Alexander glanced at Spencer, his tone serious. "Mr. Hogg, you've been with Mr. Sumner for many years. You don't want to see Prospectus Technology go bankrupt just because of his stubbornness, do you? I hope you can persuade him to accept my help."Spencer remained silent for a moment before responding calmly, "I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Kinsey, but I don't think Mr. Sumner will accept your help. Please go back."Upon seeing Spencer's cold demeanor, Alexander frowned slightly.Still, he persisted. "If Mr. Sumner changes his mind, tell him to contact me anytime. I'll be staying in Saintornia for the next few days."After Alexander left, Spencer went straight to Damon's office to report, "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Kinsey has left.""Mm. If he comes again, don't let him in," Damon replied.He wasn't about to give the Kinseys another opportunity to manipulate him. To Damon, Alexander and Emerald were one and the same.The only difference was that Emerald was blunt and forceful, while Ale
"Are you insane? Are you going against me for Prospectus Technology?" Emerald demanded.Alexander took a deep breath and replied firmly, "Aunt Emerald, I'm helping you.""Helping me? If you really want to help me, then get back to Meristate immediately and stop interfering with Prospectus Technology's downfall!" Emerald snapped."I'm afraid I can't do that," Alexander said.There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Emerald was clearly struggling to contain her emotions.After a pause, her voice turned frosty. "Alexander, if you insist on staying in Saintornia and helping Prospectus Technology, then you are officially opposing me. Don't blame me for not showing mercy."Years of ruthless decisions had earned her the position of head of the Nixons. She would never allow anyone to disrupt her plans, not even her own nephew."Aunt Emerald, don't you understand? If you want Nyla to stay obedient, the last thing you should do is target Prospectus Technology."Everyone has
Damon set down the document and picked up his phone, dialing a video call to Nyla.After several attempts, there was no answer.His expression darkened, and a sense of unease crept over him. He quickly called Spencer into his office and instructed him to find a way to contact Stings and check if anything had happened to Nyla.…Emerald entered Nyla's bedroom with several maids, rummaging through every inch of the room, including the suitcase Nyla had brought with her. Two maids held Nyla firmly, leaving her helpless as her clothes and belongings were tossed carelessly onto the floor. Her eyes burned red with anger.One of the maids approached Emerald, handing her two phones. "Madam, these are the only devices we found. It doesn't seem like Ms. Kinsey has any other means of communication. Oh, and we also found this."Emerald took the items and glanced at the paper the maid had handed her. It was a crude sketch of the estate's layout. She chuckled and casually threw both the pape
Ricky smiled. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Kinsey. I'm Ricky."He spoke in Nyla's language so fluently and without an accent that, had she not seen him in person, she wouldn't have guessed he was a foreigner.Emerald stood up and glanced between them. "Nyla, take Ricky for a walk around the garden. I have something to take care of. We'll have lunch together later."Nyla nodded. "Alright."Satisfied with her response, Emerald left the room.As she had anticipated, Nyla needed to understand that she had no choice but to comply. This would stop her from resisting.Emerald had invited Ricky to stay for lunch, and he had readily agreed.Once she was gone, the spacious living room seemed to grow quieter, leaving just Nyla and Ricky.Ricky turned to her. "Shall we go?""Sure," Nyla replied.As they walked toward the garden, Ricky kept up a steady stream of conversation, making the stroll feel less tedious.About an hour later, he asked with a smile, "Ms. Kinsey, I like you. What's your f
"Do you think I would tell him that?!" Emerald shot back. "Think about it. What man would want to be with you if he knew you were already married?!"Nyla remained unfazed by Emerald's harsh words. Instead, she looked up at her with a smirk. "You were married to my dad before, yet you still managed to marry your current husband and have two more kids. Why don't you introduce me to someone else? I'm sure there's always someone willing."Emerald trembled with anger, pointing at Nyla as though she wanted to lash out, but no rebuttal came to mind.Unbothered, Nyla poured Emerald a glass of water and said calmly, "Don't get too worked up. You're not young anymore."What if you have a stroke? I doubt either of your precious children would be available to take care of you.""Shut up!" Emerald growled.Every word out of Nyla's mouth hit a nerve, making Emerald's chest rise and fall with fury.How did she end up with such an ungrateful daughter?!Nyla shrugged and continued. "You better
Emerald stiffened. "That still doesn't give you the right to insult her."Setting her utensils down, Nyla feigned innocence. "So what you're saying is, she can insult me, but I can't insult her back?"Emerald could tell she was being led into a trap and held her tongue.Seeing her silence, Nyla pressed, "Since you're not saying anything, I'll take that as a yes.""Who said I agreed?!" Emerald snapped, her face grim.She took a deep breath and added, "I'll let it slide this time. But if it happens again, both of you will be punished."Delia opened her mouth to protest, but under Emerald's icy stare, she had no choice but to drop her head and angrily stab her food.Still, her eyes burned with resentment. She wouldn't let Nyla off the hook so easily.Meanwhile, Nyla stood up with a smile. "I'm full. You guys enjoy your meal. I hope this little incident didn't ruin your appetite!"With that, she turned and left.Delia ground her teeth, her face twisted with frustration.Emerald
At that thought, Brian decided it was best to let Delia remain naïve.Back in her room, Delia grew more frustrated. She opened her messaging app and started venting to her best friend about the situation.After hearing her out, her friend suggested they find a way to embarrass Nyla at the Saturday banquet.Delia hesitated. She hadn't agreed yet.After all, the banquet was something both her mother and Brian had approved. If she caused trouble and ruined the event, Emerald would never let her off the hook.Despite that, the thought of simply accepting Nyla as a member of the family didn't sit well with her either.Thinking it over, she asked her friend if there was a way to humiliate Nyla without it being traced back to her.Her friend offered a few ideas—perhaps triggering an allergic reaction or making Nyla sick, something subtle that would embarrass her at the banquet but wouldn't lead back to Delia.After considering the suggestion, Delia immediately formulated a plan. She s
The dining room was thick with tension when Brian finally spoke. "Nyla, even though we have different fathers, now that you live here, we're family. Mom is throwing this banquet so everyone knows you're officially part of the Nixons."Nyla turned to him with a smile. "If this banquet is for me, why am I the last one to know about it?"Brian's gaze darkened slightly, but he remained silent.Emerald let out a cold laugh. "Does it really matter when you found out?""It doesn't," Nyla replied. "But I'd prefer if you didn't pretend this is for my benefit when it's obviously for your own gain. That just makes you look desperate.""Nyla! Who do you think you're calling desperate?!" Emerald snapped.If Nyla weren't her biological daughter, Emerald would have kicked her out immediately.This girl was nothing like the child she remembered. When she was little, she had been sweet and adorable. What had happened to her?Nyla showed no fear. "I mean you. Do you really need me to spell it ou
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