Chapter 3

Nyla felt a surge of nausea wash over her. She quickly removed the necklace from her neck. Without hesitation, she tossed it into the bedroom trash can. The diamonds clinked against the metal bin.

She rushed into the guest bathroom and turned on the shower. The scalding water burned her skin, but she didn't care.

She grabbed the shower gel and frantically scrubbed her neck and body. She needed to remove every trace of Clark. Every memory of his touch.

Her skin turned red from the harsh scrubbing, but she still felt dirty. The thought of that necklace clinging to another woman's neck made her sick.

She imagined it swaying as that woman moved beneath Clark. The mental image made her stomach lurch.

The bathroom door suddenly opened. Clark stood in the doorway, his eyes fixed on Nyla through the glass shower door. His gaze traveled over her wet hair, down her shoulders, following the water droplets that traced her curves.

Clark's breathing became heavy. His eyes burned with lust. "Nyla, you're so beautiful," he said, his voice thick with desire.

Nyla heard his voice and immediately wrapped herself in a towel. She stepped out of the shower, but the thought that he might have looked at that other woman the same way made her nauseous.

"Don't come near me." Nyla took several steps back, but Clark was already approaching.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Clark reached out to touch her cheek, but Nyla quickly dodged his hand.

Clark didn't give up. Instead, he pulled her into his arms. His hands began wandering over her body, caressing her back through the towel. Then they moved lower.

"Nyla, I want you," he whispered in her ear. His breath was hot against her skin.

Nyla's body went rigid. She tried to pull away, but Clark was much stronger. His hand moved to her breast, his thumb brushing over the sensitive skin. His other hand slid down toward her inner thigh.

"Let's have a baby, okay?" Clark's voice was filled with longing. "We could have a beautiful child. A little girl with your eyes."

Nyla felt ice water flood her veins. She thought of the photo that woman had sent. The same hands that were touching her now had been all over another woman's body just hours ago.

Anger and disgust exploded inside her chest.

"Get away from me!" Nyla pushed Clark with all her strength. "Clark, I'm tired! I don't want to do this right now!"

Clark stumbled backward, startled by her sudden fury. He stared at Nyla's face, confusion clouding his features.

"Honey, I'm sorry." His voice immediately filled with guilt. "I shouldn't have pushed you. I just want you so badly. I love you so much."

He paused, searching her face. "If you don't want a child right now, we can wait."

Watching Clark's apologetic expression, Nyla felt a mixture of emotions churning in her stomach. This man had been gentle and caring toward her for three years. She couldn't reconcile this version of him with the man who had been with another woman last night.

But the facts were undeniable. Those photos. Those messages. The necklace in the trash can.

That night, Nyla lay awake staring at the ceiling. Clark's breathing was even beside her. The painful images replayed in her mind over and over. She didn't sleep until dawn.

The next morning, Nyla woke with dark circles under her eyes. Her reflection in the mirror looked hollow and tired.

"Honey, are you feeling okay?" Clark asked with concern. "You look exhausted. Maybe you should rest today."

Nyla shook her head. "I'm fine. We need to get ready for your grandfather's birthday party."

As they drove through the gates of the Summer family estate, a black Rolls-Royce suddenly roared past them. It stopped directly in front of the main entrance. The license plate read "DAMON-1."

Clark's hands tightened on the steering wheel. His face darkened instantly.

"Uncle Damon," he muttered under his breath.

Damon Summer was Clark's uncle, Richard's youngest son. Despite being only six years older than Clark, Damon had always intimidated his nephew.

He had refused to join the family business, starting his own company instead. That company was now worth five times more than Summer Group.

Damon was known for being brilliant, ruthless, and vindictive. Last year, he had overheard Clark making disparaging comments about him at a business dinner.

As punishment, Damon had refused a potential partnership that would have brought Summer Group hundreds of millions in revenue.

Clark parked behind the Rolls-Royce. As Nyla stepped out of the car, her high heel caught in the gravel driveway. She wobbled, about to fall backward.

Suddenly, a pair of strong hands caught her waist, steadying her against a solid chest.

Nyla looked up into a pair of deep, dark eyes. The man was tall and imposing, probably around twenty-nine.

His features were sharp and perfectly sculpted. High cheekbones, a straight nose, a strong jawline. He wore a tailored dark gray suit that emphasized his broad shoulders and lean build.

This was Damon Summer.

"Careful," Damon said. His voice was deep and magnetic, with a hint of genuine concern.

For a moment, Nyla found herself caught in his gaze.

Clark appeared beside them, his face flushed with jealousy. He roughly grabbed Nyla's hand and pulled her away from Damon.

"Thank you, Uncle," Clark said tersely. His voice was tight with barely controlled anger.

He dragged Nyla toward the manor entrance. After they'd walked a few steps, he leaned close to her ear.

"Nyla, you know I don't like you getting too close to other men," he whispered harshly. "Not even my uncle."

Nyla almost laughed at the irony. Here was Clark, who had been with another woman just last night, acting possessive about her talking to his uncle.

"So you'd rather have your wife fall flat on her face in front of the Summer family estate?" she replied coldly.

Clark immediately backed down. "Honey, that's not what I meant. I just don't want people to get the wrong idea."

Nyla ignored him and continued walking toward the entrance.

The Summer family manor was impressive, with its grand foyer and crystal chandeliers. But Nyla felt no joy at being here.

In the living room, Clark's grandmother Marie immediately called out with a beaming smile. "Nyla, Clark, you're here! Come sit down!"

Nyla took a deep breath and forced a polite smile. Whatever her feelings about Clark, she still respected his grandparents. Richard had always treated her kindly.

"Hello, Grandpa. Hello, Grandma," she greeted them warmly.

Marie's eyes lit up as she watched Clark and Nyla approach. She had been trying to convince Damon to settle down for years.

"Come, sit here next to me," Marie patted the sofa beside her.

As they settled in, Damon entered the living room. Marie's expression immediately shifted to disapproval.

"Look at Clark," she said pointedly to Damon. "He's got his company running smoothly, and his wife is absolutely beautiful. They might be giving us a great-grandchild soon."

Her voice grew stern. "And you? You're almost thirty and still single. If you don't bring a girlfriend to the next family gathering, don't bother coming at all!"

Damon's gaze flicked to Clark, then settled on Nyla. His lips curved into a half-smile.

"Yes," he said quietly. "Really beautiful."