The words made Nash stop in his tracks, turning back to look at Quincy. "Which woman?" Quincy, as the messenger, felt like he had a knife to his throat. How did this married couple end up like this? The wife had to help her husband find a one-night stand while the husband kept their marriage hidden from the public. However, there seemed to be feelings involved. He couldn't understand. But caught in the middle like a sandwich cookie, he lived each day on edge."It's... the woman you had a one-night stand with." Quincy felt Nash's displeasure just by uttering those words. Nash was still unhappy about Nina's rejection yesterday, and she already brought another woman to him today. Was she so eager? Did she want to push him away so badly that she'd be satisfied if he took an interest in another woman? Nash's displeased face turned extremely cold and unwelcoming, but he remained composed, saying coldly, "Got it, let her wait!"When Nina returned and hadn't even set her bag do
Nina looked at Linda. She was so confident it was herself and Nina almost believed it. However, Quincy was here, and there was work to handle. She didn't have time to respond and could only back away. Three hours passed, and Nina had not returned. However, at this moment, the meeting room doors opened. As the attendees dispersed, Nash emerged from the meeting room. Quincy stood to the side, saying, "Mr. York, the lounge." Nash furrowed his brows, his expression cold. He glanced at his watch and couldn't help but sneer, thinking they sure could hold out. He turned and headed for the lounge. At this point, only Linda was in the lounge. She stiffened when she heard the door open, seeing no one else was there, she lay on the couch for a while. Nash entered the room and saw a girl lying on the couch. His gaze swept around, not finding Nina, and he stepped forward. With one hand in his pocket, he stopped in front of the girl, his expression icy as he scrutinized her in silence. L
Linda's face stiffened, hands clenched tightly, digging into her palms. Nash saw her unable to speak, his brows furrowing tightly, and asked sharply, "Is it that hard to answer?"At that moment, Nina hurriedly rushed back from outside, just in time to hear Nash's sharp question from inside. She arrived late and then released her hold on the door handle.Linda hesitated for a long while, coupled with Nash's pressing demeanor, her inner pressure suddenly surged. She lifted her gaze to the cold and indifferent man before her. This man was not easy to deal with and quite dangerous; one wrong step and she could fall into irretrievable ruin. Timidly, she said, "That hotel... There are... many wealthy people. I need money. If I could meet a wealthy man, I wouldn't have to work so hard."Nash furrowed his brows even deeper, his gaze toward her changing. Her words amounted to nothing more than selling herself for money. Indeed, in today's society, there were many such people, exchanging th
Linda cried hard, her emotions breaking down, as if she had truly spent a night with Nash. Nina felt unsure now, as it seemed settled, so she had no choice but to leave the lounge.When she emerged, the office was abuzz, everyone clueless about what transpired inside. All they knew was that a unfamiliar girl had waited in the lounge for hours, and Nash had finally gone to see her, emerging with a cold and displeased expression."What happened in there, Nina?" a curious colleague asked. As soon as one person asked, countless ears wanted to eavesdrop. Nina glanced at them and remarked, "You're itching to find out, huh? Why not go ask Mr. York?" Her words held weight, and the moment "Mr. York" was mentioned, even the most curious refrained from probing further, turning their attention back to their tasks.Nina spent some time in the pantry. Everything seemed unrelated to her, yet somehow connected, but she couldn't speak up. She felt very conflicted. Why had she appeared again, goi
The helper brought the tea and placed it on the coffee table. "Madam, your tea," he said. Linda dared not be presumptuous. Upon seeing the helper approach, she quickly tossed aside the cushion and sat upright, politely addressing the helper, "Thank you very much." She looked at the cup on the table, still emitting steam. The porcelain was exquisite, and the tea was infused with roses, delicate, exuding a fragrance of roses. She took a sip, and the faint scent spread in her mouth. She felt like everything had become much more sophisticated. "It's delicious. I've never had such delicious tea before," she remarked.Perhaps she had never seen such a luxurious place before. At this moment, everything she saw and drank seemed to be the best. Even the tea felt different from that in other people's homes.It was the helper's duty to serve people well, so upon hearing the praise, he responded, "You're too kind, Madam." With that, he withdrew.Linda stared at the helper for a long time.
Nina ignored her and headed for the door. A car pulled up and she got in. Linda could only watch as the car drove away. It wasn't until the shadow of the car disappeared that Linda shifted her gaze. Even in the luxurious villa behind her, she felt a bit uncomfortable being alone.However, Linda's current concern was greater. Why didn't Nina believe her when Nash already did? Nina was a good person. Maybe if Linda explained everything to her again one day, she might believe her! Comforting herself this way, Linda felt a bit better and turned to go back inside. The helpers were busy tidying up her room. After they finished, they politely informed her and she entered her room. The bedroom was spacious, with a large bed—fit for a princess—complete with the canopy she had always dreamed of, larger than the entire space of her old house. Everything was brand new.Opening the closet, she found rows of beautiful dresses, a dazzling array. Such scenes, everything before her, she had onl
Sally took pleasure in putting Nina down to feed her own sense of superiority. Nina's hurt and distress further fueled Sally's desire for revenge significantly.Successfully observing Nina's pale complexion and unhappy expression, she smirked with satisfaction, her demeanor changing as she no longer bothered to engage with her. Speaking more would have been just a waste of breath.Sally's words weren't entirely without merit.There was another woman still living in the villa.In Nina's impression, Nash was someone who knew his boundaries and wouldn't casually show leniency to women outside.He had rejected Melody so quickly, but hadn't rejected Linda, and even arranged for her to stay in the villa. Wasn't this a form of favoritism?Nash had been convinced that Linda was the woman he encountered that night, and it had been her first time. She had appeared so fragile, in need of protection, which might have evoked different feelings.Perhaps he had even felt she was different fr
His words warmed Linda's heart enough for her to sit close to him. "Mr. York, can someone like me really go to college?""Yes." Linda smiled happily, her lips forming a gentle curve. "Mr. York, you're so kind to me. You're the best person in the world to me!"This statement caused a slight change in Nash's expression. He set down the newspaper he was holding. Nina watched them, observing their harmonious interaction and genuine laughter, the first time she had seen such a lively scene. Even when Nash was with Miranda, he didn't appear as relaxed.Linda's easy-to-please smile was evident. Just the thought of going to school made her this happy, which was indeed different from many others. She was innocent and inexperienced, making people see her as pure and deserving of sympathy. Perhaps that was her charm."Madam, why don't you come in and sit?" Nina stood at the door and was politely asked by a passing helper. Her words were overheard by those inside. Nash shifted his gaze to
Back home, the first thing Karina did was take a shower, cranking the water temperature to the highest setting as if that was the only way to wash away the grim memories of the night.She scrubbed her arms fiercely, the spots where those repulsive men had touched her. Even through her clothes, the thought made her feel sick. Again and again, she lathered herself with soap until her skin turned slightly red, but no matter how hard she tried, the discomfort in her heart lingered.After her shower, Karina changed into clean pajamas and sat on the edge of her bed, unable to sleep. Her gaze fell on her phone. She hesitated for a moment before sending a text to Wilfred.“Dr. Wilfred, I’m truly grateful for your help tonight. I’ll never forget it.”After sending the message, she set her phone down, hugged her knees, and curled up on the bed. Returning to the hospital had always been her dream, but now she worried whether she could truly meet expectations and not let Wilfred down.As she
The men exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating for a moment before reluctantly mumbling, “Sorry,” to Karina. Wilfred watched their retreating figures with thinly veiled disgust. Turning to Karina, he asked gently, “Are you okay?” Karina shook her head lightly, brushing it off. “I’m fine, Dr. Wilfred. Thank you.” Wilfred let out a soft sigh. “Come with me. You shouldn’t be working here.” Karina nodded, following him out of the private room. Wilfred guided Karina through the bustling bar. The pounding music and chaotic chatter seemed distant and muted, fading into the background as they moved. They made their way to the parking lot, where Wilfred opened the car door, carefully helping Karina into the passenger seat before getting in himself and starting the engine. As Karina buckled her seatbelt, she turned to Wilfred with a look of curiosity. “Dr. Wilfred, didn’t you say you had things to handle at the hospital? How did you get here so quickly?” Wilfred kept his ey
When Karina stepped into the room, one of the men, his gaze hazy from drink, chuckled and said, “Well, so this is the beauty they sent over?”Karina forced herself to stay calm and replied politely, “Good evening, gentlemen. Here’s the drinks you ordered.” She began placing the drinks on the table one by one, hoping to finish quickly. Before she could finish, another man grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him. “Come, have a few drinks with us, sweetheart.”Karina’s heart raced as she pulled her hand away with force. “Sir, I’m just here to deliver your drinks. I don’t entertain guests.”The men burst into laughter. “What bar do you think you’re in? There’s no such thing as not entertaining here. Don’t play coy, sweetheart. Sit with us, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely.”Fear surged through Karina as she instinctively stepped back, trying to maintain some distance. “I’m really just here for work,” she said, her voice trembling. “Please respect me!”But the men, emboldened
The woman leaned closer to Karina, lowering her voice. “You ruined my fun. The manager and I were having a great time, and you interrupted us. You need to make it up to me.”Karina’s frustration flared. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. The door wasn’t fully closed, and I was only there to talk about resigning.”But the woman wasn’t about to let it go. “I don’t care. You need to make it up to me. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your night will go smoothly or that you’ll get to leave this job without issues.”Anger surged through Karina. “You’re being unreasonable! I didn’t do anything wrong!”The woman sneered. “In this bar, what I say goes. If you don’t cooperate, I have plenty of ways to make sure you can’t stay.”Karina knew arguing with her in this chaotic environment would only make things worse. But the idea of being bullied like this made her seethe. Taking a deep breath, she tried to stay calm. “What do you want me to do?”The woman’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “It’s simple. Ha
A strikingly glamorous woman sat perched on the manager’s lap, the two locked in a tight embrace, passionately kissing. The scene was nothing short of intimate, their connection palpable.Karina stood awkwardly at the door, caught between stepping in and retreating. She coughed lightly, trying to get their attention.Hearing the sound, the manager gently pushed the woman aside and turned toward the door. His expression showed no embarrassment; instead, he appeared slightly annoyed. “Karina, why didn’t you knock before coming in?”Karina forced a smile, her discomfort evident. “The door wasn’t fully closed. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m here to talk about resigning.”The manager adjusted his clothes, gesturing for the woman to sit aside. He raised his brows slightly. “Resign? Why the sudden decision to quit?”Karina bit her lip nervously. “It’s for personal reasons. I really can’t continue working here.”The manager leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. A f
Karina froze for a moment, staring at Wilfred's earnest eyes. A wave of mixed emotions swirled within her. She was indeed under immense financial pressure. The entanglements with Kieran and the Stone family had left her utterly drained, and every penny counted. Yet, her pride made it hard for her to accept charity, even from someone like Wilfred. Lowering her head, she softly said, “Thank you for your kindness, Dr. Wilfred, but I can’t accept your money. I’ll work hard and solve this on my own.” Wilfred frowned, stepping closer. He gently tilted her chin upward, compelling her to meet his gaze. “Karina, I understand your concerns. But working in an environment like this, exhausting yourself, and exposing yourself to danger isn’t the solution. It could harm your health and reputation. “I’m not offering charity. I see you as a friend, and I want to help you through this tough time.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she bit her lip. “But I don’t want to owe yo
He didn’t recognize Wilfred and dismissed him as some young guy trying to play the hero. “Want to play hero? Take a look at yourself first. Get lost, or I’ll call the manager and have you thrown out!” To him, customers were ranked in tiers, and as a VIP who could afford an Ace of Spades, he considered himself in a league far above the average patron. Wilfred’s gaze flicked over him, filled with disdain as though he were looking at a fool. Even the thought of engaging with him felt like a waste of effort. Wilfred turned to Karina and said calmly, “Go get the manager.” “Got it, I’ll be right back.” Karina, understanding the urgency of the situation, didn’t hesitate and dashed toward the bar. Seeing her run off, the man felt his pride take a massive hit, as though he had been publicly humiliated. His face twisted in rage as he swung a fist toward Wilfred. But Wilfred wasn’t just anyone. He had training, and dealing with a drunkard was no challenge at all. The thought
Karina’s expression darkened instantly.Yes, she needed money, and she genuinely wanted to earn it, but she had not fallen to the point of trading her body for cash. She stepped back, keeping her tone polite but firm. “Sir, I’m just a server here. My job is to sell drinks—nothing more.”“Don’t play innocent,” the man sneered, his gaze filled with undisguised contempt. “If you’re working in a place like this, doesn’t that mean you’ll do anything for the right price? Look, I’m not asking for free. If you make us happy tonight, I’ll buy everything on your cart. Don’t believe me? Go ask your manager if he’s heard of Mike Taylor.”Karina forced an awkward smile, grabbing the cart and trying to leave. She had no intention of compromising herself, but she also couldn’t afford to escalate the situation.However, the drunk man, seeing her attempt to walk away, grew angry. He shot to his feet and grabbed her arm, muttering profanities under his breath. “I’m giving you face by choosing you,
In the end, Karina decided to call the police.The officers arrived quickly and brought both of them to the station. After understanding the situation, they began by addressing Kieran. “I have a sister too, so I understand your feelings,” one of the officers said. “But your sister is an adult, and you need to respect her decisions. Plus, you’ve caused a significant disturbance for her neighbors, and this qualifies as a public nuisance.”“I’m really sorry, Officer. I got too emotional because my dad is sick, and I wanted to persuade her to come home,” Kieran replied, his tone remarkably convincing. If Karina hadn’t witnessed his other side herself, she might have believed his performance too. The officer then turned to Karina. “Miss, when a parent falls ill, it’s a serious matter. Even if there are issues within the family, the focus should be on resolving them. You can’t avoid it forever.” Karina quickly came up with an excuse. “It’s not that I don’t want to go back, but I