Seeing the disappointment in Nyla's eyes, Clark felt as if a hand was squeezing his heart, making it hard to breathe."Nyla, I know that no matter what promises I make now, you won't believe me. But I will prove it with my actions. I will keep my word."Nyla had no intention of listening to his promises. She brushed past him and walked away.Just as Clark was about to follow her, his phone in his pocket rang. He answered, and his secretary's serious voice came through. "Mr. Sumner, there's a problem with one of our deals."Clark's expression darkened. "I'll be there right away."By the time he ran to the exit of the complex, all he saw was Nyla getting into a taxi and leaving. He pursed his lips, turned around, got into his car, and drove to the company. Once he dealt with work, he would come back to sort things out with Nyla.…When Nyla arrived at the restaurant, Valarie was already there."Nyla, you're finally here! I've got some gossip to share with you."Nyla sat down acr
Two very different voices spoke at the same time.Valarie turned around and saw a tall woman not far behind her. The woman, Jacqueline Rainford, had fair skin and wavy hair, and wore a red strap dress. Jacqueline's hand was pointing at the suit Valarie had her eye on.Noticing Valarie's gaze, Jacqueline smiled and said, "Miss, I plan to buy this suit as a gift for my boyfriend. We're meeting soon. Could you let me have it?"Valarie really liked the suit and didn't want to give it up, but Jacqueline's polite request made her hesitate.The sales associate next to her spoke up. "Ms. Weir, this suit is the only one in our store. As a VIP customer, you have priority purchasing rights."Upon hearing this, Jacqueline's expression immediately turned sour. There was just one suit—she must have it."What do you mean by this? Are you showing favoritism?"Despite Jacqueline's aggressive tone, the sales associate remained calm, maintaining a professional smile. "Miss, our VIP customers do ha
Nyla walked over and took Valarie's cold hand, whispering, "Valarie, maybe there's some misunderstanding. Don't be too upset."Valarie nodded. "Mm, I know."She wouldn't believe Jacqueline's words until Tom himself confirmed them in person.Soon, Tom's secretary, Fred Sailor, arrived.He hurried over to Jacqueline, completely unaware of Valarie and Nyla standing nearby. "Ms. Rainford, Mr. Genge is in a meeting, so he sent me."Jacqueline pointed her chin in the direction of Valarie and Nyla. "There, they're the ones trying to take the suit from me."Fred turned to speak but froze when he saw Valarie and Nyla. His face paled."Ms. Weir..."At that moment, Fred had only three words in his mind: "It is over."Valarie was Tom's current girlfriend, while Jacqueline was Tom's childhood friend. Fred hadn't expected Jacqueline to run into Valarie on her first day back in the country, let alone in such an unpleasant situation.Noticing Fred's unusual reaction, Jacqueline frowned. "You
"No need, you can have him," Valarie said flatly.A man entangled with other women wasn't worth keeping—it would only cause her grief.Jacqueline was stunned and couldn't respond before Valarie turned and walked away.Fred paled and hurried after Valarie. "Ms. Weir, this is a misunderstanding. At least give Mr. Genge a chance to explain."Valarie stopped and looked at him coldly. "Three months ago, he went to Meristate, and I couldn't reach him for three days. Later, he explained he was busy with work. Was he really busy with work?"Seeing Fred's momentary panic, Valarie smirked mockingly. "Now, can you still confidently say this is a misunderstanding?"She did like Tom, but she wasn't a fool. She had chosen not to pursue the matter then, hoping to give him a chance, but he had let her down."Mr. Genge and Ms. Rainford didn't do anything. Ms. Rainford's pet dog died, and she was in a bad state, so Mr. Genge—""No need to explain. It's unnecessary."Jacqueline's confidence in c
Nyla widened her eyes sharply, shaking off Clark's hand as she took a step back. "What does it have to do with you?""You and Uncle Damon stayed at the same hotel that night," Clark said coldly. "Not long after you left, he left too. And the hotel's surveillance footage from that time was deliberately deleted."If it weren't for a streetlight camera across from the hotel, Clark wouldn't have known any of this. The hotel's surveillance footage of Nyla's comings and goings was deleted. If nothing shady happened, why delete the footage?The more Clark thought about it, the angrier he became. His eyes turned even redder. What he found unusual about Damon's behavior finally had an explanation.Seeing Clark's disappointed look, Nyla laughed coldly. "Clark, do you think I cheated on you just like you did, and with your uncle no less?"Clark didn't speak, but his bloodshot eyes were fixed on her, clearly confirming her suspicion."So, what now? You think I cheated on you. What are you go
For three years of marriage, Nyla endured constant restrictions, only to be repaid with Clark's infidelity. Now, she was done compromising her happiness. She would live comfortably on her own terms.After finishing her meal, Nyla washed the dishes, brewed a pot of tea, and settled on the balcony with a book, basking in the sunlight. As she read, drowsiness overcame her, and she fell asleep on the lounge chair. When she woke up, dusk had already settled.She washed her face in the bathroom and decided not to make dinner. Grabbing her keys, she headed out to eat. When she opened the door, she was startled to find Clark standing in the shadows and instinctively took a step back."Nyla, it's me." Clark's voice was dry, indicating he had been standing there all afternoon.Nyla frowned. "What are you doing here?""Nyla, can you really not forgive me?"After a moment of silence, Nyla looked at him calmly. "Clark, when you cheated with your secretary, you must have spent a lot of money a
Nyla nodded. "Yeah.""Your suitor must be quite wealthy. I remember that bracelet symbolizes a lifetime of love for only one person. He must really like you."A discreet flash of sarcasm crossed Nyla's eyes as she placed the bracelet back in its box. "Maybe."Seeing Nyla's lack of enthusiasm, Sasha felt a bit uneasy but didn't press further. Over time, she had learned that although Nyla appeared gentle and approachable, she was very private about certain matters. Besides, they weren’t close enough for such intimate discussions.As Nyla closed the jewelry box, Lucia happened to pass by. She caught a glimpse of the diamond bracelet inside and felt a surge of jealousy. After her previous experience at the bar, she decided not to confront Nyla and walked away.…In the evening, as Nyla exited the company, she saw Clark standing a short distance away. She paused and looked at him.Upon seeing her, Clark quickly approached. "Nyla, let's have dinner together tonight."Nyla lowered her
Nyla ensured she accounted for everything and reclaimed every penny.When they arrived at the restaurant, Nyla was surprised to find it empty except for them."You booked the whole place?" Nyka asked."Yes, I know you don't like crowded places," Clark replied."I'm used to it now. You don't have to go through so much trouble."Clark looked at Nyla sincerely. "Nyla, we missed out on a lot because I was so busy before. From now on, I'll make sure to give you all the special moments you deserve."His gaze was filled with the same love and tenderness as when they were first in love.Nyla's heart ached, and she turned away, holding back her tears.If he had said this before he cheated, she might have been moved, but it only felt bitter now. From the moment he cheated, there was no going back.Seeing Nyla's silence, Clark reached out to hold her hand, but she pulled away. Disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure."Nyla, we'll take it slow until the
Jane smiled and praised, "You're such a good boy, Wil. Come here—Mommy wants to tell you something."Hesitant but trusting, Wilhelm slowly moved closer to her.The moment he was within reach, Jane grabbed his collar, her expression dark and menacing. "When I called you earlier, why didn't you come immediately?"Terrified, Wilhelm turned pale, tears brimming in his eyes. "Mommy… I was scared…""Scared of what?" Jane demanded."Scared you'd hit me… Waaaah…" Wilhelm cried.When Wilhelm had been staying with Gabriel, he'd worried he'd never see his mother again.But now, seeing her up close, she seemed frightening—nothing like the gentle mother he used to know.Jane's patience snapped at the sound of his crying. "Shut up! If you keep crying, I'll throw you out!"Wilhelm immediately clammed up, though he couldn't stop the little hiccups that followed. His face was streaked with tears, making him look pitiful.Just then, the door to the room opened, and Wendy walked in carrying som
Embarrassment flickered across Wren's face as she muttered, "I didn't… I just didn't know the situation before, okay?""If you don't know the situation, then don't meddle," Gabriel rebuked.After a moment of silence, Wren stole a glance at Gabriel and softly said, "Gabriel, this time it's my fault. I'm sorry. But Wil absolutely cannot be sent back to Jane. Who knows how she'll treat him? She's already proven she's capable of terrible things."Just thinking about Jane intentionally causing Wilhelm's allergic reaction made Wren's skin crawl. What kind of mother could be so cruel?"I know what I'm doing. From now on, if Jane contacts you, don't respond," Gabriel instructed.Wren quickly nodded. "Okay… I understand…""If there's nothing else, you can go. I have work to do," Gabriel dismissed."Alright… I'll leave now…" Wren answered.As Wren walked out of the villa, she finally let out a sigh of relief.Just as she was about to call her driver, her phone rang.Seeing that it was
Wilhelm froze at Gabriel's stern expression, shrinking behind Wren and peeking at his father with frightened eyes.Without looking at him, Gabriel called for a maid. "Take him to the Wilkies with the driver later."The maid nodded. "Understood."Just as the maid was about to lead Wilhelm away, Wren pulled the boy behind her and snapped, "Gabriel, can't you see how scared he is?"Gabriel finally lifted his gaze to her, his tone icy. "Weren't you the one who brought him to me and insisted I let him see Jane? Now that I've agreed, what more do you want?"Wren stiffened but quickly composed herself. "I only brought him because he was crying so pitifully. That doesn't mean I want him to live with Jane again."She wasn't stupid. It was clear that Wilhelm was better off with Gabriel than with Jane.If the divorce went through, Jane would eventually remarry, and who knew how much Wilhelm would suffer in her new household?At least with Gabriel, Wren could visit Wilhelm often, and he wo
Raymond and Gabriel stayed in the study for over an hour before emerging.By then, Raymond's expression had shifted from initial unease to radiant joy, his face brimming with smiles.It seemed the fortune teller had been right—Wren was indeed his lucky star.Despite his company's brush with bankruptcy, Gabriel not only promised to inject 70,000,000 dollars into it but also agreed to partner with them on future projects.The potential profits were enough to make it impossible for Raymond to hide his grin.Seeing his cheerful demeanor, Wren let out a breath of relief.Setting Wilhelm down from her lap, she turned to Raymond and asked, "So, you reached an agreement?""Yeap. I need to get back to the office, though. I'll have the driver pick you up later," Raymond replied."Alright. Will you be home for dinner?" Wren asked."Of course! Tonight, we'll celebrate properly," Raymond promised.After Raymond left, Wilhelm tugged on Wren's sleeve. "Grandma, when are you going to talk to
"Okay," Wilhelm answered.He accepted the bowl and took a couple of sips, then looked up at Gabriel and asked, "Daddy, where's Mommy?"Upon seeing the cautious look in Wilhelm's eyes, a complex expression crossed Gabriel's face.He crouched down to the boy's level and said gently, "Wil, from now on, you'll live with Daddy. Is that okay?"Wilhelm froze, tears welling up in his eyes. "Daddy, does that mean you don't want Mommy anymore?"Jane's words echoed in his mind—that Gabriel had a bad woman outside and didn't want them anymore.Now that his father didn't want his mother, it wouldn't be long before he didn't want him either, especially if he had a child with that bad woman.Gabriel sighed and spoke softly. "Wil, this is an adult matter that you won't understand. Daddy isn't abandoning Mommy. We're just going to live separately. But no matter what, both of us love you very much.""You're lying!" Wilhelm cried, throwing the bowl to the floor, where it shattered into pieces.H
Looking at Jane's self-righteous demeanor, Gabriel remained expressionless. His gaze was indifferent, as if she were a stranger of no consequence.His lack of reaction agitated Jane even more."Gabriel, why aren't you saying anything? Why?!" she shouted.Gabriel's voice was calm. "Because I think you're pitiful.""Pitiful?!" Jane repeated, then burst into laughter. "Do you think you're any less pitiful than I am? You abandoned your wife to be with Nyla, but has she even spared you a second glance? In the end, you and I are no different—we're both pathetic losers."Gabriel showed no visible reaction but said, "Jane, I'm not like you.""What's so different about you?" Jane demanded."I can make my own choices. You can't. Take this situation, for example—I can ensure you'll never see Wilhelm again, but there's nothing you can do to stop me," Gabriel stated.Jane froze, her laughter faltering. An overwhelming sense of unease gripped her. "What are you going to do?"Gabriel waved h
Although Wilhelm wanted more, he hesitated briefly before obediently putting down his spoon."Okay, Mommy," he said.His compliance sparked a brief flicker of guilt in Jane's eyes. But the feeling vanished as quickly as it had come, replaced by a calm determination.After settling the bill, she led Wilhelm back to the car.As soon as they were on the road, Wilhelm began squirming in his seat, scratching himself furiously. His small face scrunched in discomfort as he complained, "Mommy… I don't feel good. I'm itchy all over…"Jane glanced at him and saw red spots breaking out across his skin."Hold on, Mommy's taking you to the hospital right now," she said.She sped toward the nearest hospital, reaching it in less than ten minutes.…By the time Jane pulled into the ER, Wilhelm's face was covered in hives. He was clawing at himself, leaving red marks all over his pale skin.Jane rushed to unbuckle him and carried him inside, moving quickly toward the emergency desk.A doctor
Wilhelm thought that when Gabriel was home, Jane never hit him without a reason.But ever since his father left, his mother had become unpredictable. Sometimes, even the sound of him making noise while eating would lead to punishment, forcing him to stand in the corner.He missed the mother who would kiss him and speak to him gently. He didn't want the mother who hit him for no reason."But Daddy's out there with another woman now and won't come home," he said.Although he was young, he understood a lot of adult issues.Lately, Gabriel hadn't been around. With Jane's constant hints, Wilhelm had started to believe that Gabriel had left because of a bad woman, choosing her over their family."Mommy, when I grow up, I'll protect you. I won't let any bad woman bully you!" Wilhelm vowed.Tears welled in Jane's eyes at his words, her heart filled with a mix of emotions. Yet, her moment of hesitation lasted only a second before her resolve hardened.The only way to give Wilhelm a comp
Besides, Nyla didn't even like Gabriel. It had always been him chasing her.What was Jane supposed to do—crack open his head and make him stop liking Nyla?Wren frowned, clearly irritated. "Alright, I'm not in the mood to talk about this. Go home," she said, waving Jane off.Jane protested, "Mom, we haven't even discussed how to bring Gabriel back to me and Wilhelm. I need your help.""What do you want me to do?" Wren asked."Later, call Gabriel and tell him Wilhelm has a fever and wants to see him. Get him to come home," Jane requested.Wren hesitated. Gabriel's attitude toward her had grown increasingly cold. If he found out she was conspiring with Jane to deceive him, it could further damage their relationship.Seeing her reluctance, Jane sighed. "Mom, do you really want to watch him chase after Nyla? With the way things are between you two now, do you think Nyla will treat you kindly if they end up together?""That's impossible! Nyla doesn't like him. They won't end up to