Mary's face turned pale in an instant. "What did you do to Darcy?!"She leered at Emerald, her eyes burning with rage.Emerald smiled. "Nothing much. Just putting him back where he belongs."Then, with a teasing lilt, she added, "But the way you're so concerned about him makes it easy to suspect there's something more between you two."Mary's expression grew even uglier."Emerald, what nonsense are you talking about?! Darcy and I are completely innocent!" she snapped.Emerald raised an eyebrow. "No need to get so worked up. I was just making an observation. But now that Darcy is out of the picture, you should face reality—there's no one left in the Nixons to support you."You can forget about your little dream of Vik taking over. The only thing you should focus on now is taking care of Edward. Once he's gone, I'll give you and Vik some money so you can leave. But if you try anything foolish again, don't blame me for what happens next."Mary ground her teeth. "Don't get too comf
The porcelain shattered against the floor, tea splattering everywhere.Emerald's gaze remained fixed on the broken shards, her eyes burning with rage.Filipe, who had been walking down the hallway, entered the room.Upon seeing the mess on the floor, he didn't seem the least bit surprised. Instead, he turned to Emerald and said, "Madam, Mr. Nixon has woken up."At those words, the anger on Emerald's face was replaced by a flicker of relief. She immediately stood and hurried toward Brian's room.Before following, Filipe glanced at the nearby maids, who were trembling in fear, and instructed, "Clean this up.""Yes, sir!" the maids answered in unison.Only after Emerald and Filipe had left did the maids finally breathe a sigh of relief, quickly grabbing cleaning supplies.…A short while later, Emerald arrived at Brian's bedroom.He was already sitting up in bed, eating some soup. His face was pale, drawn with exhaustion and a deep sense of despair.From the moment he had woken
Emerald knew all too well that prosthetic limbs could never truly replace a person's own leg, but all she could do was suppress her own pain and sadness and comfort Brian.When his sobs gradually faded away, she left, her eyes red.…Back in her study, Emerald immediately called George, her voice cold as she said, "Make sure you find out who planned Brian's accident as soon as possible."George's voice was serious. "Understood, Ms. Kinsey. I'll do everything I can to track down the culprit. Also, there's something else I need to report.""What is it?" Emerald asked."After Damon took Nyla from Mr. Bumard's manor, they haven't been seen for the past few days. Finding them may be more difficult than expected," George reported."Keep looking. I don't believe they've disappeared into thin air," Emerald ordered."Got it, Ms. Kinsey," George replied.Emerald hung up, her irritation simmering beneath the surface. She picked up a few documents and continued working.…Edward slowly
Before Mary could respond, the door to the hospital room opened suddenly, and Vik hurried in.His face lit up with joy when he saw that Edward was awake, and he rushed to the bedside. "Dad, you're finally awake!"Edward patted his shoulder. "Yes, both of you have been through a lot."Vik shook his head. "It's not hard. For us, the best thing is that you woke up."Edward had only just regained consciousness and was still far from fully recovered. After a brief conversation with them, he grew tired.Seeing his exhaustion, Mary urged him to rest and went to the kitchen to prepare food for him.Not long after, Vik followed her into the kitchen. "Mom, I need to talk to you about something."Mary, washing vegetables, glanced over. "What is it?""I might have to leave for a while," Vik said quietly.Mary froze for a moment, then turned to him, her confusion clear. "Why? Your father just woke up, and now that no one will bother us. Why would you leave at this moment?"Seeing the conf
After Vik left, Edward looked at Mary. "Mary, is something bothering you? You look so pale."Mary forced a smile. "It's nothing. I was just thinking about when you'll fully recover.""Didn't the doctor say I could be discharged in half a month? Don't worry, I'll get better, and I won't let Emerald bully you anymore," Edward promised.His expression turned cold as he recalled the things he had overheard Emerald say while he had been unconscious.He would never allow her to continue running the Nixons. Neither Brian nor Delia would inherit the Nixons, either.Moreover, his worsening condition before had been due to Emerald poisoning him. He wouldn't let her get away with it."Alright…" Mary answered.…Emerald quickly received the news that Edward had woken up.When Filipe reported the news, he saw Emerald's dark expression and couldn't help but lower his gaze. "Madam, do you want to go to the hospital?"Although Edward and Emerald's marriage had long been a mere formality, the
If there were nothing special, Vik wouldn't possibly go to Chyland."We're not sure yet, but he's the only one going for now," George replied.Emerald furrowed her brow, sensing that something was off. She said coldly, "Stop him. Don't let him leave the country.""Understood," George answered."Have you found any leads on Nyla? Any clues?" Emerald asked."No, not yet," George replied.Emerald instructed, "Keep looking."After hanging up, Emerald placed her phone on the desk, her face clouded with anger.Where were Nyla and Damon hiding? Even George couldn't track them down. It seemed she would have to speak with Ross.…The next morning, Emerald went straight to Ross' residence.When Ross saw her, he smiled, appearing in a good mood. "Emerald, what brings you here today?"Emerald got straight to the point. "Ross, where have you hidden my daughter?"Ross raised an eyebrow in surprise. "If I'm not mistaken, didn't your people rescue Ms. Nixon from Darcy already?"Emerald sn
"I'll handle things with Nyla's father. Now that my aunt is looking for you and Nyla, you two should stay in and avoid being seen by anyone for now," Alexander said.Damon nodded. "Got it."Just as Alexander was about to speak, his phone rang.His face instantly darkened after he answered the call. He stood up and said, "I have to go. If you need anything, just call me."With that, he quickly left.Once he stepped out of Damon's villa, he got into the car and told the driver, "Take me to the Kinseys."…An hour later, Alexander's car arrived at the Kinsey residence. He got out and rang the doorbell.When the maid saw him, she hesitated. After all, Warren had given strict orders to cut ties with Alexander. If he showed up again, they were instructed not to open the door.Noticing the maid's hesitation, Alexander furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, "Open the door."After a brief pause, the maid nervously looked at him and replied, "Mr. Alexander, it's not that I don't wa
After the maid left, Warren dialed Emerald's number. "I heard Edward woke up. Is that true?"Emerald, on her way back to the estate, furrowed her brow. "Yes.""So, what's your plan now? Once Edward recovers, he'll want you to return control of the Nixons to him," Warren asked.A flash of frustration crossed Emerald's face. "We'll see. I have things to take care of, so I'll talk to you later."She hung up and set her phone down, still unsettled.The land issue remained unresolved, and now Edward had woken up. The people who were already unhappy with her because of the land might side with Edward. She needed to come up with a solution, or things could spiral out of control quickly.She had finally secured her position. Even if Edward recovered, she wasn't going to give it up without a fight.As she thought it over, George's call came through. "Ms. Kinsey, we've captured Darcy. Should we bring him to the estate now?"A cold glint crossed Emerald's eyes. "Yes."…Upon returning t
"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