Nyla froze for a moment, her face flushing instantly. She had been so worried about Mason lately that she hadn't had time to consider her feelings for Oliver.In truth, she didn't need to think too hard—she had already decided to give things a try with him."Oliver, I've made up my mind. I want to give us a chance, but I've always thought of you as just a good friend, so I can't promise I'll definitely fall in love with you," she said.Oliver had treated her exceptionally well over the years, doing so much for her. She felt that no one else would care for her like he did, and she didn't want to deceive him. She appreciated everything he had done, but gratitude alone wouldn't be enough for a lifetime together.At her words, disappointment flashed in Oliver's eyes, but he understood that feelings couldn't be forced."Alright, let's give it some time. How about three months? If after that you still can't love me, we'll just remain friends," he said.Nyla felt a pang of guilt. "I'm s
Oliver noticed the way Nyla's ears reddened, sensing her shyness but choosing not to comment on it. He nodded. "Alright. I have a full day of meetings tomorrow. Let's plan for dinner the day after.""That depends on whether I have to stay late for experiments," Nyla replied."Okay, I know you're busy. I'll check in with you again the day after," Oliver said easily.As Nyla walked him to the door, Oliver hesitated before asking, "You don't have to see me out, but... can I give you a hug?"Before he even finished, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.Oliver froze, his eyes wide in disbelief. He had prepared himself for rejection, so her response caught him completely off guard.After a moment of shock, joy surged through him. He gently returned the embrace, treating her like something fragile and precious."Nyla, I'm really happy you're willing to respond to me," he said, his voice unsteady.Feeling the depth of his emotions, Nyla loosened her hold and replied sin
What was Spencer up to with his investigation into Nyla and his private meeting with Oliver? The thought of the Raynor Group trying to snatch the amusement park project made Damon's expression harden.Was Spencer betraying him? No, that didn't make sense.Over the years, many had tried to pry Prospectus Technology's secrets from Spencer, but none had succeeded.There was no way Spencer would betray him.Besides, Spencer had been looking into Nyla before this. There had to be some other reason.After a moment of contemplation, Damon called Luca."Mr. Sumner, how may I assist?" Luca's voice was tense.Damon's late-night calls usually meant something was wrong. It had happened enough times that Luca had grown anxious whenever Damon called him after hours."You're close with Spencer. Have you noticed anything off about him lately?" Damon asked.Luca hesitated, recalling Spencer's earlier inquiry about a photo. Should he tell Damon? He suspected that Nyla's child might be Damon's,
The taxi driver chuckled at the sound of the navigation voice coming from the back seat. The kid looked small, but he certainly seemed cautious.Mason's school wasn't far from the Prospectus Technology branch, and they arrived in less than half an hour. After paying the fare and stepping out, Mason looked up at the towering skyscraper, at least dozens of stories high, excitement gleaming in his eyes.He walked into the building but was stopped at the front desk."Excuse me, young man, who are you looking for—" the receptionist began, but her eyes widened in shock as she realized she was looking at a miniature version of Damon. She could hardly believe it.Was this Damon's child? But Damon wasn’t married, right? Could this boy be a love child?At that moment, she felt like she had stumbled upon a huge secret.Seeing the receptionist staring at him in silence, Mason frowned and said, "I'm here to see your boss. His name is Damon Sumner."The receptionist was momentarily speechless
"Where did you come from? Let me take you back," Spencer said.Just as Mason was about to answer, the rapid click of high heels echoed down the hallway.Spencer and Mason turned to see Nyla striding toward them, her face set in a scowl.Before Mason could hide, Nyla called out, "Buddy, come here!"Her anger was barely contained as she fixed her stern gaze on Mason.That morning, as soon as she arrived at the lab, she had received a call from Mason's kindergarten teacher, saying he was missing. Panic had nearly overwhelmed her. Frantic, she had reached out to Oliver, and together, they had quickly tracked Mason's whereabouts.She had never imagined Mason would be bold enough to come directly to Prospectus Technology to find Damon. He had somehow convinced himself that Damon was his biological father. Otherwise, he wouldn't have shown up here.Nyla hurried to Mason's side, pulling him protectively behind her while glancing at Spencer warily. "Mr. Hogg, I apologize for any trouble
Nyla's heart sank at Damon's words. She absolutely could not let him conduct a paternity test. If he did, everything would fall apart.She met Damon's gaze. "Mr. Sumner, if I remember correctly, you have a fiancee. If you want a child, she can give you one. Isn't it a bit absurd to demand a paternity test for someone else's child?""Your strong reaction makes me wonder if you're feeling guilty, Ms. Kinsey," Damon shot back."I'm just pointing out that you're causing trouble where none exists. We've never met before, and we have no connection, isn't that right?" Nyla retorted.Damon's eyes turned cold. Before coming to Capitarnia, he had truly had no interactions with Nyla. That was precisely why he insisted on a paternity test.As he remained silent, simply glaring at her, Nyla pressed on, "Since you have nothing more to say, we'll be leaving."Just as she was about to take Mason away, Damon's cold voice cut through the air. "You're not leaving Prospectus Technology without my pe
Spencer fell silent after Damon's reprimand, not daring to utter another word.In the tense standoff, Mason tugged at Nyla's shirt and spoke timidly. "Mom, I'm scared."Nyla's heart ached as she pulled Mason closer, her glare cold and unwavering at Damon. "Mr. Sumner, you've frightened my son."Seeing Mason's terrified expression caused Damon's heart to flinch slightly, but his face remained stern.Oliver, exuding an oppressive aura, interjected, "Mr. Sumner, if you don't give us a satisfactory explanation today, this won't end here."Damon's expression darkened. He dismissed Oliver's warning, but with Mason present, he refrained from arguing in front of the child.After a moment of silence, he finally spoke. "The paternity test can wait for now, but Nyla, I will get to the bottom of this. If he is my child, I will never allow him to stay with a woman like you!"Nyla froze momentarily, fury rising within her.A woman like her? What did he know about her? She had given birth to
Seeing Mason's pale face, Nyla lost her will to scold him. After all, the root of the issue was her decision to hide Damon from Mason, which led him to seek out Damon for confirmation."Let's go," she said, taking Mason's hand and turning to leave with Oliver.…Back on the top floor, Damon stared icily at Spencer. "So you've been investigating Nyla and her child these past few days because you suspect Buddy might be mine?"Spencer bit his lip, realizing he could no longer hide the truth. He nodded slowly. "Yes...""Just because he looks like me, you think he's my child? You've been with me for years—you know better than anyone who I've been involved with," Damon demanded.His piercing gaze held Spencer in place, giving him no chance to escape.Damon had indeed connected the dots regarding Spencer's investigation, suspecting that Mason might be his son. Yet, he was sure he didn't know Nyla—she had never been part of his life.Suddenly, a thought struck Damon. He remembered the