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
Noticing Spencer's silence, Damon frowned. "Is there something else?"After a moment of hesitation, Spencer spoke up. "Mr. Sumner, I think you should reconsider. The rumors circulating in the company are just hearsay. You could issue a statement prohibiting discussions about your personal life, but there's no need to clarify your relationship with Ms. Austen."If all the employees learned that Nyla had dumped Damon, it might cause an even bigger stir.Damon was silent for a few seconds before replying in a deep voice, "Fine, we'll handle it your way."Soon after, the CEO's office issued a statement banning employees from discussing Damon's personal life. Anyone caught doing so would be terminated.…Nyla and Melody were busy with experiments all morning and didn't check their phones until lunchtime. It was then that Gabriel informed them of the situation.As Gabriel spoke, he kept a close eye on Nyla. When he saw that Nyla's expression remained calm and indifferent, he looked aw
After a brief moment of anger, Gabriel regained his composure, his gaze turning cold. "Damon, Mr. Westcott assured me he wouldn't partner with Prospectus Technology. Otherwise, he wouldn't have signed this contract with me. Stop lying."Damon remained unfazed and spoke calmly. "Believe me or not, it makes no difference to me."With that, he turned and continued into Tim's office with Spencer following close behind.Gabriel stared at Damon's retreating back and instructed his secretary, "We're going back inside. I need to see for myself whether Damon or Tim is lying to me."Trailing Damon, Gabriel stormed into Tim's office.Seeing both men enter together, Tim raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Hackett, what brings the two of you here together? Is there an issue with your contract as well, Mr. Hackett?"The subtle emphasis on "as well" struck Gabriel like a ton of bricks. His expression darkened."Mr. Westcott, you assured me at the restaurant that you wouldn't c
"Mr. Westcott, I'll return the money to him right away," Crystal said quickly.Tim waved dismissively. "No need. Tomorrow, go to the finance department and collect 8,000,000 dollars. After that, you don't need to come to the company."Crystal's face turned pale. She knew all too well that this sum of money was a breakup fee."Mr. Westcott, I truly realize my mistake. Please, give me another chance..." she pleaded, reaching out to grab his sleeve.The moment she saw the cold look in his eyes, her hand froze mid-air, and she dared not move any closer.Tim stood tall, looking down at her with an icy expression. He spoke slowly. "You should be grateful to Mr. Hackett. If he'd only given you a few hundred thousand, that's all you'd be getting from me as well. But 15,000,000 dollars in total for three years? I'd say that's more than enough."He added, his tone final, "I don't want to make this uglier than it has to be. Let's part on good terms."Crystal's face went ashen. She wanted t
"Would you happen to have a moment later? I'd love to discuss something," Gabriel asked.Tim smiled. "What a coincidence. I suppose I can spare a few minutes for a chat.""Excellent," Gabriel replied.Standing, Crystal smoothed her dress. "I'll freshen up."She knew better than to linger during Tim's business discussions."Your lipstick needs touching up. Take your time," Tim said mildly."Of course," Crystal answered.She found a quiet spot and sat for over half an hour, waiting until she received a bank notification confirming a deposit of 7,000,000 dollars.Satisfied, she returned to the table, only to find Tim dining alone."Tim, when did Mr. Hackett leave?" she asked, quickening her pace to sit across from him.Tim continued cutting his steak with deliberate precision. "No talking while eating."Although his tone was calm, Crystal had been with him long enough to sense his simmering anger.She pressed her lips together, instinctively explaining, "Tim, I'm sorry. Mr. Ha
By midday, Tim still refused to see Gabriel.Gabriel, considering taking a break and returning later, received a call from his secretary."Mr. Hackett, I found out Mr. Westcott has a girlfriend. Perhaps she could help arrange a meeting," his secretary said.A spark lit in Gabriel's eyes. "Send me her details right away."The secretary quickly forwarded the information.Tim's girlfriend, Crystal Glasco, came from an average family and worked as his assistant.Her background was straightforward—a bachelor's degree and a job at the Westcott Group right after graduation, where she became Tim's assistant.Their relationship, however, was more about Tim keeping her than about them being equals. That said, their three years together suggested Tim held some level of affection for her.After reviewing the details, Gabriel immediately called his secretary back. "Find a way to contact Crystal. I need to meet her today."…At around 8:00 p.m., Crystal entered an upscale restaurant in Cap
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