If they hadn't been at a couple's restaurant, sitting on the same side of the table, and if Damon hadn't been serving her food, Nyla might have convinced herself that the woman was merely a business partner of Prospectus Technology.She put down her phone and lowered her head, her expression somber.The moment she saw the photo, she had the urge to call Damon and confront him, but she managed to calm herself at the last moment.Nyla was merely using Damon. Even if he was involved with another woman, what right did she have to question him?After all, she hadn't planned on being with him forever, had she?Her phone buzzed again, with Valarie sending several more messages.Valarie: [I looked into it. The woman's name is Rebecca Austen, Damon's first love. After receiving a full scholarship, she went abroad, and they lost touch.]Valarie: [Not many people knew about their relationship back then. After she went abroad, no one dared to mention her in front of Damon. If I hadn't inves
Between adults, the meaning of such a statement was often implied.Damon was indifferent. "It's too late to go up now. Get some rest."Rebecca was a bit disappointed but forced a smile. "Alright. Be safe going back."…When Damon returned to the villa, it was already past 10:00 p.m.After changing his shoes and entering the living room, the maid approached him."Mr. Sumner, Ms. Jayston waited a long time for you to return for dinner. In the end, she went upstairs without eating," she reported."Okay, I understand. You can go rest," Damon replied."Alright," the maid said and left.Damon rolled up his sleeves and went to the kitchen to prepare a plate of sandwiches, which he took upstairs.When Nyla heard the knock on the door, she assumed it was the maid and got up to answer it.Seeing the tall, familiar figure at the door, she was momentarily stunned and almost shut the door.Damon used his foot to block the door, looking apologetic. "Nyla, I'm sorry I came back so late."
Damon stared at her blankly. "Rebecca, you never used to play these petty games."Rebecca hesitated for a moment before slowly withdrawing her hand. She replied calmly, "You used to never refuse me.""I told you, I have a girlfriend now," Damon stated firmly.Rebecca looked up at him and asked, "Do you love her?"Damon remained silent.Rebecca felt a glimmer of confidence and said, "If you really loved her, you would admit it without hesitation."Damon frowned. "Rebecca, I didn't admit it because I don't want to hurt you."Rebecca's smile faltered. After a moment, she softly said, "It's fine if you love her. You'll fall in love with me again."Damon wanted to tell her that he wouldn't fall for her again—that for him, they were long over. But seeing the sadness on her face, he couldn't bring himself to say it."Let's go," he said, turning toward the hospital exit.Rebecca caught up with him, trying to walk beside him as she used to. He stepped back slightly."Rebecca, while I
"Mr. Sumner, what brings you here?" Nyla asked.Seeing Nyla's composed demeanor, Richard frowned, his tone condescending. "Name your price, as long as you agree to let Cyrus go."Nyla remained calm. "And how much are you offering?""That depends on your demand. The incident happened so many years ago. Even if you send Cyrus to prison, I can still find a way to get him out. Stubbornness won't benefit you," Richard stated.Nyla stood up, her tone flat. "Since you've put it that way, there's no point in continuing this conversation."Richard's expression turned icy. "What do you mean by that?""I mean, I don't think we can come to an agreement. I have work to do, so I'll take my leave now." With that, Nyla turned and walked out.Watching her leave, Richard felt his frustration reaching a boiling point. If she wouldn't accept his offer, he wouldn't hold back any longer.He called one of his subordinates, gritting his teeth. "Investigate Harris Pharmaceuticals. I refuse to believe H
"Long time no see," Nyla greeted.Gabriel approached her with a smile. "Yeah, it's been a while."It had been five to six years since they last met, and they hadn't kept in touch much, so Nyla felt a bit awkward."Let's head inside," she said.Once they were seated and had ordered their food, Nyla turned to Gabriel and asked, "What made you decide to return and develop your career locally? Wren mentioned that your salary abroad was quite high. If you had stayed a few more years, you could probably have settled down there."Gabriel was momentarily distracted by seeing her face up close again, but he quickly composed himself. "I've gotten used to the food here."Nyla looked surprised and seemed skeptical. "Is it really that simple?""Yeah," Gabriel replied."Alright, so have you already found a job, or are you planning to take some time off?" she asked.Gabriel took a sip of his water, lightly tapping the glass, and said, "Actually, I had an interview with Prospectus Technology
Damon approached them with a smile, but Nyla could sense his bad mood.Gabriel followed her gaze and noticed Damon, his eyes narrowing slightly as he perceived the hostility.Damon walked directly to Nyla and sat down beside her. With a smile, he said, "Nyla, I didn't know you were having dinner with your brother. I would've joined you if I had known."Gabriel looked at Nyla, his expression questioning. "This is?"Feeling the weight of both men's gazes, Nyla frowned.Just as she was about to introduce them, Damon interjected with a smile, "Mr. Hackett, it's nice to meet you. I'm Damon Sumner, Nyla's boyfriend and the CEO of Prospectus Technology."Gabriel's eyes flickered as he shook hands with Damon. "Hello, I'm Gabriel Hackett."In that brief exchange, only the two men understood the underlying tension.Nyla asked Damon, "What are you doing here?"Damon released Gabriel's hand and turned to her. "What's wrong? Can't I join you? It seems like you didn't want me here."Nyla r
Damon's expression momentarily froze. "When did you find out?"Nyla's tone was icy. "When you went to a couples' restaurant with her for dinner."The two fell into silence, and the only sound was their breathing.After a long pause, seeing that he wasn't going to speak, Nyla turned to open the car door, ready to leave.Suddenly, Damon grabbed her wrist. "Nyla, not telling you was my mistake. I'm sorry."Nyla glanced back at him. His features were blurred by the dim night, making it hard to read his expression. She pulled her hand away. "If you want to get back with her, I can move out tonight."Damon frowned. "I don't want to get back with her. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd misunderstand. I'm very clear that the person I care about now is you."Nyla found his words somewhat amusing and looked at him with anger. "Afraid of me misunderstanding, so you spent an entire day with your ex? Afraid of me misunderstanding, so you made me wait for dinner while you went to a
As Nyla spoke, she packed her things quickly, preparing to leave.Damon stopped her. "Are you really leaving?""If I don't leave now, am I supposed to wait until you get back together with Rebecca and then get kicked out? I'm not that blind or foolish," Nyla countered."I won't get back with her," Damon repeated.Nyla looked up at him, her expression serious. "Do you know? Clark used to tell me he wouldn't continue to be entangled with Jordyn, and look what happened."A trace of coldness flickered across Damon's face, and his voice grew somber. "I'm not like him.""What's the difference? You're both involved with other women and seem to lie. I'm not going through this again," Nyla stated flatly.Damon was at a loss for words. His actions had certainly made her feel insecure."Nyla, give me three months. I'll resolve this issue," he promised.Nyla pushed him aside. "I won't wait for you."With that, she left.It wasn't until she was outside the villa that the tears began to f
Mary pulled a document from her bag and handed it to Emerald. "You can check it carefully—it has Edward's signature."Emerald's expression remained cold as she took the papers. Sure enough, Edward's signature was on the last page.She slammed the document onto the table. "I heard Edward's health has been declining. Does he still have the energy to authorize you to attend the meeting?""Of course. After all, Brian lost a leg and can't inherit the Nixons anymore. But Vik is still perfectly fine. As Edward's son, he has every right to the family legacy," Mary announced.Emerald's face twisted with anger. "Mary, if you say one more word about Brian, I'll tear your mouth apart!"Mary chuckled. "Emerald, I'm just stating facts. Why are you so mad?""Shut up!" Emerald hissed.Tension crackled between them, but the other Nixon members quickly grew impatient.Cortez frowned. "Are we holding this meeting or not? If not, I'm leaving. I didn't come here to watch you two argue."Suppressin
Mary looked at Vik expressionlessly. "Of course. He was ready to make you pay for Brian's leg. Do you still see him as your father?"Vik's expression shifted. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "But... he used to treat us well..."Although Vik had been deeply disappointed when he discovered that Edward was willing to sacrifice his leg for Brian's, he still couldn't bring himself to harm his father.Mary let out a cold laugh. "He did treat us well in the past, but didn't we treat him well, too?"She had been with Edward since she was 20, willingly playing the role of the woman he kept outside his marriage. She had once believed that Edward truly loved her.But today, she had come to a painful realization: no matter what, she and Vik would never compare to Brian and Emerald in Edward's heart.Even after Emerald and Brian drugged him and nearly killed him, Edward had chosen to stand by them. If that were the case, then Mary wouldn't hesitate to be ruthless either.Vik couldn't a
The day Vik was locked up was the longest and most agonizing of his life. He no longer wanted to live in constant fear. If they kept fighting with Emerald, they could end up dead.Mary looked at him. "Vik, do you really think Emerald will let us go? Do you think you can hide the truth about Brian's accident forever?"Vik's face went pale, and his entire body trembled. "Mom... I don't know what to do. I don't want to fight anymore. I'm scared."Mary stepped closer, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Vik, look at me."At her commanding tone, Vik summoned the courage to lift his head."The only thing we can do now is fight Emerald and Brian," she said."If we succeed, you'll never have to worry about Brian finding out about the accident because I won't let him live. If we fail, then the outcome will be the same as if we hadn't fought at all."She paused. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Think carefully about whether you want to fight."Vik swallowed hard. After a long
"You!" Edward was so enraged that he fainted on the spot.Mary sat down in a chair, her expression calm as she dialed a number on her phone. "Bring Vik back."Mary had already received word when Vik was taken by Emerald's men. She hadn't acted immediately, planning instead to use the situation to test Edward's feelings toward Emerald.To her surprise, Edward showed no concern for her or Vik.After hanging up, she glanced at Edward, still unconscious on the bed. As she thought about all the years she had spent with him, her gaze grew colder.Soon, the doctor knocked and entered. "Ms. Jewell, did something happen to Mr. Nixon?"Mary looked at the doctor, her voice cold. "From now on, I don't want his health to improve. You know what to do."The doctor's eyes widened in shock, but he quickly nodded. "Understood, Ms. Jewell.""Good. You can go now," she dismissed him.…An hour later, Vik was brought into the hospital room by Mary's men. He took a deep breath and pushed open the
Mary smiled. "Guess."Edward narrowed his eyes and tried to press the nurse's call button, but Mary quickly grabbed his hand to stop him."Edward, don't you think you've been too heartless toward me and Vik?" she asked calmly."Mary, Vik is my son, and so is Brian. If Vik caused Brian to lose a leg, don't you think he should pay for that with his own leg?" Edward shot back."You have two sons. One has already lost a leg. Are you really going to make the other one disabled too? If I were you, I'd make Vik your only heir—train and support him," she countered.Edward scowled. "Call Vik back here first, then we'll talk about the rest."Mary smirked and said slowly, "No need. As long as you're alive, you'll still be able to help me and Vik. How you stay alive, though, doesn't matter."She called out to the door, "Daniel, come in here."Daniel Belcher pushed open the door, looking surprised when he saw Mary holding Edward down on the bed."Ms. Jewell, what's the matter? Why did you
Edward did not believe Mary's explanation. He stared at her blankly, his face expressionless. After managing the Nixons for so many years, his cold gaze carried an undeniable pressure.Mary's anxiety was palpable. She nervously shifted her gaze, unwilling to meet his stare.The silence stretched on until Edward finally broke it, his voice chilling. "If you don't tell me, I'll have someone investigate."Mary panicked. "No! Please, don't!"If anyone discovered that Vik was responsible for Brian's car accident, Vik's life would be ruined. And Edward would never forgive him.But now, Mary had no choice but to tell Edward the truth. If she kept lying, Edward would surely see through it. She was trapped in a no-win situation."Since you don't want me to investigate, then tell me the truth," Edward demanded.Taking a deep breath, Mary hesitated for a long moment before finally giving in. She spoke slowly. "Brian had an accident and lost one of his legs."Edward's eyes widened in shock
Delia stared at Emerald, her eyes wide with disbelief, filled with confusion and helplessness. "I just wanted to move out. When did I say I wanted to sever ties with you?""Moving out is the same as severing ties, isn't it? I told you I wouldn't give you another penny. After you leave, are you really going to stay in contact with me?" Emerald asked.Delia was momentarily choked by Emerald's words. It took her a while to respond. "I just want to become independent, not sever ties with you."Of course, deep down, she also wanted to prove that the man she loved wasn't wrong. She had decided long ago that she would never marry anyone but Andre.Emerald didn't look at her and said nothing further.Delia sat down, continuing to stare at her. "Mom, how did you suddenly collapse and end up in the hospital? Do you have any test results? Let me see them."Emerald's tone remained cold. "Don't worry. I'm not going to die.""Mom, don't say such ominous things!" Delia whined.Emerald pursed
Emerald shook her head, wanting to refuse, but suddenly her vision went black, and she fainted.When she regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital room. She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, recalling how she had collapsed in the study earlier.Fully awake now, she sat up slowly and noticed an IV in her arm. She couldn't help but frown.The door to the room opened, and Filipe walked in.When he saw that Emerald had woken up, a look of relief flashed in his eyes. "Madam, you're finally awake! You've been unconscious for an entire day!"Emerald could hardly believe what she was hearing. Her frown intensified, and she asked, "How could I have been unconscious for so long?""The doctor said you've been sleep-deprived for a long time, and with the recent emotional strain, it caused you to cough up blood.“From now on, you need to get at least eight to ten hours of sleep each day, or your health will continue to decline," Filipe explained.Emerald's face darkened
"We'll see how long you can hold out!" Emerald challenged.Delia sneered. "Fine, you said it. Don't go back on your word!""Don't worry, I won't." With that, Emerald turned sharply and walked away.Once in her study, she sank into a chair. Her icy expression slowly turned to one of exhaustion.She had spent years fighting to become the head of the Nixons. But now, one of her children had lost a leg in a plot, and the other was infatuated with a man utterly unworthy of her.For the first time, she felt like a failure.Even though she had finally gained control of the Nixons, what was the point? She was still alone.Lost in thought, Filipe hurriedly knocked and entered. "Madam, Mr. Jayston was secretly taken from the hospital!"Emerald's angry voice echoed. "What were those people at the hospital doing? How could they let him be taken, with so many people watching?"Harrison was her only leverage over Nyla. If he disappeared, she would lose control of Nyla. But, as she considere