After dinner, the three of them sat around the coffee table, reminiscing about old times. The atmosphere was warm and nostalgic. Nina was reluctant to leave and go to bed, and it wasn’t until Julia pretended to be upset that she finally agreed to head to her room.As she was getting ready for bed, Nina went to the bathroom and suddenly felt that something was wrong. When she looked down, she saw blood."Mom! Mom, come quickly!" Nina called out in a panic, completely unsure of what to do and instinctively reaching out for Julia.Julia rushed over, alarmed at the sight of a few drops of blood on the floor. She quickly helped Nina get dressed and guided her back to bed before calling for Zion at the door.Seeing blood during pregnancy could be serious, and neither Julia nor Zion dared to delay. They immediately took Nina to the hospital.After a thorough examination, the doctor diagnosed it as a threatened miscarriage and recommended that Nina stay in the hospital to rest and take
Nash hesitated, feeling uneasy. He wasn't sure what the back room of the nurse's station was used for, but the fact that they were alone, combined with Lisa's earlier behavior, made him wary."You should bring it out. If it's not convenient, I can come back later," he said, preparing to leave.Lisa, called out, "Mr. York, do you really think I'd try something? Relax, there are cameras everywhere. What could I possibly do?"Reluctantly, Nash stepped inside but only stood at the doorway.Lisa immediately moved closer to him. She wasn't in her nurse's uniform anymore, but instead wore a strappy short dress that showed off her figure. Nash kept his gaze straight ahead, refusing to look at her. "Nurse Lisa, where's the medication?" he asked.Lisa pouted, "Mr. York, I strained my back while getting your wife's medicine. Could you rub it for me?" She grabbed his hand, trying to place it on her back.Nash quickly pulled his hand away, forcefully pushing her off. His expression turned
Nash didn’t wait for the nurse to speak. He immediately called the hospital director and made his stance clear that Lisa had to be fired. Lisa panicked, clutching Nash’s legs and begging, "Mr. York, I realize my mistake. Please, give me another chance. My parents went through so much to get me this job. I can't let them down.""If you were truly concerned about your parents’ efforts, you wouldn’t have slandered me," Nina stated firmly. "Director, if she's not fired, I’ll escalate this matter, and if the hospital gets dragged into it, don’t say I didn’t warn you."Understanding Nash’s influence, the director immediately had Lisa removed from the hospital. Her cries and protests echoed through the entire floor as she was dragged out. The director apologized profusely to the couple and reassigned the head nurse to take over Lisa's duties.Nash was satisfied and, on his way out, mentioned that he would fund the renovation of the inpatient department. The director was overjoyed and tha
"Not a chance," Lisa snapped, her agitation causing the pliers to nick Nina's neck. Blood trickled down, and the onlookers gasped in horror."Well, then I can’t agree to your demands. Do whatever you want," Nash said, pulling out his phone, pretending to call the police, though his eyes never left Lisa. He was ready to act the moment she made a move.Lisa hesitated, realizing too late that she should have acted when she first entered the room. The arrival of the hospital director only added to her unease."Lisa, what are you doing? Let her go!" the director pleaded, trying to approach her. But Lisa pulled Nina closer and backed toward the window.Nina, sensing the danger, spoke softly, "You can still stop this. Once the police get here, it will be too late to turn back.""Think about your parents," the director added, hoping to appeal to her sense of reason.Nash quietly inched closer, but Lisa noticed and panicked. "If you come any closer, I’ll do it!" she screamed, tightening h
Nina did not want to argue, so she remained silent. Pharaoh was about to continue persuading her when Nash returned from his phone call, noticing the tension between them.He glanced at Nina, then at Pharaoh. "Father, what were you two talking about? Did something happen?"Pharaoh explained his concerns. "I suggested that she come back with me. That way, you can focus on your work without worrying."Nash smiled slightly, understanding his father-in-law's good intentions. "Is that all? There's no need to go to such lengths. I’ve already handed over the company matters to Quincy."Nina, feeling a bit guilty, asked, "Won’t that be too much for him? He hasn’t taken a day off in years."Nash chuckled, "He’s going on a business trip anyway. He’ll be with his new assistant, so the workload won’t be too heavy. It’ll give him a chance to relax."Nash wasn’t lying about the workload, but it was still no easy task. At that moment, Quincy was sitting at the airport with furrowed brows. His
Nash placed the warm milk in front of Nina, watching as she drank it."Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it," Quincy assured. "But we can’t just let them off without some kind of consequence."Nash frowned slightly, thinking for a moment. "You're right. They need to be disciplined, enough to earn the respect of the employees. I trust you'll handle it well. I’m busy on my end, so let’s leave it at that."After hanging up, Nash grabbed a napkin and gently wiped Nina’s mouth, sneaking in a quick kiss.Nina playfully rolled her eyes at him, but it was all in good humor. This had become their normal routine, and even Orion was shaking his head with a grin."What’s wrong? Am I not allowed to be nice to my wife?" Nash teased, lightly tapping Orion on the head.Orion laughed. "You are! I’m going to treat my wife just as well when I’m older!"Hearing their young son talk about marriage and taking care of his future wife made them both chuckle.As night fell, the city drifted into a sweet s
Quincy patted the young man who had cut in line on the shoulder and said, "Hey, please wait your turn."His tone was polite but firm. The young man, wearing a pair of flip-flops, turned around with a look of annoyance and snapped, "Mind your own business, man."Lydia tugged on Quincy's sleeve, shaking her head. "Let it go. It's not worth getting into a fight over."Quincy gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I've got this."He then stepped in front of the young man, which made Lydia nervous. She gripped her phone tightly, ready to call the police if things got out of hand. The guy looked like trouble, and she wasn't sure Quincy could handle him.The young man, now in Quincy's shadow, looked up with irritation. "What now...?"Before he could finish, Quincy cut him off with a voice that was still polite but carried an icy edge. "I suggest you watch your tone."As he spoke, Quincy casually stretched his neck and wrists, revealing the well-defined muscles in his arms. The sigh
The men sized up Lydia, and upon noticing her beauty, their faces immediately lit up with suggestive smiles."So, this is Miss Fay.""Miss Fay, you're quite young to have secured such a close position with Mr. York. You must be something special."Lydia’s expression remained unchanged. She had heard these kinds of remarks and seen these looks more times than she could count. If she let every one of them get to her, she would have been driven crazy long ago.Quincy’s eyes turned cold as he spoke up. "Lydia earned her role as Mr. York’s secretary through sheer ability. In fact, she’s even more capable than I am, and Mr. York holds her in high regard."Lydia was taken aback, glancing over at Quincy. She hadn’t expected him to stand up for her, let alone praise her at his own expense.The men quickly caught on, with one of the executives still grinning. "You’re right, Mr. Quincy. It seems you’re quite fond of Miss Fay."Lydia’s eyes grew cold. She had no intention of arguing with th
Up ahead was a village. “Miss, it’s really late today, so I’ll take you home first. My parents and brother will take good care of you, and you can get a good night’s sleep at our place. Once you’ve rested, we’ll take you to town tomorrow.” The young girl tightened her grip on Vera’s hand. “My mom is a great cook! She’ll definitely make a big meal to welcome you.” It really was late. The sky was completely dark, and Vera’s phone battery was nearly dead. The girl was still so young. She had already gone out of her way to bring Vera back from the deep mountains. It wouldn’t be right to ask her to take her all the way to town tonight. Vera still had some cash in her pocket. After covering the cost of transportation, she decided she would leave the rest for the girl’s family. If it weren’t for the girl, who knew how long she would have been wandering in the mountains? “My house is just ahead. It’s not in great shape, so don’t mind it too much. Next year, whe
Vera’s nerves tensed up again. A sudden sound in the middle of nowhere was never a good sign. If it was a snake or some other large animal, she would be in serious trouble. Her ankle was swollen, and she couldn’t run fast. Would this be where it all ended for her? She had to leave quietly. But the ground was covered in thick layers of fallen leaves, with dry branches hidden underneath. Crack. As she stepped back, her foot snapped a twig, the sound piercing through the silence. Only one thought filled her mind—this was it. The rustling nearby grew louder. Vera squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself. Then, a voice suddenly spoke beside her. “Miss, why are you here alone? Didn’t your family come with you?” It was a person. Not an animal. Vera’s eyes flew open. A young girl stood in front of her. Fear dissolved in an instant, replaced by relief. She was saved.“I came here alone. Little one, do you know how to get out of here?” Ver
Hunter took a bite of the biscuits and ravioli she had made. The taste was surprisingly good. It wasn’t on the level of a Michelin-starred chef, but it had something even more special—the taste of home. And of course, there was the oatmeal. He took one spoonful after another, finishing the entire bowl. *Meanwhile, Vera still hadn’t found her brother. Disappointment weighed heavily on her as she prepared to leave. But just then, her phone buzzed. An anonymous message. She tapped it open and stared at the image attached. It was a watch. Alone, a watch meant nothing. But this watch was her brother’s. Vera immediately zoomed in on the photo, carefully inspecting the engravings inside. There they were—his initials. No mistake. This was his watch. Below the image, a location pin was attached. The place was nearby. Vera’s eyes filled with determination. If she had found nothing, she would have simply left. But now, she had recei
When Yelena woke up again, she was shocked to find that she wasn’t at the club. She sat up abruptly, looking around in confusion. Then, she got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and pushed the door open. “Where am I?” “At my place,” Hunter replied casually. He was working in the living room when he saw her wake up. “You slept for a long time. I couldn’t just leave you alone at the club, so I brought you back here.” Seeing the uncertainty on her face, he added, “It’s already late. Just stay here for the night. I’ll take you back tomorrow.” Yelena nodded. There was no other choice now. “There’s food in the fridge. If you’re hungry, heat something up. There are also snacks in the drawer—take whatever you want.” “Alright.” She really was hungry. She opened the drawer, grabbed a few small bread rolls, ate them quickly, and then went back to her room to rest. *The next morning, Yelena woke up early. Thinking about everything Hunter had done—treatin
Yelena quickly lowered her arm, letting her sleeve fall over the mark to cover it. “It’s nothing. Here’s your cocktail. Please enjoy.” “Yelena.” Hunter grabbed her wrist without warning. He pulled up her sleeve, revealing the deep, ugly scars on her arm. His brows knitted together instantly. “Who did this to you?” The force behind it was brutal—downright inhuman. Yelena remained silent. Who else could have done this besides Liam? But she had agreed to this. She had willingly accepted Hunter’s request and entered Liam’s world. She had no right to complain. Her silence gave Hunter all the confirmation he needed. “Liam did this to you, didn’t he?” Yelena nodded. “It’s nothing. The wounds have already started healing. They look worse than they feel. Give it some time, and they’ll fade.” “Wait here.” Hunter stood abruptly and walked away. Yelena had no idea what he was doing, but since he told her to wait, she didn’t argue. A few minu
Then again, it made sense. How could a normal person possibly empathize with a lunatic? If Yelena could understand Liam, that would make her just as twisted. *For the next few days, Yelena stayed home to recover. During that time, Liam came back a few times, bringing her flowers and food. Like a child showing off a treasure, he placed the food in front of her. “Yelena, these are your favorite honey crullers. I got them fresh from the bakery. Try them and see if you like them.” “I’m not really hungry.” She didn’t want to eat anything he gave her. She couldn’t even stand looking at him. But she had made a promise. So, she had to force herself to stay. Liam’s expression darkened. “Are you really not hungry, or do you just not want to eat what I give you?” For someone like him, once he had lost his temper once, the second time would only come faster and smoother. With a heavy thud, he slammed the honey crullers onto the table. “Yes, I hit y
If Liam had been a normal person, Hunter never would have sent her here in the first place. But of course, Yelena could only think that. She wasn’t suicidal enough to say it out loud. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. “I was really just messaging an old classmate. If you don’t believe me, go ahead—check my phone.” She wasn’t worried. Whenever she contacted Hunter, she deleted each message immediately. She had even forged an entire fake conversation just in case Liam ever got suspicious. So, no matter how thoroughly he checked, there would be nothing for him to find. Liam narrowed his eyes. “Is that so? Then why do I still feel like you’re lying? Women like you—nothing but liars, every last one of you.” Then, he struck her again. Yelena screamed. The pain was relentless, merciless. She had no idea how long it lasted—only that by the time he finally stopped, she was barely breathing. Her body slumped against the floor
Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind Yelena. She spun around, her heart hammering in her chest. Liam was walking toward her, a faint smile on his lips—but the coldness in his eyes told a different story. Memories of his past cruelty flashed through her mind, sending a shudder down her spine. She forced herself to stay calm. “Who are you messaging?” He was getting closer. So close that when he finally stopped, they were nearly pressed against each other. Then, without warning, his fingers clamped around her chin, gripping tighter and tighter. Pain shot through her jaw, and Yelena winced. “No one. Just an old classmate. I ran into her a few days ago while I was out.” “Oh? Is that so?” Liam’s voice softened, almost gentle. To anyone watching, he might have seemed like a kind, easygoing man. But Yelena knew better. He would never let her off that easily. And sure enough— In the next second, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her hea
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.“Haven’t I been just fine lately?“Or do you think my hand isn’t injured enough? If that’s the case, go ahead—do it yourself. “You already know I wouldn’t fight back no matter what.” Without warning, Yelena stretched out her injured hand, an act that instantly enraged Liam. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He snapped. “I was just making a casual remark. Is that really what you think of me? I already told you—I’m not going to lay a hand on you.“It wasn’t intentional before, and you know it. We both do. Stop acting like you’re above all this when we both know who sent you here.” Yelena felt a pang of sadness. They had spent so much time together, yet this was how he treated her—always choosing to hurt her. “I know—I wasn’t someone you chose, and none of this was intentional. But after all this time we've spent together...“I thought maybe I was a little different to you. But I guess I was wrong. Nothing has changed at all.