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
It was not unusual for such incidents to occur in a bar, so the surrounding patrons did not react much. Even if some noticed, they were intimidated by Tyler and his men and dared not intervene. After all, playing the hero required some backing.Nyla's mind raced as she sought a way out. She did not want to be taken away like this.Suddenly, several uniformed men stepped in front of Tyler and his crew. "Ty, you can't take this woman."Tyler looked at the manager, Kash Daly, who was leading the group. He removed the cloth from his bloody forehead and sneered. "Kash, see this wound on my head? This woman did it. And if you stop me, you'll have to answer to Big Jin."Tyler's influence in the area made him brazen.Normally, Kash might have given him some leeway. However, in the presence of those higher up, Tyler was insignificant.Kash advised, "Ty, she's someone you can't afford to mess with. I suggest you let her go, or else—"Tyler interrupted with a cold laugh, "Or else what? The
Nyla nodded and said, "Yes, I know."Nathaniel was about to respond when Damon suddenly turned to Nyla, his eyes cold. He asked, "Do you know me that well?"Nathaniel was taken aback, frowning at Damon. He couldn't understand why Damon was deliberately making things difficult for Nyla. Did he dislike Clark so much that he extended that hatred to Clark's wife?Nyla bit her lip and lowered her gaze. "No, thank you for tonight, Uncle Damon. It's late, so I'll be going now. Enjoy your evening."Damon sneered. "I helped you, and you think a simple thank you is enough?"Nyla paused, then turned back to him and asked, "What do you want as thanks, Uncle Damon?"Damon looked at the woman pouring him a drink and said, "Teach her how to repay a life-saving favor."Nathaniel frowned, feeling that Damon was being too harsh by having an escort from a nightclub teach Nyla how to repay a debt of gratitude.The woman smiled, looking up at Damon with a flattering gaze. "Mr. Sumner, if you saved
"Why did you come back so late tonight?" Clark asked."Had some things to deal with," Nyla answered.Clark didn't press further and simply nodded. "By the way, we've found a kidney donor for Dad. If everything goes well, he can have the surgery in a month."Nyla paused mid-action while changing her shoes, looking up at him in disbelief. "Really?"Clark felt his breath catch at the sight of her excited expression and bright eyes, which reminded him of when they first got together."Yes," he replied."That's great! Thank you!" Nyla exclaimed.Her gratitude was heartfelt. If they hadn't found a match, her father's health wouldn't have held out much longer."We're husband and wife. It's my responsibility," Clark said dismissively.Nyla pursed her lips and remained silent. To her, they had long ceased to be husband and wife. They were just two strangers bound by a piece of paper."Regardless, I really appreciate it," Nyla reiterated.Noticing the distance in her gaze, Clark felt
It was Percy's secretary who had said that the Watson Group would be in crisis if they offended Drake. That was why Percy had refused to work with Prospectus Technology.Now? They hadn't offended Drake, but they had offended Damon. If they had to offend someone, he'd rather it be Drake.Percy had worked with Damon for years. He knew Damon wasn't the type to push people to their breaking point. As for Drake, Percy had investigated him—he was a ruthless man.People who had worked with Drake had all suffered. Yet, no one dared retaliate because Drake was supported by the Nixons. Associating with someone like that would be dangerous.Percy's gaze shifted to the window, his expression grim. He couldn't shake the feeling that the tides were turning in Saintornia.…In the days that followed, executives from companies that had severed ties with Prospectus Technology flooded Spencer's phone with calls, all begging for a meeting with Damon.No matter how persistent they were, Spencer alw
Charlotte stared in disbelief, her wide eyes filled with fear and guilt. Her face turned ashen."Uncle Damon..." she called out."Don't call me uncle," Damon replied icily. "I don't have a niece who betrays her own family. Since you've chosen to side with Drake, you've also chosen to stand against me and Prospectus Technology. From now on, we're business rivals, and I won't show you any mercy."His piercing gaze felt like the chill of a winter wind. "But since we once shared a bond, let me offer you some advice—stay far away from Drake. Otherwise, you won't even know how your end comes."With that, Damon brushed past her and left.Charlotte stood frozen, watching his figure disappear, too shaken to pursue him further.…Back in Damon's office, Spencer entered after a knock. "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Guinness from the Watson Group is here to see you.""I'm not seeing him. Tell him the Watson Group's issues have nothing to do with me," Damon replied."Understood," Spencer answered.In t
"What does her return have to do with you getting married?" Harrison asked, his confusion clear."She wants me and Buddy to move to Meristate," Nyla said softly."What?!" Harrison's face darkened. "She hasn't cared about you for years. She didn't even visit once. And now she's coming back to force you to leave your husband and move abroad? Has she lost her mind?!"After a brief hesitation, Nyla shared what she had learned from Alexander about her mother's plans.Harrison's anger flared as he processed the full story. "That's insane! She abandoned you for years, and now she expects you to inherit some foreign family's legacy? What about your life, your happiness? This is absurd!""That's why Damon and I decided to register our marriage now," Nyla said calmly. "We'll handle everything else as it comes."Harrison sighed deeply. "Alright, I understand. If you're not ready for a wedding now, we'll wait.""Thank you, Dad," Nyla replied.After lunch, Damon and Nyla prepared to leave w
Jane's cold voice came through the line. "I'm busy. What do you want?""The Wilkie Group might go bankrupt," Theo said bluntly. "Damon has already gathered substantial evidence of our illegal activities. Grandpa's getting old, and I can't hold the company together on my own. Can you come back and help me?"There was a moment of silence before Jane's mocking tone cut in. "Theo, when I was at the Wilkie Group, we didn't do anything illegal. How is it that the company started falling apart the moment you took over?"Theo forced down his rising anger and replied coldly, "Everything I've done was for the company's growth. When are you coming back?""I'm not coming back. Give up on the idea," Jane said sharply. "I've already sold my shares to Damon. The company has nothing to do with me anymore. You're on your own."She wasn't a fool. Theo's reason for asking her to return wasn't to pass the company to her. He wanted her to be the scapegoat for the things he'd done in the past. She migh
Drake laughed, his tone light. "Mr. Wilkie, are you still upset about that? Yes, I had to strong-arm you at first, but it was for the sake of our partnership."And look at the opportunities I've brought the Wilkie Group—several lucrative deals. If you play your cards right, overtaking Prospectus Technology will just be a matter of time.""Let's hope you're true to your word, Mr. Mummery," Pedro replied.Being stuck between Damon and Drake felt like walking on thin ice.Pedro couldn't shake the thought that the Wilkie Group might go bankrupt at any moment. If he'd known this was how the company would end up, he would have preferred it go bankrupt earlier. It would be better than living on the edge now."Don't worry. I'll have 100,000,000 dollars invested in the Wilkie Group soon. If you have any other requests, feel free to let me know anytime," Drake said."Alright. I'm feeling a little under the weather, so I won't be seeing you out, Mr. Mummery," Pedro said.As soon as Drake l
Pedro fell silent, his face dark and stormy as he said nothing.Damon wasn't in a hurry and didn't push for an answer. He waited calmly, confident that Pedro would eventually give him the response he wanted.After what felt like an eternity, Pedro finally looked up and spoke. "If I don't agree, will you hand those incriminating documents over to the police?""Mr. Wilkie, the moment you asked that question, you already knew the answer," Damon replied.Pedro took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Damon. "Fine. I agree. But if Drake discovers this, the Wilkie Group and Prospectus Technology will go down together."It was a no-win situation. If he didn't agree, Damon would expose everything, and the Wilkie Group would crumble. However, agreeing risked Drake discovering the betrayal, which would also spell doom for his company.Damon's expression remained steady. "Mr. Wilkie, rest assured. If you help me take Drake down, I'll hand over every piece of evidence I have against the Wilkie
Nyla nodded. "Alright. Just don't work too late.""I won't," Damon assured her as he answered the call and walked toward his study.His body tensed at whatever was said on the other end, and his pace quickened.Once he closed the door, he asked coldly, "Are you sure?"Spencer's voice came through clearly in the quiet room. "Yes, Mr. Sumner. I've got the footage. Ms. Sumner did meet with Drake two nights ago."Damon's gaze dropped. After a long pause, he said, "I see. Don't act yet—just keep an eye on her and observe what she does next.""Understood," Spencer replied.After hanging up, Damon tossed his phone onto the desk and let out a cold laugh. It seemed Charlotte had completely turned her back on him. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten involved with Drake....Over the next few days, Spencer gathered substantial evidence of illegal activities involving the Wilkie Group.When he handed the documents to Damon, he asked, "Mr. Sumner, should we hand this over to the police?
Once Nyla finished ordering, she handed the menu to Damon.After he placed his order, she finally said, "By the way, I told Valarie about our marriage today. I plan to invite her and Brandon over for dinner in a few days."Damon nodded. "Alright, it's up to you.""Also, when will you have time to visit my dad and tell him about us?" Nyla asked."I might be busy for the next couple of days. How about Saturday?" Damon suggested."That works," she replied.Looking at her seriously, Damon said, "Nyla, I owe you. Once everything is settled, I'll make it up to you with a proper wedding."Seeing the guilt and sadness in his eyes, Nyla took his hand. "Don't be silly. I've already said I don't care about that. As long as the three of us are together and happy, that's all that matters.""But I still feel like I've let you down," Damon said, his voice heavy with emotion. He loved her and couldn't bear the thought of her suffering, even a little. His heart ached for her."Enough of that!
"Understood, Mr. Sumner. Should we continue with the plan for the Wilkie Group?" Spencer asked."Yes," Damon replied.…The day passed quickly, and before long, evening arrived.After reviewing the last contract on his desk, Damon picked up his phone and called Nyla. "Nyla, I'll come pick you up soon. We're going out for dinner tonight."Nyla, who had just picked up Mason, raised an eyebrow. "What about Buddy?""Tonight is just for the two of us. We'll bring him next time," Damon answered."Alright, I'll drop him off first," Nyla said."Okay. See you soon." Damon smiled as he ended the call, grabbed his coat, and headed out.…Half an hour later, Damon parked in front of the villa and called Nyla. "Nyla, I'm outside.""Okay, I'm coming," she replied.Not long after, she emerged from the villa. She wore a brown cashmere coat over a beige V-neck sweater and a matching skirt. Her long, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders.Although her makeup was light, her delicate features