Clark felt a wave of relief. It was fine as long as Nyla didn't find out about that matter."Nyla, I blocked her a long time ago. She used a different number to contact me, and I hung up right away. I didn't agree to have dinner with her," he lied.Clark looked at her with a pained expression, as if he were the one who had been wronged.If Nyla hadn't known about his disgusting affair with Jordyn, she might have believed him. Now, she couldn't let him know she had been secretly gathering evidence of his infidelity.Nyla looked down and forced herself to say, "Maybe I misunderstood you. Sorry."Seeing her soften, Clark spoke gently. "Rest assured. I promised you I wouldn't have anything more to do with her, and I won't break that promise."His words made Nyla want to vomit. How could he lie to her so effortlessly?!She didn't understand how the sincere and passionate boy she once knew had turned into this deceitful man."So, why are you here today?" she asked."I... I just want
The weekend flew by, and soon it was Monday.Nyla returned to the R&D department to continue her experiments.Lucia also came back to work, but she was much more low-key than before, pretending not to see Nyla and completely lacking her previous arrogance. Whether she had truly learned her lesson or was just biding her time to scheme again was unclear.The day passed quickly. Nyla received a call from Valarie just before the end of the workday, inviting her out to dinner. Since she had no other plans, she agreed.…When Nyla arrived at the restaurant, she noticed a young man, around 20 years old, sitting next to Valarie. He was full of youthful exuberance, and Nyla couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.As soon as she sat down, Valarie eagerly introduced him, "Nyla, this is my new boyfriend. What do you think?"The young man blushed and looked down shyly when Nyla's gaze fell on him, his ears turning red."Where did you find such an innocent-looking guy? He's not still in college,
Spencer and Damon stopped in front of Nyla.Spencer smiled and said, "What a coincidence, Ms. Jayston. You're also having dinner here tonight?"Nyla nodded. "Yes. I had plans with a friend.""I'll go get the car. How about I drive you home afterward?" Spencer offered."No need, I drove here," Nyla replied."Alright then. Could you please keep an eye on Mr. Sumner? He's had a bit too much to drink, and I don't feel comfortable leaving him alone," Spencer asked.Nyla glanced at Damon. Despite the faint smell of alcohol, he seemed perfectly sober.Sensing her doubt, Spencer explained, "Mr. Sumner always appears sober, whether he is or not. He might look fine, but he could actually be quite drunk."Remembering how Damon had helped her several times before, Nyla felt it would be unkind to refuse. "Alright, I'll watch over him."Satisfied, Spencer quickly walked to the parking lot.Once he left, silence settled between Nyla and Damon. His presence was impossible to ignore, so Nyla
The restaurant's lighting cast a soft glow over Damon's normally cool profile, making his expression appear much gentler as he looked at Nyla.The photo could easily be misinterpreted.It was simply the angle—Damon had been speaking to her and naturally looked her way, which happened to be caught on camera.Nyla immediately called Valarie. "What's the deal with that photo? Who took it?""You're finally up! That photo was taken by a somewhat well-known photographer who posted it on their profile. It blew up, and now everyone online is saying you and Damon are a perfect match."Nyla was speechless.Although the photo only showed their profiles, anyone who knew them could easily recognize them. No wonder Clark was so furious earlier."It's just the angle. I'll contact Clark's uncle to sort this out," Nyla said.If this got any bigger, it would only cause her more trouble. She decided to call Spencer instead of contacting Damon directly.When Spencer heard about the photo, he quic
"I don't need you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do," Damon said coldly, plunging the office into silence.The tension between him and Clark was palpable as they stared each other down, neither willing to back off.Sensing the intensity of the situation, Spencer quickly intervened, "Mr. Clark, Mr. Damon has been dealing with the photo situation since this morning. Maybe you should head back for now."Clark turned to Spencer, his tone icy. "Mr. Hogg, you've been with my uncle for a few years now. I hope you can talk some sense into him, remind him not to—""Clark!" Damon's voice cut through sharply, his eyes filled with a storm of anger. "Say one more word, and you can forget about staying as the Sumner Group's CEO."Clark's hands clenched tightly at his sides, feeling both humiliated and frustrated. He knew Damon had the power to oust him from his position.He glared at Damon, enunciating each word, "I hope you know what you're doing, Uncle Damon."With that, he turned an
When Clark saw Nyla's eyelashes flutter, his eyes flashed with satisfaction.Nyla bit her lip and said coldly, "I need to go to work. Can you leave now?"Upon noticing her distant attitude, Clark's gaze darkened. He didn't want to push her too hard as it would only worsen their relationship."I'll drive you," he offered."No need."With that, Nyla pushed him out and closed the door behind him.…Upon arriving at the office, Nyla noticed her colleagues sneaking glances at her.She remained expressionless, assuming they had all seen the photo online.After placing her things at her desk, she was about to head to the lab when Sasha approached her, whispering, "Nyla, about that photo online... Is it true? Does Mr. Sumner really like you?"Immediately, everyone around them perked up their ears.Everyone knew about the incident where Damon protected Nyla during the lab explosion, risking his own safety. Now, with the photo circulating online, they couldn't help but speculate about
Kenneth stood in a hospital corridor, staring at the bill with worry. Hearing Lucia's voice, he replied seriously, "Within the next few days."He was completely out of money. With Mabel in police custody, his only option was to follow Lucia's plan to get the money for medical expenses."I'll be waiting for your good news then," Lucia said, hanging up with a smirk.Once Kenneth kidnapped Nyla, she would ensure both of them perished at the scene, leaving her free of worry.…In the lab.Nyla was preparing to continue her experiment when she received a message from Genevieve, asking her to come to her office.When she arrived, Genevieve greeted her with a smile. "Nyla, how was the business trip to Rontana with Mr. Sumner?"Nyla pursed her lips. "It was fine. Is there something you need?""Headquarters is very interested in the project you're working on. Since it's funded by Prospectus Technology, they've decided to have you work there for a while to avoid Mr. Sumner having to con
Once Nyla got home, she contacted Spencer, who instructed her to come to the CEO's office the next morning for fingerprint registration and access cards.After hanging up, Nyla felt anxious. Clark already suspected Damon of having ulterior motives toward her. Now that she was going to work at Prospectus Technology, there could be serious trouble if Clark found out.For now, though, she could only take it one step at a time and deal with it when it happened.…The next morning, Nyla got up, freshened up, and drove to Prospectus Technology.After parking her car, she went to the reception and mentioned she was there to see Spencer. Upon confirming her identity, the receptionist led her to the elevator. "Ms. Jayston, the CEO's office is on the top floor."Nyla nodded. "Thank you."She entered the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.As it ascended, she noticed it was her first time at Prospectus Technology and had heard that all their elevators were scenic. Now, sh
Mary pulled a document from her bag and handed it to Emerald. "You can check it carefully—it has Edward's signature."Emerald's expression remained cold as she took the papers. Sure enough, Edward's signature was on the last page.She slammed the document onto the table. "I heard Edward's health has been declining. Does he still have the energy to authorize you to attend the meeting?""Of course. After all, Brian lost a leg and can't inherit the Nixons anymore. But Vik is still perfectly fine. As Edward's son, he has every right to the family legacy," Mary announced.Emerald's face twisted with anger. "Mary, if you say one more word about Brian, I'll tear your mouth apart!"Mary chuckled. "Emerald, I'm just stating facts. Why are you so mad?""Shut up!" Emerald hissed.Tension crackled between them, but the other Nixon members quickly grew impatient.Cortez frowned. "Are we holding this meeting or not? If not, I'm leaving. I didn't come here to watch you two argue."Suppressin
Mary looked at Vik expressionlessly. "Of course. He was ready to make you pay for Brian's leg. Do you still see him as your father?"Vik's expression shifted. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "But... he used to treat us well..."Although Vik had been deeply disappointed when he discovered that Edward was willing to sacrifice his leg for Brian's, he still couldn't bring himself to harm his father.Mary let out a cold laugh. "He did treat us well in the past, but didn't we treat him well, too?"She had been with Edward since she was 20, willingly playing the role of the woman he kept outside his marriage. She had once believed that Edward truly loved her.But today, she had come to a painful realization: no matter what, she and Vik would never compare to Brian and Emerald in Edward's heart.Even after Emerald and Brian drugged him and nearly killed him, Edward had chosen to stand by them. If that were the case, then Mary wouldn't hesitate to be ruthless either.Vik couldn't a
The day Vik was locked up was the longest and most agonizing of his life. He no longer wanted to live in constant fear. If they kept fighting with Emerald, they could end up dead.Mary looked at him. "Vik, do you really think Emerald will let us go? Do you think you can hide the truth about Brian's accident forever?"Vik's face went pale, and his entire body trembled. "Mom... I don't know what to do. I don't want to fight anymore. I'm scared."Mary stepped closer, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Vik, look at me."At her commanding tone, Vik summoned the courage to lift his head."The only thing we can do now is fight Emerald and Brian," she said."If we succeed, you'll never have to worry about Brian finding out about the accident because I won't let him live. If we fail, then the outcome will be the same as if we hadn't fought at all."She paused. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Think carefully about whether you want to fight."Vik swallowed hard. After a long
"You!" Edward was so enraged that he fainted on the spot.Mary sat down in a chair, her expression calm as she dialed a number on her phone. "Bring Vik back."Mary had already received word when Vik was taken by Emerald's men. She hadn't acted immediately, planning instead to use the situation to test Edward's feelings toward Emerald.To her surprise, Edward showed no concern for her or Vik.After hanging up, she glanced at Edward, still unconscious on the bed. As she thought about all the years she had spent with him, her gaze grew colder.Soon, the doctor knocked and entered. "Ms. Jewell, did something happen to Mr. Nixon?"Mary looked at the doctor, her voice cold. "From now on, I don't want his health to improve. You know what to do."The doctor's eyes widened in shock, but he quickly nodded. "Understood, Ms. Jewell.""Good. You can go now," she dismissed him.…An hour later, Vik was brought into the hospital room by Mary's men. He took a deep breath and pushed open the
Mary smiled. "Guess."Edward narrowed his eyes and tried to press the nurse's call button, but Mary quickly grabbed his hand to stop him."Edward, don't you think you've been too heartless toward me and Vik?" she asked calmly."Mary, Vik is my son, and so is Brian. If Vik caused Brian to lose a leg, don't you think he should pay for that with his own leg?" Edward shot back."You have two sons. One has already lost a leg. Are you really going to make the other one disabled too? If I were you, I'd make Vik your only heir—train and support him," she countered.Edward scowled. "Call Vik back here first, then we'll talk about the rest."Mary smirked and said slowly, "No need. As long as you're alive, you'll still be able to help me and Vik. How you stay alive, though, doesn't matter."She called out to the door, "Daniel, come in here."Daniel Belcher pushed open the door, looking surprised when he saw Mary holding Edward down on the bed."Ms. Jewell, what's the matter? Why did you
Edward did not believe Mary's explanation. He stared at her blankly, his face expressionless. After managing the Nixons for so many years, his cold gaze carried an undeniable pressure.Mary's anxiety was palpable. She nervously shifted her gaze, unwilling to meet his stare.The silence stretched on until Edward finally broke it, his voice chilling. "If you don't tell me, I'll have someone investigate."Mary panicked. "No! Please, don't!"If anyone discovered that Vik was responsible for Brian's car accident, Vik's life would be ruined. And Edward would never forgive him.But now, Mary had no choice but to tell Edward the truth. If she kept lying, Edward would surely see through it. She was trapped in a no-win situation."Since you don't want me to investigate, then tell me the truth," Edward demanded.Taking a deep breath, Mary hesitated for a long moment before finally giving in. She spoke slowly. "Brian had an accident and lost one of his legs."Edward's eyes widened in shock
Delia stared at Emerald, her eyes wide with disbelief, filled with confusion and helplessness. "I just wanted to move out. When did I say I wanted to sever ties with you?""Moving out is the same as severing ties, isn't it? I told you I wouldn't give you another penny. After you leave, are you really going to stay in contact with me?" Emerald asked.Delia was momentarily choked by Emerald's words. It took her a while to respond. "I just want to become independent, not sever ties with you."Of course, deep down, she also wanted to prove that the man she loved wasn't wrong. She had decided long ago that she would never marry anyone but Andre.Emerald didn't look at her and said nothing further.Delia sat down, continuing to stare at her. "Mom, how did you suddenly collapse and end up in the hospital? Do you have any test results? Let me see them."Emerald's tone remained cold. "Don't worry. I'm not going to die.""Mom, don't say such ominous things!" Delia whined.Emerald pursed
Emerald shook her head, wanting to refuse, but suddenly her vision went black, and she fainted.When she regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital room. She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, recalling how she had collapsed in the study earlier.Fully awake now, she sat up slowly and noticed an IV in her arm. She couldn't help but frown.The door to the room opened, and Filipe walked in.When he saw that Emerald had woken up, a look of relief flashed in his eyes. "Madam, you're finally awake! You've been unconscious for an entire day!"Emerald could hardly believe what she was hearing. Her frown intensified, and she asked, "How could I have been unconscious for so long?""The doctor said you've been sleep-deprived for a long time, and with the recent emotional strain, it caused you to cough up blood.“From now on, you need to get at least eight to ten hours of sleep each day, or your health will continue to decline," Filipe explained.Emerald's face darkened
"We'll see how long you can hold out!" Emerald challenged.Delia sneered. "Fine, you said it. Don't go back on your word!""Don't worry, I won't." With that, Emerald turned sharply and walked away.Once in her study, she sank into a chair. Her icy expression slowly turned to one of exhaustion.She had spent years fighting to become the head of the Nixons. But now, one of her children had lost a leg in a plot, and the other was infatuated with a man utterly unworthy of her.For the first time, she felt like a failure.Even though she had finally gained control of the Nixons, what was the point? She was still alone.Lost in thought, Filipe hurriedly knocked and entered. "Madam, Mr. Jayston was secretly taken from the hospital!"Emerald's angry voice echoed. "What were those people at the hospital doing? How could they let him be taken, with so many people watching?"Harrison was her only leverage over Nyla. If he disappeared, she would lose control of Nyla. But, as she considere