Your Uncle’s My Husband Now Back Off, Ex! novel Chapter 114

**Through Unseen Doors We Step Into Untold Worlds Beyond**
by Sage Hunter Lane

**Chapter 114**

Damon leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips as he typed out a message. [Drinks tonight.]

Caleb Goddard’s response was immediate, marked by curiosity and a hint of confusion. [?]

Nathaniel Preston, ever the instigator, chimed in next. [You’ve been dodging us like the plague lately. What’s with this sudden burst of enthusiasm? Did someone break your heart?]

Damon shot back, his irritation evident. [Shut up.]

Nathaniel raised his hands in mock surrender. [Alright, alright, I hit a nerve. I’ll back off. But hey, there’s a new bar on North Saint Street. I’ll reserve a private room for us.]

Damon hesitated for a moment, the silence stretching between them like a taut wire. […]

Meanwhile, in the lab, Nyla had just stepped through the door when she spotted Melody approaching her, concern etched on her face. “Nyla, why are you so late today? And… what happened to your hand? Did you cut yourself during an experiment?”

Nyla felt a wave of unease wash over her. She didn’t want too many people prying into yesterday’s events, so she simply nodded, trying to keep her tone casual. “Yeah.”

“Then let me take over the operations for now. You can supervise,” Melody offered, her voice laced with genuine concern.

Nyla shook her head firmly. “It’s fine. It doesn’t affect my work.”

They exchanged a few more words, the conversation light and breezy as they prepared for the morning’s experiments.

The hours slipped by, each minute blending into the next as they delved into their work.

Finally, as the clock signaled lunchtime, Nyla removed her protective goggles and gloves, a sense of relief washing over her.

Melody, distracted by her phone, suddenly looked up, her eyes wide with alarm. “Nyla, a friend just informed me that several companies have terminated their contracts with Prospectus Technology. Even the company she works for has pulled out. Do you think something’s going on with them?”

Jacqueline’s predicament had merely accelerated the timeline of his and the Rainfords’ plans. It was never really about her.

If Gen Pharma and the Rainford Group couldn’t stand up to the Sumners, then it would have been the Rainfords who were apologizing for Jacqueline’s blunders.

“Tom, do you think Ms. Weir will be upset with you for helping me like this? She misunderstood our intentions last time… Should I go and explain it to her?” Jacqueline asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Tom’s expression shifted, a frown creasing his brow as he recalled Valarie’s heated words over the phone, berating him for supposedly orchestrating Nyla’s humiliation of Jacqueline.

His mood darkened at the memory. He had been swamped with work in recent days, neglecting to reach out to Valarie. Yet, the fact that she hadn’t tried to contact him either only added to his growing frustration.

Noticing Tom’s displeasure at the mention of Valarie, Jacqueline quickly backtracked. “I’m sorry, Tom. I didn’t mean to bring her up. I—”

“Enough,” Tom interrupted sharply, his voice devoid of warmth. “I have work to do. You should go.”

Jacqueline bit her lip, feeling a mix of disappointment and defiance. She was disgruntled, but she understood that this Tom was not the same boy who used to fret over her every frown. She didn’t dare to push him, knowing it would only lead to more tension.