"Buddy clearly doesn''t want to talk about it," Damon said. "If you keep pressing him, it''ll only make him feel worse. I''ll have Spencer look into what happened at the party today. Once we have the full picture, we''ll figure out what to do. For now, let''s go eat dinner."


    N pressed her lips together. "I don''t have much of an appetite."


    Thinking of how dejected Mason had looked earlier made her heart ache.


    "You still need to eat something," Damon coaxed.


    Distracted, N took only a few bites before setting her utensils down.


    Damon didn''t push her. Instead, he asked Lydia to keep the food warm in case she got hungryter.


    Soon after dinner, Spencer arrived. "Mr. Sumner, I managed to get the surveince footage from the Tafts'' party today."


    Damon nodded and had Spencer send it to his phone.


    The video was over half an hour long. At first, everything seemed normal, but midway through, things took a turn.


    A group of kids cornered Mason, forcing him to eat all the cake in their hands.


    After watching the footage, N trembled with anger. "These kids are out of line! We can''t just let this go!"


    Damon gently rubbed her back, his voice soft but firm. "N, calm down. You''re pregnant. Let me handle this."


    N took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. I''ll go to the kindergarten and talk to Mason''s teacher about this on Monday."


    "Good. For now, go check on Buddy," Damon said.


    Just thinking about how helpless Mason must have felt being forced to eat that cake made N''s heart clench.


    "Okay," she relented.


    After she left, Damon''s expression turned ice-cold. "Find out who those kids'' parents are."


    "Understood, Mr. Sumner. I''ll get on it right away," Spencer answered and left.


    Shortly after, Damon''s phone rang. It was Alexander.


    "How are N and Buddy doing? I should be visiting Saintornia next month. Let''s have dinner them Alexander suggested.


    Damon answered, "They''re fine. How''s everything in Meristate?"


    There was a brief pause before Alexander spoke again, his tone heavy. "Ever since Edward passed away, more and more people have been siding with Mary and Vik. And now with Brian caught up incumors about killing his own father, my aunt is struggling to hold her ground."  Within the Nixons, nearly half the members had already shifted their support to Mary and Vik Emerald''s position was bing more precarious.


    If not for Alexander helping her behind the scenes, she might have already been ousted from the family.


    Damon raised an eyebrow. "So she''s too busy to meddle in my and N''s affairs for now?"


    "Don''t worry. As long as I''m in Meristate, I won''t let here near you," Alexander assured.


    Damon was silent for a moment before replying in a low voice, "Thanks."


    "It''s nothing. By the way, is N asleep? I sent her a message earlier, but she hasn''t replied," Alexander asked.


    "She''s with Buddy right now. I''ll have her get back to youter," Damon replied.


    Alexander said, "No rush. I just wanted to check on them. You can even send me a picture if it''s convenient."


    After ending the call, Damon put his phone down and headed upstairs.


    Just as he reached Mason''s room, N opened the door and stepped out.


    Seeing him, she held a finger to her lips. "Buddy just fell asleep. Be quiet so we don''t wake him."


    "Got it," Damon answered.


    Back in their bedroom, N turned to Damon. "Did you find out who those kids'' parents are?"