Daimonโs heart pounded in his chest as he took a step forward, brushing past Mini despite her resistance. He needed to be sure."Kid, what did you just call her?" His voice was sharp, urgent.Mini moved to stop him again, but Daimon barely registered her presence. His attention was solely on Joxan.Now that he looked closer, the boyโs features were strikingly familiar. Not to the current Iris, but to the Enlyan he had once known. And those eyes...A storm raged inside Daimonโs mind. He couldnโt believe he hadnโt seen it before. If Joxan was Enlyanโs son, and he was four years old...Could he be his son?His pulse skyrocketed. "Tell me," he demanded, his voice betraying a rare tremor. "What did you just call her?"Joxan didnโt react. He didnโt even glance at Daimon.His focus remained solely on Enlyan, his voice soft but steady. "You promised, Mommy. You said when your job was stable, youโd take me and Jessica to the zoo. But now youโre lying here..."Tears welled in his eyes, but he r
Daimonโs gaze darkened, his fingers drumming against the armrest.Ertha didnโt like the tone of that message one bit. Mr. Austin wasnโt someone they could afford to provoke.And if Daimon wasnโt careful, things could spiral out of control very soon.Daimon waved Ertha away, leaning back against the cold hospital wall. His head felt like a chaotic storm, thoughts clashing and overlapping. He had never felt this lost before.His mind drifted back five yearsโto the pregnancy test he found too late, to the nights Enlyan quietly endured treatments, hoping to conceive. She had tried so hard, and heโฆ he had only given her indifference. Not because he didnโt care, but because he didnโt know how to face her.Deep down, he had wanted that child. He had even restructured the company's shares, intending to leave a portion as a gift, whether it was a boy or a girl. He thought it was the least he could do. But thenโKatrina appeared, claiming to be pregnant with a child from the Blackwood family.Da
Daimon frowned slightly. "Why would I do that on purpose?" He could sense the hostility in Joxanโs tone, the distrust beneath his words.The boyโs lips pressed together tightly before he blurted out, "Because youโ"He stopped himself just in time. His chest rose and fell as if he were holding back something explosive."Because I what?" Daimon asked, his voice softening.Joxan suddenly turned his back to him, crossing his arms in frustration. His small figure looked stubborn but heartbreakingly vulnerable."Because you donโt like my mom, me, or my sister! You just want us to disappear, donโt you?"He didnโt say it out loud, but Daimon could feel the weight of those unsaid words hanging between them.Joxanโs jaw tightened, then he stood up and said coldly, "Leave. My mom wonโt want to see you when she wakes up."Daimon sighed. "Iโm her boss."Joxan turned, his eyes flashing. "Then Iโll tell her to quit."That cut deep. Daimon felt an unexpected ache in his chest. The boy didnโt just dis
Daimonโs face darkened even more. "He still hasnโt revealed who was in the computer room before him?""No, the young master insists he was alone in the room. Maybe we were wrong to suspect him?"Ertha had watched Oasis grow up, and seeing him cry so bitterly made his heart ache. Even Daimon, despite his cold exterior, felt a pang of guilt. But remembering the stolen business secrets, he exhaled slowly and said, "Tell Katrina not to punish him.""Understood. I knew you wouldnโt be too harsh on him. Should we head back and check on him now?"Daimonโs expression remained unreadable. "No, I have something else to handle."Without another word, he turned and walked away. Ertha watched him go, puzzled. Daimon had always been protective of Oasisโwhy did he seem so distant now?But Daimon wasnโt ignoring Oasis; he had another priority. Instead of going home, he drove straight to a secured warehouse, where the wreckage of the car was stored.Surveying the mangled remains, he crouched down, sea
"Baby, I'm so sorryโฆ Mommy didnโt mean to make you worry."Enlyan reached for his trembling hands, guilt filling her chest as she held them tightly.Daimon stood still, his expression unreadable as he listened to her soft words. The way she called Joxan baby made something stir inside him. A question burned at the tip of his tongue, but given the situation, he swallowed it back. Now wasnโt the time.Joxan clung to his mother, his small frame shaking as he finally let himself cry like the child he was.The doctor and nurse stood awkwardly nearby, exchanging glances before looking toward Daimon for direction.Clearing his throat, Daimon finally spoke. "Joxan, your mom just woke up. Let the doctor check on her, okay?"Joxan hesitated, his brows knitting together. But after a moment, he obediently stepped back.Without thinking, Daimon reached out and took the boyโs hand. Joxan instinctively tried to pull away, but his tiny fingers were no match for Daimonโs firm grip.Daimon didnโt let g
His voice was low and firm as he said, "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Mr. White wonโt be able to come for the time being. Iโll be handling everything here."The moment Enlyan heard that, her entire body tensed. Her heart sank."What do you mean? Why canโt he come? What happened?"Austin had been a constant presence in their lives. No matter how busy he was, he always made time for them.For him to be unable to come nowโฆ something serious must have happened.A sense of unease spread through Enlyan as she stared at Daimon, waiting for his answer.Daimonโs face darkened as he watched Enlyanโs obvious concern for Austin."Is he really that important to you?" The thought alone made him furious.It was one thing for the kids to look forward to Austinโs arrival, but Enlyanโs anxious expressionโlike she truly relied on himโfelt like a thorn in his heart.His tone turned cold. "How would I know? His secretary said thereโs a family issue, so he couldnโt come. No matter how important you th
Daimon, however, didnโt move. Instead, he settled into the chair beside her bed, his expression unreadable. "Thatโs not a problem. Right now, your recovery is the priority. Iโll handle things myself."Enlyan frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"Daimon picked up the bowl of chicken soup he had brought earlier, his tone firm yet gentle. "It means Iโll take care of you. So before you rest, drink this. Itโs good for your health. No matter how much you may dislike me, you still need to take care of your body, right?"He lifted the bowl toward her, the rich aroma of the soup filling the air.The moment the scent hit her, Enlyanโs stomach churned. A wave of nausea surged through her, and she instinctively turned away, retching.Alarm flashed in Daimonโs eyes as he quickly set the bowl aside and reached for her. "Whatโs wrong?" His warm hand gently patted her back, his concern evident.Enlyan took a shaky breath, pressing a hand over her nose. "Take it away," she murmured, unable to stand th
She gripped the bedsheet tightly, her knuckles turning white. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as Daimonโs lips hovered just a breath away from hers. Then, suddenly, he stopped. His face was so close that she could see the faint stubble lining his jaw, his features as striking as ever despite the years that had passed.But she wasnโt the same woman he once knew. Life had worn her down, and the burden of their past weighed heavily on her heart. Their childrenโs struggles with illness gnawed at her soul, and anger surged up from deep within her.Without warning, her hand flew up and struck his cheek with a sharp โSlap!โ The sound echoed through the room, leaving a tingling silence in its wake. Daimon didnโt flinch, his head merely turning with the force of the blow. Slowly, he brought his gaze back to hers, his eyes dark and inscrutable.Daimon licked the inside of his cheek, pushing against the numbness as he whispered in a low, gravelly voice, โIs that enough? Or do you want to try
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 Oasisโs 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 didnโt 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 hasnโt 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 couldnโt focus for the rest of the day.Memories of Oasis running after him flashed through his mindโthe boyโs 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 himselfโjust 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 goodโwithout 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.โUseless!โ she muttered bitterly. โI 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 canโt you think of a way to help your mother for once?โOf course, Oasis didnโt respondโhe couldnโt even hear her. And even if he did, he was just a childโtoo young to grasp her cruel words. Katrina huffed in frustration, wringing her hands as she tried to come up with a plan. She couldnโt 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. Iโm just here to see the boss. Weโll talk later." Without giving her a chance to question him further, he quickly moved past her and entered the study.Katrinaโs heart pounded with unease as she watched him go. Something wasnโt rightโDaimonโs secrecy, the doctorโs vague explanation, and now Erthaโs haste. Her instincts screamed that there was more going on than just Oasisโs 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. โDaimon, I didnโt mean it. I just wanted to punish Oasis a little. I didnโt think heโd be so stubborn. Iโm sorry. I really am. Itโs my fault.โHer tears and frantic apology irritated Daimon, but he tried to keep his composure. โI know you acted out of concern. How is Oasis? Has he seen the family doctor yet?โโHeโs still being examined,โ 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 Oasisโs room with Katrina trailing behind him.Inside, Oasis lay on the bed, his face flushed with fever. He mumbled weakly, "Cold..." Daimonโs heart tightened at the sight. He placed his hand on the boyโs forehead, feeling the heat radiating off him.โIn the future, donโt touch the child like that again,โ Daimon muttered sternly to Katrina.Katrinaโs face crumpled, and she w
His words, while thoughtful, still left her feeling flustered. "I told you, I donโt need you! Why canโt 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, donโt hesitate to ask. Iโm 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 wasnโt 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 companyโs struggles."Sir, the companyโs 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 wouldโve shown if it were another childโperhaps 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 herโwho had once been everything to herโcould 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 hardโloving 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 realisticโlove 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 Austinโs number. He answered almost immediately.โIris, did he give you a hard time?โ Austinโs voice was tense with concern.โNo,โ Enlyan replied softly, trying to keep her voice steady. โTo him, Iโm just a stranger now.โAustin let out a sigh of relief, a faint smile in his tone.