Nyla just wanted Damon to leave, so she replied with a frown, "I'll pay you back for it.""No way, this shirt means a lot to me," Damon said.Nyla ground her teeth in frustration. If it meant so much to him, why hadn't he treated it better?"What exactly do you want?" she asked.She glared at him, but given that she was sitting in the bathtub with her body partially exposed, it was more alluring than threatening.Damon's gaze deepened, and he grasped her hand before leaning in to kiss her again.Just before their lips touched, his low, gravelly voice whispered in her ear, "I want you."Nyla clenched the edge of the bathtub tightly, her body instinctively tensing.In a moment of distraction, one of them accidentally hit the shower switch. Steam quickly filled the bathroom, drowning out all sound.…The bath lasted for over two hours.When Damon finally stepped out of the bathroom, holding a flushed Nyla, he wore a satisfied smile. He set her down on the bed and went to grab a
Mason quickly pushed his confusion aside when he saw his favorite barbecue ribs and focused on eating.After finishing dinner, Nyla was just about to head back to her bedroom when Damon walked up to her and effortlessly picked her up.Seeing Lydia cover her mouth and chuckle, Nyla felt her cheeks flush. She quickly whispered in Damon's ear, "I can walk on my own.""You walk too slowly. I'm carrying you," Damon insisted.Nyla couldn't argue with him, so she went along with it.Instead of taking Nyla to the bedroom, Damon carried her to his study."Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting soon? Why are you taking me to your study?" she asked."You can rest on the sofa in my study and read. I'll take you upstairs after the meeting," he replied.Nyla frowned. "Will it disturb your meeting?"Damon smiled. "No."Their relationship had finally made substantial progress that day, and with Nyla's foot injured, Damon wanted to seize the opportunity to move into her room. He wasn't sure w
Seeing Damon's lips slowly approaching, Nyla quickly pushed against his chest. "I can sleep... I can sleep…""Then are you still going to Buddy?" Damon asked.Nyla remained silent for a moment before she relented. "No…""Okay, then let's sleep," Damon replied, releasing her and settling back into his original position.As Damon moved away, the fresh scent of pine on him gradually faded.Nyla clutched the blanket, a sudden and unexpected sense of loss sweeping over her. She wasn't actually hoping for something, was she?"Why aren't you covering yourself? Do you want me to help you?" Damon's deep voice broke through her thoughts."No, thanks," Nyla answered.She pulled the blanket up to her collarbone and closed her eyes, trying to drift off to sleep.Since Mason turned three, he had refused to sleep with her and insisted on sleeping in his own room.For the past two years, Nyla had slept alone, so suddenly having someone else in her space felt strange.Nyla thought she would
"But if I do that, the company shares he promised me…" Jane trailed off."Jane, you can't have it all. It's already a blessing in disguise that Grandpa hasn't completely lost faith in you. You'll have other chances for the shares in the future," Gabriel advised.Jane was upset, but she knew Gabriel was right. She reluctantly nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go talk to Grandpa."…A little over ten minutes later, Pedro's voice boomed through the study of the Wilkie mansion. His expression was grim. "How did you raise your son?! Wilhelm actually dared to tell such a lie! And you approached Damon for negotiations without verifying the facts? You've completely embarrassed the Wilkies!"Jane kept her eyes down, displeasure flickering in them, but she didn't dare retort.Once Pedro finished his tirade, Jane cautiously looked up and said, "Grandpa, it seems the collaboration with Prospectus Technology is definitely off."I met with Mr. Shane Tonra from Starlite Enterprise today, and he
Pedro was getting old, but none of his children or grandchildren seemed ready to take over. If things continued like this, the Wilkie Group would soon need to change its name.At that thought, a wave of sorrow washed over him.Among his grandchildren, Jane stood out as one of the more capable, but she still lacked the skills to manage the Wilkie Group.Gabriel was competent enough to turn around a gaming company that had been losing money for years, which proved he had some skill. However, he was still not a Wilkie, and Pedro didn't fully trust him.It seemed Pedro would have to find a way to train Theo. If Theo didn't work out, he would have to hand the company over to Jane in the future.…Unaware of Pedro's thoughts, Jane returned to her villa, looking dejected."Jane, why do you look so upset? Did Grandpa disagree?" Gabriel asked.Jane weakly nodded. "Yeah, he thinks half a billion dollars is too much."Before meeting with Pedro, she had already suspected the outcome. She
"Give me a kiss, and I'll let go," Damon requested.Nyla glared at him. "Damon, can you stop being so childish?""I just want a good morning kiss. If you don't give it to me, I won't let go," he insisted.At that moment, Nyla saw a reflection of Mason in Damon. Before Mason turned three, he had to have a kiss on his face every morning, or he would throw a tantrum. Just like father, like son.Thinking about how Valarie was waiting for her downstairs, Nyla leaned over and quickly pecked Damon on the cheek before pulling back."Can you let go of me now?" she asked, her tone calm, though the slight blush on her ears betrayed her.Damon didn't tease her further and released her hand.As Nyla sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, Damon's strong hands steadied her."I'll help you wash up," he said.With his assistance, she moved much more quickly, so she didn't refuse.Once they entered the bathroom, Nyla noticed a black toothbrush and cup beside her own. Everything el
"Hiking? What made you decide to do that?" Valarie asked."Buddy wanted to go. Anyway, how are you planning to deal with Zayn?" Nyla replied.The mention of Zayn made Valarie frown, disgust flickering in her eyes."The Updikes want to settle privately, but I've already reported it to the police. Whatever the judge decides, I'm going through with it. I won't settle privately," she answered.Just thinking about Zayn's disgusting behavior made Valarie feel sick. She couldn't believe she had agreed to marry him in the first place."Yeah, I support you. Make sure Zayn gets the punishment he deserves," Nyla said.Valarie nodded, just as her phone rang. Seeing it was Brandon, she said before answering, "I'll take this call outside.""Sure," Nyla said.Stepping out of the villa, Valarie picked up the phone. "What's up? Why are you calling me out of the blue?""Where are you now?" Brandon asked."I came over this morning to find Nyla. Why do you ask?" Valarie replied.There was a mom
Brandon chuckled. "So you came back just for breakfast?""Of course! It's Patrick's sandwiches. They're really hard to get," Valarie replied."Your boyfriend got up at five this morning to stand in line for them, and you're not feeling a bit bad for him?" Brandon teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement and affection as he looked at her."First, I'll eat breakfast. Then I'll feel bad for you," Valarie answered.Brandon leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "So how do you plan to compensate me?"The distance between them suddenly narrowed, close enough for him to catch the faint scent of gardenias on Valarie. It was intoxicating, making him want to get just a little closer...Valarie found herself mesmerized, unable to move an inch as she stared into Brandon's handsome face. Her hands gripped the hem of her shirt, her heart racing faster.Just as their lips were about to touch, an unexpected coughing fit interrupted them from behind Brandon.Valarie snapped back
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
Damon put the file down and sat across from Nyla.Noticing two portions of breakfast on the table, he asked, "You haven't eaten either?""No," Nyla replied as she opened the packages and handed one to him. "I came to eat with you. Spencer told me he brought you breakfast this morning, but you didn't touch it.""I was too busy," Damon said."Being busy isn't an excuse to skip meals. I saw your assistants running around like crazy, and I heard they barely got any sleep last night. Is the issue with the company that serious?" Nyla asked."It's significant," Damon admitted. "Our chips might be causing malfunctions in our partner's machines. If that's confirmed, the company will face a massive compensation payout."Nyla frowned, worry flashing in her eyes. "I can't help much with work, but the least I can do is keep things in order at home. By the way, are you coming home tonight?""Probably not," he replied. "There's still a lot to handle.""Alright. Finish your breakfast. I'll hea
Gabriel took the document, skimmed its contents, and his face darkened."What is it?" Tom asked.Gabriel tossed the document onto the table with a cold laugh. "Nothing important. Damon's just trying to catch me off guard."The document contained evidence of Nyce Tech hiring paid posters to smear Prospectus Technology, but Gabriel wasn't worried.Soon enough, those allegations would become the truth.Tom glanced at the papers and grinned. "As long as it's not a big problem. Anyway, I should get going.""Fine, but don't forget your part in this," Gabriel said pointedly.There was a cold glint in Tom's eyes, though his smile remained. "Relax. I won't let you handle Prospectus Technology alone."After Tom left, Gabriel drained his wine in one gulp.As he prepared to head to his study, a maid approached with a concerned expression."Mr. Hackett, Mr. Wilhelm still refuses to eat," the maid informed him.Gabriel had brought Wilhelm straight back to the villa instead of letting him
Damon's expression was icy as he spoke. "I've already sent the head of R&D with a team to investigate. Let's wait for their findings before jumping to conclusions."He added, "The Agihop 6th Gen isn't out yet. If the issue does lie in the Agihop 5th Gen, we should prepare for the worst—compensation payouts and the possibility of... bankruptcy.""What?!" A collective gasp echoed through the room, disbelief etched on everyone's faces."All this over a single batch of faulty machines from the Longbow Company? Isn't that a bit extreme?""Exactly. If the problem is with the Agihop 5th Gen chips, wouldn't paying compensation suffice?""Mr. Sumner, aren't you exaggerating?"The notion that Prospectus Technology could face bankruptcy over a single chip seemed absurd.Meeting their skepticism with a calm demeanor, Damon elaborated, "The news about Longbow Company's machines breaking down after using our chips has already spread.They're attributing the issue to Prospectus Technology's p
Damon's expression remained unmoved. "As I said, we'll investigate thoroughly. Asking us to accept responsibility before the investigation is complete seems unreasonable, doesn't it?"Jeffrey let out a cold laugh. "Fine, Mr. Sumner. But I hope you act quickly. Every day of delay costs us millions. The longer this drags on, the more Prospectus Technology will have to pay."With that, Jeffrey turned and stormed out of the room.Damon, his expression as icy as ever, summoned the head of the R&D department to his office."Take two of your team members to the Longbow Company and investigate the root cause of the machine failures. Determine whether it's our chips," Damon instructed."Mr. Sumner, it can't be our chips! We've invested so much in their development, and they've been on the market for over three years without a single issue. The problem must be elsewhere," the department head replied.Damon's tone sharpened. "I want accurate results based on the investigation—not assumption
Upon noticing Nyla's flushed cheeks, Damon's eyes darkened further."Nyla, need some help with your bath?" he asked, his voice low and enticing.Nyla snapped out of her daze, quickly pushing him away. Her wary gaze made him look like some kind of dangerous predator."No need, I'll do it myself," she replied.If she let him help, they might not come out of the bathroom for two hours.Disappointment flickered in Damon's eyes. "You really don't need help?""Mm-hmm. Now go. If you have nothing to do, play with Buddy downstairs. I'm going to shower," Nyla said, grabbing her pajamas.She darted into the bathroom as though something was chasing her, locking the door behind her with a sharp click.Hearing the lock, Damon chuckled softly, shook his head, and left the bedroom.Downstairs, Mason was playing with toys in the living room. He didn't even glance up at the sound of Damon's footsteps, already able to distinguish between Damon and Nyla's steps. Just as Damon reached the sofa,
Damon raised an eyebrow and said flatly, "It's not about my approval. It's about ensuring the safety of the other children."Gabriel kept his gaze low, anger flickering in his eyes. What else could he say?"Understood. I've learned my lesson today, Mr. Sumner," he gritted through his teeth.The crowd began to disperse.Most parents hurriedly took their children and left, keeping a noticeable distance from Wilhelm and Gabriel as they passed, still wary that Wilhelm might lash out unpredictably.Before long, only Damon, Nyla, and Mason remained at the gate with Gabriel and Wilhelm.Gabriel turned to Damon with a cold expression. "If there's nothing else, Mr. Sumner, I'll take Wilhelm and leave now.""Mr. Hackett, shouldn't your son apologize to Buddy?" Damon asked.Gabriel's expression hardened.Taking a deep breath, he looked down at Wilhelm and said sternly, "Wilhelm, apologize to Buddy."Wilhelm lifted his chin defiantly. "I won't! I didn't do anything wrong!""Wilhelm, beh