Cooking together made things go much faster. Nina chopped the vegetables while Nash took care of the stir-frying, and before long, the four dishes and a soup were ready.As Nina was about to carry the food out, Nash suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "Nina, you've been working so hard lately. I feel bad. I've been so focused on the company, and you've had to handle everything at home by yourself."“Don’t say that,” she replied, turning to face him. “We’re married, we’re partners. There’s no need to feel like you owe me anything.” With a soft smile, she added, “Besides, you’re working hard to provide for us, not off doing something shady. As your wife, it’s my job to support you. We’re a team, and I would never give you a hard time for it.”Nina understood the pressure Nash was under, managing the company and shouldering so much responsibility. The last thing she wanted was to add more stress by asking too much of him at home. Looking into her eyes, Nash felt
With that thought in mind, Orion spoke up. "Dad, maybe we shouldn't go on the trip. You could use the time to rest instead. I'd rather you get some extra sleep."Nash smiled even more, ruffling his son’s hair. "Don't worry, buddy. I’ve got plenty of time to rest, and we can still go on the trip. It’s not one or the other."He turned to both Nina and Orion. "After Quincy and Lydia started their own business, I had HR hire a new assistant to help me out. She started today, and now I can hand off some of my tasks to her. Things will be much easier for me.""That’s wonderful," Nina said, relieved.Nina never complained about Nash’s busy work schedule because she knew he was working hard to provide for their family. However, deep down, like any wife, she wished they could spend more time together as a family. Now, with things feeling more balanced, it finally seemed just right."Alright, then after dinner, I’ll pack our things, and we’ll head out first thing tomorrow morning." Nina t
As they exited the highway, it was already noon. Nash first took the family to the city's largest shopping mall, where they strolled around for a while before heading up to the rooftop restaurant for lunch.Suddenly, a sharp fire alarm blared through the mall.“There’s a fire. We need to get out, now,” Nash quickly said as he scooped Orion into his arms and grabbed Nina’s hand tightly. The three of them hurried toward the emergency exit. When they arrived, it was already packed with people, all pushing and shoving, desperate to get out. No one wanted to be the last.Nash tightened his grip on Orion, holding him even closer. The thought of getting separated sent a surge of anxiety through him, especially with Orion being so small. There was no way he could push through the crowd of adults on his own. If he got knocked down, a stampede could have disastrous consequences.Orion seemed to sense the seriousness of the situation, wrapping his arms tightly around Nash’s neck as they p
There was no way Nina could let the little girl go off on her own. Such a young child, if she were to encounter danger or be taken by traffickers, her fate could be tragic. She gently picked the girl up again, wiping the tears from her small face. “Tell me, sweetheart, what’s really going on at home? Why did you say you don’t have a mom and dad?”The little girl’s voice trembled as she spoke, “My dad’s gone. Everyone says he’s never coming back. Then my mom left me, too. I don’t know where she went. No one takes care of me anymore. I almost starved to death at home.” With every word, Nina’s heart sank deeper. By the end, she understood. The girl’s father had passed away, and her mother, seeing her as a burden, had abandoned her. The child couldn’t recall her address or phone number, and she didn’t even know her own name.“They just called me ‘Little One.’ My parents never used my real name,” she said, her eyes red and swollen from crying. “Am I stupid? Maybe if I were smarter,
Nina nodded, “Alright, let’s do that.”"You really want to take me home? I'm not dreaming, right?" The little girl pinched her arm hard in disbelief.With a sharp yelp, a bruise instantly formed on her small arm.Nina quickly bent down to stop her, “Sweetheart, don’t hurt yourself.”"I wasn’t trying to hurt myself. I just... I was scared this was a dream, and that once I woke up, I’d be back on the streets. But now I know it’s real. You’re really here, and I finally have a home." The little girl happily threw herself into Nina's arms, crying again. But this time, her tears were not from sadness, but from joy. "I really have a family now—an uncle, an aunt, and a brother.""That's right. We'll take good care of you from now on," Nina said gently, stroking the girl's back.In that moment, she thought of her own daughter, Gemma, back at home. How could this little girl’s mother have been so heartless? Abandoning her child in a foreign country, leaving her with no hope, was unthinka
However, everything was just a facade. Beneath it all, Hope harbored a deep jealousy, though she hadn't yet found the right moment to act.Meanwhile, over on Quincy’s side, Lydia was spiraling. She felt completely drained, emotionally and physically. Curled up under the blankets, tears streamed down her face, soaking into the fabric. Quincy noticed every tear, and each one broke his heart a little more.Quincy wasn’t doing well either. For days, he had been consumed by guilt and helplessness, unsure of what to do. Just as he was lost in thought, someone approached him. Quincy looked up, surprised to see it was Nash.Nash nodded, glancing toward Lydia's hospital room. He had already heard about everything that had happened."How’s Lydia?" Nash asked.Quincy’s expression turned bitter. He tried to force a smile, but it was clear he didn’t have the strength for it anymore. "Not good. She doesn’t even want to see me. She kicked me out.""Lydia’s definitely been set up. When I find ou
Mrs. Perez used the special herbal tea to cause Lydia to lose her child. Despite the nightmares that plagued her every night afterward, she convinced herself it was worth it. After all, anything was better than having that woman marry into their family."Watch your mouth," she snapped at Mr. Perez, glaring at him. "When I call our son later, you better not let anything slip, or I swear, you'll regret it!""Whatever, do as you like. I'm staying out of this," he muttered, shaking his head.Five minutes later, Mrs. Perez dialed Quincy’s number."Are you coming home for dinner tonight? I’ve invited Tiffany and her mother over. You remember Tiffany, right? She’s my old friend’s daughter. Great girl! She’s highly educated, just got back from overseas, and, most importantly, she comes from a good family. Why don’t you come and meet her?"Whatever Quincy said on the other end brought a wide smile to Mrs. Perez’s face. "Two days from now? That works too! As long as you’ll meet her. I’ll se
It was only after Lydia came to her senses that she realized she had unconsciously walked toward the window. Her hospital room was on the seventh floor, and the window had no safety bars. Anyone who leaned out too far, with the wrong kind of thoughts, could easily fall to their death. She had unknowingly wandered right up to the edge of something irreversible.But Lydia still felt nothing. There was no fear, no panic, no relief. Just emptiness. She couldn’t even remember what she had been thinking or why she had walked to the window in the first place.Quincy opened his mouth as if to say something but hesitated, swallowing his words. Instead, he offered, “Are you hungry?”“I brought your favorite chicken soup from the restaurant you love, and some soy milk. Try it, see if it still tastes the same.”The aroma of the chicken soup filled the room, steam rising from the bowl. Lydia used to love it. Quincy still remembered, even after all this time.She quietly ate while Quinc
“Whose legal documents are these?” one of the investigators asked.“They’re mine,” Jamie replied. “I’ve been using them to prepare for a competition.”After she explained the situation, the investigator handed the documents back to her and issued a warning, emphasizing that such legal materials should not be present within the company. With that, they left.The man, clearly stunned, called after them, his voice rising with disbelief. “Did you even check properly? He’s a lawyer! How can a lawyer run a company as its president? Isn’t that against the rules?” The officials followed the direction of his finger and turned to look at Ben. Their expressions shifted into something between amusement and confusion, as though the man had asked an absurd question. “His law license was revoked a long time ago,” one of them stated plainly. The man froze, then shouted in denial, “That’s impossible!” “Why would it be impossible?” The official frowned, his tone growing stern. “When his l
Ben wouldn’t let Jamie fight his battles for him.He pulled her behind him, shielding her, and addressed the crowd with a cold expression. “If that’s the case, let’s have the authorities investigate.”Jamie stared at him, stunned.She understood the saying, “A clear conscience fears no accusation.” As long as Ben had nothing to hide, there was no reason to be afraid. But these people weren’t here for the truth, they were looking for trouble. It was likely orchestrated by their defeated opponents, timed to create chaos. Even if nothing incriminating was found, the media would seize the opportunity to smear them.Ben was doing this for her, disregarding himself completely.She was touched, but also anxious. She wanted to pull him back.However, Ben wasn’t budging this time. His warm but firm hand enveloped hers, silently telling her not to stop him.“What’s the matter? Afraid?” Ben asked, his hands casually in his pockets, raising an eyebrow with a hint of defiance.The loudest
“There’s a surveillance camera overhead, just so you know,” Ben said coldly, his gaze sharp as a blade. “I get it that you’re here to stick up for Summer. But let me be clear: whatever happened between the Lucas family and the Larson family is none of your business.”He held up the empty glass, his tone unwavering. “That drink was a warning. Don’t even think about testing my limits.”Jamie was his limit—his bottom line. He wouldn’t allow anyone to harm or disrespect her.Lila’s voice rang out, dripping with mockery as she addressed the gathering crowd. “Did everyone hear that? He’s threatening me with a drink as a ‘warning.’ Anyone here would agree this behavior is out of line. And all because I said a few words?“Ben Lucas, someone like you will get what’s coming to you!” Lila snapped, her voice sharp and bitter. “Doesn’t anyone wonder why someone who was doing so well as a lawyer suddenly gave it all up to become a CEO? Doesn’t everyone know lawyers aren’t supposed to engage in b
Jamie and Ben didn’t care about anyone else’s opinions.“You really think you and Ben can last?” The woman’s tone dripped with disdain. “Don’t forget, your statuses are worlds apart. If Ben didn’t care, why would he keep bringing you to events like these? Clearly, he does care.”Jamie noticed the woman’s provocative glare. Her elegance and poise were unmistakable, but her words revealed a heart filled with malice.With a calm but cutting tone, Jamie responded, “Even if Ben does care, that’s his business, not yours. And let’s be honest, you’d never have the courage to say this in front of him, would you? So, what’s the point of saying it to me?”Jamie didn’t even bother to take the woman seriously. Her relationship with Ben was her own, and she knew better than anyone how much he valued her.The woman sneered. “Oh, trust me, I’d say it to his face. But I assumed you had some self-awareness. Clearly, I was mistaken. You’re pathetic, Jamie.”With that, she spun on her heels and walk
“I was with Nash and the others today,” Ben said as he leaned back into the couch. “Jamie, tomorrow I want to take you to an exclusive high-society gala. If there’s anything you want or need for the occasion, just let me know.”For Jamie, the idea of attending such events held little appeal. What truly mattered to her was simply being by Ben’s side. Yet, Ben seemed determined to introduce her to this world, using his connections and influence to elevate her standing and help her thrive.But Jamie’s heart leaned toward a simpler life, one focused on family and the small joys within their home.“You’ve already given me everything I could ever want—friends, a safe life, love. I don’t feel drawn to these events. Can I skip this one?” she asked gently. Spending time with Charlie and bringing him over to play with Orion sounded like a better plan.Ben’s gaze softened. “If you really don’t want to go, I’ll respect your choice. But skipping out might not look great. There will be more occa
As soon as Ben spoke, Caleb and Hunter gave him exaggerated thumbs-up. “Married with a kid, and you’re still feeling lost? You’re a real genius,” Caleb teased.Nash patted Ben on the shoulder, his tone reassuring. “You’ve got a kid now, no need to overthink it. Just do your best for her. Besides, wasn’t Jamie doing great last time she was with Nina?”Ben paused, reflecting on Jamie’s recent state. Ever since she had started focusing on what she truly wanted, stepping back from exhausting tasks, she seemed much more at ease and full of life.Caleb said, “I’m heading out of town next month for a conference. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t even be here today.”“I’m flying abroad tomorrow,” Hunter added quickly.Clearly, this meetup was a rare opportunity to gather before everyone got busy again.Nash glanced at the two of them with a smirk. “And you two have the nerve to tease Ben? What about you guys? When are you settling down and having kids?“Don’t tell me, by the time our k
The senior judge on the panel smiled warmly and said, “Attorney Lewis, your defense was exceptional. Your understanding and application of legal principles left a lasting impression. Your arguments were clear, your logic airtight, and you provided a fresh perspective on this case.”Other judges nodded in agreement, offering Jamie high praise for her performance. As the competition concluded, Jamie stepped off the stage to the sound of applause from the audience. Her confidence had carried her through, but the moment was disrupted by an unexpected outburst. Attorney Gray, the female lawyer she had just defeated, clenched her fists and blurted, “This is unfair!”Her microphone was still live, and her voice echoed throughout the venue, silencing the room. “This case was obviously easier for you to argue,” Attorney Gray continued. “You have connections—this is favoritism! Why hasn’t the competition been stopped despite all the online rumors?” The remark caused a ripple of mur
Jamie took a deep breath and said firmly, “The competition is about to start. I’ll rely on my expertise to make it to the end. Even if I don’t succeed, I’ll have no regrets.”With those words, she turned and walked away, her determination unwavering.As the match began, whispers rippled through the crowd, and judgmental stares followed her every move. The rumors surrounding her had painted her in an unfavorable light, and the disdain from the audience was palpable.Jamie, however, paid no mind to the negativity. With legal codes in hand and confidence in her knowledge, she stepped onto the stage and began her defense, her voice calm and commanding as she addressed the mock case.“During the altercation,” Jamie started, “evidence shows that the aggressor retained mobility and the ability to continue the attack. Miss Russell’s actions to neutralize the threat were necessary and should not be classified as excessive self-defense.” Her delivery was poised, her argument well-structure
It was obvious that someone was deliberately stirring the pot, with influencers and media outlets amplifying the negativity. Jamie stared at the barrage of critical comments online, her heart growing heavier with each passing moment.She knew the best course of action was to ignore baseless accusations and focus on the task at hand—her next competition round. With the match scheduled for the next day, she resolved to give it her all. Jamie refused to let the rumors distract her. The next day, she arrived at the competition venue with her confidence intact, ready to tackle the challenges ahead. The preliminary rounds were grueling, with one debate following another, testing her endurance and resolve.Just as she was catching her breath, Attorney Freeman sauntered over, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, well, looks like we’ve got someone who used connections to get in. Makes you wonder why the rest of us even bother trying, doesn’t it?”His words immediately drew the atten