Darcy hung up.Emerald's face darkened with fury. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she turned and walked toward Brian's hospital room.George was standing guard outside, looking almost as bad as Brian himself.As Emerald approached, she took in the sight of his injuries—his face and body covered in wounds. Though bandaged, blood still seeped through the gauze, making for a horrifying scene."George, what happened? Why did the accident occur?" she asked.George's face was pale, his voice grim. "Ms. Kinsey, I don't think Mr. Nixon's accident was just an accident. I believe someone orchestrated it."Emerald's expression turned ice-cold. "Do you have any proof?"George shook his head. "No, just a gut feeling. The driver who hit us seemed to know Mr. Nixon was in the back seat. He deliberately rammed into the rear of the car. That's why the driver and I only suffered minor injuries, while Mr. Nixon's condition was severe enough to require amputation."Emerald tightened her gr
Darcy's eyes flickered. If he released Nyla while still holding onto Delia, he would retain enough leverage to negotiate with Emerald.Seeing Darcy waver, Ross pressed on. "I'll give you three minutes to think about it. If you don't release her, Mary and Vik will suffer the consequences."At Ross' threat, Darcy remained silent for a moment before finally saying, "Fine, I agree."He turned to his men and ordered coldly, "Go get Nyla.""Yes, sir!" one of them said.…Nyla and Delia were leaning against the wall in the basement, half-asleep, when the door suddenly swung open.Two men dressed in black strode in and headed straight for Nyla.Delia, watching with amusement, made no move to speak up for her. She could barely protect herself, let alone someone else.Besides, as Emerald's most beloved daughter, she was certain Darcy's men wouldn't dare harm her.Nyla's gaze turned icy. "Where are you taking me?"The men in black didn't respond. They simply seized her and led her away
"You did a lot too. You negotiated directly with Darcy and risked offending him just to save me." Nyla's gaze into Ross' eyes was full of gratitude.Ross smiled. "It was my honor to help you and Damon."After a brief hesitation, Nyla couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer. "How do you know Damon?"Before coming to Meristate, she had no idea that Damon was acquainted with someone as powerful as Ross.The night Emerald had thrown her out of the estate, she hadn't walked far when a car suddenly pulled up in front of her. Two men in black had gotten out, taken her without explanation, and brought her to Ross' estate.At first, she had assumed she was being kidnapped. It wasn't until Ross mentioned that he knew Damon—and even called him right in front of her—that she realized he had no ill intentions.Later, Ross had been a great help to both her and Damon.Nyla couldn't help but wonder what kind of relationship the two men had for Ross to go so far for them.Ross chuckled. "Da
After speaking, Damon took Nyla and left.Once they got into the car, Nyla turned to him. "Where are we going now?""We'll head back to my villa first. Emerald should be too preoccupied to bother you for now. After that, we'll take things one step at a time," Damon answered.Nyla leaned against his shoulder and murmured, "Mm. I never want to be apart from you again.""Me neither," Damon replied.…More than an hour later, the car pulled up in front of Damon's villa.As soon as they got out, they saw Alexander standing by the entrance, as if he had been waiting for a long time.Damon's expression turned icy. "Mr. Kinsey, what are you doing here?"At the same time, he instinctively positioned Nyla behind him.Alexander noted Damon's protective stance, and his gaze darkened slightly. "Relax. I'm not here to take Nyla away. I'm here to help you."Damon let out a cold laugh. "We don't need your help."If it hadn't been for Alexander, Nyla wouldn't have been taken to Meristate in
As Mason's mentor, Alexander couldn't just sit by and watch his family fall apart.After a long pause, Damon finally said, "Alright. I'll give you one more chance."When Nyla came out of the shower, Alexander had already left.Hearing sounds from the kitchen, she walked over and found Damon cooking pasta."Damon," she called softly.He turned to her with a small smile. "All done? Go sit down. The pasta will be ready soon.""Okay," she replied.Five minutes later, Damon brought out a steaming plate of pasta and placed it in front of her. "Eat up. Get some rest after this."The delicious aroma filled the air. Nyla picked up her utensils and glanced at Damon. "Aren't you eating?"He shook his head. "I'm not hungry.""Alright," she answered.As she ate, she finally had the chance to ask about his conversation with Alexander."He said he'd help us return home and make sure we're never dragged into the Nixons' business again," Damon said.Nyla nodded. "Do you think he's telling
No matter how furious Warren was, Alexander didn't look back. He was certain that Emerald would reach out to him soon and agree to his terms.At present, she had no one else to rely on. Even the people she could use, she didn't fully trust. Besides, the condition he proposed wasn't that difficult.After Alexander left, Warren fumed for a while before finally calming down. He then dialed Emerald's number and relayed everything Alexander had said, word for word.There was a brief silence on the other end before Emerald's cold voice came through. "Ignore him. If he wants to go against me for Nyla's sake, I want to see how long he can keep it up!"Warren quickly tried to soothe her. "Don't be too upset. Alexander is still young. It's normal for him to act impulsively. Once he thinks things through, he'll come back."Emerald let out a cold laugh. "He knows exactly what he's doing. If we wait for him to come to his senses, who knows how many years that'll take? I won't let him threaten
Once his men left, Darcy freshened up and walked into the living room.Mary and Vik were already awake.He turned to Mary. "Mary, take Vik to the hospital after breakfast to stay with Edward. Leave the rest to me."Mary nodded, though her gaze was filled with worry. "Be careful.""I've weathered bigger storms than this. A small matter like this is nothing," Darcy reassured her.After breakfast, Mary and Vik left while Darcy prepared to call a meeting.Just as he was about to gather his allies, his phone rang.He narrowed his eyes when he saw Emerald's name on the screen. Answering, he said, "Emerald, what brings you to call me at this hour?""I'm back. Come to the estate immediately," Emerald said coolly.Darcy's expression darkened. He hadn't expected her to return so soon."You're not joking, are you?" he asked."You'll know when you get here." With that, Emerald hung up.A sense of unease crept into Darcy's heart. He immediately called one of the family members who had p
A cold glint flashed in Darcy's eyes when he saw that Emerald remained completely calm—and could even smile."Emerald, we've known each other for so many years. I don't want things to get ugly. You already have more wealth than you could spend in a lifetime, and with Brian losing a leg, he's no longer a viable successor to the Nixons. If you step down now, I won't make things difficult for you," Darcy said.Emerald set down her teacup, her expression steady as she met Darcy's gaze. "I've told you before—my chosen successor is my eldest daughter, Nyla, not Brian. So whether or not Brian is injured has nothing to do with the future of the Nixons."Darcy's face darkened. "So you're refusing to settle this peacefully?""The moment you came to my estate and kidnapped my daughters, a peaceful resolution was off the table," Emerald replied.As soon as she finished speaking, more than a dozen men in black emerged from the shadows, swiftly surrounding them.Darcy's expression changed inst
"That's more like it," Valarie chirped.Nyla couldn't help but say, "Valarie, stop bullying Brandon all the time."Brandon turned to her and sighed dramatically. "Aunt Nyla, since you mentioned it, I have to say something. You have no idea what I've been through these past six months, I— Ouch!"Before he could finish, Valarie pinched his waist. "What was that? Tell me, Brandon. Have you been unhappy these past six months?""N-No... I've been very happy..." Brandon winced."Have I bullied you then?" Valarie pressed."No..." Brandon murmured.Valarie huffed. "If not, then keep your mouth shut, or Nyla will really think I mistreat you." Brandon gave her a pitiful look, lowering his head like a scolded puppy.Before they married, Valarie had been gentle and beautiful in his eyes. But after marriage, he realized how wrong he had been.Gentle and beautiful? All an illusion.If he stayed out drinking and came home late, he'd have to choose between sleeping on the couch or outside.
Taking Mia to work was exhausting, but every time she smiled at Damon, it made everything worth it."She'll be fine. Didn't you just say she loves us both equally? She'll cry for a bit, but if you stop taking her to the office, she'll get used to being at home," Nyla reasoned.Seeing Nyla's determination, Damon finally relented. "Alright, we'll try it tomorrow. But if she cries too much, you'll have to take her to the office.""Deal!" Nyla said....After getting ready for work the next morning, Damon kissed Mia on the cheek and headed for the door.As soon as he changed his shoes at the entrance, she reached her little arms toward him, asking to be held. She had grown so accustomed to going to the office with him every day that it had become a reflex.Damon glanced at Nyla. "Nyla, maybe today we should—"Nyla interrupted, "Nope. You go to work. And if you're free for lunch, don't bother coming home. If you need to work late, no rush to come back either."Damon chuckled. "You'
"Brandon, from now on, I'm entrusting Valarie to you," Jonathan said. "She's been spoiled by us and can be a little willful at times. I hope you'll be patient with her in your marriage, and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together."Brandon held Valarie's hand tightly, his expression solemn. "Dad, don't worry. I'll cherish her with all my heart."Jonathan nodded, stepping down from the stage. He discreetly wiped away his tears.After exchanging vows and rings, Valarie and Brandon sealed their love with a kiss, surrounded by cheers and applause.…On the way home from the wedding, Nyla glanced at Damon. "I saw Mr. Weir wipe his tears so many times today. When Bunny gets married, you'll definitely be just like him, sneaking off somewhere to cry."Damon's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his gaze sharpening. "No one will ever be good enough for my daughter. If she never gets married, we'll take care of her for the rest of our lives."Nyla raised an eyebrow and
"Of course! When's the wedding?" Nyla asked.Valarie shook her head. "We haven't decided yet. He'll come to my house in a few days to discuss it with my parents."Nyla raised an eyebrow. "You're about to get really busy. Planning a wedding alone will take a lot of work.""Yeah, I'm already getting a headache just thinking about it," Valarie replied....For the next few months, Valarie was completely consumed by wedding preparations and work, barely having time to catch her breath.The wedding was set for August 8th, leaving them with less than six months to finalize everything.Valarie even traveled abroad several times to meet with designers and ensure her wedding dress was exactly what she wanted.Beyond the dress, she and Brandon spent hours discussing every detail—from the venue to the wedding favors and bouquet choices....After months of nonstop planning, the big day finally arrived.Valarie was already up, getting her hair and makeup done at 2:00 a.m.By the time N
Valarie looked up and saw the approaching glow.When the figure finally stopped in front of her, she realized it was Brandon.Frowning, she asked, "Where did you go? I waited so long for you. And what are you hiding behind your back?"Brandon flipped his phone face-down on the table, revealing the flowers he had hidden. Then he dropped to one knee."Valarie, I had planned a perfect proposal for you, but when you asked earlier about the meaning of wearing a wedding dress, I knew I couldn't wait any longer."Before I met you, my life revolved solely around work. I never paused for anyone—I never cared whether the sun was rising or setting, or if the moon was full or waning. But everything changed after I met you."I began cherishing the thought of greeting you every morning, sharing meals with you, and standing by your side for life."Valarie, I want every morning to begin with us waking up together, and every night to end with us holding each other as we fall asleep."Finally, B
Of course, every time they visited Valarie's home, Phoebe would subtly—or sometimes not so subtly—hint that they should get married.Brandon had always assumed Valarie wasn't interested in marriage since she never responded to those hints. He hadn't considered proposing.But today, seeing her so excited about picking out baby clothes made him start to imagine a future with her—building a family, raising a child.That thought filled his heart with warmth.After more than three hours of shopping, they finally left the mall, their arms full of bags.Once they loaded everything into the car, Valarie turned to Brandon. "I'm starving. Let's grab something to eat."Brandon nodded. "Sure. What are you in the mood for?""I'm not picky. Is there anything good around here? I don't feel like going too far," she replied.Brandon paused, then said, "There's a place with ethnic cuisine nearby. I went there once for a business meeting—it was pretty authentic. Want to give it a try?""Sounds g
Nyla was silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright. If you ever need Damon to help figure out Brandon's thoughts, just let me know.""I will. Don't worry about us, though. You just gave birth. Your main priority should be resting," Valarie said."Okay," Nyla replied.Valarie lingered in the bedroom for a while, but when she saw Nyla looking tired, she stood up and left.Downstairs, only Brandon was in the living room.Valarie walked over to him and asked, "Where's Damon?""He had something to take care of for work, so he went to the study. How's Aunt Nyla?" Brandon asked."She seems to be doing well, and the baby is adorable. Oh, right, I forgot to ask what the baby's name is. I only know her nickname is Bunny," Valarie said.Just thinking about Mia Sumner's cute little face made Valarie smile. She was already looking forward to the day the baby would call her godmother.A flicker of something crossed Brandon's eyes. "You really like kids, huh?""Of course! I've said befor
Once they were in the car, Nyla suddenly recalled Damon's phone call earlier. "By the way, what did Alexander want?"After a brief pause, Damon glanced at her. "He said Ms. Kinsey left you an inheritance and asked when we'd be able to go to Meristate to take care of it."Nyla pressed her lips together before replying, "Call him later and tell him to donate it or keep it for himself. I don't want it.""Alright," Damon replied.When they arrived home, Damon helped Nyla settle onto the couch, placing a pillow behind her back for support. Then, he said seriously, "Nyla, you've been through enough. Let's not have any more kids after this."During her first pregnancy with Mason, Damon hadn't been around, so he hadn't realized how difficult it was for her.Now, experiencing this pregnancy with her, every checkup and blood draw made his heart ache.Once Nyla gave birth, he planned to get a vasectomy. Two kids were enough for them.Nyla shot him a look. "This wasn't exactly planned, was
More than half an hour later, Nyla finally stirred from her nap.When she opened her eyes, she found Damon sitting by her bed, watching her. She froze for a moment, caught off guard.Rubbing her eyes, she realized he was still there and confirmed she wasn't dreaming.She slowly sat up, her voice still heavy with sleep. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in your study working?""I missed you, so I came to see you," Damon replied.Nyla narrowed her eyes. "You definitely have something to say if you're here all of a sudden."Damon chuckled, a little helpless. "I guess I can't fool you.""Of course not. I know you too well. Ever since I got pregnant, you've never come to see me like this in the afternoon," Nyla said."Alright. Go freshen up first, and I'll wait for you downstairs," Damon suggested."Okay," Nyla replied.After washing up, she went downstairs and sat beside Damon. "Alright, tell me. What's going on? You're acting all mysterious."Damon hesitated for a moment befo