A paper with instructions was suddenly thrust in front of Nina, almost hitting her in the face. Annoyed, she snapped, "If you’ve got something to say, just say it."Madison chuckled softly. "I’m showing you the instructions. On the back, you’ll find the dish you need to prepare for lunch today. Remember, it absolutely must suit everyone’s taste. If no one eats your dish, Orion’s performance in the field day will be nullified.""What does my cooking have to do with Orion’s performance? If you want to punish someone, punish me. Why drag the children into it?"Nina didn’t want to participate in the field day, but that didn’t mean Orion didn’t. If no one ate the dish she prepared, wouldn’t that unfairly impact Orion?She frowned. The school wouldn’t make such a decision. It had to be Madison overstepping her authority as PTA president."Fine," Nina thought. "They only asked me to prepare the dish. They didn’t say I have to cook it herself." If it was something she couldn’t manage, she
With a bang, the starting gun went off, followed by a cry of pain as Orion fell to the ground. It was clear he was hurt badly.Nina was the first to rush over and scoop him up, her heart aching when she saw that a large patch of skin had been scraped off his knee."Mom, it hurts. My leg hurts so much," Orion sobbed in her arms."Don’t worry, Orion. Mommy will take you to see the doctor," Nina said softly, quickly scanning the area. She spotted the temporary medical tent not far away and hurried over.The teacher and other parents followed, their faces filled with concern as they saw Orion’s injury. The doctor waved them aside, asking them to step back so they wouldn’t upset the child further, and soon everyone moved outside.Once the medical tent quieted down, Nina anxiously asked, "Doctor, is there any damage to the bone?"This was crucial. If his bones were injured, they would need to rush to a hospital immediately.The doctor examined Orion again and shook his head. "No, ma’a
Orion didn’t know what was wrong with Nina, so he quietly asked, "Mom, are you not feeling well?"Nina pinched his little cheek and smiled. "Orion, you’re so thoughtful, always worrying about Mom. But I’m fine, don’t worry. What about you, Orion? Do you want to go home now or stay and watch the rest of the competition?"He glanced toward the field and, after a moment of silence, whispered, "I think I’ll stay and watch the rest. The teacher said winning isn’t the most important thing. It’s about participating. Mom, aren’t you supposed to make that royal feast later? I can help you."Nina was overjoyed and planted a big kiss on his cheek. "That would be wonderful! I’ll be counting on you, my little helper, Orion.""Got it! I promise I’ll be the best helper ever," Orion declared, raising his hand as if making a solemn vow. He had already forgotten the pain in his leg.With the medicine kicking in, the pain was gradually fading, and Orion had returned to his usual lively self, shaking
"She’s not our nanny. She’s my mom!" Orion shouted angrily, pounding on Madison’s leg. In response, Madison kicked him away, sending him to the ground. He landed on his backside, and looked up at her with hurt and confusion in his eyes.The incident happened so quickly that by the time Nina realized what had occurred, Orion was already on the ground. She hurried to scoop him up, holding him tightly. When she stood up again, she fixed Madison with a cold stare.Madison took two steps back, her voice trembling. "What are you going to do? I didn’t kick him that hard! He fell on his own. It’s not my fault!""So, you’re Madison, huh? I’ll remember that. If my son has any issues because of this, my lawyer will be in touch. And by the way, isn’t your husband a big-time manager at some company? I’m sure you can afford the medical bills, right? Just make sure not to dodge the responsibility."Nina hadn’t intended to make a big deal out of this, but kicking her son was crossing the line. I
The commotion caught everyone’s attention. Some sharp-eyed parents recognized the uniforms of the chefs. They were from the most famous hotel in Birkham. Gasps spread through the crowd as people marveled at how much the school must have spent.The principal forced a smile. He knew there was no way the school could afford such top-notch chefs and wondered which parent had provided this surprise."Ma’am, as per your instructions, the Royal Feast is ready. Could you please direct us to the dining area?" The hotel manager approached Nina with such respect that jaws dropped all around.Madison's face turned red, then pale. She felt utterly uncomfortable."That hotel’s food is ridiculously expensive," someone whispered. "That mom doesn’t look like she’s made of money. Do you think she’s just putting on a show?""Yeah, I saw her arguing with the PTA president earlier. Maybe she’s doing this out of spite."Madison overheard the murmurs and smirked as she walked toward Nina. Before sh
The dishes Nina arranged were a big hit, making her the talk of the school. In the eyes of the other parents, she became known as the mom who wasn’t afraid to spend money. She had stolen Madison's spotlight, and Madison couldn’t let it go.In the afternoon, since Orion was still feeling uncomfortable from his injury, Nina took him home after lunch, excusing them from the rest of the field day.Not long after they got home, Nina received an invitation from Madison to join the class parent group chat. Madison also sent her a message, emphasizing that all the moms were in the group, and it was useful for discussing their children's education.Nina didn’t accept the invitation. She felt that the parent group chat didn’t seem to offer much value. After Orion fell asleep, Nina went downstairs to call Nash, but all she got was a busy signal. Thinking back over everything that had happened at the field day, she felt increasingly uneasy, a suppressed anger building up inside her that she
Since it was a work-related issue, Nina didn’t hold it against Nash. She arranged for the nanny to take care of Orion and told Nash that she was going out with some of Orion's classmates' moms.While she was still in contact with Nash, the car had already driven out of the city. Nina felt puzzled. "Weren’t we supposed to go shopping?""You see, ma’am, that PTA president tends to change plans at the last minute. If she didn’t, I wouldn’t have had to wait for you back there, right? Don’t worry, their car can’t go that fast. We’ll catch up to them."As he spoke, the car turned onto a narrow country road. Nina looked around but saw no villages, only a road leading deeper into the mountains. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she was about to ask a question when the narrow road turned into a wider highway, leading to a gas station.The bearded man pulled in to refuel, and Nina seized the opportunity to try calling Madison, but there was no answer."Miss," someone called out to her. N
Nash’s phone still wouldn’t connect, and Nina’s frustration kept building. Just then, Zoe called. In her irritation, Nina vented about everything that had happened that day and what she planned to do next.Zoe suggested they meet at a bar on the outskirts of town, just a few minutes from where Nina was. Knowing Zoe was considering her convenience, Nina walked over to the bar. She had barely arrived when they pulled up."Mrs. York, I heard you’re looking to investigate someone," Eugene said bluntly as he got out of the car.Nina nodded and handed him a photo of Madison. "I’ve heard her husband is some kind of manager at a company. Find out where he works. She tried to have me killed, so I’ll make sure her whole life falls apart."Eugene didn’t bat an eye at the intensity of her words. After getting Nina and Zoe settled into a private room, he quickly left to arrange the investigation.Not even ten minutes later, Eugene returned to the room and handed Nina a printed report. Madi
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