Just then, a maid hurried over to Damon. "Mr. Damon, Ms. Jayston suddenly fainted. I couldn't find Mr. Clark."Hearing this, Damon looked up, his voice cold. "Where is she?""She's upstairs now. Madam Summer and the others are busy with the guests. You should go and check on her," the maid replied.If it were any other time, Damon would have noticed something was off. Nyla had fainted, so why hadn't a doctor been called? Instead, they were asking him to check on her.However, having drunk the spiked glass of wine Cyrus had given him earlier, Damon felt dizzy and sluggish. He didn't immediately realize something was amiss.By the time he noticed, he was already in Clark's room."Mr. Damon, Ms. Jayston is inside," the maid said.Damon stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "I'll wait here for the doctor."Entering without knowing what was happening could lead to unforeseen consequences.It was becoming clear to Damon that this was a trap set by Cyrus. He hadn't ant
"Uncle Damon, wake up," Nyla said, pushing him away.She quickly got out of bed and watched him warily, gripping the bedside lamp tightly, ready to use it for self-defense if he charged at her.Damon nearly fell off the bed from her push.After a few seconds, he looked at her in confusion, his usually cold face now flushed. His eyes burned with a fierce intensity, as if a fire were scorching right through one's heart."Come here," he commanded.Nyla frowned but stayed where she was.Damon looked dangerous. His gaze was filled with a predatory desire as if he might devour her at any moment.Nyla's mind raced, trying to understand Cyrus' motive.Tonight was Marie's party. Had Cyrus chosen this moment to create a scandal, intending to make it look like she and Damon were having an affair?No, this would not only embarrass the Sumners but also severely offend Damon. It was more likely that Cyrus wanted Damon to have relations with her and then use this as leverage to blackmail him
Nyla froze upon hearing Jordyn's voice."Jordyn, I've warned you before. I have no intention of marrying you. And what right do you have to bring a gift to my grandmother? Are you some mistress I'm keeping on the side?" Clark demanded.After a brief silence, Jordyn's voice trembled as she responded. "Clark… I'm not foolish enough to think you'll marry me. I just wanted to deliver a gift to your grandmother to thank you for finding a kidney for my father...""Shut up!" Clark's voice was cold and cutting. "Jordyn, if you mention this again, I won't let it slide!""Clark…" Jordyn pleaded."Get out, now!" Clark's voice was filled with anger.Jordyn seemed frightened. After a moment, she replied softly, "Clark… Please don't be angry. I'll leave right away…"The sound of her high heels faded, signaling her departure. Soon after, Clark also left.Nyla remained seated on the grass, her head lowered, her body hidden in the darkness. It was as if the night had swallowed her whole, mergin
When Clark saw Cyrus, his scowl deepened."Got it. I'll go over right away," he said in a deep voice.After Clark left, Cyrus looked at Nyla with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "How did you manage to escape?""Dad, what are you talking about? I don't understand," Nyla replied, her face displaying apparent confusion as if she genuinely didn't know.Cyrus sneered, his eyes growing colder. "You'd better truly not understand."Only after Cyrus turned and walked away did Nyla finally release her tightly clenched hands. Her palms ached, but her expression remained unchanged.As the evening approached its end, Damon finally made an appearance. He had changed into a different outfit, his hair slightly damp, and his complexion pale. His chiseled features were as cold as a glacier, radiating an icy aura.Noticing his mood, those who had intended to approach him quickly backed off. No one wanted to be on the receiving end of his displeasure.Marie noticed him and looked slightly disp
Before leaving, Damon ordered that the service staff who had followed Cyrus' orders be bound and brought directly before Marie and Richard."These traitorous servants need to be dealt with sooner rather than later," he said.Richard's face darkened. "What's going on here?""You should ask my dear older brother about that," Damon replied.Richard turned his cold gaze to Cyrus. "You explain."Cyrus grimaced. He hadn't expected Damon to expose the matter so publicly.The living room fell silent as everyone's eyes focused on Cyrus, who remained unwilling to speak."If you don't explain, I'll investigate it myself!" Richard slammed the table, his eyes burning with anger.It was clear that Damon's dramatic display meant Cyrus' actions were anything but simple.Under Richard's icy stare, Cyrus felt the mounting pressure. He was about to reveal everything when he looked up and met Damon's smirking gaze."Cyrus, you should understand the gravity of the situation," Damon reminded him.
Clark frowned, displeasure evident in his eyes.Nyla didn't even glance at him as she opened the car door and got in.During the drive back, they remained silent. At traffic lights, Clark glanced at Nyla several times, as if he wanted to say something.Nevertheless, Nyla kept her gaze fixed out the window, offering no indication that she wanted to talk.When they reached Nyla's building and she was about to get out of the car, Clark finally spoke up. "Nyla, does Dad's scheme against Uncle Damon tonight have anything to do with you?"Nyla turned to him, her eyes cold. "Why would you think it's related to me?"Clark's gaze grew heavy. After a long pause, he shook his head. "No reason. I just noticed you disappeared for a while earlier, so I thought I'd ask.""If you really want to know the truth, you should ask your dad," Nyla said and then pushed the car door open to leave.…At home, Nyla sat on the sofa and pulled out her phone to find Damon's contact information. After a mom
Nyla shook her head. "That's not what I meant. I just want to say that, whether or not the divorce goes through, I'm very grateful to you, Uncle Damon.""I don't need your gratitude in words," Damon replied.Nyla looked up, meeting Damon's deep, penetrating gaze. Unease washed over her, and she quickly averted her eyes."Then... what do you want?" she asked."Once you've divorced him, I'll tell you what I want," Damon answered.Nyla bit her lower lip. "Alright."It wasn't until she left Damon's office that she finally felt the weight of his intense, probing gaze lift.Nyla let out a breath of relief. A vague idea of what Damon might want lingered in her mind, but since she had already made up her mind, she wouldn't regret whatever she had to sacrifice.As she reached the elevator, she ran into Erin coming out.Upon seeing her, Erin's eyes narrowed, and the smile on her face vanished instantly."Ms. Nyla, if I'm not mistaken, this is the CEO's office, not your lab," Erin remar
Nyla forced a bitter smile. She had always tried to maintain the illusion that her marriage was fine in front of Harrison, but now she realized how foolish she had been."Dad, this was the path I chose. I can accept the consequences," she replied.Before marrying Clark, Harrison had warned her that life with the Sumners might not be easy, especially since the Jaystons were bankrupt.Nyla had believed that as long as she and Clark loved each other, they could overcome anything. Now, she understood how naive she had been.Harrison sighed softly, his voice gentle. "Nyla, don't worry about me. If you feel like you can't stay with him anymore, I'll support whatever decision you make."Nyla's nose tingled as tears threatened to fall. She replied, "Dad, I know. But right now, the most important thing is for you to focus on getting better."Harrison wanted to mention his plan to discharge himself from the hospital, but seeing Nyla's red-rimmed eyes, he held back. He decided to wait for a
"We can sign an agreement if you're still worried. I promise never to challenge your custody of Wilhelm in my lifetime," Jane assured.Seeing her determination, Gabriel remained silent.Noticing his hesitation, Jane gripped the armrests of her wheelchair tightly. "Gabriel, you're already hesitating, even though you haven't remarried yet. How can I believe you'll treat Wilhelm fairly in the future?"Gabriel's gaze turned cold. "No matter what, Wilhelm will be better off with me than with you. When and how much of the shares I give him is my decision, not yours."With that, he turned to leave.As he reached the doorway, Jane's voice echoed behind him. "If you don't transfer half your shares to Wilhelm, I won't leave the country!"Gabriel paused, then glanced back at her mockingly. "Whether you leave or stay means nothing to me. And why would you think your refusal to leave is a threat to me?""Gabriel, you're a bastard!" Jane shouted.Gabriel smirked and left without another word
Wilhelm froze for a moment, his eyes welling up with tears as confusion and hurt clouded them."Mommy, do you really not want me anymore?" he asked, his voice trembling.Jane's gaze flickered with a brief trace of pain as she looked at Wilhelm sitting pitifully on the floor. But the softness in her eyes vanished as quickly as it appeared.She stared at him coldly. "That's right. I never wanted you. I hit you to try and get your father to come back."The other day, when I took you out for steak, I deliberately let you eat that hazelnut cake. You started itching later because you're allergic—that was intentional, too. I wanted you hospitalized so I could force your father to see me."Her tone grew harsher. "Now that Gabriel and I are divorced, you're of no use to me. You're just a burden. Taking you with me would only drag me down."And I hate your father. Naturally, I hate you, too. Don't show up in front of me again!"Wilhelm sat frozen, her words cutting into him like shards of
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