Clark's gaze was so intense it felt like it could burn a hole through Jordyn.Jordyn's hand trembled uncontrollably as she held the soup, nearly causing the bowl to fall to the floor. She was certain that if Clark weren't so badly injured, he would have gotten out of bed to strangle her and demand answers."C-Clark, I was just so scared… You used to love Nyla so much… I was afraid you might rekindle that old flame…" she stammered.Clark sneered. "So, you decided to spill everything online without my permission? You went ahead and made our marriage public?"His gaze, once tender, turned icy.A wave of unfairness swelled inside Jordyn. If he hadn't been photographed hugging Nyla, she might not have been threatened by Rebecca or insulted as a mistress online.The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt.She looked at him with tearful eyes and said, "If you weren't still involved with Nyla and had answered my calls, none of this would have happened! Besides, is there so
Damon's expression darkened as he immediately stood up, instructing coldly, "Keep watching them and have the driver bring the car downstairs."He had an ominous feeling, and his instincts were usually spot-on.…At the restaurant, Nyla was direct. "Mr. Davey, you said you'd only hand over the evidence if we met in person. Can you give it to me now?"Ryan nodded. "Of course."He pulled a file from his bag and handed it to Nyla, his expression solemn. "Ms. Jayston, I hope you can use this evidence wisely and secure justice for my father."If Nyla hadn't suspected that Ryan had ulterior motives, she might have been deceived. He was playing the role of a helpless man seeking justice for his father perfectly—his eyes red and full of frustration."Alright. If the evidence is useful, I will give it to my lawyer as soon as possible," Nyla replied.As she flipped through the file, her face turned pale, and her hands trembled."Are you sure this evidence is real?" she asked."I swear o
Damon clenched his jaw, and anger flared in his eyes. "You were the one who started this. When it ends is up to me."Nyla looked at him coldly. "Damon, don't you think you're being unreasonable? If you really cared about me, you wouldn't have reconciled with Rebecca. Now you're coming back to bother me. Do you want me to be your mistress?"Damon's gaze was icy. "I said I'd need three months.""I've also said that I'm not willing. If you truly feel even a shred of guilt, then stop bothering me," Nyla retorted.She grabbed her bag and turned to leave.Only after she got into the car did her emotions settle.…Back at the restaurant, Damon sat stiffly, his presence radiating coldness.Suddenly, his phone rang.As soon as he answered, a panicked voice came through. "Mr. Damon, you need to come back to the Sumner residence immediately!"…By the time Damon arrived at the residence, over an hour had passed.Walking into the living room, he saw Clark sprawled on the floor—his hair
If Richard really let Clark return to the Sumner Group, who knew? It might just go bankrupt one day."You can go now. There's no need for you to come here anymore. Your affairs are no longer my concern, and I won't deal with you again," Richard said.Clark's eyes flashed with panic as he realized that Richard was truly disappointed in him. He quickly crawled forward and grabbed Richard's leg."Grandpa, I know I was wrong! Please forgive me this once. I promise I'll listen to everything you say from now on," he pleaded.Richard looked down at him, his gaze void of emotion. "I've given you too many chances, and you've never appreciated them. From now on, you're on your own. Whatever you do, you'll have to face the consequences yourself."With that, he turned and left.Clark tried to chase after him, but the service staff stopped him. "Please leave, Mr. Clark.""Get out of my way!" Clark's voice was commanding, but the service staff didn't budge.As Damon stood to leave, he passed
Jordyn hadn't expected Clark to hit her. Too stunned to react, she stumbled back several steps. If she hadn't grabbed onto the cabinet by the entrance, she would have fallen.Her face turned pale as she clutched her stomach, tears welling up in her eyes. "Clark... I'm pregnant... How could you hit me?"Clark sneered. "Why couldn't I? I warned you to take care of yourself and rest, but you stabbed me in the back the first chance you got. You're just a liability. We're getting the divorce papers tomorrow!"Shock flashed across Jordyn's face as she stared at Clark, taking a few moments to process his words."No! I don't agree to a divorce! I won't divorce you!" Jordyn cried.She had worked so hard to marry Clark, and she would rather die than leave him."You don't get a say in this! After the divorce, you can keep the baby or get rid of it. I don't care!" Clark shouted.Realizing he wasn't bluffing, Jordyn panicked. She grabbed his arm, sobbing. "Clark, you can't do this to me! If
Nyla's expression hardened. "We're already divorced. If you show up here again, I'll call the police again."Clark appeared hurt by her words, gazing at her sorrowfully. "I didn't know you hated me this much now..."Nyla turned her head away, unwilling to look at his seemingly affectionate face—it only made her feel sick.After gathering all the necessary information, the police took Clark to the station for questioning. He was eventually bailed out by Jordyn.As soon as Clark exited the police station, he began to walk away, but Jordyn quickly grabbed his arm. "Clark, I know I acted impulsively this time, but we already have a child. Even if you don't care for me, you should think about the child. Besides, if you divorce me now, people will assume you're guilty, and your reputation will suffer even more."Clark coldly shrugged her off. "I don't need your fake kindness. My reputation's already ruined—how much worse can it get? Staying with you will only drag me down further."Aft
Nyla didn't pay any attention to Clark as she walked right past him.Unexpectedly, Clark followed her to her car. "Nyla, if you just take the flowers and breakfast, I'll leave."Nyla frowned, barely holding back the urge to snap at him.Just as she was about to respond, an angry voice cut through the air. "Clark, stay away from Nyla!"Both Clark and Nyla turned to see Gabriel approaching.A flicker of surprise crossed Clark's face before he forced a smile. "Gabriel, what are you doing here?"Gabriel's expression was cold and unyielding. "You and Nyla are divorced. Stay away from her, or you'll have to deal with me!"Clark's smile faded slightly, and his tone chilled. "What happens between Nyla and me is none of your business. Don't forget, you're just her stepbrother. Don't think too highly of yourself!"Gabriel's face darkened immediately.Before he could reply, the sound of an engine starting broke the tense silence—Nyla had driven off without saying another word.The two m
However, that didn't matter anymore. All Jordyn wanted was to stay by Clark's side."When I was talking business with Mr. Durant earlier, there was an accident. I saved his life, and he promised me a favor," Jordyn explained.Clark frowned. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"If Jordyn had told him earlier, he wouldn't have had to forge Prospectus Technology's name to sign contracts with other companies.Not wanting to continue the topic, Jordyn changed the subject. "Did you go see Nyla this morning?""How did you know?" Clark asked.Seeing the accusatory look on his face, Jordyn smiled bitterly. "A friend of mine lives nearby. She saw you and sent me a picture. We're still married, and you're already chasing after Nyla?"Clark rubbed his nose, feeling a little regretful about seeing Nyla earlier. He hadn't expected Jordyn to convince Albert to sign the contract."Jordyn, let's not dwell on the past. You helped me through this, and from now on, I'll be good to you and our chi
Then, Stefan was enveloped by the fragrance.When Valarie's arms wrapped around his waist, his body stiffened as though he had been struck by an electric jolt.Before he could respond, she had already released him.Smiling, she said, "Thanks for dinner and for showing me around campus tonight. Goodnight.""G-Goodnight..." Stefan stammered.As Valarie walked away, the faint scent of gardenias lingered for a moment before fading, leaving Stefan with an inexplicable sense of loss.He stood there, watching her car until it disappeared from view. Only then did he snap back to reality and head toward his dorm.Just as he reached the building, his phone rang. Seeing the name "Michelle" on the screen, he hesitated before stepping aside to answer."What do you want?" he asked."Nothing much. Just wondering how things are going with Valarie," Michelle replied."It's whatever. If that's all, I'm hanging up," Stefan said.A cold laugh echoed from the other end of the line. "Stefan, if y
"Fine, Brandon. Don't regret this!" Jayden snapped and hung up the phone.Brandon set his phone down and walked out of his office.…When Jayden returned to the hospital ward, Michelle looked at him with anticipation. "Jayden, what did Brandon say? Did he agree to come?"Meeting Michelle's hopeful gaze, Jayden pressed his lips together and lowered his eyes, unable to meet hers. "Michelle... Brandon's been really busy with work lately, so he doesn't have time to visit. But once he's less busy, he'll come see you—""You don't have to lie to me," Michelle cut him off, her gaze falling as she gave a self-deprecating smile. "He's not busy… He just doesn't want to come, does he?""Michelle..." Jayden walked over to the bedside, wanting to comfort her, but he didn't know what to say."Jayden, can I have some time alone?" Michelle asked quietly.Seeing the heartbreak on her face, Jayden felt a sharp pang of sadness. He also felt a growing sense of unfairness toward her.She had been i
Valarie raised an eyebrow and called Stefan.The call was answered almost immediately, followed by a nervous voice. "V-Veevee? You're calling me?""Did I interrupt anything?" Valarie asked."N-No! Not at all! I'm just surprised, that's all," Stefan replied.Valarie smiled. "Have you eaten yet?""I... uh... n-not yet... There's a new menu in the cafeteria. It's really good. Want to come try it?" Stefan asked.His cautious, hopeful tone tugged at Valarie's heart."Sure. Give me 20 minutes," Valarie said.After hanging up, she drove straight to Saintosh University.…The moment Valarie parked near the entrance, she saw Stefan walking toward her.She stepped out of the car and met him halfway. "Have you been waiting for me this whole time?"Stefan shook his head. "No, I just got here."As he spoke, he avoided her gaze, his eyes darting nervously.They walked across campus together, Stefan eagerly pointing out buildings and landmarks.Valarie laughed. "You know, I actually at
Valarie pushed him away, her expression impassive. "Say that again when the month is over.""You can trust me. I'll keep my promise," Brandon assured her.A flicker of sarcasm crossed Valarie's face, but she remained silent.She walked into the villa, and only once the door clicked shut behind her did Brandon turn and leave.Back in her bedroom, Valarie collapsed onto the couch, pressing her fingers to her throbbing temples.…The following days passed in a blur of work.Valarie was so consumed that she barely had time to eat.Every now and then, her youthful admirer would text her, asking what she was up to. If she had a free moment, she'd send a brief reply. Otherwise, she ignored him.Thankfully, he was tactful enough not to press when she didn't respond.By Friday evening, the preliminary phase of the project was complete, and Valarie finally had the chance to enjoy a proper weekend.She called Nyla, hoping to meet for drinks.There was a brief pause before Nyla's voice
"Just go, Brandon. I don't want to argue with you here," Valarie said.Upon seeing her cold expression, a sharp pain stabbed at Brandon's chest. Without a word, he turned and walked away.Only when his figure disappeared through the restaurant's doors did the young man finally release Valarie's hand."Are you okay, Veevee?" he asked softly.Valarie exhaled, offering a small smile. "I'm fine. Let's finish eating."But throughout the rest of the meal, she was clearly distracted.The young man noticed and did his best to make her laugh, but her mood remained subdued.After dinner, Valarie offered to drive him back to his university.The drive was quiet, her energy subdued—nothing like the lively spirit she'd had when they first met up.When they reached the campus gate, he turned to her. "Veevee, do you... still have feelings for that guy from earlier?"Valarie hesitated before answering, "No, I'm just tired. Don't overthink it. Get some rest.""When can I see you again? I'll t
Valarie frowned and coldly asked, "Brandon, what are you doing here?"Brandon glared at her, frustration thick in his voice. "Valarie, I should be the one asking you that. You promised me that if I stayed away from Michelle for a month, you'd forgive me. So why are you here, on a date with another man?"His tone dripped with jealousy, but Valarie remained unfazed."I did say that," she replied calmly. "But if I remember correctly, we're already broken up. Who I see and what I do is none of your business, is it?"Brandon's face darkened. "You say we're broken up, but I never agreed to that. We just had a fight. And if you're seeing someone else while we're in a rough patch, that's not fair to us, is it?"Before Valarie could respond, the man across from her spoke up. "It's fine, mister. Even if I'm just a backup for her, I'm willing."The words hung in the air, and the entire restaurant fell silent.Brandon's anger flared, and he let out a laugh, though it was devoid of humor. He
Brandon noticed Nyla's cold attitude and sat down in silence. Neither of them spoke until Damon returned with the fruit."Why so quiet?" he asked.Nyla took the bowl of strawberries from his hands. "Nothing to talk about."Damon looked slightly surprised. Nyla rarely made her feelings about someone so obvious.He turned to Brandon and asked, "Did you do something to upset my wife?"Brandon was speechless.He was innocent! He hadn't even seen Nyla recently—how could he have offended her?Then it hit him. Valarie must have told her everything during her visit earlier. That had to be why Nyla was siding with her friend and giving him the cold shoulder.Realizing this, he grew anxious. "Aunt Nyla, I swear, there was nothing going on between me and that friend. Valarie misunderstood.""Oh," Nyla said flatly. "Then go explain it to her. She's the one dating you, after all."Thinking about Valarie's dinner plans that evening, Nyla suddenly chuckled. If Brandon knew about the younger
"I really don't know. I can barely remember how we even started liking each other. By the time I realized it, we already had feelings," Nyla explained.Seeing how serious Nyla looked, Valarie let out a sigh. "Fine. I guess I'll have to figure it out on my own."The two continued chatting for a while. Just as Valarie was about to leave, Damon walked in.She stood up to greet him but frowned slightly when she saw Brandon following behind him. Without a word, she completely ignored him.Brandon's face darkened for a moment, and he was about to say something when Valarie turned to Nyla and said, "Nyla, I'm heading out.""Okay, I'll walk you out," Nyla offered."No need. I've been here so many times—I know the way," Valarie dismissed.Watching Valarie disappear out the door, Brandon hesitated for a moment before turning to Damon. "Uncle Damon, I need to talk to Valarie. Give me ten minutes."Without waiting for a response, he rushed out after her.When he reached the entrance, he s
Nyla knelt in front of Mason and gently said, "Of course.""Thank you, Mommy!" Mason chirped.For the next week, Mason slept with Nyla and Damon every night. Only after he was completely sure they weren't going anywhere did he finally move back to his own room.…As soon as Valarie found out that Nyla and Damon were back, she drove straight to their house.The moment she saw Nyla, her eyes turned red, and she rushed over to hug her tightly. "I thought you were never coming back! You didn't even tell me—you just disappeared! Do you even consider me a friend?!"Nyla gently patted her back. "I didn't want you to worry.""And that's why you just left without a word?! You're a terrible person!" Valarie whined."Okay, okay, I admit it. I'm awful. I'm sorry, alright? Please don't be mad," Nyla coaxed.Valarie scolded her a little more before finally sitting down on the couch. "So now that you're back, you're not going back to Meristate, right?"Nyla shook her head. "Nope. I have not