Fortunately, Joe wasn’t in any serious condition. The doctor emphasized he should only be getting out of bed occasionally, let alone leaving the hospital. While the doctor was explaining, his gaze lingered on Yvonne, making her feel uneasy.Sensing her discomfort, Nina stepped forward, pulling Yvonne behind her and locking eyes with the doctor. "Excuse me, why are you looking at my friend like that? The family member listed in the patient records is Winona Turner, not Yvonne. Are you sure you’ve got the right person?"The doctor offered a nervous smile. "Oh, I definitely recognize Mrs. Turner. It’s just that while Mr. Turner was unconscious, he kept calling out Yvonne’s name. And hearing you all refer to this young lady as Yvonne, I was curious to know what kind of person could have such a hold on Mr. Turner’s heart?"His comment left everyone stunned, all eyes shifting to Joe. Nigel, clearly unsettled, stepped in front of Yvonne and snapped back at the doctor, "Just because he mu
"Both exhibits were his doing?" Yvonne could not believe it.Nash nodded, lowering his voice further. "At this point, it looks like Winona wasn’t involved. If you make a fuss about it now, it could backfire on you. Just hold off for now, and we’ll figure out a new plan."Nina walked over, gently taking Yvonne’s hand to comfort her. "We know you’re not that kind of person. Let people think whatever they want. It doesn’t change the truth."Yvonne understood, but the frustration still burned inside her.Just then, Winona let out a cold laugh and sneered, "Mrs. York, let me give you some advice. Since you’re pregnant, you should stay away from women like her. When something bad happens, you won’t know who to blame."Nina responded with an icy smile. "Don’t worry about me. Maybe you should focus on helping Mr. Turner recover. The doctor said he won’t be getting out of bed for at least a couple of weeks. If he pushes it, it might just affect your marital satisfaction." She emphasized th
Faced with Yvonne’s reaction, Nigel wasn’t upset. In fact, he found her even more endearing. Bringing her to the art exhibit was just the first step in his carefully planned day. He had planned activities that couples typically would enjoy doing together which included lunch, shopping, and a movie.Yvonne, however, was a bit distracted and didn’t realize where the car was headed until Nigel parked at the shopping district."Where are we going?" she asked, noticing that he had everything planned out, though she didn’t want to spend the day with him.With a gentle smile, Nigel stepped out and offered his hand to help her. "My dear Miss Yvonne, today is all about you. Next on the agenda is lunch at a French restaurant. I hope it’s to your liking."Yvonne furrowed her brows. "I’m sorry, Nigel. I’m not sure if I’ve done something to give you the wrong idea, but I need to make it clear that I…""You don’t like French cuisine?" he interrupted, deliberately misunderstanding her.Realiz
The next moment, Yvonne broke into tears. She did not even know what she was crying for. All she knew was that she felt an overwhelming sadness, something she needed to release. Nina wrapped her arms around her, gently patting her back in silent comfort while shooting a warning glance at Joe.The look was laced with reproach, but Joe didn't seem to care. Instead, he thanked Nina for taking care of Yvonne during this time. As he spoke, he nodded toward his assistant, who handed over a gift.Nina narrowed her eyes in displeasure. "What is this, Mr. Turner? Surely you know your position here."Joe smiled slightly. "I know this is just a small token, and I’m aware Mrs. York probably doesn’t care for such things. But it's all I can offer. It's the thought that counts, I hope you'll accept it.""No, thanks. I don’t accept gifts when no favors have been done. We don’t know each other that well," Nina replied coldly, clearly uninterested in prolonging the interaction. She turned to Yvonn
Yvonne did not want to receive the flowers Joe had sent her.However, when the delivery person arrived, she hurried out to sign for them before Nina could notice. She had not changed her mind. She just did not want Nina to find out.After ripping up the card and tossing the flowers into the trash bin outside, Yvonne walked back inside the house. As soon as she entered, she was greeted by Nina's knowing smile. Yvonne forced an awkward grin, then quickly turned to head upstairs."You know, whatever you're doing, I support you. We're best friends, and you don’t need to worry about me finding out," Nina said, cutting straight to the heart of it. She had already sensed that Yvonne was hiding something.Yvonne felt a pang of guilt. She licked her lips and replied, "I know you're always looking out for me. I just don’t want you to worry. I’ve got this under control, trust me. Just give me some time."Nina raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "Is the person sending flowers really that important? E
Yvonne instinctively turned to flee, but Joe was quicker, catching up and grabbing her arm. "I’ll take you home," he said."No need, Nina’s on her way," Yvonne replied, using her friend as a shield. Nina was the only person she could rely on in moments like this."I swear, I won’t do anything. Just let me drive you back," Joe promised, showing her the IV needle still in his wrist. "Even if I wanted to, I don’t have the strength. I’ve been on IV drips for days, and standing here is making me dizzy."Before she could respond, a gust of wind blew rain against them. Joe did not wait for an answer. He scooped Yvonne up and shoved her into the car.Yvonne gave up struggling, her gaze empty as she stared out the window. Inside the car, Joe gently held her face, his voice soft, "Don’t look at me like that. Don’t treat me this way. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you these past few days... but, never mind. You wouldn’t understand. Just know, I’ve never lied to you. Please, believe
The nurse looked troubled. "Mr. Turner specifically instructed us to deliver all of this to you. He even threatened to file a complaint if you refused, which would affect our department's performance reviews. Miss Yvonne, please don't make things difficult for us. Besides, this nutritious breakfast will help you recover. Why not just accept it?"Could money really bend the rules like this?Yvonne felt furious but did not want to make things harder for the nurse, so she reluctantly allowed the food to stay.After breakfast, Yvonne texted Nina to let her know she was in the hospital, subtly hinting that she wanted to leave. What Yvonne did not know was that Nina was already at the doctor's office, along with Nash and Joe. All three looked grim, their expressions heavy with concern.Especially Nina, whose shoulders shook as she tried to hold back tears. Nash wrapped his arm around her, trying to offer comfort, though he was at a loss for words.Finally, Joe broke the tense silence, h
Nina had guessed right. After leaving the doctor's office, Winona made sure someone leaked the news to Yvonne. By that afternoon, Yvonne had learned about her condition from a patient in the room next door.Kidney failure.Her whole world collapsed in an instant. It felt like a form of release, but deep down, she still had a lingering sense of unwillingness.When she came back, she locked herself in the bathroom. Nina received a call from the doctor and rushed to the hospital immediately. Before she could even ask, the doctor explained what had happened. There was no way the patient in the next room could have known about Yvonne’s condition without someone stirring the pot.Nina instantly thought of Winona. Already harboring ill feelings toward her, Nina’s anger surged. She stormed into Joe’ hospital room and grabbed Winona by the collar, demanding, "Why did you do this? Yvonne has never wronged you. Why would you hurt her like this?"Winona signaled her people to pull Nina away
“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