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
Nyla rushed over to Valarie, but in her panic, she stumbled and fell beside her.Valarie's eyes were closed, her clothes torn and ragged, and her face bore visible handprints.Seeing the blood pooling beneath Valarie, Nyla finally remembered to call for emergency help. Her hands shook as she fumbled with her phone, dialing several times before finally getting through.With a trembling voice, she reported that someone had fallen from a building, choking up as she provided the address.After hanging up, Nyla dared not touch Valarie. She trembled uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.Valarie had come here to celebrate her birthday. If something happened to her, Nyla would never forgive herself.Nearby, a black Maybach was stopped at a red light.Noticing the crowd gathered around the hotel, Spencer glanced over curiously and then frowned.He spoke up. "Mr. Sumner, the person in the center of the crowd appears to be Ms. Jayston—"Before he finished speaking, the sound of
Damon's expression darkened as he said coldly, "Then check the surveillance footage around the hotel.""Understood. I'll get on it right away," Spencer replied.After ending the call, Damon approached Nyla. She spoke in a hoarse voice. "What's the update? Have you figured out what happened?""Not yet, but it should be soon," Damon answered.Nyla nodded, lowering her gaze. "Uncle Damon, I'm really grateful for your help today. It's getting late, so you should go back. I'll stay here."Damon looked at her. She was staring down, her hands tightly clenched, and her body still trembling. He remained silent for a moment before sitting down beside her."I'll stay with you," he said firmly.Nyla said nothing more, silently praying that Valarie would be okay.Soon, Valarie's parents arrived after hearing the news. When they learned that Valarie had fallen while going to celebrate Nyla's birthday, Phoebe Shersby, Valarie's mother, turned icy."I'm so sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Weir..." Nyla ap
Damon's gaze turned icy as if he could kill with a stare.Phoebe felt a pang of guilt under his harsh scrutiny. However, as she gazed at her daughter in the ICU, uncertain of her fate, her anger reignited."Mr. Sumner, I'm not afraid of you. After all, my daughter is in this state. What do I have to lose?" she stated boldly.Nyla stepped forward, looking up at Damon. "Uncle Damon, it's natural for Mrs. Weir to be upset. She's Valarie's mother. I'm fine."Jonathan sighed and turned to Nyla. "Ms. Jayston, you should go home for now. I'll let you know if Valarie improves."Although Nyla longed to stay, she realized her presence would only add to the tension. "Okay," she agreed.Nyla took one last glance at Valarie through the glass, took a deep breath, and turned to leave. Instead of going home, she found a quiet bench in the hospital lobby."Uncle Damon, you should go back now," she suggested.Damon stood firm. "And you?""I'm staying here tonight. I won't be able to sleep at
Damon's gaze darkened. "Not yet. The hotel's surveillance was damaged, so I had Spencer check the cameras around the hotel. The most important thing for you tonight is to get some rest. We can handle everything else tomorrow morning.""Got it. Thanks, Uncle Damon," Nyla said gratefully."There's no need to thank me. Although it might not be the best time to say this, happy birthday," Damon wished her.Nyla was momentarily taken aback, then replied softly, "Thank you."If Valarie didn't wake up, she might never enjoy her birthdays again."Get some rest," Damon urged."Okay," Nyla agreed.She went to her room, decorated in the same black, white, and gray scheme as the living room. A faint, pleasant fragrance lingered in the air—one she couldn't identify but found quite nice.After taking a shower, she lay down, expecting to have trouble sleeping, but fatigue soon overcame her, and she drifted into a deep sleep.Unbeknownst to her, shortly after she fell asleep, a maid quietly en
Nyla bit her lower lip hard, not letting go even when she tasted blood.After a long moment, she finally said coldly, "Clark, is that all you can do?!""You're the one pushing me. I just wanted to know where you were last night. That's all. If you refuse to tell me, it only makes me think you're hiding something," Clark insisted.Nyla took a deep breath and enunciated each word, "I stayed at your uncle's house last night."The phone call fell into a suffocating silence.Nyla could clearly hear Clark's breathing becoming heavier. She continued slowly. "Valarie had an accident last night. I was emotionally unstable, and Uncle Damon was worried I might overthink things if I went home, so—"Clark sneered. "So he took you to his house? Nyla, don't tell me nothing happened between the two of you alone!""There was service staff in his house, and it wasn't as sordid as you imagine!" Nyla countered.Clark didn't believe a word of it. "Not as sordid as I think? So you just kissed and hu
Jordyn quickly received a call from Michael at the hospital.When she learned that Clark had donated the kidney to her father, she couldn't contain her joy. She had thought it would take longer for Clark to agree, but it happened so swiftly!Now, she just needed to find a chance to tell Nyla about it. She touched her still-flat belly, her eyes filled with scheming.…All day, Nyla had tried calling Clark more than a dozen times, but he hadn't answered any of her calls.It seemed she would have to wait until he returned from his business trip to explain everything.…Spencer entered the CEO's office with a file and knocked on the door. "Mr. Sumner, we've made some progress on last night's incident."Damon put down his documents and looked up at him.Spencer handed over the file and reported, "We found a suspicious vehicle that left through the hotel's back door shortly after Valarie's incident. This car had a fake license plate and quickly vanished down a road without surveilla
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