Wren sighed. "Don't even mention it. She divorced Clark, and on top of that—"Before she could finish, Gabriel interrupted, "She got divorced?"Wren, oblivious to his agitation, continued with a frown. "Yes, it's complicated. I'll explain everything once I get to Meristate.""Alright…" Gabriel replied.After a few more words, Wren ended the call. Thinking about reuniting with her son in Meristate, she couldn't help but smile.Once she and Harrison were in Meristate, whatever Nyla did here wouldn't affect them. All she needed to do was focus on taking good care of Harrison and Gabriel.As for Nyla, Wren had never considered her part of the family. The courtesy Wren had shown in the past was merely out of respect for Harrison. Now that Nyla no longer respected her, Wren felt no need to curry favor with her.At the Sumner residence…Damon's decision to move Nyla into his villa had left Richard fuming."Outrageous! Does he really want to drag the Sumner name through the mud?!" Ric
Noticing that Richard hadn't assigned him the task, Parker stood up and said, "Mr. Richard, I need to find more information to see if there's a way to bail out Mr. Cyrus. I'll be going now."Richard nodded. "Go ahead."After Parker left, Richard turned to Cindy. "You should go too. Whether Cyrus can be released depends on whether you can convince Nyla."With that, Richard left the room.As Cindy watched him leave, she couldn't help but grit her teeth, her eyes filled with resentment. It seemed Richard wasn't reliable either, and only she cared about Cyrus' fate.After leaving the Sumner residence, Cindy called Clark and recounted the night's events in detail."Clark, if we want to get your father out, it's up to us now. I'll wait downstairs at Prospectus Technology tomorrow. I refuse to believe I can't find a way to see her!" Cindy declared.There was a brief silence before Clark's cold voice came through. "Alright. I'll also find a way to create some trouble for Uncle Damon's c
Cindy was furious and raised her hand to slap Nyla. However, before her hand could make contact, Nyla had already grabbed her wrist."Let go!" Cindy shrieked.Nyla smiled. "I suggest you adjust your attitude before asking for favors next time. Otherwise, you'll just end up looking foolish."With that, she released Cindy's wrist.Still struggling, Cindy didn't expect Nyla to suddenly let go. She lost her balance and fell awkwardly to the ground.As the elevator doors opened, Nyla walked in without looking back.Cindy tried to stop her, but the pain from her twisted ankle prevented her from getting up to chase after Nyla."Stop right there! You bitch! I won't let this go!" Cindy screeched.An icy glint crossed Nyla's eyes.Once the elevator doors closed and reached the first floor, she headed straight to the surveillance room. After copying the security footage of the argument with Cindy in front of the elevator, she left.Nyla then went to the top floor to find Damon but was t
Noticing Nyla's cold attitude, Damon frowned and asked softly, "Did something happen?"Nyla looked up, confused. "No, why do you ask?""You seem a bit down today," he replied.Nyla shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Sit down. I'll change your bandages."Damon studied her for a moment but chose not to press further. "Okay."As Nyla finished changing his bandages and tidying up the used items, she said, "You can go now. I need to get back to work."Damon stared at her for several seconds before asking, "Did you get upset because I didn't come home last night?"Nyla was taken aback. "No, why would you think that?""Because you seem distant. I must have done something to upset you," he suggested.Nyla couldn't meet Damon's gentle gaze and looked away. "No, it might just be that I didn't sleep well because of the bed change last night.""Really?" he asked."Yeah. You worked all night at the company and must be very busy. It's not ideal for you to stay in the lab for too long. We shou
"I'll try to have more self-control in the future, but don't blame me if I can't hold back," Damon said.Nyla was speechless. Was there any difference between what he said and saying nothing at all?Seeing Nyla's slightly darkened expression, Damon realized that staying any longer might push her over the edge.He quickly added, "I have a meeting later. Send me a message when you finish work tonight, and we can go home together."After Damon left, Nyla went straight to the lab.Melody smiled slyly when she saw her. "Nyla, guess what I saw when I went to your office just now?""What?" Nyla had a bad premonition—she hoped Melody hadn't just seen Damon kissing her.As expected, Melody's next words confirmed her suspicion.Nyla wished for the floor to swallow her whole. She cleared her throat to hide her embarrassment. "Alright. Let's get back to the experiment, or we'll be working overtime today.""Okay, hahaha… Nyla, I didn't expect to see you shy," Melody teased....The morni
Erin walked into Damon's office with anticipation and smiled as she looked at him.Damon was handling documents bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window. The radiant glow enhanced his handsome features, making them even more striking."Mr. Damon, I have the contract ready. When would be a good time for us to sign it?" she chirped.Damon set aside the document he was working on and regarded her with an emotionless gaze. "Ms. Hulle, you may have misunderstood. I asked to see you today to inform you that Prospectus Technology has decided to pursue other partnership opportunities. You no longer need to come by," he said.Erin's smile froze as she stared at Damon in disbelief. "What did you say?"After so many discussions and being on the verge of signing the contract, he was now backing out?Despite her anger, Erin tried to maintain her composure and asked, "May I know why?""Your unsolicited harassment of my girlfriend indicates a lack of professional integrity on your
By the time they finished the experiment and were ready to leave, it was already past 8:00 p.m.Knowing that Melody lived quite far, Nyla offered her a ride home.Melody's eyes lit up. "Really? Thank you so much, Nyla!""It's no problem. It's not safe for a girl to go home alone at night," Nyla said.As they chatted, they put away the lab equipment and ensured everything was in order before heading downstairs together.Nyla sent a message to Damon, letting him know she would be dropping off Melody. He didn't seem to mind.When Melody saw Damon, she was a bit flustered.Sitting in the back seat and seeing Damon in the driver's seat, she was even more surprised. Having the company CEO as a chauffeur was something she could barely have dreamed of."Mr. Sumner, thank you for this," she said.Damon responded with a brief acknowledgment and turned to Nyla. "Can you set the navigation?""Sure," Nyla agreed.Melody's home was in the opposite direction of Damon's villa, so they dropp
In the end, it seemed Nyla didn't like Damon that much.However, they had a lifetime ahead of them. Damon had enough patience to make her eventually depend on him just as she once depended on Clark."Yeah, but I still hope that if someone bothers you in the future, you'll think of coming to me for help instead of handling everything on your own," Damon said.His serious demeanor made Nyla's heart soften."Okay," she agreed.…Back in her room, Nyla was about to remove her makeup when her phone rang. It was Valarie."Nyla, your ex-mother-in-law is spreading rumors that you've been violent with her. The upper crust of Saintornia is already talking about it," Valarie informed her.Nyla looked down. "Don't worry about it. She'll get what's coming to her soon enough."Valarie's tone was filled with frustration. "You don't know how horrible the things she's saying are. I'm so angry."Nyla's heart warmed a little. She replied gently, "You haven't fully recovered yet. Don't let someo
Seeing the flicker of guilt in Alexander's expression, Nyla said, "If you really feel sorry for Buddy and me, promise me one thing.""What is it?" Alexander asked."If I ever ask for your help after going to Meristate, you have to help me no matter what," Nyla said.Alexander smiled. "You might find that once you become the Nixons' successor, I'll be the one asking you for help.""So, is that a no?" Nyla asked.Seeing her serious expression, Alexander finally nodded. "Fine, I promise.""Let's hope you won't break your word," she replied.Alexander offered, "If you don't believe me, I can swear on my life."Nyla shook her head. "That won't be necessary. I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving now."…Nyla headed straight to Prospectus Technology.Damon was surprised to see her arrive unexpectedly. "Nyla, why are you here at this hour?""I missed you, so I came to see you," Nyla answered.Her gaze was tender, filled with love—and a hint of sorrow so subtle it was almos
Emerald looked at Nyla and asked, "What are your conditions?""First, Buddy stays in Saintornia. He can't come to Meristate with me. Second, I need you to provide resources to Damon's company to help him take it international. Third, I want full control over my marriage decisions," Nyla stated firmly.Emerald narrowed her eyes and pondered briefly before letting out a soft laugh. "Once you join the Nixons, you and Damon will belong to two entirely different worlds."As for Buddy—if you leave him here, his life trajectory will end up just like yours. Are you sure you want to leave him behind?"Nyla's second condition wasn't difficult for Emerald to guess. She could see where this was heading, though Nyla clearly underestimated the Nixons. Even with abundant resources, Damon could never compete with them.As for Nyla's third condition? Once she was in Meristate, who she wanted to marry would hardly be her decision to make."I'm sure," Nyla said resolutely. "You want me to go to Mer
A moment later, Nyla entered the restaurant.Alexander stood quickly and led her toward their table."Nyla, just a heads-up—your mom's used to giving orders, so her words might come across as commanding. Be prepared," he said again, his tone cautious."Okay," Nyla replied evenly, following him.In less than two minutes, they arrived at the table."Nyla, this is your mom," Alexander said, then turned to the woman sitting before them. "Aunt Emerald, this is Nyla. Doesn't she look just like you?"Emerald and Nyla's eyes met, neither speaking for several long moments.After what felt like an eternity, Emerald raised her chin slightly. "Sit down."Her tone was devoid of any warmth.As Nyla looked at the woman in front of her, she found it impossible to reconcile this commanding figure with the gentle, loving mother she remembered from childhood.She sat across from Emerald and spoke directly. "I've heard from Alexander that you want me to go to Meristate."Emerald nodded, her gaz
"Exactly, Mr. Sumner, please help us out!"Damon's expression remained indifferent while facing the hopeful gazes of the group. "I can help you, but tell me—what can you offer in return?"He wasn't a philanthropist, and given these people had previously worked against Prospectus Technology, there was no way he would let them off easily."Mr. Sumner, whatever you ask—if we can do it, we will!"The others echoed in agreement, desperate to save their businesses.Damon nodded. "Alright, I have only one condition—join me in taking down Drake."Relief washed over the group. Some even looked incredulous.Was that really his only condition? After all, even if Damon hadn't explicitly asked, they'd likely side with him against Drake once their companies were back on their feet.The humiliation Drake had subjected them to was a bitter pill none of them were willing to swallow."Mr. Sumner, that's it? That's all you're asking?"Damon turned his cold gaze to the man who spoke. "Yes. But l
"If you force her, she'll resist even more. And don't forget, she has unresolved feelings about the past," Alexander reminded her.Emerald's face darkened. "What does she have to resent? If it weren't for what happened back then, she wouldn't even exist. She should be grateful I brought her into this world!"Alexander frowned. "If you want her to follow you to Meristate, you'll need to tone it down. She's not like Brian and Delia, who grew up with you.""Fine. I'll meet her tomorrow and see," Emerald replied.After divorcing Harrison and moving abroad, Emerald had initially thought about Nyla often. But over time, as her business grew and she had Brian and Delia, her thoughts of her eldest daughter faded.Now, she only cared about Nyla because the Nixons needed her as a successor. Otherwise, she might never have thought about her again.Emerald knew she had wronged Nyla, but she had gone through so much over the years. Besides, she had a son and a daughter who listened. She no lo
Hearing Damon's response, Nyla finally felt relieved. "That's good to hear.""Let's eat," Damon said."Okay." Nyla picked up her utensils, ready to grab some food when her phone suddenly rang.Seeing Alexander's name on the screen, her expression shifted slightly. She set her utensils down and answered.As soon as the call connected, Alexander's voice came through. "Nyla, your mom's flight lands in two hours. I'm heading to the airport to pick her up. Do you want to come along?"Nyla clutched her phone, her breathing growing heavier. It took her a few seconds to respond. "No, I'm busy tonight. Anything else?""How about tomorrow? Can we meet somewhere? She really wants to see you," Alexander asked."We'll see," she said hurriedly, then ended the call.Noticing her pale expression, Damon took her hand and said softly, "If you don't want to see her, then don't. You don't have to force yourself."Taking a deep breath, Nyla shook her head. "No, I want to see her. I just... I'm not
Drake's ultimate target was Nyla. If Prospectus Technology fell, no one could protect her or Mason.The companies that had sided with Drake acted out of self-interest, but they now regretted their decisions. Damon could gain significant strength by reestablishing cooperation with them.Of course, Valarie had her own motives. She wanted to repay Summer Coates for saving her life and hoped to restore their collaboration."Whether or not she can stay out of it, talking to her won't help. Stop dragging her into this," Brandon said."Brandon, who are you to order me around?" Valarie retorted.Pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, Brandon replied, "Can you stop being unreasonable? I'm not threatening you. I'm reminding you. Don't forget—the Weir Group avoided bankruptcy only because of my uncle."Valarie laughed coldly. "You're right. He did save the Weir Group, and I'm grateful. But that doesn't mean he can interfere in everything I do."Without giving him a chance to respo
Nyla pursed her lips, remaining silent.Seeing her hesitation, Valarie added, "Nyla, just think about my suggestion. I believe it makes sense to cooperate with them for now. Once we deal with Drake, we can address their past actions. What do you think?"Nyla looked at her. "I understand. I'll think about it. You should head back now."With that, she stood and left.Valarie's argument had some merit, but Nyla could tell she wasn't only considering things from her and Damon's perspective. Valarie likely wanted Damon to go easy on the companies that had previously turned on Prospectus Technology.Back in her bedroom, Nyla sat in a lounge chair on the balcony, thinking for a long while before dialing Damon's number.The call was answered quickly."Nyla, what is it?" Damon asked."Valarie came to see me just now. She asked me to intercede for the companies that turned on Prospectus Technology and to convince you to give them another chance," she replied.There was silence on the ot
"Actually, my daughter is friends with Valarie. I could ask her to help set up a meeting with Nyla," one person said hesitantly.Jerry's face lit up. "Yes, let's do that."Another person clapped him on the back. "Well done. Didn't know you still had an ace up your sleeve!"The man shrugged. "I usually don't pay attention to who my daughter befriends. I didn't expect it to come in handy now.""Well, it's a reminder for us all. I'm going home to tell my kid to start making more friends."…An hour later, Nyla received a call from Valarie. "Nyla, are you home? I need to talk to you about something.""I'm home," Nyla replied, arranging a flower in a vase. "What's up? Can't you just tell me over the phone?""It's better in person. I'll be there in 30 minutes," Valarie replied.Though Valarie said 30 minutes, she arrived in less than 20. As she stepped into the living room, she saw Nyla kneeling on a cushion by the sofa, carefully arranging flowers in a vase on the table."Nyla," s