If it weren't for Caroline, Nyla wouldn't be where she was today.Five years ago…After falling into the sea, Nyla miraculously survived when a kind stranger rescued her. At that time, she didn't want to return to Saintornia or have any ties with her past. Thus, she reached out to Caroline, who took her away.It took three months for her to fully regain her emotional stability.By then, everyone she knew in Saintornia believed she had died. She decided to take her mother's surname, and as for the baby she was carrying, he also miraculously survived.For the next few months, Nyla stayed in the apartment Caroline rented for her, preparing for her exams while managing her pregnancy.It wasn't until the following year that she had the opportunity to reapply for graduate school. From that point on, she juggled her studies and raising her child.…These past few years hadn't been easy, but Nyla felt content. If Damon hadn't suddenly reappeared, her life would have continued on its pe
Mason nodded. "Yes, I missed you."Oliver's smile widened, his gaze softening even more. "I missed you too, and I brought you a gift."As he spoke, he pulled out a set of books from behind him, almost as if performing a magic trick."Last time I saw you, you were reading this series at home, so I bought the original edition while I was abroad. Do you like it?" he asked.Mason's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Uncle Oliver!"He eagerly took the books and flipped through them, his usually calm expression finally revealing the youthful excitement of a child his age.Nyla smiled wryly at Oliver. "You didn't have to go through all that trouble. That must have been expensive."Since moving to Capitarnia five years ago, it hadn't taken long for Oliver to find her.Over the years, he had helped her immensely—allowing her to focus on her work while keeping Mason's existence hidden.Like Caroline, Nyla owed Oliver so much.It wasn't that she hadn't noticed Oliver's feelings—she knew.
Erin's face lit up with joy. Just as she was about to say something, she noticed that Damon had suddenly stopped walking.Puzzled, she looked up and saw him staring ahead. She followed his gaze but saw nothing unusual."Damon, what's wrong?" she asked."Nothing. Weren't you hungry? Let's go," he replied, his tone calm.They entered the restaurant, where a server led them to a private room.In the room next door, Oliver handed the menu to Nyla."Nyla, why don't you pick what you'd like to eat? Tonight's dinner is on me to celebrate your success in developing the new drug," he said."You already got gifts for both me and Buddy. I should treat tonight, especially since I just received a bonus," Nyla replied.Oliver relented. "Alright."Nyla ordered a few of the restaurant's signature dishes and handed the menu back to Oliver. "Why don't you choose a few more?"After the orders were placed, Oliver looked at her and said gently, "You've spent the last few years pouring most of you
Erin found herself in a daze as she stared into Damon's calm eyes.She remembered how he used to look at Nyla—his gaze filled with warmth and tenderness. It was a stark contrast to how he regarded her.In the three years they had been engaged, Damon had never looked at her like that.When he glanced her way, his expression remained calm, indifferent, and distant—as if he were above it all.Sometimes, Erin wondered if he had agreed to the engagement merely because he saw her as a suitable match.Pushing aside the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind, she spoke softly. "It's nothing. I'm probably just tired from the flight."She sat beside Damon, biting her lip before finally summoning the courage to ask, "Damon, how about we get married this year? Now that you've taken over the Sumner Group and everything is stable, I really want to get married."Damon didn't answer right away. Instead, he asked coldly, "Why the sudden rush to get married?"He had only gotten engaged to Erin to
Before Damon got engaged to Erin, he had already realized that he had no physical desire for any woman. Even if a woman stood naked in front of him, it did nothing for him.He later consulted a doctor, who suggested that it might be a lingering effect of the car accident he had been in. The doctor had even recommended trying adult films, but that didn't work either.Not only was there no physical reaction, but Damon also felt nothing emotionally.After trying for a while, he accepted his reality and decided marriage wasn't in the cards for him.He had assumed he would never be interested in women—until that day in the elevator when Nyla bumped into him. Suddenly, he felt electrified by the contact.At first, he thought it was just a fluke. However, when he saw her again at the celebration party, he felt something strange stir inside him.He couldn't quite identify what it was, but instinctively, he wanted to resist it. Yet despite his resistance, his eyes were drawn to her.Damo
Leon's eyes lit up with delight as he quickly said, "Thanks, Nyla!"Nyla smiled. "Alright, let's get ready for the experiment."With her help, the experiment went smoothly this time.By 6:00 a.m., Leon let out a huge sigh of relief as he looked at the data on the computer screen.He turned to share the good news with Nyla, only to find her fast asleep at the table. The words he was about to say died in his throat, and he instinctively quieted his breathing.They had taken turns resting through the night, but Nyla had stayed awake the entire time, overseeing the experiment. She must have been exhausted.Ruby Jenner gently draped a lab coat over Nyla, her movements unusually tender for someone typically so energetic and direct.She whispered to Leon, "Let Nyla sleep for a bit. We'll wake her around seven."Leon nodded. "Got it."The two sat down and quietly began analyzing the experiment data. The only sounds in the lab were the soft scratching of pens against paper and Nyla's f
Nyla nodded. "When did you get here?""Not too long ago," Oliver replied."You should take a look at those dark circles under your eyes," Nyla remarked.Oliver paused briefly, then chuckled. "Alright, you got me. After Buddy fell asleep, I was worried you'd forget to call, so I came over."Nyla frowned, about to speak, but Oliver cut her off, "You've been up all night. You must be exhausted. Get in the car, and I'll take you home to rest."Nyla nodded. "Okay."She opened the door and got in. Once she buckled her seatbelt, Oliver started the car."Why don't you rest at my place? I'm off today, and I can watch Buddy," Oliver suggested.Nyla hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "No, I'll pick Buddy up and head home. You finally have a day off—you should relax."Oliver insisted, "It's fine. Watching Buddy is pretty much relaxing for me anyway. And he's probably still asleep."Meeting Oliver's gentle gaze, Nyla couldn't bring herself to refuse again."Alright," she said.
Nyla cut him off. "Buddy is my child. I won't let anyone take him from me."Her gaze was firm, showing no trace of lingering feelings for Damon.Seeing her resolve, Oliver finally relaxed."Yeah, and if he tries to take Buddy, I'll help you," Oliver said."Thanks, Oliver," Nyla replied.After a moment of silence, Oliver voiced his concern. "But now that Damon is in Capitarnia, it might be hard to keep your secret hidden much longer."Nyla wasn't surprised. She had already sensed this when she ran into Erin at the restaurant. Despite Damon's memory loss, it wasn't Nyla who needed to worry—it was Erin. After all, Erin was Damon's fiancée now.Even though he had lost his memory, Erin must fear that one day he might remember and call off their engagement. The more someone had, the more they feared losing it."I know," Nyla answered.Seeing how calm she was, Oliver realized she had thought this through and decided not to push the topic further. Regardless of what happened, he could