"Drink the soup first. I'll think about what you said," Nyla replied."Nyla, my dad said that as long as you don't hand the evidence over to the police, you can ask for whatever compensation you want," Clark said.Nyla placed the bowl on the table, her expression unreadable as she looked at Clark. "I said I would consider it. Focus on your recovery. I'll visit you again tomorrow."After Nyla left, Clark called Cyrus, frustration evident in his voice. "She still hasn't agreed."Cyrus sneered. "I told you the self-pity trick wouldn't work, but you wouldn't listen. Are you finally giving up?"Earlier, Cyrus had planned to kill Nyla outright, but Clark suggested staging a self-pity act, pretending that he had been disabled while saving her. This was supposed to soften her heart and persuade her to destroy the evidence. But it had all been for nothing."I didn't expect her to be so heartless. Even with my legs ruined, she won't relent. She wants a divorce and won't destroy the evidenc
However, Cyrus was Damon's older brother. If Damon knew about this, he probably wouldn't help her.After thinking for a while without coming up with any clear answers, Nyla decided not to dwell on it any further and planned to find an opportunity to ask Damon directly.…The next morning, Nyla went to the hospital to visit Clark.When she opened the door to the ward, she saw Jordyn sitting by Clark's bedside, feeding him chicken soup.She paused and said indifferently, "Looks like I'm interrupting."There was a hint of provocation in Jordyn's eyes, but she quickly set the bowl down, stood up, and said awkwardly, "No, no. Since you're here, I'll leave now. I'll come back to see Clark after you're gone…"Before Nyla could respond, Clark spoke up. "Jordyn, please step outside. I need to talk to her."Jordyn nodded. "Alright. I'll be right outside. Call me if you need anything."As she passed by Nyla, she whispered, "Nyla, you won't win against me."Nyla smiled. "Don't worry. I'v
"Only what you can actually get is truly important. Do you understand? There are so many injustices in this world. Not everyone receives an apology or justice. Justice doesn't align with the truth—it aligns with power," Clark said.Nyla looked at him with cold eyes and replied, "So, according to you, I should just accept your so-called compensation as if it were charity and act like nothing ever happened?""I hope you understand what's most important for you right now. Be realistic. Pursuing fairness has little real meaning," Clark elaborated.Nyla took a deep breath. "As long as I believe it's meaningful, that's enough."Upon seeing her firm expression, Clark's gaze darkened. "So you're determined to hand over that evidence to the police, no matter what?""I said I need time to think," Nyla insisted.Finally, the last trace of warmth left Clark's eyes. He looked at Nyla with a blank expression and said, "Understood. You can go now."Seeing him like this made Nyla feel uneasy.
Damon was in a meeting when he suddenly stood up, his voice low and urgent. "I understand. I'll have people look into it right away."Spencer, who was nearby, immediately approached him. "Mr. Sumner, what's going on?""Dismiss the meeting. We'll continue tomorrow. Contact the two people I asked you to arrange to protect Nyla immediately. She's missing," Damon instructed.Spencer was astonished, realizing the seriousness of the situation. "I'll handle it right away."As soon as Damon returned to his office, Spencer knocked on the door with a grim expression and said, "Mr. Sumner, the two guards reported that Ms. Jayston's car has been heading out of town. I've already asked them to try and intercept it.""Alright. Send me her current location," Damon requested."Got it," Spencer answered.After sending the location, Spencer's phone rang. He answered it, and his face turned ashen as he listened."Mr. Sumner… the person in the car… isn't Ms. Jayston…" he said.Damon's eyes widene
As soon as they reached the door, a dozen police officers surged in.The situation unfolded so quickly that Cyrus was still in shock, his face reflecting fear and anger, when he was pinned to the ground."Let me go! Do you know who I am?!" Cyrus growled."No matter who you are, you're under arrest for kidnapping. We are taking you into custody!" one of the officers declared.Cyrus glared at Nyla with a look of deep hatred. "Nyla, you set me up!"He had been very discreet, keeping his plans to kidnap Nyla a secret from everyone except his trusted associates. The swift arrival of the police meant that Nyla must have known about the kidnapping in advance and set a trap for him.His eyes burned with rage. It was as if he wanted to tear her apart.Nyla, pale and frightened, looked at him with wide eyes. "You're insane! You're the one who kidnapped me. How could I possibly force you to do anything?"Yet, Cyrus caught a fleeting glint of satisfaction and coldness in her eyes."Just w
Nyla intercepted Cindy's hand in mid-air, preventing the slap. She fixed Cindy with an icy stare and spoke slowly. "I have only one father. He's in the hospital now, waiting for a kidney because of your husband's scheming, which led to his company's bankruptcy."Cindy felt a pang of guilt under Nyla's cold gaze. She pulled her hand away and snapped, "I've never seen anyone send their own father-in-law to the police! You'd better clear things up with them right now, or I won't let you off the hook!"Nyla had always known Cindy was unreasonable, but she hadn't expected her to be this thoughtless. "Do you realize kidnapping is a crime? And he even planned to kill me. I've already given the police the recordings. Do you think this is just a child's game?"Cindy froze. Before she could respond, Richard, who had been silent, spoke up. "Enough of this commotion at the police station!"Cindy bit her lip in frustration. With a final venomous glance at Nyla, she retreated to stand behind Ric
"Even if he's my older brother, it doesn't change the fact that he kidnapped Nyla," Damon replied firmly.Cindy's eyes flashed with anger due to Damon's unwavering defense of Nyla. "Damon, you're defending Nyla because you like her. She's just a woman—how can she be more important than your own brother?!""What?!" Marie turned sharply to look at Cindy, her face a mask of disbelief. "What nonsense are you spouting?! Have you lost your mind?!"How could Damon possibly like Nyla? She was his nephew's wife!Richard's expression grew grim, his gaze toward Cindy sharp.Cindy, now resolute, bit her lip and continued. "Mom, I overheard Damon confess his feelings for Nyla when I visited her in the hospital once. I didn't tell you before because I was worried you couldn't handle it. But seeing Damon now ignoring his brother's well-being for the sake of an outsider, I couldn't keep it to myself anymore!"Marie took a step back, collapsing onto the sofa, her expression dazed.Damon liked Ny
"Do you really like her?" Richard's voice was authoritative and stern, carrying the weight of his position."Yes," Damon answered.Richard's eyes betrayed his irritation. "Then you'd better stop pursuing her, or the consequences will be more than the Jaystons can handle."Nyla reporting Cyrus to the police had crossed Richard's bottom line. He couldn't allow Clark to be associated with her any longer, nor let the Sumners be embarrassed.Damon's gaze turned icy as he met Richard's eyes. "Dad, if you go after the Jaystons, I'll go after the Sumner Group."The Sumner Group was Richard's lifelong achievement—his pride and creation.Richard's gaze flared with anger. "You really want to go against the Sumners for the sake of a woman?""Dad, it's not about going against you. It's about you interfering with my feelings," Damon replied."If you were with any of the women your mother introduced, we wouldn't have said a word. But you know Nyla is your nephew's wife, and you still choose t
Under Tim's leadership, the Westcott Group maintained its position as one of the top four families in Capitarnia, leaving the other three far behind.After reading the file, Gabriel closed it and asked coldly, "I asked you to arrange a meeting with Mr. Westcott. What's their response?"The secretary hesitated. "Mr. Hackett, Mr. Westcott's secretary hasn't responded. It seems they aren't interested in meeting with you."Gabriel wasn't fazed. The document made it clear that Tim was proud and highly selective in his dealings. Such a person wasn't easily approached.For Damon to even gain the Westcott Group's consideration, he must have put in significant effort.Still, there was an opportunity as long as the contract wasn't signed."No need to wait for a reply. I'll go to the Westcott Group myself tomorrow morning," Gabriel said."Understood, Mr. Hackett," the secretary replied.…At 7:00 a.m. the next day, Gabriel was already standing outside the Westcott Group. The sun hadn't f
Damon nodded. "Got it. Have the PR department continue contacting major media outlets to remove any negative commentary about Prospectus Technology. We can't let this situation escalate further."In the business world, public opinion could be lethal. Most people were naturally inclined to follow the crowd. Without knowing the full picture, they could easily be misled.If the narrative that Prospectus Technology's chips were faulty spread too far, restoring their reputation later would require monumental resources. It was critical to stop this from snowballing now."Understood, Mr. Sumner. By the way, how's the deal in Capitarnia coming along?" someone asked.Upon hearing that, Damon's previously tense expression relaxed slightly. "Progress is decent. Barring any unforeseen issues, we should be able to sign the contract in a couple of days."The group on the call let out a collective sigh of relief.Once the deal was signed, Prospectus Technology would recover some of its losses
"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