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
"I won't divorce her. Even if I did, I'd never marry you. Just carry the child to term, and that's all you need to worry about. The rest isn't your concern!" With that, Clark stormed out, medical report in hand.After the door slammed shut, Jordyn wiped a tear from her eye with a smirk.Clark didn't return to the hospital that night.Nyla had sensed it long before, so she couldn't say she was disappointed.…After a few days of recuperation in the hospital, Nyla had recovered about 70-80%. Aside from occasional dizziness, she was mostly fine. The doctor said she could be discharged that afternoon."Nyla, I have something to do this afternoon. I'll send my driver to take you home," Valarie offered."No need. I don't have much stuff. I'll just take a taxi," Nyla replied.During Nyla's hospital stay, Clark hadn't visited after the initial appearance. It had been Valarie taking care of Nyla, causing Valarie to miss out on a lot, which made Nyla feel quite guilty."I'll still have
Nyla felt like she was listening to a joke. She had never seen a husband embrace his mistress and order his wife to apologize to the mistress."Do you think she deserves it?" she asked incredulously.Tears welled up in Jordyn's eyes as she clutched Clark's sleeve, choking out, "Clark, please don't make things difficult for Ms. Jayston. It's my fault. As long as it calms her down, she can treat me however she wants."Clark gave Jordyn a cold glance. "Shut up."Sensing Clark's anger, Jordyn trembled uncontrollably, lowered her gaze, and said nothing more.Watching them embrace, Nyla felt only mockery. Was this what Clark had meant by having nothing to do with Jordyn? Was he taking Nyla for a fool?Unable to bear watching further, Nyla hastily stuffed her belongings into her bag and turned to leave."Stop!" Clark yelled.Footsteps echoed behind her, and the next moment, a large hand grabbed her wrist.Before Nyla could react, Clark pulled her forcefully toward the exit.His grip
After all, before knowing that Nyla couldn't have children, Jordyn wouldn't have dared to provoke Nyla while pregnant. Clark hadn't exposed Jordyn's clumsy acting in front of Nyla just now simply because she was carrying his child. That didn't mean he was a fool.Jordyn's fingers trembled as she bit her lip, tearfully looking at him. "Clark, I didn't mean that..."Impatience flashed in Clark's eyes. "You better really didn't."Jordyn bit her lip, sounding disappointed. "Were you... using me to test Ms. Jayston just now?"Clark knew she had plotted against Nyla but hadn't exposed her. She had thought he had feelings for her, but it turned out she had deceived herself.Clark pinched Jordyn's chin, his gaze full of disdain. "You'd better straighten yourself out. I like smart women, but being too clever is just stupid."As Jordyn froze, Clark released her and walked away.Tears fell from Jordyn's eyes as she watched him leave. Subconsciously, she touched her abdomen. Although she kn
When Kenneth heard that, greed filled his eyes. "Never be able to finish spending in my lifetime? So we're talking hundreds of thousands?"A hint of mockery flashed in Lucia's eyes. What a country bumpkin—he couldn't even conceive of anything beyond hundreds of thousands."If this plan succeeds, we're not talking hundreds of thousands—we're talking millions!""Really?" Kenneth's cheeks flushed red from excitement as if he could already see millions beckoning to him."Of course. Come closer, and I'll explain carefully to you." Lucia lowered her voice, and Kenneth nodded eagerly, excitement evident in his eyes.In the end, he looked at Lucia earnestly and said, "Ms. Pollard, I'll do whatever you say as long as it gets me the money."After Kenneth left, Lucia sneered. Before long, all the people she detested would disappear from this world.…Nyla had not been home for long when Clark came knocking.Nyla could see from the surveillance monitor that he looked angry. She pretended
"That's more like it," Valarie chirped.Nyla couldn't help but say, "Valarie, stop bullying Brandon all the time."Brandon turned to her and sighed dramatically. "Aunt Nyla, since you mentioned it, I have to say something. You have no idea what I've been through these past six months, I— Ouch!"Before he could finish, Valarie pinched his waist. "What was that? Tell me, Brandon. Have you been unhappy these past six months?""N-No... I've been very happy..." Brandon winced."Have I bullied you then?" Valarie pressed."No..." Brandon murmured.Valarie huffed. "If not, then keep your mouth shut, or Nyla will really think I mistreat you." Brandon gave her a pitiful look, lowering his head like a scolded puppy.Before they married, Valarie had been gentle and beautiful in his eyes. But after marriage, he realized how wrong he had been.Gentle and beautiful? All an illusion.If he stayed out drinking and came home late, he'd have to choose between sleeping on the couch or outside.
Taking Mia to work was exhausting, but every time she smiled at Damon, it made everything worth it."She'll be fine. Didn't you just say she loves us both equally? She'll cry for a bit, but if you stop taking her to the office, she'll get used to being at home," Nyla reasoned.Seeing Nyla's determination, Damon finally relented. "Alright, we'll try it tomorrow. But if she cries too much, you'll have to take her to the office.""Deal!" Nyla said....After getting ready for work the next morning, Damon kissed Mia on the cheek and headed for the door.As soon as he changed his shoes at the entrance, she reached her little arms toward him, asking to be held. She had grown so accustomed to going to the office with him every day that it had become a reflex.Damon glanced at Nyla. "Nyla, maybe today we should—"Nyla interrupted, "Nope. You go to work. And if you're free for lunch, don't bother coming home. If you need to work late, no rush to come back either."Damon chuckled. "You'
"Brandon, from now on, I'm entrusting Valarie to you," Jonathan said. "She's been spoiled by us and can be a little willful at times. I hope you'll be patient with her in your marriage, and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together."Brandon held Valarie's hand tightly, his expression solemn. "Dad, don't worry. I'll cherish her with all my heart."Jonathan nodded, stepping down from the stage. He discreetly wiped away his tears.After exchanging vows and rings, Valarie and Brandon sealed their love with a kiss, surrounded by cheers and applause.…On the way home from the wedding, Nyla glanced at Damon. "I saw Mr. Weir wipe his tears so many times today. When Bunny gets married, you'll definitely be just like him, sneaking off somewhere to cry."Damon's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his gaze sharpening. "No one will ever be good enough for my daughter. If she never gets married, we'll take care of her for the rest of our lives."Nyla raised an eyebrow and
"Of course! When's the wedding?" Nyla asked.Valarie shook her head. "We haven't decided yet. He'll come to my house in a few days to discuss it with my parents."Nyla raised an eyebrow. "You're about to get really busy. Planning a wedding alone will take a lot of work.""Yeah, I'm already getting a headache just thinking about it," Valarie replied....For the next few months, Valarie was completely consumed by wedding preparations and work, barely having time to catch her breath.The wedding was set for August 8th, leaving them with less than six months to finalize everything.Valarie even traveled abroad several times to meet with designers and ensure her wedding dress was exactly what she wanted.Beyond the dress, she and Brandon spent hours discussing every detail—from the venue to the wedding favors and bouquet choices....After months of nonstop planning, the big day finally arrived.Valarie was already up, getting her hair and makeup done at 2:00 a.m.By the time N
Valarie looked up and saw the approaching glow.When the figure finally stopped in front of her, she realized it was Brandon.Frowning, she asked, "Where did you go? I waited so long for you. And what are you hiding behind your back?"Brandon flipped his phone face-down on the table, revealing the flowers he had hidden. Then he dropped to one knee."Valarie, I had planned a perfect proposal for you, but when you asked earlier about the meaning of wearing a wedding dress, I knew I couldn't wait any longer."Before I met you, my life revolved solely around work. I never paused for anyone—I never cared whether the sun was rising or setting, or if the moon was full or waning. But everything changed after I met you."I began cherishing the thought of greeting you every morning, sharing meals with you, and standing by your side for life."Valarie, I want every morning to begin with us waking up together, and every night to end with us holding each other as we fall asleep."Finally, B
Of course, every time they visited Valarie's home, Phoebe would subtly—or sometimes not so subtly—hint that they should get married.Brandon had always assumed Valarie wasn't interested in marriage since she never responded to those hints. He hadn't considered proposing.But today, seeing her so excited about picking out baby clothes made him start to imagine a future with her—building a family, raising a child.That thought filled his heart with warmth.After more than three hours of shopping, they finally left the mall, their arms full of bags.Once they loaded everything into the car, Valarie turned to Brandon. "I'm starving. Let's grab something to eat."Brandon nodded. "Sure. What are you in the mood for?""I'm not picky. Is there anything good around here? I don't feel like going too far," she replied.Brandon paused, then said, "There's a place with ethnic cuisine nearby. I went there once for a business meeting—it was pretty authentic. Want to give it a try?""Sounds g
Nyla was silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright. If you ever need Damon to help figure out Brandon's thoughts, just let me know.""I will. Don't worry about us, though. You just gave birth. Your main priority should be resting," Valarie said."Okay," Nyla replied.Valarie lingered in the bedroom for a while, but when she saw Nyla looking tired, she stood up and left.Downstairs, only Brandon was in the living room.Valarie walked over to him and asked, "Where's Damon?""He had something to take care of for work, so he went to the study. How's Aunt Nyla?" Brandon asked."She seems to be doing well, and the baby is adorable. Oh, right, I forgot to ask what the baby's name is. I only know her nickname is Bunny," Valarie said.Just thinking about Mia Sumner's cute little face made Valarie smile. She was already looking forward to the day the baby would call her godmother.A flicker of something crossed Brandon's eyes. "You really like kids, huh?""Of course! I've said befor
Once they were in the car, Nyla suddenly recalled Damon's phone call earlier. "By the way, what did Alexander want?"After a brief pause, Damon glanced at her. "He said Ms. Kinsey left you an inheritance and asked when we'd be able to go to Meristate to take care of it."Nyla pressed her lips together before replying, "Call him later and tell him to donate it or keep it for himself. I don't want it.""Alright," Damon replied.When they arrived home, Damon helped Nyla settle onto the couch, placing a pillow behind her back for support. Then, he said seriously, "Nyla, you've been through enough. Let's not have any more kids after this."During her first pregnancy with Mason, Damon hadn't been around, so he hadn't realized how difficult it was for her.Now, experiencing this pregnancy with her, every checkup and blood draw made his heart ache.Once Nyla gave birth, he planned to get a vasectomy. Two kids were enough for them.Nyla shot him a look. "This wasn't exactly planned, was
More than half an hour later, Nyla finally stirred from her nap.When she opened her eyes, she found Damon sitting by her bed, watching her. She froze for a moment, caught off guard.Rubbing her eyes, she realized he was still there and confirmed she wasn't dreaming.She slowly sat up, her voice still heavy with sleep. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in your study working?""I missed you, so I came to see you," Damon replied.Nyla narrowed her eyes. "You definitely have something to say if you're here all of a sudden."Damon chuckled, a little helpless. "I guess I can't fool you.""Of course not. I know you too well. Ever since I got pregnant, you've never come to see me like this in the afternoon," Nyla said."Alright. Go freshen up first, and I'll wait for you downstairs," Damon suggested."Okay," Nyla replied.After washing up, she went downstairs and sat beside Damon. "Alright, tell me. What's going on? You're acting all mysterious."Damon hesitated for a moment befo