Before Cyrus could finish his sentence, Richard interrupted coldly, "Shut up!"No one knew what might happen with such hypnosis treatments. He had even heard of cases where people turned into fools after undergoing them.Cyrus, pale with fear at Richard's icy gaze, quickly lowered his head, unable to meet his eyes.However, considering that Damon's recent actions had nearly driven Clark's companies to collapse, Cyrus gathered his courage again."Dad, I'm just giving you a suggestion. Damon is my brother, and I wouldn't harm him. I'm only thinking about what's best for him and the Sumners," he said.Richard sneered. "You're only thinking about yourself, not him.""Dad, I'm just suggesting something. If you don't agree, that's fine," Cyrus replied."I won't agree to this, and don't ever bring up such things in front of me again, or I won't spare you!" With that, Richard stood up and left, not even glancing back at Cyrus.Cyrus watched his father's retreating figure, his eyes fill
Damon's offer of ten times the market value was too tempting for the shareholders. They didn't know when Prospectus Technology's stock price would ever see such a surge.With this realization, several shareholders quickly decided to sell their shares.Damon's expression remained unchanged as he instructed Spencer to tally up the shareholders wishing to sell. He immediately had the lawyers draft the transfer agreements.Soon, the shareholders signed the share transfer agreements and received their payments.Seeing the large sums in their bank accounts, many left with gleaming eyes, clearly thrilled.The remaining shareholders, witnessing this, began to waver as well.Damon glanced at the remaining shareholders and said, "If anyone else wants to sell their shares, now is the time. After today, this offer won't be available."Hearing this, a few more shareholders chose to sell their shares.As he watched them leave, delighted by the bank transfer notifications they received, Spenc
Spencer had intended to persuade Damon further, but upon seeing Damon's icy profile, he realized it was futile. With a sigh, he turned to leave.Just outside the office, he spotted Richard exiting the elevator. Taken aback, he quickly approached him."Mr. Sumner, what brings you here unexpectedly?" he asked.Richard replied with a neutral expression, "I'm here to see Damon. Take me to him."Spencer hesitated.Previously, Richard had confined Damon to his hospital room and prohibited him from seeing anyone. Furthermore, Damon had made it clear he didn't want to see anyone from the Sumners again.Upon noticing Spencer's reluctance, Richard's expression darkened. "Mr. Hogg, if you're unwilling to take me to him, I'll go on my own."As Richard began to push past him, Spencer quickly stopped him. "Mr. Richard, Mr. Damon is currently working. I'll inform him of your arrival."Richard frowned but suppressed his anger. "Very well."Since he was already there, if Damon refused to see h
Richard was seething with anger. "The Sumner Group's subsidiaries aren't freebies to be handed out casually!"He had planned to leave the company to Damon because neither Clark nor Brandon could lead the Sumner Group effectively—they would only drive it into decline."If that's the case, it's none of my concern. If you're unwilling to, you don't have to," Damon replied.After all, Clark had little real ability. Damon had investigated and discovered that without Nyla transferring her patent to Clark, he would never have become the CEO of the Sumner Group.Richard glared at him, gritting his teeth. "Don't you know that I plan to leave the Sumner Group to you?! Clark and Brandon will be your support in the future. Straining your relationship with Clark only harms you!"Damon remained calm, showing no signs of excitement or agitation over Richard's intention to leave the Sumner Group to him."I have my own company to manage. I don't have time to deal with the Sumner Group. However, i
"Okay, I understand. I'll bring over a bottle of Dad's favorite wine tonight," Cyrus said.After hanging up, Cyrus turned to Clark with excitement."Clark, your grandfather is probably already considering my earlier suggestion about hypnotizing Damon. If the plan works out, not only will the Sumner Group be ours but Prospectus Technology will be too!" he exclaimed.In contrast to Cyrus' enthusiasm, Clark remained calm. "Dad, I'm not interested in any of this."Ever since he received the news of Nyla's death, Clark had been living in regret and torment for over a month.If he hadn't cheated on Jordyn, he and Nyla might have still been happily married. Because of his momentary mistake, everything had unraveled.He couldn't forgive himself and had gradually lost interest in the company and everything else. Without Nyla, what was the point of accumulating more wealth? The person he wanted to share that joy with was no longer there.Seeing Clark's lifeless expression, Cyrus frowned
Upon seeing Cyrus' guilty expression and his cowardice in making eye contact, Richard's gaze grew colder.If Cyrus was afraid to even look him in the eye, it proved he was useless! It also meant that Damon was the best candidate to inherit the Sumner Group.Richard was determined not to let Damon be ruined because of a woman."I brought you here tonight to ask about the hypnosis treatment you mentioned this morning. Are there any successful case studies?" Richard inquired.Cyrus' face lit up with excitement. "Yes, yes! I can show you!"Seeing his barely contained enthusiasm, Richard narrowed his eyes. He stood up and said, "Let's discuss this in the study."…The two spent over an hour in the study.By the time dinner was ready, Marie had to call several times before they finally emerged.Cyrus was flushed with delight. He turned to Richard earnestly, saying, "Dad, don't worry. I'll book a flight abroad for tomorrow and bring back a professional. I will make sure Damon is not
Richard sneered, "Naturally, I have my own plans too."Cyrus finally realized Richard had used him. Richard had intentionally allowed him to go abroad to find Sean, only to have him bring Sean back and then discard him."Dad, you'll regret this someday!" Cyrus snarled.Richard didn't bother to look at him anymore. He glanced at Frank, who immediately ordered the guards to take Cyrus away.Soon, Cyrus' furious shouting grew quieter until it completely disappeared.Sean also tried to leave, but Richard's men held him back. His face paled as he looked at Richard with anger. "Mr. Sumner, what is the meaning of this?"Richard sat down with a smile. "Dr. Merritt, don't worry. I can offer you double the benefits my son promised you. But the condition is that your hypnosis must be successful. If anything goes wrong—such as the patient turning into an idiot—you might find it very difficult to leave here."Sean had come for the high treatment fee, so hearing Richard's offer to double the
Richard's expression was cold. "What do you know? Just do as I say! It's her honor that she can help the Sumners one last time after her death!"Seeing Richard's resolute demeanor, Frank chose not to argue further and left the study.…That evening, Damon received another call from the Summer residence. This time, it was Richard himself on the line, not a maid."Come back immediately," he ordered.The commanding tone made Damon's eyes narrow. "I'm busy. If it's not something important, please stop calling me.""Very well! Fine!" Each of Richard's words dripped with anger. "It seems your mother's illness doesn't matter to you! Let me ask you, are Nyla's belongings important to you?!"Damon tightened his grip on the phone. "Her belongings?!"Hearing the agitation in Damon's voice, Richard felt reassured that his decision was right. That woman would only cost Damon his life if he kept thinking about her!With that thought, Richard's earlier hesitation transformed into resolve. "Y
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