Besides, Harrison had never seen a secretary who dared to address her employer by name."Clark, I may be old, but I'm not a fool! Do you think that just because the Jaystons are down, we'll put up with whatever you do to my daughter?"Clark frowned. "Dad, you're not well. Let me take you back to your room so we can talk this through."He reached out to help Harrison, but the latter pushed him away. "Don't touch me! Give me back my phone. I told you to call Nyla over. You will explain everything to her face-to-face!""Dad, this is a matter of life and death. Can't you stop making a scene?" Clark said.Seeing the impatience in Clark's eyes, Harrison sneered. "I must have been blind to your true nature! Don't bother calling me 'Dad' anymore. I'll make sure Nyla divorces you."With that, Harrison turned and walked away. After just a few steps, he suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness.…Nyla was awakened by the phone ringing in the middle of the night.By the time she hurried
Before Nyla could say anything, Wren suddenly grabbed her hand. "Nyla, you know how much your father has suffered from being in the hospital all these years. If we can arrange a kidney donation, he can be discharged soon..."Seeing the urgency in Wren's gaze, Nyla felt a wave of bitterness.From the moment Clark used the kidney to pressure her, she felt defeated. She couldn't just watch her father die. She had no choice but to pretend nothing had happened.Noticing Nyla's blank expression, Wren, desperate, continued. "Please, just consider it a favor for me. If you agree, I'll even get on my knees for you."Wren began to kneel in front of her.Nyla quickly helped her up and said, "Wren, I know what I need to do.""Thank you… I'm sorry…" Wren said, almost in tears with relief. She then noticed Nyla's pale face and tried to keep her own emotions in check.Turning to Clark, Nyla said coldly, "You should go. When Dad wakes up, I'll explain everything to him so he doesn't think you w
As they reached the elevator, Nyla's expression turned cold. "You can go be with Jordyn. I'm heading home to rest."Clark frowned. "I'll take you home. You haven't slept all night. I'm worried."Nyla smiled, her gaze filled with sarcasm. "Isn't Jordyn's father in surgery? Shouldn't you be more concerned about that?""Nyla, no one is more important to me than you," Clark insisted.Nyla looked at him. His eyes still held affection, but she no longer felt any warmth toward him."Don't say things like that. The more lies you tell, the more you end up believing them yourself," she said.Before Clark could respond, a choked voice came from behind them. "Clark… my dad…"Clark turned to see Jordyn with tears in her eyes, looking as if she might break down at any moment. His hands tightened into fists without him realizing.Nyla, noticing his reaction, chuckled. As the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside without a backward glance. She had no interest in fighting over a cheating ma
When Nyla returned home, she messaged HR to request a day off and slept until nearly noon.Upon checking her phone, she noticed several missed calls and a text message.[Ms. Jayston, your medical report is ready. Our staff tried calling you but couldn't reach you. You can either pick up a hard copy at the hospital's medical office or call us back to receive an electronic version. Have a great day!]Nyla immediately called the hospital to request an electronic copy of the report. As she opened it, her heart sank.The result was devastating—she was indeed infertile.Her eyes filled with tears, not because of Clark, but because her dream of having her own child seemed impossible. She might never be able to become a mother.Her phone slipped from her hand as she covered her eyes, tears streaming down her face.After an unknown amount of time, she finally calmed down.Taking a deep breath, she washed her face and decided to visit another hospital for a second opinion soon. If the in
Melody glanced at Nyla, hesitated for a moment, but kept her thoughts to herself. When the attack occurred, she had been too slow to react, but Nyla had immediately rushed to Damon's side, shielding him from the blow.Melody had a vague sense that Nyla's feelings for Damon might be different. However, since they only exchanged greetings at the company and never showed signs of closeness, she wasn't sure about their relationship.Lost in thought, Melody was jolted back to the present by Nyla's serious tone. "There's a leak in the filter paper. Didn't you notice?"Melody snapped back to reality and looked down, spotting a hole in the bottom of the filter paper. The solution had leaked through and contaminated the previously filtered liquid, meaning they would need to start over."I am sorry, Nyla. I didn't notice," Melody apologized."There's no need to apologize. Just be more careful when doing experiments. If you can't focus, take a break," Nyla replied calmly.The experiment the
Nyla's eyes widened in surprise. "What kind of surprise?""If I tell you now, it won't be a surprise, will it?" Valarie countered."Alright then," Nyla conceded.After Nyla and Valarie finished shopping and were about to leave, they unexpectedly ran into Jordyn and Cindy, who were also shopping and carrying multiple bags."What are you doing out shopping late at night instead of staying home? That dress you're holding—you couldn't afford it even if you worked a whole year. My son works hard for his money, and you don't do anything to help him except spend it all," Cindy scolded.Cindy's gaze at Nyla was almost burning with anger. If Valarie hadn't been there, Cindy would have been even harsher, especially given Nyla's affair with Damon.Valarie hadn't expected Cindy to be so harsh toward Nyla in public. She sneered and was about to speak when Nyla interjected, "Mrs. Sumner, it appears that the money you and Ms. Cheatham are spending also comes from Clark. While it's understandabl
Clark had recently faced numerous issues with the Sumner Group, and as CEO, he had to prioritize company matters.Nyla wasn't disappointed at all. She lowered her gaze and said, "I don't really want anything. It's okay if you don't get me a gift."Clark frowned. "Then I'll just get what I had in mind.""Alright," Nyla complied.They fell into silence. Clark looked at her, hoping she would tell him to take care as she used to before his business trips, but she kept her eyes down and said nothing.Eventually, he stopped expecting anything from her."I still have some work to finish. Get some rest early," he said.With that, he turned and left.Back in his study, he had just settled in when he received a call from Michael."Mr. Sumner, I checked, and Ms. Cheatham's father does indeed need a kidney transplant. However, there isn't a suitable donor yet, so he's still in the ICU," Michael informed him."I understand. Have someone look for a kidney donation," Clark instructed."Oka
"Understood!" Spencer replied but then turned back to look at him, his expression hesitant."Is there something else?" Damon asked."It's not a big deal... It's just... With Ms. Jayston's birthday coming up, should we prepare a gift for her?" Spencer asked.Damon frowned, his gaze showing irritation. "What does her birthday have to do with me?"Spencer quickly shook his head. "No, nothing...""In the future, you don't need to report anything about her to me. Professionally, she's just an employee from Park Pharmaceuticals. Personally, she's my niece-in-law. We need to keep our distance," Damon clarified.Spencer lowered his head. "Understood, Mr. Sumner."…Back at home, Jacqueline was fuming.After learning that Nyla had refused to help, Jacqueline's father, Byron Rainford, scolded her and instructed her to keep trying until Nyla agreed to assist.She was burning with frustration. Given Nyla's attitude that morning, continuing seemed pointless.While she was brooding, she s
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