Chasing the Unexpected

Ruby’s eyes instantly dimmed as she bit her lip, unsure how to respond.

After a moment of silence, she slowly said, “Nyla, I know you’re trying to help me, but I really can’t. I need this extra income to make ends meet.”

Nyla sighed, her tone softening, “I understand your situation, but you also need to think about your future. If you fall behind on your experiments because you’re out making deliveries, that will be a real shame.”

Ruby’s eyes turned slightly red as she looked down, her voice trembling. “I’ll try my best to balance my work with making deliveries. I won’t let it affect the experiments.”

Nyla gently patted Ruby’s shoulder and handed her a bank card. “Since you don’t want to talk about your troubles, I won’t pry. This money should get you through to next month. If it’s not enough, come back and let me know. Try to avoid running deliveries for now.”

Ruby tried to decline. “No… Nyla, you’ve already helped me so much. I can’t-”

Before she could finish, Nyla firmly pressed the card into her hand. “Just take it. The password is six zeros. This tough time will pass.”

Ruby felt a wave of gratitude wash over her, tears blurring her vision. “Thank you! I promise I’ll pay you back!”

Nyla wiped away Ruby’s tears, dismissing her worries. “Alright, let’s get back to work now

11

“Okay,” Ruby answered.

As Ruby glanced down at the bank card in her hand, it felt as heavy as a mountain. She was determined not to let Nyla’s kindness go to waste.

Ruby resolved to escape the clutches of her family for good!

At 10:00 a.m., Nathaniel arrived at Damon’s office right on time.

It had been five years since he had last stepped into this office, and he felt a mix of emotions. If he hadn’t trusted Rebecca so blindly back then and helped her go against Nyla, he and Damon wouldn’t have gone from friends to enemies.

Damon set down his documents, idly twirling a pen between his fingers.

“What’s your aim?” he asked.

Damon’s words snapped Nathaniel back to reality. He took a seat across from Damon and replied, “I want the project that Prospectus Technology is negotiating with the Jerling.”

Damon paused and smirked. “Does the current Preston Group think it can take on that project without choking?”

“That’s my concern. You just need to tell me whether you’ll make this deal,” Nathaniel countered.

He appeared calm, but his hands clenched tightly in his lap, the veins on the back of his hands bulging. If he failed in today’s negotiations with Damon, the Preston Group’s situation would only worsen.

Damon raised an eyebrow. “I need to see if what you mentioned about Nyla is worth this project.”

“Don’t worry. It’s definitely worth it,” Nathaniel assured him.

Damon picked up the intercom, instructing Spencer to bring over the contract for the project with the Jerling. After Spencer placed the documents on the desk, he bowed his head and left.

As soon as the office door closed, Nathaniel eagerly reached for the contract. Before he could grab it, a hand pressed down on top of it. Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Damon spoke up. “Let’s talk business first.”

Nathaniel took a deep breath and slowly said, “Five years ago, there was an investigation into Nyla from overseas. Rebecca provided them with some information about her, but after Nyla fell into the sea, those behind the investigation suddenly disappeared.

“However, it seems that they have resurfaced recently.”