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