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
Inside the folder were all the pieces of evidence showing how Cyrus had conspired with Clement to sabotage Harris Pharmaceuticals. If this folder were given to Nyla, it would likely send Cyrus to prison.No matter how terrible Cyrus was, he was still Damon's older brother.Damon took the file, his expression cold. "I know what I need to do. You can go now."Spencer hesitated. He wanted to persuade Damon further, but seeing his icy demeanor, he decided to leave without saying more.Once the office was quiet again, Damon opened the file and examined its contents. After a moment, he placed it in the bottom drawer of his desk.Giving this evidence to Nyla would certainly lead to her divorce from Clark, but it would also mean Cyrus' downfall. Despite all the despicable things Cyrus had done, he was still family.After a moment of thought, Damon called Spencer back into the office and quietly gave him a few instructions.The next morning…Nyla had just woken up when she received a ca
Clark's eyes widened in shock, his expression darkening. "How did you—""Does it really matter how I found out?" Nyla interrupted.Clark fell silent, his face tense as he stared at her.When the elevator doors opened, Nyla walked in without hesitation. Seeing Clark still standing at the entrance, she asked coldly, "Aren't we going to the family home?"Clark took a deep breath and stepped into the elevator. He looked at Nyla and said, "Nyla, Jordyn's father was in a car accident, and it was an emergency—"Nyla, clearly fed up, cut him off sharply. "Don't bother making excuses. The fact is, you've already made your choice between me and Jordyn."Clark attempted to explain, "It's not like that—""Enough. The more you explain, the more disgusted I get!" Nyla snapped.Clark's face froze, and the elevator fell into silence, the only sound being its soft hum as it descended.Soon, they reached the ground floor.Nyla walked out of the elevator and headed straight to her car."I'll s
The disappointment in Richard's eyes made Clark's heart sink. "Grandpa, I just couldn't resist the temptation for a moment... I know I was wrong."Richard's anger deepened. "If you can't resist even a small temptation, how will you handle greater ones in the future? I can't trust you with the Sumner Group. You should resign."Clark was appalled.Just as he was about to speak, Cindy's voice, filled with indignation, cut him off. "Dad, aren't you being too harsh on Clark? He only strayed because Nyla can't have children. Do you really expect Clark to spend his whole life with a woman who won't give him children?"Nyla let out a cold laugh. Cindy was really grasping at excuses for Clark's affair. It was as if his lack of self-control was somehow her fault."Don't you think that's ridiculous? Before Jordyn got pregnant, did he even know that would happen?" Nyla countered."What? That woman is pregnant?" Marie asked, looking at Clark with a mix of frustration and disappointment. "Clar
Richard looked at her with a gaze full of superiority. "You don't have a choice."Nyla's gaze was resolute as she replied, "I have a recording of Clark's affair. If you don't agree, I'll make it public."Her determination was clear—she intended to use this opportunity to divorce Clark.Richard's expression remained cold, unaffected by her threat. "Don't forget, your father is still in the hospital. I don't want to make things ugly, so I hope you'll be smart about this. Once this scandal dies down, I'll arrange for a quiet divorce.""Why should I believe that you'll actually let us divorce?" Nyla pressed."You have no choice but to trust me. Right now, you don't have the leverage to negotiate," Richard stated bluntly.Nyla's hands clenched tightly. For a moment, she considered revealing Cyrus' plot against Harris Pharmaceuticals, but she held back at the last second. Until she had solid evidence that could send Cyrus to prison, she couldn't let the Sumners know what she was aware
Then, Stefan was enveloped by the fragrance.When Valarie's arms wrapped around his waist, his body stiffened as though he had been struck by an electric jolt.Before he could respond, she had already released him.Smiling, she said, "Thanks for dinner and for showing me around campus tonight. Goodnight.""G-Goodnight..." Stefan stammered.As Valarie walked away, the faint scent of gardenias lingered for a moment before fading, leaving Stefan with an inexplicable sense of loss.He stood there, watching her car until it disappeared from view. Only then did he snap back to reality and head toward his dorm.Just as he reached the building, his phone rang. Seeing the name "Michelle" on the screen, he hesitated before stepping aside to answer."What do you want?" he asked."Nothing much. Just wondering how things are going with Valarie," Michelle replied."It's whatever. If that's all, I'm hanging up," Stefan said.A cold laugh echoed from the other end of the line. "Stefan, if y
"Fine, Brandon. Don't regret this!" Jayden snapped and hung up the phone.Brandon set his phone down and walked out of his office.…When Jayden returned to the hospital ward, Michelle looked at him with anticipation. "Jayden, what did Brandon say? Did he agree to come?"Meeting Michelle's hopeful gaze, Jayden pressed his lips together and lowered his eyes, unable to meet hers. "Michelle... Brandon's been really busy with work lately, so he doesn't have time to visit. But once he's less busy, he'll come see you—""You don't have to lie to me," Michelle cut him off, her gaze falling as she gave a self-deprecating smile. "He's not busy… He just doesn't want to come, does he?""Michelle..." Jayden walked over to the bedside, wanting to comfort her, but he didn't know what to say."Jayden, can I have some time alone?" Michelle asked quietly.Seeing the heartbreak on her face, Jayden felt a sharp pang of sadness. He also felt a growing sense of unfairness toward her.She had been i
Valarie raised an eyebrow and called Stefan.The call was answered almost immediately, followed by a nervous voice. "V-Veevee? You're calling me?""Did I interrupt anything?" Valarie asked."N-No! Not at all! I'm just surprised, that's all," Stefan replied.Valarie smiled. "Have you eaten yet?""I... uh... n-not yet... There's a new menu in the cafeteria. It's really good. Want to come try it?" Stefan asked.His cautious, hopeful tone tugged at Valarie's heart."Sure. Give me 20 minutes," Valarie said.After hanging up, she drove straight to Saintosh University.…The moment Valarie parked near the entrance, she saw Stefan walking toward her.She stepped out of the car and met him halfway. "Have you been waiting for me this whole time?"Stefan shook his head. "No, I just got here."As he spoke, he avoided her gaze, his eyes darting nervously.They walked across campus together, Stefan eagerly pointing out buildings and landmarks.Valarie laughed. "You know, I actually at
Valarie pushed him away, her expression impassive. "Say that again when the month is over.""You can trust me. I'll keep my promise," Brandon assured her.A flicker of sarcasm crossed Valarie's face, but she remained silent.She walked into the villa, and only once the door clicked shut behind her did Brandon turn and leave.Back in her bedroom, Valarie collapsed onto the couch, pressing her fingers to her throbbing temples.…The following days passed in a blur of work.Valarie was so consumed that she barely had time to eat.Every now and then, her youthful admirer would text her, asking what she was up to. If she had a free moment, she'd send a brief reply. Otherwise, she ignored him.Thankfully, he was tactful enough not to press when she didn't respond.By Friday evening, the preliminary phase of the project was complete, and Valarie finally had the chance to enjoy a proper weekend.She called Nyla, hoping to meet for drinks.There was a brief pause before Nyla's voice
"Just go, Brandon. I don't want to argue with you here," Valarie said.Upon seeing her cold expression, a sharp pain stabbed at Brandon's chest. Without a word, he turned and walked away.Only when his figure disappeared through the restaurant's doors did the young man finally release Valarie's hand."Are you okay, Veevee?" he asked softly.Valarie exhaled, offering a small smile. "I'm fine. Let's finish eating."But throughout the rest of the meal, she was clearly distracted.The young man noticed and did his best to make her laugh, but her mood remained subdued.After dinner, Valarie offered to drive him back to his university.The drive was quiet, her energy subdued—nothing like the lively spirit she'd had when they first met up.When they reached the campus gate, he turned to her. "Veevee, do you... still have feelings for that guy from earlier?"Valarie hesitated before answering, "No, I'm just tired. Don't overthink it. Get some rest.""When can I see you again? I'll t
Valarie frowned and coldly asked, "Brandon, what are you doing here?"Brandon glared at her, frustration thick in his voice. "Valarie, I should be the one asking you that. You promised me that if I stayed away from Michelle for a month, you'd forgive me. So why are you here, on a date with another man?"His tone dripped with jealousy, but Valarie remained unfazed."I did say that," she replied calmly. "But if I remember correctly, we're already broken up. Who I see and what I do is none of your business, is it?"Brandon's face darkened. "You say we're broken up, but I never agreed to that. We just had a fight. And if you're seeing someone else while we're in a rough patch, that's not fair to us, is it?"Before Valarie could respond, the man across from her spoke up. "It's fine, mister. Even if I'm just a backup for her, I'm willing."The words hung in the air, and the entire restaurant fell silent.Brandon's anger flared, and he let out a laugh, though it was devoid of humor. He
Brandon noticed Nyla's cold attitude and sat down in silence. Neither of them spoke until Damon returned with the fruit."Why so quiet?" he asked.Nyla took the bowl of strawberries from his hands. "Nothing to talk about."Damon looked slightly surprised. Nyla rarely made her feelings about someone so obvious.He turned to Brandon and asked, "Did you do something to upset my wife?"Brandon was speechless.He was innocent! He hadn't even seen Nyla recently—how could he have offended her?Then it hit him. Valarie must have told her everything during her visit earlier. That had to be why Nyla was siding with her friend and giving him the cold shoulder.Realizing this, he grew anxious. "Aunt Nyla, I swear, there was nothing going on between me and that friend. Valarie misunderstood.""Oh," Nyla said flatly. "Then go explain it to her. She's the one dating you, after all."Thinking about Valarie's dinner plans that evening, Nyla suddenly chuckled. If Brandon knew about the younger
"I really don't know. I can barely remember how we even started liking each other. By the time I realized it, we already had feelings," Nyla explained.Seeing how serious Nyla looked, Valarie let out a sigh. "Fine. I guess I'll have to figure it out on my own."The two continued chatting for a while. Just as Valarie was about to leave, Damon walked in.She stood up to greet him but frowned slightly when she saw Brandon following behind him. Without a word, she completely ignored him.Brandon's face darkened for a moment, and he was about to say something when Valarie turned to Nyla and said, "Nyla, I'm heading out.""Okay, I'll walk you out," Nyla offered."No need. I've been here so many times—I know the way," Valarie dismissed.Watching Valarie disappear out the door, Brandon hesitated for a moment before turning to Damon. "Uncle Damon, I need to talk to Valarie. Give me ten minutes."Without waiting for a response, he rushed out after her.When he reached the entrance, he s
Nyla knelt in front of Mason and gently said, "Of course.""Thank you, Mommy!" Mason chirped.For the next week, Mason slept with Nyla and Damon every night. Only after he was completely sure they weren't going anywhere did he finally move back to his own room.…As soon as Valarie found out that Nyla and Damon were back, she drove straight to their house.The moment she saw Nyla, her eyes turned red, and she rushed over to hug her tightly. "I thought you were never coming back! You didn't even tell me—you just disappeared! Do you even consider me a friend?!"Nyla gently patted her back. "I didn't want you to worry.""And that's why you just left without a word?! You're a terrible person!" Valarie whined."Okay, okay, I admit it. I'm awful. I'm sorry, alright? Please don't be mad," Nyla coaxed.Valarie scolded her a little more before finally sitting down on the couch. "So now that you're back, you're not going back to Meristate, right?"Nyla shook her head. "Nope. I have not