After holding each other for a moment, Damon released N just as his phone buzzed in his pocket.


    His expression darkened when he saw that it was Spencer calling. He swiped to answer. "What''s going on?"


    "Mr. Sumner, I reached out to thepanies this morning, but every one of them rejected us. Mr. Walker from Excellence received a warning from someone.


    "His secretary told me privately that they were threatened-if Excellence works with Prospectus Technology, they''d be bankrupted. Under this pressure, nopany is willing to partner with Prospectus Technology," Spencer reported.


    At this rate, Prospectus Technology was heading straight for another financial crisis.


    Damon lowered his eyes, his tone icy. "Got it. I''ll deal with it when I get back this afternoon."


    He hung up and met N''s worried gaze. "Damon, is it Drake or Alexander targeting Prospectus Technology?"


    "If I''m right, it''s Drake," Damon replied.


    He could tell that Alexander didn''t want to create open hostility between them because of N, so he hadn''t made any direct moves. Instead, it seemed he had pushed Drake to handle these underhanded tactics.


    Damon''s gaze hardened as he thought this over.


    N frowned. "I heard Spencer mention that nopanies will work with Prospectus Technology. Is the situation really that bad?"


    Damon reached out to pat her head, his voice soft but firm. "It''s fine. Let me worry about it. Your only task is to pick up and drop off Buddy from school. Leave the rest to me."


    N bit her lip, her expression growing guilty. "I''m sorry. This is all because of me."


    If it weren''t for her, Damon''spany wouldn''t have faced financial trouble before, and Drake wouldn''t be attacking him now. The more she thought about it, the heavier her guilt grew.


    "This has nothing to do with you. Even without you,panies face challenges like this-it''s normal. Stop overthinking it. Let''s eat," Damon said.


    N didn''t want Damon to have tofort her while worrying aboutpany


    matters.


    Forcing a smile, she nodded. "Okay, let''s eat. I didn''t know you wereing home, or I would have asked Lydia to make a few more dishes."


    When they entered the dining room, the table was alreadyid out with N''s favorite dishes. In the center was a cake with the words "Congrattions to Mr. and Mrs. Summer on your marriage" written on it


    N blinked in surprise and nced at Damon. "You had Lydia prepare all this?"


    "Yeah," Damon admitted.


    "This should have been my job. I''m sorry—I didn''t think of it," she apologized.


    She had thought that simply getting the marriage certificate was enough. She hadn''t considered that Damon might want to celebrate the moment. Now, she realized how much he valued it.


    Pulling out a chair for her, Damon smiled. "These little things are for me to handle. I already feel bad enough that I can''t give you a proper wedding. If I made you do even this, I''d feel worse."


    She took his hand. "There''s no need to feel bad. Choosing to marry you means you''re worth it. You don''t owe me anything."


    "Okay. Let''s eat," Damon said.


    He had nned to sit down for a nice meal with her, but halfway through, his phone rang again, pulling him away.


    Standing up, he looked at N apologetically. "N, I''m sorry. Something urgent came up at thepany. I have to leave now, but I''ll make it up to you tonight." "Go. Work is more important. We''ll have plenty of time togetherter," she said.


    His eyes lingered on her for a moment. "Alright. I''ll pick you up tonight for dinner." "Okay," she said.


    After Damon left, N looked at the barely touched dishes on the table and suddenly lost her appetite.


    Putting her utensils down, she turned to Lydia. "Lydia, I''m full. Could you clear the table?"