"I know I was wrong… I'll go to the police and turn myself in. Will you let me go?" Jacqueline pleaded.Nyla shook her head. "I'm afraid that won't work. Even if you turn yourself in, the Rainfords could still bail you out."What I want is for you to experience the same pain and fear that Valarie went through. Only then will you understand what she endured."Jacqueline felt a wave of despair. She hadn't expected Nyla to be so ruthless. She started to regret listening to Erin and taking action against Valarie. If she had just listened to her parents and apologized to Nyla, she wouldn't be in this desperate situation now.Wait… Erin was the one who had instigated her. If she could just shift the blame onto Erin, maybe she could save herself!At that thought, she looked up at Nyla."Ms. Jayston, Erin was the one who directed me," she revealed.Nyla frowned and looked at her coldly. "Erin has no grievance with Valarie. What could she gain from having you harm Valarie?"Jacqueline s
Nyla turned to the doorway and saw Tom approaching with a cold expression. She sneered. "Mr. Genge, what do you want?"Tom looked at her icily. "Let Jacqueline go.""You should know that Valarie is still unconscious in the ICU because of her. What right do you have to ask me to let her go?" Nyla demanded."Even if you throw her out now, it won't wake Valarie, and she has already been punished as she should be," Tom reasoned.Nyla scoffed. "What punishment?"Tom frowned, finding Nyla's demeanor quite unpleasant. Even now, she wouldn't let Jacqueline go, despite Jacqueline already being in such a dire state."If you throw her out, you'll definitely offend the Rainfords. If the Rainford Group and the Sumner Group clash because of this, the Sumners won't spare you either," Tom warned.Nyla raised an eyebrow and said slowly, "So, Mr. Genge, are you looking out for my best interests?"Tom's gaze grew colder due to the sarcasm in her voice. "Regardless of your intentions, if you dare
"Okay, I'll take you there," Spencer offered."No need. I drove myself," Nyla declined.…Less than half an hour later, Nyla arrived at the hospital. Seeing that Valarie had truly woken up, she let out a deep sigh of relief, and her eyes misted over.When Phoebe saw her, her expression darkened. "Ms. Jayston, you're not welcome here."Valarie frowned and looked at her mother. "Mom, what are you doing?"Phoebe snorted. "If it weren't for her birthday, you wouldn't have ended up in this situation.""These two things have nothing to do with each other," Valarie retorted. "Just because I had an accident on my way to dinner doesn't mean it's my fault for going to that restaurant.""Well, I don't want you to have any more contact with her," Phoebe insisted."Whether or not I stay friends with someone is none of your business!" Valarie asserted."You!" Phoebe was furious, her face turning pale. She slammed the bowl she was holding onto the table and barked, "Fine! You're all grown u
The servant didn't give Nyla a chance to resist and tossed her directly into the basement.The basement, usually reserved for rarely used items, was cold and dark.After locking her in, the servant left.Nyla took out her phone but found there was no signal, so she had to abandon the idea of calling for help. As soon as her phone's light went out, the basement was plunged into darkness once more.…Around 10:00 p.m., the basement door opened, and Clark walked in with a grim expression."Do you realize your mistake now?" he asked.Nyla looked at him, her eyes devoid of warmth. "Clark, I've already explained everything. You refuse to listen, and I don't think I've done anything wrong."Clark's face darkened, and his gaze turned icy. "Since you won't admit your mistake, you can stay here tonight and reflect on it."With that, he turned and left.The basement door was shut again, cutting off all light from the outside.…The next day, Damon came looking for Nyla."Where is Nyl
Clark looked at Damon with derision, itching to expose everything. If that happened, Richard and Marie would be disappointed in Damon and might reconsider passing the Sumner Group to him."Clark, if anything happens to her, I won't let you off!" Damon threatened.He then walked over to Nyla, intending to pick her up.Nyla instinctively took a step back.Damon's gaze hardened. Ignoring her resistance, he lifted her off the floor in front of Clark."Uncle Damon, put me down. I can walk on my own," Nyla protested.Damon glanced at her and asked, "Are you sure?""Yeah," she replied.Seeing her insistence, Damon remained silent for a few seconds before setting her down as requested."Thank you," Nyla said softly."I'll help you," Damon offered."Alright," Nyla conceded.With Damon's support, Nyla slowly made her way out of the villa.Clark watched them with rage, but he knew he couldn't stop them.Once outside the villa, Nyla looked at Damon with gratitude. "Uncle Damon, thank
Clark glowered immediately. "Why are you only finding this out now?!"Michael, sounding innocent, replied, "Mr. Sumner, I wanted to investigate earlier, but you told me not to. I decided to look into it again only after I ran into Ms. Weir's parents at the hospital last night when I went to visit a friend."Realizing he had been too angry and might have overreacted, Clark took a deep breath. "From now on, make sure to investigate these matters as quickly as possible!""Understood," Michael replied.Just as Clark was about to hang up, he remembered that Nyla had left with Damon earlier. He added sternly, "Find out where Nyla and my uncle are now."Michael quickly confirmed the information.After learning that Damon had dropped Nyla off at her apartment before leaving, Clark felt a mix of relief and guilt. He had wrongly accused Nyla and locked her in the basement for a whole day.After a moment of hesitation, he decided to wait a few days for Nyla to calm down before apologizing
It was over an hour later when Nyla finally arrived at the hospital.Upon seeing that Nyla had only brought soup, Valarie's face fell with disappointment.Nyla sat down beside her, opened the container, and said, "Alright, just hang in there a few more days. Once you're out of the hospital, you can eat whatever you want."Valarie sighed and resignedly took the spoon. "By the way, I heard that the two people who forced me to jump were hired by Jacqueline?"Recalling the nightmare that had unfolded when those men barged in, Valarie felt as though it had been a terrible dream. If she hadn't jumped, who knew what might have happened next?Nyla nodded, her expression darkening. "Yeah. She said she only intended for them to take some indecent photos of you, not to force you to jump."Valarie scoffed. "Am I supposed to believe that nonsense? If I hadn't jumped, who knows what those men would have done to me?""I also took some pictures of her. If she ever tries to leak your photos, she
Nyla spent some time with Valarie and left after Phoebe arrived.…The next morning, as Nyla was heading to work, she saw Michael standing a short distance away and frowned. Initially, she planned to ignore him, but he quickly approached her and stopped right in front of her."Mrs. Sumner, this is a gift from Mr. Sumner," Michael said.Nyla glanced at the jewelry box in his hand, her face expressionless. "What does Clark mean by this? Is it a slap in the face followed by a prize?"Michael shook his head, trying to stay calm. "No. This is Mr. Sumner's apology gift. He's too afraid to come himself, so he sent me to give it to you."Nyla took the box, opened it, and found an expensive diamond necklace inside.Just as Michael let out a sigh of relief, Nyla tossed both the box and the necklace into a nearby trash can."Mrs. Sumner!" Michael exclaimed.Nyla looked at him, her voice cold and deliberate. "Go back and tell him that I won't accept such a half-hearted apology."With tha
"That's more like it," Valarie chirped.Nyla couldn't help but say, "Valarie, stop bullying Brandon all the time."Brandon turned to her and sighed dramatically. "Aunt Nyla, since you mentioned it, I have to say something. You have no idea what I've been through these past six months, I— Ouch!"Before he could finish, Valarie pinched his waist. "What was that? Tell me, Brandon. Have you been unhappy these past six months?""N-No... I've been very happy..." Brandon winced."Have I bullied you then?" Valarie pressed."No..." Brandon murmured.Valarie huffed. "If not, then keep your mouth shut, or Nyla will really think I mistreat you." Brandon gave her a pitiful look, lowering his head like a scolded puppy.Before they married, Valarie had been gentle and beautiful in his eyes. But after marriage, he realized how wrong he had been.Gentle and beautiful? All an illusion.If he stayed out drinking and came home late, he'd have to choose between sleeping on the couch or outside.
Taking Mia to work was exhausting, but every time she smiled at Damon, it made everything worth it."She'll be fine. Didn't you just say she loves us both equally? She'll cry for a bit, but if you stop taking her to the office, she'll get used to being at home," Nyla reasoned.Seeing Nyla's determination, Damon finally relented. "Alright, we'll try it tomorrow. But if she cries too much, you'll have to take her to the office.""Deal!" Nyla said....After getting ready for work the next morning, Damon kissed Mia on the cheek and headed for the door.As soon as he changed his shoes at the entrance, she reached her little arms toward him, asking to be held. She had grown so accustomed to going to the office with him every day that it had become a reflex.Damon glanced at Nyla. "Nyla, maybe today we should—"Nyla interrupted, "Nope. You go to work. And if you're free for lunch, don't bother coming home. If you need to work late, no rush to come back either."Damon chuckled. "You'
"Brandon, from now on, I'm entrusting Valarie to you," Jonathan said. "She's been spoiled by us and can be a little willful at times. I hope you'll be patient with her in your marriage, and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together."Brandon held Valarie's hand tightly, his expression solemn. "Dad, don't worry. I'll cherish her with all my heart."Jonathan nodded, stepping down from the stage. He discreetly wiped away his tears.After exchanging vows and rings, Valarie and Brandon sealed their love with a kiss, surrounded by cheers and applause.…On the way home from the wedding, Nyla glanced at Damon. "I saw Mr. Weir wipe his tears so many times today. When Bunny gets married, you'll definitely be just like him, sneaking off somewhere to cry."Damon's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his gaze sharpening. "No one will ever be good enough for my daughter. If she never gets married, we'll take care of her for the rest of our lives."Nyla raised an eyebrow and
"Of course! When's the wedding?" Nyla asked.Valarie shook her head. "We haven't decided yet. He'll come to my house in a few days to discuss it with my parents."Nyla raised an eyebrow. "You're about to get really busy. Planning a wedding alone will take a lot of work.""Yeah, I'm already getting a headache just thinking about it," Valarie replied....For the next few months, Valarie was completely consumed by wedding preparations and work, barely having time to catch her breath.The wedding was set for August 8th, leaving them with less than six months to finalize everything.Valarie even traveled abroad several times to meet with designers and ensure her wedding dress was exactly what she wanted.Beyond the dress, she and Brandon spent hours discussing every detail—from the venue to the wedding favors and bouquet choices....After months of nonstop planning, the big day finally arrived.Valarie was already up, getting her hair and makeup done at 2:00 a.m.By the time N
Valarie looked up and saw the approaching glow.When the figure finally stopped in front of her, she realized it was Brandon.Frowning, she asked, "Where did you go? I waited so long for you. And what are you hiding behind your back?"Brandon flipped his phone face-down on the table, revealing the flowers he had hidden. Then he dropped to one knee."Valarie, I had planned a perfect proposal for you, but when you asked earlier about the meaning of wearing a wedding dress, I knew I couldn't wait any longer."Before I met you, my life revolved solely around work. I never paused for anyone—I never cared whether the sun was rising or setting, or if the moon was full or waning. But everything changed after I met you."I began cherishing the thought of greeting you every morning, sharing meals with you, and standing by your side for life."Valarie, I want every morning to begin with us waking up together, and every night to end with us holding each other as we fall asleep."Finally, B
Of course, every time they visited Valarie's home, Phoebe would subtly—or sometimes not so subtly—hint that they should get married.Brandon had always assumed Valarie wasn't interested in marriage since she never responded to those hints. He hadn't considered proposing.But today, seeing her so excited about picking out baby clothes made him start to imagine a future with her—building a family, raising a child.That thought filled his heart with warmth.After more than three hours of shopping, they finally left the mall, their arms full of bags.Once they loaded everything into the car, Valarie turned to Brandon. "I'm starving. Let's grab something to eat."Brandon nodded. "Sure. What are you in the mood for?""I'm not picky. Is there anything good around here? I don't feel like going too far," she replied.Brandon paused, then said, "There's a place with ethnic cuisine nearby. I went there once for a business meeting—it was pretty authentic. Want to give it a try?""Sounds g
Nyla was silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright. If you ever need Damon to help figure out Brandon's thoughts, just let me know.""I will. Don't worry about us, though. You just gave birth. Your main priority should be resting," Valarie said."Okay," Nyla replied.Valarie lingered in the bedroom for a while, but when she saw Nyla looking tired, she stood up and left.Downstairs, only Brandon was in the living room.Valarie walked over to him and asked, "Where's Damon?""He had something to take care of for work, so he went to the study. How's Aunt Nyla?" Brandon asked."She seems to be doing well, and the baby is adorable. Oh, right, I forgot to ask what the baby's name is. I only know her nickname is Bunny," Valarie said.Just thinking about Mia Sumner's cute little face made Valarie smile. She was already looking forward to the day the baby would call her godmother.A flicker of something crossed Brandon's eyes. "You really like kids, huh?""Of course! I've said befor
Once they were in the car, Nyla suddenly recalled Damon's phone call earlier. "By the way, what did Alexander want?"After a brief pause, Damon glanced at her. "He said Ms. Kinsey left you an inheritance and asked when we'd be able to go to Meristate to take care of it."Nyla pressed her lips together before replying, "Call him later and tell him to donate it or keep it for himself. I don't want it.""Alright," Damon replied.When they arrived home, Damon helped Nyla settle onto the couch, placing a pillow behind her back for support. Then, he said seriously, "Nyla, you've been through enough. Let's not have any more kids after this."During her first pregnancy with Mason, Damon hadn't been around, so he hadn't realized how difficult it was for her.Now, experiencing this pregnancy with her, every checkup and blood draw made his heart ache.Once Nyla gave birth, he planned to get a vasectomy. Two kids were enough for them.Nyla shot him a look. "This wasn't exactly planned, was
More than half an hour later, Nyla finally stirred from her nap.When she opened her eyes, she found Damon sitting by her bed, watching her. She froze for a moment, caught off guard.Rubbing her eyes, she realized he was still there and confirmed she wasn't dreaming.She slowly sat up, her voice still heavy with sleep. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in your study working?""I missed you, so I came to see you," Damon replied.Nyla narrowed her eyes. "You definitely have something to say if you're here all of a sudden."Damon chuckled, a little helpless. "I guess I can't fool you.""Of course not. I know you too well. Ever since I got pregnant, you've never come to see me like this in the afternoon," Nyla said."Alright. Go freshen up first, and I'll wait for you downstairs," Damon suggested."Okay," Nyla replied.After washing up, she went downstairs and sat beside Damon. "Alright, tell me. What's going on? You're acting all mysterious."Damon hesitated for a moment befo