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Feeling frustrated and aggrieved, Clark watched as Nyla finished her breakfast and left the table. As he stared at her retreating figure, he slammed his fork and knife onto the table, startling Patricia, who was seated nearby.
“Mr. Sumner, is the breakfast not to your liking?” Patricia asked.
Clark rose from his seat and departed without responding, hist expression stern.
As soon as he got into his car outside the villa, his phone rang. Seeing that it was Cindy calling, he answered with a frown. “Mom, what’s the matter so early in the morning?”
“Clark, did you know Nyla can’t have children?!” Cindy demanded.
Clark’s expression turned icy as he asked, “Did Jordyn tell you?”
“Never mind who told me. If she really can’t have children, you need to divorce her immediately!” Cindy insisted.
Her commanding tone made Clark’s gaze harden. “Mom, this is between Nyla and me. You don’t get to make decisions about it. Also, I don’t want anyone else in the Sumners to know about this. If it gets out, it won’t benefit me in any way. I hope you understand that.”
Cindy was infuriated. “I wouldn’t want to tell anyone! Your aunt is always complaining about Nyla not having kids. If she finds out Nyla can’t have children, she’ll mock me behind my back!”
“Just pretend you don’t know. How we handle this is our business,” Clark said, his tone final.
Upon hearing Clark’s warning tone, Cindy’s anger intensified. She was trying to help him, and now he was shutting her out?
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“Fine! If you don’t want me involved, I won’t interfere! But don’t come crying to me if you regret it later!” With that, Cindy hung up angrily.
Clark’s eyes remained cold as he drove directly to Jordyn’s place.
Nyla parked her car outside her office building and walked to the elevator, where she encountered Erin.
Erin held a file in one hand and a food container in the other, smiling warmly.
“Good morning, Ms. Nyla,” Erin greeted when she saw Nyla.
Nyla nodded in return. “Good morning, Ms. Hulle.”
“Have you had breakfast? I brought some, and I don’t think Mr. Damon and I can finish it all. Would you like to join us?” Erin invited.
“No, thank you. I’ve already eaten,” Nyla replied.
Erin looked a bit disappointed. “That’s too bad. I brought breakfast from. Amy’s Shack.”
Amy’s Shack had been a popular spot for decades, often requiring at least a month’s wait for average customers. For someone like Erin, though, nothing was out of reach.
Nyla smiled and said, “That is a shame.”
They chatted casually until the elevator reached the seventh floor.
As Nyla stepped out, Erin suddenly spoke up. “Ms. Nyla, last night when Mr. Damon and I were at the bar for business, I saw Mr. Clark and his secretary there too. They seemed… quite intimate.”
Nyla instinctively turned back but saw only the elevator doors closing.
As she walked to the lab, she reflected on Erin’s words. Was Erin
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offering a friendly warning, or did she already know about Clark’s affair?
Regardless, Nyla dismissed the concern. She was focused solely on her work and uncovering the truth about the Harris Pharmaceuticals incident from six years ago. Everything else was irrelevant.
Back in the lab, she quickly immersed herself in her tasks.
For most people, experiments might be tedious, but Nyla enjoyed the methodical process. It was simpler than dealing with people.
Experiments had only two outcomes–success or failure.
People, on the other hand, introduced countless variables, and a slight misstep could unintentionally offend someone.
When Erin entered Damon’s office, he was reading documents. Without looking up, he said, “Ms. Hulle, just leave the files on the desk. I’ll review them when I’m free.”
Raising an eyebrow, Erin remarked casually, “Mr. Damon, I ran into Ms. Nyla downstairs. She seems unaware of Mr. Clark’s affair.”
Damon frowned and looked up at her. “Ms. Hulle, this doesn’t concern you, does it?”
Seeing the coldness in his eyes, Erin felt her heart sink. Her suspicions were confirmed.
She asked, “Mr. Damon, does Ms. Nyla know you like her?”
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Damon’s expression turned icy as he looked at Erin and said, “Ms. Hulle, I hope you understand the implications of what you’re saying.”
Erin smiled, showing no fear. “Of course I do. I wonder if you understand the consequences of your actions. Coveting your nephew’s wife–if this gets out, you know what will happen to Ms. Nyla.”
Damon’s eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me?”
“Not at all. I intend to help you,” Erin replied.
Damon asked, “Oh? How exactly do you plan to help me?”
Sensing the cold aura around Damon, Erin took two steps closer and said, “Mr. Damon, you should know that even if Ms. Nyla divorces your nephew, you two can never be together. But if you choose to be with me, I’ll help keep your secret.”
Damon let out a cold laugh, each word dripping with ice. “Ms. Hulle, I don’t like you and will never be with you.
“If this gets out, Prospectus Technology will immediately cancel all contracts with Builders Property and never cooperate again. You should consider if Builders Property can handle those consequences.”
Seeing the seriousness in his gaze, Erin realized he meant every word. How was he willing to risk everything with Builders Property just for Nyla?!
An oppressive silence filled the office.
After a long pause, Erin finally spoke. “Rejecting me will be the biggest mistake you ever make.”
Marrying her meant gaining control of Builders Property. Many men
would jump at the chance to be with her, yet Damon was so ungrateful.
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What hurt the most was losing to a woman she deemed inferior in every
way.
Damon’s expression remained unchanged. “Ms. Hulle, I have work to do. You may leave.”
Biting her lip, Erin turned and left the office.
The silence that followed was even more stifling, and Damon’s demeanor grew colder.
Spencer knocked and entered. “Mr. Sumner, you’re scheduled to review Ms. Jayston’s experiment progress at ten. Should I-”
He
was abruptly cut off by Damon’s cold tone. “I’m not available. Send Zachary. From now on, he’ll handle all updates on her experiment.”
Spencer was surprised. If Damon wasn’t interested, why insist on Nyla working there? The work could have been done at Park Pharmaceuticals just as well.
“Understood,” he replied.
After Spencer left, Damon took a deep breath, trying to suppress his irritation and focus on his documents. However, he couldn’t concentrate and soon tossed the papers aside, lighting a cigarette in frustration.
At 10:00 a.m., Nyla was separating solutions when Spencer arrived with a few men in suits.
“Ms. Jayston, this is Mr. Zachary Keane from Prospectus Technology. He’ll be your new contact for the experiment. Any updates or needs should go through him,” Spencer said
Nyla was taken aback and asked, “Mr. Sumner isn’t overseeing this experiment anymore?”
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She remembered being sent here to ensure Damon could monitor the experiment’s progress.
Spencer nodded. “Yes. Mr. Sumner is busy and won’t be able to follow up on this.”
Nyla pressed her lips together, realizing that Damon wasn’t too busy- he simply didn’t want to see her.
A clear separation was probably for the best, sparing them both the awkwardness.
“Alright, I understand,” she said.
After Nyla briefly updated Zachary on her experiment’s progress, the group of men left.
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Nyla added the solution to the flask and began the reaction before sitting down to write her experiment records.
She soon found herself distracted until her phone rang, jolting her back to reality. Seeing that it was Clark, she answered. “What’s up?”
“Nyla, there’s a charity gala tonight. Come with me,” Clark said.
Nyla hesitated for a moment before replying, “Alright. What should I wear?”
“No need to worry about that. I’ll have my secretary prepare something for you,” Clark assured her
Since Clark was taking care of it, Nyla didn’t dwell on the matter. After confirming the time, she hung up.
Time flew by, and soon it was the end of the workday.
Nyla finished filling out her experiment records, cleaned the equipment, put everything back in place, and locked the lab before leaving.
Nyla and Clark arrived at the gala around 7:00 p.m.
After getting out of the car, Clark asked her to link arms with him and whispered, “You know most of the people here. I’ll be discussing business, so just mingle and chat.”
“Got it,” she replied.
Clark glanced at Nyla.
She was wearing a white strapless silk gown adorned with lifelike white
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silk roses on the bodice, which highlighted her delicate collarbones.
A small, exquisite diamond necklace glittered around her neck, and her straight hair flowed naturally down her back like fine silk. With just a touch of makeup, she was stunning,
If he could, he would keep her hidden away at home, away from everyone else. It was because of a few interactions with her that Damon had developed inappropriate feelings.
Clark’s face darkened as he thought about it.
Sensing his change in mood, Nyla frowned slightly and said, “Let’s go. inside.”
Once inside the ballroom, Clark quickly left Nyla to chat with the Sumner Group’s business partners.
Despite the visible bruises on his face, everyone pretended not to notice and politely inquired about his condition.
Clark claimed he had fallen, then swiftly redirected the conversation to business matters.
With Valarie unable to attend that night, Nyla took a glass of juice and found a quiet corner to sit in. She was waiting for someone specific who hadn’t arrived yet and wasn’t interested in mingling. After all, she knew that once she divorced Clark, these connections would no longer matter.
Unbeknownst to Nyla, she had already caught someone’s attention the moment she walked in.
Erin, having been rejected by Damon earlier, was in a foul mood and felt a surge of resentment upon seeing Nyla.
The person next to Erin followed her gaze and noticed Nyla sitting quietly in the corner. “Erin, I heard you recently had dinner with the
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Sumners. How did it go? Did you win over Damon?”
Erin’s expression darkened. “Don’t bring that up. There are plenty of men in this city besides him. And having dinner with the Sumners is normal. Builders Property and Prospectus Technology are business. partners.”
Recalling how she had humbled herself earlier and Damon’s
indifference only fueled her anger. She downed her drink in one go, her gaze on Nyla growing cold and scrutinizing.
“What’s the matter? Did Nyla offend you? Want me to teach her a lesson?” the person beside her asked.
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Erin turned to Jacqueline. “You know her?”
If she remembered correctly, Jacqueline had also just returned to the country not long ago.
Jacqueline sneered. “Of course I know her. She’s good friends with that slut clinging to Tom.”
The mere thought of Valarie filled Jacqueline with disgust. If she hadn’t gone abroad, there was no way Valarie would have gotten close to Tom.
Originally, Jacqueline had planned to deal with Valarie today, but since Valarie hadn’t shown up, targeting Nyla would suffice.
Surprise flashed in Erin’s eyes, and she frowned. “What are you planning to do?”
Jacqueline pondered for a moment before removing the diamond necklace from her neck. “I heard her family isn’t well off, so it’s understandable if she resorts to stealing.”
ar
There was a glint in Erin’s eyes, but she didn’t stop Jacqueline.
With the Sumners‘ influence, Nyla wouldn’t face severe consequences. However, if she were branded a thief, it would tarnish the Sumners‘ reputation. And who would want a thief around?
Jacqueline walked to a corner, called over a waiter, and whispered something to him. The waiter then took the diamond necklace and left.
Nyla was asking Valarie why she hadn’t attended the charity gala when a waiter suddenly appeared beside her with a tray of juice and desserts. “Ms. Jayston, Mr. Sumner asked me to bring you some refreshments.”
Nyla was surprised and glanced over at Clark, who was not far away.
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At that moment, he turned to look at her and smiled.
“Just leave them on the table, thank you,” Nyla said.
“As you wish,” the waiter replied as he placed the drinks and desserts on the table and then turned to leave.
Unnoticed by anyone, the waiter casually brushed his right hand against Nyla’s bag as he left, allowing a diamond necklace to slip from his sleeve into her bag.
Valarie soon replied to Nyla’s message.
Valarie: [Tom and Jacqueline are attending, so I didn’t want to be there.]
After the argument at the mall with Jacqueline, Valarie had broken up
with Tom.
Tom had refused to accept it and even visited Valarie at home to talk. She had avoided seeing him and had handed in her resignation, staying away from the office entirely.
Now, she made a point of avoiding any events involving the two of them.
After responding to Valarie, Nyla put away her phone, picked up her bag, and headed to the restroom.
As Nyla opened her bag to retrieve a tissue, she noticed the diamond
necklace inside.
A cold gleam flashed in her eyes. Someone at the gala was trying to set
her up.
She quickly deduced that it must have been the waiter who delivered the drinks and desserts, as no one else had the opportunity.
It was a crude but malicious trick. If the necklace were found in her bag later, the Sumners would be humiliated tonight.
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She raised an eyebrow, considering flushing the necklace down the toilet. Just as she was about to do so, a thought struck her. She then put the necklace back in her bag.
When Nyla returned to the banquet hall, the lights had dimmed, and the charity gala was about to begin. She found Clark and sat down beside him.
Clark asked, “Where did you go? I messaged you, but you didn’t reply.”
“I was in the restroom,” Nyla answered.
Clark didn’t say anything more. He reached for her bag, but she refused, saying, “No need. I’ll hold it.”
Clark’s hand froze, and he withdrew it, his expression indifferent. “Next time, reply to my messages. I worry when I can’t find you.”
Nyla lowered her gaze. “Got it.”
Her tone was casual as if she hadn’t really listened.
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Clark frowned, about to speak, when a loud female voice suddenly echoed in the banquet hall. “Oh no! My necklace is missing!”
The voice was so piercing that it immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Staff members quickly approached her. Upon hearing about the
missing necklace, they turned on the lights, illuminating the ballroom as bright as day.
“Ms. Rainford, don’t worry. We’ll have our staff search for it right away. If it’s here, we should be able to find it quickly.”
Jacqueline looked anxious and said, “Why not check the security. cameras? We should be able to find it quickly. I’m sure I lost it here.”
The staff member apologized, “I’m sorry, Ms. Rainford. To ensure the privacy and security of the charity gala, there are no cameras in the
ballroom.”
Jacqueline was aware of this already. She was simply trying to convey. her urgency. “Please help me find it. The necklace was a birthday gift from Tom, and it means a lot to me.”
“Of course, Ms. Rainford,” the staff member assured her.
The staff began a thorough search.
After ten minutes, they still had not found the necklace.
Jacqueline’s anxiety grew. “Could you check again? The necklace is worth millions, but more importantly, it has special meaning to me. I’m certain I had it when I got out of the car.”
Erin chimed in. “I remember your necklace. The pendant is a swan made of hundreds of diamonds. I saw you wearing it earlier and even complimented it.”
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“Yes, that’s the one,” Jacqueline confirmed.
With no other options, the staff searched once more but still came up empty–handed. Jacqueline’s eyes filled with tears as she struggled to hold back her emotions.
Tom frowned and said in a low voice, “It’s just a necklace. If you want, I’ll buy you another one later. Let’s not delay the gala.”
Jacqueline bit her lip and said slowly, “Tom, I don’t want to delay the gala either, but the staff has already searched twice and hasn’t found it. I suspect someone either stole it or found it and is not returning it.”
The room fell silent, with everyone looking uneasy. No one wanted to be accused of theft.
Jacqueline, tears in her eyes, glanced around nervously. “I apologize for taking up everyone’s time, but this necklace means a lot to me. If someone took it, please return it. I promise I won’t pursue the matter.”
Her words sparked a murmur of conversation among the guests.
“If someone did take it, they won’t admit it now,” one guest remarked.
“Yeah, and she said it’s worth millions. Who here isn’t already worth billions? Why would anyone steal it?”
“Still, if there’s a thief among us, we need to find them. It’s unsettling to think about attending future events with them around.”
“Find them? How? There aren’t any cameras in the ballroom.”
Erin pursed her lips before suggesting, “I have an idea. If we search everyone’s bags, we can clear this up quickly.”
Before Erin could finish, Nyla coldly interjected, “Ms. Hulle, I disagree with your suggestion. We haven’t done anything wrong, so why should we be treated like criminals and have our bags searched?
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“Moreover, Ms. Rainford losing her necklace is her own issue. Turning
this event upside down for her necklace seems inappropriate, doesn’t it?
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With Nyla’s words, everyone began to grasp the absurdity of the situation. They turned to Erin and Jacqueline with expressions of displeasure.
Jacqueline had lost her own necklace. What did that have to do with them? Why should their bags be searched because of her mistake?
A necklace worth millions? They could easily afford several of those. There was no need to resort to theft.
A cold glint appeared in Erin’s eyes as she noticed the unfriendly looks. from the crowd. She hadn’t anticipated Nyla being so sharp–tongued and difficult to handle. Soon enough, she would make her pay.
Erin sighed and said helplessly, “I suggested this to clear everyone’s names and help Jacqueline find her necklace. It means a lot to her.”
“What does that have to do with us? If it was so important, she should’ve kept it safe at home instead of wearing it out.”
“Exactly! She lost it herself and now wants to search our bags? I don’t agree with that!”
“Hah! If you care about the necklace so much, I’ll buy you a new one right now. Stop delaying the charity gala.”
Seeing the crowd siding with Nyla, Jacqueline bit her lip, her eyes filled with disdain. If this continued, her plan to frame Nyla tonight would fail. She needed another approach.
Taking a deep breath, Jacqueline addressed the group, “Everyone,
please calm down. I wanted to give the person who took my necklace a chance to return it discreetly, but since they won’t, I have no choice but to expose them.
“I had a tracker installed in the necklace to prevent it from getting lost.”
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As she spoke, she pulled out her phone and began tapping on the screen, seemingly searching for the necklace’s location. Beside her, Tom frowned but remained silent.
Soon, Jacqueline exclaimed, “Found it!”
All eyes turned to her as she looked at Nyla, who stared back with cold eyes. “Ms. Jayston, I can’t believe you took my necklace!”
The room fell silent once again.
The Sumners were wealthy–it didn’t seem likely that Nyla would steal a necklace.
However, when Erin suggested searching everyone’s bags earlier, Nyla had strongly opposed it. If she wasn’t guilty, why would she react so strongly?
Everyone’s gaze shifted to Nyla’s bag, including Clark, who now looked suspicious. Earlier, he had tried to help Nyla with her bag, but she had refused. In hindsight, her reaction did seem odd. If the necklace was indeed in her bag, it would disgrace the Sumners.
“Pft!” Nyla couldn’t help but laugh. She hadn’t expected Jacqueline to lie so brazenly about having a tracker. If she hadn’t known the truth, she might have been fooled.
“Ms. Rainford, are you sure?” Nyla asked calmly.
Seeing Nyla’s composed demeanor, Jacqueline said coldly, “The tracker shows the necklace is closest to you. It must be in your bag. Do you dare open it to check?”
Nyla nodded. “Sure, but if the necklace isn’t in my bag, how do you plan to apologize? Accusing someone falsely is a crime.”
Jacqueline smirked at Nyla’s confidence, thinking she wouldn’t be so brazen when she opened her bag later. “If it’s not there, I’ll get on my
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knees and apologize.”
Nyla raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“I stand by my word!” Jacqueline declared.
“Alright, everyone here can be witnesses. Ms. Rainford said if the necklace isn’t in my bag, she’ll kneel and apologize,” Nyla repeated.
Jacqueline clenched her teeth icily. “Enough talk. Just open your bag.”
Nyla smiled and opened her bag, revealing a diamond necklace glittering under the lights.
Jacqueline’s face lit up with a triumphant sneer.
“Ms. Jayston, you claimed you didn’t take my necklace. What is this in your bag then?” she demanded.
People near Nyla saw the necklace and began looking at her with disdain and contempt.
“Wow, I can’t believe Mr. Sumner married a thief. The Sumners‘ reputation is ruined tonight!”
“I had a feeling something was off when she refused to let us search her bag. Turns out she did steal Jacqueline’s necklace!”
“People from wealthy backgrounds who fall from grace can have twisted minds. Now she’s stealing for money!”
The mocking and contemptuous gazes made Clark feel utterly humiliated. He turned a cold stare toward Nyla..
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“Nyla, am I not giving you enough money? Why would you do something. like this?!” Clark demanded.
Nyla glanced at him, noting the unfamiliar fury in his eyes. She even suspected that if they weren’t in a public setting, he might have grabbed her by the neck and demanded answers.
She smiled. “Clark, you’ve really changed.”
He used to trust her completely, but now he seemed to think she was capable of stealing from someone else. It appeared that when a person’s heart changed, they also became blind to reality.
Taking the diamond necklace out of her bag, Nyla held it up for Jacqueline to see. “Ms. Rainford, take a good look. Is this your necklace? If I remember correctly, Ms. Hulle described your necklace’s pendant as a swan encrusted with diamonds.”
Under the light, the necklace Nyla held was a delicate heart–shaped pink diamond, clearly different from Erin’s description. This was the
necklace Nyla had worn to the event.
Jacqueline’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Impossible! My necklace must still be in your bag!”
Nyla handed her the bag with a smile. “Why don’t you check for yourself?”
Jacqueline grabbed the bag and frantically searched through it, pulling out everything inside. Despite several attempts, she still couldn’t find her necklace.
There was nothing. How could there be nothing?!
Upon seeing Jacqueline’s growing panic, Nyla’s smile deepened. “Ms. Rainford, have you found it?”
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Jacqueline’s face contorted with rage. “You must have hidden it somewhere else! Where did you hide it? Give it back to me!”
“Ms. Rainford, don’t you think that’s ridiculous? You were the one who confidently claimed your necklace had a tracker and that the signal was coming from my bag. Now that you can’t find it, you think it must be hidden elsewhere?” Nyla asked. “If you have a tracker, you should be able to locate the necklace, right? Why don’t you try again?”
Jacqueline’s face turned ashen as she tightened her grip on Nyla’s bag.
The people around them quickly understood what had happened: Jacqueline had planted her necklace in Nyla’s bag to frame her, but Nyla had caught on and turned the tables.
The crowd’s gazes toward Jacqueline grew disdainful. She was getting exactly what she deserved for trying to frame Nyla with such despicable tactics.
Jacqueline bit her lip in silence, and Nyla, maintaining a calm tone, asked, “Ms. Rainford, you promised that if your necklace wasn’t in my bag, you would kneel and apologize, correct?”
Jacqueline shouted, “Shut up! I’m not kneeling to you!”
Tom, who had been silent until now, spoke up sternly. “Jacqueline, that’s enough!”
Although he had seen through Jacqueline’s scheme, Tom–who had grown up with her as a childhood sweetheart and his first love–couldn’t bear to see her humiliated in front of everyone.
He turned to Clark and said, “Mr. Sumner, this is Jacqueline’s fault. I apologize on her behalf. Whatever compensation Mrs. Sumner wants, I will provide. Please, let this go.”
Before Clark could respond, Nyla snickered and raised an eyebrow at
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Tom. “What’s your relationship with Ms. Rainford that gives you the right to apologize on her behalf? And I don’t need compensation. I just want Ms. Rainford to keep her word.”
Tom’s expression darkened. “I thought you were reasonable, Mrs. Sumner.
“Being reasonable doesn’t mean being a pushover. If I don’t stand up for myself now, people will think they can walk all over me,” Nyla retorted.
Clark, feeling a pang of guilt, realized his mistake.
However, he also knew that the Sumner Group had many business dealings with Gen Pharma, Offending Tom could jeopardize future collaborations. It seemed wiser to appease him now for the sake of future business.
“Nyla, why don’t we let this go? You didn’t suffer any loss, and Mr. Genge has offered compensation. How about Ms. Rainford just apologizes?” Clark suggested.
Nyla found it laughable. Clark had learned to weigh the pros and cons too, and she was the one being sacrificed.
Just as she was about to respond, a cold voice came from the entrance of the banquet hall. “Framing the Sumners for theft and expecting a simple apology to settle it? Mr. Genge, do you take the Sumners for fools?”
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“Or do you think your apology is worth that much, Mr. Genge?”
Everyone turned to the door as Damoh walked in with Lincoln Gunton, the host of the charity event.
Lincoln wore a smile, but Damon’s demeanor was icy, exuding an unwelcoming aura.
Tom’s gaze darkened. If only Clark had been present, he might have been able to resolve the situation amicably. With Damon involved, however, things were likely to become much more complicated.
Clark’s expression was also grim. Nyla had almost agreed to his suggestion, but Damon’s arrival threatened to jeopardize the Sumner Group’s cooperation with Gen Pharma.
“Mr. Damon, this was Jacqueline’s mistake. I’ve assured you that she will apologize and compensate Mrs. Sumner in any way possible,” Tom said, hoping to show respect to the Sumners.
He knew that if things escalated further, it would reflect poorly on everyone involved.
Damon stopped a few steps away, his gaze frosty enough to freeze someone in place. “If Jacqueline had been falsely accused of theft today, would you accept just a simple apology and some token compensation? If that’s your standard, I’ll make sure she experiences. exactly what Nyla went through.”
Before Tom could respond, a dozen men in black swiftly entered the room and surrounded Jacqueline.
The onlookers quickly stepped back, not wanting to be caught in the middle of the unfolding drama.
“Damon, what do you mean by this?” Tom demanded.
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Damon’s smile lacked warmth. “If Ms. Rainford doesn’t kneel and apologize as promised, I’ll have her stripped right here and now so she can experience the humiliation she deserves.”
Surrounded by the men in black, Jacqueline paled with fear. “Tom…
save me…
The thought of being stripped in public was more terrifying than death. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Tom, her face etched with dread.
Tom’s expression turned dark, and he leered at Damon with barely. contained rage. “Damon, must you go this far?”
“Your woman tried to frame a member of the Sumners, and now you blame me for being harsh? Don’t you feel ashamed?” Damon snapped.
Tom sneered. “Even Ms. Jayston’s husband agreed to my solution. Who are you to interfere?”
Damon turned to Nyla and asked coldly, “Do you accept Tom’s proposal?”
Knowing that Damon was standing up for her, Nyla replied firmly, “I don’t. I want Ms. Rainford to keep her word.”
“You heard her,” Damon said, turning to Jacqueline. His icy gaze made her shiver. “Ms. Rainford, you have ten seconds to decide–kneel or strip. Your choice.”
Tom’s anger anger
boiled over. “Damon, don’t think you can do whatever you want in Saintornia. If you anger the Rainfords and Genges, you won’t have an easy time.”
“Five seconds,” Damon counted.
Seeing that Damon had no intention of backing down, Tom rushed forward to take Jacqueline away.
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Before he could reach her, one of the men in black punched him to the floor. Two others pinned him down to prevent further interference.
“Time’s up, Ms. Rainford. Since you won’t choose, I’ll choose for you,” Damon announced.
As he finished speaking, the men in black moved toward Jacqueline.
“Jacqueline!” Tom shouted, his face paling.
He struggled to get to her but was held firmly down, helplessly watching as the men in black closed in on Jacqueline.
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Jacqueline screamed, clutching her dress in desperation, her eyes filled with terror. “No! Don’t come any closer! I’ll kneel and apologize!”
She had initially thought Damon was merely trying to scare her, but now she saw that his men were actually advancing. He was mad. She would rather be dead than exposed in front of everyone. Kneeling and apologizing seemed preferable.
Damon’s expression remained icy as he sneered. “Alright, back off.”
The men in black retreated, leaving Jacqueline on the floor, desperately holding onto her dress. Her hair and clothes were in disarray, and she looked utterly disheveled.
Trembling with fear, she crawled over and knelt before Nyla.
“Ms. Jayston, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have framed you. I was wrong. I’ll never do it again. Please forgive me…” she pleaded.
Nyla regarded her with indifference, feeling no sympathy. Had she not discovered the necklace in her bag, she might have been the one facing humiliation now.
“Ms. Rainford, there’s no need to discuss forgiveness. You’re merely fulfilling your promise. We’re all adults here, and we must be responsible for our actions,” Nyla stated.
Though Jacqueline was seething inside, she dared not show it. “I… I understand…”
Tom, having freed himself from the guards, swiftly moved to Jacqueline’s side. He draped his jacket over her and then lifted her into his arms. His eyes darkened as he glared at Damon.
“This isn’t over,” he said before hastening out with Jacqueline.
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Erin, witnessing Damon’s ruthlessness for Nyla’s sake, felt a jolt of fear mingled with jealousy.
She knew that if she had been in Jacqueline’s place, she might have suffered the same fate. Despite this, her fear only strengthened her resolve to win Damon’s favor. She was determined to make him fall for her, no matter what.
As Tom and Jacqueline left, Lincoln attempted to ease the tension.” The charity auction is about to begin. Let’s return to our seats and not let this incident ruin the evening.”
Given Lincoln’s status, no one dared to oppose him. Moreover, his failure to intervene earlier had indicated his support for Damon’s
actions.
With this understanding, everyone forced smiles, and the atmosphere quickly became lighthearted again, as if nothing had occurred.
Clark, however, was displeased with Damon’s actions. He had hoped to use the incident to gain favor with Tom, which could have benefited their future business dealings.
Now, any potential cooperation was jeopardized, and it would be a miracle if Gen Pharma didn’t turn against the Sumner Group.
Frowning, Clark approached Damon. “Uncle Damon, even if you wanted to play the hero, you shouldn’t have been so harsh. You’ve made enemies of both the Rainfords and the Genges.”
“Come with me,” Damon replied tersely.
As Damon walked toward the balcony, Clark hesitated but followed.
Once they were alone, Clark was about to speak but was silenced by Damon’s cold gaze.
“You couldn’t even stand up for your own wife. How are you any
different from a piece of garbage?” Damon demanded.
Chapter 140
Clark was indignant as Damon scolded him, his hands clenched at his sides. Anger flashed in his eyes.
“Uncle Damon, Nyla is my wife. How I handle things is none of your business!” he snapped.
Damon sneered. “At least Tom knew to protect Jacqueline. You, on the other hand, are both unfaithful and cowardly. I don’t know how the Sumners ended up with someone as useless as you.”
Clark gritted his teeth and said coldly, “At least I’m not coveting someone else’s wife.”
“Do you believe I can have you two divorced by tomorrow?” Damon threatened.
He had only held back out of respect for Nyla, waiting until she was ready to make her own decision.
Clark’s face twisted with resentment. He knew Damon had the power to do just that. Even if Damon took Nyla away from him right now, he wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. As the CEO of the Sumner Group without any shares, he was no match for Damon.
“Uncle Damon, don’t push it too far!”
He had endured a lot, but Damon’s blatant support for Nyla and interference tonight made him worry that Damon might do something even more outrageous next time.
“If you don’t want me to go too far, treat your wife better. If you think you can sacrifice her to please others, maybe I should consider taking over the Sumner Group,” Damon warned.
Panic and rage surged within Clark. This was a clear warning and threat from Damon.
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How dare he? Damon was the one coveting Nyla, yet Clark couldn’t say anything and had to endure his threats!
Despite his anger, Clark knew that defying Damon would only lead to his own downfall. He needed to gain control of Richard’s shares and become the real decision–maker in the Sumner Group to stop being at Damon’s mercy.
Taking a deep breath, he said, “Nyla is my wife. I will treat her well. Uncle Damon, you should just mind your own business!”
With that, Clark stormed off.
Damon watched him leave coldly, then turned and walked toward the door. He had come tonight to finalize a deal with Lincoln. Now that it was done, there was no reason to stay.
Just as he left the banquet hall, Nyla stopped him. “Uncle Damon, thank you for tonight.”
Without Damon’s intervention, Clark would have pressured her into letting Jacqueline off the hook. She was genuinely grateful.
Damon looked at her with indifference. “No need. I only helped because you’re part of the Sumners.”
With that, he walked past her and left.
Feeling his cold attitude, Nyla lowered her gaze to hide her fleeting disappointment.
Returning to the banquet hall, she found a random seat at the back, not bothering to look for Clark.
Meanwhile, Tom put Jacqueline in the car. Once inside, she finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably as she clung to him. “Tom, I was so
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Chapter 140
scared… You have to help me get revenge…”
If Damon hadn’t shown up tonight, she wouldn’t have been forced to kneel and apologize to that bitch Nyla. Now, everyone might secretly mock her for it. All of this was Damon and Nyla’s fault.
Tom didn’t speak, silently comforting her until she calmed down. Then he asked, “You had no grudge against Nyla. Why did you set her up like that?”
Jacqueline hesitated, then bit her lip. “I saw Ms. Hulle didn’t like Nyla. I thought if I helped her, it might benefit your company’s project with her father’s company… I didn’t expect…”
