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
Taking note of the chilling aura surrounding Clark, Michael couldn't help but shiver with fear and nodded. "Okay. I understand."After Michael left, Clark also drove away. Unwittingly, he found himself at the entrance of Nyla's apartment complex.Memories of their past together filled him with a mixture of regret, both sour and bitter. If he hadn't been tempted by Jordyn, if he had been more resolute, he and Nyla wouldn't have ended up like this.Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure—Nyla, slowly heading toward the entrance of the complex while carrying two heavy bags.The weight of the bags forced her to stop and rest every few meters.As Clark hesitated about whether to get out of the car, one of Nyla's bags broke, spilling the fruits onto the ground.Taking a deep breath, Clark exited the car and walked swiftly toward Nyla.Nyla was picking up the fallen apples when she saw Clark approaching. She immediately frowned, and her gaze grew guarded."What are you doing here?" she
Nyla looked at Valarie. "What do you mean, giving each other looks? Just eat. I made your favorite—spicy chicken."Valarie nodded. "Okay."As they ate, Damon glanced at Brandon. "When are you going back to the company?"It had been nearly a month since Brandon left the Sumner Group. If he stayed away much longer, the people he had trained might start siding with someone else.Brandon paused mid-bite, instinctively glancing at Valarie across the table. She didn't even look his way.After a brief silence, he lowered his gaze. "In a few days.""Alright." Damon didn't press the issue.Brandon was the CEO of the Sumner Group. Damon couldn't keep treating him like a subordinate.Halfway through the meal, Brandon's phone rang.Seeing Jayden's name on the screen, he frowned and ignored it. But the phone rang again. And again.After declining multiple calls, he realized the others at the table were all looking at him.He picked up the phone. "It might be urgent."Stepping aside, he
"I just wanted to see if you'd tell me the truth. Now I know—you don't trust me," Jayden said.Michelle cried, "Fine! I admit it. I sent Stefan after Valarie. I wanted him to ruin her relationship with Brandon! Go ahead and tell Brandon if you want! I don't care!"She stood, ready to leave.Before she reached the door, Jayden's voice echoed behind her."I won't tell Brandon," he said. "But I won't help you anymore, either. There's still time to stop this. You can walk away now."Michelle's footsteps faltered momentarily, but she didn't turn back. She had never regretted her choices—why would she stop now?As long as she could have Brandon in the end, she wouldn't give up.If Jayden refused to help, she'd just have to figure it out on her own.…That evening, as Valarie got off work, she received a call from Nyla."Valarie, come over for dinner tonight! Oh, and by the way, I sent you a thank-you gift last night. Make sure you accept it," Nyla said.Valarie had seen Nyla's mon
"Whether or not you're having me followed, who I choose to spend time with is my business. I hope you'll stop prying into my private life," Valarie said.Brandon grabbed her wrist, his voice low and firm. "Valarie, the month is almost up. Don't forget the promise you made."She pulled away. "There's still a week left. We'll talk when the time comes."With that, she turned and left.Brandon watched her go, frustration darkening his face.The anonymous photos he'd received that morning were still fresh in his mind, making his expression even stormier.Forcing himself to stay calm, he pulled out his phone and called his assistant. "Find out who sent those photos to my email this morning."After hanging up, his mood remained grim. It was time to give Stefan a warning.Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang again.His eyes flickered with annoyance at the unfamiliar number. Without hesitation, he rejected the call and blocked it.Ever since he'd cut off Michelle, she'd been
Valarie turned to the couch and saw Stefan sitting there, watching her with concern."You stayed here all night?" she asked, surprised."Yeah." He nodded. "You drank too much last night. I was worried about you, so I stayed to look after you.""That must've been exhausting," Valarie remarked.Stefan shook his head. "It wasn't. How do you feel now? I bought you breakfast and made you honey water this morning. If your head hurts, the honey water should help.""I'll wash my face first." Valarie got out of bed and went to the bathroom.While freshening up, she noticed several faint red marks on her neck and chest—suspiciously like hickeys. She frowned slightly.When she stepped out, Stefan was still on the couch, looking especially well-behaved.Valarie sat across from him, pointed at her neck, and asked bluntly, "Did you do this?"The moment the words left her mouth, Stefan's face turned bright red. He lowered his head, avoiding her gaze. "I... I couldn't help myself. But I swear
After placing Valarie on the couch, Stefan stepped out of the private room to answer the call.Michelle sneered. "Stefan, tomorrow is the deadline for your mother's medical bill, and you haven't made any progress."Looks like you really don't care about the money. Or… have you gotten close to Valarie and don't need it anymore?"What a pity. Valarie still doesn't know you have ulterior motives. Do you want me to help tell her?"Stefan lowered his head, his eyes dark with emotion. "I'll send the photos in a bit."He hung up without hesitation.Slipping his phone back into his pocket, he didn't return to the private room immediately. Instead, he leaned against the wall and lit a cigarette. The swirling smoke obscured his features, making it impossible to read his expression.It felt like his entire life had been shrouded in darkness since birth. No matter how hard he fought, he could never break free.His phone buzzed with a new message from Michelle.Michelle: [Stefan, your mo
Nyla continued. "And Buddy?""Mr. Mason has already gone to bed," Lydia reported.Nyla nodded, then turned and made her way to the study.She gently pushed the door open and saw Damon fast asleep on the couch. Quietly, she stepped inside.The couch wasn't very big—perfect for her to nap on while reading. But for someone as tall as Damon, it looked rather cramped.As she moved closer, she noticed he hadn't even loosened his tie before falling asleep. A flicker of distress crossed her eyes. He must have been exhausted from all the wedding preparations.Carefully, she reached out, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt. Then she grabbed a blanket and draped it over him.After making sure he was comfortable, she left the room as quietly as she had entered.Since she wasn't sleepy yet, she decided to sit in the living room for a while.Just as she settled on the couch, Lydia approached with a shawl. "Mrs. Sumner, the temperature drops at night. Keep warm.
Nyla was momentarily stunned but reached out to accept the gift."Can I open it now?" she asked.Alexander nodded. "Of course."She lifted the lid and found a stunning ruby necklace inside, surrounded by diamonds that shimmered like a star-studded sky. It was breathtaking—impossible to look away from."It's beautiful. Thank you," she gasped."As long as you like it, that's all that matters. By the way, where's Buddy?" Alexander asked."He's probably in the main hall," Nyla answered.Alexander chuckled. "Alright. I'll go look for him."As soon as he left, Valarie let out a gasp of amazement. "Nyla, who was that guy? I just saw this necklace on the news a while ago. It was auctioned off for 20,000,000 dollars to a mysterious buyer! And now, I see it in real life—right here!"Nyla was taken aback. She hadn't expected the necklace to be that valuable.She examined it again. Aside from its beauty, it didn't seem all that special."Are you sure it's worth so much?" she asked.Val
Opening the food container, Nyla found it filled with all her favorite snacks. She couldn't help but smile."Valarie, you barely ate anything earlier. Want some?" she asked.Valarie glanced at the food, raised an eyebrow, and replied, "I'm already full—from all the PDA I've been force-fed today."Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was already 2:00 p.m.Valarie led Nyla out of the dressing room, where Harrison waited at the entrance, seated in his wheelchair.The moment Nyla saw him, her eyes welled with tears. "Dad."Harrison's voice thickened with emotion. "I'm here to walk you down the aisle."Nyla squeezed his hand as they descended the stairs together.At the entrance to the grand hall, Nyla held her bouquet with one hand and her father's hand with the other, her heart racing with anticipation.The doors swung open.Damon stood at the end of the aisle, dressed in a sharp white suit. His eyes locked onto Nyla's, filled with nothing but love and tenderness.E
At that moment, Nyla finally understood what Damon had meant by a "surprise."Her eyes welled with emotion as she turned to Valarie. "Where is he now?""I'm not sure, but he's probably still handling the wedding preparations. Try on the dress first and see if it fits!" Valarie said with a grin.Nyla blinked back her tears and nodded. "Okay."With Valarie's help, she slipped into the wedding dress.It fit her perfectly—just as she had imagined.Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, she felt a bit dazed.It had been so long since she'd last worn a wedding dress—so long that she had almost forgotten what it felt like.Beside her, Valarie admired the sight. "You look gorgeous! My best friend never disappoints. Oh, wait—there's still this!"Nyla turned to see Valarie holding a diamond-studded tiara. She couldn't help but smile."Let me put it on for you," Valarie offered."Okay."Valarie carefully adjusted the tiara on Nyla's head, making sure it sat just right."Perfect," sh