Eve felt a bit embarrassed. "It looks like my fiancé might not be coming after all.""What?" Nina was taken aback.But then, she got straight to the point. "If someone can stand you up on your wedding day, I think you need to seriously reconsider this person.""Got it. Thank you, Nina," Eve replied.Nash looked at Eve and asked, "Need any help?"After all, Eve was Grandpa George's granddaughter. Nash could not just ignore her.Eve shook her head. "I appreciate it, but I can handle this on my own."Her fiancé had stood her up. If they helped, it would just be to drag the guy out, give him a good beating, and demand an apology. But after all that, the wedding would definitely be off. She could manage that on her own.Nash wrapped his arm around Nina's shoulder. "If you need anything, call me.""I will."With that, Nash and Nina left the county clerk's office. Eve stayed behind, but her gaze was firm and her expression grew colder.On the way back, Nash was already thinking abo
Nina lowered her head, feeling shy despite being in her thirties. She could not bring herself to meet Zoe’s gaze.Nash said, "We’re not deliberately flaunting anything. I owe Nina too much. Now, whatever she wants, as long as it’s within my power, I’ll give it to her."And even if it was not within his power, he would move heaven and earth to make it happen."Alright, alright, no need to tell me all this. Do whatever makes you happy," Zoe quickly waved her hand, signaling she had heard enough.Zoe stayed at the York residence because she adored Orion. Nash, meanwhile, took charge of every detail of the wedding, refusing to leave anything to chance.On the wedding day, many close friends came. Hunter, Caleb, Ben, Yvonne, and even Eve. Grandpa George, despite his age, personally came to offer his blessings to Nash. Pharaoh, Micah, and Freya were also there, as well as Scarlett and James.Scarlett and James had planned to marry that year, but James’s commitments kept delaying their
At that moment, Nash and Nina were exchanging rings when Remi burst in."Wait! You’re already finishing the ceremony, and I haven’t even given you my gift yet?" Remi’s loud voice cut through the crowd, leaving the guests exchanging uneasy glances. Those who knew her could not hide their discomfort. Pharaoh shot Micah a glance, and Micah strode over to confront her."Can’t whatever you need wait until after the wedding?" Micah’s tone was firm as he approached, with Freya quickly joining him, surrounding Remi.This time, Freya was not just a bystander. She was here to protect.Remi smirked. "Didn’t I make myself clear? I’m here to deliver a wedding gift. Why are you all so tense? It’s just me, after all. It’s not like I could ruin the whole wedding on my own, right?"Though Remi had arrived alone, no one was ready to let their guard down. After all, she was once Nash’s arranged fiancée under Dominic’s orders. And she had never truly let go of her feelings for him.Micah firmly gr
"The whole thing with Miranda," Nash began, his voice firm, "was because she once saved my life. I owed her a debt of gratitude. I didn’t explain before because I didn’t want to make things worse, and honestly, I don’t need to explain myself to anyone. But now, I’m committed to being with Nina, and I won’t tolerate anyone trying to slander or hurt her."He paused, glancing toward Remi. "As for the woman standing here today, she’s someone my biological father arranged for me to marry. From the start, I made my feelings clear that I don’t love her, and I never intended to marry her."He continued, "I appreciate your presence at my wedding to Nina, and I welcome it. But if you're here with any other intentions, there's nothing I can do about that."Nash’s tone sharpened. "I’ve said everything that needed to be said. Anything beyond this is not my concern, and I won’t be offering further explanations."With those final words, he signaled to Quincy, who arrived with security. Remi’s s
Nash pursed his lips, just about to say something, when Nina walked over. "Dad, I know about the fiancée. It was arranged by his biological father, and he never accepted it from the beginning."Zion frowned, "Are you sure you're not just covering for him?"Nina had always stood by Nash, even in the past when she did not ask for any title, not even a wedding. Nash had revealed in front of everyone that he was not part of the York family, making it clear how much Nina meant to him. He was willing to face public judgment just to protect her. The wedding was grand, and it was undoubtedly unforgettable.Nina smiled softly, "Dad, after everything we've been through, we have a child, and we’ve remarried. We’re a team now."Being a team meant helping each other out as a couple. Wasn’t that normal?"Nash, I'm warning you, don't you dare treat her like before, or I won’t let you off easy!" Zion’s stern gaze locked onto Nash.Nash tightened his arm around Nina's waist. "Don't worry, Fathe
Nina had also taken in Orion, not knowing he was her biological son, raising him as her own. Even Wilfred's presence was proof of her kind heart.Zion could see that Pharaoh genuinely cared for Nina. "Since you're in Birkham, why not stay for a while and enjoy yourself?" he suggested, knowing that they were all here for Nina’s sake. This made them allies, especially since Pharaoh was her real father.Pharaoh nodded. He had already made up his mind to stay close to his daughter and grandson.The wedding day had all the usual events, including the traditional wedding games. Nash had considered skipping that part, but decided against it. He thought that without it, the wedding would not feel complete. The guests engaged the couple in lighthearted games, making Nash and Nina the focus of teasing and playful challenges. They found themselves kissing multiple times to the delight and laughter of everyone around them. They even shared a traditional toast.The games lasted until 1 or 2 A
Freya's voice was raspy as she spoke. "Micah, we've had a good time together these past few weeks, haven’t we?"She stepped closer to him, tilting her head up to meet his gaze since he was much taller. His sharp features, like a perfectly sculpted work of art, were exactly the kind Freya was obsessed with.Micah pressed his lips together, his mind drifting back to their time together. It had indeed been enjoyable. Freya had never thrown tantrums and she was always considerate of him. But the weight of responsibility on his shoulders was immense. He was leading the Yaren Tribe people, and much of his future would be dedicated to them. In the end, wouldn’t he be neglecting Freya?"Freya, you agreed to a month. People should keep their promises," Micah said quietly, trying to use the idea of honoring commitments to steer her away from further attachment.Freya felt her throat tighten, her heart squeezed painfully. They say time reveals true feelings. Micah had seen her sincerity, ye
Freya nodded. "Birkham is such a great place, and being close to you is a bonus. I’ve thought about staying longer, but Micah and I need to return to Yaren Tribe to continue building our community. We’ll stay and enjoy the area for a little while, though.""Got it. If you're planning to travel, having the child with you would just be inconvenient. Let my brother show you around instead. Birkham has so many beautiful places to explore," Nina replied.Freya wanted to help, but Nina was also thinking about them. Freya had worked hard to earn this time with Micah, and Nina did not want that effort to go to waste.Nina said, "My father and Quincy can look after the child. You two just focus on enjoying yourselves."After waving goodbye, they got into the car, and suddenly Nash remembered something important. "How could I forget that?" Nash muttered, his expression turning serious.Nina looked at him, puzzled. "What did you forget?"Nash sighed. "I can't believe I overlooked this. I
Her eyes turned redder, tears stubbornly welling up as if refusing to fall. Karina, watching the girl’s pained struggle, felt a pang of sympathy. She was about to say something to console her when Wilfred gently pulled her behind him, shielding her once more.His gaze remained cold, but his tone carried an unmistakable impatience. “That’s enough. This ends here. Don’t come bothering us again.”The girl froze as if struck by his blunt and merciless words. Her body trembled, and at last, the tears spilled over, rolling down her cheeks and hitting the ground in heavy drops. She opened her mouth, managing to squeeze out a broken, choked whisper: “I… I just…” But the rest of her words were swallowed by the overwhelming tide of her emotions, dissolving into silence.Wilfred frowned slightly but didn’t respond further. He simply took Karina’s hand and turned to leave. Just as they were about to walk away, the girl suddenly shouted hysterically, “Wilfred, I’ve liked you for so long! E
Karina sensed the girl’s unfriendly gaze and instinctively moved closer to Wilfred. Without a word, Wilfred casually placed a hand on her shoulder, a subtle but protective gesture. The girl’s jealousy flared even stronger at the sight. Forcing a strained smile, she turned to Karina and asked, “And who might this be?”Wilfred answered before Karina could speak. “This is Karina, my… friend.” As he spoke, he glanced at Karina, a trace of warmth flickering in his gaze, unnoticed by anyone but her. The girl let out a faint scoff. “A friend, huh? Dr. Wilfred, you’re always so busy with work. It’s rare for you to take time off, yet you didn’t think to invite me? I thought we were close. After all, you took such good care of me when I was your patient.”Her voice was laced with grievance and subtle reproach. Wilfred frowned slightly. His tone remained polite but distant. “It’s good that you’ve recovered. Taking time off is just for relaxation. I didn’t give it much thought.”Though
“Be careful,” Wilfred whispered, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor. Karina leaned into his embrace and said softly, “Thank you. I was too careless.”They proceeded cautiously down the corridor and arrived at a room filled with ancient books and peculiar instruments. Curious, Karina picked up a dusty old book. As soon as she opened it, the faint sound of gears turning echoed in the room. Slowly, a stone table emerged from the center of the floor, revealing a complex puzzle box resting on top.Karina studied the puzzle box carefully, noticing that each piece was engraved with unique symbols and patterns. She tried fitting a few pieces together but couldn’t make sense of it. Meanwhile, Wilfred searched the room for other clues and discovered an ancient mural in one corner. The mural depicted several figures gathered around a similar-looking box, seemingly performing some kind of ritual. He examined the gestures and expressions of the figures in the mural and suddenly
Wilfred snapped out of his thoughts, meeting Karina’s eager gaze. Without hesitation, he nodded. “Sure, as long as it’s something you’ll enjoy.”The two of them arrived at an escape room venue, where the receptionist greeted them warmly.Karina asked curiously, “Hi, we’d like to play an escape room. What themes do you have?”The receptionist smiled and began explaining, “We have a horror-themed ‘Midnight Fright,’ an adventure-themed ‘Lost Tomb,’ and a mystery-themed ‘Misty Manor.’ Each has its own level of difficulty and style.”Wilfred looked at Karina. She thought for a moment before saying, “Let’s try ‘Lost Tomb.’ It sounds mysterious and fun.”The receptionist nodded. “This theme is very popular, but it’s also quite challenging. Are you sure?”Wilfred replied confidently, “No problem. We’ll go with this one.”“All right,” the receptionist continued. “The ticket price for this theme is $30 per person. If you complete it within the time limit, you’ll even get a special gift fr
Leonard, a cheerful and outgoing young man, worked skillfully at the machine while apologizing profusely. “Sorry about this. I don’t know what’s up with this machine today. It’s being a bit temperamental. I hope it’s not causing too much trouble for you.”Karina smiled back warmly. “It’s no problem at all.”As Leonard glanced up at Karina and Wilfred, he couldn’t help but comment, “You two look great together! Are you on a date?”Karina’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she opened her mouth to clarify, but Wilfred cut in first. “Thank you. It’s a rare day off, so I thought I’d take her out to relax.”Startled, Karina glanced at him in surprise, but the unexpected sweetness of his words brought a quiet warmth to her heart.Leonard grinned knowingly. “This movie’s been super popular lately. Lots of couples have been coming to watch it. You’re lucky to have snagged tickets—later in the day, it’s almost impossible to get seats.”Wilfred nodded politely. “Is that so? Then I suppose we’re
Karina couldn’t reconcile the composed, confident, and highly skilled Wilfred she knew with the idea of him as a slave. Her lips trembled as though she wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. Wilfred noticed the shock in her expression and let out a faint, bitter smile before continuing. “In that dark, endless hell, I was subjected to all kinds of drug experiments every day. My body and mind were pushed to the brink, treated as nothing more than a tool. My life and death were entirely in their hands.” A sharp pang shot through Karina’s chest as she listened. She couldn’t begin to imagine the suffering Wilfred had endured. “How did you escape?” she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. Wilfred’s gaze grew distant, his eyes clouded with memories. “There was a rare moment of carelessness during a transfer. I seized the opportunity with everything I had left and escaped. After that, I hid my identity, pouring all my effort into studying medici
Instead of heading out to eat, Wilfred decided to head home. It was the weekend, and with Mrs. Santos off-duty, they could cook for themselves. The fridge had just enough ingredients left for a proper meal. Karina pulled out an unopened carton of cream and called toward the living room, “Do you like cream of mushroom soup?” A response came from Wilfred, and with his approval, she got to work preparing the ingredients. The dishes she planned weren’t particularly complicated, so in no time, the table was filled with food. After all the bustling in the kitchen, Karina almost forgot the reason she had come in the first place. But seeing Wilfred pick up his utensils brought her back to her thoughts. “I wanted to ask you about your sleepwalking last night. Mrs. Santos said it happens often,” she said, her tone filled with concern. Karina had known Wilfred for quite a while now, and their relationship was fairly close. Yet she had never heard about his sleepwalking, not from hi
Yvette’s expression lit up with the thrill of gossip. “Who are we talking about? Is it Dr. Wilfred?” “It’s about a friend,” Karina lied smoothly, her face betraying nothing. Yvette’s face immediately screamed, “Yeah, right.”“Come on, at least come up with a better excuse. That ‘it’s for a friend’ line is so overused it’s practically expired,” she teased, before shifting gears. “Alright, spill the details. And don’t leave anything out. I want to know everything. Not just for gossip but to help you figure things out.” With no other choice, Karina recounted Wilfred’s hot-and-cold behavior toward her. After hearing the story, Yvette leaned back with a sharp hiss, as if processing something heavy. “I think your, uh, friend’s boyfriend might just have something he’s keeping to himself. Maybe there’s a reason he doesn’t want her to know.” Karina’s brows furrowed slightly. “Think about it,” Yvette continued. “If he really didn’t care, would he have been so quick to catch he
Karina stood, but as she took a step, her foot caught on something, and she nearly fell. Before she could hit the ground, Wilfred caught her. The unexpected gesture left Karina more confused than ever. If he was so cold and distant moments ago, why would he help her like this? She wasn’t the only one caught off guard. Wilfred himself was surprised by his reaction. It had been pure instinct. The moment he saw her about to fall, he moved to catch her without a second thought. It was as if his heart acted faster than his words ever could. Before she could ask anything, Wilfred released her quickly, his demeanor detached once more, as if trying to explain away his actions. “Regardless, thank you for earlier.” He hesitated briefly before adding, “Do you have a way to get home? I can drive you if it’s inconvenient.” The warmth Karina felt moments ago instantly turned cold. She forced a bitter smile. “No need. I’ll get home on my own.” She laughed at herself inwardly, a s