Once they were seated, Shelly brought out tea and placed it in front of Yvonne and Nigel. While they were served in nicer cups, Shelly and David used chipped porcelain cups for themselves.Nigel silently observed the scene, watching as the couple continued their act. David began reminiscing about the past, but seeing Yvonne’s confused expression only made Nigel more certain that these two were fakes. They clearly were not the ones selling a kidney, but their true motives remained unclear. "Miss Yvonne, I understand if you don’t remember, but that’s okay. As long as we keep it in our hearts. Go ahead and drink, cold tea is no good," David urged, his eyes misty, performing his role flawlessly.Unaware of the deception, Yvonne raised the cup to drink, but Nigel stopped her, whispering not to drink the tea.David smiled slightly, trying to reassure her. "It’s just a small sip, it won’t hurt you. Besides, would I really harm my own benefactor?"Yvonne, trusting him, took a sip. Sati
Nigel lunged forward and shoved Yvonne out of the way just as the beam crashed down. A sharp scream of pain echoed through the room. It had landed directly on his legs."Nigel!" Yvonne cried out, terrified. She tried to crawl over to him, but before she could reach him, a piece of wood knocked her unconscious.When Yvonne came to, she was back in her hospital bed. A bandage was wrapped around her head and the dull ache reminded her of the injury. The first thing that came to mind was Nigel. She immediately tried to get out of bed to find him.Just as she swung her legs off the bed, Nina walked in. Seeing her trying to get up, she rushed over, gently pushing Yvonne back onto the bed. "What are you doing? You need to rest.""I need to find Nigel. How is he? Please tell me he's still alive," Yvonne begged, clutching Nina's hands. Tears were streaming down her face, soaking the sheets beneath her.Nina wiped her tears and soothed her, "He's alive. But seriously, what were you both thi
Yvonne scolded sharply, "What are you doing? Haven't you caused us enough harm already?"Her words froze Joe in place. He stared at her, stunned, as if he couldn’t process what she had said.Nigel, adding fuel to the fire, pretended to wince in pain. "Ow, it hurts, like a needle stabbing me. Yvonne, can you check if something's wrong with my legs?"Joe immediately pulled the blanket over Nigel’s legs and scoffed, "Nigel, let me call a doctor. Yvonne doesn’t know about these things.""None of your business," Yvonne snapped, not giving Joe any kindness. She stood up and began to carefully examine Nigel's legs, as if handling something precious.Watching her tender care, Joe felt a crushing pain inside, like his heart was being twisted apart. His anger turned to Nigel, who was looking at him smugly, clearly enjoying the moment.Joe clenched his fists but knew he couldn’t lose control. If he did, he would only make Yvonne hate him more.After a long pause, he managed to calm himself
Joe knew that Yvonne's words earlier were mostly to stop him from bothering her, but Nigel wanted to take advantage of the situation. Seeing Yvonne look down without a word, Nigel refused to give up and asked again, "If marrying me would get rid of Joe for good, would you do it?"Yvonne lifted her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "That wouldn’t be fair to you."Nigel let out a bitter laugh. "Fairness doesn’t matter to me. I can see you don’t feel that way about him. Since that’s the case, I like you, and if being your shield is what it takes, so be it."Yvonne choked up, unable to find the right words. And just like that, they agreed to a marriage, a decision that should have been made with more caution.The next morning, when Yvonne told Nina about it, Nina was shocked. She stared at Yvonne in disbelief for a long time before Yvonne gave a bitter smile, and Nina began to understand.Nina took Yvonne's hand and gently urged, "Before this goes public, you should explain things
Late into the night, as Winona was frantically calling around looking for Joe, she received a text message from an unknown number asking for her email, claiming to have some "explosive news."Still fuming, Winona rolled her eyes.Soon after, she received a photo. It was of Joe kissing a woman in a car.Without a second thought, she sent her email to the stranger.A few minutes later, a video appeared in her inbox. It was a clear, high-quality recording of Joe and Yvonne in the car, locked in an intimate kiss. The angles were so precise that if Winona did not know them, she could have mistaken it for some kind of inappropriate film.Furious, Winona grabbed the nearest vase and hurled it to the floor. Still unsatisfied, she began destroying anything within reach, leaving the room in complete disarray.Once her anger was somewhat vented, a new plan sparked in her mind. She picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Is Nigel and Yvonne's wedding tomorrow? Where's it being held? Alri
Yvonne quickly shook her head in refusal. Today was her wedding day, and as long as she made it through this day, she could finally accept all of Nigel’s love without any hesitation. She didn't want anything to cause a delay.Their ride had arrived. Nash came over to inform them.As the makeup artist finished the final touches, Nina and Orion accompanied Yvonne downstairs.The wedding venue was lively, filled with many distinguished guests. It was clear that even though the Gibson family might not have been thrilled about Yvonne, they had spared no expense for the occasion.Nina helped her out of the car, whispering, "Remember, the Gibson family is showing you a lot of respect today. You should keep this in mind. If there are ever any issues with your in-laws, just think about today’s wedding and how much effort they’ve put in."Yvonne wasn’t naïve. She nodded and reassured Nina she would do her best to get along with them."Yvonne," Nigel said, staring at her in awe.Nina tease
Mr. Gibson Sr. snorted impatiently, "If you have something to say, hurry up. Don’t delay the ceremony."A young man nearby chuckled and interjected, "Mr. Gibson Sr., I bet she's just here to ask for more money at the last minute. I’ve heard rumors that Yvonne lost a lot of money on her art exhibit. Maybe she's trying to use the Gibson family’s money to fill the hole."As soon as these words left his mouth, murmurs rippled through the crowd. The glances people shot at Yvonne began to shift, suspicion creeping into their eyes. Some whispered warnings about being cautious in future dealings with the Gibson family, lest they be taken advantage of without realizing it.The Gibson family had invited many business partners to the wedding, intending to strengthen ties. But now, it seemed like they were the subject of mockery.Mrs. Gibson Sr. shot a sharp look at the young man and then turned to Winona, "Are you sure you want to go through with this? Today is not only a happy day for Nige
Joe tried to rush onto the stage, but someone held him back. He roared, "What the hell! Nash, why are you holding me? I need to get up there!"Nash snorted and punched him hard. "Why are you hitting me? Stop this before it gets worse!" Joe shouted, his frustration mixed with genuine concern for Yvonne’s wedding. Even though he never wanted her to marry Nigel, he didn’t want the wedding to be ruined like this.Grabbing Joe by the collar, Nash gritted his teeth and hissed, "You’re such a great brother, aren’t you?"He punched him again, and even that didn’t seem to calm his anger. Nash stomped down hard on Joe’s foot. If it weren’t for Winona running over to pull Nash away, Joe would have gotten beaten even more.Nash shook Winona off with a sneer. "Well, Mrs. Turner, are you satisfied now? I can’t wait to see how your family handles this mess."Suddenly, someone screamed, "Yvonne just fainted!"A blur raced past Nash, causing him to furrow his brows. He quickly left Winona and r
The Stone family wasn’t just greedy. They were relentless, always pushing boundaries and expecting more.Karina sighed. “It’s not that I can’t stand up to them, but sometimes it feels unnecessary. There are things that just can’t be explained.”Wilfred didn’t press further. “Pack your things and come with me. I have to travel for a project negotiation that will help our hospital continue expanding.” He was determined to firmly establish himself in Birkham, not just for his professional ambitions but also because Nina was there. Wilfred wanted to protect her and mentor his students, ensuring they could safeguard Nina’s children in the future. “But didn’t we already promise a patient that we’d perform surgery?” Karina asked, a little hesitant. “I’ll arrange for someone else to handle it.” While Karina might have been the better choice for the surgery, Wilfred had other options, including pulling Caleb in at the last minute. “Alright,” Karina replied. Since Wilfred had
Sera blocked Karina’s path, her expression cold and disdainful. “You think you can just use that money to brush me off? Do I look like someone who needs your measly cash?”She grabbed Karina’s arm tightly, her nails biting into her skin. “Let me make this clear. If you don’t do what I’ve asked, I’ll ruin you, Karina. Completely.”Karina’s fear was palpable, but the thought of endless torment and manipulation was even more terrifying. She met Sera’s fierce gaze with a calm, unyielding stare. “Do whatever you want. But let me remind you, the money you gave me? I’m willing to go down with you if it comes to that. My life might not be worth much, but you’ve worked so hard to get into Wilfred’s hospital. Are you really willing to throw that all away?”Sera faltered. She had worked incredibly hard to get where she was. Countless sleepless nights studying, memorizing every detail of her medical texts, and enduring the challenges of difficult patients had pushed her to the brink. She often
Sera’s gaze was so sharp it felt like it could pierce through Karina. Karina hadn’t expected her momentary greed to create such a mess. If she couldn’t stay a doctor, she would have no source of income, and her life would spiral further out of control. “Please, don’t do this. Tell me what you want, and I’ll keep helping you. Maybe… I could spike his drink for you again, or set up another opportunity,” Karina said, grabbing Sera’s hand out of desperation. Sera clearly wasn’t short on money. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to give Karina such a large sum back then.All she wanted now was to secure her position at the hospital.Sera pulled her hand away, a mocking smile on her face. “Set up another opportunity? Do you think Wilfred would fall for it twice? Do you take him for an idiot, Dr. Norman?” Wilfred wasn’t an idiot, and ordinary drugs didn’t seem to affect him much.Karina felt utterly helpless. One wrong step had led to another, and now she had no idea how to
“Starting today, you’ll officially resume your position as my assistant. I trust you’ll adapt quickly,” Wilfred said firmly. Karina’s eyes lit up with a hint of surprise. “Dr. Wilfred, really? I’ll do my best to fulfill the responsibilities of the assistant role.” Wilfred stood up and walked over to her, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Familiarize yourself with the current work schedule and the relevant materials. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me. I have confidence in you.” Karina hesitated, a trace of worry crossing her face. “But… I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Wilfred already had an assistant. If Karina agreed to take the position, wouldn’t that make her a target for trouble from his former assistant? And then there were all the people at the hospital who were infatuated with Wilfred. Lately, she had already been spending more time with him, drawing enough attention as it was. If she officially became his assistant, she’d surely
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