The girl smiled at Alexander. "Alexander, you're finally back! Do you know how much I missed you while you were gone?"Alexander raised an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, you told me you hoped I'd never come back when I left."The girl stuck out her tongue playfully. "You must've misheard! How could I ever want you to stay away? Oh, and by the way, did you bring me a gift?"As she spoke, she stepped up to Alexander, holding out her hand expectantly.Alexander chuckled. "Don't worry. I brought you something. I'll have the service staff send it to your room later.""It better be something I like! If I don't like it, I'll just have them return it to you," the girl warned."Alright, alright," Alexander replied. "By the way, let me introduce you—this is Nyla Kinsey. She's your elder sister."The girl's smile faded slightly, and her gaze toward Nyla was tinged with hostility. "Oh? Elder sister? If I'm not mistaken, I only have one elder brother. Where exactly did this 'sister' come
The maid nodded. "Yes, Madam. And this young lady is...""Nyla Kinsey. My... eldest daughter," Emerald replied."I understand. Ms. Kinsey, please come with me," the maid said.Without another word, Nyla turned and followed the maid out of the study, leaving only Emerald and Alexander behind.Alexander approached the desk and said, "Aunt Emerald, you shouldn't be too harsh on Nyla. She didn't grow up by your side, so naturally, she'll think differently from you."If you want her to listen, you'll need to ease into it. Once the distance between you two shrinks, she'll naturally come around."Emerald huffed. "Am I not being nice enough? Did you hear what she called me? 'Ms. Kinsey'? I could die of anger right now!"The cold, detached way Nyla had acted toward her stirred another wave of frustration in Emerald's chest.True, she had divorced Harrison when Nyla was young, but during the time they had spent together, Emerald had done everything she could to care for her.And this wa
Nyla understood the maid's intention but didn't take it to heart. "Alright, I understand. Thank you."A flicker of surprise crossed the maid's eyes as she watched Nyla walk into the room.Shouldn't Nyla be angry and demand an explanation after learning that she'd been placed so far from Emerald?If Nyla had confronted her, the maid could have used it as an excuse to escalate the situation, drawing Emerald's attention and fueling her dislike for Nyla.It was unexpected that Nyla accepted the obvious slight without a hint of protest.…Nyla walked to the window and looked outside.Her room was on the third floor, offering a perfect view of the garden below.Even in winter, the garden was filled with a variety of blooming flowers, creating a stunning sight.She retracted her gaze and turned back, planning to rest for a while.When she saw the maid still standing at the door, she spoke. "I'd like to rest for a bit. Could you come back in an hour to show me around the estate?"Sh
The call connected almost instantly, and Damon's face appeared on the screen.Seeing Nyla, he smiled. "Nyla."She immediately noticed he was at his office and frowned. "Isn't it the middle of the night in Saintornia? Why are you still at work?"Damon pressed his lips together. "Something came up at the company. I promise I'll go home early tomorrow night."Nyla's expression turned skeptical. "I don't believe you. I'm going to ask Lydia later if you've been eating properly.""Nyla, I swear it's just a last-minute situation tonight. From tomorrow onward, I'll eat well and leave work on time. Okay?" His coaxing tone came through the phone, almost as if he were right beside her.Despite that, they both knew they were separated by an entire ocean, with a time difference of over ten hours.And... Damon was working so hard just so he could come to Nyla sooner.Lowering her gaze, Nyla blinked away the slight sting in her eyes. "Damon, I'm not mad at you. I just… hate seeing you push yo
Emerald put down the documents in her hand and narrowed her eyes. "Who told you that?"Nyla stared at her coldly. "Does it really matter who told me? If you're not going to follow through on what we agreed upon, then I won't stay here and be your puppet."Emerald met Nyla's icy gaze, laughed mockingly, and leaned back in her chair, a trace of ridicule flashing through her eyes. "You think you have a choice?"From the moment Nyla agreed to come to Meristate, she had lost all say in the matter. Any bargaining power she thought she had was nothing more than an illusion.Emerald had never intended to keep her promise.Why would she provide resources to strengthen Damon's company, only for him to use them against her in the future? That would be nothing short of insanity—nurturing her own enemy.As for Nyla, whether she liked it or not, she had to obey. There was no other option.Nyla studied Emerald for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I understand."With that, she turned and left
Emerald's furious voice echoed behind Nyla, but she didn't even flinch. She quickened her pace and disappeared down the corridor.The once-cheerful atmosphere at the dining table instantly turned tense.Brian and Delia glanced at Emerald's dark expression and didn't dare say a word. They respected and feared her in equal measure. Whenever Emerald was displeased, they instinctively tread carefully, never daring to step out of line.Alexander looked at his aunt's stormy face and couldn't help but say, "Aunt Emerald, why are you making such a fuss over something so trivial? Besides, you were the one who broke the agreement first. You can't blame her for not respecting you."Emerald shot him a cold look. "Shut up!"She had dealt with all kinds of people in her lifetime—she wasn't about to let Nyla get the better of her.Alexander sighed in resignation but didn't press the issue.He knew his aunt well. She never listened to anyone else's advice.However, the way she was handling thi
"I have one more question. Did my mom bring Nyla to Meristate because she actually wants her to inherit the Nixons?" Brian asked.Alexander smiled. "Before you even asked me, didn't you already have your own answer?"Brian was silent for a moment before speaking. "I just wasn't sure if my thoughts were correct, so I wanted to ask you.""To your mom, you and Delia are the most important." With that, Alexander turned and left.Once he got into his car, he leaned back in his seat and pinched the bridge of his nose."How's Prospectus Technology doing?" he asked his assistant in the front."They're still holding on, but they probably won't last much longer," Nigel Gundy replied.Alexander was silent for a while before he slowly said, "Help Prospectus Technology."Nigel was momentarily stunned and instinctively turned to look at him. "Mr. Kinsey, if your aunt finds out about this, she'll definitely be furious.""I'll handle her. Just do as I say," Alexander replied.After a brief h
The words had barely left Nigel's mouth when he met Alexander's sharp gaze. A chill ran down his spine, and he quickly lowered his head, avoiding Alexander's stare."Since when do you get to make decisions for me?" Alexander asked lightly. "Want to switch seats? You can take my position instead."Nigel immediately ducked his head even further, his voice trembling. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kinsey. I overstepped."Alexander said nothing more, but the heavy pressure in the air made Nigel feel like he was sitting on needles. He quickly pulled out his phone and booked a flight.Ten minutes later, he reported, "Mr. Kinsey, I booked you a flight for tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. It's the earliest one available.""Okay." Alexander gave a lazy response and said no more.Knowing he had spoken out of turn earlier, Nigel didn't dare make another sound. He shrank back in his seat, hoping to make himself invisible.…Damon handed over a signed contract to Drake in Prospectus Technology's CEO office w
Nyla looked at Valarie. "What do you mean, giving each other looks? Just eat. I made your favorite—spicy chicken."Valarie nodded. "Okay."As they ate, Damon glanced at Brandon. "When are you going back to the company?"It had been nearly a month since Brandon left the Sumner Group. If he stayed away much longer, the people he had trained might start siding with someone else.Brandon paused mid-bite, instinctively glancing at Valarie across the table. She didn't even look his way.After a brief silence, he lowered his gaze. "In a few days.""Alright." Damon didn't press the issue.Brandon was the CEO of the Sumner Group. Damon couldn't keep treating him like a subordinate.Halfway through the meal, Brandon's phone rang.Seeing Jayden's name on the screen, he frowned and ignored it. But the phone rang again. And again.After declining multiple calls, he realized the others at the table were all looking at him.He picked up the phone. "It might be urgent."Stepping aside, he
"I just wanted to see if you'd tell me the truth. Now I know—you don't trust me," Jayden said.Michelle cried, "Fine! I admit it. I sent Stefan after Valarie. I wanted him to ruin her relationship with Brandon! Go ahead and tell Brandon if you want! I don't care!"She stood, ready to leave.Before she reached the door, Jayden's voice echoed behind her."I won't tell Brandon," he said. "But I won't help you anymore, either. There's still time to stop this. You can walk away now."Michelle's footsteps faltered momentarily, but she didn't turn back. She had never regretted her choices—why would she stop now?As long as she could have Brandon in the end, she wouldn't give up.If Jayden refused to help, she'd just have to figure it out on her own.…That evening, as Valarie got off work, she received a call from Nyla."Valarie, come over for dinner tonight! Oh, and by the way, I sent you a thank-you gift last night. Make sure you accept it," Nyla said.Valarie had seen Nyla's mon
"Whether or not you're having me followed, who I choose to spend time with is my business. I hope you'll stop prying into my private life," Valarie said.Brandon grabbed her wrist, his voice low and firm. "Valarie, the month is almost up. Don't forget the promise you made."She pulled away. "There's still a week left. We'll talk when the time comes."With that, she turned and left.Brandon watched her go, frustration darkening his face.The anonymous photos he'd received that morning were still fresh in his mind, making his expression even stormier.Forcing himself to stay calm, he pulled out his phone and called his assistant. "Find out who sent those photos to my email this morning."After hanging up, his mood remained grim. It was time to give Stefan a warning.Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang again.His eyes flickered with annoyance at the unfamiliar number. Without hesitation, he rejected the call and blocked it.Ever since he'd cut off Michelle, she'd been
Valarie turned to the couch and saw Stefan sitting there, watching her with concern."You stayed here all night?" she asked, surprised."Yeah." He nodded. "You drank too much last night. I was worried about you, so I stayed to look after you.""That must've been exhausting," Valarie remarked.Stefan shook his head. "It wasn't. How do you feel now? I bought you breakfast and made you honey water this morning. If your head hurts, the honey water should help.""I'll wash my face first." Valarie got out of bed and went to the bathroom.While freshening up, she noticed several faint red marks on her neck and chest—suspiciously like hickeys. She frowned slightly.When she stepped out, Stefan was still on the couch, looking especially well-behaved.Valarie sat across from him, pointed at her neck, and asked bluntly, "Did you do this?"The moment the words left her mouth, Stefan's face turned bright red. He lowered his head, avoiding her gaze. "I... I couldn't help myself. But I swear
After placing Valarie on the couch, Stefan stepped out of the private room to answer the call.Michelle sneered. "Stefan, tomorrow is the deadline for your mother's medical bill, and you haven't made any progress."Looks like you really don't care about the money. Or… have you gotten close to Valarie and don't need it anymore?"What a pity. Valarie still doesn't know you have ulterior motives. Do you want me to help tell her?"Stefan lowered his head, his eyes dark with emotion. "I'll send the photos in a bit."He hung up without hesitation.Slipping his phone back into his pocket, he didn't return to the private room immediately. Instead, he leaned against the wall and lit a cigarette. The swirling smoke obscured his features, making it impossible to read his expression.It felt like his entire life had been shrouded in darkness since birth. No matter how hard he fought, he could never break free.His phone buzzed with a new message from Michelle.Michelle: [Stefan, your mo
Nyla continued. "And Buddy?""Mr. Mason has already gone to bed," Lydia reported.Nyla nodded, then turned and made her way to the study.She gently pushed the door open and saw Damon fast asleep on the couch. Quietly, she stepped inside.The couch wasn't very big—perfect for her to nap on while reading. But for someone as tall as Damon, it looked rather cramped.As she moved closer, she noticed he hadn't even loosened his tie before falling asleep. A flicker of distress crossed her eyes. He must have been exhausted from all the wedding preparations.Carefully, she reached out, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt. Then she grabbed a blanket and draped it over him.After making sure he was comfortable, she left the room as quietly as she had entered.Since she wasn't sleepy yet, she decided to sit in the living room for a while.Just as she settled on the couch, Lydia approached with a shawl. "Mrs. Sumner, the temperature drops at night. Keep warm.
Nyla was momentarily stunned but reached out to accept the gift."Can I open it now?" she asked.Alexander nodded. "Of course."She lifted the lid and found a stunning ruby necklace inside, surrounded by diamonds that shimmered like a star-studded sky. It was breathtaking—impossible to look away from."It's beautiful. Thank you," she gasped."As long as you like it, that's all that matters. By the way, where's Buddy?" Alexander asked."He's probably in the main hall," Nyla answered.Alexander chuckled. "Alright. I'll go look for him."As soon as he left, Valarie let out a gasp of amazement. "Nyla, who was that guy? I just saw this necklace on the news a while ago. It was auctioned off for 20,000,000 dollars to a mysterious buyer! And now, I see it in real life—right here!"Nyla was taken aback. She hadn't expected the necklace to be that valuable.She examined it again. Aside from its beauty, it didn't seem all that special."Are you sure it's worth so much?" she asked.Val
Opening the food container, Nyla found it filled with all her favorite snacks. She couldn't help but smile."Valarie, you barely ate anything earlier. Want some?" she asked.Valarie glanced at the food, raised an eyebrow, and replied, "I'm already full—from all the PDA I've been force-fed today."Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was already 2:00 p.m.Valarie led Nyla out of the dressing room, where Harrison waited at the entrance, seated in his wheelchair.The moment Nyla saw him, her eyes welled with tears. "Dad."Harrison's voice thickened with emotion. "I'm here to walk you down the aisle."Nyla squeezed his hand as they descended the stairs together.At the entrance to the grand hall, Nyla held her bouquet with one hand and her father's hand with the other, her heart racing with anticipation.The doors swung open.Damon stood at the end of the aisle, dressed in a sharp white suit. His eyes locked onto Nyla's, filled with nothing but love and tenderness.E
At that moment, Nyla finally understood what Damon had meant by a "surprise."Her eyes welled with emotion as she turned to Valarie. "Where is he now?""I'm not sure, but he's probably still handling the wedding preparations. Try on the dress first and see if it fits!" Valarie said with a grin.Nyla blinked back her tears and nodded. "Okay."With Valarie's help, she slipped into the wedding dress.It fit her perfectly—just as she had imagined.Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, she felt a bit dazed.It had been so long since she'd last worn a wedding dress—so long that she had almost forgotten what it felt like.Beside her, Valarie admired the sight. "You look gorgeous! My best friend never disappoints. Oh, wait—there's still this!"Nyla turned to see Valarie holding a diamond-studded tiara. She couldn't help but smile."Let me put it on for you," Valarie offered."Okay."Valarie carefully adjusted the tiara on Nyla's head, making sure it sat just right."Perfect," sh