Trading My Ex for His Uncle

On the way back to the estate, neither Emerald nor Brian spoke. The atmosphere in the car was tense and heavy.

When the car stopped at the estate entrance, Emerald didn't even glance at Brian. She opened the door and stepped out without a word.

Brian quickly followed. It wasn't until they reached the door of her study that she finally turned around, visibly annoyed. "Why are you still following me? Go see the family doctor and get your wounds treated."

Brian looked at her with guilt. "Mom, I'm sorry. It was all my fault. I promise I'll listen to you from now on."

Emerald didn't bother to respond. She simply pushed open the door to her study and shut it behind her.

...

Not long after Emerald and Brian left the Bumard estate, a black Maybach pulled up at the entrance.

As the car came to a stop, a maid immediately stepped forward and opened the back door.

Damon got out, and the maid bowed his head slightly. "Mr. Sumner, Mr. Bumard has been waiting for you."

Following the maid, Damon walked through the grand hall and down a long corridor to the door of Ross' study.

The maid knocked, then pushed the door open at Ross' signal.

"Mr. Sumner, please go in," the maid said, stepping aside.

"Thank you," Damon replied before entering.

The maid quietly closed the door and remained outside.

Ross was painting when Damon walked in. He glanced up and smiled. "Come take a look at this painting. What do you think?"

Damon stepped closer, his gaze falling on the artwork spread across the table.

It was a landscape-not terrible, but clearly the work of an amateur. At best, it was mediocre.

"Not great. If you tried to sell it, you'd be lucky to get five dollars for it," Damon remarked.

Ross let out a hearty laugh and set his brush down. "Only you would be this honest with me. If it were anyone else, they'd probably find a way to flatter me-maybe even offer 1,000,000 dollars on the spot."

"If someone offered that much, they wouldn't be buying the painting," Damon replied.

They'd be buying favor with the Bumards.

Ross shook his head and walked around the desk toward the couch. "Sit."

He personally poured Damon a cup of coffee, then smiled. then smiled. "Emerald here earlier. She agreed to

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Damon lowered his gaze, unsurprised by the outcome. He had even orchestrated Brian's fight with the Bumard heir last night.

"Without that land, her plan to move the Nixons south will be delayed. This buys us more time," he said.

If they could strip Emerald of her position as head of the Nixons, she wouldn't be able to stand in the way of him and Nyla.

Ross nodded but hesitated. "But she is Ms. Kinsey's mother. Are you sure you want to leave her with nothing?"

Ross had known Emerald for many years. He understood her well-losing the Nixons would be a blow she couldn't withstand.

"She never treated Nyla as her daughter. Besides, you've met Nyla. You know her personality," Damon said.

Ross smiled. "True. Although shenoveldrama

was only here for a day, she certainly made things more interesting. You really don't plan to bring her and Buddy to settle in Meristate? Once this is over, we could be neighbors."

"No, I still prefer my life back home," Damon said flatly.

Besides, all of Nyla's friends were there. Moving abroad would mean starting over, and that wouldn't be fair to her.