"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
Oliver dropped Nyla and Mason off at home.Noticing Nyla's pale face and the lingering fear in her eyes, he spoke softly. "Nyla, don't think too much about it. You got scared today. Just rest, and we can talk about everything tomorrow."Nyla forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time today. You should get back to work."She had initially told Oliver not to come because she remembered he had meetings, but the day had stretched much longer than she had expected.Seeing the fleeting guilt in her eyes, Oliver replied firmly, "Nyla, you and Buddy are important to me. It's not an inconvenience.""I know, but I don't want to be a burden. Being together should mean supporting each other, not just you helping me all the time," Nyla said.Oliver felt a mix of frustration and sympathy. He thought Nyla was struggling to accept his support because she hadn't fully accepted him. After the scare she had had today, he didn't want to pressure her further."We'll talk abo
Mason dropped the cutlery he was holding, staring blankly at Nyla."Buddy, when I told you that your dad passed away, it was because he and I separated. But he never wanted to abandon you—he didn't even know you existed. Now that you know the truth, you can choose to stay with me or go to him," Nyla explained.As Mason began to understand, Nyla gave him the choice. After all, for a child who had never experienced a father's love, it was natural for him to want a dad.Ever since Mason started kindergarten, she had realized she couldn't replace that role, which was why she had considered trying with Oliver—she wanted to give Mason a complete family.Nyla expected Mason to think it over, but instead, his lips trembled, and he burst into tears."Mom, do you not want me anymore?" he cried.Taken aback, Nyla found it somewhat amusing. She quickly got up, wiped his tears, and squatted beside him, gently saying, "How could you think that? Mommy loves you the most."Through his sobs, Mas
Meeting Damon's accusing gaze, Nyla felt a strange sense of amusement. He had been the one to force himself on her back then, and now, with his memory gone, he had taken on the role of the victim?"Mr. Sumner, you claim Buddy is your child. What evidence do you have?" she asked.Damon's demeanor turned icy. "The fact that he looks almost exactly like me is proof enough."Nyla smiled. "But a judge won't rule you as Buddy's father based solely on that."Her sarcastic smile darkened Damon's expression. He grabbed her hand, his eyes cold. "Nyla, do I need to show you the paternity test results before you'll admit it?"Nyla pulled her hand away. "Mr. Sumner, if you had a paternity test, you wouldn't be here talking to me. You'd be at the courthouse filing a lawsuit, wouldn't you?"Damon fell silent for a few moments, his voice tight with anger. "Don't worry, you'll soon receive a subpoena. I won't let my child stay with a manipulative woman like you!"Nyla's hands clenched at her sid
In the next moment, Damon pushed Nyla away, his expression dripping with disdain. "Ms. Kinsey, even if you're throwing yourself at me, I won't let you off easily."Nyla's face flushed with anger.Throwing herself at him? What gave him the impression that she wanted to seduce him?She raised an eyebrow and gave him a once-over.Her scrutinizing gaze made Damon frown instinctively, his face darkening even further."Mr. Sumner, not a single part of you meets my standards, and your temper is dreadful. Rest assured, even if every other man on Earth disappeared, I wouldn't be interested in you," Nyla declared.Damon let out a cold laugh. "A man like Oliver is definitely more suitable for you. After all, he's someone who bends to your every whim."He couldn't understand how someone as successful as Oliver could fall for a woman like her.Nyla's expression hardened. "You have no right to judge Oliver.""Oh? Just one comment and you're so protective of him. It seems you really do like
If Wilhelm stopped wanting to see Jane, the bond between them would naturally fade over time."No! I don't want food!" Wilhelm cried, hurling Gabriel's phone onto the car seat.He began pounding on the car door, trying to open it. "I want to see Mommy! I want to live with her, not you!"Gabriel, his patience wearing thin, locked the doors with a sharp click and turned to Wilhelm, his expression darkening."Your mother doesn't want you. Even if you find her, she won't take you. I'm the only one you have now," he said."I hate you! I don't want to be with you! I don't want you as my dad!" Wilhelm screamed.Gabriel's restraint, already fraying after days of tantrums, finally snapped. He stared at his son and said coldly, "It doesn't matter whether you want me or not. No one wants you now except me."Jane didn't want Wilhelm. The Wilkies wouldn't want him either."That's not true!" Wilhelm sobbed uncontrollably. "Mommy wants me. Mommy's just mad. If I'm good, she'll take me back! S
Lydia nodded. "Okay, Ms. Kinsey."Shortly after, Lydia returned with Mason by her side.When Mason saw Gabriel and Wilhelm standing at the door, he frowned and turned to Nyla. "Mommy, why is Wilhelm here?"Nyla patted his head gently. "He's here to apologize to you.""Oh." Mason's response was wary, clearly unconvinced.Gabriel observed Nyla's affectionate interaction with Mason, his eyes flickering with a trace of emotion. He turned to Wilhelm. "What did you promise me before we came?"Wilhelm's reluctance was evident. He had agreed to apologize, but only under the threat of losing his chance to see his mother."Mason, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you yesterday. I hope you can forgive me," Wilhelm said, his voice subdued.Mason didn't respond immediately. Instead, he looked up at Nyla, silently seeking her guidance."Buddy, this is your decision to make," Nyla said softly. "I'll respect whatever you decide."Mason lowered his head, thinking for a moment.Finally, he s
Brandon sighed and placed the items on the desk. "Aunt Nyla, this crisis is unlike anything Prospectus Technology has faced before. If things go wrong, the company can go bankrupt."Uncle Damon prepared these after finding out Buddy is his son, but he hadn't found the right time to give them to you."Keep them for now. If Prospectus Technology collapses, he'll need this to start over."After a moment's silence, Nyla nodded. "Alright, I'll hold onto them. Is this the only reason you came?""Yes, I need to get back to work," Brandon replied."I'll see you out," Nyla offered.After sending Brandon off, she returned to the study and placed the documents and bank card in the safe upstairs.The next morning…As Nyla was getting dressed, Lydia knocked on the door."Ms. Kinsey, there's a man outside who says he's your brother," Lydia informed her.Brother?Thinking it was likely Gabriel, Nyla's expression turned cold. "I don't know him. Tell him to leave.""Understood," Lydia said
Damon put the file down and sat across from Nyla.Noticing two portions of breakfast on the table, he asked, "You haven't eaten either?""No," Nyla replied as she opened the packages and handed one to him. "I came to eat with you. Spencer told me he brought you breakfast this morning, but you didn't touch it.""I was too busy," Damon said."Being busy isn't an excuse to skip meals. I saw your assistants running around like crazy, and I heard they barely got any sleep last night. Is the issue with the company that serious?" Nyla asked."It's significant," Damon admitted. "Our chips might be causing malfunctions in our partner's machines. If that's confirmed, the company will face a massive compensation payout."Nyla frowned, worry flashing in her eyes. "I can't help much with work, but the least I can do is keep things in order at home. By the way, are you coming home tonight?""Probably not," he replied. "There's still a lot to handle.""Alright. Finish your breakfast. I'll hea
Gabriel took the document, skimmed its contents, and his face darkened."What is it?" Tom asked.Gabriel tossed the document onto the table with a cold laugh. "Nothing important. Damon's just trying to catch me off guard."The document contained evidence of Nyce Tech hiring paid posters to smear Prospectus Technology, but Gabriel wasn't worried.Soon enough, those allegations would become the truth.Tom glanced at the papers and grinned. "As long as it's not a big problem. Anyway, I should get going.""Fine, but don't forget your part in this," Gabriel said pointedly.There was a cold glint in Tom's eyes, though his smile remained. "Relax. I won't let you handle Prospectus Technology alone."After Tom left, Gabriel drained his wine in one gulp.As he prepared to head to his study, a maid approached with a concerned expression."Mr. Hackett, Mr. Wilhelm still refuses to eat," the maid informed him.Gabriel had brought Wilhelm straight back to the villa instead of letting him
Damon's expression was icy as he spoke. "I've already sent the head of R&D with a team to investigate. Let's wait for their findings before jumping to conclusions."He added, "The Agihop 6th Gen isn't out yet. If the issue does lie in the Agihop 5th Gen, we should prepare for the worst—compensation payouts and the possibility of... bankruptcy.""What?!" A collective gasp echoed through the room, disbelief etched on everyone's faces."All this over a single batch of faulty machines from the Longbow Company? Isn't that a bit extreme?""Exactly. If the problem is with the Agihop 5th Gen chips, wouldn't paying compensation suffice?""Mr. Sumner, aren't you exaggerating?"The notion that Prospectus Technology could face bankruptcy over a single chip seemed absurd.Meeting their skepticism with a calm demeanor, Damon elaborated, "The news about Longbow Company's machines breaking down after using our chips has already spread.They're attributing the issue to Prospectus Technology's p
Damon's expression remained unmoved. "As I said, we'll investigate thoroughly. Asking us to accept responsibility before the investigation is complete seems unreasonable, doesn't it?"Jeffrey let out a cold laugh. "Fine, Mr. Sumner. But I hope you act quickly. Every day of delay costs us millions. The longer this drags on, the more Prospectus Technology will have to pay."With that, Jeffrey turned and stormed out of the room.Damon, his expression as icy as ever, summoned the head of the R&D department to his office."Take two of your team members to the Longbow Company and investigate the root cause of the machine failures. Determine whether it's our chips," Damon instructed."Mr. Sumner, it can't be our chips! We've invested so much in their development, and they've been on the market for over three years without a single issue. The problem must be elsewhere," the department head replied.Damon's tone sharpened. "I want accurate results based on the investigation—not assumption
Upon noticing Nyla's flushed cheeks, Damon's eyes darkened further."Nyla, need some help with your bath?" he asked, his voice low and enticing.Nyla snapped out of her daze, quickly pushing him away. Her wary gaze made him look like some kind of dangerous predator."No need, I'll do it myself," she replied.If she let him help, they might not come out of the bathroom for two hours.Disappointment flickered in Damon's eyes. "You really don't need help?""Mm-hmm. Now go. If you have nothing to do, play with Buddy downstairs. I'm going to shower," Nyla said, grabbing her pajamas.She darted into the bathroom as though something was chasing her, locking the door behind her with a sharp click.Hearing the lock, Damon chuckled softly, shook his head, and left the bedroom.Downstairs, Mason was playing with toys in the living room. He didn't even glance up at the sound of Damon's footsteps, already able to distinguish between Damon and Nyla's steps. Just as Damon reached the sofa,
Damon raised an eyebrow and said flatly, "It's not about my approval. It's about ensuring the safety of the other children."Gabriel kept his gaze low, anger flickering in his eyes. What else could he say?"Understood. I've learned my lesson today, Mr. Sumner," he gritted through his teeth.The crowd began to disperse.Most parents hurriedly took their children and left, keeping a noticeable distance from Wilhelm and Gabriel as they passed, still wary that Wilhelm might lash out unpredictably.Before long, only Damon, Nyla, and Mason remained at the gate with Gabriel and Wilhelm.Gabriel turned to Damon with a cold expression. "If there's nothing else, Mr. Sumner, I'll take Wilhelm and leave now.""Mr. Hackett, shouldn't your son apologize to Buddy?" Damon asked.Gabriel's expression hardened.Taking a deep breath, he looked down at Wilhelm and said sternly, "Wilhelm, apologize to Buddy."Wilhelm lifted his chin defiantly. "I won't! I didn't do anything wrong!""Wilhelm, beh