Nyla shook Clark off, dismissing him with indifference. "You're overthinking it."Clark was dissatisfied with her dismissive response, and his gaze grew colder.After taking a deep breath to calm himself, he softened his tone. "Nyla, I know you feel wronged, but Grandma is getting old. I hope you can be more understanding."Nyla found his words laughable. Whenever the Sumners were involved, Clark's solution was always for her to endure. She had previously ignored these issues because she loved him, but now she realized she would always come second to his family and career."Don't worry. I have no issues with her," she said calmly.After all, she no longer cared about Clark, so why would she care about anyone else?Seeing her calm demeanor, Clark dropped the topic and said, "By the way, Mom invited us over for dinner tomorrow night."Nyla was surprised. Cindy had never liked her and rarely invited them over since their marriage. However, if she could get into Cyrus' study, she mi
"You accuse me of harassing her? Do you have any evidence? If not, I'll call the police and report you for assault. You might end up spending a few days behind bars!" Dylan threatened.Clark remained unfazed. "Go ahead, but don't be surprised if it's you who ends up in jail."Dylan's bluster lost its impact as Clark's calm demeanor persisted. Gritting his teeth, Dylan snapped, "Fine! Just wait. You'd better hope I don't see you again!"With that, he turned and stormed off.Clark watched him go with cold, steely eyes. Someone like that dared to harass Nyla?Clark turned to her, his expression dark. "Why didn't you tell me someone was bothering you?"It was clear from her reaction that this man had been a recurring problem.Nyla pressed her lips together. "I didn't expect him to get physical. I rejected him yesterday."She hadn't anticipated Dylan's persistence despite her clear refusal.Clark sneered. "Tolerating people like him only emboldens them. I'll call Uncle Damon later
Cyrus shook his head and remarked, "With a temper like yours, I wonder what kind of woman could ever put up with you."Damon did not respond, concentrating on picking up the chess pieces."Come on, let's eat."At the dining table, Cyrus chatted with Damon almost excessively.Nyla ate a small amount, then set down her cutlery and said, "I'm done. You all take your time."As soon as she spoke, everyone at the table looked at her.Cindy frowned, clearly displeased, but remained silent.Clark turned to Nyla, his voice gentle as he asked, "Is the food not to your liking tonight?"Nyla shook her head. "No, I'm really full. I remember leaving some clothes in your room last time I was here. I'm going to see if I can find that dress I liked."Clark nodded. "Alright."Cindy initially considered suggesting that a maid look for the dress but then reconsidered. If Nyla wanted to find it herself, it would save the service staff the trouble.Once inside Clark's bedroom, Nyla locked the doo
Seeing Nyla biting her lip and remaining silent, Damon sneered and pushed her aside, preparing to leave.In a panic, Nyla quickly stopped him by grabbing his hand.Damon tensed, his gaze turning cold and dangerous."Let go!" he barked.Nyla bit her lip. "Uncle Damon, do you really have to push me this far?"Damon smirked coldly. "Nyla, do you know what would have happened if Cyrus had found you in his study?"Nyla was unaware of Cyrus' true nature, yet she had dared to sneak into his study. Had Cyrus caught her, she might have vanished without a trace—something that had happened before.Her grip on Damon tightened involuntarily, her face growing pale under the harsh light."Still not talking?" Damon's voice loomed above her.Nyla took a deep breath and said slowly, "I... I wanted to find my marriage certificate with Clark...""Why would your marriage certificate be in Cyrus' study?" Damon asked, his skepticism clear.Nyla bit her lip and continued her story. "When we got mar
After Clark left, Nyla finally breathed a sigh of relief.The incident was over, but she knew she had to be more cautious in the future.She got up, straightened her wrinkled clothes, grabbed a random piece of clothing from the closet, and went downstairs.Clark and Cyrus sat facing each other in the living room, both looking displeased.Seeing Nyla come down, Cyrus said coldly, "It's late. You two should head back."Clark nodded and stood up. "Alright."He looked at Nyla with an emotionless gaze. "Let's go."On the way back, Clark remained silent, clearly still angry about what had happened.As they reached the villa and Nyla was about to get out of the car, Clark spoke coldly. "Don't you have anything to say?"Nyla turned to him. "What do you want me to say? That I really cheated, or something else?""Nyla!" Clark's gaze was icy, making Nyla feel as though he might strangle her at any moment."People say you need to catch someone in the act. You didn't even see your uncle'
"He bankrupted the Magills. If they come for revenge, what does that have to do with me?" Clark dismissed Michael's concerns, ignoring his warning.Seeing that Clark wasn't listening, Michael frowned and replied, "Alright, I understand."After Michael left, a murderous look appeared in Clark's eyes. Since Damon had tried multiple times to humiliate him, it was time to teach him a lesson.…For the next few days, Dylan went to the lab daily, bringing gifts for Nyla, but she rejected them each time.While helping Nyla set up an experiment, Melody commented, "I don't get it. Why does Dylan keep coming even though you reject him every day? Does he have a masochistic streak?"Nyla shook her head and replied, "I don't know. Don't worry about him. You set that rack up backward."Melody quickly fixed the rack and didn't bring it up again.After a week of visiting the lab, Dylan finally figured out Nyla's schedule. Now, he just needed to find a time when Melody wasn't around to take Nyl
Nyla, who should have been unconscious, had seized a nearby flask and smashed it over Dylan's head.The sharp shards of glass sliced into his forehead, and blood began to flow immediately.Seizing the moment of his shock, Nyla shoved him away and stumbled toward the door.However, she had expended all her strength in that single blow and felt weak and unsteady. Before she could reach the door, Dylan yanked her back by her hair."Bitch, how dare you hit me!" Dylan snarled.He slapped her across the face repeatedly. His forehead, still bleeding, made him appear grotesque and terrifying.Nyla wanted to fight back, but her weakness prevented her. She could only glare at him with disdain.Her defiant stare further enraged Dylan. He slapped her again and again until she was nearly unconscious."Let's see how long you can keep that attitude!" he growled.He threw her to the floor and ripped off her skirt. As he gazed at her pale, slender legs, his eyes turned red with lust, and his h
"Let go!" Damon said.Looking into Damon's angry eyes, Nyla finally felt a sense of relief after surviving the ordeal, and her eyes reddened. She slowly opened her hand, revealing the bloody mess of her palm and the piece of glass embedded in it.Damon's expression darkened as he picked her up and headed out.Nyla grabbed his shirt collar, her voice weak. "Mr. Sumner, just have someone bring me some clothes."If Damon carried her out of the company, rumors would undoubtedly spread like wildfire by the next day.Damon looked down at her, his gaze cold. Upon seeing her pale, delicate face looking so pitiful, his expression darkened further. "Your hand is injured. It needs immediate attention."Nyla shook her head stubbornly. "There's a first-aid kit in the lab. I can take care of it myself and go to the hospital later."Damon could tell that she didn't want to be associated with him, so his expression grew even darker. "Should I call Clark for you?"Nyla tightened her grip on his
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