"Freya, don't put too much pressure on yourself. I know you're going through a lot," Nina gently advised Freya.Freya quickly shook off her doubts, and the preparations for their wedding continued. Meanwhile, Micah used the distraction of the wedding festivities to lay a trap for those who had poisoned Arin.Micah was willing to show them mercy, but he had one condition. "If you want me to let you go, you must hand over the antidote for the poison you used."The wedding was grand and joyful, just as planned, and Micah's feigned happiness lured his enemies into a false sense of security. They became careless, thinking they had won. But when they finally made their move, Micah was ready, capturing them all.One of them sneered, "It’s been such a long time, and you have the most skilled poison expert, Pharaoh, by your side. Tell me, do you think there’s an antidote for that poison?"If the antidote existed, Pharaoh would have already saved Arin. Now, with only a few days left to live
This was Micah's most sincere yet helpless wish.He had hoped that his father would have a way to cure Arin's poisoning, but to his dismay, there was nothing his father could do. In the end, all he could do was watch as Arin faced death. Micah stayed by her side the entire night and eventually buried her himself.Freya didn't seek him out as she understood the pain he was in and was willing to wait. Life was full of regrets, after all. She embraced him without saying a word, knowing that silence spoke louder than words in this moment."Take a shower, get some rest. There are things we can't change, but we, the ones still living, need to keep moving forward. The Yaren Tribe needs us."She vowed to be the supportive partner Micah needed, to help him lead the Yaren Tribe to a better future.Micah parted his lips, wanting to speak, but he couldn’t find the right words. His throat felt tight, as though something was lodged in it, and his heart weighed heavy, like a giant stone pressing
Sean let out a furious scream. The pain in his chest was unbearable. The slave camps had thousands of people, and in the end, nothing came of it? And with all the Yaren Tribe’s medicinal resources, how could they fail to save his sister?In the end, wasn’t it just because they were afraid his sister’s feelings for Micah would interfere with him? Ashan clutched his chest, the pain unbearable. "You saved so many lives, ran countless experiments. Why wouldn’t you save my sister?"Fearing that Ashan, overwhelmed by grief, might do something rash, Micah stepped in front of the Pharaoh, his resolve unshaken. "I tried everything I could, but I couldn’t save her. That’s on me. If you want revenge, I’m willing to pay with my life."Micah’s gaze was steady and unwavering."No! You’re the leader of the Yaren Tribe now. If a life has to be taken, then take mine instead!" Freya exclaimed, rushing to shield Micah with her arms spread wide.She couldn’t bear to see him die, not after they ha
Sean remained stubborn, almost shouting, "I feel like it’s all because of my sister’s lower status that you didn’t want to save her!""I’m sorry. I was too obsessed before, trying to revive the dead, chasing some unattainable goal. In the end, I realized it was all just an illusion." Pharaoh sighed. "I know you're heartbroken over your sister’s death, but the Yaren Tribe must continue to move forward. I’m willing to let Micah hand those responsible over to you, and we’ll compensate you for the loss. Everything I said earlier still stands." He pressed his lips together and started walking toward Sean.Pharaoh had already steeled himself for whatever Sean might demand, whether it be a beating or even a life for a life. If that was the price, Pharaoh was ready to be the one to pay it. He wouldn’t resist, and he would make sure that Micah and Nina didn’t retaliate against Sean.Even though Pharaoh hadn’t said these words aloud, Nina and Micah understood him perfectly."Sean! We’re no
Sean had one thought in his mind which was to protect the Yaren Tribe and Micah. After all, both Micah and the tribe were what his sister had given her life to protect.On the day Sean left, Nina came to see him off. Sean didn’t want money, status, or any material things. The only thing Nina could give him was a protective charm she had personally blessed."Sean, life on the border will be tough. Please take good care of yourself. Even though your sister is gone, we will always be your family, and you’re welcome to come back anytime," Nina said with a gentle smile.Sean smiled back, but deep down, he knew that without his sister, the Yaren Tribe no longer felt like home. Even though Nina offered him such kindness, he understood that Nina and Micah had their own lives. He wasn’t a child anymore, and he was aware of that.With Sean gone, the chapter of Arin’s story closed as well. Nina, worried about Micah’s mental state, stayed in the Yaren Tribe for a while. Outwardly, Micah appe
Micah clutched his head in agony, releasing a pained scream. Seeing him like this was gut-wrenching for Nina, but even more so for Freya, who had been by his side every day.Nina stepped forward, gently placing a hand on his shoulder, her voice soft and soothing."Micah, this isn't your fault. Please don't push yourself like this—""It is my fault! If it weren't for me, she wouldn't have made that sacrifice. I've seen death so many times, but I've never felt like this before. Nina, you don't understand! I watched her die right in front of me..."Micah's voice was hoarse, cutting through Nina's words, each word carrying the weight of his torment. Nina had never seen him so broken, and it left her feeling helpless.Afraid he might lose control, she quickly called their father. Before long, Pharaoh arrived with a team from the lab. Seeing Micah in this state, Pharaoh felt an overwhelming sadness. This was his son, after all.But when Pharaoh examined Micah, he discovered that Micah
Micah gently stroked Freya's head, a smile of understanding forming on his lips. "I'm sorry for making you worry.""Micah, please, you have to get better. You can't leave me behind. We... we still have so many things we haven't done. Everything feels unfinished." Freya hugged him tightly, her voice hoarse and full of emotion. She was truly scared.If Freya had known that Micah was holding onto an idealized memory of someone who had been flawless in every way, it might not have hurt as much. But with Arin, things were different. Setting aside everything else, it was clear that some choices had been offered to Arin, but she hadn’t taken them.Freya didn’t want Micah to spend the rest of his life drowning in guilt.Micah continued to gently caress her head. "I understand everything you're saying. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to pull myself out of this darkness."Freya had always said she didn’t care about these things, and Micah knew where the real issue lay. He wouldn’t hold it ag
"With your willpower, I believe you can get through this. I’ll be monitoring your progress closely," Wilfred said calmly, and he followed through on his promise.Breaking an addiction was painful, but Micah had plenty of support around him, especially with Freya by his side. After a week, Micah successfully overcame his dependence on the drugs. This was great news for everyone, especially Freya, who was overjoyed. "Micah, let’s visit the grassroots communities. There are still so many people who need our help."Freya’s thinking was straightforward. If she and Micah focused on their work together, it would keep his mind off Arin's death. Recently, Micah had felt guilty about neglecting her, thinking he owed her more attention since they had just gotten married. He had been trying to make up for the time he had neglected her by staying by her side.However, things unexpectedly took a turn for the worse, and instead of improving, Micah ended up in his current troubled state.Holdi
At the time, Wilfred had already guessed that this had everything to do with Harley and his mentor, Professor Zeller. “You and your so-called association don’t focus on benefiting patients. Instead, you spend all your time trying to monopolize everything. And now you want to turn me into one of you? Keep dreaming.” Wilfred’s tone was filled with disdain, his eyes cold with contempt. The smug smile on Harley’s face slowly faded. With a sneer, Harley’s voice turned bitter. “You know what I despise most about you? That self-righteous, holier-than-thou attitude of yours. I was offering you advice, but if you don’t want to hear it, fine. There’s nothing more to say. After all, if the surgery fails—” Before he could finish the word “fail,” the surgical light outside the operating room flicked off. Clack!The sliding doors parted, and Karina burst through, her face flushed with emotion. She didn’t even notice Harley. Her focus zeroed in on Wilfred. “Wilfred!” Her voice trem
As the surgery approached, Karina worked overtime, meticulously double-checking for any possible oversights. Before stepping into the operating room, she took a deep breath."Karina, you’ve got this!" a nurse beside her encouraged.This surgery was particularly significant, and the assistants and nurses weren’t from her hospital. They were brought in by the project, specifically by Harley’s team. Without a single familiar face around, Karina felt a twinge of anxiety. Opportunities to lead surgeries were already rare for her, let alone under circumstances like this, with no one she could truly rely on.But there was no turning back now. Gritting her teeth, Karina donned her gloves. As she was about to enter the operating room, her peripheral vision caught sight of a figure standing silently in the distance. It was Wilfred. His steady gaze met hers, his eyes carrying something profound she couldn’t quite decipher. When their eyes locked, a faint smile curved his lips.In th
“Ava.”A deep voice cut through the air, and Karina turned to see a man in a black suit, wearing a hat and a mask, striding toward them. But the man’s white eyelashes and distinctive eyes were all Karina needed to recognize him. He was her albino patient, Xavier Jasper!Xavier also didn’t expect to run into both Wilfred and Karina here. “It’s you two,” he exclaimed in surprise.Wilfred’s gaze sharpened as he calmly addressed Xavier. “Keep your sister in line. Apologize.”Before Xavier could respond, Ava stepped forward and, to everyone’s surprise, said, “I’m sorry. I was too impulsive. Please forgive me.” Karina was taken aback by how quickly Ava apologized. Even Xavier, who knew his sister’s arrogant tendencies well, looked stunned.Karina nodded, her tone steady but firm. “I forgive you, but that doesn’t mean everyone else will. You should work on your attitude. Stop acting so entitled everywhere you go.” With that, Karina turned on her heel and walked away. Although Xavie
”Those were her meticulously compiled notes, the result of hours of hard work—and now they were ruined just like that?” Karina thought.“I’ve never wronged you. Why would you do something like this?” she demanded, her voice trembling with indignation. Something about the situation felt off, and Karina’s sharp intuition told her this wasn’t a simple misunderstanding.Under Karina’s intense gaze, the nurse finally broke down, revealing Ava’s role in orchestrating the whole thing. Karina’s anger turned into a mix of rage and incredulous amusement. “Really? Rich people—did they all enjoy throwing money around like this?”All this trouble, just to ruin her hard-earned work over a seat?Her carefully compiled notes were gone, and there wasn’t a second copy. Arguing wouldn’t bring them back, but Ava wasn’t going to let this slide without giving someone a piece of her mind.Finding Ava wasn’t difficult. In fact, Ava didn’t even try to avoid her. She seemed to be waiting, eager to see
Just as Ava was about to cause a scene, the sound of steady footsteps filled the room. Wilfred strode in, his white coat enhancing his composed, almost ethereal aura. Ava shot Karina a glare, silently committing her to memory, then begrudgingly found another seat. Wilfred’s gaze swept across the room, pausing ever so briefly on Karina before moving on. She wasn’t sure if it was real or just her imagination. “Today, we’ll discuss cellular structures. I’ll start with an example from my doctoral thesis,” Wilfred announced, adjusting the projector. To Karina’s surprise, he was an exceptional lecturer—clear, engaging, and far more comprehensible than many university professors. She listened intently, taking meticulous notes. Yvette peeked over at Karina’s notebook, wide-eyed at the densely packed writing. “Karina, when you eventually get promoted, land a big raise, or go for your doctorate, I promise I won’t be jealous. Truly.”Karina chuckled. “If you need these notes, I can len
Karina glanced at the time and quickly gestured for Yvette to sit down as well. However, barely had they taken their seats when a haughty woman marched up to Karina, her sharp gaze fixed on the chair she was sitting on. “You, get up. I want that seat!” Karina frowned, studying the unfamiliar woman. She didn’t recognize her from the hospital, but the designer jewelry around her neck and the branded bag on her arm screamed wealth. She seemed like the kind of entitled socialite who rarely had to fight for anything, let alone a seat.Unsure if the woman was trying to pick a fight or genuinely wanted the chair, Karina pointed to the open seats nearby. “There are plenty of seats over there. Take one of those.”Then, she lowered her head, dismissing the woman entirely.The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Excuse me? I said I want your seat. Get up. Now!” Not content with words alone, she reached out to pull Karina up by force. Karina, now genuinely angry, shook her off. “I was h
Karina looked slightly surprised. She distinctly remembered that Wilfred wasn’t a drinker. “I thought you avoided alcohol?” Wilfred, ever the epitome of control and composure, preferred to steer clear of anything that dulled his sharpness. Back when they worked at the Birkham Central Hospital, she had seen him reject bottles of expensive wine from people trying to curry favor with him. He sipped his tea slowly before replying, “You’ve started at a new hospital. As your former mentor, I haven’t given you a proper congratulatory gift yet.” “This is… for me?” Karina asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. Wilfred’s gaze was steady as he replied, “Don’t like it? If not, I can send it back and we can find something else later.” He raised his hand to call the server over. “Wait! No need. I like it a lot,” Karina interjected hastily, stopping him in his tracks. The idea of going gift shopping with him later felt uncomfortably like a date. And knowing Wilfred’s personality, w
Wilfred’s gaze swept over her without a word, and Karina climbed into the car on her own. When choosing her seat, she instinctively moved toward the back, but before she could get in, Wilfred spoke, “Sit in the front. It’s more convenient.” Karina hesitated briefly. Not wanting to appear overly particular, she complied and took the passenger seat. Although there was a saying that the front seat was reserved for a girlfriend, Wilfred didn’t strike her as someone who cared about such details. She decided to pretend she didn’t know. After buckling her seatbelt, a phone suddenly appeared in front of her. She looked up, her face full of confusion and surprise. Wilfred glanced sideways at her, one hand on the steering wheel, the car still stationary. “I haven’t decided on a restaurant yet. I’ll be driving soon. You pick something.” Karina took the phone. As Wilfred drove, she scrolled through the options, narrowing it down to three restaurants. But her mild indecisivenes
Karina forced a smile. “Really, it’s fine. You all go ahead.”Yvette pouted, her disappointment clear as she relented. “Alright then.”Once the others had left, Karina tried to refocus on work. She pulled out her research materials, determined to get something done. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept wandering. The cheerful chatter from outside finally snapped her out of it, making her realize just how distracted she had been.Karina gave a wry smile and muttered to herself, “This is why you don’t get ahead of yourself. Seriously, one of life’s biggest delusions.”For a fleeting moment, she had thought Wilfred might feel something for her too. But it was better this way, she told herself—better to wake up now than to fall in too deep later. Romance wasn’t her strong suit; focusing on her career was safer.While others might drown their heartbreak in food or a night out, Karina chose the most grueling outlet: work. It might be exhausting, but it was effective. S