Nina did not want to argue, so she nodded in agreement. Just then, the director called for everyone to gather. She took Orion’s hand and started walking toward the meeting point, but Miss Flores stepped in front of them. She pulled Nina aside and took Orion’s hand instead. When Orion tried to pull away, she tightened her grip, causing tears to well up in his eyes.Nina quickly intervened, pushing Miss Flores aside and sternly asking, "Are you trying to hurt him on purpose?"Miss Flores looked hurt and defensive. "Orion’s mom, you’ve misunderstood. I was just trying to bond with him, I didn’t mean to hurt him." She crouched down to Orion’s level and added, "I’m sorry, Orion. Did I hurt you? That was my mistake. I’ll be more careful next time and won’t grip so hard."Nina didn’t give her another chance and scooped up Orion, heading directly toward the director. The film crew was much larger this time, with many more people involved. Miss Flores quietly approached Nina, subtly re
Now Orion understood that Miss Flores had taken him to this unfamiliar place without his mom knowing, and he realized he needed to contact her quickly. He looked around, then darted towards a nearby elevator.Miss Flores, busy explaining things to Nina over the phone, didn’t notice that Orion had entered the elevator. By the time she realized, he was already gone.Orion followed a group of people into one of the buildings in the complex. When they exited through the back door, he followed them outside. The street was busy with people, and Orion didn’t know what to do next.Suddenly, a woman approached him, grabbed him tightly, and exclaimed, "Son, my sweet boy, Mommy finally found you!""Let me go! I’m not your son! I need to find my mom!" Orion cried, tears streaming down his face.Though he hadn’t been scared when Miss Flores took him, being held by this strange woman terrified him. Fear overwhelmed him, and all he could do was scream for help.Orion’s cries attracted the atten
"I think the same," Nina agreed. "I'll let the company know right away."Just as she pulled out her phone, Nash stopped her. She looked at him, puzzled.Nash sat on the edge of the desk, thinking for a moment before saying, "Here's what you should do. Text Miss Flores and arrange a meeting for tomorrow at noon. Let's see how she handles it."Confused but trusting him, Nina sent the message to Miss Flores.They met at a coffee shop, where Miss Flores had already arrived, accompanied by Rosie, the assistant to the agency’s boss. As soon as she saw Nina, Miss Flores stood up and greeted her, "Nina, you're here.""Take a seat. Have you ordered coffee yet?" Nina asked as she called over a waiter and ordered a mocha. "About yesterday, I thought about it all night, and I'm still shaken up. I've decided to pause working with your agency for now."Both Miss Flores and Rosie looked panicked. Miss Flores quickly pulled out a gift she had prepared in advance."Nina, these are the latest D
The director considered that Orion was still a young child, so they kept the game simple. When it began, there was an issue with the number of participants. One of the guests had an early flight the next morning, so they needed someone to fill in on the spot. The director scanned the room and decided to have Nina join the game. This would not only help Orion feel less nervous but also make the segment more engaging for the audience.The order of turns was determined by drawing lots. Orion and Nina were the last group. The previous three groups had performed well, with one group guessing four correct answers out of five, and the other two guessing three.When it was Orion and Nina’s turn, Orion drew while Nina guessed. The clue was the phrase "Piece of Cake." The room filled with whispers as people wondered how Orion would represent the idiom.Orion quickly drew a slice of cake on a plate, adding a fork next to it. Nina squinted at the drawing, thinking hard. "Is it... birthday c
Realizing they could not prank Orion, everyone decided to return to playing the game as usual. After dinner, Orion started fussing about wanting to go home, and Nina couldn't say no. She asked the director for leave.At first, the director wasn’t happy about it since there were plans for early morning filming the next day. But Nina was firm, and eventually, he agreed, on the condition that she return promptly in the morning.After a heavy rain, the rural road was muddy. However, Nina, being an experienced driver, handled it with ease. The bumpy ride eventually brought them to the main road. Nina sent a message to Nash, suggesting they meet at the downtown shopping district.There weren’t many cars on the road, and Nina drove steadily. Suddenly, from the opposite lane, a large truck veered toward them, smashing through the median barrier. The truck swerved and headed straight for their car."Mom! Watch out!" Orion shouted.Nina had already reacted instinctively. She floored the g
Nina called Nash, her voice urgent. She did not want to wait for a passing car. Who knew when those two would wake up?If they did, and she was still there, she would have to fight again. She wasn’t afraid of fighting, knowing full well that ordinary people couldn’t match her. However, she was worried they might bring reinforcements.Nash picked up while driving."We ran into some trouble. Can you come get us?" Nina said immediately."I’m on my way. Stay safe," Nash replied, not hanging up as he sped towards them.As the rain began to fall, Nina felt her body growing heavier. She knew it was a fever from her injury, and regretted not bringing her bag. There was medicine in it. They had been walking for nearly half an hour without seeing a single car pass. Luckily, those two men had not followed them. Maybe they were still unconscious, or maybe they thought Nina and Orion had already left.Just as Nina was about to collapse, a car pulled over."Nina, Orion!" Miss Flores excla
"He went to school," Nash replied, handing her a glass of water. "I think it's better for him to stay focused on his education, even though... well, it's just kindergarten for now."In kindergarten, they had not taught reading yet, but they had group activities that helped build a good social environment.As for the entertainment industry, Nash still had his concerns. He couldn’t help but think of Miranda. Things started off well for her, but after entering showbiz, she began to change, little by little.Orion was still so young.And with the wealth Nash had, if Orion developed an interest in the entertainment industry later on, he could easily build an entire entertainment empire on the foundation Nash had already established."Yeah. I've been with Orion constantly these past few days, so now that he's not around, I feel a little lost," Nina admitted, a hint of sadness in her voice.Nash gently stroked her cheek. "I get it. How about we pick him up together this afternoon?""Ok
Nina shot him a playful glare."Mommy~," Orion whined, shaking her arm and turning on his charm.Nash quickly followed suit, mimicking Orion's tone. "Honey~."Nina couldn't take it anymore. "Alright, both of you, stop it! Can we just go home now?" she said, flustered.They were still standing at the kindergarten entrance, and talking about making babies was hardly appropriate. Although she and Nash were now like an old married couple, they couldn’t be so shameless in public. If anyone saw them, especially a reporter, it could easily turn into unwanted gossip.Nash grinned and pulled her close. "Alright, let’s go home and work on that baby!" He led her to the car, his arm around her shoulders, while his other hand held Orion’s. But Orion slipped out of his grip and ran over to Nina’s side instead.Although Nina didn’t say anything, her gaze fell on Nash with a deep, lingering look of a silent reproach.As soon as they got home, Nash’s father, Pharaoh, greeted them at the door.
“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
After hearing Wilfred’s response, the director could barely contain his excitement. He immediately signed the contract.As he finished, the director couldn’t help but remark, “Dr. Wilfred, I had a feeling you’d be a great ally for our hospital. And now I see I was absolutely right!”Wilfred replied in his usual composed tone, “Well, considering you’ve helped me solve a big problem, it’s only fair I return the favor.”The director froze for a moment. When had he ever helped Wilfred? He had no idea what Wilfred was referring to.Instinctively, he glanced at Karina, catching the fleeting surprise and uncertainty in her expression. Realization dawned, and he let out a hearty laugh. “Dr. Wilfred, you’re too kind! Honestly, Dr. Norman is so talented. She’s hardly a burden. If anything, we’re the ones benefiting.”The rest of the conversation blurred in Karina’s mind. Her thoughts were stuck on Wilfred’s earlier comment, delivered so casually yet carrying so much weight. Was it really
Karina froze for a moment, watching as Wilfred walked through the crowd toward her. He wasn’t wearing his white coat but casual clothes—a khaki turtleneck sweater that softened the sharp angles of his features, paired with tailored pants. The outfit gave off a relaxed, homely vibe, yet the air of aloofness surrounding him remained untouched. If anything, that distance only added to his allure, intensifying the crowd’s fascination and desire to get closer. Wilfred extended a hand to the hospital director. “Dr. Lincoln, thank you for personally greeting me.” “No need for thanks, Dr. Wilfred,” the director said with a chuckle. “It’s a privilege to have someone of your stature visit our hospital. As the director, it’s my duty to show the proper respect.” Their handshake was brief, followed by the usual pleasantries. Karina kept her gaze down, avoiding any indication of familiarity with Wilfred. She guessed he would prefer it that way, and her suspicion was confirmed when