Your Uncle’s My Husband Now Back Off, Ex! novel Chapter 18

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

Clark found himself ensconced in the familiar confines of his home study, the soft glow of his laptop illuminating his furrowed brow. The screen flickered with security footage from the restaurant, a moment frozen in time that he had replayed far too many times. His heart sank as he watched his mother, Cindy, seated across from Nyla, her demeanor radiating an unsettling mix of superiority and disdain.

“You’re nothing but a bankrupt family’s bitch! Your father can only stay alive now because Clark is paying his medical bills!” The venom in Cindy’s voice was palpable, each word striking Clark like a physical blow. He felt a tightening in his chest, a heavy weight of shame and anger building within him as he absorbed the cruelty of her words.

Then, the scene took a turn for the worse. In a fit of rage, Cindy hurled a glass of water at Nyla, drenching her in a cascade of cold liquid. Clark’s fists clenched involuntarily, his knuckles turning white as he witnessed Nyla’s humiliation. She struggled to dry herself with napkins, her discomfort evident, and a wave of guilt washed over him. How could his mother treat the woman he loved so cruelly?

His heart sank further as Damon, his uncle, entered the frame. Clark watched intently as Damon extended a hand, offering Nyla tissues with a calm assurance that contrasted sharply with the chaos surrounding them. Even through the grainy footage, Clark could feel Damon’s protective energy, a stark reminder of the role he should have played. It should have been him standing by Nyla’s side, defending her against his mother’s tirades. But he hadn’t been there. If it hadn’t been for Nyla’s comment about “asking your mother” the night before, he might still be blissfully ignorant of the torment she endured.

With a heavy heart, Clark replayed the footage, each viewing deepening the chasm of guilt within him. Had his mother subjected Nyla to this kind of treatment time and again over the past three years? And had he, as her husband, been completely blind to it all? The thought gnawed at him, relentless and unforgiving.

Finally, he closed the laptop with a decisive click, the sound echoing in the silence of the room. He picked up his phone, dialing his assistant with a firm resolve. “Starting tomorrow, cancel all arrangements regarding my father’s affairs with those women. Let my mother handle it on her own,” he instructed, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.

“Yes, Mr. Summer,” came the assistant’s reply, tinged with confusion but ultimately compliant.

The following morning, as the sun began to rise, Nyla was just putting the finishing touches on her appearance for work when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find Clark standing there, clutching a lavish bouquet of champagne-colored roses. His disheveled appearance and the remorse etched on his face struck her immediately.

“What’s this supposed to mean?” she asked, her voice icy as she regarded the flowers with skepticism.

“I want to apologize to you,” Clark said, extending the bouquet toward her, his tone earnest. “About what my mother did to you last night.”

Nyla didn’t reach for the flowers. Instead, she leveled her gaze at him, her eyes sharp. “For the past three years, has your mother often treated me like this?”

Clark hesitated, the weight of her question pressing down on him. After a moment, he replied, “What do you think?”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Her voice was steady, but the hurt behind her words was unmistakable.

The silence stretched between them, and Nyla’s cold laugh pierced through the tension. “Did you ever care? You’ve been dealing with your mother for so long. Don’t you know what kind of person she is?”

Clark felt the sting of her words, his confidence crumbling as he averted his gaze.

“You’ve had ample opportunities over these three years to understand how your mother treats me in private,” Nyla continued, her voice sharpening with each syllable. “You just never bothered to look deeper, did you? Because as long as I stayed silent, you could pretend everything was harmonious.”

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