Realizing that she hadn't spent much time with Mason over the past few years, Nyla decided to take two weeks off to be with him.After arranging her leave, she returned to the hospital room, where Pauline quickly stood up. "Ms. Kinsey, Buddy said he wanted some soup. There's no time to cook it now, so I'll grab some from the eateries by the hospital. Do you want anything?""I'll have the same as Buddy. Have you eaten yet?" Nyla asked."I already ate. I'll go get breakfast now," Pauline replied.Nyla sat down next to Mason and felt his forehead. His fever had gone down, and she finally felt a sense of relief. "Buddy, is there anything you want to do or anywhere you'd like to go? Mommy has the next two weeks free, so I can spend time with you."Mason's eyes lit up for a moment but quickly dimmed as he lowered his head. "Mommy, you don't have to take time off just for me. I..."Nyla gently held his small hand, her voice soft. "Buddy, Mommy works hard so that I can spend time with yo
Luca caught a glimpse of Mason's profile and felt a strange sense of familiarity. He couldn't quite place where he had seen it before. Before he could look closer, Nyla had already put the mask on Mason.Standing up, Nyla faced Damon, trying to appear calm. "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Fleming, what a coincidence."Damon nodded. "The company has an amusement park project, so we're here to do some research."As he spoke, his eyes drifted to Mason, whom Nyla was holding by the hand.Mason looked up at him, and for a brief moment, their eyes met.Damon felt an odd, indescribable sensation. He usually didn't care for children, finding them a hassle, but there was something about Mason that stirred none of his usual annoyance."This child…" he began to say.Nyla instinctively pulled Mason behind her but quickly realized how overprotective she was being. She forced a smile to maintain her composure. "He's my son. He's a bit shy... Well, since you're here on business, I won't hold you up. Goodbye.
That was the first time Mason had seen his mother angry. Although the kids and their parents had apologized afterward, the incident had left a shadow in his heart. He wished he had a father—someone who could handle these situations instead of leaving it all to Nyla.Oliver had always been kind to him, and Mason thought he wouldn't mind if Oliver became his father. But deep down, what he truly wanted was his real father.Seeing that stern-faced man at the amusement park today, Mason had felt a strange connection.He thought they looked alike.When Nyla had suddenly made him put on a mask, he had noticed the emotion in her eyes—it had reminded him of the guilty look the kids in kindergarten had after doing something wrong.That's when Mason began to wonder whether he might actually be that stern man's son.Nyla turned around, her expression tense. "Buddy... why would you ask that? I told you before, your dad went somewhere far away...""Then why were you so scared when you saw tha
Spencer: [Ms. Kinsey, Luca just told me you have a child.]Nyla stared blankly at the message for several minutes before finally replying.Nyla: [Location.]After ensuring Mason was asleep around 9:00 p.m., Nyla asked Pauline to stay with him before getting dressed to go out."Ms. Kinsey, where are you going so late?" Pauline asked."I have some things to handle at the lab. I'll try to be back before midnight," Nyla replied.Pauline nodded. "Okay, just be careful."…By the time Nyla arrived at the agreed-upon location with Spencer, it was close to 10:00 p.m.Entering the restaurant, she spotted Spencer waving at her. Her expression hardened as she walked over to sit across from him."Mr. Hogg, I'm here. You can tell me what you want now," she said directly.Spencer was taken aback by the Nyla before him—so different from five years ago.While her features hadn't changed much, she now radiated confidence and composure. Dressed in a luxury tailored suit and silk blouse, she
After saying that, Nyla stood up and left.Once her figure disappeared from view, Spencer dialed a number. "Find out which kindergarten Nyla's son attends and get a photo for me."Although Nyla insisted that the child had nothing to do with Damon, Spencer felt he needed to verify it himself for peace of mind. If the child truly wasn't related to Damon, he wouldn't bother her again.After leaving the restaurant, Nyla calmed down and immediately called Oliver."Oliver, I need a favor," she said.…For the next several days, Nyla focused on spending time with Mason and didn't concern herself with anything else.On the last day of her break, while practicing writing with Mason, she received a call from Edgar asking her to attend a dinner the following night.Nyla frowned. "Professor, you promised me before that you wouldn't schedule dinner events for me. I've made it clear I just want to focus on my research."Sensing her cold tone, Edgar quickly reassured, "Nyla, this dinner is w
"So I should give up my career just to avoid an ugly situation because you don't want me near Damon?" Nyla smiled, but her eyes were icy. "Ms. Hulle, don't you think your ego is a bit inflated?"Erin's expression darkened. "I didn't expect you to become so sharp-tongued after five years. But have you considered that your sharp tongue might hurt those around you?"A hint of sarcasm flashed in Nyla's eyes. "Ms. Hulle, has your romantic life made you foolish? This is Capitarnia, not Saintornia. Our lab has numerous research achievements, and any one of them would attract countless investors. Do you really think the Hulles can control everything in this country?"Nyla was baffled by Erin's audacity to claim she could easily bring down their lab. Had she even researched who was backing them?"Hah! What good is talking big? I'm giving you one last chance. If you don't leave voluntarily, whatever happens next won't be something I can control!" Erin warned."Idiot!" Nyla muttered.She di
Erin forced a smile. "I'm glad you understand, Ms. Kinsey."Nyla nodded. "I do understand, but I hope you'll think things through in the future and avoid doing something so pointless.""Of course, I'll keep that in mind!" Erin gritted her teeth in frustration, her gaze sharp and icy as she glared at Nyla.Nyla smiled and turned to Damon. "Thank you for today, Mr. Sumner. I assume you and Ms. Hulle have more to discuss, so I'll take my leave.""Let's have dinner another day as an apology," Damon replied."No need for that. I wouldn't want to be labeled as someone who disrupts other people's relationships," she said, stepping past Damon and leaving.Soon, only Erin and Damon remained in the private room.It was the best and most secluded room in the restaurant, isolated from others, allowing them to hear only faint conversations from nearby tables.Damon looked at Erin calmly, showing no signs of anger, but she couldn't even meet his gaze. She knew he was upset.After a long sil
Damon looked at Erin with a straight face, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed the credibility of her words.Erin felt her heart racing, forcing herself to maintain eye contact. Just as she thought she couldn't bear the pressure any longer, she heard Damon's cold voice say, "This is your last warning."It wasn't until his figure disappeared through the doorway that she sank back into her chair, cold sweat trickling down her back.…Damon headed straight to the branch office after leaving the restaurant.Spencer was already waiting for him at the office door. "Mr. Sumner, here are the documents that need your signature."Damon walked into the office, signed the documents, and then looked up at Spencer. "Have Luca take these back. You'll stay here in his place. Things in Capitarnia are different from Saintornia. Some matters are beyond his capabilities."Spencer lowered his gaze, hiding the complexity that flickered in his eyes. "Understood, Mr. Sumner."Once outside the o
Theo's expression darkened as he stepped forward, looking down at Jane. "Say that again!"Jane raised an eyebrow. "What? You can't take it? Want to make a move?""You!" Theo clenched his fists, and for a moment, he was tempted to strike Jane."Enough!" Pedro's sharp voice echoed. "Isn't this enough chaos? Keep quiet, both of you!"Theo's expression changed, and he took a deep breath, saying nothing more.Jane knew she was no longer in line to inherit the Wilkie Group. She had become a mere pawn, no longer of any use to Pedro, so there was no need to pay her much attention.She glanced at Pedro, her voice flat. "Grandpa, you called me here today just to talk about Gabriel being arrested?"Pedro frowned. "Gabriel's arrest will damage the Wilkies' reputation. Stay home for a while and finish your travel documents. I want you to leave the country."Jane sneered. "Got it."She knew she was now a discarded pawn in Pedro's eyes. Of course, he would want her to leave as soon as possib
If Falcon didn't make contact within a month, it would mean something had happened to them."Alright, I understand," Spencer replied.He turned and left the office, sighing once outside. He could only hope they couldn't reach Falcon because of some kind of accident, not something worse.Once the office door closed, Damon's gaze darkened.If he wasn't mistaken, Falcon had likely been found by the Nixons, though Damon wasn't sure whether they were alive or dead.The Nixons, the hidden power behind Drake, were far bigger and more mysterious than he had imagined.While he was lost in thought, his phone suddenly rang.Upon seeing that it was Gabriel, his expression immediately turned cold.As soon as he answered, Gabriel's furious voice came through. "Damon, are you really going to drive me to the brink?"The legal team from Prospectus Technology had filed a lawsuit against Nyce Tech for illegally stealing trade secrets and submitted evidence of other criminal activities to the cou
"It's going alright. We're slowly getting back on track, but I'm still worried. I don't know if this is the right call," Damon answered.Using the money in Mason's account might save Prospectus Technology, or it could drag him further into trouble.Nyla looked at him, her voice soft. "Right or wrong, it's the only option right now. We'll just have to take it one step at a time. It won't be any harder than it is now."If Prospectus Technology went bankrupt, they didn't know how Gabriel would retaliate against their family. As long as the company remained intact, they would be safe."I'll protect you and Buddy, no matter what. No one will hurt you," Damon vowed.He had already decided that if things went south, he would find a way to get Nyla and Mason to safety.The oil was reaching temperature as they spoke.Nyla dropped the meatballs in. "Don't worry so much. We'll be fine. The three of us will be alright."Damon walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her with a hum.
Not long after Tom left, Gabriel's secretary rushed into the office, panic in his voice. "Mr. Hackett, I can't find where the money for Prospectus Technology came from. It's as if it just appeared out of nowhere. I—""Get out!" Gabriel's bloodshot eyes and contorted face radiated fury, making him look terrifying.The secretary froze, then quickly turned and left, shutting the door behind him.It was over.With Prospectus Technology saved, Gabriel had lost his leverage over Damon. And with it, Gabriel's chance of being with Nyla was gone too...."Mr. Sumner, with this new investment, the company will be back on track soon. I'll start reaching out to the employees who left. If any of them are willing to return, we can reinstate them right away," Spencer said with a smile in Damon's office."Got it. Go ahead and handle it," Damon replied."Understood!" Spencer chirped before exiting the room.Damon opened a file on his desk, but his thoughts kept wandering.He wasn't sure if us
Nyla went upstairs while Damon returned to his study.Instead of diving into his paperwork, he sat at his desk, wrestling with the dilemma of whether to use the money in Mason's account to save Prospectus Technology. Hours later, he made a decision....The next morning, Damon left for the office after breakfast.Meanwhile, Mason was heading upstairs to change when Nyla called him back. "Buddy, starting today, you don't need to go to school. You'll stay home with me for a while to study instead."Mason blinked in surprise. "Why?"Nyla stroked his hair, her tone gentle. "I'm not working right now, so I can help you practice writing at home. We'll do this for a while before you go back to school. Does that sound good?"School wasn't that important to Mason, so he nodded easily. "Okay."Relieved that he didn't press for more details, Nyla let out a soft sigh. Lying to kids could be exhausting.At the office…Damon had just stepped in when Spencer arrived, his expression grim.
Mason hadn't expected his master to say they'd meet in person soon."Of course. Have I ever lied to you?" the young man replied."No!" Mason chirped.After hanging up the phone, the thought of meeting his master lifted Mason's spirits. He jumped off the toilet, phone in hand, and walked out of the bathroom.Back in his room, a knock came at the door."Buddy, are you in there? Can you open the door? Daddy wants to talk to you," Damon said.Hearing Damon's gentle voice, Mason hesitated briefly but eventually opened the door."Daddy, if you're here to ask about my master like Mommy, I'm not going to tell you," he stated.Damon smiled, reaching out to pat Mason's head. "Don't worry. I'm not going to ask. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. Mommy and I talked earlier, and she won't press you on it anymore either. She was just worried, that's all.""My master wouldn't hurt me!" Mason defended."I know, Buddy. Mommy's just concerned about you. She already feels bad
Nyla had wanted to discuss things properly with Mason, to make him open up slowly and tell her the truth.Now, she felt the urgency to figure out how that money had come about as soon as possible.She rarely spoke so sternly to Mason, so he was startled and dropped the block on the floor.Mason's eyes were red, but he stared at Nyla defiantly, refusing to speak.Nyla pressed, "Buddy, who is this master of yours?"Why would they give Mason so much money out of the blue?"I won't say!" Mason responded firmly.Nyla's brow furrowed in anger as her patience wore thin. "If you don't tell me, I'll take away all your electronics starting today."Mason yelled, "I hate you, Mommy! You're not the loving mommy you used to be anymore!"After shouting, he spun on his heel and ran upstairs.Moments later, the slam of his door echoed through the villa.Hearing the commotion, Damon emerged from the study and walked into the living room. He saw Nyla standing there, visibly upset."What happe
Damon had never met anyone from the Nixons, but it was clear they had ties to both Drake and Mason.He sensed it wouldn't be long before he encountered someone from this enigmatic family. When that moment came, he hoped to finally uncover their motives for involving Mason.…That evening, when Damon returned to the villa, he called Nyla into the study."I have something important to tell you," he said, his tone serious.Noticing his expression, Nyla looked puzzled. "What is it? Does it have to do with the money in Buddy's account?"Damon nodded. "Yes. Five years ago, shortly after Rebecca returned to the country, a mysterious group abroad began investigating you."Later, I discovered that the person behind the investigation was Drake Mummery, a senior executive at MK Company in Meristate. He's connected to the Nixons—a powerful family in Meristate."Today, I found out that all the money in Buddy's account came from someone within the Nixons."Nyla's face turned serious, a mix
Mason nodded. "I know. That's the money I earned myself.""You earned?" Nyla repeated.The couple stared at Mason in disbelief. How could a five-year-old possibly earn that kind of money?Damon frowned and crouched beside him. "Buddy, do you know there's 1 trillion dollars in that account? Do you understand how much that is?"Mason shook his head. "No... but it really is the money I earned."Damon asked, "Then tell Daddy, how did you earn it?"Mason hesitated, his expression conflicted. "Daddy... can I not tell you?"He had promised the person who helped him earn the money that he wouldn't reveal anything about it."Buddy, if you don't tell us, we can't be sure if this money is really yours," Damon replied gently but firmly.Mason thought for a moment before shaking his head again. "I can't say."Damon was about to push further when Nyla placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.She turned to Mason, smiling softly. "Okay, if you don't want to tell us, we won't force you. Go ba