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
"A few days ago," Damon replied.Nathaniel quickly asked, "Where is she now?"Noticing Nathaniel's agitation, Damon took his phone back, ended the call, and turned it off. With an indifferent expression, he provided the name of a hotel.Nathaniel immediately got up and left in a hurry, his steps slightly erratic.Caleb looked at Damon, who remained expressionless. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "You really don't have any feelings left for Rebecca?"Back in university, Damon had been aware that Nathaniel liked Rebecca and had always kept her close, not giving Nathaniel any chance to get near her.Could it really be that Damon had moved on so completely?Damon took a sip of his drink and replied calmly, "The moment she left for abroad and proposed breaking up, there was no more chance for us."Caleb couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. "That's just like you."He had expected Damon to be despondent when Rebecca left, but surprisingly, Damon had returned to his old
"Will you help me then?" Rebecca asked.Nathaniel regretted his words. He should have taken advantage of the opportunity instead of advising her to fight for Damon. Now, he was committed and had to stick to his promise."If you need it," he replied.Rebecca finally smiled. She was about to respond when Nathaniel's phone rang suddenly. Relieved, he quickly answered the call and stepped aside.After finishing the call, he returned to Rebecca and said, "Rebecca, I'm sorry, but something urgent just came up. Let's exchange contact details and discuss this further next time.""Alright," Rebecca agreed.They exchanged contact information, and Nathaniel left.Rebecca watched him go with a smirk, her eyes narrowing slightly.…Nyla had anticipated trouble sleeping after leaving Damon's villa, but to her surprise, she fell asleep quickly once she returned to her hotel room.She didn't dream all night and woke up early the next morning, around 6:00 a.m.After washing up, tying her hai
Spencer lowered his head, hesitant to speak. The loss of the major deal was significant, and he was puzzled as to why the other party would risk offending Prospectus Technology by working with Clark's small company.Damon's eyes were filled with anger. "Go get the person in charge of this deal!""Understood, I'll go right away!" Spencer hurriedly left, eager not to be stopped by Damon.Since breaking up with Nyla, Damon had become quite fearsome.…Near noon, Nyla and Melody went to the cafeteria for lunch.Melody noticed something odd and couldn't help but ask, "Nyla, aren't you having lunch with Mr. Sumner?"They had only recently gotten together, so it seemed strange that Nyla was acting as if nothing had changed. Just a few days ago, she would occasionally check her phone for messages, but today she hadn't looked at it at all.Nyla pursed her lips and replied calmly, "We've broken up.""What?! You guys broke—" Melody quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide w
Nyla turned and noticed Melody's starry-eyed expression, her surprise evident. She knew Gabriel was good-looking.Back in high school, when people found out she was his sister, many girls had asked her to pass love letters to him.Initially, Gabriel would just toss the letters in the trash with a scowl. Eventually, he became so fed up that he warned Nyla to stop collecting them or he would tell Harrison.Nyla hadn't heard from Wren about any relationships he might have had while being abroad these years.Nyla shook her head. "I don't know about that. If you're curious, though, I can try to find out for you."Melody hugged Nyla excitedly. "Nyla, you're the best! If I end up with him, I'll definitely owe you one!"While they were talking, Gabriel returned with his food. He sat down next to Nyla and began eating quietly.On the other side of the table, Melody gazed at him with starry eyes, almost drooling.Noticing Melody's obvious infatuation, Nyla cleared her throat softly to re
Nyla clenched her hands at her sides and looked down, pretending not to see Damon. As she walked past him, her heart raced, fearing he might do something to draw attention.His gaze had been unsettling, after all.It wasn't until she exited the dining hall that she felt the weight of his stare lift. With a sigh of relief, she frowned. They were no longer together, so why did he still look at her like that?Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stop thinking about it. They no longer had any connection, and it was best to treat future encounters as if they were strangers.Soon, Melody and Gabriel left the dining hall and headed back to the lab building with Nyla. Nyla showed Gabriel to his desk and briefly explained the storage of experimental drugs before retreating to her own space for a nap.…The afternoon passed quickly, and just before the end of the workday, Melody came over to Nyla and whispered, "Nyla, remember to ask your brother if he has a girlfriend! Whether I
Hearing the anxiety in Melody's voice, Nyla couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry. If he really dislikes someone, he won't even speak to them."Melody said, "He's my first crush, so naturally, I'm a bit anxious. I hope I didn't disturb you.""No, don't worry. I'll try to create opportunities for you two to be alone," Nyla reassured her.Melody was deeply touched. "Oh, Nyla, you're the best!"After exchanging a few more comforting words, Nyla ended the call. She set her phone down and reflected on how even someone as carefree as Melody could feel insecure about matters of the heart.Upon thinking about her own recent breakup with Damon, Nyla's expression grew somber. She took a deep breath, forced herself to move on, and prepared for bed.…The next morning, as Nyla walked into the office, she felt the eyes of her colleagues on her. Once she reached her office, Melody hurried over, her tone filled with anger. "Nyla, did you break up with Mr. Sumner because of his ex?"Nyla was
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