alright, let's take a nap. We still have to play with Buddy later," Damon suggested.Nyla shook her head. "Before we nap, there's something I need to tell you.""What is it?" Damon asked.She pulled a small notebook from her bag, flipped it open, and handed it to him. "This is what Buddy wrote last night—all the rewards he wants."I plan to buy the remaining ones over the next two days. I'll also prepare a few extra gifts. In the future, for his birthdays or holidays, just pick something from here and give it to him for me."As soon as she finished speaking, Damon frowned. "Even after you go to Meristate, you can still send him gifts yourself. Are you planning never to come back?""No, listen to me. I just want to be prepared. If I can stay in touch with both of you after I leave, then you won't need to use these gifts. I'll choose new ones every year and send them myself. I'm just getting these ready in case something happens," Nyla explained.Damon protested, "There won't be
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
Clark stiffened abruptly, his expression darkening instantly. He tightened his grip on Nyla's chin before slowly releasing her and turning to face Damon.Meeting Damon's amused gaze, Clark forced a smile. "No. Uncle Damon, did you need something?"Damon smiled. "Your grandma sent me to call you both for dinner.""Thank you, Uncle Damon.""No trouble at all. But remember, this is the family home. Be mindful of your actions." As Damon spoke, he briefly glanced at the red mark on Nyla's chin, mockery evident in his gaze.Seeing Damon's eyes linger on Nyla, Clark frowned and stepped in front of her. "I understand, Uncle Damon."His tone and expression were not pleasant, and his gaze toward Damon betrayed a hint of wariness.Damon smirked and casually looked away. "Alright, let's go eat."After Damon left, Clark reached out for Nyla's hand, but she dodged him, walking away without a backward glance.Clark quickly caught up, gripping her hand firmly. "Behave, or I'll talk to your fa
"Alright, let's take a nap. We still have to play with Buddy later," Damon suggested.Nyla shook her head. "Before we nap, there's something I need to tell you.""What is it?" Damon asked.She pulled a small notebook from her bag, flipped it open, and handed it to him. "This is what Buddy wrote last night—all the rewards he wants."I plan to buy the remaining ones over the next two days. I'll also prepare a few extra gifts. In the future, for his birthdays or holidays, just pick something from here and give it to him for me."As soon as she finished speaking, Damon frowned. "Even after you go to Meristate, you can still send him gifts yourself. Are you planning never to come back?""No, listen to me. I just want to be prepared. If I can stay in touch with both of you after I leave, then you won't need to use these gifts. I'll choose new ones every year and send them myself. I'm just getting these ready in case something happens," Nyla explained.Damon protested, "There won't be
Mason nodded excitedly. "Okay!"They returned to the changing area, showered, changed into fresh clothes, and took the shuttle to the restaurant.As soon as they sat down, a server approached. "Mr. and Mrs. Sumner, we have several types of cuisine ready. What would you like for lunch?"Damon looked at Nyla. "Nyla, you decide."Nyla glanced at Mason and noticed his eyes fixed on the roasted chicken leg. She couldn't help but smile. "I'd like a steak, but I think Buddy wants the chicken leg."Following her gaze, Damon saw that Mason's eyes were practically glued to the golden-brown roasted chicken leg. He chuckled. "Alright, we'll have the steak, and Buddy can have the chicken leg.""Understood. How would you like your steak cooked? Any dietary restrictions?" the server asked.Nyla shook her head. "Medium-well, and no restrictions."Damon replied, "Medium-rare.""Got it. And for Mr. Mason, besides the chicken leg, would he like anything else?" the server asked."No, that's all
After changing their clothes, Damon led them to a shallower spring more suitable for Mason. He stepped in first to test the temperature, then carefully lowered Mason into the water.As soon as Mason felt the warmth, he beamed. "It's so cozy!"Damon chuckled and let go once he was sure Mason was steady. The shallow depth was perfect for Mason, as the water reached his neck when seated.For Damon and Nyla, however, it was a bit too shallow.After Mason adjusted to the spring, Damon turned to Nyla. "Should we move to one of the deeper springs? This one feels a little chilly."Nyla hesitated, glancing at Mason as he splashed around. "But I'd feel uneasy leaving Buddy here alone.""I'll call for some staff to keep an eye on him. He'll be fine," Damon said.After a moment of thought, Nyla nodded. "Alright."Once the staff arrived to supervise Mason, Damon led Nyla to a nearby, deeper spring.As she sank into the warm water, which reached up to her shoulders, she sighed in satisfacti
Drake stormed off, his anger radiating with each step.Reaching his car, he kicked the door hard in frustration. The action brought little relief, so he pulled out his phone and dialed a number."Put a hold on the collaboration between MK and the Kinsey Group. Don't move forward until I return," he commanded.Whatever the person on the other end said only fueled his fury."Do as I say! I'll take full responsibility for any consequences!" he growled before abruptly ending the call.Breathing deeply to suppress his rage, Drake yanked open the car door and sped away.…Two hours later, Damon pulled up to a luxury hot springs resort.Nyla's face lit up with delight as she turned to him. "I've always wanted to visit this place, but you've been so busy with work that I never mentioned it."Damon smiled. "Spencer recommended it. I might have to give him a raise when we get back."In the back seat, Mason's curiosity was piqued—he'd never been to a resort before.As the family exited
"Enough with the overthinking!" Lydia chided. "Take this time to relax. Once they're back, you'll probably be driving late nights again.""Fair enough," Walter remarked.…In the car, Damon glanced at Nyla. "The place we're going is a bit far. You and Buddy should rest. I'll wake you when we get there."She nodded. "Okay."Leaning back, she closed her eyes but couldn't fall asleep. Thoughts of leaving Damon and Mason in just three days weighed heavily on her.After a while, she opened her eyes, gazing at Damon with a mixture of longing and reluctance.Sensing her stare, Damon turned to her briefly. "What's wrong? Can't sleep?""Yeah," she admitted softly. "I just wanted to look at you. Don't mind me."Damon smiled. "Nyla, do you really think I can drive normally with you staring at me like that?"His teasing tone made her roll her eyes. "Buddy's here. Be serious!"From the back seat, Mason piped up, "Mommy, I covered my eyes! Pretend I'm not here. I can't see or hear anythin
Nyla and Damon exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh."Let's go upstairs and pack too," Damon suggested. "Otherwise, Buddy will be all done and rushing us."Nyla nodded. "Alright."The two headed to their bedroom, each packing clothes for the next few days.Since Nyla needed to gather her skincare products and makeup, Damon finished first. He walked over, intending to help, but she waved him off."Just stay put," she said. "If you touch this, you'll mess up everything I've just organized. Besides, you don't even know what's what."Damon chuckled, leaning against the dresser. "Fine. I'll just watch you."He didn't argue—makeup wasn't his forte. To him, all the lipsticks looked the same, though Nyla insisted there were big differences.It took another ten minutes before she finally zipped up her bag.Damon grabbed their suitcases and carried them downstairs, where Mason was already waiting.Upon seeing them, Mason's eyes lit up. "Mommy, Daddy! Are we leaving now? Where
Harrison's response was immediate. "I'm not going. I've lived in Saintornia all my life, and I'm used to it here. Besides, with my health as it is, I don't have many years left anyway. I'd rather not move around."Nyla's heart sank. "Dad, you'll live a long and healthy life."Harrison gave a faint smile. "At my age, with my body the way it is, every day is a gift. The only thing I can't stop worrying about is you. Otherwise, whether I live or die wouldn't matter to me.""Please take care of yourself," she implored."I will. Since your mother is willing to entrust the company she's built over the years to you, make sure you work hard and don't let her down," he advised.In Harrison's mind, Emerald was still the gentle and kind woman he'd known years ago. He had no reason to doubt what Nyla told him."I will," Nyla replied.After sitting with him a while longer and discussing a few things, she finally took her leave.When she returned to the car, her eyes were red, and tears shim
Nyla bit her lip, forcing a lighthearted tone. "I was just talking casually. Don't take it seriously. Besides, you're not the type to believe in these things anyway, right?""But when it comes to you, I can't afford not to believe," Damon replied."I promise I'll make sure to come back safely. Besides, no matter what, she's still my mother. She wouldn't truly harm me," Nyla reasoned."Alright," Damon answered.The two hugged quietly for a while before Damon finally loosened his grip on Nyla. Still, his gaze remained fixed on her, unwavering.Feeling his intense stare, Nyla shifted uncomfortably. "Why are you staring at me like that?""I just want to take a good look at you," he said.Nyla pressed her lips together before leaning up to plant a kiss on his lips. "I'm tired. Let's sleep.""Alright." Damon turned off the light, plunging the bedroom into darkness. The only illumination came from the soft moonlight streaming through the cracks in the curtains.Snuggling into Damon's
Understanding Nyla's concerns, Damon reassured her, "Don't worry. I won't do anything."They had only three days left together. He wished time would slow down so he could savor every moment with her. He had no intention of wasting even a second.Nyla shot him a skeptical look. "Really?""Really. I swear," he replied with a serious expression.Reluctantly, she nodded. "Alright, but you have to keep your word.""Of course," Damon promised.Once upstairs, he handed her a towel. "You go ahead and shower first.""Okay," Nyla replied.As the sound of running water filled the room, Damon walked to the window, pulled out his phone, and made a call."Prepare for departure to Meristate tomorrow. The mission is to protect someone indefinitely," he instructed.The voice on the other end said something, and Damon replied, "It's my wife, Nyla Kinsey."After ending the call, Damon slipped his phone into his pocket and gazed at the night sky, his expression hardening. He vowed their separat