"Well, Nina looks so beautiful, there must be many people chasing after her, naturally, she has high standards," Wallace looked at Scott again, "But Scott is also quite impressive, young and full of potential, with a great personality and boundless prospects!"Listening to his praise, Nash's expression visibly soured. It was clear that Wallace was highly pleased with Scott and was actively attempting to set them up.Scott looked at Nash and smiled, "Mr. Wallace, you're too kind in your praise. However, Nina is the best person in the world. She deserves to be loved and cherished."Nina felt moved by Scott's words, even though she was taken aback. He said she was the best person in the world, deserving of love and care. No girl could resist such tenderness.Nash also observed Nina's gaze towards Scott, which seemed to suggest she was moved by him, stirring a discomfort deep within him. He instinctively adjusted his tie and remarked coldly, "Actions speak louder than words. When Nin
Wallace only had this one precious daughter, and he adored her immensely. In front of guests, he might say a few words, but at home, she was the apple of his eye, and he cherished her beyond measure.He seldom took Melody out unless she was interested. But he had never taken her to meet Nash. Nash was such a headstrong person, he worried that his daughter couldn't handle him. Previously, he had thought about introducing Melody to Scott. Scott had a good personality, and if his daughter married him, she wouldn't suffer. But things had changed now; Scott liked Nina, and they could all see that. Melody was more interested in Nash, so he could only comply with her wishes and see if it could work out. Besides them, Wallace also had some friends coming over. They were mostly uncles and older relatives who had watched Melody grow up and were quite fond of her. When they arrived, they inquired about her well-being, and Melody greeted them graciously.After everyone had gathered, Melody
Back in middle school, he was a chubby kid. How could he possibly muster the courage to stand beside her? He could only silently steal glances at her."Now, I am the best version of myself," he declared.Nina hadn't realized he harbored such feelings for her; she truly hadn't paid attention.Looking at her, Scott spoke with an indulgent smile, "Nina, even when I was far away in Estaland, I came back once. It was when I found out you were injured, and by the time I returned, you had entered high school. I could only dare to sneak a glimpse of you from far, but seeing you well made me very happy! At that moment, I made a firm decision that when I came back, I would surely bring you happiness."Nina was at a loss for words.She could understand him.From middle school to now, it had been more than ten years.And Scott's affection for her surely surpassed her feelings for Nash by far.She asked, "Have you not liked anyone else in these years?"Scott joked, "Perhaps people from the
At that moment, Nina felt as if struck by lightning, her face drained of color, her body stiff and unyielding. She wanted to flee the place, but her feet seemed nailed to the ground, unable to move. Her eyes remained fixed on them, unable to look away. She hadn't anticipated that by the time she emerged from the restroom, they would have progressed to the point of kissing. However, the next second, Nash pulled Melody's hand away. Coincidentally, his gaze met Nina's, and he paused for a moment. Their eyes met, and for a moment, they exchanged a gaze filled with doubt and sorrow.Nash didn't have time to explain. He simply distanced himself from Melody and spoke coldly, "Miss Wallace, have some self-respect."Melody had followed them out from behind. Seeing Nash alone, she intended to make some intimate gestures toward him. She believed no man could resist a beautiful woman, and no one had ever turned her down before. If she made the first move, she could have Nash. Even if it
The relationship between them couldn't progress any further. Nina composed herself, smiled faintly, then looked back at Melody behind her. "Mr. York, as your secretary, I know better than to pry into matters that don't concern me. Whatever happens here will remain confidential, and I won't speak a word about it."Melody instantly grasped the situation and approached. "Mr. York, if you're concerned about someone overhearing, rest assured, your secretary is trustworthy. Over the years, you've kept a low profile with no scandals or public relationships. I don't need a formal commitment; we can keep it discreet. What do you say?"She was attracted to Nash, longing to get closer to him, to conquer him. If he were interested, she could be his secret lover. He couldn't refuse that, could he?Nash was already displeased with Nina's aloofness and indifference. Now, with Melody adding irrelevant remarks, he felt even more irritated. His cold gaze shifted from Nina to Melody.Melody's smile f
"I'm sorry, Mr. York. It was my fault today for not intervening in time, causing you discomfort. I'll make sure to avoid such occurrences in the future." Nina quickly apologized, fearing his anger might escalate into a big issue.She apologized promptly and didn't argue back, prompting Nash to comment again, "You realize your mistake quickly. Now, let me ask you, was it in the interest of the company or personal reasons?"Her actions just now were indeed driven by personal feelings. She might have felt upset, but she remained silent.Nina responded, "Of course, it's in the interest of the company. As long as I serve as your secretary, I must be accountable for my actions. Mr. York, you can dock my salary, I won't complain." Mr. York was suddenly speechless, visibly displeased. Yet, he couldn't pinpoint any fault. And he didn't bother to do so.Mr. York pursed his lips, his expression darkening instantly. He released her, distancing himself as if their conversation had never happe
She looked up and saw Quincy opening the car door, shaking her gently. She sat up, asking, "What's wrong?""Mr. York drank a lot today and still can't wake up," Quincy explained. Quickly glancing over, she saw Nash sleeping in the same position as before, leaning against the seat back, breathing steadily, showing no signs of waking up. Perhaps he had drunk too much and was a bit exhausted. But this was rare for him. In her memory, he never got drunk and fell into a deep sleep like this.Realizing they had already arrived at the doorstep, she said, "I'll have someone help him back inside. Quincy, it's already late, you should go home and rest first," Nina instantly sobered up. Quincy nodded. "Okay, take good care of Mr. York." Nina got out of the car and hurried inside to call the helpers to help carry Nash in.Once they got him to the bedroom and laid him on the bed, Nina felt like she had used up all her strength. She looked at the man on the bed who hadn't woken up yet, took o
Nina quickly wiped away the tears from her face, trying to appear normal, then turned to him, saying, "You've had quite a bit to drink today. You should lie down and rest." Nash, not mistaken, furrowed his brows slightly and asked again, "Were you crying just now?"Nina instinctively lowered her head and replied, "Got something in my eyes." "Why were you crying?" he asked. He rarely saw her shed tears, and when she did, it meant she was really upset. Nina's gaze shifted to him, hesitating for a moment before she asked, "When I was cleaning you up earlier, I noticed many wounds on your body. I never noticed them before. I didn't realize you had so many injuries." He paused, realizing her tears were shed for him, and asked, "Are you worried about me?" His words caught Nina off guard, leaving her feeling empty yet accelerated, as if her deeply buried secret was about to be revealed. "I've never seen so many wounds on a person before. It must have been very painful when you got
Back home, the first thing Karina did was take a shower, cranking the water temperature to the highest setting as if that was the only way to wash away the grim memories of the night.She scrubbed her arms fiercely, the spots where those repulsive men had touched her. Even through her clothes, the thought made her feel sick. Again and again, she lathered herself with soap until her skin turned slightly red, but no matter how hard she tried, the discomfort in her heart lingered.After her shower, Karina changed into clean pajamas and sat on the edge of her bed, unable to sleep. Her gaze fell on her phone. She hesitated for a moment before sending a text to Wilfred.“Dr. Wilfred, I’m truly grateful for your help tonight. I’ll never forget it.”After sending the message, she set her phone down, hugged her knees, and curled up on the bed. Returning to the hospital had always been her dream, but now she worried whether she could truly meet expectations and not let Wilfred down.As she
The men exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating for a moment before reluctantly mumbling, “Sorry,” to Karina. Wilfred watched their retreating figures with thinly veiled disgust. Turning to Karina, he asked gently, “Are you okay?” Karina shook her head lightly, brushing it off. “I’m fine, Dr. Wilfred. Thank you.” Wilfred let out a soft sigh. “Come with me. You shouldn’t be working here.” Karina nodded, following him out of the private room. Wilfred guided Karina through the bustling bar. The pounding music and chaotic chatter seemed distant and muted, fading into the background as they moved. They made their way to the parking lot, where Wilfred opened the car door, carefully helping Karina into the passenger seat before getting in himself and starting the engine. As Karina buckled her seatbelt, she turned to Wilfred with a look of curiosity. “Dr. Wilfred, didn’t you say you had things to handle at the hospital? How did you get here so quickly?” Wilfred kept his ey
When Karina stepped into the room, one of the men, his gaze hazy from drink, chuckled and said, “Well, so this is the beauty they sent over?”Karina forced herself to stay calm and replied politely, “Good evening, gentlemen. Here’s the drinks you ordered.” She began placing the drinks on the table one by one, hoping to finish quickly. Before she could finish, another man grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him. “Come, have a few drinks with us, sweetheart.”Karina’s heart raced as she pulled her hand away with force. “Sir, I’m just here to deliver your drinks. I don’t entertain guests.”The men burst into laughter. “What bar do you think you’re in? There’s no such thing as not entertaining here. Don’t play coy, sweetheart. Sit with us, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely.”Fear surged through Karina as she instinctively stepped back, trying to maintain some distance. “I’m really just here for work,” she said, her voice trembling. “Please respect me!”But the men, emboldened
The woman leaned closer to Karina, lowering her voice. “You ruined my fun. The manager and I were having a great time, and you interrupted us. You need to make it up to me.”Karina’s frustration flared. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. The door wasn’t fully closed, and I was only there to talk about resigning.”But the woman wasn’t about to let it go. “I don’t care. You need to make it up to me. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your night will go smoothly or that you’ll get to leave this job without issues.”Anger surged through Karina. “You’re being unreasonable! I didn’t do anything wrong!”The woman sneered. “In this bar, what I say goes. If you don’t cooperate, I have plenty of ways to make sure you can’t stay.”Karina knew arguing with her in this chaotic environment would only make things worse. But the idea of being bullied like this made her seethe. Taking a deep breath, she tried to stay calm. “What do you want me to do?”The woman’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “It’s simple. Ha
A strikingly glamorous woman sat perched on the manager’s lap, the two locked in a tight embrace, passionately kissing. The scene was nothing short of intimate, their connection palpable.Karina stood awkwardly at the door, caught between stepping in and retreating. She coughed lightly, trying to get their attention.Hearing the sound, the manager gently pushed the woman aside and turned toward the door. His expression showed no embarrassment; instead, he appeared slightly annoyed. “Karina, why didn’t you knock before coming in?”Karina forced a smile, her discomfort evident. “The door wasn’t fully closed. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m here to talk about resigning.”The manager adjusted his clothes, gesturing for the woman to sit aside. He raised his brows slightly. “Resign? Why the sudden decision to quit?”Karina bit her lip nervously. “It’s for personal reasons. I really can’t continue working here.”The manager leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. A f
Karina froze for a moment, staring at Wilfred's earnest eyes. A wave of mixed emotions swirled within her. She was indeed under immense financial pressure. The entanglements with Kieran and the Stone family had left her utterly drained, and every penny counted. Yet, her pride made it hard for her to accept charity, even from someone like Wilfred. Lowering her head, she softly said, “Thank you for your kindness, Dr. Wilfred, but I can’t accept your money. I’ll work hard and solve this on my own.” Wilfred frowned, stepping closer. He gently tilted her chin upward, compelling her to meet his gaze. “Karina, I understand your concerns. But working in an environment like this, exhausting yourself, and exposing yourself to danger isn’t the solution. It could harm your health and reputation. “I’m not offering charity. I see you as a friend, and I want to help you through this tough time.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she bit her lip. “But I don’t want to owe yo
He didn’t recognize Wilfred and dismissed him as some young guy trying to play the hero. “Want to play hero? Take a look at yourself first. Get lost, or I’ll call the manager and have you thrown out!” To him, customers were ranked in tiers, and as a VIP who could afford an Ace of Spades, he considered himself in a league far above the average patron. Wilfred’s gaze flicked over him, filled with disdain as though he were looking at a fool. Even the thought of engaging with him felt like a waste of effort. Wilfred turned to Karina and said calmly, “Go get the manager.” “Got it, I’ll be right back.” Karina, understanding the urgency of the situation, didn’t hesitate and dashed toward the bar. Seeing her run off, the man felt his pride take a massive hit, as though he had been publicly humiliated. His face twisted in rage as he swung a fist toward Wilfred. But Wilfred wasn’t just anyone. He had training, and dealing with a drunkard was no challenge at all. The thought
Karina’s expression darkened instantly.Yes, she needed money, and she genuinely wanted to earn it, but she had not fallen to the point of trading her body for cash. She stepped back, keeping her tone polite but firm. “Sir, I’m just a server here. My job is to sell drinks—nothing more.”“Don’t play innocent,” the man sneered, his gaze filled with undisguised contempt. “If you’re working in a place like this, doesn’t that mean you’ll do anything for the right price? Look, I’m not asking for free. If you make us happy tonight, I’ll buy everything on your cart. Don’t believe me? Go ask your manager if he’s heard of Mike Taylor.”Karina forced an awkward smile, grabbing the cart and trying to leave. She had no intention of compromising herself, but she also couldn’t afford to escalate the situation.However, the drunk man, seeing her attempt to walk away, grew angry. He shot to his feet and grabbed her arm, muttering profanities under his breath. “I’m giving you face by choosing you,
In the end, Karina decided to call the police.The officers arrived quickly and brought both of them to the station. After understanding the situation, they began by addressing Kieran. “I have a sister too, so I understand your feelings,” one of the officers said. “But your sister is an adult, and you need to respect her decisions. Plus, you’ve caused a significant disturbance for her neighbors, and this qualifies as a public nuisance.”“I’m really sorry, Officer. I got too emotional because my dad is sick, and I wanted to persuade her to come home,” Kieran replied, his tone remarkably convincing. If Karina hadn’t witnessed his other side herself, she might have believed his performance too. The officer then turned to Karina. “Miss, when a parent falls ill, it’s a serious matter. Even if there are issues within the family, the focus should be on resolving them. You can’t avoid it forever.” Karina quickly came up with an excuse. “It’s not that I don’t want to go back, but I