Damon raised an eyebrow. "You like cafeteria food?"Nyla nodded. "Yeah, some of the dishes are really good and authentic.""Then we should go together next time," Damon said.Nyla agreed.It was only after she had readily agreed that she suddenly realized what Damon meant. Did he want to go to the cafeteria with her? Did he think she hadn't been popular enough lately?Since they were already commuting to and from work together every day and she visited the CEO's office for lunch daily, going to the cafeteria together didn't seem like a big deal.Besides, with Damon's statement about their relationship sent to the company group chat, no one would dare gossip about them openly.As Nyla pondered this, she realized she had grown accustomed to being with Damon. She didn't know when he had started to quietly seep into her life.Thinking this, she bit her lip and fell silent.Noticing Nyla's silence, Damon frowned, about to speak when the elevator arrived.Once they stepped inside,
Nyla kept her eyes on the experiment, fully aware that all the instruments had been cleaned and checked.However, since Ruby didn't want to interact much with Sullivan, she was happy to oblige. "Alright, just make sure you're more careful next time.""Okay," Ruby replied as she left.Sullivan watched her walk away with a squint. He hadn't expected Ruby to be so difficult to approach.Soon, the elevator arrived.Nyla stepped inside and noticed that Sullivan was still standing outside.She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Sullivan, aren't you coming? Didn't you say you wanted to discuss some data with me?"Sullivan's gaze hardened slightly. "Didn't you say to find you during work hours? Plus, if I eat alone with you, Mr. Sumner will definitely have something to say. I think I'll just order takeout."Nyla smiled, raising an eyebrow. "Alright then, see you later."…After lunch downstairs, Nyla packed up a chicken sandwich for Ruby.When she returned to the office, she found Ruby s
However, Ruby didn't plan to go alone and intended to invite Nyla along.After she shared what had happened the previous night, Nyla's expression darkened."Why didn't you tell me last night? Did you call the police?" Nyla asked.Ruby nodded. "Yes, I reported it, and the police are investigating now."Nyla's gaze dimmed. If she had any hope left for her parents, it was now gone. Ruby genuinely intended to cut ties with them.If the police discovered that the person who tried to drug and abduct her was indeed acting on her parents' orders, she wouldn't let it slide easily.Seeing the determination and strength in Ruby's eyes made Nyla's heart ache.She took Ruby's hand and said, "Alright, I'll go with you tonight. Sullivan saved your life, so it's only right to invite him to dinner.""Thank you, Nyla," Ruby replied.Nyla sighed and spoke seriously. "If anything like this happens again, you must tell me right away."Ruby's eyes shimmered with gratitude. "Nyla, thank you!""Alr
Damon wore a well-tailored dark suit, his tall figure exuding an air of authority.Beside him stood a woman in an elegant cream-colored dress, her long hair cascading down her shoulders with soft curls at the ends. She appeared gentle and alluring, wearing a small smile, her eyes bright and lively.Damon had his head turned slightly to converse with the woman beside him, his gaze focused. She looked up at him, her expression warm.There seemed to be a special understanding between them, making them appear very close.Nyla stared blankly out the window at the couple, her heart feeling as if it were being tightly gripped. She struggled to calm herself, but her eyes couldn't seem to look away.Ruby watched Nyla with concern and quietly asked, "Are you okay, Nyla?"Nyla snapped back to reality and forced a smile. "I'm fine."What she didn't realize was just how strained that smile was.She turned her gaze away, no longer looking at the couple outside, and began deleting the unfinis
Nyla glanced at Ruby out of the corner of her eye and noticed her pale face. She fell silent, clearly accepting Sullivan's words.From then on, neither of them exchanged glances, speaking only to Ruby individually.Once dinner concluded, Sullivan offered to drive them home, but Nyla declined.Sullivan quickly resumed his previous gentle facade. "Nyla, you're not still holding onto what happened earlier, are you? If you're really upset, I can apologize.""No need, Sullivan. It's out of the way for you, so I'll just take a cab home," Nyla replied.Just as she turned to walk toward the curb, Ruby grabbed her arm. "Nyla, I'll go with you. It's on my way."Nyla turned to Sullivan and said, "Sullivan, it's getting late. You should head home too. Drive safely."Sullivan didn't push further, simply nodding. "Alright, let me know when you get home.""Sure," Ruby replied.Sullivan turned toward his car only after Nyla and Ruby hailed a cab and left.In the taxi, Nyla apologized to Ruby
Nyla shrugged off Damon's hand and answered with her head lowered, "It's nothing. I'm just a bit tired. If you don't have anything else, I'm going to head in."Without waiting for his response, she quickly walked into the villa.Watching her hurried departure, Damon frowned. He felt that Nyla's attitude toward him was off.After hesitating for a moment, he called Spencer. "Check where Nyla had dinner tonight and who was with her."In less than ten minutes, Spencer sent him the results of his investigation.Upon seeing the name of the restaurant, Damon's eyes widened. He had his suspicions immediately.…Back in her bedroom, Nyla had just finished removing her makeup and was about to take a shower when she heard a knock at the door."Nyla, I need to talk to you. Can you open the door?" Damon asked.Hearing his voice, Nyla bit her lip, put down her pajamas, and walked to the door to open it. She asked, "What is it?"Meeting her distant gaze, Damon became even more convinced she
Looking at Nyla's stubborn expression, Damon couldn't help but smile, a hint of affection in his eyes."Alright, I must have misread the situation," he played along.Surprised at his accommodating tone, Nyla felt a sweet flutter in her heart."Okay, I'm going to take a shower. If there's nothing else, I'm closing the door now," she said."What do you want for breakfast tomorrow? I'll make it for you," Damon offered."Anything," Nyla replied.Fearing Damon might continue prying, she quickly closed the door.Leaning against it, she let out a soft sigh, patted her still-warm cheeks, and tried to calm herself down.Despite knowing each other for so many years, her heart raced whenever she faced Damon. Even just locking eyes with him made her cheeks flush.After regaining her composure, she grabbed her clothes and headed for the shower.…The next morning, Nyla came downstairs to see Damon bringing out breakfast from the kitchen.She paused. She had assumed he was just being cas
Nyla paused, frowning. What could it be that she shouldn't know about for now?Just as she was about to lean in closer to listen, she heard footsteps coming from the office and quickly stepped back.The office door opened, and Spencer walked out.When he saw Nyla, a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. "Ms. Kinsey, when did you get here?""I just arrived. Why?" Nyla answered, maintaining a calm expression, but her hands subconsciously tightened into fists.What exactly was Damon hiding from her?"Mr. Sumner is waiting for you inside. I'll be getting back to work," Spencer said as he hurriedly left, noticeably quickening his pace as he passed her.Suppressing her growing suspicions, Nyla entered the office."You're here! I had someone make your favorite pulled pork dish. Let me wash my hands, and then we can eat," Damon said."Sounds good," Nyla replied.While Damon washed his hands, Nyla set the table.It wasn't until he sat down across from her that she casually asked, "I not
"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