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
"Nyla, am I not giving you enough money? Why would you do something like this?!" Clark demanded.Nyla glanced at him, noting the unfamiliar fury in his eyes. She even suspected that if they weren't in a public setting, he might have grabbed her by the neck and demanded answers.She smiled. "Clark, you've really changed."He used to trust her completely, but now he seemed to think she was capable of stealing from someone else. It appeared that when a person's heart changed, they also became blind to reality.Taking the diamond necklace out of her bag, Nyla held it up for Jacqueline to see. "Ms. Rainford, take a good look. Is this your necklace? If I remember correctly, Ms. Hulle described your necklace's pendant as a swan encrusted with diamonds."Under the light, the necklace Nyla held was a delicate heart-shaped pink diamond, clearly different from Erin's description. This was the necklace Nyla had worn to the event.Jacqueline's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! My neckla
"Or do you think your apology is worth that much, Mr. Genge?"Everyone turned to the door as Damon walked in with Lincoln Gunton, the host of the charity event.Lincoln wore a smile, but Damon's demeanor was icy, exuding an unwelcoming aura.Tom's gaze darkened. If only Clark had been present, he might have been able to resolve the situation amicably. With Damon involved, however, things were likely to become much more complicated.Clark's expression was also grim. Nyla had almost agreed to his suggestion, but Damon's arrival threatened to jeopardize the Sumner Group's cooperation with Gen Pharma."Mr. Damon, this was Jacqueline's mistake. I've assured you that she will apologize and compensate Mrs. Sumner in any way possible," Tom said, hoping to show respect to the Sumners.He knew that if things escalated further, it would reflect poorly on everyone involved.Damon stopped a few steps away, his gaze frosty enough to freeze someone in place. "If Jacqueline had been falsely acc
Jacqueline screamed, clutching her dress in desperation, her eyes filled with terror. "No! Don't come any closer! I'll kneel and apologize!"She had initially thought Damon was merely trying to scare her, but now she saw that his men were actually advancing. He was mad. She would rather be dead than exposed in front of everyone. Kneeling and apologizing seemed preferable.Damon's expression remained icy as he sneered. "Alright, back off."The men in black retreated, leaving Jacqueline on the floor, desperately holding onto her dress. Her hair and clothes were in disarray, and she looked utterly disheveled.Trembling with fear, she crawled over and knelt before Nyla."Ms. Jayston, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have framed you. I was wrong. I'll never do it again. Please forgive me..." she pleaded.Nyla regarded her with indifference, feeling no sympathy. Had she not discovered the necklace in her bag, she might have been the one facing humiliation now."Ms. Rainford, there's no need to
Clark was indignant as Damon scolded him, his hands clenched at his sides. Anger flashed in his eyes."Uncle Damon, Nyla is my wife. How I handle things is none of your business!" he snapped.Damon sneered. "At least Tom knew to protect Jacqueline. You, on the other hand, are both unfaithful and cowardly. I don't know how the Sumners ended up with someone as useless as you."Clark gritted his teeth and said coldly, "At least I'm not coveting someone else's wife.""Do you believe I can have you two divorced by tomorrow?" Damon threatened.He had only held back out of respect for Nyla, waiting until she was ready to make her own decision.Clark's face twisted with resentment. He knew Damon had the power to do just that. Even if Damon took Nyla away from him right now, he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. As the CEO of the Sumner Group without any shares, he was no match for Damon."Uncle Damon, don't push it too far!"He had endured a lot, but Damon's blatant support for
A cold gleam flashed across Tom's eyes. Was Jacqueline being used by Erin? Although he didn't agree with Jacqueline's actions, she did them for his sake."Don't do this kind of thing again. Damon is ruthless and never shows mercy. Going against him will only lead to trouble," he warned her.Seeing Tom's stern expression, Jacqueline bit her lip and cautiously said, "Tom, Ms. Jayston wasn't hurt at all. If I just apologized, it would be over. But she refused to let me off. Could it be because of Ms. Weir?"Tom narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "You mean she did it to get back at you for Valarie?""Aside from that, I can't think of any other reason why she would be so relentless," Jacqueline replied.Nyla and Valarie were good friends, and Valarie had misunderstood Tom's relationship with Jacqueline. If Nyla was teaching Jacqueline a lesson on Valarie's behalf, it would make sense.Seeing Tom's grim face and silence, Jacqueline didn't say anything more. She knew that speaking too m
"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