Nyla remained unfazed by Cindy's words. Had she not become a housewife after marrying Clark, she could have maintained her current lifestyle on her own."Mrs. Sumner, didn't you know? I didn't want to come back. It was your son who forced me. Why don't you go tell him to kick me out?" Nyla said.Cindy's face flushed red with anger as she pointed at Nyla. "You!"Finding it pointless to argue with Cindy, Nyla stood up and said, "Patricia, I'm hungry. Let's start dinner."Seeing Nyla's blatant disregard, Cindy was livid and immediately called Clark to complain. To her dismay, he coldly told her to leave the villa and refused to take any more of her calls, not even giving her a chance to tell him that Nyla couldn't have children.Cindy was nearly driven to a heart attack by the frustration.He had truly forsaken his mother for his wife!After Cindy left, Nyla called the hospital where she had her checkup and requested a copy of her report. When the report arrived, it was identical t
Nyla widened her eyes and quickly asked, "Which bar are you at?""The one on Tancy Street, where we went before. Are you coming?" Valarie asked."Yes," Nyla answered, hung up, and hurriedly changed clothes to go out.As Nyla started the car, she hesitated. She worried that showing up might escalate the situation, especially since she wasn't sure if Damon had hit Clark because of her. If it was for another reason, her presence would be pointless and embarrassing.Nyla doubted Damon would do anything for her after their fallout at the Sumner residence.After calming herself, Nyla decided against going.Just as she returned to her bedroom, her phone rang. It was Valarie. "Nyla, I was wrong. Damon wasn't trying to purge. He was standing up for Erin, who had a conflict with Jordyn at the mall earlier."Nyla gripped her phone with a bitter smile. It was a good thing she hadn't rushed over—she would have made a fool of herself."I see," she replied.Valarie continued. "But do you thi
Feeling frustrated and aggrieved, Clark watched as Nyla finished her breakfast and left the table. As he stared at her retreating figure, he slammed his fork and knife onto the table, startling Patricia, who was seated nearby."Mr. Sumner, is the breakfast not to your liking?" Patricia asked.Clark rose from his seat and departed without responding, his expression stern.As soon as he got into his car outside the villa, his phone rang. Seeing that it was Cindy calling, he answered with a frown. "Mom, what's the matter so early in the morning?""Clark, did you know Nyla can't have children?!" Cindy demanded.Clark's expression turned icy as he asked, "Did Jordyn tell you?""Never mind who told me. If she really can't have children, you need to divorce her immediately!" Cindy insisted.Her commanding tone made Clark's gaze harden. "Mom, this is between Nyla and me. You don't get to make decisions about it. Also, I don't want anyone else in the Sumners to know about this. If it get
Damon's expression turned icy as he looked at Erin and said, "Ms. Hulle, I hope you understand the implications of what you're saying."Erin smiled, showing no fear. "Of course I do. I wonder if you understand the consequences of your actions. Coveting your nephew's wife—if this gets out, you know what will happen to Ms. Nyla."Damon's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me?""Not at all. I intend to help you," Erin replied.Damon asked, "Oh? How exactly do you plan to help me?"Sensing the cold aura around Damon, Erin took two steps closer and said, "Mr. Damon, you should know that even if Ms. Nyla divorces your nephew, you two can never be together. But if you choose to be with me, I'll help keep your secret."Damon let out a cold laugh, each word dripping with ice. "Ms. Hulle, I don't like you and will never be with you."If this gets out, Prospectus Technology will immediately cancel all contracts with Builders Property and never cooperate again. You should consider if Build
Nyla added the solution to the flask and began the reaction before sitting down to write her experiment records.She soon found herself distracted until her phone rang, jolting her back to reality. Seeing that it was Clark, she answered. "What's up?""Nyla, there's a charity gala tonight. Come with me," Clark said.Nyla hesitated for a moment before replying, "Alright. What should I wear?""No need to worry about that. I'll have my secretary prepare something for you," Clark assured her.Since Clark was taking care of it, Nyla didn't dwell on the matter. After confirming the time, she hung up.…Time flew by, and soon it was the end of the workday.Nyla finished filling out her experiment records, cleaned the equipment, put everything back in place, and locked the lab before leaving.…Nyla and Clark arrived at the gala around 7:00 p.m.After getting out of the car, Clark asked her to link arms with him and whispered, "You know most of the people here. I'll be discussing bus
Erin turned to Jacqueline. "You know her?"If she remembered correctly, Jacqueline had also just returned to the country not long ago.Jacqueline sneered. "Of course I know her. She's good friends with that slut clinging to Tom."The mere thought of Valarie filled Jacqueline with disgust. If she hadn't gone abroad, there was no way Valarie would have gotten close to Tom.Originally, Jacqueline had planned to deal with Valarie today, but since Valarie hadn't shown up, targeting Nyla would suffice.Surprise flashed in Erin's eyes, and she frowned. "What are you planning to do?"Jacqueline pondered for a moment before removing the diamond necklace from her neck. "I heard her family isn't well off, so it's understandable if she resorts to stealing."There was a glint in Erin's eyes, but she didn’t stop Jacqueline.With the Sumners' influence, Nyla wouldn’t face severe consequences. However, if she were branded a thief, it would tarnish the Sumners' reputation. And who would want a
Clark frowned, about to speak, when a loud female voice suddenly echoed in the banquet hall. "Oh no! My necklace is missing!"The voice was so piercing that it immediately drew everyone's attention.Staff members quickly approached her. Upon hearing about the missing necklace, they turned on the lights, illuminating the ballroom as bright as day."Ms. Rainford, don't worry. We'll have our staff search for it right away. If it's here, we should be able to find it quickly."Jacqueline looked anxious and said, "Why not check the security cameras? We should be able to find it quickly. I'm sure I lost it here."The staff member apologized, "I'm sorry, Ms. Rainford. To ensure the privacy and security of the charity gala, there are no cameras in the ballroom."Jacqueline was aware of this already. She was simply trying to convey her urgency. "Please help me find it. The necklace was a birthday gift from Tom, and it means a lot to me.""Of course, Ms. Rainford," the staff member assured
With Nyla's words, everyone began to grasp the absurdity of the situation. They turned to Erin and Jacqueline with expressions of displeasure.Jacqueline had lost her own necklace. What did that have to do with them? Why should their bags be searched because of her mistake?A necklace worth millions? They could easily afford several of those. There was no need to resort to theft.A cold glint appeared in Erin's eyes as she noticed the unfriendly looks from the crowd. She hadn't anticipated Nyla being so sharp-tongued and difficult to handle. Soon enough, she would make her pay.Erin sighed and said helplessly, "I suggested this to clear everyone's names and help Jacqueline find her necklace. It means a lot to her.""What does that have to do with us? If it was so important, she should've kept it safe at home instead of wearing it out.""Exactly! She lost it herself and now wants to search our bags? I don't agree with that!""Hah! If you care about the necklace so much, I'll buy
If Wilhelm stopped wanting to see Jane, the bond between them would naturally fade over time."No! I don't want food!" Wilhelm cried, hurling Gabriel's phone onto the car seat.He began pounding on the car door, trying to open it. "I want to see Mommy! I want to live with her, not you!"Gabriel, his patience wearing thin, locked the doors with a sharp click and turned to Wilhelm, his expression darkening."Your mother doesn't want you. Even if you find her, she won't take you. I'm the only one you have now," he said."I hate you! I don't want to be with you! I don't want you as my dad!" Wilhelm screamed.Gabriel's restraint, already fraying after days of tantrums, finally snapped. He stared at his son and said coldly, "It doesn't matter whether you want me or not. No one wants you now except me."Jane didn't want Wilhelm. The Wilkies wouldn't want him either."That's not true!" Wilhelm sobbed uncontrollably. "Mommy wants me. Mommy's just mad. If I'm good, she'll take me back! S
Lydia nodded. "Okay, Ms. Kinsey."Shortly after, Lydia returned with Mason by her side.When Mason saw Gabriel and Wilhelm standing at the door, he frowned and turned to Nyla. "Mommy, why is Wilhelm here?"Nyla patted his head gently. "He's here to apologize to you.""Oh." Mason's response was wary, clearly unconvinced.Gabriel observed Nyla's affectionate interaction with Mason, his eyes flickering with a trace of emotion. He turned to Wilhelm. "What did you promise me before we came?"Wilhelm's reluctance was evident. He had agreed to apologize, but only under the threat of losing his chance to see his mother."Mason, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you yesterday. I hope you can forgive me," Wilhelm said, his voice subdued.Mason didn't respond immediately. Instead, he looked up at Nyla, silently seeking her guidance."Buddy, this is your decision to make," Nyla said softly. "I'll respect whatever you decide."Mason lowered his head, thinking for a moment.Finally, he s
Brandon sighed and placed the items on the desk. "Aunt Nyla, this crisis is unlike anything Prospectus Technology has faced before. If things go wrong, the company can go bankrupt."Uncle Damon prepared these after finding out Buddy is his son, but he hadn't found the right time to give them to you."Keep them for now. If Prospectus Technology collapses, he'll need this to start over."After a moment's silence, Nyla nodded. "Alright, I'll hold onto them. Is this the only reason you came?""Yes, I need to get back to work," Brandon replied."I'll see you out," Nyla offered.After sending Brandon off, she returned to the study and placed the documents and bank card in the safe upstairs.The next morning…As Nyla was getting dressed, Lydia knocked on the door."Ms. Kinsey, there's a man outside who says he's your brother," Lydia informed her.Brother?Thinking it was likely Gabriel, Nyla's expression turned cold. "I don't know him. Tell him to leave.""Understood," Lydia said
Damon put the file down and sat across from Nyla.Noticing two portions of breakfast on the table, he asked, "You haven't eaten either?""No," Nyla replied as she opened the packages and handed one to him. "I came to eat with you. Spencer told me he brought you breakfast this morning, but you didn't touch it.""I was too busy," Damon said."Being busy isn't an excuse to skip meals. I saw your assistants running around like crazy, and I heard they barely got any sleep last night. Is the issue with the company that serious?" Nyla asked."It's significant," Damon admitted. "Our chips might be causing malfunctions in our partner's machines. If that's confirmed, the company will face a massive compensation payout."Nyla frowned, worry flashing in her eyes. "I can't help much with work, but the least I can do is keep things in order at home. By the way, are you coming home tonight?""Probably not," he replied. "There's still a lot to handle.""Alright. Finish your breakfast. I'll hea
Gabriel took the document, skimmed its contents, and his face darkened."What is it?" Tom asked.Gabriel tossed the document onto the table with a cold laugh. "Nothing important. Damon's just trying to catch me off guard."The document contained evidence of Nyce Tech hiring paid posters to smear Prospectus Technology, but Gabriel wasn't worried.Soon enough, those allegations would become the truth.Tom glanced at the papers and grinned. "As long as it's not a big problem. Anyway, I should get going.""Fine, but don't forget your part in this," Gabriel said pointedly.There was a cold glint in Tom's eyes, though his smile remained. "Relax. I won't let you handle Prospectus Technology alone."After Tom left, Gabriel drained his wine in one gulp.As he prepared to head to his study, a maid approached with a concerned expression."Mr. Hackett, Mr. Wilhelm still refuses to eat," the maid informed him.Gabriel had brought Wilhelm straight back to the villa instead of letting him
Damon's expression was icy as he spoke. "I've already sent the head of R&D with a team to investigate. Let's wait for their findings before jumping to conclusions."He added, "The Agihop 6th Gen isn't out yet. If the issue does lie in the Agihop 5th Gen, we should prepare for the worst—compensation payouts and the possibility of... bankruptcy.""What?!" A collective gasp echoed through the room, disbelief etched on everyone's faces."All this over a single batch of faulty machines from the Longbow Company? Isn't that a bit extreme?""Exactly. If the problem is with the Agihop 5th Gen chips, wouldn't paying compensation suffice?""Mr. Sumner, aren't you exaggerating?"The notion that Prospectus Technology could face bankruptcy over a single chip seemed absurd.Meeting their skepticism with a calm demeanor, Damon elaborated, "The news about Longbow Company's machines breaking down after using our chips has already spread.They're attributing the issue to Prospectus Technology's p
Damon's expression remained unmoved. "As I said, we'll investigate thoroughly. Asking us to accept responsibility before the investigation is complete seems unreasonable, doesn't it?"Jeffrey let out a cold laugh. "Fine, Mr. Sumner. But I hope you act quickly. Every day of delay costs us millions. The longer this drags on, the more Prospectus Technology will have to pay."With that, Jeffrey turned and stormed out of the room.Damon, his expression as icy as ever, summoned the head of the R&D department to his office."Take two of your team members to the Longbow Company and investigate the root cause of the machine failures. Determine whether it's our chips," Damon instructed."Mr. Sumner, it can't be our chips! We've invested so much in their development, and they've been on the market for over three years without a single issue. The problem must be elsewhere," the department head replied.Damon's tone sharpened. "I want accurate results based on the investigation—not assumption
Upon noticing Nyla's flushed cheeks, Damon's eyes darkened further."Nyla, need some help with your bath?" he asked, his voice low and enticing.Nyla snapped out of her daze, quickly pushing him away. Her wary gaze made him look like some kind of dangerous predator."No need, I'll do it myself," she replied.If she let him help, they might not come out of the bathroom for two hours.Disappointment flickered in Damon's eyes. "You really don't need help?""Mm-hmm. Now go. If you have nothing to do, play with Buddy downstairs. I'm going to shower," Nyla said, grabbing her pajamas.She darted into the bathroom as though something was chasing her, locking the door behind her with a sharp click.Hearing the lock, Damon chuckled softly, shook his head, and left the bedroom.Downstairs, Mason was playing with toys in the living room. He didn't even glance up at the sound of Damon's footsteps, already able to distinguish between Damon and Nyla's steps. Just as Damon reached the sofa,
Damon raised an eyebrow and said flatly, "It's not about my approval. It's about ensuring the safety of the other children."Gabriel kept his gaze low, anger flickering in his eyes. What else could he say?"Understood. I've learned my lesson today, Mr. Sumner," he gritted through his teeth.The crowd began to disperse.Most parents hurriedly took their children and left, keeping a noticeable distance from Wilhelm and Gabriel as they passed, still wary that Wilhelm might lash out unpredictably.Before long, only Damon, Nyla, and Mason remained at the gate with Gabriel and Wilhelm.Gabriel turned to Damon with a cold expression. "If there's nothing else, Mr. Sumner, I'll take Wilhelm and leave now.""Mr. Hackett, shouldn't your son apologize to Buddy?" Damon asked.Gabriel's expression hardened.Taking a deep breath, he looked down at Wilhelm and said sternly, "Wilhelm, apologize to Buddy."Wilhelm lifted his chin defiantly. "I won't! I didn't do anything wrong!""Wilhelm, beh