"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
The phone rang for a long time before it was answered."What's the matter?" Damon's voice was hoarse and indifferent, clearly indicating he was in a bad mood.Clark spoke coldly. "Uncle Damon, you know about Nyla's accident, right? Rebecca is likely behind it!"After a few seconds of silence, Damon asked, "Do you have any evidence?""Hah!" Clark's tone was sarcastic. "Evidence? I looked into Jordyn's call records. Recently, she has been in contact multiple times with an employee from the Preston Group."On the day of Nyla's accident, they were in touch. Plus, Jordyn sent me a message with just one character—'R'—not too long ago. It's definitely related to Rebecca!"As soon as he finished speaking, the call was abruptly ended.…Damon summoned Spencer to his office. "Look into whether Jordyn and Rebecca have been in contact recently. Also… check on Nathaniel."Spencer was visibly shocked but dared not ask questions or make comments, given Damon's icy demeanor. He quickly left.
Rebecca was determined to send Nyla to hell and make Damon regret ever crossing her."Spencer, take her away. You know what to do," Damon instructed.Spencer nodded. "Understood, Mr. Sumner."While they spoke, the two burly men had already dragged Rebecca away. Rebecca was in so much pain that she nearly lost consciousness, but she fixed her gaze on Damon, her eyes filled with deep hatred. "Damon, even if you kill me, I won't tell you anything! Rest assured, I won't let Nyla die. I'll make sure her life is worse than death!" she threatened.Damon's expression remained icy—he didn’t even glance at her.Shortly after Rebecca was taken away, Spencer rushed back, looking anxious."Mr. Sumner, we've pinpointed Ms. Jayston's exact location!" he reported.Damon quickly stood up and headed for the door. "Send the location to my phone!"…In the basement, Nyla felt like she had been waiting for an eternity when she finally heard footsteps from outside. She tightened her grip on the
"Let me go!" Damon struggled to move forward, but two of his bodyguards held him back tightly."Mr. Sumner, Ms. Jayston has already jumped. Even if you follow her now, it won't help…" the bodyguards tried to placate him."Let go!" Damon growled.His demeanor was icy, sending chills down the spines of his bodyguards. They felt a shiver but dared not release him.Just then, Spencer arrived."Mr. Sumner, I've sent people down to search. We'll have news soon," he informed Damon.Seeing Damon gradually calm down, Spencer instructed the bodyguards, "Alright, let Mr. Sumner go."After a moment's hesitation, the bodyguards finally released Damon, though their eyes remained on him, prepared for any sudden movements. If something happened to Damon, the Sumners wouldn't spare them.Damon gazed at the place where Nyla had jumped, his voice cold. "If she's alive, I want to see her. If she's dead, I want to see her body!"As he finished speaking, Steven was brought before him."Mr. Sumner,
Damon completely ignored the Sumners in the room.Richard was furious as he ordered the bodyguards to restrain Damon. "Look at yourself! Is a woman worth destroying yourself like this?"Pale and with bloodshot eyes, Damon glared at the bodyguards holding him back. "Move aside!""Mr. Damon, please don't make this difficult for us…" one of the bodyguards said."Move aside! Don't make me repeat myself," Damon warned."No one's moving! You're not stepping out of this room today, or any day in the future. You're not allowed to see that woman again. She jumped off a cliff four days ago and hasn't been found. It's impossible that she's still alive. How long will you deceive yourself?" Richard demanded.Damon turned his gaze toward him, the oppressive force in his eyes making the entire room feel even more confined."What does it have to do with you? I've severed ties with the Sumners. What I do is none of your business," he retorted."You!" Richard was so furious he nearly collapsed.
Nathaniel was in the middle of a business meeting in his office when the door was kicked open.Damon walked in, his demeanor cold.Troy followed closely behind, looking troubled. "Mr. Preston, I couldn't stop Mr. Sumner…"Nathaniel glanced at Damon's tense face and replied flatly, "I understand. You can leave now."Nathaniel's business partner, recognizing Damon, quickly stood up. "Mr. Preston, it seems you have other matters to attend to. Let's reschedule our meeting."Nathaniel nodded. "Alright. I won't see you out then."With the room now empty except for Damon and Nathaniel, the atmosphere grew tense.Nathaniel looked at Damon, aware that the truth about Nyla's incident could no longer be hidden. Their years of brotherhood were over.He spoke up. "The accident involving Nyla was partially my fault, but I didn't expect it to turn out like this. Damon, I—"Before he could finish, Damon's fist struck his face.Nathaniel stumbled back several steps before regaining his balanc
"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