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
The scene quickly descended into chaos.Nyla immediately pulled Mason behind her, ensuring that Cyrus and Anne wouldn't accidentally harm him.Damon stepped closer to her, speaking in a low voice. "You and Buddy stand behind me.""Okay," Nyla replied.Brandon watched Anne and Cyrus fight with a look of disappointment.They were family, yet they were squabbling over money. To think that Cyrus would kill his own father for it—it was despicable.Parker, who had been stunned into silence, now looked at the scene with disbelief. He frowned, wondering if he knew too much now.He was only there to read a will, yet he had just discovered that Damon wasn't even a Sumner and that Richard had been killed by his own son, Cyrus...The hospital room door opened, and two police officers walked in. They were momentarily taken aback by the chaotic scene but quickly stepped forward to separate Cyrus and Anne.Once Cyrus and Anne had calmed down, one of the officers turned to Cyrus and said, "Mr
After ensuring everything was settled, Parker left.Nyla glanced at Brandon, who had remained silent since the start of the altercation.Guessing he probably had something to discuss with Damon, she decided it was best to give them some privacy and took Mason out of the room.Once the door closed, Brandon finally spoke to Damon. "Uncle Damon, when did you find out that you're not a Sumner?""A short while ago," Damon answered indifferently. "But don't worry. I have no intention of competing with you for control of the Sumner Group."He had never been interested in running the company and had been grooming Brandon to take the reins for years. Now that Brandon was capable, he was ready to step back.Brandon frowned and replied, "You know that's not what I meant. If you wanted the company, I'd hand it over to you in a heartbeat. After all, we both know the company has a better future with you in charge than with me. It's just… hard for me to accept that you're not really my uncle."
Hearing the hesitation in Caroline's voice, Nyla pressed her lips together, understanding her meaning."Don't worry, Caroline, I won't let personal feelings affect my work. Plus, Mr. Sumner is the CEO of Prospectus Technology. He won't have the time to worry about a small project," she replied.Caroline sighed in relief but added, "Nyla, if you feel pressured, I'll talk to the professor.""It's fine. I don't have anything else going on in Saintornia right now, so I might as well finish this project before heading back," Nyla reassured her.Seeing her insist, Caroline decided not to push further and said quietly, "Alright, I'll send you the project details in a bit. Leon and Ruby will come to Saintornia in a couple of days to assist you.""Okay, got it," Nyla answered.After ending the call, she quickly received the project documents from Caroline.When she opened them, her feelings grew complicated—she hadn't expected to have the opportunity to work with Prospectus Technology ag
After Nyla and her group introduced themselves, Ethan smiled and said, "Alright. Mr. Colwell and Ms. Jenner, your accommodations are ready. I'll take you there now.""Thank you," Leon and Ruby replied.Prospectus Technology had arranged for Leon and Ruby to stay in apartments just two blocks from the company. They each had a one-bedroom unit, and there were other out-of-town staff members on the same floor.Seeing that they were satisfied with the arrangements, Ethan said apologetically, "Ms. Kinsey, I should have treated you all to a welcome dinner today, but I have a meeting shortly."If there's nothing else, please come to the office at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. I'll have someone issue your work IDs and access badges and give you a tour of the company."Nyla nodded. "That's alright, Mr. Jack. We can handle dinner ourselves.""Alright, I'll get going then. I apologize for the inconvenience today," Ethan said as he excused himself.After Ethan left, Nyla planned to let Leon and Ruby
"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