Orion’s relationship with Pharaoh had grown closer, and he was always happy to see him.“Oh, Mom! I finished my homework too. Do you want to check it for me?”Nina agreed right away. Kindergarten homework was simple, and Orion had done well, with hardly any mistakes, so she reviewed it quickly. Once Orion had put it away, he ran downstairs to watch TV while Nina played with Gemma nearby.A while later, the doorbell rang. It was a delivery.Nina hadn’t ordered anything recently, so she assumed it was something Nash had bought and went ahead and opened it. Inside were a few bottles of supplements and a letter. She unfolded the letter and, with just a glance at the first line, knew who had sent it. Only Wilfred would call her “Ivy.”In the letter, Wilfred mentioned that he was opening a new hospital in Birkham and planned to stay and work here. He had personally prepared the supplements, known to be very nourishing, and sent them as a gift for her to try. Nina texted him a thank yo
“But if he's sick, he should seek treatment. Medical technology is so advanced now, and they have more than enough money. Why would he choose to go this route?” Nina thought to herself.“Sweetheart, let’s go in and ask Grandpa ourselves,” Nina said, holding back her response as she didn’t know the full story. Filled with questions, she opened the door and led the kids inside.Pharaoh was looking at his phone, not glancing up as he assumed it was the nurse. With a touch of irritation, he spoke, “I made myself very clear earlier. This is a decision I should be able to make on my own. Do you still need to…”When he finally looked up and saw Nina’s face, the rest of his words got stuck in his throat. His expression softened, showing genuine delight. “Nina, what brings you here today? Didn’t we agree you’d come tomorrow so Orion wouldn’t miss school?”“They got out early today, so we stopped by on our way home,” Nina replied, walking toward his bedside.Pharaoh’s smile faltered as he r
Nina guessed he was hiding something on purpose. But without any evidence or specifics, all she could do was gently encourage him. “You’re doing so well right now, which is exactly why I hope you’ll see a doctor if you’re not feeling well. I want you to live a long life. Don’t you also look forward to seeing the kids grow up? Imagine being at their weddings with us, it’d be wonderful to share that.”“Yes, it would be amazing to see that day come,” Pharaoh said, feeling a pang of hope. Sadly, he knew his past mistakes had hurt many people, and perhaps this illness was his punishment. For him, reconciling with his daughter before the end and being able to sit together like this, talking peacefully, was more than enough. He had to be grateful.As he was thinking this, a wave of tightness hit his chest, and he began to cough violently.Nina quickly reached out, patting him on the back. Orion rushed over with a cup and carefully poured some warm water from the thermos. Handing it to
Pharaoh did not know how much longer he had, so every moment holding his grandchildren felt precious. He wanted to savor these moments now, so he would have no regrets when the time came.Nina could not help but marvel at the sight. No wonder people always say there is a special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Pharaoh was so gentle and affectionate with the kids, a side of him she would not have believed without seeing it herself.With Gemma happily drinking her formula, Nina noticed that Orion had not eaten yet, and Pharaoh probably had not had a proper meal either. “I’m going to grab some food. What would you all like?”“Mom, can I have a burger and mashed potatoes?” Orion asked excitedly, eager for a rare treat from outside.Pharaoh, on the other hand, kept it simple. “Something light and mostly vegetables would be great.”Given his current condition, spicy or greasy foods were hard for him to digest and would only burden his system.“Got it. I’ll be back soon,” N
Once Nina entered, she closed the door. “Doctor, I need to know what’s wrong with my father. What exactly is he suffering from?”The doctor could see the worry in Nina’s eyes but maintained his stance. He had promised the patient confidentiality. “I’m afraid that’s private information. I really can’t disclose it. I suggest speaking directly with your father.”“But he’s my father, and I can tell he’s seriously ill. Don’t family members have the right to know in cases like this?” Nina had, of course, already asked Pharaoh directly. Asking him had gotten her nowhere. It was clear he was determined to keep this to himself. Other than speaking to the doctor, she was out of options.Yet even the doctor wouldn’t budge. “Family members do have the right to know, but the patient’s wishes take priority. I would still recommend discussing this with him directly.”Nina understood that pressing further wouldn’t help. “Alright. Thank you anyway.” She returned to the room, giving Orion his burger
“Nina, do you remember that little girl?” Nash asked her.Nina nodded. Of course, she remembered. It was because of that child’s actions that, in a moment of carelessness, they had nearly lost Gemma. If she could go back, she would not have let her guard down just because of the girl’s age.“I had someone look into her background,” Nash continued. “Her family is struggling. She had two older sisters, two older brothers, and two younger brothers. Her father passed away, so her mother has been doing everything she can to keep them afloat, but their income barely covers basic needs. They’re getting regular financial help from someone.”At this, Nina immediately understood. Most likely, the so-called ‘benefactor’ funding this family was a member of that organization. The support was just a cover for manipulation.Nash went on, “She’s not the only one. There are several children just like her, receiving support but still living locally. None of them have been sent abroad.”“They’re kee
Nina and Nash discussed the plan further, though Nash wasn’t thrilled about bringing her along. “Are you sure he’ll have time for the kids?” he asked, hoping to find another reason for her to stay. “Last time, when we just wanted him to watch them for a weekend, he was too busy. This trip will be even longer. Maybe it’s not such a good idea.”Nina saw right through him and met his gaze with a steady resolve. “Nash, stop looking for reasons to keep me behind. Even if you leave without me, I’ll still find my way to you. I’m not some weak girl. You really think I’d just hold you back?”“That’s not it at all,” Nash replied, pulling her close. He knew she was more than capable. Nina was strong, intelligent, and unflinchingly brave. But as her husband, it was hard to imagine letting her take on a dangerous situation without doing everything he could to shield her from it.“We’re both parents, Nash. We’re in this together, so let’s make decisions together too,” Nina’s voice was soft but
“Sweetheart, why are you standing here alone?” Nina quickly walked over, scooping Orion up in her arms. “Did you need something?”Orion looked up at her. “Mom, Dad, I just wanted to play with you. But if you’re busy, it’s okay. I’ll just watch cartoons by myself.”No matter how late Dad came home, he would always change out of his work clothes and spend time playing with him and his sister. But tonight, Dad had gone straight to the bedroom with Mom, and while Orion wanted to be with them, he was afraid of interrupting.“We’ve finished everything we needed to do, so let’s go.” Nina held him close and headed downstairs, with Nash following close behind. The three of them sat on the couch, laughing and chatting. Gemma, who was passed from one to the other for a cuddle, eventually fell asleep in Orion’s lap. Orion sat as still as possible, afraid even a small movement might wake her up.“Sweetheart, why don’t you let Mommy put your sister down in the bassinet?” Nina gently reached ou
Although the van slowed down, Winnie was suddenly shoved out, hitting the ground hard. The physical pain was intense, but it couldn’t compare to the ache in her heart.She watched as the van sped away into the distance. Trembling, she pulled out her phone and called Jamie.“Jamie, what are you doing right now? I need to ask you something in person.” Winnie’s tone made it clear that she knew something was wrong.Hearing her voice, Jamie immediately sensed the weight of the situation. Winnie must have found out the truth. There was no way Jamie could focus on work until they cleared the air.Without hesitation, Jamie dropped what she was doing and rushed to meet her.When she arrived, she found Winnie sitting on the curb, her face blank and her eyes hollow.Jamie ran over quickly. “Winnie, what happened?”At the sound of her voice, Winnie lifted her head. A bitter smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Don’t you know what happened, my dear sister?”She deliberately emphasized
Winnie didn’t know how to describe what she was feeling in that moment. Jack Green, the man who had seemed so perfect, had come into her life like a savior from above. And now she was being told that everything had been a lie. Ben Lucas. What a joke. What was his goal? She didn’t have a prestigious family background, no notable social status, no impressive career, not even money. As she sat in stunned silence, a police officer asked, “Did he trick you into donating organs? Or did you give him access to your bank accounts?” Fraud and illegal schemes were rampant these days. Winnie shook her head. “Neither. He sent me money through an app. I’m pregnant and I don’t have anything he could scam me for.” That only deepened the mystery. He hadn’t stolen anything from her. He just used a fake name. As the investigation continued, the police eventually revealed the truth to Winnie. “Ben Lucas is a top lawyer in Birkham. It sounds like you’ve been treated as part of som
Winnie reacted strongly, refusing to believe any of it. “We’ve known each other for so long. He’s always been so good to me, and he’s incredibly dedicated to his work. He’s an exceptional lawyer. How could he possibly do something like this? You have to investigate thoroughly and clear his name,” she said, her voice trembling. The captain waited until she finished before asking, “Miss Lewis, just now you called him ‘Jack.’ Is that right?” “Yes, that’s his name, Jack Green. We’re engaged, and we’re getting married soon. Is there a problem with me calling him that?” Winnie responded, momentarily stunned. Her first thought was that the captain was being unnecessarily nosy. Was it wrong for an engaged couple to call each other by their first names?The captain shook his head. “This has nothing to do with your upcoming marriage, but the name you’re using doesn’t match the one on his ID. Were you aware of that?” “You’re joking, right? That’s not funny,” Winnie said, her face
While Nash spent time with his daughter, Gemma, every day, Nina and Pharaoh had missed out on so much together. Now that the doctors had given Pharaoh only five years to live, it was clear they needed to make the most of the time they had left and create as many good memories as possible.Lydia completely understood.She waved goodbye to Nash, then linked her arm through Quincy’s as the two walked toward their parked car.“I was thinking that, since work has been slow, we could take a short trip to a nearby city,” Quincy said, glancing at her with a warm expression. “But it looks like we’ll have to postpone it.”With her by his side, life felt perfect.Lydia smiled. “If not this week, then next week or the one after. We’ve got all the time in the world.”They were still young, with plenty of time to do everything they wanted.……Meanwhile, Winnie was left alone at home since Jamie went out to work. With nothing else to do, she decided to tidy up. The villa was large, and clea
Nash was the first to speak. “Mrs. Lucas, what exactly happened to Ben? Can you tell us everything? Let’s see if there’s a way we can help.”“Alright. Thank goodness he has friends like you. Otherwise, I’d have no idea what to do right now.” Mrs. Lucas recounted the situation in detail but carefully omitted her own involvement.The living room fell silent, and everyone’s expressions darkened.“I raised Ben. I know my son. He would never do something like this. It must be a setup,” Mrs. Lucas said, her voice trembling with emotion. The more she spoke, the more heartbroken she felt. All she could think about now were her Ben’s virtues. Apart from refusing to listen to her about marriage and career plans, Ben had always been a good son.“Don’t worry, Mrs. Lucas. We’ll figure something out,” Lydia offered as she stood and gently guided Mrs. Lucas to the nearby study. “You should rest for a bit. Don’t wear yourself out.”Quincy watched Lydia closely as she left the room. Only when sh
Mrs. Lucas deeply regretted her decision. If she had known it would come to this, she would never have sought out this man for help. “You hide behind a mask and won’t even show your face. How can you call yourself a man?”“Mrs. Lucas, do you really think throwing insults will make me take off the mask and obediently do your bidding like a dog?” The masked man remained calm, his tone even laced with amusement, which only added to Mrs. Lucas’s frustration.She was on the verge of breaking down. “Just name your price. How much will it take to get my son out of there?”As long as Ben could walk out safely and unharmed, no amount of money was too much.But the masked man shook his head. “This isn’t about money. If it were that simple, you wouldn’t be here begging me for help.”The truth was, Mrs. Lucas had come to him because she had run out of options. He was her last hope. Yet, he shrugged nonchalantly, as if to show her just how powerless he really was.“I don’t make the laws, an
Why would Caden do this?“And then there’s that recent case you handled. The client is suspected of laundering money for an international corporation, and these are the ‘evidences’ you submitted.” The captain’s brows furrowed as he pulled a file from the side, placing it in front of Ben. “Take a look at what you turned in.”The documents were full of evasive arguments, but the worst part was that a check had somehow been slipped between the pages. With all this evidence piled up against him, even as a lawyer, Ben had no way to prove his innocence.He had no idea how things had come to this. He had personally organized and submitted these files to the court, but the ones on record were completely different. Someone had swapped them out.But who?Ben handled everything himself, except for having his assistant print the documents. Could it be…?“Mr. Lucas, the evidence is overwhelming. You’d better think about how to clear your name,” the captain said, standing up and looking at Ben
“Please come with us,” one of the officers stepped up, holding a pair of silver handcuffs.Ben was even more puzzled. He hadn’t done anything illegal. Why were these officers showing up at his office? And why the cuffs?His first reaction was to step back. “You must have the wrong person.”“Your name is Ben Lucas, right? We’ve already matched your photo. I suggest you don’t resist and just come along quietly,” the officer barked.They wouldn’t be here without solid evidence. There was no mistake.“If you’re taking me in, I’d like to know the reason,” Ben replied, still trying to make sense of what was happening.To the officers, his reaction came across as defiant, making him look even more suspicious.“Don’t tell me you’re unaware of your own wrongdoing? You’re supposed to be a lawyer, familiar with the law. How convenient to play ignorant when it applies to you!“Think carefully! Confess, and things might go easier for you. Resist, and you’ll only make it worse. Don’t interfe
How could Jamie feel right about taking the money? In just a few days, Winnie had already lent her so much. She couldn’t keep taking advantage of her.“Jamie, if I were living alone, I wouldn’t care so much. But now, with Jack and the baby on the way, it’s unrealistic for us to keep living together forever. Take this money. It’s enough to cover at least half a month’s rent,” Winnie said firmly.Jamie could hear the underlying message. Winnie was trying to hint, as gently as possible, that it might be time for Jamie to find her own place. It made sense. Winnie was building her own family and naturally wanted privacy. Having a relative around wasn’t exactly ideal, especially with everything Ben had been doing lately. While he hadn’t openly revealed anything about their past, it was clear enough that Winnie had noticed something.Jamie truly wanted to move out, but the moment she started looking for a place, Ben would make her life difficult. She didn’t mind for herself, but with