Trading My Ex for His Uncle

Damon lowered his head to look at Mason and took the drawing from his hands.

The picture showed a family of four-him, Nyla, Mason, and a little girl-standing under a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

Damon smiled and pointed to the little girl in the drawing. "Who's this?"

"That's my little sister. I hope Mommy gives me a baby sister," Mason said earnestly.

"What if it's a baby brother instead?" Damon asked.

Mason paused, then nodded confidently. "If it's a brother, I'll protect him too."

Damon's smile deepened at Mason's innocent expression. "Well, it looks like our Buddy is growing up. You're already thinking about protecting your little sibling." "Daddy, when are you and Mommy going to give me a little sibling?" Mason asked.

"Soon. It won't be long now," Damon answered.

Mason's eyes widened with excitement. "Really? Daddy, you're not lying to me, are you?"

"Of course not. When have I ever lied to you?" Damon asked.

Mason huffed. "You've lied to me plenty of times."

Like that time Damon said he'd be back from Meristate in two days, but he had been gone for so long! If he hadn't returned with Nyla, Mason wouldn't have forgiven him so easily.

Damon chuckled. "Alright, alright. I know I was wrong. I promise I'll try to lie to you less in the future. How's that?"

Mason remained silent, clearly skeptical.

Damon ruffled his son's hair and stood up. "Buddy, I have some work to do now. Mommy is sleeping, so don't wake her up. Stay in the living room and play by yourself. If you need anything, come find me in the study, okay?"

"Got it!" Mason chirped.noveldrama

Back in the study, Damon picked up his phone and dialed Spencer. "Come over to the villa. I need you to do something."

Half an hour later, Spencer knocked on the study door. "Mr. Sumner."

Damon set down the document he was reading and looked up. "I want to start planning a wedding for Nyla. Contact a wedding planning company and ask them to put together a few proposals."

Spencer's eyes flashed with surprise, but he quickly composed himself and nodded. "Understood. Do you have any specific preferences for the theme or style?"

"Let the planners come up with some options first. I'll review them and make any necessary adjustments," Damon replied.

"Got it. If there's nothing else, I'll get started on the arrangements," Spencer said. Damon hummed in agreement.

After Spencer left, Damon called Brandon. "Send me Valarie's contact information."

"Uncle Damon, why do you need Valarie's contact info?" Brandon asked.

"I need to discuss something with her," Damon replied.

"Oh. I'll send it to you in a bit," Brandon said.

A moment later, Brandon sent the contact.

Damon hesitated for a moment before adding her.

A few minutes later, Valarie accepted his friend request and sent him a question mark.

Damon: [This is Damon Sumner. Do you have time tomorrow? I'd like to talk to you about something.]

Valarie replied quickly.

Valarie: [Is this about Brandon?]

Damon: [No, it has nothing to do with him.]

Valarie: [Alright, I'm free.]

After setting up the time and place, Damon specifically asked Valarie not to fell Nyla about their meeting before putting down his phone and getting back to work.

...

The next morning at 10:00 a.m., Damon and Valarie met at a café near the Weir

Group.

As soon as Valarie sat down, she raised an eyebrow at Damon. "Mr. Sumner, what's this about? You were all secretive, even telling me not to mention it to Nyla. You didn't do something to betray her, did you?"

Without a word, Damon slid a document across the table toward her. "Ms. Weir, I

need your help filling out this questionnaire."

Valarie picked it up and flipped through the pages. The first question read: [What is Nyla's favorite color?]

She skimmed through the document-over 500 questions, all about Nyla.

She looked up at him. "Mr. Sumner, can I ask what this is for?"

"I'm planning a wedding for Nyla. Since you've been her best friend for years, you probably know her preferences better than anyone, f'd like you to help me fill this out so I can tailor everything to her liking," Damon explained.

II