Enlyan watched him go, surprised by his reaction. She rarely saw Daimon back down so easily. What was that about?
Shrugging off the unease, she checked the address Joxan had sent and booked a car.
Outside, Daimon was seething.
His mood soured further when his phone rang—Katrina.
"Are you coming back for dinner?" she asked sweetly.
Daimon’s patience was thin. "I have things to do. Don’t wait for me."
He hung up before she could say more.
His gaze flickered back to Enlyan’s house.
Without a second thought, he drove to the supermarket, grabbed a few things, and returned to her doorstep.
She sighed, already sensing who it was.
Sure enough, when she opened it, there stood Daimon—holding bags of groceries.
Her patience snapped. "What now?" she asked, exasperated. "What do you want this time?"
"You're not feeling well, and no one’s here to look after you. Let me cook some
Daimon leaned back in his chair, unbothered by her rage. “It’s for the company’s good. Your reputation might take a hit, but that’s better than the company suffering losses. Do you have any idea how much we’d lose daily if Iris pulled out of the project?”Katrina’s face twisted with frustration, but she had no argument. Still, her hatred toward Iris deepened, marking the beginning of a bitter feud.When Mini saw the news, she immediately called Enlyan. “What’s going on? Why would Daimon suddenly stand up for you?”Enlyan’s response was indifferent. “It doesn’t matter. Don’t concern yourself with it.”Meanwhile, Joxan silently read through Daimon’s statement. He said nothing, but a small part of him felt reassured. At least the man had some conscience left to publicly defend his mother. Otherwise, Joxan would never have forgiven him.Despite the media buz
Enlyan checked the time—7:55 AM.If traffic was smooth, she might barely make it in time. But there was a problem—she had no idea where Blackwood Corporation’s racetrack was located.Why there, of all places?Enlyan gripped the steering wheel, her mind racing. She knew that car racing was Daimon’s passion.Before their marriage, she had seen him compete, and, strangely enough, their first meeting had also been at a racetrack. Did he remember that, or was it just a coincidence?Without any explanation, Daimon had simply sent her an address with a pinpointed location, adding a brief message:"Drive carefully."That was it. No further details. No reasoning. Just an order wrapped in fake concern.Enlyan clenched her jaw and fired back a text: "You arrogant jerk!"Meanwhile, at the race facility, Daimon glanced at his phone. A smirk tugged at his lips.Ertha, standing nearby, observed him cautio
Enlyan felt a sudden chill.Why is he looking at me like that?Before she could process the shift in his demeanor, Daimon tightened his grip on her arm, pulling her even closer. His arm slid around her waist in a practiced motion, his posture effortless, as if this was all part of the act.To the world, it was a romantic gesture—a man naturally drawing his woman into his embrace.To Enlyan, it was a clear message.You’re not going anywhere."Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the brilliant designer, Iris. Today marks her official debut. I’m sure you all have plenty of questions, so let’s get them out of the way before she vanishes. Otherwise, we’ll move straight to the next Chapter."Daimon's voice was smooth, his introduction poised, but beneath the polished words was an undeniable sense of control. His hand remained firmly on Enlyan’s arm, a silent assertion of dominance that did not go u
Daimon couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. He had never witnessed anyone, let alone a woman, drive with such aggressive confidence and elegance.This wasn’t a race for him anymore; it was a test, a challenge he had set for himself to measure her abilities. Yet, as he watched her, something unexpected stirred inside him.In the past, he had always seen Enlyan as the delicate, dependent woman who stayed behind, waiting for him to return home. But now, as he observed her, he saw a different side—independent, stunning, and with a distinct flair all her own.He couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. He had underestimated her, and now he was witnessing her flourish. The crowd slowly began to catch on, their cheers growing louder with each turn she made. They were in awe of her skill, and Daimon couldn’t help but smile. The expression softened his usually sharp features, making him seem more approachable, more... human.Enlyan,
Meanwhile, Mini was in worry when she received the news of Enlyan’s accident. She didn’t know how to break it to Joxan and Jessica, but before she could figure it out, she found Joxan standing behind her, his expression calm yet filled with concern.“Joxan…”“What happened to my mom?” Joxan’s voice was steady, betraying none of the panic Mini had expected.Mini hesitated for a moment, then said, “Your mom was in an accident. She’s being treated at North Center Hospital. I’m going there now. Do you want to come with me?”Joxan's hands clenched at his sides, his eyes briefly fluttering closed. He lowered his head, hiding the emotions that danced behind his calm facade.Mini, thinking he was just afraid, quickly crouched down and wrapped him in a comforting hug. “Don’t worry, your mom is strong. She’ll be fine. We’ll go see her, okay?”Joxan&r
Meanwhile, at the hospital…Daimon paced back and forth outside the operating room, his usual composure shattered.The bright overhead lights reflected the storm raging in his eyes. Every second felt like an eternity.Then, hurried footsteps approached."Boss!" Ertha’s voice was breathless as he rushed over, his expression alarmed. "Something serious just happened!"Daimon stopped abruptly, his jaw tightening. "What is it?""Our company's confidential bidding details for next week… they've been completely leaked!"The words hit Daimon like a punch to the gut. His face darkened instantly."What did you just say?" His voice was dangerously low.Ertha swallowed hard. "The entire bidding project we’ve been preparing for a year—gone. The data is all over the dark web. The competition will get ahead of us before we even have a chance to fight!"Daimon’s fingers curled into fists. Hi
Meanwhile, Daimon remained rooted in place, his sharp gaze fixed on the operating room’s glowing red light. His hands were curled into fists at his sides, his usual composure slipping as unease settled deep in his chest.First, the leaked video scandal.Then, the firewall breach.Now, confidential company information had been exposed to the business underworld.And on top of it all, Iris—no, Enlyan—had been in a near-fatal accident. In his own car.Too many things were happening at once. Coincidence? He didn’t believe in such things.Someone was moving against him.But who?Which competitor had the audacity to set him up?Under normal circumstances, Daimon would have relished the challenge, eager to dissect the puzzle piece by piece before delivering a ruthless counterattack. But right now?Right now, his mind could focus on only one thing.Her.Time ticked by, dragging painfu
Mini's hands were shaking with fury.Daimon Blackwood—arrogant, self-righteous, insufferable. He hadn't changed at all.Five years ago, he had crushed Enlyan's spirit with his cold indifference, with his illusions of superiority. And now, here he was again, trying to dictate everything with money and power. Did he think he could buy his way into caring for Iris?Did he think a few well-placed orders made him a better man?She clenched her fists."If you don’t want money, then get out of my way," he said coldly. His gaze flicked briefly to the unconscious woman on the bed. "I’ll arrange for a professional nurse. After all, she’s a designer we hired from the UK. This is a company matter, and a kindergarten teacher like you has no business interfering."Mini sucked in a sharp breath.That bastard.Her vision blurred with rage as Daimon turned on his heel and walked away. The confidence in his stride, the po
Mini couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Disappointment seeped into her voice. "You’re really losing it, Enlyan. After everything he did to you, you’re willing to risk it all just to see if he might change? Have you forgotten how he tore you apart before? How many sleepless nights you spent crying over him?"Enlyan closed her eyes briefly, fighting back the memories. "I haven’t forgotten. I just... can’t live my life resenting him forever. The hate consumes me, and it hurts Joxan and Jessica too. Maybe I’m being foolish, but I don’t want to pass on that bitterness to my children. They deserve to have something good, even if it’s just a fleeting moment."Mini scoffed, folding her arms tightly over her chest. "You’re too soft. You always think about giving them what you never had, but not at the cost of your own peace. Don’t you realize that man doesn’t deserve your forgiveness? Or your children’s
Enlyan glanced around the room, noticing someone missing. "Where’s Joxan?" she asked, concern flickering in her eyes.Mini smiled reassuringly as she walked closer. "He’s outside. He’ll come in a while."Just as Daimon reached the door, he nearly bumped into Joxan, who was standing there with a hesitant look on his face."Hello," Joxan greeted him, his tone neither warm nor hostile.Daimon raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled by the boy’s attitude. "You called me?"Joxan nodded, his gaze steady despite his obvious reluctance."My name is Daimon Blackwood," Daimon replied, keeping his voice calm. "You can call me Daimon or Mr. Blackwood."He couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed by the boy’s bluntness, but at the same time, he didn’t know how to bridge the gap between them. Unlike Oasis, who had been taught by Katrina to be polite and even a little flattering, Joxan was unfiltered and direct.
Meanwhile, at the kindergarten, Joxan stepped into the classroom and instinctively glanced at Oasis’s seat, only to find it empty. A flicker of worry passed through his usually calm eyes.He approached his friend Mike, lowering his voice. "Do you know why Oasis didn’t come today?"Mike hesitated, glancing around before whispering back, "I heard his mom beat him up yesterday. He got a fever in the middle of the night, and his family asked for leave today. They said he still hasn’t woken up."Joxan's hands clenched into fists, and a wave of guilt washed over him. Oasis was beaten and got sick? His mind raced with unease, and he couldn’t focus for the rest of the day.Memories of Oasis running after him flashed through his mind—the boy’s innocent smile and eager steps trying to keep up. Despite being Daimon's son, Oasis never acted spoiled or proud. Joxan bit his lip, realizing that, deep down, he never really hated Oasis himself—just the idea of being connected to Daimon.But now, knowi
Her mind whirled with schemes and calculations. One way or another, she had to find a way to get rid of Iris for good—without leaving any trace that could link back to her.She stomped her foot in irritation, glaring at Oasis, who was still lying unconscious on the bed, his small face flushed with fever.“Useless!” she muttered bitterly. “I went through hell to give birth to you, just so you could live the life of a young master. Yet here you are, lying there doing nothing. Why can’t you think of a way to help your mother for once?”Of course, Oasis didn’t respond—he couldn’t even hear her. And even if he did, he was just a child—too young to grasp her cruel words. Katrina huffed in frustration, wringing her hands as she tried to come up with a plan. She couldn’t let Iris take everything from her.Just then, the door creaked open, and she heard the low murmur of voices outside. Daimon and Ertha had just come out of the study. Forcing a look of concern onto her face, Katrina hurried ov
Ertha paused and shook his head, keeping his tone neutral. "No, nothing about the company, Miss Katrina. I’m just here to see the boss. We’ll talk later." Without giving her a chance to question him further, he quickly moved past her and entered the study.Katrina’s heart pounded with unease as she watched him go. Something wasn’t right—Daimon’s secrecy, the doctor’s vague explanation, and now Ertha’s haste. Her instincts screamed that there was more going on than just Oasis’s health.Katrina's heart pounded as she pressed her ear closer to the study door, straining to catch every word. The hallway was empty, and she knew she was risking a lot by eavesdropping, but curiosity burned inside her.Inside the study, Daimon's voice remained calm but razor-sharp. "So, someone tampered with the car before Iris drove it that day?""Yes, sir," Ertha confirmed. "I reported it to the police. They've started investigating, and a few witnesses mentioned seeing a suspicious figure enter the garage t
Once back at home, Daimon was greeted by Katrina, who rushed toward him with tears streaming down her face. “Daimon, I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to punish Oasis a little. I didn’t think he’d be so stubborn. I’m sorry. I really am. It’s my fault.”Her tears and frantic apology irritated Daimon, but he tried to keep his composure. “I know you acted out of concern. How is Oasis? Has he seen the family doctor yet?”“He’s still being examined,” Katrina replied, her voice trembling. Her red eyes showed genuine worry, but Daimon was too focused on the situation to respond with much sympathy. He walked briskly toward Oasis’s room with Katrina trailing behind him.Inside, Oasis lay on the bed, his face flushed with fever. He mumbled weakly, "Cold..." Daimon’s heart tightened at the sight. He placed his hand on the boy’s forehead, feeling the heat radiating off him.“In the future, don’t touch the child like that again,” Daimon muttered sternly to Katrina.Katrina’s face crumpled, and she w
His words, while thoughtful, still left her feeling flustered. "I told you, I don’t need you! Why can’t you just listen to me?" Before she could finish, Daimon scooped her up effortlessly and, without another word, placed her back on the bed."If you're tired, you can rest. And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m not going anywhere," Daimon said, his tone firm yet oddly considerate. He then sat down on the nearby sofa, opening her laptop and diving into his work.Enlyan lay there, feeling too embarrassed to speak as he conducted a video conference.She felt like an outsider in her own room as he casually dealt with business matters, as though she wasn’t there. But what truly surprised her was how little Daimon seemed to care about her presence. His work was on full display in front of her, with no attempt to hide the company’s struggles."Sir, the company’s confidential files have been leaked. The damage is already done, and the immediate loss is 300 million. What should
Enlyan watched the exchange quietly, her heart sinking further. She sneered bitterly to herself, the bitterness weighing heavily on her chest."See?" she thought. "This is the man you once loved with everything you had. This is the father of your daughter."Her eyes narrowed as she reflected on the contrast of Daimon's reaction to Oasis's fever. He was nervous, yes, but not in the way a parent should be. It was a far cry from the kind of care he would’ve shown if it were another child—perhaps Katrina's.How could he be so indifferent to the life and death of his own flesh and blood? Even if he did care, could he truly be as worried as he would be for someone else's child?She shook her head slightly, her thoughts spiraling with the realization that the man before her—who had once been everything to her—could never be the father she had hoped for their child.The realization left her feeling hollow and betrayed."What happened to Oasis?" Daimon demanded, his voice low and full of fury.
Enlyan scoffed bitterly, but tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. The realization hit her hard—loving him had always been a losing battle. She had loved him with everything she had, yet he had never once looked at her the same way.Even if he was good to her now, it was only because of her status and what she could offer him professionally. Men like Daimon were practical and realistic—love had nothing to do with it.A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she wiped away her tears, forcing herself to regain her composure.She whispered to herself, "Never again."Enlyan wiped the tears from her cheeks and picked up her phone, turning it back on. The screen lit up, and she hesitated for a moment before dialing Austin’s number. He answered almost immediately.“Iris, did he give you a hard time?” Austin’s voice was tense with concern.“No,” Enlyan replied softly, trying to keep her voice steady. “To him, I’m just a stranger now.”Austin let out a sigh of relief, a faint smile in his tone.