Damon nodded with a smile. "Alright. What would you like for lunch? I'll bring it to you."Nyla was taken aback by Damon's unexpectedly pleasant demeanor. She hesitated for a moment before replying awkwardly, "No need. I've bought groceries and will cook for myself.""Okay. If you're free tonight, we—" Damon began."I'm not free," Nyla interrupted, slamming the door in his face.A trace of helplessness crossed Damon's expression as he watched the door close. He then turned and left with a smile.Once he was gone, Nyla took a moment to calm herself before returning to the living room to study.…In the afternoon, Valarie came over."Nyla, why did you suddenly move back here? What if Gabriel comes looking for you again?" she asked."He won't come during the day. I need to start looking for a place of my own anyway. I can't stay at your place forever," Nyla replied.Valarie looked slightly displeased. She had intended to offer that Nyla could stay at her house for as long as nee
"Gabriel, do you really have to be this disgusting?" Nyla snapped.Her blatant disgust and anger made Gabriel's smile falter.After a long pause, he finally met her gaze and said seriously, "Nyla, one day you'll realize that I'm the one who's truly right for you.""I would never like you. You're like a rat in a sewer—dark, filthy, and repugnant. Who could like someone like that?" Nyla shot back.Gabriel smiled at her description. "You're right."Even a rat in the sewer wanted to see the sunlight and reach for it.Gabriel left, but his words lingered over Nyla like a shadow she couldn't shake off.Valarie looked at her with concern. "Nyla, maybe you should come stay with me. I feel like Gabriel has lost it, and I'm worried about what he might do."She couldn't understand how the gentle boy she had known could transform into the menacing and terrifying man he was now.Nyla shook her head. She couldn't stay at Valarie's place forever. "No need. If he keeps bothering me, I'll just
Damon's end of the line was silent. After a moment, he hung up.For the next month, Damon did not appear before Nyla. Other than occasional updates from Valarie, Nyla had no further encounters with him.Nyla spent her days immersed in her studies. It wasn't until her period was delayed by more than a week that she began to feel uneasy.However, recalling her previous body checkup results, which indicated she was infertile, provided some comfort. She reassured herself that the delay must be due to the stress of studying.Despite her attempts to calm herself, anxiety lingered. She donned her coat and went downstairs to the pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test. She needed confirmation before she could truly relax.Half an hour later, Nyla's eyes widened in shock as she saw two lines on the test. Wasn't she supposed to be infertile?Moreover, she had taken a contraceptive pill for added safety—how could she still be pregnant?After the initial shock, panic set in.Nyla quickly made an
Clark was visibly agitated, his eyes reddened, and he nearly slammed the report in Nyla's face.Nyla pushed him away, her expression filled with disgust. "What does it have to do with you?""Whose child is it? No, wait... You were supposed to be infertile. How could you be pregnant?" Clark demanded.His anger slowly shifted to confusion, and then to a hint of suspicion.Nyla grabbed the report back from him. "This is my business. What does it have to do with you?""Of course it matters! If you hadn't been unable to conceive for three years, and if the checkup hadn't shown you were infertile, we wouldn't have ended up like this!" Clark exclaimed.Nyla was infuriated by his shamelessness. "Clark, don't use my infertility as an excuse for your affair. Even if I am pregnant, it doesn't excuse your cheating. And since the report said I was infertile, but I'm pregnant, you'd better get yourself checked too, so you don't end up mistakenly thinking you're the father.""Say that again?!"
However, in the next moment, Clark found his suspicion somewhat laughable. If he were truly infertile, how could Jordyn be pregnant?On the other end of the line, Michael spoke up after a brief silence. "Mr. Sumner, is there anything else you need?"Clark's voice was low and firm. "No, that's all."He had initially considered asking Michael to schedule another body check-up, but now he felt it was unnecessary.Just after ending the call, Clark walked into the obstetrics and gynecology department.Jordyn was coming out of the doctor's office, holding a report and smiling."Clark, the doctor says the baby is healthy," she said."Great. Since the check-up is done, let's go," he replied curtly, not waiting for her reaction as he turned and walked away.To Clark, merely accompanying Jordyn to the prenatal check-up was already a significant gesture. He had no interest in the finer details or in taking care of her. After all, Jordyn had nothing and wouldn't leave him, even for money.
Clark had essentially been cheated on!Seeing Clark's grim expression, Michael lowered his head and said nothing.Although others might not realize it, he was well aware that Clark had been keeping tabs on Nyla despite their divorce. It was clear that, even though he hated her, he still had feelings for her. Learning that she was pregnant with Damon's child would naturally infuriate him."Mr. Sumner—" Michael began."Get out!" Clark roared.Michael quickly turned and left. As soon as he closed the office door, he heard the sound of objects being thrown inside.…After lunch, Nyla suddenly remembered while resting on the sofa that she had taken birth control pills before—so why was she still pregnant?She hurriedly opened her medicine cabinet and found the pills she had taken. To her shock, they had expired over a year ago!She couldn't help but smack her forehead. How could she have not checked the expiration date of the pills when she took them? How could she have been so car
Nyla pulled Valarie to the end of the hallway and said softly, "The baby is Damon's."Valarie's eyes widened in shock. "Damon? When did this happen?"She had thought Nyla and Damon were completely over, so hearing that Nyla was pregnant with his child was startling.Nyla's gaze flickered as she lowered her eyes. "It was an accident... We were both drunk...""How much did you drink to end up like this? And does Damon know about your pregnancy?" Valarie asked.Nyla shook her head. "He doesn't know, and there's no need to tell him. I don't plan on getting back together with him."Valarie fell silent. For Nyla, keeping the baby wasn't feasible right now, but..."What if Damon finds out someday?" Valarie asked.Nyla remained indifferent. "Even if he finds out, it won't change anything between us.""Alright then..." Valarie looked at Nyla's slightly pale face with sympathy.Nyla pleaded, "Valarie, can you please sign for me? Let's just say this baby and I are not meant to be..."D
Nyla was irritated by the persistent knocking and slowly walked out of her bedroom. She asked, "Valarie, who's at the door?"Valarie turned to her and said softly, "It's Damon."Nyla's hand, resting on the doorframe, grew pale from tension, and her already wan face seemed even more drawn.After a moment of silence, she finally said, "Let him in."Since Damon was already aware of the situation, she couldn't avoid him forever or remain hidden indefinitely."But you—" Valarie's gaze involuntarily dropped to Nyla's stomach, filled with concern.Nyla forced a smile. "It's okay."She had known that a day like this would come the moment she discovered she was pregnant."Alright then," Valarie replied and opened the door.An immediate chill ran down Nyla's spine. Facing Damon up close felt far more oppressive than seeing him through the peephole. An icy dread seemed to rise from her feet.Damon's eyes were calm, but his expression was cold and unreadable. Still, Valarie could sense t
Jane could make a promise like this to obtain shares in Prospectus Technology, but who could guarantee she wouldn't go back on her word in the future for her own benefit?Besides, Damon would never give her an opportunity to join Prospectus Technology.Her expression changed again, clearly unprepared for Damon's blunt refusal.Yet, if she kept the 10% shares of the Wilkie Group, she would gain nothing. Worse, Pedro might pressure her into giving them to Theo.Rather than let the shares go to waste, she'd rather sell them."Mr. Sumner, can we reconsider? Even if it's just 0.5% of your shares, I'd be willing to accept that," she negotiated.Damon remained unmoved. "Ms. Wilkie, please leave."Jane studied his resolute expression and finally understood—acquiring shares in Prospectus Technology was no longer an option.Taking a deep breath, she met his gaze directly. "Mr. Sumner, since you're unwilling to exchange shares, how about I sell you the 10% I own in the Wilkie Group?"Dam
Pedro scowled as he said coldly, "She's about to leave the country. What's the point of holding so many shares?"It's not that we're unwilling to give her money, but you all know the situation at the Wilkie Group. Even if we were to give her the money, it will have to wait until the company stabilizes."Jane sneered. "You make it sound so reasonable. If I handed over all my shares to Theo, I'd be lucky to see a penny from him. That's assuming he'd even bother to get my name right!"Pedro glared at her. "Are you really going to push me?""You're the one forcing me," Jane replied, her voice icy. "Even if the shares rot in my hands, I'll never give them to Theo!""Fine! You're a truly good granddaughter!" Pedro snapped, his voice brimming with fury.The meeting ended on a sour note, with everyone leaving in frustration.…Back at the villa, Ruth sat beside Jane. "Now that they couldn't get the shares, they'll surely come up with other ways to take them from you. Jane, don't let yo
Theo's expression darkened as he stepped forward, looking down at Jane. "Say that again!"Jane raised an eyebrow. "What? You can't take it? Want to make a move?""You!" Theo clenched his fists, and for a moment, he was tempted to strike Jane."Enough!" Pedro's sharp voice echoed. "Isn't this enough chaos? Keep quiet, both of you!"Theo's expression changed, and he took a deep breath, saying nothing more.Jane knew she was no longer in line to inherit the Wilkie Group. She had become a mere pawn, no longer of any use to Pedro, so there was no need to pay her much attention.She glanced at Pedro, her voice flat. "Grandpa, you called me here today just to talk about Gabriel being arrested?"Pedro frowned. "Gabriel's arrest will damage the Wilkies' reputation. Stay home for a while and finish your travel documents. I want you to leave the country."Jane sneered. "Got it."She knew she was now a discarded pawn in Pedro's eyes. Of course, he would want her to leave as soon as possib
If Falcon didn't make contact within a month, it would mean something had happened to them."Alright, I understand," Spencer replied.He turned and left the office, sighing once outside. He could only hope they couldn't reach Falcon because of some kind of accident, not something worse.Once the office door closed, Damon's gaze darkened.If he wasn't mistaken, Falcon had likely been found by the Nixons, though Damon wasn't sure whether they were alive or dead.The Nixons, the hidden power behind Drake, were far bigger and more mysterious than he had imagined.While he was lost in thought, his phone suddenly rang.Upon seeing that it was Gabriel, his expression immediately turned cold.As soon as he answered, Gabriel's furious voice came through. "Damon, are you really going to drive me to the brink?"The legal team from Prospectus Technology had filed a lawsuit against Nyce Tech for illegally stealing trade secrets and submitted evidence of other criminal activities to the cou
"It's going alright. We're slowly getting back on track, but I'm still worried. I don't know if this is the right call," Damon answered.Using the money in Mason's account might save Prospectus Technology, or it could drag him further into trouble.Nyla looked at him, her voice soft. "Right or wrong, it's the only option right now. We'll just have to take it one step at a time. It won't be any harder than it is now."If Prospectus Technology went bankrupt, they didn't know how Gabriel would retaliate against their family. As long as the company remained intact, they would be safe."I'll protect you and Buddy, no matter what. No one will hurt you," Damon vowed.He had already decided that if things went south, he would find a way to get Nyla and Mason to safety.The oil was reaching temperature as they spoke.Nyla dropped the meatballs in. "Don't worry so much. We'll be fine. The three of us will be alright."Damon walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her with a hum.
Not long after Tom left, Gabriel's secretary rushed into the office, panic in his voice. "Mr. Hackett, I can't find where the money for Prospectus Technology came from. It's as if it just appeared out of nowhere. I—""Get out!" Gabriel's bloodshot eyes and contorted face radiated fury, making him look terrifying.The secretary froze, then quickly turned and left, shutting the door behind him.It was over.With Prospectus Technology saved, Gabriel had lost his leverage over Damon. And with it, Gabriel's chance of being with Nyla was gone too...."Mr. Sumner, with this new investment, the company will be back on track soon. I'll start reaching out to the employees who left. If any of them are willing to return, we can reinstate them right away," Spencer said with a smile in Damon's office."Got it. Go ahead and handle it," Damon replied."Understood!" Spencer chirped before exiting the room.Damon opened a file on his desk, but his thoughts kept wandering.He wasn't sure if us
Nyla went upstairs while Damon returned to his study.Instead of diving into his paperwork, he sat at his desk, wrestling with the dilemma of whether to use the money in Mason's account to save Prospectus Technology. Hours later, he made a decision....The next morning, Damon left for the office after breakfast.Meanwhile, Mason was heading upstairs to change when Nyla called him back. "Buddy, starting today, you don't need to go to school. You'll stay home with me for a while to study instead."Mason blinked in surprise. "Why?"Nyla stroked his hair, her tone gentle. "I'm not working right now, so I can help you practice writing at home. We'll do this for a while before you go back to school. Does that sound good?"School wasn't that important to Mason, so he nodded easily. "Okay."Relieved that he didn't press for more details, Nyla let out a soft sigh. Lying to kids could be exhausting.At the office…Damon had just stepped in when Spencer arrived, his expression grim.
Mason hadn't expected his master to say they'd meet in person soon."Of course. Have I ever lied to you?" the young man replied."No!" Mason chirped.After hanging up the phone, the thought of meeting his master lifted Mason's spirits. He jumped off the toilet, phone in hand, and walked out of the bathroom.Back in his room, a knock came at the door."Buddy, are you in there? Can you open the door? Daddy wants to talk to you," Damon said.Hearing Damon's gentle voice, Mason hesitated briefly but eventually opened the door."Daddy, if you're here to ask about my master like Mommy, I'm not going to tell you," he stated.Damon smiled, reaching out to pat Mason's head. "Don't worry. I'm not going to ask. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. Mommy and I talked earlier, and she won't press you on it anymore either. She was just worried, that's all.""My master wouldn't hurt me!" Mason defended."I know, Buddy. Mommy's just concerned about you. She already feels bad
Nyla had wanted to discuss things properly with Mason, to make him open up slowly and tell her the truth.Now, she felt the urgency to figure out how that money had come about as soon as possible.She rarely spoke so sternly to Mason, so he was startled and dropped the block on the floor.Mason's eyes were red, but he stared at Nyla defiantly, refusing to speak.Nyla pressed, "Buddy, who is this master of yours?"Why would they give Mason so much money out of the blue?"I won't say!" Mason responded firmly.Nyla's brow furrowed in anger as her patience wore thin. "If you don't tell me, I'll take away all your electronics starting today."Mason yelled, "I hate you, Mommy! You're not the loving mommy you used to be anymore!"After shouting, he spun on his heel and ran upstairs.Moments later, the slam of his door echoed through the villa.Hearing the commotion, Damon emerged from the study and walked into the living room. He saw Nyla standing there, visibly upset."What happe