Just as Nyla and Valarie were about to leave after finishing dinner, they ran into Oliver again, who had just completed his business meeting."Ms. Jayston, Valarie, what a coincidence," Oliver greeted them warmly.Valarie raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "It really is."Oliver turned to Nyla, his tone gentle. "Ms. Jayston, did you two have any drinks tonight? I can give you a ride home if you need."Nyla shook her head. "No. We didn't drink, and both of us drove here. But thanks for the offer, Mr. Raynor."A flicker of disappointment crossed Oliver's face, but he quickly recovered with a smile. "Alright then, maybe we can grab a meal together sometime."Valarie chimed in with a smile. "I doubt there'll be a chance for that. Nyla is leaving for Capitarnia in a few days."Oliver froze for a moment. "Ms. Jayston, why are you moving to Capitarnia?"His eyes filled with curiosity as he looked at Nyla."I'm planning to work there," Nyla replied.She didn't want to sh
The room fell silent for a few seconds, Nyla's hand on the door handle, unmoving. She wanted to hear how Harrison would respond—whether he would defend her or…Finally, Harrison's voice, weak and strained, broke the silence. "Don't mention her in front of me again. From now on, I'll act as if I never had this daughter."Nyla's hand slowly relaxed, and she looked down with a bitter smile.It seemed Harrison was truly disappointed in her and no longer wanted to acknowledge her as his daughter. That was fine, though. It allowed her to leave without any regrets.Taking a deep breath, she turned and walked away.Wren watched the shadow at the door disappear, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.Turning back to Harrison, she put on a smile. "Well, I know you. You're just upset. You're still angry because she hasn't come to see you during this time. If she had come, you'd probably be overjoyed."Harrison snorted and said nothing more.After a moment, he couldn't help but ask, "Do you th
As Nyla spoke, she fumbled for the car's ignition and slammed it.Hearing the engine roar to life, the man immediately reached into the car, attempting to open the back door.Without hesitation, Nyla floored the gas pedal, and the car surged forward, dragging the man with it.He didn't let go. Instead, he clung to the door and growled, "You're dead, you filthy bitch!"Nyla tried to accelerate to throw him off, but not only did he hold onto the door but also started climbing into the car. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her face growing paler.Finally, she made up her mind and slammed the gas pedal again, accelerating rapidly.Now the man showed real fear. "Stop! You filthy bitch! Or I'll kill you!"At this speed, he could be thrown off and killed instantly if he wasn't careful.Just as Nyla was about to throw him off, a large truck appeared directly before her, barreling toward her.Her face went pale, and she swerved sharply to the right.The car slammed into a tree,
"That's it?" Jordyn asked in disbelief.She had expected Rebecca to ask her to kill Nyla herself."Yes, that's it. After you finish this, you can go pick up your parents and brother," Rebecca replied calmly."Okay," Jordyn muttered.After ending the call, Rebecca smiled, her heart brimming with satisfaction. She had no intention of letting Nyla die quickly. No, she planned to strip her of every shred of dignity, to turn her life into a living hell....Damon was in the middle of a meeting at Prospectus Technology when the door suddenly burst open. Spencer rushed in, looking frantic.Everyone in the conference room shot him disapproving looks."Mr. Hogg, we're in the middle of a meeting. What on earth do you think you're doing?!" a shareholder admonished."I can't believe Mr. Sumner still keeps such an unprofessional secretary!" another complained.A shareholder sneered. "Yeah, is he this reckless when Mr. Sumner negotiates with partners?"Ignoring the irritated glances, Spen
Before Spencer could finish speaking, he was silenced by Damon's icy, murderous glare.Damon's lips were pressed into a thin line as he stood by the elevator, his face expressionless. However, the cold, oppressive aura he exuded made it clear that no one should approach him.…During the ride to the accident site, Damon remained silent, lost in thought.As they approached the scene, they saw the area cordoned off with police tape."Stop the car," Damon ordered.As soon as the vehicle came to a halt, Damon flung the door open and swiftly headed to the burned-out car.A police officer stopped him before he could cross the tape."It's dangerous inside. Unauthorized personnel aren't allowed in!" the officer warned.Damon ignored him and continued forward.The officer made a move to stop him again but was suddenly pulled back by someone nearby. "Are you crazy? Do you even know who Damon Sumner is?"The officer frowned, about to protest, when the lead investigator on the case appr
"What did you just say?!" Jordyn's face twisted with a mix of disbelief and fury.Rebecca had stabbed her in the back!Grabbing her phone, Jordyn dialed Rebecca and screamed, "Rebecca, you bitch! How dare you play me like this? I won't let you get away with it!"Rebecca's voice oozed with mockery. "Did you really think I'd give you the chance? Jordyn, you only have yourself to blame for knowing too much and trying to use it against me."With that, she hung up.Seething, Jordyn tried calling back, but a sharp pain pierced the back of her head. Feeling something wet, she reached up and found her hand smeared with blood.Panic surged through her. She spun around to flee, but before she could reach the door, someone yanked her by the hair. She was dragged backward and slammed to the floor.The door slammed shut with a deafening bang.Jordyn trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by terror. Ignoring the pain, she scrambled backward, her eyes wide with fear as a man slowly advanced tow
Clark stood frozen, like a statue."Mr. Sumner…" Michael called out."I'm going to find Nyla. I refuse to believe she's in danger!" Clark cried.He shoved Michael's phone back into his hands and turned toward the elevator.Michael quickly blocked his path. "Mr. Sumner, there's a very important international meeting later. You can't leave now."The meeting was crucial for a major company deal. If Clark skipped it, it would severely offend the other party.Clark's face went ashen, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. He hesitated for a moment, clearly torn.After a deep breath, he turned and headed for his office. "Keep an eye on the police station. Notify me immediately if there's any news.""Got it," Michael promised.As Clark reached the office door, he suddenly remembered the strange text message from Jordyn earlier. He spun around and ordered, "Find out where Jordyn is right now!"He dialed Jordyn's number, but it rang with no answer.…Near a river on the east s
The man didn't say a word. He walked silently up to Nyla and handed her a tuna melt sandwich.The fact that he offered her food suggested he probably wasn't planning to kill her—at least not right now.Nyla took a deep breath to calm herself and looked up at the man. "Why have you kidnapped me? For money? Or something else? Are you following someone's orders?"When she mentioned the possibility of orders, she saw the man's eyes widen sharply. She was certain now that he had been sent by someone who deeply hated her."Are you going to eat or not?" The man's voice was rough and cold as he stared at her."I'll pay you double whatever they offered. And the one who orchestrated this—it's either Jordyn or Rebecca, right?" Nyla asked.Aside from them, no one else had a motive to kidnap her.Seeing the man's expression change again, she knew she had guessed correctly."I can offer you double the benefit, just let me go—"Before she could finish, the man slammed the plate onto the grou
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