"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
Jacqueline forced a smile and stood up, saying, "Okay, there’s a new restaurant that's really good. Once you’re not busy, let’s go there together.""Sure," Tom answered.After Jacqueline left, he frowned and stared at his phone for a while before calling Valarie.The call quickly went to a busy tone, and his expression darkened completely.…"Nyla, Nyla?" Melody called out.Nyla snapped back to reality, looking at Melody, who was staring at her curiously. Nyla collected herself. "Sorry, what did you say?""Nyla, do you have something on your mind? You've been zoning out a lot," Melody asked with concern.Nyla looked down. After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly stood up. "Melody, I just remembered something I need to take care of. You can go back to the lab first after lunch."Before Melody could respond, Nyla grabbed her tray and left. After returning her tray, she took the elevator to the top floor.When Spencer saw her, he frowned and stepped in front of her. "Ms. Jay
Damon had helped Nyla countless times, always rescuing her when she was in danger.How could she not have feelings for him? But what good would that do her?There was no chance for them. They couldn't even overcome the obstacle of societal judgment. Besides, she was still married to Clark.Taking a deep breath, Nyla looked at Damon and spoke slowly. "Mr. Sumner, I want to apologize because you have helped me so much, and I want a chance to repay you. As for Clark, he cheated on me first. Naturally, I wouldn't apologize to Jacqueline on his behalf."Damon's gaze grew icy as he looked at Nyla. "I understand, Ms. Jayston. Please leave. Prospectus Technology hasn't reached the point where it needs to send a woman to the Rainfords to apologize."He didn't look at her again and resumed reading his document.Seeing his cold demeanor, Nyla felt a sharp pang in her heart and bit her lip. "Mr. Sumner, if there's anything you need, you can have Mr. Hogg contact me anytime."Damon didn't re
"You'll understand once you read it, Ms. Jayston," Pete said.If what he had discovered hadn't been significant, he wouldn't have met with Nyla in person.As Nyla opened the file, her expression quickly turned grim. She asked, "Are you sure this information is accurate?"Pete nodded confidently and replied, "Of course, Ms. Jayston. I wouldn't charge such a high fee if I weren't certain of the value of my findings."Closing the file, Nyla inquired, "Can you find concrete evidence that Cyrus orchestrated the accident?"The documents Pete provided revealed that after the bankruptcy of Harris Pharmaceuticals, Godric received a large sum of money and died mysteriously within a year. Before his death, he had contacted Cyrus.While these connections implicated Cyrus in the accident six years ago, there was no direct evidence linking him to it. For Nyla, direct evidence was crucial."I can, but it will take some time. The Sumner family's influence in Saintornia is substantial. If we inv
Meanwhile, Nyla couldn't believe her bad luck. As she left the private room, intending to cross the hall and exit, a drunk man suddenly grabbed her halfway there."Hey, pretty lady, here alone? Hic..." The man hiccuped, his alcohol-laden breath making Nyla nauseous.She yanked her arm free and quickly walked away. However, after just a few steps, several men blocked her path."Hey, lady, ignoring Ty, our boss? You've got guts."Nyla sensed their hostility, and her expression turned cold. "I don't know any 'Ty'. If you don't get out of my way, I'll call the police."The next time she met with Pete, she needed to avoid bars. While they were good for discreet information exchanges, they also attracted troublemakers."Hahaha, call the police? You think we'll give you that chance?" one of the men said as he stepped forward and snatched her phone.Mockingly, he added, "Go ahead, make the call. What are you going to use now?"Nyla remained silent, her mind racing for a way out. They w
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