Damon narrowed his eyes. It seemed Clark really didn't want to return to the Sumner Group."I'm in a meeting right now. I'll explain everything to you tonight," Damon said.Since Nyla and Clark weren't divorced yet, Damon didn't want the Sumners to know about his feelings for Nyla. Although he had fallen for her first, the Sumners would likely think she was the one who had seduced him.Richard didn't respond and just hung up.Damon called Spencer over and instructed quietly, "Find out where Clark is and bring him to see me after the meeting."…The meeting dragged on for over two hours before it finally ended.When Damon announced it was over, the department managers visibly relaxed.Back in Damon's office, his gaze turned cold when he saw Clark sitting on the couch.The atmosphere was tense and oppressive.Damon sat down across from Clark and said coldly, "No matter what you tell your grandfather, I won't give up on Nyla."Clark smiled. "Uncle Damon, whether you give up or
"Just say it was sent to you by someone named Pete," Damon replied.If Pete hadn't suddenly disappeared, Damon wouldn't have needed to find Valarie."Got it," Valarie said.After their discussion, Valarie decided not to stay for dinner with Damon, as they weren't close."If there's nothing else, I'll head out now," she said.Damon looked at her seriously. "Ms. Weir, please keep this matter confidential. I don't want anyone to know that I handed you this file.""Don't worry. I'll keep it to myself," Valarie assured him.Once Valarie left the restaurant, she went directly to Nyla's place.…When Nyla saw Valarie, she was pleasantly surprised. "Valarie, what are you doing here?"Valarie smiled. "I missed you, so I came by. Let me in first."Nyla stepped aside to let her in. Once they were seated in the living room, Valarie took the file from her bag and handed it to Nyla.Nyla took it with a puzzled expression. "What's this?"As soon as Nyla opened it and read a few lines, he
Nyla panicked and lunged at Clark. "Give me back my phone!"Clark stumbled backward from her sudden attack, struggling to regain his balance. He grabbed her hand and said coldly, "I came here today to discuss something with you."Nyla wrenched her hand away. "I have nothing to discuss with you."She looked up at him with a cold, unyielding gaze, her demeanor starkly different from the gentle woman he once knew."Nyla, I've informed my grandparents that I won't be returning to the Sumner Group. I'm planning to start my own business," Clark said.Nyla's expression remained unmoved. "What you do has nothing to do with me."Clark's gaze darkened. "Nyla, we're married. We're supposed to spend our lives together. Do you really want to make our relationship so strained?"His words struck Nyla as somewhat amusing. How could he still be dreaming that she would spend her life with him?Nyla's silence caused Clark's grip on the phone to tighten, his knuckles turning white.He took a deep
"Call me when you've made up your mind," Clark said.Nyla took her phone, her gaze lowered in silence. After Clark left, she quickly locked the door and propped a chair against it, finally feeling a bit of safety.After a moment of reflection, she called Damon.In the Sumner residence's living room…Richard and Marie sat on the sofa with grim expressions, while Damon stood nearby."Clark says you have feelings for a married woman. Is that true?" Richard asked, his gaze stern and scrutinizing.As Richard's most distinguished son, Damon was expected to uphold the family's reputation. Richard could not tolerate any scandal involving Damon and a married woman.Marie also looked displeased. Despite introducing Damon to many eligible young women, he hadn't shown interest in any of them. If it turned out he was interested in a married woman, it would be a major embarrassment.Realizing the matter couldn't be hidden for long, Damon decided to be straightforward. "Yes."Richard slammed
When Damon arrived at Nyla's place, it was already an hour later."What's going on?" he asked.Nyla looked up at him with reddened eyes. "Uncle Damon, can you help me find a place to stay? If I look for one myself, Clark might continue to harass me."Upon seeing the hint of vulnerability in her eyes, Damon's gaze hardened. "Did Clark come by earlier?"Nyla nodded. "Yes. I don't know where he got the keys, but he just walked in.""Alright. I'll handle the rental. Do you need help with the divorce?" Damon asked.Nyla looked down. "The divorce should be happening soon.""Got it," Damon replied.Noticing Damon's gaze resting on her, Nyla nervously clenched her hands and mustered the courage to look up at him. "If that's all, and since it's getting late, I'll see you out."Damon stood up. "No need. Get some rest."After leaving the neighborhood, Damon called Spencer. "Clark broke into Nyla's place tonight. Did the two people I asked you to arrange not notice anything?"The though
"Who gave you those documents?" Cyrus questioned.Clark's voice was icy. "Nyla sent these documents to me. Dad, did you really have something to do with the Harris Pharmaceuticals incident six years ago?"Cyrus's voice roared with anger. "How can you believe a woman over me?""It doesn't matter whether I believe you or not," Clark replied. "What matters is that Nyla is using these documents to force me into a divorce. She said if I don't agree, she'll turn them in to the police.""What?!" Cyrus ground his teeth, his voice filled with fury. "She must not be allowed to take those documents to the police!"Clark smiled bitterly. He had hoped, even if just a little, that the documents were fabricated by Nyla to pressure him into a divorce. Cyrus' reaction made it clear that everything in those documents was true."Dad, why did you do this? How am I supposed to face Nyla now?" Clark asked."I did it all for the Sumner Group. If I hadn't brought down Harris Pharmaceuticals, do you thi
When Damon arrived at the hospital an hour later, he found Nyla sitting in a chair outside the emergency room, her clothes stained with blood. She exuded a grim, lifeless aura.He frowned and quickly approached her, crouching down.Upon seeing her pale face, his gaze darkened. "Are you hurt?"Hearing Damon's voice, Nyla seemed to snap back to reality. Her red-rimmed eyes slowly focused. When she realized it was Damon, she suddenly reached out and hugged him, her voice trembling."U-Uncle Damon, Clark had an accident trying to save me… He's lost a lot of blood…" she stuttered.Noticing her unstable emotions, Damon gently patted her back and spoke softly. "It's going to be alright. Don't worry. He'll be fine.""What are you doing here?!" A sharp voice came from around the corner.Nyla instinctively pulled away from Damon and turned to see Cindy approaching them angrily, followed by Cyrus, who also looked grim.Cindy's gaze was like a knife, filled with murderous rage. Her son was
The corridor fell silent. Even the drop of a needle would have been audible.After an indeterminate amount of time, the emergency room door finally swung open.Cindy rushed forward to intercept the doctor. "Doctor, how is my son?""There's no immediate danger to his life, but he may never be able to walk again. Please be prepared for that," the doctor replied."What?" Cindy staggered back, her eyes wide with disbelief and fear. She grabbed the doctor's hand desperately. "Doctor, he's my only son. You have to save him!"If Clark were to become disabled, he'd lose any chance of inheriting the Sumner Group. Richard would never hand over the company to someone unable to walk.The doctor pushed her hand away and shook his head. "I've done all I can. The patient will be moved to a regular ward soon. You can visit him there."Cindy spun around to face Nyla and charged at her. "Nyla, you wretched woman! You've done this to my son. I won't let you get away with it!"Before she could rea
"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