Edric finished the message and finally spoke, "Emma, if you're still uneasy, I can talk to Damian tomorrow and find out what's happening." "No, it's fine." Emma had only glanced at the message out of curiosity. She had no plans to approach Damian herself. Time drifted past quietly. Sleepiness weighed down her eyelids with every passing second. By the stroke of midnight, exhaustion overcame her, and she fell into a deep sleep. The males in the room were already dozing as well. Remy lay quietly on Silas' chest, showing no signs of waking. ... At NexusPrime Tech, an assistant hurried into Damian's office. "Mr. Voss, Kael from the Suncrest Lineage has arrived again. He brought this for you." The assistant carefully handed over a small vial filled with red liquid. "Human blood?" Damian's eyes narrowed as he examined the vial, a cold laugh escaping him. "Does Kael really think I'd stoop to leveling up at any cost?" he muttered with disdain. His tone was flat as he instructed the assistant, "Return this to Kael. Tell him I will never accept Dahlia as my mate. Even if she's human, I refuse." An elder nearby overheard Damian's words and spoke up, concern etched on his face. "Damian, NexusPrime Tech has already lost thirty percent of our business to the Suncrest Lineage. That human female's tech rivals ours closely. "Damian, outright refusing her like this seems reckless. If she keeps targeting us, the losses could be severe." Damian turned slowly, his sharp eyes narrowing, a mocking smirk tugging at his lips as he regarded the elder. "Mr. Carter, if you're so concerned about losses, why don't you become Dahlia's mate yourself?"He brushed his sleeve lightly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Think about it—one action secures a female for you and protects NexusPrime Tech. Two benefits at once. Isn't that a deal worth taking? "With such a lucrative opportunity, shouldn't you, as one of NexusPrime Tech's founding elders, set an example for the rest of us?" Pierce Carter's face flushed crimson. "Damian, what... what nonsense are you spouting?" he snapped. "I'm being practical. You've already ended things with your previous female. You're single. Getting a human female now would be an incredible opportunity," Pierce added. Human blood could boost a therian to level fifteen, and if Pierce were younger, he would have taken that opportunity himself—there was no reason for Damian to claim the advantage. "Heh." Damian chuckled coldly, eyes glinting. "Practical?" Pierce's sharp instincts caught the underlying message. Damian's grin cut like a blade. "You're just worried about protecting your profits," Damian continued. These old fossils care more about the company than anything else. "Damian, don't be so stubborn. We're only trying to help you," another elder said cautiously. "Dahlia is human. You know what her blood can do. No need to spell it out," a third added. "I've heard she's only ever been bonded with Kael since she appeared. That speaks to her loyalty. A female like her would be a true blessing." "Do you want that blessing?" Damian's patience snapped. His voice froze like ice as he addressed them. "Do not speak her name in my presence again. Drop your schemes. My female has always been—and will always be—Emma. Even if our bond has ended, she remains mine." He glared at the assistant, eyes sharp as knives. "Return the blood to Kael. And tell him I have no interest in human females. If they want to challenge me for business, so be it." The assistant nodded immediately and carried out Damian's orders. Kael sat in the lounge, frowning when he saw the assistant return the vial."What does this mean? He won't take my female?" he muttered. The assistant replied calmly, "Mr. Voss said to compete if you wish. He has no interest in human females." Kael laughed bitterly. "He's lost his mind. Does he still care about Emma?" The assistant remained silent. Snatching the vial, Kael barked at Damian's assistant, "Tell Damian that Emma left him long ago. My female is precious, and if he passes this up, she won't spare him a second thought, even if he pleads later." ... The following morning, Emma awoke to find Remy still asleep on Silas' shoulder. "Remy didn't wake up?"