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
It was as if he had let down his guard in front of her. She knew it would be like this. His sturdy back also bore wounds, scars crisscrossing it, giving it a fierce appearance, leaving marks of imperfection on that flawless figure. Nina looked at his broad back, knowing his capacity now to shoulder the responsibilities of the York family, but who would imagine the weight his shoulders bore. Her hand gently touched his back, causing Nash's body to stiffen for a moment. His gaze deep, he didn't reject her touch, only his hoarse voice telling her, "It doesn't hurt anymore."Each scar pierced Nina's heart. She remained silent, but her fists clenched tightly. He was unwilling to bring it up, perhaps these scars were memories Nash preferred not to revisit, including the time with her. Nina pursed her lips, took a few steps back, and withdrew her hand. She realized there were still secrets about Nash she didn't know. She even speculated that he used to be "Zac," not Nash. Zoe had
If his son were in the same situation, Caleb figured he would probably do what his father was doing now. Forget it. “Fine,” he said at last. “You can stall my father for now. But let me be clear—whatever money you take from him, you’ll have to pay back later.” He had no intention of having a child with Vera. Vera readily agreed. “Alright. As long as I can clear my family’s debt, I’ll do whatever you ask.” “First, put your clothes back on.” Caleb had encountered countless situations as a doctor. He had performed surgeries on both men and women without a second thought. But this was different. Vera wasn’t his patient. Vera had already braced herself for the worst. Now that Caleb had set the terms, she quickly put her clothes back on. But even after dressing, she remained on her knees. Caleb hadn’t heard any movement, and since he didn’t want to turn around prematurely, he was caught off guard when Vera spoke. “I’m dressed.” Only then did he turn to look at h
Caleb had acted out of kindness, offering Vera a place to stay for the night since she had nowhere else to go. He had assumed that after their conversation, she would let go of her ridiculous plan. He truly never expected that Vera would see him as her last lifeline. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. “Vera, I finally understand why no one is willing to help the Mason family. There’s not a single decent person among you!” Vera had anticipated Caleb’s anger, but she never thought he would lash out like this, dragging her entire family into it. Say what he wanted about her—but how could he insult her family? Frustration flared in her eyes. “I know what I’m doing is wrong. But I have no other choice. Caleb, you don’t have to take your anger out on my family.” “If your family was so ‘good,’ then why did they leave you with mountains of debt? Why is your brother missing?” Caleb snapped, his voice sharp. He hadn’t wanted to throw those words at her, b
Caleb’s voice was low, but there was a hint of bitterness tugging at the corners of his mouth. He never thought he would be speaking to Luna in such a tone. It didn’t feel good. “Caleb, I’ve never trampled on your feelings,” Luna said, her voice hoarse and her gaze tinged with sorrow. “I never once accepted your proposals. If I were you, I wouldn’t have proposed a second time. I would’ve kept my distance. I’ve always seen you as a friend, but look at the things you’ve done and the words you’ve said. I’m not obligated to say yes to you, yet you bring someone else into this just to put on some sort of show?” Her voice cracked, and the pain in her eyes was unmistakable. Caleb’s smirk deepened, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You’re right. You’re not obligated to accept me. But have you ever thought about this? When you call for me, I’m not obligated to come running, either. And as for your accusation—I’m not ‘putting on a show’ with anyone. The girl who came here with me
Caleb stayed by the operating room until Luna’s surgery was completed successfully. After that, he remained at her bedside, not leaving for a moment, until she finally regained consciousness hours later. When Luna opened her eyes, disoriented, she murmured, “Am I… dead?” The sharp smell of disinfectant made her dizzy, and the unfamiliar surroundings only heightened her anxiety. “This is the hospital,” Caleb said softly. “You had appendicitis, and surgery was necessary.” Hearing Caleb’s voice, Luna finally relaxed. She wasn’t dead. But the thought of Caleb sitting by her bedside brought other concerns to mind. Were they alone? Was anyone else around? After all, Caleb had brought another woman when he came to find her earlier. Luna glanced around the room, her searching gaze caught immediately by Caleb. “Don’t bother looking,” he said coolly. “It’s just me here. I arranged for a VIP room for your recovery.” Only then did Luna let out a long breath of relief. She
“My father’s interest is just a passing phase,” Caleb said calmly. “Once he realizes there’s no outcome, he’ll naturally let it go. I’ve been in love with someone who didn’t love me back—it was exhausting. So why would I willingly enter a marriage with someone I don’t even have feelings for?”Caleb didn’t want a marriage without love, and he certainly didn’t want the worst-case scenario—a child born into such a situation. Even though Vera had suggested signing an agreement where the child would stay with him, Caleb couldn’t bring himself to agree. How could a child grow up happy without a mother’s love? And what would he do when the child inevitably started asking for their mom? He couldn’t bear the thought of the child calling someone else “mom.” And if he stayed with Vera just for the child, wouldn’t that create a miserable, loveless relationship for both of them? It was better to draw a clear line from the beginning. Vera hadn’t expected Caleb to be so straightforward a
Caleb’s words left Vera increasingly confused. He had taken her along to see Luna, and now that Luna had been brought to the hospital, there wasn’t much else for her to do. What could Caleb possibly want from her now? If he wanted to continue their "act," he would’ve stopped her earlier, not waited until now to come looking for her. But Caleb remained silent, and Vera didn’t dare to jump to conclusions. She waited patiently for him to speak. After a moment of quiet, Caleb finally broke the silence, his voice low and slightly hoarse. “You don’t have money, and your father is in a standard hospital room. If you don’t rest properly, how will you have the energy to take care of him? Here.” He pulled out a key and handed it to Vera. “This is the key to my dorm at the hospital. I don’t use it often. You can rest and freshen up there.” Vera stared at Caleb in disbelief. Caleb had made it clear he didn’t want any involvement with her and had outright rejected her earlier su
The moment Caleb entered the password at the door, Vera realized he frequented this place. Who could it be? Her mind swirled with guesses, but when the door opened, she followed Caleb inside and saw Luna curled up on the couch in the living room. Caleb immediately strode over to Luna and began checking her condition. Vera trailed closely behind, holding the first aid kit she had brought. “This is appendicitis,” Caleb said firmly. “We need to get you to the hospital right away.” He didn’t even use the supplies in the first aid kit. However, Luna noticed Vera standing there and was visibly startled. She hadn’t expected Caleb to bring someone else—especially Vera—along. When Caleb bent down to lift Luna, she resisted, trying to push him away. “Caleb, what are you doing? What’s the point of all this? Why are you acting like this?” Caleb’s focus was entirely on Luna’s worsening condition. Her appendicitis had escalated to a critical point, and she needed surgery imme
Vera clenched her teeth, making a desperate decision. She moved closer to Caleb, taking the initiative to grab his hand, her sincerity clear. “Caleb, look at me. I’m not as bad as you think. Whether it’s real or fake, I can do it.” Without responding to her plea, Caleb coldly threw out a single sentence, “You can sleep in the car tonight.” Then, without a backward glance, he pulled the car door open and left. Watching his retreating figure, Vera felt as though an invisible hand was squeezing her heart tightly. She had never imagined that her life would come to this point. *Later that night, Caleb was woken by a call from Luna. Through the phone, Luna’s voice was laced with pain. “Caleb, can you come over? My stomach hurts… really badly…” Her words were like a hook, sinking deep into Caleb’s heart. He loved Luna and couldn’t bear to see her in pain or distress. Yet, he forced himself to remain clear-headed. “Isn’t Simon with you? Call him,” Caleb said coldly
Caleb had mentioned taking Vera back to the hospital. Even though she was the one driving, that should have been their destination. But instead, she brought him to his villa. This clearly showed she had done her homework on him. Vera pressed her lips together. “Since you asked me to drive, I figured I’d drop you off at your place first.” “Is that so?” Caleb scoffed, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “And after you drop me off, how are you planning to get back?” As he spoke, he leaned closer to her. Vera instinctively leaned away, uncomfortable with the sudden proximity. She had never been in such close contact with a man before, and her intentions truly were as simple as dropping him off—nothing more. But Caleb didn’t believe her. He grabbed her shoulder with one hand, his grip firm. “I’m asking you a question. Why aren’t you answering?” Vera knew avoiding the question wouldn’t work with him. He wasn’t the type to let things slide. “If I didn’t drop you off, h