Clark gnashed his teeth, feeling a surge of anger. It was clear that Richard was favoring Damon.Unlike Damon, however, Clark didn't have his own company and couldn't afford to defy Richard.He quickly lowered his head and spoke in a guilty tone. "You're right, Grandpa... I acted on impulse. Besides, Jordyn is carrying my child...""Enough. I don't want to hear about your relationship problems anymore. You can go now," Richard cut him off sharply.Seeing the irritation in Richard's expression, Clark took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Alright."…As soon as Damon and Nyla left the Sumner residence, Damon finally released Nyla's hand."Why did you come here, knowing you'd be put through the wringer?" Damon's voice carried a hint of anger, making Nyla bite her lip nervously.She looked up at him, her gaze filled with concern. "I didn't want you to keep getting hurt because of me."Richard was Damon's father, so she knew Damon wouldn't fight back.Originally, she had only pl
"No, I'm not," Damon replied.Nyla raised an eyebrow. His tone was so stiff, and yet he claimed he wasn't angry?"Then why are you upset? Because I talked to Clark?" she asked.Damon's gaze darkened. "I'm not that childish.""Then what are you angry about?" Nyla pressed.Aside from exchanging a few words with Clark, she couldn't think of anything she had done that might have upset Damon. Besides, she and Clark were divorced now, and the conversation had happened right in front of Damon.What was there to be angry about?After a few seconds of silence, Damon spoke in a low voice. "Was the heart medication patent he presented back then something you gave him?"Nyla paused for a moment before nodding. "Yes. He had just started working at the Sumner Group at the time, and the shareholders didn't respect him. We were married then, and I knew that if he succeeded, it would benefit me too. So, I gave it to him."Damon smiled, but his tone was sarcastic. "You really did treat him well
The next moment, Nyla felt a soft touch on her forehead, like a feather gently brushing against her skin, tickling her heart.Damon pressed a light kiss to her forehead before pulling back, his gaze betraying a hint of guilt."Nyla, I'm sorry. Thinking about how much you were willing to give up for Clark made me uncomfortable, but that wasn't fair to you," he apologized.When he decided to be with her, he knew he should accept her past and not hold it against her.Nyla was momentarily stunned. Then, she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his chest as she murmured, "Okay."Her body felt soft in his arms, and her fragrance was intoxicating.Damon's gaze darkened with desire. "Nyla, if you keep holding me like this, I can't guarantee what will happen next."The restrained desire in his voice sent a shiver through Nyla, a warm tingle spreading across her body as her cheeks flushed slightly.She quickly pushed him away, her eyes flashing with a mix of mock anger an
Hearing the annoyance in Nyla's voice, Damon chuckled and let her go. If he kept teasing her, she might actually get mad.Nyla took a few steps back, smoothing her hair that had become tousled during their playful scuffle. She shot Damon an irritated look."Alright, don't be mad. I might have to work late tonight, so I'll have the driver take you home first," Damon said.Nyla frowned. "Your wounds need to be dressed. How late are you planning to work?""Not sure yet. As for the dressing, I'll have Spencer take care of it," he replied.Nyla grew more frustrated due to Damon's casual demeanor, her face turning cold as she remained silent.Damon sighed. "It's really nothing, just minor wounds. They'll heal in a few days.""I'll come by after work to change your bandages, and then I'll head home," Nyla said.When the elevator doors opened, she stepped out, leaving no room for Damon to protest.Watching her hurry away, Damon couldn't help but smile.…Meanwhile, Clark returned ho
Damon's tone carried a hint of grievance.Nyla looked up, startled. "I was planning to finish up the experiment and then come to you.""Since I'm already here, why don't you do it now? I've got another meeting soon," Damon said."Alright, take off your shirt," Nyla instructed.As she prepared the fresh bandages and medication, she glanced up to find Damon's bare torso before her. Her grip on the bandages tightened involuntarily.His upper body was defined with perfectly sculpted abs, and his muscular back appeared both raw and masculine.Noticing Nyla's gaze fixed on his abs, Damon cleared his throat. "If you want to look, I can take it all off for you tonight. You can admire it all you want."His teasing tone made Nyla's face flush instantly.How embarrassing! She had actually zoned out while looking at his abs!There was no way she was going to admit to something so mortifying, so she denied, "I was just thinking about something. I've seen plenty of men with abs. I wouldn't
Nyla pursed her lips and entered the hospital room."Dad, I'm planning to send you abroad for treatment. The doctor has already agreed. Once your health improves and everything is arranged overseas, I'll buy tickets for you and Wren to go," Nyla announced.Harrison interrupted her, "I'm not going. I'm staying in the country."Nyla frowned. "Dad, the medical facilities abroad are better, and you need time to recover…"Harrison cut her off, "After you send me and Wren abroad, what are you planning to do next? Are you going to fight the Sumners alone?"Nyla lowered her gaze and replied flatly, "No. Didn't you tell me before not to continue?""Then why are you still involved with the Sumners?" Harrison slammed his hand on the table, his eyes filled with anger as he stared at Nyla."When have I been involved with the Sumners?" Nyla asked, bewildered."Don't lie to me! You just divorced Clark, and now you're entangled with his uncle. What exactly are you trying to do?!" Harrison dema
After saying that, Nyla turned and quickly left the room.Harrison wanted to call after her but ultimately couldn't make a sound. He covered his face in anguish, regretting everything he had done and said. He had intended to protect her, but his words had caused so much pain.Wren sighed and said softly, "Harrison, don't blame yourself. This isn't your fault… It's mine. If I hadn't said those things, your relationship with Nyla wouldn't be like this…"Harrison hung his head in silence, unsure of how to respond.Outside the hospital, Nyla wiped the tears from her eyes, questioning her actions for the first time.Why was everyone against her? Should she really give up?But when she thought of Cyrus and Clark's schemes against her, and what Cyrus had done to her family, she couldn't bring herself to let it go. There was no turning back now—she had to stay with Damon and use him to deal with the Sumners.…When Nyla returned to the villa, it was already past 9:00 p.m.Damon was ho
Just as Nyla was about to get up, Damon's hands gently pressed down on her shoulders."Don't move. Wait here," Damon instructed.Meeting his firm gaze, Nyla bit her lip and instinctively nodded.Damon patted her head with a smile. "Good girl."Nyla was left speechless.Damon worked quickly, and soon the kitchen was filled with the aroma of food.Nyla couldn't help but swallow as she headed to the kitchen. She hadn't eaten dinner and was now quite hungry.Just as she reached the kitchen door, Damon emerged, carrying a plate of sandwiches."Why did you come over?" he asked.Nyla was captivated by the sandwiches in his hand. It was a simple creation—vegetables and eggs topped with melted cheese. The green vegetables and crispy-edged fried eggs looked especially appetizing under the light.Noticing that all her attention was on the sandwiches and she had completely ignored him, Damon couldn't help but smile. "Go get your cutlery."At his words, Nyla quickly went into the kitchen
Even Brian and Delia, whom Emerald had spoiled, were expendable in her eyes—if they ever posed a threat to her position, she wouldn't hesitate to give them up.To her, family had always come second to the Nixons.…At exactly 3:00 p.m., Emerald's car pulled up outside Alexander's villa.She stepped out and walked into the living room, where Alexander and Nyla were already waiting.Without a word, she sat down, picked up the documents on the table, and flipped through them.After confirming there were no issues, she signed the last page, then pulled a bank card from her bag and placed it on the table.She slid it toward Nyla. "The password is six zeroes."Alexander picked up the card and handed it to his assistant. "Go check it."Emerald's expression stiffened. "Alexander, what the hell does that mean?!"Was he trying to humiliate her by having his assistant verify the card right in front of her?"Aunt Emerald, it's for both our peace of mind. This way, there won't be any iss
Alexander was silent for a moment before meeting Emerald's gaze. "Fine, I'll help you secure your position as head of the Nixons, but I won't help you eliminate your opponents."As long as there were threats to her power, she wouldn't have time to target Nyla and Damon. Keeping a balance of power was the best way to keep Nyla safe.Emerald's expression darkened. "You don't trust me?"Alexander nodded. "Aunt Emerald, I'd like to, but you need to give me a reason to. Back in Saintornia, you promised Nyla you'd support Prospectus Technology, but the moment she arrived in Meristate, you tried to bankrupt it."Now, you're making promises without proof. How can I trust you?""Alexander, don't forget—I'm your aunt. We're family!" Emerald hissed."To me, Nyla is my cousin, so she's my family too. Think about my offer, Aunt Emerald," Alexander said calmly.He remained unbothered by the situation. He knew Emerald was already backed into a corner—without his help, she had no chance of hold
"Sure," Nyla replied.After Alexander left, she turned to Damon. "We really will make it back together, right?"Seeing the worry in her eyes, Damon pulled her into his arms. "Yes. I promise. Trust me."She didn't say anything more, simply resting against his chest. Deep down, however, unease still lingered.…Three more days passed, and George still hadn't found Nyla.Meanwhile, unrest within the Nixons was worsening. More and more people began openly opposing Emerald, demanding a new leader.Emerald was exhausted and overwhelmed. The stress took a toll on her body—she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital again.When she woke up, the doctor warned her that she couldn't keep pushing herself like this, or her health would suffer serious consequences."I understand," Emerald said flatly. "I'd like to be alone now."Sighing, the doctor left the room.Emerald stared out the window, her gaze distant.For years, she had fought relentlessly to become the head of the Nixons.
Cortez's light chuckle came from the other end of the phone. "If this is about Kajer Tech, I don't see the need for a private meeting. We can discuss it publicly once you've found your eldest daughter."Emerald suppressed her anger. "I want to know why you publicly went against me!"He could have spoken to her privately, but instead, he chose to humiliate her in front of everyone."I'm not going against you. You're just too greedy," Cortez sneered. "You deliberately transferred Kajer Tech's shares to your daughter so you could use the company's annual dividends as leverage over us. That way, we'd have no choice but to let you continue leading the Nixons. Am I wrong?"His mocking tone felt like a slap to Emerald's face, making her even angrier. "Cortez, don't forget—you're supposed to be on my side!"Cortez chuckled. "I've always said I only act in my own best interest. I supported you in the past because our interests aligned."But now? You're hurting my position. We're no longer
Emerald's expression darkened. "Cortez, that's a serious accusation. I have never tried to hollow out the Nixons. Since taking over, I've worked tirelessly for the family's success. If you choose not to believe me, so be it."She added, "If you insist on resolving the Kajer Tech issue first, then this meeting is over. We'll discuss it again once I find my daughter."Without another word, Emerald stood and left.The moment she was gone, murmurs erupted throughout the room—voices filled with frustration and resentment."We can't let Emerald keep leading the family like this! Who knows how much more damage she'll cause?"Several people turned sharp glares toward Cortez."Cortez, you've always backed Emerald. Did you really not know she's turned Kajer into her own company?""I bet he turned a blind eye because she gave him something in return!""Hold on. If Cortez was really benefiting from Emerald's deals, he wouldn't have called her out just now. I trust him."Cortez let out a c
Emerald frowned, her voice cold. "Cortez, we have more important matters to discuss.""In my opinion, this is the most important matter today," Cortez replied evenly. "If Kajer becomes your private company, won't the Nixons lose a significant portion of their annual revenue?"Emerald's expression remained unchanged. "You don't need to worry. Regardless of who owns Kajer Tech, my share of the dividends will always be reinvested into the Nixons."Cortez gave a slight smile, though his eyes held no warmth. "Emerald, that's just your word. How can we trust it?"If Kajer Tech truly has no ties to the Nixons anymore, doesn't that mean you'll have the power to use its revenue as leverage against other family members?"If someone upsets you, you can cut off their funding. How is anyone supposed to voice a differing opinion under those conditions?"Emerald's gaze darkened. "Cortez, I can assure you, that will never happen.""We're not children, Emerald. Promises mean nothing. My stance i
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