Nyla was silent momentarily before saying softly, "Mr. Sumner, I need some time to think about this. I'll contact you once I've made a decision."After hanging up, she let out a soft sigh, her expression complex.Mason's safety was very important, but she didn't want to have any more interactions with Damon. Ever since the kidnapping incident, she had found it difficult to feel calm whenever she thought of him.She decided the best course of action was to distance herself from him.After pondering for a while, Nyla made up her mind.…In the evening, Oliver arrived just as she finished cooking."I could smell the ribs as soon as I stepped out of the elevator! Have you ever thought about opening a restaurant?" Oliver asked.Nyla smiled at him, raising an eyebrow. "With a way of talking like that, I should reward you by making sure you finish all the ribs without leaving a bite."Oliver nodded. "Deal!" Hearing the voices, Mason ran out of his room. When he saw Oliver, he immed
After dinner, Oliver suggested that Nyla take Mason to the living room to rest while he cleaned the table and washed the dishes.Nyla instinctively declined, "You don't have to. You're a guest.""I'm also your boyfriend," Oliver replied, raising an eyebrow. "As your boyfriend, it's only right that I wash the dishes after dinner. I can't let you do everything."Reluctantly, Nyla nodded. "Alright, I'll listen to you."Oliver tidied up the table, washed the dishes, wiped down the kitchen counters, and mopped the floor before heading to the living room.Nyla was playing with Mason, competing to see who could stack the blocks faster.Mason was quick, nearly finishing with no blocks out of place, while Nyla's stack was a chaotic mess, teetering as if it could fall at any moment.Oliver watched them with a gentle gaze. He asked, raising an eyebrow, "Nyla, do you want me to help?"Nyla looked up and met Oliver's smiling eyes.Just as she was about to respond, a loud crash interrupted
Nyla pressed her lips together before replying softly, "Mr. Sumner, please come in."Damon entered, holding Mason, and glanced at Oliver, who was standing in the middle of the living room."Mr. Raynor, I hope I'm not interrupting," he said.Oliver met his gaze without hesitation. "Not at all."Their eyes locked, and although both were smiling, the atmosphere felt tense, as if the air had thickened around them.Nyla placed the watermelon on the table and broke the silence. "Mr. Sumner, Oliver, have a seat."Oliver looked at her warmly. "Is it okay for me to be here while you and Mr. Sumner talk? If it's not a good time, I can step out.""It's fine. There's nothing to worry about," she replied.As Damon listened to their conversation, bitterness swelled in his heart, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on Mason.Mason exclaimed, "Daddy, you're holding me too tight!"Nyla and Oliver turned to Damon, who quickly loosened his grip on Mason and said apologetically, "I'm sorry,
Seeing the hostility in Damon's eyes, Oliver let out a light laugh. "Mr. Sumner, I don't mean to offend. I've watched Buddy grow up, so protecting him is my responsibility."Damon's expression remained cold. "I can protect my own son."After saying that, he turned to Nyla, his face impassive. "If you move in with Mr. Raynor, then Buddy can move back to the villa. If you and Buddy continue living here, I will send more people to protect you both. I won't allow anyone to take advantage of the situation."Noticing the heavy atmosphere, Mason fell silent, lowering his head and softening his breath.Nyla pressed her lips together.After a long moment, she finally said, "I understand. Buddy and I will continue living here."A bit of the frost in Damon's gaze melted away as he put Mason down and stood up. "It's getting late. I won't disturb you any longer."After saying goodbye to Mason, he turned and left.Oliver stood up and said softly, "Nyla, I have a meeting tomorrow morning, so
The next few days passed uneventfully, and Nyla's tension eased a little.Just after she and Mason finished dinner on Friday night, she suddenly received a call from Brandon."Aunt Nyla, can you bring Buddy to the hospital right now?" Brandon asked.Nyla paused for a moment before speaking. "What happened?"She wasn't particularly close with Brandon, so why would he suddenly ask her to come to the hospital? Could something have happened to Damon?The thought made her heart skip a beat, and her face paled."My grandfather passed away late last night. The lawyer came today to read the will, and he said both you and Buddy need to be present," Brandon explained.Nyla was shocked. She hadn't expected Richard to pass away so suddenly.She asked again, "Didn't he seem to be in good health not long ago?"Brandon sighed and spoke softly. "I'm not sure either. The doctor did say he was gradually recovering, but last night, he suddenly…"Anyway, let's not dwell on that now. If you're av
"Third, to my eldest son, Cyrus Sumner, I leave the legacy of my own selfishness and cold-heartedness, hoping he will make good use of these traits and find them beneficial."Fourth, to my youngest son, Damon Sumner, I leave only two words—Suit yourself."This will reflects my true intentions and has been notarized, giving it legal validity."Signed and stamped by Richard Sumner, dated August 19, 2024."As soon as Parker finished, Cyrus jumped up, his face red with rage."I don't accept this will!" he yelled. "There's no way my father would do this! He wouldn't leave me without a single penny!"Parker looked at him calmly. "Mr. Cyrus, this will has already been notarized. If you don't believe it, you're welcome to investigate. There are records on file.""No! This isn't fair! I won't accept this will! It's unfair, and I refuse to acknowledge it!" Cyrus cried.Furious, he turned to Anne, whose expression mirrored his displeasure."Anne, do you really think this will is real? Da
Brandon glared at her coldly. "I dull in comparison to you, Aunt Anne—ignoring Grandpa when he was sick and still managing to pocket 300,000 dollars from his inheritance.""300,000 dollars!" Anne sneered. "What can 300,000 dollars even do?!""If you keep gambling like before, it might not last even a month. But if you're frugal, it may sustain you for a few years," Brandon countered.Anne was so angry she almost spat blood.Her hatred for Richard deepened. All that money and property were left to Nyla's bastard child—wasn't that basically the same as giving it directly to Nyla?The more Anne thought about it, the angrier she became.She turned to Nyla, who had been silent, and questioned, "Nyla, do you really have the nerve to accept that money and those properties?"Nyla hadn't been interested in Richard's inheritance at all, but Anne's accusatory tone made her uncomfortable.Raising her eyebrows, she smirked. "Since your father left it to Buddy, why wouldn't I accept it? Did
Brandon instinctively turned to Damon.Seeing that Damon showed no reaction, he couldn't help but clench his jaw. "Uncle Damon, is what Uncle Cyrus saying true?""It is," Damon confirmed.Brandon's eyes widened as he struggled to process the news. Damon wasn't part of the Sumners!Cyrus laughed coldly. "As long as you admit it, Damon, then you, Nyla, and Mason have no right to Dad's inheritance."Meeting Cyrus' mocking gaze, Damon remained indifferent. "The will is valid. Whether or not I'm part of the Sumners is irrelevant.""You!" Cyrus shifted his approach after his previous tactic failed. "You already have Prospectus Technology. Why fight us over a small inheritance?""I built Prospectus Technology without a single cent from the Sumners. And who wouldn't want more money?" Damon retorted."Well, I won't recognize this will! I'll see you in court!" Cyrus huffed.Damon looked at him nonchalantly. "I'm afraid you won't get the chance to sue me. After all, you're the one who ki
"Would you happen to have a moment later? I'd love to discuss something," Gabriel asked.Tim smiled. "What a coincidence. I suppose I can spare a few minutes for a chat.""Excellent," Gabriel replied.Standing, Crystal smoothed her dress. "I'll freshen up."She knew better than to linger during Tim's business discussions."Your lipstick needs touching up. Take your time," Tim said mildly."Of course," Crystal answered.She found a quiet spot and sat for over half an hour, waiting until she received a bank notification confirming a deposit of 7,000,000 dollars.Satisfied, she returned to the table, only to find Tim dining alone."Tim, when did Mr. Hackett leave?" she asked, quickening her pace to sit across from him.Tim continued cutting his steak with deliberate precision. "No talking while eating."Although his tone was calm, Crystal had been with him long enough to sense his simmering anger.She pressed her lips together, instinctively explaining, "Tim, I'm sorry. Mr. Ha
By midday, Tim still refused to see Gabriel.Gabriel, considering taking a break and returning later, received a call from his secretary."Mr. Hackett, I found out Mr. Westcott has a girlfriend. Perhaps she could help arrange a meeting," his secretary said.A spark lit in Gabriel's eyes. "Send me her details right away."The secretary quickly forwarded the information.Tim's girlfriend, Crystal Glasco, came from an average family and worked as his assistant.Her background was straightforward—a bachelor's degree and a job at the Westcott Group right after graduation, where she became Tim's assistant.Their relationship, however, was more about Tim keeping her than about them being equals. That said, their three years together suggested Tim held some level of affection for her.After reviewing the details, Gabriel immediately called his secretary back. "Find a way to contact Crystal. I need to meet her today."…At around 8:00 p.m., Crystal entered an upscale restaurant in Cap
Under Tim's leadership, the Westcott Group maintained its position as one of the top four families in Capitarnia, leaving the other three far behind.After reading the file, Gabriel closed it and asked coldly, "I asked you to arrange a meeting with Mr. Westcott. What's their response?"The secretary hesitated. "Mr. Hackett, Mr. Westcott's secretary hasn't responded. It seems they aren't interested in meeting with you."Gabriel wasn't fazed. The document made it clear that Tim was proud and highly selective in his dealings. Such a person wasn't easily approached.For Damon to even gain the Westcott Group's consideration, he must have put in significant effort.Still, there was an opportunity as long as the contract wasn't signed."No need to wait for a reply. I'll go to the Westcott Group myself tomorrow morning," Gabriel said."Understood, Mr. Hackett," the secretary replied.…At 7:00 a.m. the next day, Gabriel was already standing outside the Westcott Group. The sun hadn't f
Damon nodded. "Got it. Have the PR department continue contacting major media outlets to remove any negative commentary about Prospectus Technology. We can't let this situation escalate further."In the business world, public opinion could be lethal. Most people were naturally inclined to follow the crowd. Without knowing the full picture, they could easily be misled.If the narrative that Prospectus Technology's chips were faulty spread too far, restoring their reputation later would require monumental resources. It was critical to stop this from snowballing now."Understood, Mr. Sumner. By the way, how's the deal in Capitarnia coming along?" someone asked.Upon hearing that, Damon's previously tense expression relaxed slightly. "Progress is decent. Barring any unforeseen issues, we should be able to sign the contract in a couple of days."The group on the call let out a collective sigh of relief.Once the deal was signed, Prospectus Technology would recover some of its losses
"We can sign an agreement if you're still worried. I promise never to challenge your custody of Wilhelm in my lifetime," Jane assured.Seeing her determination, Gabriel remained silent.Noticing his hesitation, Jane gripped the armrests of her wheelchair tightly. "Gabriel, you're already hesitating, even though you haven't remarried yet. How can I believe you'll treat Wilhelm fairly in the future?"Gabriel's gaze turned cold. "No matter what, Wilhelm will be better off with me than with you. When and how much of the shares I give him is my decision, not yours."With that, he turned to leave.As he reached the doorway, Jane's voice echoed behind him. "If you don't transfer half your shares to Wilhelm, I won't leave the country!"Gabriel paused, then glanced back at her mockingly. "Whether you leave or stay means nothing to me. And why would you think your refusal to leave is a threat to me?""Gabriel, you're a bastard!" Jane shouted.Gabriel smirked and left without another word
Wilhelm froze for a moment, his eyes welling up with tears as confusion and hurt clouded them."Mommy, do you really not want me anymore?" he asked, his voice trembling.Jane's gaze flickered with a brief trace of pain as she looked at Wilhelm sitting pitifully on the floor. But the softness in her eyes vanished as quickly as it appeared.She stared at him coldly. "That's right. I never wanted you. I hit you to try and get your father to come back."The other day, when I took you out for steak, I deliberately let you eat that hazelnut cake. You started itching later because you're allergic—that was intentional, too. I wanted you hospitalized so I could force your father to see me."Her tone grew harsher. "Now that Gabriel and I are divorced, you're of no use to me. You're just a burden. Taking you with me would only drag me down."And I hate your father. Naturally, I hate you, too. Don't show up in front of me again!"Wilhelm sat frozen, her words cutting into him like shards of
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