Nyla checked the time—it was only 7:00 a.m., and the conference didn't start until 9:00 a.m."Isn't it a little early for you to be here?" she asked groggily, still not fully awake.Melody's voice was filled with excitement. "I couldn't sleep, so I got up early. I brought breakfast for you, but don't worry. I'll just walk around outside until you're ready."Nyla sighed, feeling a bit helpless. She told Melody which floor she lived on so she could come up and wait inside.By the time Nyla finished getting ready, it was just past 8:00 a.m. The two of them arrived at the conference venue before 8:30 a.m.As they approached the entrance, a black Maybach and a Rolls-Royce pulled up beside them.The doors of the Maybach opened, and Rebecca and Damon stepped out. From the Rolls-Royce behind them emerged Nathaniel.As soon as they exited their cars, conference staff members enthusiastically greeted them. "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Preston, Ms. Austen, welcome to the conference. Please allow me to
"In the past year, our team has worked tirelessly, delving deep into the mechanisms of cancer and exploring new treatment strategies. Today, I am proud to announce that we've developed a 'Long-acting Drug'," Brendan said, his voice brimming with pride."This 'Long-acting Drug' not only exhibits a high level of specificity, precisely targeting cancer cells, but it also maintains therapeutic effects in the body for an extended period. This means cancer patients can expect longer survival times and an improved quality of life."Brendan's announcement was met with enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience.As Brendan finished his speech, other researchers began presenting their findings.Caroline was the fifth speaker. Dressed in a simple white lab coat with her hair neatly tied back, she projected a professional and capable image.She started by displaying a series of detailed experimental data charts.Pointing to the data on the screen, she explained, "These are the result
"Oh, okay," Melody replied.Nyla looked away, her expression calm. "Let's go."Even after they left the venue, Melody remained visibly excited. "Nyla, thank you so much for today! After listening to the conference, I'm even more determined to pursue a career in drug research."Seeing Melody's flushed cheeks and bright, sparkling eyes, Nyla couldn't help but smile. "What made you suddenly think of this?"Previously, when their experiments kept failing, Melody had been noticeably down for a few days, feeling frustrated. Nyla had feared she might give up, but Melody persisted and now seemed even more committed to this path."I heard Caroline say that their experiments failed over a thousand times, but they still kept going. I think that's amazing. I want to be like them—standing up there someday, sharing my experiences," Melody gushed.She looked a little embarrassed at this point. "I've never really stuck with anything before. Now I want to commit to drug research."Nyla nodded. "
Caroline couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She turned back to Nyla with a questioning look, but Nyla showed no reaction.Nyla simply said, "Let's go. We're going to be late for our reservation."With that, Nyla took Caroline by the arm and headed toward the parking lot, offering no further explanation.Rebecca bit her lip, unable to resist glancing at Damon.When she saw his gaze fixed on Nyla's departing figure, she dug her nails into her palms. Jealousy bloomed like wild grass in her heart, intensifying her dislike for Nyla.She lowered her eyes, masking her emotions perfectly."Damon... Ms. Lovell is good friends with Ms. Jayston. Ms. Jayston doesn't like me. Do you think she'll speak poorly of me to Ms. Lovell? If Ms. Lovell starts to dislike me too..." she muttered.Her hesitant tone caused Damon to frown."I've already agreed to invest in their lab. Whether she likes you or not, their latest anti-cancer drug will still be available to you," Damon replied.
Rebecca smiled bitterly. "I've got less than three months left. There's no point in fighting over these things. After three months, I'll give Damon back to her."As soon as she finished speaking, Nathaniel grabbed her hand and said seriously, "Rebecca, don't talk like that. Damon has already invested in Caroline's research lab, and the drug is close to being developed. You're going to be okay!"Rebecca's gaze was wry. "The drug is still in the trial phase. No one can be sure if it will work, and there might be side effects."Seeing her so pessimistic, Nathaniel felt a pang in his heart, his eyes instantly filling with pain."Rebecca, you used to be so optimistic. Now you've become so negative, which isn't like you. You should be strong and resilient, never letting anything get you down. And I believe that drug will work!" he encouraged.Rebecca lowered her eyes and said softly, "I want to be strong, but I just can't. Besides... Damon doesn't love me anymore. He only agreed to get
Caroline paused before smiling. "Alright. I'll be waiting for you in Capitarnia.""Sure," Nyla promised.After Caroline entered the hotel, Nyla drove off.Halfway home, her phone suddenly rang.Seeing that it was an unknown number, she decided not to answer. The caller didn't try again but sent a text message instead.It wasn't until Nyla parked downstairs that she checked the message.[Ms. Jayston, my father was one of the victims of the Harris Pharmaceuticals incident six years ago. I saw in the news that you found evidence and sent Cyrus Sumner to the police. I also have some evidence and would like to give it to you. Please contact me if you see this message.]After reading the text, Nyla tightened her grip on her phone but didn't rush to reply.Cyrus had been in custody for a while, and this person was just now reaching out. It seemed a bit suspicious.After a moment of consideration, she decided to ignore it for the time being.If the other party was genuinely desperate
Seeing Clark's pleading look, Nyla wondered how he had the nerve to seek her out. And to ask her to help for the sake of the love they once shared?If she could go back in time, she would have thrown the flowers right back at him and told him to get lost when he confessed his feelings."I can't help you. You caused this, and you should face the consequences," she said.She brushed past him and headed for the elevator.Nyla had barely taken two steps when he grabbed her hand.Clark's eyes were bloodshot, and his once-handsome face was contorted with rage, making him look somewhat terrifying."Nyla, are you really this heartless? When we divorced, you took over 700,000 dollars from me, and now you won't even ask Damon for help? I'll ask you one more time: Are you going to help me or not?!" Clark's eyes were wide with resentment, and his breathing was ragged.Nyla's heart sank.Clark was clearly agitated. Who knew what he might do if she refused?"Fine… I'll talk to him for you.
Although Clark was holding Nyla, her displeasure was evident.Clearly, she was unhappy with the situation. Additionally, his hand was concealed inside her coat, which seemed highly suspicious."What are you doing here?" Damon demanded.His cold gaze settled on Clark as he tapped lightly on the desk, emanating an oppressive aura.Clark leaned closer to Nyla and whispered, "Speak."His hand, hidden behind Nyla, shifted slightly, causing her to go rigid.At that moment, Damon finally realized what felt so off.His eyes turned icy as he fixed his sharp gaze on Clark. It was as if it could cut through him at any moment."Clark, it seems you really want to join your father!" Damon threatened.Intimidated by Damon's aura, Clark's hand on Nyla's waist trembled.He took a deep breath and forced himself to meet Damon's eyes. "Uncle Damon, if I hadn't done this, you wouldn't have agreed to see me, right?""I'm giving you three seconds to let her go. Otherwise, I'll ensure you understan
"Got it," Spencer answered.After Spencer left, Damon received a call from Tim."Damon, what's going on with Nyce Tech's Galaxy chip? Did someone in your company really leak the Agihop 6th Gen's data?" Tim asked.Six months earlier, Tim had learned about Prospectus Technology's plans for the Agihop 6th Gen. The fact that Galaxy's breakthroughs mirrored those plans exactly felt far too coincidental."Most likely, yes. I'm currently investigating who leaked the core data," Damon replied.Tim's voice carried a mix of amusement and casualness. "Even if you find the culprit, it'll take a long time to resolve in court."At this rate, it's uncertain whether the Agihop 6th Gen will launch next year. This won't affect our joint investment in the new energy vehicle project, will it?"Damon's gaze darkened. "Don't worry. It won't.""Good to know. Well, I wish you luck with the investigation. I've got a meeting soon, so I'll let you go," Tim said.After hanging up, Damon placed his phone
As soon as Gabriel's words fell, the room erupted into thunderous applause.The reporter who had asked the question also joined in the clapping before speaking again. "On behalf of the R&D team, I'd like to ask you, Mr. Hackett, how much of a bonus are you planning to give them now that the Galaxy chip has been successfully launched?"Gabriel smiled. "The minimum bonus will start at 30,000 dollars, and I'll also give them a month off to rest and recharge."The room instantly buzzed with excitement.A full month of vacation—something most workers could hardly even dream of—was about to become a reality for the R&D team."Mr. Hackett, are you serious?" The reporter looked almost as excited as if they were the one getting the vacation.Gabriel nodded. "Yes, absolutely.""Haha, then on behalf of the R&D team, thank you, Mr. Hackett!" the reporter cheered.Gabriel smoothly answered the reporters' following questions, and the press conference wrapped up on a positive and harmonious n
With that, Damon left the room without further explanation, leaving the shareholders puzzled.Soon after, the reason for Damon's urgency became clear.That same day, Nyce Tech unveiled their latest chip, named Galaxy, during a high-profile launch event.The chip's performance specifications, introduced by Gabriel, closely mirrored those of Prospectus Technology's yet-to-be-released Agihop 6th Gen, which was still in the final testing phase.Damon's expression darkened as he watched the press conference footage."Mr. Sumner, it's clear that Galaxy is targeting the Agihop 6th Gen. I suspect someone in the company leaked its data. Otherwise, Nyce Tech couldn't have developed a product so similar," Spencer suggested."Call the R&D department head," Damon ordered.The department head arrived quickly, already aware of the situation."Mr. Sumner, I've already started investigating the R&D team. Within three hours, I'll have a complete report to determine whether anyone leaked the data
"Just follow my lead, Mr. Genge. I'll handle the rest," Gabriel said."Are you implying you don't trust me, Mr. Hackett?" Tom asked."It's not a matter of trust. I simply want to avoid unnecessary complications. If there's nothing else, please see yourself out," Gabriel said, dismissing him.He picked up the documents on his desk, signaling the end of their discussion.Tom sneered. "Fine, Mr. Hackett. I'll wait to see your results."With that, he turned and left.…For the next few days, Nyla stopped bringing meals to Damon at the office, allowing him to focus on his work.By Friday afternoon, Prospectus Technology's tech team had finally identified the root cause of the widespread machine malfunctions at Longbow.The issue stemmed from the incompatibility between Longbow's equipment and Prospectus Technology's chip. The machines couldn't keep up with the processing speed of the Agihop 5th Gen, leading to failures.However, Longbow adamantly denied ever being informed by Pros
Back in the car, Gabriel's expression was so dark it seemed he might explode."Mr. Hackett, I don't think Mr. Sumner is likely to collaborate with Nyce Tech. Should we approach Mr. Genge instead?" his secretary asked cautiously.The secretary had doubted Damon would agree to meet with Gabriel from the start, and now it seemed his instincts were right.Although Tim had deceived them, Nyce Tech's losses were still manageable. There was no urgent need to rely on Damon for assistance.Gabriel shot him a cold glare. "What do you know?"The secretary flinched under the stare and dared not speak again."If Damon refuses to meet me, start reaching out to Prospectus Technology's other shareholders. I don't believe they all blindly follow him," Gabriel instructed.The secretary nodded. "Understood.""Take me back to the office," Gabriel said curtly.In Prospectus Technology's CEO office on the top floor…Nyla had just finished setting out the dishes and called Damon over to eat."I'll
Gabriel suppressed his emotions and forced a smile. "Nyla, are you here with Buddy to bring Mr. Sumner dinner?"Nyla acted as though she hadn't heard him and strode past him into the lobby, her demeanor cold and distant.Gabriel's expression darkened. He stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Nyla, do you hate me so much that you won't even speak to me?"Nyla frowned. "Please move.""Nyla..." Gabriel's voice softened, his hurt evident. His gaze held a trace of sadness.She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with disdain. "Gabriel, you and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. You've been targeting Prospectus Technology behind the scenes for months. Do you really think we can have a civil conversation?"Her tone carried a clear defense of Damon, stoking jealousy in Gabriel.She only saw his actions against Prospectus Technology but ignored how Damon and Tim had schemed against him together."Nyla, do you know why I named my company Nyce Tech?" he asked abruptly.
"Why are you here so early?" Damon asked.Upon seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Nyla's heart ached. "Spencer told me about your schedule this morning. Buddy and I missed you, so we came by."Damon walked over. "Yeah, I have to head to a meeting soon and won't have much time to spend with you two.""We understand," Nyla said softly.Damon gave her a brief hug before crouching to embrace Mason. "If all goes well, I might finish early tonight and be home for dinner.""Okay. I brought you breakfast. Eat something before your meeting," Nyla said with a gentle smile.As Damon ate, Mason and Nyla watched him."You've gotten thinner. Are you not eating properly?" Nyla asked, concern evident in her voice.Damon sipped his coffee and reassured her, "It's fine. Things will calm down soon."Just as they were finishing, Spencer entered to remind Damon about the meeting."Bring the materials to the conference room. I'll be right there," Damon instructed.Once Spencer left, he turne
After Gabriel stormed out, Tim couldn't hold back his laughter. "Haha, Gabriel's expression just now was priceless. I was going to leave him hanging, but he insisted on throwing money at me. He really set himself up for failure."Damon didn't comment.Tim finally stopped laughing and cleared his throat. "You've got an evening flight to catch, right? Let's handle the contract now."Damon walked over and sat across from him, pulling out the contract. "I've already marked the sections that need revisions."Tim took the document, reviewed the highlighted parts, and immediately called his assistant to revise them. Once corrected, the updated version was printed, signed, and stamped.By the time everything was finalized, over an hour had passed.Satisfied, Damon tucked one copy into his bag and stood up. "If any issues come up, let me know."Tim nodded. "Sure."As Damon reached the door, he paused and turned to Tim. "By the way, Gabriel doesn't let things slide. You outmaneuvered him
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