"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
Damon was furious that Nyla had taken such a dangerous action without consulting him.On top of that, Cyrus had caused the Jaystons' bankruptcy, and Damon himself was a Sumner. He wasn't sure if Nyla might also harbor some resentment toward him.After sitting in the car for a long time, Damon was about to leave when he saw Nyla walking out of her building in casual clothes, carrying two bags of trash. His gaze automatically settled on her, and his previously cold demeanor softened.Nyla noticed Damon's car as well and hesitated for a moment. After tossing the trash into the bin, she walked over to his car.As she stopped a few steps from the car, the window on the driver's side rolled down. Their eyes met, and neither of them spoke for a while.Finally, Nyla bit her lip and spoke slowly. "Uncle Damon, are you here… to reprimand me?"Damon's gaze darkened, then he smirked. "If I were here to reprimand you, do you think you'd be standing here talking to me?"Nyla turned pale and f
"Mmph!" Nyla's eyes widened in shock.Was Damon out of his mind?!First, he had forced a kiss on her in the private room, and now he was doing it out in the open… If someone saw them, she couldn't even imagine the consequences.She tried to push him away with her hands against his chest, but his body was like a wall of steel. No matter how hard she pushed, he didn't budge."Uncle Damon— Mmph! Let… Let go…" She struggled to speak.Damon pressed against her, his eyes blazing with anger. She had kept the fact that she had set Cyrus up to kidnap her a secret, and now she wanted to distance herself from him.As if!Anger flashed in Nyla's eyes when she saw that Damon had no intention of letting her go. She bit down hard on his lip.Damon winced and released her, sneering. "Are you a dog?""What does that have to do with you? Don't forget, I'm your niece-in-law!" Nyla hissed.Damon raised an eyebrow at her attempt to use her status to make him let her go. "You sent Clark's father t
Nyla and Damon came from entirely different worlds. At present, his interest in her seemed like just a fleeting impulse. He would eventually grow tired of her.It was better to avoid the pain of abandonment than to start something that would inevitably end in disappointment.After all, she wasn't an 18-year-old girl who might naively believe that Damon would marry her. Given his background, he would surely choose a partner of equal standing in the future.Nyla didn't want the stigma of having seduced her husband's uncle, nor did she want to suffer another blow to her love life.She pushed her inappropriate thoughts aside and headed to the bathroom for a shower.Just as she was about to go to bed, her phone suddenly rang. Seeing it was Clark, she hesitated for a moment before answering."Nyla, I heard you called the police and had Dad arrested?" Clark's voice was filled with disbelief as if Nyla had committed a heinous crime.She let out a light laugh, her eyes flashing with mock
Cindy immediately intervened when she learned that Nyla wanted a divorce from Clark."Your dad is still in the police station. If you divorce her now, it will only make it harder for her to relent later. As long as she's still your wife, we can at least mitigate the sentence with a letter of forgiveness if your dad is convicted. If you divorce her now, things will only get worse," she said.Clark's face was grim. "She has evidence of my involvement in the kidnapping. If I don't go along with her demands, she'll turn that evidence over to the police."Cindy frowned, anger flashing in her eyes. "That scheming woman! She really came prepared! But the more she acts like this, the more you can't divorce her right now. Otherwise, who knows what she'll do to the Sumners.""Mom, do you still naively believe that if I delay the divorce, she'll let the Sumners off the hook?" Clark asked.Nyla was determined to sever ties with the Sumners by sending Cyrus to jail.After this incident, neith
The past eight years felt like a dream.Fortunately, it was over now, and there would be no more entanglements in the future.Clark's eyes flashed with anger upon seeing Nyla's relieved expression. He turned to Jordyn and said coldly, "Did you bring your ID card?"Jordyn was momentarily stunned, but then her eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes! Clark, you…""Give it to me. We're registering our marriage now," Clark said curtly.Jordyn quickly pulled out her ID card from her bag and handed it to Clark, her face alight with anticipation. She had been waiting for this day!Last night, upon learning that Clark would be divorcing Nyla today, she had rushed to bring her ID card. She planned to use their child as leverage to see if Clark would marry her after the divorce.To her surprise, he proposed marriage to her first!Clark took her ID card with a stony expression and handed it, along with his own, to the staff. "Get us registered!"His face was stern, and his tone was rigid, show
Both Nyla and Wren turned their heads simultaneously, realizing that Harrison had woken up.Nyla hurried over to help him, but he pushed her away."Nyla, you've disappointed me greatly," he said.Confronted with her father's disappointed gaze, Nyla felt hurt. "Dad… even you don't understand me?"She had done it to seek justice for him, hoping that, even if no one else understood her, he would."What good does understanding you do? The matter is over now. Digging it up only affects your life. You still have a long way to go. If you send Cyrus to prison, what if the Sumners retaliate against you?" Harrison asked.He was no longer in a position to protect her. By pursuing this, she was risking her entire future."Should I just pretend nothing happened and continue living in mutual disdain with Clark for the rest of my life?" Nyla retorted."Whether you stay with him or not doesn't change the fact that Harris Pharmaceuticals is bankrupt. Is there any way to remedy this situation no
Wren stiffened. Throwing up her hands, she said, "Fine. I won't say anything more. I finally understand what it's like to be a stepmother—whatever you do, you're never right. I get it now!"Harrison frowned, looking somewhat helpless. "That's not what I meant.""Then what do you mean? I've taken care of you diligently these past two years, and I haven't mistreated your daughter. Now, just because I mention the trouble she has caused, it's too much?" Wren questioned.Seeing Wren's confrontational expression, Harrison felt irritated. He turned his head away and fell silent.Wren, even more enraged, began complaining about how difficult it had been to care for Harrison over the years.After a few minutes, Harrison could no longer tolerate it and barked, "Yes, it's been hard taking care of me, but didn't I provide you with enough before Harris Pharmaceuticals' bankruptcy? No matter how she is, you have no right to criticize her!"Wren sneered. "Then ask her to take care of you from n
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