Nyla glanced at the invitation in Gabriel's hand. She hadn't bought a birthday gift yet, so attending the jewelry auction could be a nice alternative.However, she didn't want to feel obligated to him."No, thanks. I'm not interested," she declined.Gabriel looked a bit helpless. "Nyla, are you still upset about what happened with your dad?"Nyla met his gaze calmly. "This is between me and him. It has nothing to do with you."Gabriel seemed hurt by her response. "But we're family!""To your mom, I've never been considered part of the family. In her eyes, the three of you are the family," Nyla retorted."She's her, and I'm me! To me, you are family," Gabriel insisted, his expression earnest and passionate.Nyla paused before replying, "But we're not destined to be a family."The hallway fell into a heavy silence, their breathing the only sound breaking it.Gabriel's emotions flickered in his eyes. He seemed on the verge of saying something but then composed himself.As if no
Soon, Melody returned, looking dejected. It was clear she was still upset about Gabriel's refusal to accompany her to the jewelry auction.Gabriel smiled gently and said, "Melody, I've been thinking about it. Since I'm free that day too, I'll go with you after all."Melody's eyes lit up with a hint of disbelief. "Really?""Yes," Gabriel replied, his gaze warm and soft. "Since I got the tickets for you, it's only fair I accompany you if Nyla isn't going.""That's great! I'll see you at the auction then!" Melody exclaimed."I'll pick you up from your place," Gabriel said.Melody was momentarily taken aback.Gabriel's change in attitude seemed a bit sudden, but she didn't dwell on it. She was confident that spending time alone with him would increase her chances of winning his affection."Okay, I'll send you the address later," she agreed.The entire afternoon, Melody chatted with Nyla about Gabriel, asking about his past and his preferences in women."Nyla, what kind of outfit
There was a brief pause on the other end before Cyrus' cold voice cut through the silence. "You'd better not fall into my hands, or I'll make sure you wish you were dead."He hung up immediately after that.Nyla took a deep breath to steady her anger and frustration, vowing that she would get another chance to catch him.After changing her clothes, she grabbed her bag and headed out. As she approached the elevator, the doors slid open. She hesitated for a moment when she saw the two people inside.Rebecca, dressed in a white dress, was clinging to Damon's arm, her face bright with a smile. When she saw Nyla, she subconsciously tightened her grip on Damon's arm, and her smile faltered slightly."Ms. Jayston, what a coincidence!" Rebecca greeted, her voice tinged with forced cheerfulness.Nyla considered pretending she hadn't seen them but decided to acknowledge them with a curt nod. "Mm."Damon's gaze briefly skimmed over Nyla's face with indifference, as if she were a stranger
Nyla wasn't ready to forgive Damon. Could he really force her to fall in love with him again?Damon opened the car door and said calmly, "Get in the car."After having the driver take Rebecca home, Damon returned to his office to continue working. Work was the only thing that temporarily distracted him from thoughts of Nyla.Today, however, for some reason, he couldn't concentrate on the documents in his hands. Frustrated, he tossed the files onto his desk, grabbed his car keys, and left the office.…Once Melody and Gabriel had finished ordering at the restaurant, she looked up at him across the table and commented, "Gabriel, I've never been to such a high-end restaurant before. The food here is so expensive."Gabriel smiled, his voice gentle. "Then you should get used to it."He was already handsome, but with his bright smile under the lights, he looked almost glowing—so good-looking that it was hard to look away.Melody's face flushed instantly, and she quickly looked away.
Gabriel contacted the head of the R&D department at a rival company, smiling as he said, "Mr. Palfrey, I have some details about Prospectus Technology's experimental research. Would you be interested?"…As soon as Nyla arrived at the office the next morning, Melody excitedly shared the details of her dinner with Gabriel from the previous night. "Nyla, he's so gentle and handsome. After last night, I think I like him even more!"Seeing Melody's flushed cheeks and lovestruck expression, Nyla couldn't help but smile. "Take it slow. You've only had one dinner, and you're already so excited.""You're right. But I'll keep trying and aim to win him over soon, so I can become your sister-in-law!" Melody gushed.Nyla's smile brightened. "Go for it. I believe in you!"Just then, the office door opened, and Gabriel walked in, smiling."What are you two so happy about?" he asked.Melody's cheeks flushed again at the sight of him. She shook her head quickly. "Nothing. We need to start the
Valarie sneered. "I didn't name anyone specifically. Why are you so quick to take offense? Have you been a mistress for so long that you're feeling guilty?""You!" Jordyn was about to retort, but Clark held her back."Enough. The auction is about to start. Let's go in," he said.If Jordyn and Valarie started arguing at the entrance, it would only reflect poorly on him.Jordyn shook off his hand, fuming. "Clark, I'm your wife, but you always defend others. Are you still thinking about that tramp, Nyla?"The moment the words left her mouth, Valarie slapped her.The sharp sound of the slap echoed, leaving a red handprint on Jordyn's face."How dare you hit me?!" Jordyn hissed, raising her hand to strike Valarie, but the latter grabbed her wrist and slapped her again on the other side of her face.Valarie smirked. "That's better. If you keep running your mouth about tramps, I won't let you off the hook!"Jordyn, furious, tried to fight back, but Valarie pushed her into Clark's arm
Nyla glanced away, her expression neutral, and lowered her gaze without saying anything.Valarie, sounding somewhat aggrieved, remarked, "I really don't understand what Damon sees in her. She dumped him years ago, and now he's getting back with her? It's like he's begging for humiliation!"Upon thinking about how Damon had left Nyla for Rebecca, Valarie's irritation flared."Enough about him. The auction's about to start, and you don't want to miss out on the jewelry you're interested in," Nyla reminded her."No worries. The piece I want is the final item," Valarie replied.While they spoke, Jordyn, who sat diagonally behind them, watched with barely concealed resentment. She placed a hand on her lower abdomen and frowned. "Clark, my stomach hurts a bit. I'm going to the restroom."Clark's impatience flickered in his eyes. "What's the matter? The auction is about to begin."Jordyn, who had never been to such an event before, noticed that everyone was dressed casually, and it wou
After a moment of hesitation, Jordyn decided to cancel her plans with the waiter.Rebecca was right—there would be plenty of chances to deal with Nyla later. There was no need to act hastily without confidence in her success. Let Nyla stay arrogant a little longer!…Back at the event, the auction was already underway.The current item up for bid was a pink diamond necklace. The main diamond was heart-shaped, surrounded by 99 smaller diamonds that sparkled like stars around the moon. It was breathtaking, and Jordyn's attention was instantly captivated."Clark, this necklace is stunning. I want it. Can you bid on it for me?" she asked.Clark didn't respond, but his gaze remained fixed on the necklace. He imagined how beautiful it would look on Nyla's neck. During his business trips, he often bought her necklaces, as her collarbones were so elegant that any jewelry seemed to enhance her beauty.The bidding for the necklace soon began.When Clark didn't answer her, Jordyn frowned