"It's a long story. Just let me handle it," Nyla said and hung up.As she watched the number of hateful comments against her skyrocket, her expression grew colder.On the other side, Clark had just returned to his villa when he received a call from Michael. "Mr. Sumner, someone posted a video of Mabel's father kneeling to Mrs. Sumner. The Internet is blowing up with people cursing her. Should we take the video down?"Clark's gaze darkened. After a moment, he replied, "No, leave it up. I'll deal with it when she comes to me."He thought he had been too lenient with Nyla recently, which was why she had been so cold toward him. This incident would remind her of her place.Damon also heard about the online attack on Nyla and immediately contacted her, asking if she needed help removing the video.Nyla felt a pang of bitterness hearing Damon's calm voice over the phone. The video had been circulating for over an hour, so there was no way Clark didn't know about it. Yet, the one person
Seeing the hateful comments directed at her, Lucia was so furious she nearly crushed her phone. She hadn't expected Nyla to be prepared for Kenneth’s confrontation from the start. Now, not only had Nyla managed to clear her name, but Lucia might also get implicated.Panicking, Lucia contacted the influencer who had posted the video and asked them to delete it. However, she was told that the account had been locked and couldn't be accessed.Lucia's heart sank. How could this happen right after Nyla released the recording? Could it be Clark's doing?The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. If they traced this back to her, she'd be finished.Desperate, she rushed to Clement, who was in his study.After listening to Lucia's explanation, Clement slapped her hard across the face. "You idiot! Are you trying to get us all killed?"He had warned her before not to go against Nyla, but she hadn't listened and had gone behind his back to create this mess.Lucia's cheek st
"I'm looking into it. It should be resolved in the next couple of days."A flicker of joy flashed in Lucia's eyes. "Thanks, Dad!""Don't celebrate too soon. If there's a next time, I won't intervene," Clement warned sternly."Got it. I'll go back to my room and sleep now. You should get some rest too," Lucia replied, turning to leave.Just as she turned, Clement spoke again in an ominous voice. "Lucia, you better not have overheard something you shouldn't have. Don't expect me to overlook family ties if you did."Lucia could hear the warning in Clement's tone and bit her lip. When she turned back to him, her expression was filled with confusion. "Dad, what shouldn't I have heard? I don't understand."Clement looked at her coldly. Seeing her puzzled expression, as if she truly hadn't heard anything, he suppressed his suspicions. "It's better if you don't understand. Go rest now."It wasn't until Lucia locked the door behind her when she returned to her bedroom that she realized s
Clark believed he was in control of the marriage. So, when he discovered that Nyla had handled the incident on her own without asking for his help, he angrily called to question her.If it had been the Clark from eight years ago, he wouldn't have waited for her to surrender—he would have protected her at all costs. The 28-year-old Clark was no longer the same as his 20-year-old self.Nyla lowered her gaze, her eyes involuntarily reddening.The silence on both ends of the line was deafening, with only their breaths audible. After over a minute of this, Clark still hadn't spoken.Not willing to wait any longer, Nyla ended the call. She rubbed her tear-stained eyes and couldn't help but chuckle bitterly.She felt useless. Despite vowing not to let him affect her anymore, she still felt hurt. Clark had occupied eight years of her life. Perhaps she needed another eight years to slowly move on.…In the living room of the villa, Clark didn't have the courage to call back after Nyla hu
Clark's expression was tense, filled with anger. He knew Cyrus could definitely follow through on his threats. After all, Cyrus had never cared about him.Finally, he called Michael, his voice cold. "Don't take any action against Clement for now."Hanging up, he glared at Cyrus. "You can leave now."Cyrus' gaze darkened. "One day, you will understand that everything I do is for your own good."Clark didn't reply. Instead, he picked up a file, pretending he hadn't heard anything.There was a flash of coldness in Cyrus' eyes at Clark's indifferent face before he turned and quickly left.Michael was already on his way to the subsidiary company when Clark's call came. Finding the situation inexplicable, he turned back. Just as he entered the office, a chill ran down his spine, as if he had stepped into an icy wasteland. "Mr. Sumner, regarding Clement—""Don't worry about it. Just spread the news that it was Lucia who filmed the video."Seeing Clark's cold expression, Michael dared
When Clark arrived, Nyla had only just woken up. Due to a mild concussion, she felt dizzy and nauseous as soon as she opened her eyes, so she kept them shut while lying down.Sensing someone sitting beside her hospital bed, she thought it was Valarie returning with medicine."Valarie, I feel awful. I think I'm going to be sick..."Seeing Nyla's furrowed brows and her pale face covered in cold sweat, Clark was heartbroken. He quickly grabbed a tissue from the nearby table and wiped the sweat from her forehead.As Clark came closer, Nyla caught a whiff of his cologne and suddenly opened her eyes wide. When she saw that it was indeed Clark, she turned her head away and said with disgust, "Don't touch me."Her resistance was clear in her eyes. Clark's hand froze in midair before he withdrew it and sat down."Fine, I won't touch you. Just let me know if you need anything."Nyla was feeling so uncomfortable at the moment that she didn't bother trying to get Clark to leave. She simply
"Uncle Damon, thank you for coming to see Nyla, but you're usually busy, so there's no need for you to come in the future." Clark's tone lacked politeness, and his gaze toward Damon was filled with hostility, practically spelling out "keep your distance from Nyla".Damon looked at him calmly, showing no sign of being provoked.Clark felt frustrated and ground his teeth in anger. Damon's attitude made him feel like his punch had landed nowhere.Damon ignored Clark's remark, turned to Valarie, and said, "Ms. Weir, I have another meeting shortly. I'll take my leave now."Valarie nodded. "Alright, I'll see you out.""No need," Damon replied.As Damon turned to leave, Clark followed and intercepted him in front of the elevator, staring at him with a stern expression. "Uncle Damon, I hope you understand that Nyla is my wife and your niece-in-law, not just some random woman. I hope you don't have any inappropriate thoughts."Damon glanced at Clark, his gaze devoid of warmth. "If I were
"Mr. Sumner, if you no longer love Nyla, please let her go, considering the eight years of your relationship."Don't continue clinging to a mistress while refusing to divorce her, draining whatever little love is left between you."With that, Valarie turned and left without caring how unpleasant Clark's expression became.Clark's fingers holding the phone turned faintly white, his gaze heavy and cold. His phone kept ringing, and he walked to the stairwell to answer."What is it?"Jordyn's voice sounded grave from the phone. "Clark, I have something important to tell you.""I'm busy right now." Just as Clark was about to hang up, something said on the other end froze him in place. After several seconds, he spoke in a low voice. "I'll come see you shortly."Back in the hospital room, Valarie saw that Nyla had woken up and quickly approached her bedside. "Nyla, I've already asked for soup to be prepared for you. It should arrive soon. Just rest a little longer.""Okay."Not long
"Got it," Spencer answered.After Spencer left, Damon received a call from Tim."Damon, what's going on with Nyce Tech's Galaxy chip? Did someone in your company really leak the Agihop 6th Gen's data?" Tim asked.Six months earlier, Tim had learned about Prospectus Technology's plans for the Agihop 6th Gen. The fact that Galaxy's breakthroughs mirrored those plans exactly felt far too coincidental."Most likely, yes. I'm currently investigating who leaked the core data," Damon replied.Tim's voice carried a mix of amusement and casualness. "Even if you find the culprit, it'll take a long time to resolve in court."At this rate, it's uncertain whether the Agihop 6th Gen will launch next year. This won't affect our joint investment in the new energy vehicle project, will it?"Damon's gaze darkened. "Don't worry. It won't.""Good to know. Well, I wish you luck with the investigation. I've got a meeting soon, so I'll let you go," Tim said.After hanging up, Damon placed his phone
As soon as Gabriel's words fell, the room erupted into thunderous applause.The reporter who had asked the question also joined in the clapping before speaking again. "On behalf of the R&D team, I'd like to ask you, Mr. Hackett, how much of a bonus are you planning to give them now that the Galaxy chip has been successfully launched?"Gabriel smiled. "The minimum bonus will start at 30,000 dollars, and I'll also give them a month off to rest and recharge."The room instantly buzzed with excitement.A full month of vacation—something most workers could hardly even dream of—was about to become a reality for the R&D team."Mr. Hackett, are you serious?" The reporter looked almost as excited as if they were the one getting the vacation.Gabriel nodded. "Yes, absolutely.""Haha, then on behalf of the R&D team, thank you, Mr. Hackett!" the reporter cheered.Gabriel smoothly answered the reporters' following questions, and the press conference wrapped up on a positive and harmonious n
With that, Damon left the room without further explanation, leaving the shareholders puzzled.Soon after, the reason for Damon's urgency became clear.That same day, Nyce Tech unveiled their latest chip, named Galaxy, during a high-profile launch event.The chip's performance specifications, introduced by Gabriel, closely mirrored those of Prospectus Technology's yet-to-be-released Agihop 6th Gen, which was still in the final testing phase.Damon's expression darkened as he watched the press conference footage."Mr. Sumner, it's clear that Galaxy is targeting the Agihop 6th Gen. I suspect someone in the company leaked its data. Otherwise, Nyce Tech couldn't have developed a product so similar," Spencer suggested."Call the R&D department head," Damon ordered.The department head arrived quickly, already aware of the situation."Mr. Sumner, I've already started investigating the R&D team. Within three hours, I'll have a complete report to determine whether anyone leaked the data
"Just follow my lead, Mr. Genge. I'll handle the rest," Gabriel said."Are you implying you don't trust me, Mr. Hackett?" Tom asked."It's not a matter of trust. I simply want to avoid unnecessary complications. If there's nothing else, please see yourself out," Gabriel said, dismissing him.He picked up the documents on his desk, signaling the end of their discussion.Tom sneered. "Fine, Mr. Hackett. I'll wait to see your results."With that, he turned and left.…For the next few days, Nyla stopped bringing meals to Damon at the office, allowing him to focus on his work.By Friday afternoon, Prospectus Technology's tech team had finally identified the root cause of the widespread machine malfunctions at Longbow.The issue stemmed from the incompatibility between Longbow's equipment and Prospectus Technology's chip. The machines couldn't keep up with the processing speed of the Agihop 5th Gen, leading to failures.However, Longbow adamantly denied ever being informed by Pros
Back in the car, Gabriel's expression was so dark it seemed he might explode."Mr. Hackett, I don't think Mr. Sumner is likely to collaborate with Nyce Tech. Should we approach Mr. Genge instead?" his secretary asked cautiously.The secretary had doubted Damon would agree to meet with Gabriel from the start, and now it seemed his instincts were right.Although Tim had deceived them, Nyce Tech's losses were still manageable. There was no urgent need to rely on Damon for assistance.Gabriel shot him a cold glare. "What do you know?"The secretary flinched under the stare and dared not speak again."If Damon refuses to meet me, start reaching out to Prospectus Technology's other shareholders. I don't believe they all blindly follow him," Gabriel instructed.The secretary nodded. "Understood.""Take me back to the office," Gabriel said curtly.In Prospectus Technology's CEO office on the top floor…Nyla had just finished setting out the dishes and called Damon over to eat."I'll
Gabriel suppressed his emotions and forced a smile. "Nyla, are you here with Buddy to bring Mr. Sumner dinner?"Nyla acted as though she hadn't heard him and strode past him into the lobby, her demeanor cold and distant.Gabriel's expression darkened. He stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Nyla, do you hate me so much that you won't even speak to me?"Nyla frowned. "Please move.""Nyla..." Gabriel's voice softened, his hurt evident. His gaze held a trace of sadness.She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with disdain. "Gabriel, you and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. You've been targeting Prospectus Technology behind the scenes for months. Do you really think we can have a civil conversation?"Her tone carried a clear defense of Damon, stoking jealousy in Gabriel.She only saw his actions against Prospectus Technology but ignored how Damon and Tim had schemed against him together."Nyla, do you know why I named my company Nyce Tech?" he asked abruptly.
"Why are you here so early?" Damon asked.Upon seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Nyla's heart ached. "Spencer told me about your schedule this morning. Buddy and I missed you, so we came by."Damon walked over. "Yeah, I have to head to a meeting soon and won't have much time to spend with you two.""We understand," Nyla said softly.Damon gave her a brief hug before crouching to embrace Mason. "If all goes well, I might finish early tonight and be home for dinner.""Okay. I brought you breakfast. Eat something before your meeting," Nyla said with a gentle smile.As Damon ate, Mason and Nyla watched him."You've gotten thinner. Are you not eating properly?" Nyla asked, concern evident in her voice.Damon sipped his coffee and reassured her, "It's fine. Things will calm down soon."Just as they were finishing, Spencer entered to remind Damon about the meeting."Bring the materials to the conference room. I'll be right there," Damon instructed.Once Spencer left, he turne
After Gabriel stormed out, Tim couldn't hold back his laughter. "Haha, Gabriel's expression just now was priceless. I was going to leave him hanging, but he insisted on throwing money at me. He really set himself up for failure."Damon didn't comment.Tim finally stopped laughing and cleared his throat. "You've got an evening flight to catch, right? Let's handle the contract now."Damon walked over and sat across from him, pulling out the contract. "I've already marked the sections that need revisions."Tim took the document, reviewed the highlighted parts, and immediately called his assistant to revise them. Once corrected, the updated version was printed, signed, and stamped.By the time everything was finalized, over an hour had passed.Satisfied, Damon tucked one copy into his bag and stood up. "If any issues come up, let me know."Tim nodded. "Sure."As Damon reached the door, he paused and turned to Tim. "By the way, Gabriel doesn't let things slide. You outmaneuvered him
After a brief moment of anger, Gabriel regained his composure, his gaze turning cold. "Damon, Mr. Westcott assured me he wouldn't partner with Prospectus Technology. Otherwise, he wouldn't have signed this contract with me. Stop lying."Damon remained unfazed and spoke calmly. "Believe me or not, it makes no difference to me."With that, he turned and continued into Tim's office with Spencer following close behind.Gabriel stared at Damon's retreating back and instructed his secretary, "We're going back inside. I need to see for myself whether Damon or Tim is lying to me."Trailing Damon, Gabriel stormed into Tim's office.Seeing both men enter together, Tim raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Hackett, what brings the two of you here together? Is there an issue with your contract as well, Mr. Hackett?"The subtle emphasis on "as well" struck Gabriel like a ton of bricks. His expression darkened."Mr. Westcott, you assured me at the restaurant that you wouldn't c