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
"Let's go," Clark said, retracting his gaze.As they turned away, Jordyn let out a barely noticeable sigh of relief.While Jordyn was getting her check-up, Clark repeatedly tried to call Nyla, but she didn't answer. Growing impatient, he eventually gave up.After paying her bills and receiving her injection, Nyla got a call from the police station asking her to come in and give a statement.…Meanwhile, Erin had learned about Dylan's failed plan.Her subordinate looked worried, his voice tense. "Ms. Hulle, do you think Dylan will betray us?"Erin sneered. "Don't worry. He wouldn't dare. Unless he wants his family destroyed."Dylan was proving to be useless. Despite having everything planned for him, he had still failed miserably. She needed to find another way to deal with Nyla.…By the time Nyla finished giving her statement at the police station, it was evening.She drove straight home. Just as she got out of the car, Clark's car pulled up at the gate.Nyla hesitated bef
Clark smirked, his voice void of emotion. "How pitiful. He must hate the person who ruined his family and left him destitute."Michael shuddered at the coldness in Clark's voice. "Mr. Sumner, should we get him out?" Michael asked."Of course. I want to see him within three days," Clark replied.Michael hesitated. He wanted to dissuade him but remained silent, knowing it would be pointless.He hung up with a sigh, contemplating the possibility of finding a new job. Clark's current demands could be disastrous if they were discovered.…Nyla remained in her room until dinner.After eating silently, she quickly retreated upstairs, eager to avoid lingering.Clark watched her departure with a dark, unsettling expression.As Patricia cleared the table, she said, "Mr. Sumner, silent treatments are harmful. Women need to be comforted."Clark frowned, irritation flashing in his eyes. "I know."It wasn't that he didn't want to comfort Nyla, but she wouldn't give him a chance. Moreove
Nyla pressed her lips together and looked down. "Yes."Out of the corner of his eye, Clark glanced at her phone on the table and said calmly, "I believe you. I brought some ointment. Let me help you apply it."Once Jordyn had the baby, he planned to send her away immediately, ensuring she never came between him and Nyla again.He stepped forward, but Nyla suddenly stepped back, saying, "No need. I'll do it myself."Seeing the distance in her eyes, Clark suppressed his disappointment and forced a smile. He handed her the ointment and reminded her, "Apply it now and again before bed. The swelling should go down by morning."She took the ointment from him. "Thank you.""I'm your husband. It's my duty to take care of you," Clark said."I'm going to rest now," Nyla told him."Alright, I'll get back to work," Clark replied.As he turned away, he heard the door close behind him, and a bitter smile tugged at his lips.Back at her vanity, Nyla threw the ointment into the trash.The d
Damon: [Drinks tonight.]Caleb Goddard: [?]Nathaniel Preston: [You've been avoiding us like the plague lately. What's with the sudden enthusiasm? Got your heart broken?]Damon: [Shut up.]Nathaniel: [Alright, alright, I hit a sore spot. I'll stop. There's a new bar on North Saint Street. I'll book a private room.]Damon: [...]…Nyla had just returned to the lab when Melody approached her, asking, "Nyla, why are you so late today? Hey... what happened to your hand? Did you cut yourself during an experiment?"Nyla didn't want too many people to know about yesterday's incident, so she nodded along. "Yeah.""Then let me handle the operations for now. You can supervise," Melody offered."It's fine. It doesn't affect my work," Nyla declined.They chatted briefly before starting the morning's experiment.The morning flew by.Nyla took off her protective goggles and gloves, ready for lunch.Melody, staring at her phone, said, "Nyla, a friend just told me several companies have
Even Brian and Delia, whom Emerald had spoiled, were expendable in her eyes—if they ever posed a threat to her position, she wouldn't hesitate to give them up.To her, family had always come second to the Nixons.…At exactly 3:00 p.m., Emerald's car pulled up outside Alexander's villa.She stepped out and walked into the living room, where Alexander and Nyla were already waiting.Without a word, she sat down, picked up the documents on the table, and flipped through them.After confirming there were no issues, she signed the last page, then pulled a bank card from her bag and placed it on the table.She slid it toward Nyla. "The password is six zeroes."Alexander picked up the card and handed it to his assistant. "Go check it."Emerald's expression stiffened. "Alexander, what the hell does that mean?!"Was he trying to humiliate her by having his assistant verify the card right in front of her?"Aunt Emerald, it's for both our peace of mind. This way, there won't be any iss
Alexander was silent for a moment before meeting Emerald's gaze. "Fine, I'll help you secure your position as head of the Nixons, but I won't help you eliminate your opponents."As long as there were threats to her power, she wouldn't have time to target Nyla and Damon. Keeping a balance of power was the best way to keep Nyla safe.Emerald's expression darkened. "You don't trust me?"Alexander nodded. "Aunt Emerald, I'd like to, but you need to give me a reason to. Back in Saintornia, you promised Nyla you'd support Prospectus Technology, but the moment she arrived in Meristate, you tried to bankrupt it."Now, you're making promises without proof. How can I trust you?""Alexander, don't forget—I'm your aunt. We're family!" Emerald hissed."To me, Nyla is my cousin, so she's my family too. Think about my offer, Aunt Emerald," Alexander said calmly.He remained unbothered by the situation. He knew Emerald was already backed into a corner—without his help, she had no chance of hold
"Sure," Nyla replied.After Alexander left, she turned to Damon. "We really will make it back together, right?"Seeing the worry in her eyes, Damon pulled her into his arms. "Yes. I promise. Trust me."She didn't say anything more, simply resting against his chest. Deep down, however, unease still lingered.…Three more days passed, and George still hadn't found Nyla.Meanwhile, unrest within the Nixons was worsening. More and more people began openly opposing Emerald, demanding a new leader.Emerald was exhausted and overwhelmed. The stress took a toll on her body—she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital again.When she woke up, the doctor warned her that she couldn't keep pushing herself like this, or her health would suffer serious consequences."I understand," Emerald said flatly. "I'd like to be alone now."Sighing, the doctor left the room.Emerald stared out the window, her gaze distant.For years, she had fought relentlessly to become the head of the Nixons.
Cortez's light chuckle came from the other end of the phone. "If this is about Kajer Tech, I don't see the need for a private meeting. We can discuss it publicly once you've found your eldest daughter."Emerald suppressed her anger. "I want to know why you publicly went against me!"He could have spoken to her privately, but instead, he chose to humiliate her in front of everyone."I'm not going against you. You're just too greedy," Cortez sneered. "You deliberately transferred Kajer Tech's shares to your daughter so you could use the company's annual dividends as leverage over us. That way, we'd have no choice but to let you continue leading the Nixons. Am I wrong?"His mocking tone felt like a slap to Emerald's face, making her even angrier. "Cortez, don't forget—you're supposed to be on my side!"Cortez chuckled. "I've always said I only act in my own best interest. I supported you in the past because our interests aligned."But now? You're hurting my position. We're no longer
Emerald's expression darkened. "Cortez, that's a serious accusation. I have never tried to hollow out the Nixons. Since taking over, I've worked tirelessly for the family's success. If you choose not to believe me, so be it."She added, "If you insist on resolving the Kajer Tech issue first, then this meeting is over. We'll discuss it again once I find my daughter."Without another word, Emerald stood and left.The moment she was gone, murmurs erupted throughout the room—voices filled with frustration and resentment."We can't let Emerald keep leading the family like this! Who knows how much more damage she'll cause?"Several people turned sharp glares toward Cortez."Cortez, you've always backed Emerald. Did you really not know she's turned Kajer into her own company?""I bet he turned a blind eye because she gave him something in return!""Hold on. If Cortez was really benefiting from Emerald's deals, he wouldn't have called her out just now. I trust him."Cortez let out a c
Emerald frowned, her voice cold. "Cortez, we have more important matters to discuss.""In my opinion, this is the most important matter today," Cortez replied evenly. "If Kajer becomes your private company, won't the Nixons lose a significant portion of their annual revenue?"Emerald's expression remained unchanged. "You don't need to worry. Regardless of who owns Kajer Tech, my share of the dividends will always be reinvested into the Nixons."Cortez gave a slight smile, though his eyes held no warmth. "Emerald, that's just your word. How can we trust it?"If Kajer Tech truly has no ties to the Nixons anymore, doesn't that mean you'll have the power to use its revenue as leverage against other family members?"If someone upsets you, you can cut off their funding. How is anyone supposed to voice a differing opinion under those conditions?"Emerald's gaze darkened. "Cortez, I can assure you, that will never happen.""We're not children, Emerald. Promises mean nothing. My stance i
Mary pulled a document from her bag and handed it to Emerald. "You can check it carefully—it has Edward's signature."Emerald's expression remained cold as she took the papers. Sure enough, Edward's signature was on the last page.She slammed the document onto the table. "I heard Edward's health has been declining. Does he still have the energy to authorize you to attend the meeting?""Of course. After all, Brian lost a leg and can't inherit the Nixons anymore. But Vik is still perfectly fine. As Edward's son, he has every right to the family legacy," Mary announced.Emerald's face twisted with anger. "Mary, if you say one more word about Brian, I'll tear your mouth apart!"Mary chuckled. "Emerald, I'm just stating facts. Why are you so mad?""Shut up!" Emerald hissed.Tension crackled between them, but the other Nixon members quickly grew impatient.Cortez frowned. "Are we holding this meeting or not? If not, I'm leaving. I didn't come here to watch you two argue."Suppressin
Mary looked at Vik expressionlessly. "Of course. He was ready to make you pay for Brian's leg. Do you still see him as your father?"Vik's expression shifted. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "But... he used to treat us well..."Although Vik had been deeply disappointed when he discovered that Edward was willing to sacrifice his leg for Brian's, he still couldn't bring himself to harm his father.Mary let out a cold laugh. "He did treat us well in the past, but didn't we treat him well, too?"She had been with Edward since she was 20, willingly playing the role of the woman he kept outside his marriage. She had once believed that Edward truly loved her.But today, she had come to a painful realization: no matter what, she and Vik would never compare to Brian and Emerald in Edward's heart.Even after Emerald and Brian drugged him and nearly killed him, Edward had chosen to stand by them. If that were the case, then Mary wouldn't hesitate to be ruthless either.Vik couldn't a
The day Vik was locked up was the longest and most agonizing of his life. He no longer wanted to live in constant fear. If they kept fighting with Emerald, they could end up dead.Mary looked at him. "Vik, do you really think Emerald will let us go? Do you think you can hide the truth about Brian's accident forever?"Vik's face went pale, and his entire body trembled. "Mom... I don't know what to do. I don't want to fight anymore. I'm scared."Mary stepped closer, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Vik, look at me."At her commanding tone, Vik summoned the courage to lift his head."The only thing we can do now is fight Emerald and Brian," she said."If we succeed, you'll never have to worry about Brian finding out about the accident because I won't let him live. If we fail, then the outcome will be the same as if we hadn't fought at all."She paused. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Think carefully about whether you want to fight."Vik swallowed hard. After a long