"Even if you were the one who ended things, he wronged you first! Are you just going to take it lying down?" Valarie looked at Nyla, her expression a mix of anger and sympathy."What else can I do? He doesn't like me anymore. Am I supposed to hold a knife to his throat and force him to change his mind?" Nyla's voice was calm as if discussing something unrelated to her life.Her naivety had led her to believe Damon genuinely liked her, that he wouldn't hurt her as Clark had done.Valarie glanced down at Nyla's hands, clenched so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. With a sigh, she said, "Let me go. I'm not going to cause a scene.""Really?" Nyla asked, unsure.Valarie nodded. "Yeah."People always kicked those who were down. Even if they confronted them now, the others would laugh at Nyla's expense.Nyla released Valarie and said softly, "Don't dwell on this. I've made peace with it."Sometimes, she still felt sad when she thought about him."Okay, let's not talk about
Nyla wasn't prepared for what happened next. Her lower back slammed against the edge of the marble sink, sending a sharp pain shooting through her body. Her face turned pale.Nathaniel quickly rushed over to support a swaying Rebecca, his expression anxious. "Rebecca, are you alright?"A bruise was already forming on Rebecca's forehead, but she managed a weak smile. "Nathaniel, I'm fine. Ms. Jayston didn't do it on purpose... Besides, I just got back, and Damon broke up with her. It's only natural for her to be angry with me..."Nathaniel's expression darkened as he glared at Nyla. "Rebecca and Damon were together before. They're just getting back together now. No matter how unhappy you are, there's nothing you can do about it. If I see you lay a hand on Rebecca again, I won't let you off easy!"Nyla had been caught off guard by Rebecca's little stunt, and her back still throbbed from when Nathaniel had shoved her into the sink.Already irritated, she couldn't help but sneer at hi
As Damon approached, Nyla frowned and instinctively stepped back, a wary look in her eyes. Was he planning to confront her because of Rebecca?When they were just a few steps apart, Nyla watched as he suddenly raised his hand toward her.Gritting her teeth, she warned, "Damon, if you dare lay a hand on me, I—"Before she could finish, Damon pulled her close and asked, "Are you hurt?"Nyla's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly masked it with a cold reply, "No, let go of me!"Even if she was injured, it was none of his business.As she tried to push him away, he gently pressed a hand on her lower back where she had collided with the sink."Ow…" Nyla gasped in pain, glaring at Damon. "What are you doing? Let go—"Before she could finish, he scooped her up. Startled, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her face paling even more.Once the shock wore off, her anger flared. "Damon, what on earth are you doing? We've broken up! Put me down!"Damon's expression remained impass
"I don't want to choose either. Just stop the car now. I want to get out," Nyla said.Damon calmly resumed driving. "Since you don't want to choose, I'll do it for you."Nyla was so frustrated she almost laughed. She knew that no matter what she said, Damon wouldn't let her out of the car. Resigned, she turned her gaze coldly toward the window.In less than half an hour, they arrived at the hospital.Damon carried Nyla inside. Resisting was pointless, so she remained silent and expressionless.…After the examination, the doctor assured them there were no major issues and prescribed some medication for internal and external use.As they were leaving the hospital, Damon tried to carry Nyla again, but she stepped back to avoid him."Thanks for tonight, but I'll take a taxi home," she said coldly.With that, she picked up her medication and turned to leave the hospital.Damon followed her silently. As they approached his car, he stopped her and said, "I'll take you home."Nyla
Nyla pressed her lips together and called him. "I'm still out. There's no need to bring me anything next time."After a few seconds of silence on the other end, Gabriel's gentle voice came through. "Alright. It's already past 10:00 p.m. Do you need me to pick you up?"Because of what Wren had said, Nyla wasn't eager to have too much contact with Gabriel. She declined, "No, my friend is giving me a ride. If there's nothing else, that's it."She hung up, and Valarie looked at her with curiosity. "Who were you talking to?""My stepbrother," Nyla answered.Valarie's eyes widened in surprise. "He's back? When did that happen?"Since Valarie used to visit Nyla's home often, she had met Gabriel several times."Just a few days ago," Nyla replied."Oh, he seems to be quite concerned about you now. I remember when I used to visit you. He was pretty aloof," Valarie remarked."Yeah. By the way... I said I'd cover the bill tonight, but you ended up doing it. Send me the bill, and I'll reim
"Thanks, but there's no need. In the future, let's try to keep our interactions to a minimum. I don't want to be insulted anymore," Nyla requested coldly.She was about to walk past Gabriel when he stopped her."Nyla, I apologize on behalf of my mother for what she said. I've spoken to her, and she promises not to contact you again. Please don't be angry, okay?" Gabriel asked."If she truly believes she was wrong, then you wouldn't be the one showing up here tonight," Nyla replied.Gabriel frowned and asked softly, "If she came to apologize in person, would you forgive her?"Nyla's displeasure was evident. She didn't understand why Gabriel was so insistent that she forgive Wren.Wren was just her stepmother—their interactions had been minimal, and there was no need to force a reconciliation."I won't forget what she said to me, and I can't forgive her. If there's nothing else, don't come looking for me again," she said.Without giving Gabriel a chance to respond, Nyla opened th
Damon's expression remained indifferent. "The day she returned to the country and contacted me."Nathaniel's body trembled slightly. He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Is it because Rebecca only has three months left that you broke up with Nyla and got back together with her?"Damon frowned. "I haven't reconciled with her."He had only promised to spend these three months with Rebecca, but he had no intention of resuming their relationship."So, you don't have feelings for her anymore?" Nathaniel asked."From the moment she chose to go abroad, there was no chance for us anymore," Damon replied.Nathaniel's hands clenched at his sides, and his expression grew intense. "But she still loves you. That hasn't changed. And she only has three months left to live. Can't you at least give her some false hope?""No. That wouldn't be fair to Nyla," Damon said.He had asked Nyla to wait for three months and had promised not to reconcile with Rebecca. Even if Nyla didn't believe him, h
The blaring car horns from the back snapped Nyla back to reality. She quickly pulled over to the side of the road.Her hands were shaking as she picked up her phone.The call was still connected, and Valarie's anxious voice came through. "Nyla, what happened? Are you okay? Are you on your way to work? I shouldn't have told you this now!"Nyla wiped her misty eyes and replied quietly, "I'm fine. My phone just fell.""I'm glad you're okay... I really shouldn't have called you now..." Valarie's voice was filled with regret.In her anger upon seeing the news, she had called Nyla impulsively. She deeply regretted it now, fearing she would never forgive herself if something happened to Nyla."Yeah, I need to get back to driving. Talk to you later." With that, Nyla ended the call.Taking a deep breath, she opened a web browser to search for news about Damon and Rebecca. Every link was about their official reconciliation.[Prospectus Technology's CEO Damon Sumner Finally Gets His Happy
Even Brian and Delia, whom Emerald had spoiled, were expendable in her eyes—if they ever posed a threat to her position, she wouldn't hesitate to give them up.To her, family had always come second to the Nixons.…At exactly 3:00 p.m., Emerald's car pulled up outside Alexander's villa.She stepped out and walked into the living room, where Alexander and Nyla were already waiting.Without a word, she sat down, picked up the documents on the table, and flipped through them.After confirming there were no issues, she signed the last page, then pulled a bank card from her bag and placed it on the table.She slid it toward Nyla. "The password is six zeroes."Alexander picked up the card and handed it to his assistant. "Go check it."Emerald's expression stiffened. "Alexander, what the hell does that mean?!"Was he trying to humiliate her by having his assistant verify the card right in front of her?"Aunt Emerald, it's for both our peace of mind. This way, there won't be any iss
Alexander was silent for a moment before meeting Emerald's gaze. "Fine, I'll help you secure your position as head of the Nixons, but I won't help you eliminate your opponents."As long as there were threats to her power, she wouldn't have time to target Nyla and Damon. Keeping a balance of power was the best way to keep Nyla safe.Emerald's expression darkened. "You don't trust me?"Alexander nodded. "Aunt Emerald, I'd like to, but you need to give me a reason to. Back in Saintornia, you promised Nyla you'd support Prospectus Technology, but the moment she arrived in Meristate, you tried to bankrupt it."Now, you're making promises without proof. How can I trust you?""Alexander, don't forget—I'm your aunt. We're family!" Emerald hissed."To me, Nyla is my cousin, so she's my family too. Think about my offer, Aunt Emerald," Alexander said calmly.He remained unbothered by the situation. He knew Emerald was already backed into a corner—without his help, she had no chance of hold
"Sure," Nyla replied.After Alexander left, she turned to Damon. "We really will make it back together, right?"Seeing the worry in her eyes, Damon pulled her into his arms. "Yes. I promise. Trust me."She didn't say anything more, simply resting against his chest. Deep down, however, unease still lingered.…Three more days passed, and George still hadn't found Nyla.Meanwhile, unrest within the Nixons was worsening. More and more people began openly opposing Emerald, demanding a new leader.Emerald was exhausted and overwhelmed. The stress took a toll on her body—she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital again.When she woke up, the doctor warned her that she couldn't keep pushing herself like this, or her health would suffer serious consequences."I understand," Emerald said flatly. "I'd like to be alone now."Sighing, the doctor left the room.Emerald stared out the window, her gaze distant.For years, she had fought relentlessly to become the head of the Nixons.
Cortez's light chuckle came from the other end of the phone. "If this is about Kajer Tech, I don't see the need for a private meeting. We can discuss it publicly once you've found your eldest daughter."Emerald suppressed her anger. "I want to know why you publicly went against me!"He could have spoken to her privately, but instead, he chose to humiliate her in front of everyone."I'm not going against you. You're just too greedy," Cortez sneered. "You deliberately transferred Kajer Tech's shares to your daughter so you could use the company's annual dividends as leverage over us. That way, we'd have no choice but to let you continue leading the Nixons. Am I wrong?"His mocking tone felt like a slap to Emerald's face, making her even angrier. "Cortez, don't forget—you're supposed to be on my side!"Cortez chuckled. "I've always said I only act in my own best interest. I supported you in the past because our interests aligned."But now? You're hurting my position. We're no longer
Emerald's expression darkened. "Cortez, that's a serious accusation. I have never tried to hollow out the Nixons. Since taking over, I've worked tirelessly for the family's success. If you choose not to believe me, so be it."She added, "If you insist on resolving the Kajer Tech issue first, then this meeting is over. We'll discuss it again once I find my daughter."Without another word, Emerald stood and left.The moment she was gone, murmurs erupted throughout the room—voices filled with frustration and resentment."We can't let Emerald keep leading the family like this! Who knows how much more damage she'll cause?"Several people turned sharp glares toward Cortez."Cortez, you've always backed Emerald. Did you really not know she's turned Kajer into her own company?""I bet he turned a blind eye because she gave him something in return!""Hold on. If Cortez was really benefiting from Emerald's deals, he wouldn't have called her out just now. I trust him."Cortez let out a c
Emerald frowned, her voice cold. "Cortez, we have more important matters to discuss.""In my opinion, this is the most important matter today," Cortez replied evenly. "If Kajer becomes your private company, won't the Nixons lose a significant portion of their annual revenue?"Emerald's expression remained unchanged. "You don't need to worry. Regardless of who owns Kajer Tech, my share of the dividends will always be reinvested into the Nixons."Cortez gave a slight smile, though his eyes held no warmth. "Emerald, that's just your word. How can we trust it?"If Kajer Tech truly has no ties to the Nixons anymore, doesn't that mean you'll have the power to use its revenue as leverage against other family members?"If someone upsets you, you can cut off their funding. How is anyone supposed to voice a differing opinion under those conditions?"Emerald's gaze darkened. "Cortez, I can assure you, that will never happen.""We're not children, Emerald. Promises mean nothing. My stance i
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