The living room fell into a tense silence, the temperature dropping sharply.Oliver turned to Nyla, disbelief written all over his face, mixed with a hint of joy flickering in his eyes. He knew she was trying to deceive Damon, but seeing her stand up for him made him feel happy nonetheless.Damon narrowed his eyes, drumming his fingers idly on the table. "You can marry him if you want. I don't care. But I won't be giving Buddy back to you."Nyla's expression darkened. Just as she was about to respond, a small figure dashed toward her."Mommy…" Mason rushed into Nyla's arms, clinging to her leg and crying heart-wrenchingly.Hearing him sob over the phone had been one thing, but seeing his tear-streaked face now made Nyla's blood boil."What have you done to Buddy? Why is he crying like this?!" she demanded, glaring at Damon.Damon's expression remained icy. "He just left you for a strange environment. It's normal for him to cry. He'll settle down."Nyla was fuming. "He's just a
The Raynor Group would suffer some losses in the short term, but their foundation would remain intact.Damon stood up and, as he walked out, said, "Mr. Raynor, many people are hoping to see the Raynors fall from grace. I hope you won't regret it!"With that, he pushed past Oliver and Nyla and left.Oliver turned to Nyla, his gaze softening. "Nyla, it's okay now. Let's take Buddy home."Nyla didn't move, her eyes locked onto him. "Oliver, what did you do to Prospectus Technology?"She had clearly heard Damon's words. Oliver had convinced Damon to stop obstructing her from taking Mason away, but it was evident that the Raynor Group had paid a price for it.Oliver's expression remained calm. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. It won't impact the Raynor Group too much. My dad once told me that if I let the Raynor Group fall, he'd kick my ass, so I won't act recklessly."Realizing he was just trying to comfort her, Nyla bit her lip and refrained from pressing further. She underst
Nyla held Mason close, soothing him softly. "Don't be afraid, Buddy. I will always protect you and won't let anyone take you away again."Mason nodded. "Mommy, I hate that man! He says he's my dad, but I don't want him to be my dad!"Nyla bit her lip. "Let's not think about that right now. Just get some rest, and I'll take you to school tomorrow."…The next morning, Nyla dropped Mason off at school. As soon as she found his teacher, Lilith, the latter looked surprised and asked, "Ms. Kinsey, isn't Buddy transferring schools? Why did you bring him today?"Nyla paused, confused. "What do you mean, transferring?""I'm not entirely sure. The principal just informed me that Buddy was transferring and told me not to get involved anymore," Lilith replied.Understanding the situation, Nyla handed Mason over to Lilith and said, "I see. Ms. Page, Buddy isn't transferring. Please take him to class. I need to speak with the principal.""Okay, you go ahead," Lilith answered.Nyla nodded
After leaving the principal's office, Nyla went to find Lilith and informed her that Mason would continue attending school. Only then did she leave the building.…Once Nyla arrived at the lab, Caroline hurried over and whispered, "Nyla, my sister agreed to meet with you. Here's the time and the restaurant address for tonight. She's really busy, so you must be on time. She has a flight to catch at 10:00 p.m."Nyla's eyes lit up with surprise, and she excitedly grabbed Caroline's hand. "Thank you so much, Caroline! I'll treat you to dinner on Saturday.""That's not important. What matters most is Buddy's situation. But honestly, don't get your hopes up too high. Bailey probably won't take the case," Caroline said."Yeah, but I have to try," Nyla replied. For Mason, even knowing the chances were slim wouldn't make her give up."Okay, good luck," Caroline wished her.…The day flew by, and as soon as work ended, Nyla rushed to the restaurant. She arrived a few minutes early, and B
Nyla could no longer hold back her emotions and pulled Mason into a tight embrace.Her eyes were red, but she stubbornly fought against the tears. She couldn't understand why, after five years and with Damon having lost his memory, he still wouldn't let her go and insisted on disrupting her peaceful life.He was the high-ranking CEO of Prospectus Technology, while she was just a pharmaceutical researcher. Even though she had achieved a great deal in her field, it paled in comparison to the prominence of Prospectus Technology.She had worked so hard—why couldn't he just leave her alone?Noticing Nyla trembling, Mason gently patted her back. "Mommy, don't be sad. I will never admit that bad man is my dad! I want to stay by your side forever!"Hearing this, Nyla tightened her hold on him and nodded. "Yes, Mommy won't let you leave me either."Just then, Pauline entered with the dishes.Upon seeing Nyla holding Mason at the entrance, she said, "Ms. Kinsey, dinner is ready. Why don't
Nyla felt a mix of emotions, unsure of what to do. Oliver had done so much for her, bearing immense pressure, yet he had never mentioned it to her. What she was facing now seemed trivial in comparison.If Bailey refused to help, Nyla would continue seeking her out until she agreed. With this thought, she felt a sense of clarity."Oliver, thank you!" she exclaimed."I told you not to say thank you," he replied."This is the last time, I promise!" Nyla insisted.Oliver chuckled. "Okay, I'll trust you one more time. I have work to do, so I'll stop talking now. Goodnight."After hanging up, his secretary spoke quietly. "Mr. Raynor, the shareholders still won't leave…"Without replying, Oliver put away his phone and walked into the meeting room with a serious expression.As soon as he entered, the shareholders began voicing their displeasure."Oliver, you've let the company get into such a mess over a woman. What were you thinking?" one shareholder demanded, slamming his hand on th
The next morning, Nyla drove Mason to school, her mind elsewhere.Mason noticed her distraction and tightened his grip on his backpack.When they arrived at the school, Nyla forced a smile and gently said, "Buddy, Mommy will pick you up tonight."Mason nodded. "Okay."After watching Nyla leave, Mason accessed his smartwatch and dialed the number Spencer had given him.A moment later, a cold voice came through the line. "What is it?"Mason took a deep breath, his small face tense. "I want to meet you."In the principal's office an hour later…Mason sat across from Damon, his baby face filled with anger. "What will it take for you to stop bothering my mom and me?"Although he was only four years old, there was no hint of fear in his gaze. He even bore a striking resemblance to Damon's commanding demeanor.Damon looked at Mason, who mirrored his own features, a complicated expression crossing his face.At such a young age, Mason should have been innocent and carefree. Yet there
After saying that, Mason turned and ran away, his small figure filled with despair and helplessness.Damon watched him go, his expression devoid of warmth.Sebastian, visibly shaken, quickly stepped forward. "Mr. Damon… your son is still young. You have to coax him. Being too strict will only make him hate you more."Damon's icy gaze fell on Sebastian, causing him to blanch. He quickly lowered his head, mentally cursing himself for speaking out of turn."How do you suggest I coax him?" Damon asked.Sebastian's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked up at Damon. Had he really heard that right? Damon was asking him how to handle a child?Noticing Damon's growing displeasure, Sebastian hurriedly replied, "I know how to handle kids. Although he is only four, he's starting to develop his own sense of self."The most important thing is to respect and understand a child's thoughts. Within certain limits, let them make their own choices. You need to give them enough time and space to ex
Valarie widened her eyes in surprise. "Alright, but there are a lot of questions here. It might take me a day or two to finish. You're not in a hurry, are you?""No rush, but the sooner, the better. I really appreciate your help," Damon said.Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Valarie smiled. "It's no trouble at all. I'm happy to help with the wedding preparations."After parting ways with Damon, Valarie returned to her office.As soon as she sat down, her phone rang. It was Brandon."Valarie, what did my uncle want? Did he give you a hard time?" he asked.Hearing the tension in his voice, Valarie set the file down. "Why would you think he would give me a hard time?"There was a brief silence before Brandon spoke again, his voice low. "I was worried he might blame you for my decision to leave the Sumner Group.""You're overthinking it. He asked me to help with something unrelated. If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up," Valarie replied."Valarie—" Brandon began.Before he co
Damon lowered his head to look at Mason and took the drawing from his hands.The picture showed a family of four—him, Nyla, Mason, and a little girl—standing under a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds.Damon smiled and pointed to the little girl in the drawing. "Who's this?""That's my little sister. I hope Mommy gives me a baby sister," Mason said earnestly."What if it's a baby brother instead?" Damon asked.Mason paused, then nodded confidently. "If it's a brother, I'll protect him too."Damon's smile deepened at Mason's innocent expression. "Well, it looks like our Buddy is growing up. You're already thinking about protecting your little sibling.""Daddy, when are you and Mommy going to give me a little sibling?" Mason asked."Soon. It won't be long now," Damon answered.Mason's eyes widened with excitement. "Really? Daddy, you're not lying to me, are you?""Of course not. When have I ever lied to you?" Damon asked.Mason huffed. "You've lied to me plenty of times.
"I've got it. You can let go. I promise I won't drop it," Stefan's roommate reassured him.Stefan's fingers tightened briefly before he slowly released his grip. "Yeah."His roommate carried the cake over to the others, calling them to share. He kept a piece for Stefan.That piece remained untouched until Stefan went to bed.…Over the next few days, Brandon appeared at the Weir Group every day. Sometimes, he brought food; other times, flowers.Valarie was beyond annoyed. She'd told him repeatedly to stop pestering her, but he refused to listen. Eventually, she ignored him altogether.On Friday evening, Valarie spotted Brandon's car parked by the curb as soon as she stepped out of the office.By then, she was used to seeing him there. She walked directly to her car, pretending he didn't exist.Just as she reached it, Brandon called out from behind, "Valarie."Valarie pressed her lips together and turned to face him. "What do you want?""Valarie, are you free tonight?" he ask
As Stefan stared at the candle, an unreadable emotion flickered in his eyes. He pressed his hands together, closed his eyes, and made a wish.After a moment, he opened his eyes and blew out the candle. "Thank you, Veevee.""No need to thank me. But I'm curious—what did you wish for?" Valarie asked.Stefan smiled. "If I tell you, it won't come true, right?""Fair enough. Here, this is your birthday present," Valarie said.When Stefan saw the black box she handed him, he looked surprised. "Isn't the present all those clothes?""Those were just extras. This is the real gift," Valarie replied.Stefan hesitated, taking the box. "Can I open it now?"Valarie nodded. "Of course."He carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. As soon as he saw what was inside, shock flashed across his face."This is..." he murmured.Inside the box was a key."I bought you an apartment near the university. That way, you won't have to stay in the dorms anymore," Valarie explained.Stefan immedia
Michelle reached for her phone on the table.Just before her fingers could brush it, Jayden's hand shot out faster, snatching it away.She looked up at Jayden, her teary eyes flashing with defiance. "Give me back my phone!"Jayden took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "Michelle, it's not too late to stop. If you really did send Stefan to get close to Valarie, then tell him to back off."Michelle nodded. "Fine. No matter what I say, you won't believe me. So, let's say I did send him. What are you going to do? Tell Brandon?"Jayden fell silent, unsure of how to respond. Before coming here, he hadn't even considered what he would do if Michelle was behind this.Would he tell Brandon? Or pretend he didn't know?"Whether you were behind this or not, you need to call Stefan and tell him to stop seeing Valarie. If Brandon finds out about your relationship, he won't believe anything you say again," Jayden warned.Michelle's eyes filled with disappointment. "So, you don't believe me eith
It usually took Stefan ten minutes to walk from the dorm to the school gate, but today, he made it in just five.The moment he saw Valarie, a wave of happiness surged inside him.He knew it now. He had truly fallen for her."I had some errands nearby and happened to pass by your school. Then I remembered I still had something to give you," Valarie explained.Stefan raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What is it?""You'll find out later. Let's eat first," she suggested.Stefan nodded. "Okay."…Neither Valarie nor Stefan noticed Jayden, who had secretly taken a photo of them from a distance.Behind Jayden, Yale frowned. "Jayden, isn't it a bit inappropriate to secretly take photos of Valarie?"Jayden glanced at him. "What's wrong with it? She's the one sneaking around on Brandon, having dinner with another man. I'm just taking a picture. What's the big deal?""But Valarie and Brandon broke up. She's free to date whoever she wants now. Besides... that guy could be her younger bro
"What's up?" Jayden asked."You free for dinner tonight?" Yale invited.Jayden checked his schedule—no meetings, no social engagements.Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Who else is coming?""Just the two of us," Yale replied."Alright, send me the details," Jayden said.…That evening, Jayden pulled up in front of a high-end restaurant in Saintornia.As he stepped out of his car, Yale's voice came from the side. "Jayden, what a coincidence. We arrived at the same time."Jayden looked over, then waited for Yale to catch up before they walked inside together.Once seated in a private room, Jayden studied Yale. "You asked me to dinner alone. There must be something you want to talk about."Yale chuckled. "Can't hide anything from you. Let's order first."After placing their orders and the server left, Yale leaned back and met Jayden's gaze. "What's your plan with Michelle and Brandon? Are you really trying to set them up?"Jayden's fingers tightened slightly around his glass. H
At present, nothing mattered to Brandon except Valarie. If Jayden insisted on forcing him to see Michelle, their friendship might not survive.Yale nodded. "Got it. I'll mention it, but I won't push it if he doesn't listen."He and Nolan had a clear view of the situation and weren't planning on getting too involved. They didn't want to end up stuck in the middle, trying to please both sides and failing.…The news of Brandon stepping down as CEO of the Sumner Group spread quickly through Saintornia.As soon as Michelle heard about it, she called Jayden."Jayden, I just saw online that Brandon resigned as CEO of the Sumner Group. What's going on?" Her voice trembled with worry.There was a brief silence on the other end before Jayden responded in a low voice. "I don't know yet. I'll ask around.""Jayden, do you think it's because of that exposé you had someone post online? Maybe you should have them take it down. I want to see him, but I don't want him to leave the Sumner Group
Valarie opened the door and stepped out.After she left, Brandon pulled out his phone and dialed Yale. "Got time for a drink tonight?""Sure. But last I checked, Valarie keeps a tight leash on you. You sure you can go drinking?" Yale asked.Hearing the teasing in Yale's voice, Brandon lowered his gaze. "She doesn't care what I do anymore."She didn't even want him now, so why would she care if he went out drinking?"Alright then. I'll call Nolan and Jayden. You and Jayden need to settle your beef anyway. You two fighting online all the time is just making people laugh at you," Yale grunted.Brandon frowned. "If you invite him, I'm not going. I don't want to see him."If Jayden showed up, the first thing he'd do was try to convince him to see Michelle. And right now, just hearing her name annoyed him.If it weren't for Michelle, things wouldn't have spiraled so far between him and Valarie."Fine, fine. I won't call him. See you at the usual place," Yale said."Yeah," Brandon h