Clark froze for a moment and instinctively said, "But you always buy these flowers when you go to the florist."Nyla looked away. Clark had probably forgotten that he had given her Juliet roses the day he confessed. It didn't matter anymore. If he could betray their relationship, it was no surprise that he couldn't remember such a small detail."That was in the past."She walked past him directly to the bedroom. She could feel his gaze on her, but she no longer cared if her words hurt him.After changing clothes and coming downstairs, the housekeeper had already set dinner on the table. "Mr. and Mrs. Sumner, dinner is ready."Nyla nodded and went straight to the table, starting to eat without even glancing at Clark.Clark frowned but said nothing, silently sitting across from her.The housekeeper, Patricia Bambra, noticed the tension between them and guessed they had argued. She picked up the flowers from the coffee table, smiling at Nyla. "Mrs. Sumner, should I arrange these fl
Clark's commanding tone made Nyla instinctively frown. "Whether you agree or not, I'm moving out."Nyla's indifferent tone fueled Clark's anger even more. His voice rose. "Don't forget, your father's medical expenses—"Before he could finish, Nyla coldly interrupted, "Clark, if I remember correctly, your Uncle Elijah's son is returning from studying abroad soon. You wouldn't want your affair to be known to the Sumners at this time, would you?"Elijah Sumner, Clark's second uncle, wasn't very capable, so Richard had invested a lot in Elijah's son. After all, the Sumner Group was so big that they couldn't give everything to Clark.Over the years, Clark had always performed well in front of Richard. Now was a crucial time. He couldn't let Nyla tell Richard about his affair.Nyla had also considered this point in her choice to move out at this time.There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a while, there was a low laugh. "Nyla, I never realized before that you were a ra
On Monday morning at eight sharp, Nyla arrived punctually at Park Pharmaceuticals.The HR completed her onboarding and showed her around the company, familiarizing her with the departments' locations. Afterward, she was escorted to the office of the R&D department manager.The R&D manager, Genevieve Reeve, was a woman in her 40s with a neat short haircut. She was not one to smile easily, giving off a serious vibe."Have a seat," she said after Nyla sat down. "I've reviewed your resume. You achieved quite a bit during your school days, but you haven't been in the lab for the past few years. You'll start as an assistant.""Okay."Genevieve approved of Nyla's calm composure without any hint of dissatisfaction. She liked subordinates who were down-to-earth. So far, Nyla seemed reliable.Genevieve stood up and addressed Nyla. "Let me introduce you to your colleagues."She led Nyla into the R&D department and raised her voice. "Everyone, hold on a moment. We have a new member in our d
Genevieve looked at Nyla. "Have you gained anything in the lab these days?""I've observed that the current focus in the lab is on developing drugs for cardiovascular diseases. The progress of drug development is about 50% complete, and we're preparing for the experimental stage using mice."Upon hearing that, Genevieve's expression brightened slightly, and her gaze toward Nyla carried a hint of approval. "Well done. How about your learning progress with the lab equipment?""It's coming along."On the side, Lucia frowned at Nyla. "Nyla, I know you're eager to conduct experiments, but experiments are serious business. There are several instruments we haven't used recently. How can you say you've almost learned them?"Nyla commented flatly, "I've used these instruments during my university years.""You said it yourself, that was years ago. You haven't been in a lab for quite some time. You need to learn everything again from scratch. We're dealing with drug development here. There'
Nyla's face turned pale as she snatched the phone back from Clark's hand. "I'll head there right away!"Clark grabbed her hand. "I'll go with you."Without giving Nyla a chance to refuse, he pulled her along toward the door.Nyla tried to shake off his grip but failed, frowning in frustration. "Let go of me. I can go by myself."Clark looked back at her with a hint of helplessness. "Nyla, your father's health is at stake right now. Let's put aside our argument for later, okay?"Nyla had wanted to point out that their situation wasn't just a simple argument, but her father's condition was more pressing. She didn't have the energy to argue with him either.…They rushed to the emergency room, where they saw Wren Hackett anxiously waiting on a bench in the corridor, her eyes red.Nyla hurried over. "Wren, what happened? Wasn't Dad's condition stable all this time? Why did he suddenly collapse?"The doctors had previously assured them that as long as Harrison avoided stress, his c
Clark hurried forward and squatted beside Harrison. "Dad, rest assured. I'll always treat Nyla well.""Mm. As long as you treat her well, that's all I ask for."Seeing Harrison's eyelids droop from the lingering anesthesia, Nyla quickly called out to him. "Dad, the anesthesia hasn't completely worn off yet. You can't sleep."Throughout the night, Nyla and Clark took turns watching over Harrison. As dawn approached, the effects of the anesthesia began to fade, allowing Harrison to finally rest.Shortly after dawn, Wren arrived with freshly made soup. "Nyla, Clark, you two stayed up all night. You should go home now. I'll take care of things here."After a night of vigil, Nyla could barely keep her eyes open. She nodded. "Okay, Wren. If there's anything, call me. I'll be resting at home on Saturday and Sunday."Wren unintentionally frowned as she thought, "Hasn't Nyla been unemployed? Why would she mention resting on weekends?"Before she could ask, nurses entered to conduct exami
A chill swept over Nyla, causing her to tremble uncontrollably.Clark's gaze darkened as he noticed the faint curves on her chest, and he leaned down to kiss her collarbone."Don't touch me!" Nyla struggled desperately, but she was pinned by Clark.The inherent power disparity between a man and a woman left her with no chance of escape. Her face contorted with disgust and anger. Even the slightest touch from him made her feel nauseous to the extreme."Nyla, your refusal won't work this time."Only by getting her pregnant would she stay by his side.Clark ignored Nyla's disgusted gaze and lowered his head to kiss her lips.The next moment, Nyla bit down hard on Clark's lips, the taste of blood spreading in their mouths.Clark released Nyla, wiped the blood from his mouth with a sneer, and gripped her chin to force her to look at him. "Nyla, you can't escape today."Just as he leaned down to kiss her collarbone again, a series of knocks suddenly sounded at the door. "Mr. Clark,
If Clark had known Jordyn would be so troublesome, he would never have let himself get involved with her in the first place. Hanging up, he glanced upstairs and took a deep breath before briskly walking toward the garage.…As Damon approached his car at the villa entrance, he noticed Spencer standing nearby with an odd expression."What's wrong?" Spencer hesitated for a moment before replying, "Mr. Sumner, you better see for yourself..."Damon opened the car door with a slight frown. Inside, he found Nyla looking disheveled and staring at him nervously. Anyone seeing this scene without knowing the context would likely assume he had done something reprehensible to her.Damon slammed the car door shut and demanded coldly, "What's going on?""I… I don't know. Ms. Jayston just limped out of the villa and said she wanted you to give her a ride…""And you let her get in?"Damon's irritation was palpable. He had come here today to warn Clark as compensation for the night he almost
Then, Stefan was enveloped by the fragrance.When Valarie's arms wrapped around his waist, his body stiffened as though he had been struck by an electric jolt.Before he could respond, she had already released him.Smiling, she said, "Thanks for dinner and for showing me around campus tonight. Goodnight.""G-Goodnight..." Stefan stammered.As Valarie walked away, the faint scent of gardenias lingered for a moment before fading, leaving Stefan with an inexplicable sense of loss.He stood there, watching her car until it disappeared from view. Only then did he snap back to reality and head toward his dorm.Just as he reached the building, his phone rang. Seeing the name "Michelle" on the screen, he hesitated before stepping aside to answer."What do you want?" he asked."Nothing much. Just wondering how things are going with Valarie," Michelle replied."It's whatever. If that's all, I'm hanging up," Stefan said.A cold laugh echoed from the other end of the line. "Stefan, if y
"Fine, Brandon. Don't regret this!" Jayden snapped and hung up the phone.Brandon set his phone down and walked out of his office.…When Jayden returned to the hospital ward, Michelle looked at him with anticipation. "Jayden, what did Brandon say? Did he agree to come?"Meeting Michelle's hopeful gaze, Jayden pressed his lips together and lowered his eyes, unable to meet hers. "Michelle... Brandon's been really busy with work lately, so he doesn't have time to visit. But once he's less busy, he'll come see you—""You don't have to lie to me," Michelle cut him off, her gaze falling as she gave a self-deprecating smile. "He's not busy… He just doesn't want to come, does he?""Michelle..." Jayden walked over to the bedside, wanting to comfort her, but he didn't know what to say."Jayden, can I have some time alone?" Michelle asked quietly.Seeing the heartbreak on her face, Jayden felt a sharp pang of sadness. He also felt a growing sense of unfairness toward her.She had been i
Valarie raised an eyebrow and called Stefan.The call was answered almost immediately, followed by a nervous voice. "V-Veevee? You're calling me?""Did I interrupt anything?" Valarie asked."N-No! Not at all! I'm just surprised, that's all," Stefan replied.Valarie smiled. "Have you eaten yet?""I... uh... n-not yet... There's a new menu in the cafeteria. It's really good. Want to come try it?" Stefan asked.His cautious, hopeful tone tugged at Valarie's heart."Sure. Give me 20 minutes," Valarie said.After hanging up, she drove straight to Saintosh University.…The moment Valarie parked near the entrance, she saw Stefan walking toward her.She stepped out of the car and met him halfway. "Have you been waiting for me this whole time?"Stefan shook his head. "No, I just got here."As he spoke, he avoided her gaze, his eyes darting nervously.They walked across campus together, Stefan eagerly pointing out buildings and landmarks.Valarie laughed. "You know, I actually at
Valarie pushed him away, her expression impassive. "Say that again when the month is over.""You can trust me. I'll keep my promise," Brandon assured her.A flicker of sarcasm crossed Valarie's face, but she remained silent.She walked into the villa, and only once the door clicked shut behind her did Brandon turn and leave.Back in her bedroom, Valarie collapsed onto the couch, pressing her fingers to her throbbing temples.…The following days passed in a blur of work.Valarie was so consumed that she barely had time to eat.Every now and then, her youthful admirer would text her, asking what she was up to. If she had a free moment, she'd send a brief reply. Otherwise, she ignored him.Thankfully, he was tactful enough not to press when she didn't respond.By Friday evening, the preliminary phase of the project was complete, and Valarie finally had the chance to enjoy a proper weekend.She called Nyla, hoping to meet for drinks.There was a brief pause before Nyla's voice
"Just go, Brandon. I don't want to argue with you here," Valarie said.Upon seeing her cold expression, a sharp pain stabbed at Brandon's chest. Without a word, he turned and walked away.Only when his figure disappeared through the restaurant's doors did the young man finally release Valarie's hand."Are you okay, Veevee?" he asked softly.Valarie exhaled, offering a small smile. "I'm fine. Let's finish eating."But throughout the rest of the meal, she was clearly distracted.The young man noticed and did his best to make her laugh, but her mood remained subdued.After dinner, Valarie offered to drive him back to his university.The drive was quiet, her energy subdued—nothing like the lively spirit she'd had when they first met up.When they reached the campus gate, he turned to her. "Veevee, do you... still have feelings for that guy from earlier?"Valarie hesitated before answering, "No, I'm just tired. Don't overthink it. Get some rest.""When can I see you again? I'll t
Valarie frowned and coldly asked, "Brandon, what are you doing here?"Brandon glared at her, frustration thick in his voice. "Valarie, I should be the one asking you that. You promised me that if I stayed away from Michelle for a month, you'd forgive me. So why are you here, on a date with another man?"His tone dripped with jealousy, but Valarie remained unfazed."I did say that," she replied calmly. "But if I remember correctly, we're already broken up. Who I see and what I do is none of your business, is it?"Brandon's face darkened. "You say we're broken up, but I never agreed to that. We just had a fight. And if you're seeing someone else while we're in a rough patch, that's not fair to us, is it?"Before Valarie could respond, the man across from her spoke up. "It's fine, mister. Even if I'm just a backup for her, I'm willing."The words hung in the air, and the entire restaurant fell silent.Brandon's anger flared, and he let out a laugh, though it was devoid of humor. He
Brandon noticed Nyla's cold attitude and sat down in silence. Neither of them spoke until Damon returned with the fruit."Why so quiet?" he asked.Nyla took the bowl of strawberries from his hands. "Nothing to talk about."Damon looked slightly surprised. Nyla rarely made her feelings about someone so obvious.He turned to Brandon and asked, "Did you do something to upset my wife?"Brandon was speechless.He was innocent! He hadn't even seen Nyla recently—how could he have offended her?Then it hit him. Valarie must have told her everything during her visit earlier. That had to be why Nyla was siding with her friend and giving him the cold shoulder.Realizing this, he grew anxious. "Aunt Nyla, I swear, there was nothing going on between me and that friend. Valarie misunderstood.""Oh," Nyla said flatly. "Then go explain it to her. She's the one dating you, after all."Thinking about Valarie's dinner plans that evening, Nyla suddenly chuckled. If Brandon knew about the younger
"I really don't know. I can barely remember how we even started liking each other. By the time I realized it, we already had feelings," Nyla explained.Seeing how serious Nyla looked, Valarie let out a sigh. "Fine. I guess I'll have to figure it out on my own."The two continued chatting for a while. Just as Valarie was about to leave, Damon walked in.She stood up to greet him but frowned slightly when she saw Brandon following behind him. Without a word, she completely ignored him.Brandon's face darkened for a moment, and he was about to say something when Valarie turned to Nyla and said, "Nyla, I'm heading out.""Okay, I'll walk you out," Nyla offered."No need. I've been here so many times—I know the way," Valarie dismissed.Watching Valarie disappear out the door, Brandon hesitated for a moment before turning to Damon. "Uncle Damon, I need to talk to Valarie. Give me ten minutes."Without waiting for a response, he rushed out after her.When he reached the entrance, he s
Nyla knelt in front of Mason and gently said, "Of course.""Thank you, Mommy!" Mason chirped.For the next week, Mason slept with Nyla and Damon every night. Only after he was completely sure they weren't going anywhere did he finally move back to his own room.…As soon as Valarie found out that Nyla and Damon were back, she drove straight to their house.The moment she saw Nyla, her eyes turned red, and she rushed over to hug her tightly. "I thought you were never coming back! You didn't even tell me—you just disappeared! Do you even consider me a friend?!"Nyla gently patted her back. "I didn't want you to worry.""And that's why you just left without a word?! You're a terrible person!" Valarie whined."Okay, okay, I admit it. I'm awful. I'm sorry, alright? Please don't be mad," Nyla coaxed.Valarie scolded her a little more before finally sitting down on the couch. "So now that you're back, you're not going back to Meristate, right?"Nyla shook her head. "Nope. I have not