Trading My Ex for His Uncle (Nyla and Damon) novel Chapter 1177

"Damon, I'm sorry, but I don't have another choice," Nyla apologized.

"What do you mean you don't have a choice? You didn't even ask or discuss it with me—you just decided to leave on your own. You didn't think about how I'd feel at all. How could you be so selfish?" Damon demanded.

Nyla stared at him, shocked, her eyes welling with tears. "Would it have mattered if I asked you? You can barely handle Drake, let alone fight against the Nixons!"

Damon let out a bitter laugh, his hands falling from her shoulders as he took a step back. "So... it's my fault. If I weren't so useless, I'd be able to protect you and Buddy."

Seeing the pain in his expression, Nyla reached out to him. "Damon, that's not what I meant—"

He pulled his hand away, his voice cold. "It doesn't matter what you meant. The result is the same—you and Buddy go to Meristate, and I stay here. If you had already made your decision, why did we even get married?"

Nyla took a deep breath, meeting his eyes. "I won't take Buddy to Meristate."

Damon stared at her in disbelief. "You're abandoning Buddy too now?"

"How could I abandon you and Buddy?" she said, frowning. "But right now, the only way to protect both of you is for me to leave with Emerald."

"It's not the only way, Nyla! You're giving up before it's even the final moment," Damon protested.

"Damon, stop saying things just to sound noble. Yes, it's not the last moment yet, but we both know how this will end if I don't agree to her terms. Prospectus Technology will go bankrupt, and Buddy and I will be forced to leave.

"At least this way, I can protect you and Buddy. You can stay here and keep building Prospectus Technology. We'll have a chance to be together again," Nyla countered.

"You don't need to worry about that. If she wants to use me as a shield, she'll make sure I'm safe—for now, at least. As long as I keep myself useful, she won't let anything happen to me. Once I'm there, I'll figure out more about the Nixons' internal power dynamics," Nyla reassured.

If Emerald could use her, she could also use Emerald's status to learn who in the family could be allies or threats.

What Emerald wanted was for Nyla to pave the way for her children, while what Nyla wanted was to be with Damon and Mason.

"Nyla... I'm sorry. If I weren't so powerless, you wouldn't have to do this," Damon said again.

Nyla shook her head. "Even if you weren't here, she'd still come for me. But now, with you and Buddy, I'm stronger. I'll work hard, and we'll have our day together again."