Damon's expression remained indifferent. "I've said it before: once you personally apologize to Nyla, Prospectus Technology and the Preston Group will resume their cooperation."Nathaniel gritted his teeth, clearly frustrated that Damon was still fixated on this issue after so long. His face darkened. "Damon, after all these years of brotherhood, must you make things so ugly?"Rebecca's expression flickered briefly. Sitting nearby with her head lowered, she was not noticed by either of the men."You made things ugly yourself. Apologize, or leave now. Prospectus Technology will never work with the Preston Group again," Damon stated dismissively.Damon's cold demeanor felt like a personal affront to Nathaniel as if Damon were disregarding their years of friendship entirely. In that case, Nathaniel decided it was pointless to make things harder for himself.He stood up and looked down at Damon, his voice icy. "Damon, you will regret this. I won't come begging again, and we are no lon
Troy frowned, wanting to persuade Nathaniel further, but fell silent when faced with Nathaniel's angry gaze. After all, Nathaniel was his boss."Alright. I'll contact Steven right away," he said.After Troy left, Nathaniel gripped the documents in his hand, his eyes flashing with a frenzied intensity. As long as Nyla was out of the way, everything would fall into place....In the evening, Nyla was deeply engrossed in solving a problem when the doorbell abruptly interrupted her concentration.She got up with a frown and went to the door. Her displeasure was evident when she saw Damon on the other side.She opened the door and looked at him blankly. "Mr. Sumner, is there something you need?""I brought you some food and thought I'd check on your recovery," Damon replied.Nyla glanced at the thermal container in his hand. There was a flicker in her gaze, but she didn't take it."I'm fine. Please tell the caregiver not to bring any more food. There's no need for us to keep meetin
When Nyla saw that it was Clark, a flash of wariness crossed her eyes. She immediately went to the security office to report the situation.Two security guards quickly went downstairs to her building and caught Clark lurking around. They promptly escorted him out of the complex.Clark's face was particularly grim when he saw Nyla standing at the security office, and his humiliation was evident.He approached the security office door and said coldly, "Nyla, come out. I have something to ask you!"With four to five security guards present, Nyla felt secure and wasn't worried about what Clark might do. She stepped outside but stopped a few meters away from him."What do you want to ask?" she inquired.Although she preferred not to engage with Clark, she didn't want him pestering her and affecting her mood either.Clark gritted his teeth and asked in a low voice, "Was the infertility report you gave me back then something you deliberately faked to avoid having my child?!"His tone
Clark stood for a moment before leaving. On his way back, he couldn't resist calling Michael. "Michael, arrange a medical check-up for me."Michael's voice, filled with concern, came through the line. "Mr. Sumner, is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?""Just do as I asked. Since when did you start asking so many questions?" Clark snapped, hanging up coldly.His mood was at an all-time low, wrestling with the possibility of infertility and the fear that it might be true.He pulled over to the side of the road, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself. The check-up would reveal the truth. There was no way he could be infertile.And surely, Jordyn wouldn't deceive him!Upon thinking of Jordyn, Clark's gaze hardened. He drove straight to her place.…"Clark, what brings you here? Have you eaten?" Jordyn's eyes lit up with delight as she quickly stepped aside to let him in.Clark entered the living room with a blank expression and sat on the sofa, his cold eyes fixed on
Clark briefly flipped through the reports, handed them back to Jordyn, and said indifferently, "Remember to keep these safe."Jordyn took the reports. After placing them back in the drawer, she turned to face Clark. "Clark, is something wrong today? You seem a bit off."Her unease grew as she wondered if he had discovered something.Clark squinted slightly and, after a few seconds, said, "It's nothing. I'm probably just tired from work.""Then lie down on the sofa, and I'll give you a massage," Jordyn offered."No need. I have work at the company. I just came to see you. Get some rest," Clark replied.Normally, Jordyn would have tried to persuade Clark to stay, but she had her own concerns and didn't push the issue today.Once she confirmed that Clark's car had left, she immediately called Rebecca. "Rebecca, did you say something to Clark?""What do you mean?" Rebecca asked.Jordyn sneered. "What do I mean? Clark suddenly showed up tonight asking to see my prenatal check-up re
On the way back, Jordyn felt an unsettling gnawing at the back of her mind, unable to shake her worries. She decided to have someone look into Clark.…Less than three days later, Clark's test results arrived. He was having lunch when he received a call from the doctor."Mr. Sumner, your test results are in. If you have time, you should come in," the doctor informed him.Clark's heart sank due to the serious tone in the doctor's voice. "Is there a problem with the results?""Yes, it's difficult to explain over the phone. It's better if you come in," the doctor replied.…Within half an hour, Clark arrived at the hospital.When the doctor saw him, he sighed and handed over the test report. "Mr. Sumner... according to the results, you have azoospermia."Clark took the report in disbelief. As he scanned the page, it felt like the world was spinning, and he could barely stand.Azoospermia? How could this be?It was absurd!Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Clark looked at
After ending the call, Clark called Jordyn. "Where are you now?"Upon hearing the suppressed anger in Clark's voice, Jordyn's anxiety spiked. She bit her lip and instinctively lied, "I'm out shopping... What's wrong?""Get home right now. I need to talk to you!" Clark snapped."Okay…" Jordyn replied.Quickly, she contacted the investigator she had hired to look into Clark, her voice filled with tension. "What did you find out?""I was just about to call you. Other than going to the hospital for a check-up, Clark hasn't done anything unusual," the investigator reported."What?!" Jordyn's face went pale. Given Clark's recent strange behavior, she immediately concluded that he must be onto her."I understand," she said before hanging up.Jordyn rushed to her bedroom, hastily gathering her jewelry, cards, and some clothes. She stuffed them into a suitcase and hurried out of the house.…On the way to Jordyn's place, Clark received a call from Michael."Mr. Sumner, the report fro
Michael turned his gaze forward at Jordyn's silence, his expression unreadable.They soon arrived at her building. As she entered the living room, she saw Clark sitting on the couch. His gaze was as icy as if he were staring at a corpse, sending a shiver down her spine."Clark..." Jordyn called out, stopping a few steps away, too afraid to move closer.Clark smiled, but it was cruel and terrifying.A chill gripped Jordyn's heart, and she instinctively stepped back. "Clark, I know I was wrong. Please, let me go... I did it because I love you so much..."Tears filled her eyes, her face contorted with fear. Clark's menacing demeanor made her feel like he could snap and strangle her at any moment."You love me so much?" Clark's smile twisted into something sinister.He glared at her, speaking slowly. "You love me so much that you deliberately swapped my and Nyla's test results, stirred up trouble to make us divorce, and now you want me to believe that this bastard in your womb is mi
"That's more like it," Valarie chirped.Nyla couldn't help but say, "Valarie, stop bullying Brandon all the time."Brandon turned to her and sighed dramatically. "Aunt Nyla, since you mentioned it, I have to say something. You have no idea what I've been through these past six months, I— Ouch!"Before he could finish, Valarie pinched his waist. "What was that? Tell me, Brandon. Have you been unhappy these past six months?""N-No... I've been very happy..." Brandon winced."Have I bullied you then?" Valarie pressed."No..." Brandon murmured.Valarie huffed. "If not, then keep your mouth shut, or Nyla will really think I mistreat you." Brandon gave her a pitiful look, lowering his head like a scolded puppy.Before they married, Valarie had been gentle and beautiful in his eyes. But after marriage, he realized how wrong he had been.Gentle and beautiful? All an illusion.If he stayed out drinking and came home late, he'd have to choose between sleeping on the couch or outside.
Taking Mia to work was exhausting, but every time she smiled at Damon, it made everything worth it."She'll be fine. Didn't you just say she loves us both equally? She'll cry for a bit, but if you stop taking her to the office, she'll get used to being at home," Nyla reasoned.Seeing Nyla's determination, Damon finally relented. "Alright, we'll try it tomorrow. But if she cries too much, you'll have to take her to the office.""Deal!" Nyla said....After getting ready for work the next morning, Damon kissed Mia on the cheek and headed for the door.As soon as he changed his shoes at the entrance, she reached her little arms toward him, asking to be held. She had grown so accustomed to going to the office with him every day that it had become a reflex.Damon glanced at Nyla. "Nyla, maybe today we should—"Nyla interrupted, "Nope. You go to work. And if you're free for lunch, don't bother coming home. If you need to work late, no rush to come back either."Damon chuckled. "You'
"Brandon, from now on, I'm entrusting Valarie to you," Jonathan said. "She's been spoiled by us and can be a little willful at times. I hope you'll be patient with her in your marriage, and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together."Brandon held Valarie's hand tightly, his expression solemn. "Dad, don't worry. I'll cherish her with all my heart."Jonathan nodded, stepping down from the stage. He discreetly wiped away his tears.After exchanging vows and rings, Valarie and Brandon sealed their love with a kiss, surrounded by cheers and applause.…On the way home from the wedding, Nyla glanced at Damon. "I saw Mr. Weir wipe his tears so many times today. When Bunny gets married, you'll definitely be just like him, sneaking off somewhere to cry."Damon's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his gaze sharpening. "No one will ever be good enough for my daughter. If she never gets married, we'll take care of her for the rest of our lives."Nyla raised an eyebrow and
"Of course! When's the wedding?" Nyla asked.Valarie shook her head. "We haven't decided yet. He'll come to my house in a few days to discuss it with my parents."Nyla raised an eyebrow. "You're about to get really busy. Planning a wedding alone will take a lot of work.""Yeah, I'm already getting a headache just thinking about it," Valarie replied....For the next few months, Valarie was completely consumed by wedding preparations and work, barely having time to catch her breath.The wedding was set for August 8th, leaving them with less than six months to finalize everything.Valarie even traveled abroad several times to meet with designers and ensure her wedding dress was exactly what she wanted.Beyond the dress, she and Brandon spent hours discussing every detail—from the venue to the wedding favors and bouquet choices....After months of nonstop planning, the big day finally arrived.Valarie was already up, getting her hair and makeup done at 2:00 a.m.By the time N
Valarie looked up and saw the approaching glow.When the figure finally stopped in front of her, she realized it was Brandon.Frowning, she asked, "Where did you go? I waited so long for you. And what are you hiding behind your back?"Brandon flipped his phone face-down on the table, revealing the flowers he had hidden. Then he dropped to one knee."Valarie, I had planned a perfect proposal for you, but when you asked earlier about the meaning of wearing a wedding dress, I knew I couldn't wait any longer."Before I met you, my life revolved solely around work. I never paused for anyone—I never cared whether the sun was rising or setting, or if the moon was full or waning. But everything changed after I met you."I began cherishing the thought of greeting you every morning, sharing meals with you, and standing by your side for life."Valarie, I want every morning to begin with us waking up together, and every night to end with us holding each other as we fall asleep."Finally, B
Of course, every time they visited Valarie's home, Phoebe would subtly—or sometimes not so subtly—hint that they should get married.Brandon had always assumed Valarie wasn't interested in marriage since she never responded to those hints. He hadn't considered proposing.But today, seeing her so excited about picking out baby clothes made him start to imagine a future with her—building a family, raising a child.That thought filled his heart with warmth.After more than three hours of shopping, they finally left the mall, their arms full of bags.Once they loaded everything into the car, Valarie turned to Brandon. "I'm starving. Let's grab something to eat."Brandon nodded. "Sure. What are you in the mood for?""I'm not picky. Is there anything good around here? I don't feel like going too far," she replied.Brandon paused, then said, "There's a place with ethnic cuisine nearby. I went there once for a business meeting—it was pretty authentic. Want to give it a try?""Sounds g
Nyla was silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright. If you ever need Damon to help figure out Brandon's thoughts, just let me know.""I will. Don't worry about us, though. You just gave birth. Your main priority should be resting," Valarie said."Okay," Nyla replied.Valarie lingered in the bedroom for a while, but when she saw Nyla looking tired, she stood up and left.Downstairs, only Brandon was in the living room.Valarie walked over to him and asked, "Where's Damon?""He had something to take care of for work, so he went to the study. How's Aunt Nyla?" Brandon asked."She seems to be doing well, and the baby is adorable. Oh, right, I forgot to ask what the baby's name is. I only know her nickname is Bunny," Valarie said.Just thinking about Mia Sumner's cute little face made Valarie smile. She was already looking forward to the day the baby would call her godmother.A flicker of something crossed Brandon's eyes. "You really like kids, huh?""Of course! I've said befor
Once they were in the car, Nyla suddenly recalled Damon's phone call earlier. "By the way, what did Alexander want?"After a brief pause, Damon glanced at her. "He said Ms. Kinsey left you an inheritance and asked when we'd be able to go to Meristate to take care of it."Nyla pressed her lips together before replying, "Call him later and tell him to donate it or keep it for himself. I don't want it.""Alright," Damon replied.When they arrived home, Damon helped Nyla settle onto the couch, placing a pillow behind her back for support. Then, he said seriously, "Nyla, you've been through enough. Let's not have any more kids after this."During her first pregnancy with Mason, Damon hadn't been around, so he hadn't realized how difficult it was for her.Now, experiencing this pregnancy with her, every checkup and blood draw made his heart ache.Once Nyla gave birth, he planned to get a vasectomy. Two kids were enough for them.Nyla shot him a look. "This wasn't exactly planned, was
More than half an hour later, Nyla finally stirred from her nap.When she opened her eyes, she found Damon sitting by her bed, watching her. She froze for a moment, caught off guard.Rubbing her eyes, she realized he was still there and confirmed she wasn't dreaming.She slowly sat up, her voice still heavy with sleep. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in your study working?""I missed you, so I came to see you," Damon replied.Nyla narrowed her eyes. "You definitely have something to say if you're here all of a sudden."Damon chuckled, a little helpless. "I guess I can't fool you.""Of course not. I know you too well. Ever since I got pregnant, you've never come to see me like this in the afternoon," Nyla said."Alright. Go freshen up first, and I'll wait for you downstairs," Damon suggested."Okay," Nyla replied.After washing up, she went downstairs and sat beside Damon. "Alright, tell me. What's going on? You're acting all mysterious."Damon hesitated for a moment befo