Chapter 6

Clark's gaze was like a knife quenched in ice. It swept back and forth between Nyla and Damon. His Adam's apple rolled with anger. "You two were flirting at the gala. Damon defended you against me. And now you're here alone in his office for God knows how long. What the hell are you two doing behind closed doors?"

Nyla looked back at him coldly. "I came to discuss business with Damon. It's work-related and none of your concern."

"Business?" Clark sneered. He stepped forward. He grabbed Nyla's wrist hard. His knuckles dug into her skin. It hurt. Nyla's brows furrowed tightly. "What kind of business can't be discussed at home? You had to come to my uncle's company to talk? I think you're doing this on purpose! Deliberately getting cozy with my uncle. Deliberately trying to piss me off!"

He ignored Nyla's struggles. He didn't see Damon's cold gaze. He dragged her toward the door. "Come with me! We're going home to sort this out! Stop making a scene here!"

"Clark, let go of me!" Nyla shook her wrist hard. Her fingertips turned white. But her strength was no match for Clark's. He forced her through the office area. Employees cast curious and probing looks. They felt like needles piercing her skin.

He dragged her into the elevator. Then to the underground parking garage. Clark shoved her roughly into the passenger seat. He clicked the seatbelt on with a snap. Then he went around to the driver's seat.

The car started. The engine's roar covered the brief silence. Clark turned his head. His eyes were full of anger and suspicion. "Tell me! What's really going on between you and my uncle? Are you doing this because of the Jordyn situation? Are you deliberately getting close to him to spite me? And this job nonsense—isn't the money I give you enough? Every time your father needs medical treatment, who pays for it? And now you're trying to hurt me by running off to work!"

Nyla rubbed her reddened wrist. She looked at his unreasoning face. He jumped to conclusions based on assumptions. Her heart filled with bone-deep sarcasm.

"Spite you?" Nyla tugged at the corner of her mouth. Her laugh was full of icy mockery. "Clark, you think way too highly of yourself. Since you're so busy accompanying Jordyn and taking care of her pregnancy that you have no time for me, I figured I shouldn't keep depending on you financially. Getting a job to support myself—is that also an eyesore to you?"

Clark's attention snapped to the word "pregnancy." He paused. His brows furrowed. But his eyes showed no worry. Instead, a flash of realization crossed them. He looked at Nyla. His tone suddenly softened. It carried a self-assured gentleness. "Nyla, I know hearing about this makes you uncomfortable. You're jealous, aren't you?"

He leaned closer. He tried to touch Nyla's hair. But she turned her head to avoid it. He didn't notice her resistance at all. He continued his self-absorbed analysis. "You deliberately went to my uncle to talk about work. Deliberately said you wanted to be independent—it's all to make me pay attention to you. To make me care about you, right? I understand. You love me so much that seeing me close to Jordyn makes you throw these little tantrums."

He grew more convinced as he spoke. He even relaxed with relief. As long as Nyla was still "jealous" for him. As long as she used these methods to "seek attention." It meant she still had him in her heart. Those "divorce" words were just angry talk.

"Don't overthink it. Jordyn's baby really has nothing to do with me," Clark said. His tone was coaxing. "If you don't want to work, just stay home. I'll spend more time with you from now on. Buy you the jewelry and accessories you like, okay? Just don't get too close to my uncle anymore. If word gets out, it won't be good for your reputation."

Nyla watched him immersed in his self-fantasy. He couldn't hear the truth at all. She completely lost the desire to argue. She turned her head. She looked at the street scenery speeding by outside the window. Her voice was cold as ice. "Clark, there's nothing left to discuss between us. I'll have my lawyer draft the divorce papers as soon as possible. Just wait for your turn to sign them."

"Divorce?" Clark paused. Then he laughed. His smile was full of arrogant certainty. "Nyla, stop being dramatic. I know you're still angry, but you'll get over it. You love me too much to actually divorce me."

He pressed the accelerator. The car sped up.

The car fell into dead silence. Clark looked at Nyla's cold, hard profile. He realized this tantrum might be hard to soothe. He pulled out his phone. He sent a message to Jordyn. "Keep a low profile recently. Don't flaunt around Nyla too much."

In his view, as long as Jordyn behaved, Nyla would naturally calm down.

At the same time, Jordyn was in her office. She was flipping through files. When she saw the message, her pen slipped from her hand. It fell to the ground. The words "don't flaunt around Nyla" deeply stung her. Clark had pursued her actively. Nyla was the extra one. Why should she hold back?

But she quickly calmed down. She understood Clark still needed to use her. This was just a temporary appeasement tactic. She replied "Okay, Clark." But she lost all interest in work.

She knew well that Nyla had the protection of the Summer family's old patriarch. Relying solely on Clark's favoritism wasn't secure. She recalled Clark's mother, Cindy, who valued family background highly and loved flattery. Cindy had always been dissatisfied with Nyla's commoner origins. Jordyn secretly planned—if she could win over this madam as a backer, Nyla would be no threat.