The car quickly departed from the front of the building. Watching the shadow of the car fading away, Nina involuntarily clenched her fists."So, this lady wasn't lying. She really does have a connection with Mr. York," the receptionist remarked, feeling uncertain."They took her away, their relationship must be good. If Mr. York blames us, we'll be in trouble," someone else commented.Hearing this, Nina felt a bit down. She had witnessed Mr. York's ruthlessness towards women, as well as his tenderness. It all depended on whether he liked them or not. If he favored someone like Miranda, he'd rush her to the hospital even for a minor injury. He'd also worry about Linda if she got hurt, rushing to take her to the hospital without delay.The receptionist was also a bit flustered, fearing that the accident might have resulted from her attempt to prevent Linda from visiting Mr. York. She pleaded, "Nina, if Mr. York holds us accountable, could you please put in a good word for us?"Nin
Grandpa George's words resonated deeply with her. Having experienced so many wars, he understood how precious the present days were. A strong nation was less likely to be bullied, so it was essential to safeguard this homeland. Though Nina hadn't lived through the cruelty of that era, she could still recognize that Grandpa George's most glorious moments were in his youth. Even as he aged, he still harbored a desire to contribute more to the country.Grandpa George's eyes welled up as he spoke. Nina listened attentively, noticing the scars left on his legs from gunshot wounds, which revealed the hardships they had endured."Grandpa George, our country is strong now, and there are many talented individuals. There's little chance of war happening," Nina comforted him."You shouldn't be too complacent," Grandpa George cautioned.Suddenly, he chuckled, "But there's no shortage of talent. Nash is a prime example. Achieving feats at such a young age. It's all thanks to his grandfather.
He was reminding Nina. Her own husband should be managed well, and she shouldn't let others take advantage of her.Nina didn't want Grandpa George to worry about her relationship with Nash while he was ill, so she smiled and said, "I know, Nash has already talked to me about it. Grandpa George, it's getting late, and it's chilly outside. Let's go back in.""Okay." Grandpa George understood and didn't say anything more.Nina escorted Grandpa George back to his hospital room, bid him farewell, and was debating whether or not to go to the obstetrics and gynecology department. But Linda happened to call her, "Nina, could you come to the hospital? I have something to discuss with you."Nina decided to go after all.Quincy was standing guard at the door and seemed bewildered when he saw Nina approaching, as if he was afraid of her coming here."Nina, why are you here?" Quincy forced a smile.Nina remained calm and asked, "What's going on?""Well, maybe you should call Mr. York first
Quincy glanced at Nina. Nina said, "Please leave." Quincy then closed the door. Linda lifted the covers, sat on the edge of the bed, and eagerly caressed her belly. "Nina, I know Mr. York has someone in his heart." Nina clenched her fists tightly. Linda hung her head and slowly continued, "Mr. York's kindness towards me is also because of that person. He only likes me because I resemble her. Even so, I am content. I don't ask for much. Being pregnant with Mr. York's child is enough for me." At this point, Linda looked at Nina and said, "Nina, you are also aware, aren't you? That person's name is Miranda." Nina's face turned pale. She even knew about this. "Has Nash told you that he considers you a substitute for Miranda?" Nina asked again. Linda shrugged, "Whether I'm a substitute or not doesn't matter to me. I was born ordinary, so receiving even a bit of favoritism is enough." If it weren't for Nash personally telling Linda, how would she have known? Nina felt dishearte
"What?" Linda's expression instantly turned ugly, unable to believe it. "Impossible. The timing matches, and I have memories of it. How could it not be Mr. York? You must have made a mistake.""It's just so coincidental!" the person on the phone said. "When I heard they were looking for someone, I thought you must have hit the jackpot. But it turns out we were all mistaken. The room number was wrong, and the person that night wasn't Mr. York. He was a man in his forties or fifties."Now Linda's face went pale, and she glanced at her belly, becoming agitated. "How could I possibly be pregnant with a child from a man in his forties or fifties?"This was a huge letdown.She had been living in a bubble of happiness.If she hadn't been given such high expectations, she wouldn't have held onto hope.When she found out the man from that night was Nash, she thought it was the smartest thing she had ever done in her life.To hook such a rich and handsome man so quickly.But reality told
Nash's words also caught Quincy off guard.Quincy thought to himself, "No, it couldn't be. Linda was pregnant, and she was the woman from that night. The child must be his.""Let's go," Nash suddenly said."Okay," Quincy started the car.Nash frowned. "I meant get out of the car!""Mr. York, don't you have a meeting to attend? They're all waiting, and there's too many people here!" Quincy observed the crowded area, knowing it would be congested.It wasn't unusual for Nina to be here, but for him to come without security clearing the area, given his typical lifestyle habits, he wouldn't fancy going this route.Nash stared at Quincy calmly and said, "Don't you enjoy places like this?""Huh?" Quincy was taken aback. Since when did he like coming to places like this? But seeing Nash's sharp gaze, he could only nod. "Yes, yes, I enjoy coming here.""Alright, let's get out!" Nash turned his gaze outside.He got out of the car first, watching the bustling crowd, unable to fathom why
Fortunately, the boss was prepared and had already hidden before Nash’s second shot."Quincy, did I hit it?" Nash asked absentmindedly."...," Quincy looked at the pale-faced boss, "You almost did!"As Scott was being hugged by Nina, he witnessed her happiness for the first time and paused for a moment. Then, he smiled as he gently said, "No need to rush now, right?""Not anymore, I'm very happy," Nina smiled.The boss also breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Young man, you're very skilled. Not many people can hit the one at the back!"He quickly handed giant brown bear soft toy over to Nina.Nina hugged it, feeling a sense of relief as if something that belonged to her had finally arrived."There are still so many hoops left, what should we do?" Scott said."We'll toss them all. We will take whichever one we hook," replied Nina."Alright." Scott agreed, still skilled in the game. Each toss was precise, catching only trivial prizes that served no real purpose ex
Quincy, however, was sweating profusely. This was his livelihood. How could he not follow Nash along? Seeing Nash's displeased expression, he added, "Mr. York, don't be upset. Nina still wants to play. How about we join them?"Nash replied sourly, "Who wants to be with her?"Not wanting to push it further, Nina turned to Scott and said, "There are many more fun things up ahead. Let's go check them out.""Okay," Scott glanced at Nash again. "Mr. York, I’ll go ahead first."The two continued walking ahead.Watching their backs, Nash's expression darkened. "Quincy, do you want to go with them?""Of course, of course!" Quincy immediately called out. "Nina, I'd like to join you."With that, Nash followed suit.Trailing behind them, his gaze naturally fell on the brown bear soft toy that Nina clung to tightly. "Just a small toy makes her so happy," he thought. Her excitement just now seemed as if she had found the world's greatest treasure. Yet, it was just a cheap toy!He cou
Vera forced an awkward smile at Hunter before quickly retreating back into the bathroom to change. Hunter, watching her leave, couldn't help but smirk. “You’re really living the good life, huh?” he teased. “Didn’t expect you to have such luck.” Caleb rolled his eyes, clearly uninterested. “Enough with the nonsense. Why are you here? And who exactly were you talking about over the phone?” He didn’t want to entertain pointless banter, especially not about women. If he was being honest, even he couldn’t fully explain his feelings toward Luna. He wasn’t sure what was left between them—was it love, or just the remnants of something that had long turned sour? That pitiful look in her eyes earlier had shaken him. For a fleeting moment, he had wanted to pull her into his arms, to comfort her like he used to. But after so many years of being humiliated and pushed aside, he had forgotten how to even speak to her anymore. So instead, he did what was easiest—he change
Hunter spoke casually, his tone light. “Just someone, that’s all. Do you really need all these details?” Caleb was now certain of his suspicion. “Hunter, did you forget what I do for a living? I’m a doctor. If you’re asking me about this, I need to get a clear picture before I can give you an answer.” Hunter exhaled lightly. “That’s fair, but some things can’t be diagnosed right away.” Based on the information Yelena provided earlier, Hunter was only speculating about Liam. But Caleb was an expert in this area, so he specifically called to ask him.Still, explaining everything over the phone wasn’t going to work. “Forget it,” Hunter said. “This isn’t something I can explain over a call. Where are you? I’ll come over.” Caleb hesitated for a moment before glancing at Vera, who was still beside him. In the end, he gave Hunter the address to his villa. Hunter chuckled. “Haha. I’m surprised. You actually do go home to rest.” Caleb ignored the jab and tossed his p
“Call me Liam.” Before Yelena could finish speaking, Liam cut her off with a sharp, angry voice. She quickly nodded and corrected herself. “Liam, don’t worry. I’ll do exactly as you say. I’ll be good. I won’t make you angry again.” But Liam didn’t care. With a violent shove, he threw her to the ground. Yelena barely had time to brace herself before hitting the cold floor hard, pain radiating through her limbs. Liam, however, just looked down at her with a twisted grin, laughing like she was nothing more than a ridiculous joke. “You’d better learn fast,” he sneered. “And leave your hand broken for a few days—feel the pain properly.” “Alright.” Her voice was quiet, submissive. But Liam wasn’t listening. Without another glance, he turned and walked away. As she watched his retreating figure, Yelena felt a deep sense of dread rise in her throat. Liam wasn’t human. He was something far worse. Her future with him would be nothing short of hell.
Yelena had made her stance clear—her loyalty was with Hunter. But instead of being convinced, Hunter let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “You sure your loyalty is to me? Or is it just to money?” His words hit like a slap. Yelena stiffened, feeling the sting of humiliation. It was true. When she had been desperate, with nowhere left to turn, she had thrown herself at Hunter, begging him for help. If she had any other choice, if she hadn’t been pushed into a corner, she would have never given up her pride like that. Lowering her gaze, she spoke with measured calmness. “Mr. Hall, you gave me two hundred thousand dollars. You helped me when no one else did. That makes you my benefactor. And loyalty to one’s benefactor… that’s only right.” She didn’t dare meet his eyes, but her voice was firm. Hunter studied her for a moment before scoffing. “Enough with the useless talk.” His voice was cold and dismissive. “Just go back to Liam’s side and do what you’re suppose
Yelena needed to tell Hunter about this. But before she could finish, Hunter’s cold voice cut through her thoughts. She lowered her head. “This is just how I normally dress. I didn’t deliberately choose my outfit to seduce you, Mr. Hunter. Besides, your brother isn’t even interested in me.” She hesitated before adding, “That two hundred thousand…” Hunter narrowed his eyes. “What are you trying to say?” Seeing his growing impatience, Yelena clenched her fists, still looking down. “I mean exactly what I said. Any normal man wouldn’t turn down a woman who willingly throws herself at him. That night, Liam clearly said he would take me somewhere else… but when we got there, he never touched me. Ever since then, he treats me like I don’t even exist—like I’m nothing but air.” Hunter’s expression darkened instantly. “Are you implying something?” The implication in Yelena’s words was clear. She had just suggested that any normal man wouldn’t refuse a willing woman.
Vera, as a bystander, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for Luna. But if she felt that way, how much worse must it be for Caleb—the man who had loved Luna for years? His pain was unimaginable. Yet, despite the hurt clawing at his chest, Caleb remained cold and unmoved. He didn’t let go. He didn’t waver at Luna’s tearful pleas. Instead, his voice was indifferent as he spoke. “Luna, women always say that late affection is the cheapest thing of all. But the same goes for men—I don’t love you the way I used to. You should go back to Simon.” And as if to drive the knife even deeper, he added, “I’m sure Simon still loves you very much.” If Luna had truly wanted Simon’s love, she would have accepted it long ago. She would have stayed by his side instead of chasing after Caleb now. In the end, men and women were the same. When they loved you, they would cherish you like a treasure. When they stopped, you became nothing more than an afterthought.
Caleb had no desire to argue with Luna any further. Instead, he turned to Vera. With just one look, she understood and stepped closer to him. Caleb wrapped an arm around her waist. “Luna,” he said calmly, “being with Vera isn’t as exhausting as being with you. Love should go both ways. I hope you can understand that.” “No!” Luna’s voice cracked. “She’s only with you because you helped her solve her problems. If you weren’t Caleb Smith, if you didn’t have the power to fix things for her, she’d be nothing!” Her dark eyes burned with resentment as she glared at Vera. Vera knew she had become Luna’s enemy—but what could she do? Caleb had already made his stance clear. Was she supposed to deny it? Pretend he didn’t just declare his feelings in front of Luna? With a steady voice, Vera replied, “Yes, I do go along with Caleb. He treats me well, and we’ve chosen to be together. We’re both single adults. What exactly is the problem?” She met Luna’s icy gaze head
Caleb had never seen Luna like this before. But then again, even after realizing her feelings, she still carried herself with the same untouchable arrogance. He turned his head away, refusing to look at her. “Don’t you already have Simon by your side? “Or is he not enough for you?” The moment the words left Caleb’s lips, Luna felt a sharp stab of pain in her chest. Simon had always been the biggest issue between her and Caleb. To her, there was nothing between them now—just an unresolved regret from the past. Yet Caleb had never stopped making it an issue, over and over again. “You keep bringing up Simon because you want me to push him away. But tell me, Caleb, where exactly do you expect me to send him? He’s alone with a daughter to care for.“We’ve known each other for years. It’s not just about Simon. If you were in his position, I would help you too.” Luna’s voice was steady, her words firm—completely oblivious to the mistake in her reasoning. Caleb ha
Luna took a deep breath, clarity washing over her. In that moment, she knew that she had to get Caleb back. She yanked her hand free from Simon’s grasp. “Simon, I need to go find Caleb,” she said firmly. “I’ll be leaving now. You and your daughter can rest here. Stay in this villa for now, and once you have the money, I’ll sell it to you at half price.” With that, she turned and walked away without hesitation. Luna drove as fast as she could to find Caleb. Caleb was a complete workaholic—aside from the hospital, there was nowhere else he would be.But when she arrived, he was nowhere to be found. A nurse informed her that Caleb had taken the day off. Luna knew exactly where his private villa was. Instead of calling him, she went there directly. She knocked on the door, and to her surprise, the person who answered wasn’t Caleb—but Vera. Vera seemed equally taken aback but quickly regained her composure, maintaining polite courtesy. “Miss Gibson, please wait h