Nyla smiled. "Ms. Ferrier, it's not that I don't trust you. I just think it's important to hear both sides of the story."Laura didn't respond, but her expression darkened, clearly displeased.Nyla remained unfazed. She turned to Mason and said, "Buddy, don't be scared. No matter what happened, Mommy will stand by you."If you didn't do anything wrong, I won't force you to apologize. But if you did, I'll apologize with you. How does that sound?"With Nyla's soothing voice, Mason finally spoke up. "I didn't do anything wrong! He stepped on my shoes first and called me a bastard. That's why we fought. And I didn't push him!"As he spoke, his eyes began to well with tears.Nyla gently patted his head and said softly, "Okay, Mommy will handle this."She stood up and addressed Laura, "Ms. Ferrier, you heard my son just now. If I'm not mistaken, there are cameras in their classroom."If they could check the footage, they would know exactly who was at fault.Just as Laura was about t
"Don't worry. Mommy will find out the truth. If you're innocent, I won't make you apologize," Nyla reassured him.Yelena snorted and warned, "What kids say can't be trusted. This situation needs to be resolved quickly. Ms. Kinsey, I hope you can be rational and not complicate things further."Laura looked troubled, unsure of how to handle the situation.Nyla stood her ground, meeting Yelena's gaze. "I will handle this rationally, but not by apologizing when I believe my child is innocent. I will investigate the truth myself and clear my son's name."Yelena's expression turned icy since Nyla refused to back down."I advise you to think carefully. If you offend the Wilkies, no kindergarten in Saintornia will accept your son," she warned.The office fell into an uncomfortable silence—it was so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard.Nyla raised an eyebrow and replied slowly, "Ms. Neale, I don't know how you've handled similar situations in the past—if you have forced those with l
Gabriel frowned. "That serious?"Wilhelm, standing next to Jane, rushed forward and hugged Gabriel's leg. Tears welled in his eyes as he cried, "Daddy, it hurts so much…"Seeing his son's nose crinkle in pain, Gabriel felt a pang in his heart. He crouched before him and gently stroked his head. "Wil, it will stop hurting in a few days. Just be good."Wilhelm managed to hold back his tears, sniffling. "I don't want to go to school… I'm scared…"His terrified demeanor only deepened Gabriel's distress. A flicker of rage ignited in his eyes—he wouldn't let whoever had hurt his son get away with it.Noticing his angry expression, Jane embellished the story of what had happened at school.By the end, she looked at Gabriel and said, her voice laced with discontent, "Nyla ruined me at Grandpa's birthday party. Now her son has hurt ours like this. I won't let it go!"Gabriel pursed his lips, remaining silent.Upon recalling how Jane had almost ruined Nyla's face by pushing her at the bi
"Do you think I don't dare to?" Jane snapped.The mere thought that Gabriel had once liked Nyla twisted Jane's jealousy around her heart like a creeping vine, tightening its grip and making it unbearable."I'm not saying you don't dare to do it. I just hope you consider the consequences. There's a meeting at the company, and since Wil is fine, I'll head back now," Gabriel replied.As he turned to walk away, footsteps rang out behind him. In the next moment, Jane's delicate hands wrapped around his waist."I'm sorry, Gabriel. I lost control earlier because of Wil's injury," she said.Gabriel glanced down at her hands around his waist, a flicker of disgust crossing his eyes.After a moment of silence, he held her hands and looked down at her, speaking gently. "Jane, I'm not angry.""Really?" Jane looked up at him, guilt evident in her eyes."Of course. I wouldn't be angry with you. You're my wife and the mother of my child. You're the most important person to me," Gabriel coaxed.
"Great-grandpa, a classmate pushed me on purpose, and my forehead hit the corner of the table. It hurt so much… I bled a lot…" Wilhelm complained.As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes, making him look pitiful.Pedro's expression darkened as he demanded, "What kind of teachers does that kindergarten have? Our family invests so much every year. Are they just sitting around doing nothing?!"He turned his gaze to Jane and asked, "Did they expel the kid who pushed Wil?"Seeing Pedro getting to the point, Jane sighed. She feigned a troubled look as if weighing whether to reveal the truth."What exactly happened? Don't beat around the bush!" Pedro urged.Jane glanced at the nearby maid and instructed, "Take Wil out to play in the garden."The maid nodded and led Wilhelm away from the living room.Once the living room was left with just Jane and Pedro, she sat opposite him and said, "Grandpa, it might be hard to deal with the kid who pushed Wil."Pedro glared. "Hard to deal with?
Jane lowered her gaze, a flicker of resentment in her eyes. She would never allow herself to be overshadowed by Nyla forever."Alright, Grandpa, I know what I need to do," she replied."I'm tired now. You take Wil to play for a bit, and stay for dinner tonight," Pedro said.Once he left, Jane got up and headed to the garden.In the garden, Wilhelm was bossing a servant to climb a tree and pick the highest orange. The servant struggled but could barely reach the fruit.Wilhelm looked up, his small face showing impatience as he barked, "You can't even pick an orange? I'll have Great-grandpa fire you!"With his urging and threats, the servant gritted his teeth and climbed a bit higher until he finally managed to grab the orange.Unexpectedly, the moment he touched it, a loud crack echoed as a branch snapped beneath him.He fell to the ground, screaming in pain upon impact. "Ah! It hurts so much!"He clutched his broken leg, his face contorted in agony as cold sweat dripped from h
Wilhelm froze for a moment, then shook off Jane's hand as he processed the situation, whining, "No! He hurt me. He has to be expelled!"Once the center of attention in class, Wilhelm had enjoyed the adoration of his classmates.However, since Mason's arrival, those who once fawned over him had turned their affections toward Mason instead, leaving Wilhelm feeling isolated each day. Only by getting rid of Mason could he reclaim their attention.Seeing Wilhelm's angry little face, Jane sighed and crouched down to speak to him slowly. "Wil, Mason's father is very influential. Daddy and Mommy can't provoke him. If you really don't want to see Mason anymore, how about I transfer you to another school?""No! I don't want to transfer schools!" Wilhelm protested. "Mommy, didn't you say you could do anything? Why can't you get the principal to expel Mason?"He shouted, "You liar! You're a big liar! I won't believe anything you say anymore!"Wilhelm shoved Jane away and ran for the door.
As Nyla was about to finish her work in the evening, Ruby gestured for her to look out the window.Nyla was surprised to see Damon standing outside. He was dressed in a gray suit, looking tall and poised, his dark eyes fixed on her with a warm, tender gaze.Ruby spoke up. "Nyla, you should go. I can tidy up here. Don't keep Mr. Sumner waiting."Noticing the teasing tone in her voice, Nyla couldn't help but smile. "Alright, thank you. I'll bring you breakfast tomorrow.""Sounds good," Ruby replied.As Nyla walked out of the lab, she took off her lab coat and asked, "Why are you getting off work so early today?"Typically, she was the one leaving first. Sometimes, Damon stayed late, and she'd spend time in the office catching up on literature.Damon looked at her. Today, she wore a dress with a classic cut, her long hair simply tied back with a hair tie, giving her a neat and capable appearance. Despite not wearing any makeup, she was still stunning."The meeting ended early. Whe
"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