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
This was their home, and both of them wanted to do everything they could to make it even better.“Let the chef handle this. Why are you cooking yourself?” Micah looked up, hurrying over to help Freya sit down. “Your belly is getting bigger by the day. You should be resting, not standing in the kitchen. I should be the one making soup for you.”As her husband, he felt it was his responsibility to take good care of her, especially with all the burdens of pregnancy falling on her alone. If he didn’t step up to support her now, he would feel ashamed as a husband and a man.Freya, smiling, gently rubbed her belly. “You’re always so busy. I’d never let you take on kitchen duty. I know you care about me, so let’s not waste time arguing about it. Have you thought about names for the baby yet?”Micah hesitated. Of course, he had thought about it, but hadn’t decided on anything. This was their first child, and choosing the right name felt especially important.“I’ve been looking through som
"Have you been in touch with Nina?" Freya asked, trying to help. "Now that they live so close, if anything's up, she’d probably be the first to know."Micah did consider calling, but a quick check of the time and mental calculation of the time zone gave him pause. It was already late evening over there, and Nina and the kids were likely asleep. A call now would definitely disrupt their night."Let’s leave it for now. It’s too late. I'll call her tomorrow around midday. You go get some rest. I’ll be in the study tonight," he said, giving her a kiss.The study desk was piled with files, all urgent work he had to finish tonight. By the time he was done, it would be the early hours, and with Freya’s light sleep since her pregnancy, any attempt to slip into bed would almost certainly wake her. Sleeping in the study just made sense."And what time will you be going to bed?" Freya looked worried. "You have a big meeting tomorrow. Can’t some of this wait?"He shook his head, giving her th
“Freya,” Micah’s voice came out hoarse, laden with pain. Why did this have to happen to them, of all people? They had been looking forward to their baby’s arrival so much, with baby clothes ready, even a name nearly chosen. But life had other plans.“I’m really okay,” Freya tried to reassure him, though her words only deepened the ache in Micah’s heart.He looked down from her face, his gaze lingering until it settled on her abdomen. Once gently rounded, now it was flat. He wrestled with whether to tell her the truth. If he said it, how would she bear such heartbreak? Yet, even if he kept quiet now, she would eventually learn the truth.The words hovered on the tip of his tongue, but Micah could not bring himself to say them.“Micah, don’t look at me like that. I’m fine. There shouldn’t be anything wrong with me, right?” Freya could not help but follow his gaze downward. As her eyes landed on her belly, realization hit her like a blow.She raised her trembling hand, gently feeli
Micah could not find the words, so he just held her tightly until the doctor entered the room.Handing him a report, the doctor said, “The results are in. It seems there’s anemia and malnutrition, likely caused by recent exhaustion.”“Exhaustion?” Micah immediately recalled everything Freya had done to help him. If he had known it would lead to this, he would have stayed up all night himself to finish everything, rather than let her take on even a bit of the burden. Would the baby still be with them if he hadn’t let her help?Micah voiced his question, “Did the miscarriage happen because Freya was too exhausted?”“It could be a factor,” the doctor said, “but it’s never just one cause. The health of both parents plays a role in these things since a pregnancy relies on both. Blaming one person is neither fair nor accurate.”“I understand. Thank you, doctor. Could you prescribe something to help her recover?” Micah’s main focus now was ensuring Freya’s health.But Freya had anothe
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
Karina froze for a moment, staring at Wilfred's earnest eyes. A wave of mixed emotions swirled within her. She was indeed under immense financial pressure. The entanglements with Kieran and the Stone family had left her utterly drained, and every penny counted. Yet, her pride made it hard for her to accept charity, even from someone like Wilfred. Lowering her head, she softly said, “Thank you for your kindness, Dr. Wilfred, but I can’t accept your money. I’ll work hard and solve this on my own.” Wilfred frowned, stepping closer. He gently tilted her chin upward, compelling her to meet his gaze. “Karina, I understand your concerns. But working in an environment like this, exhausting yourself, and exposing yourself to danger isn’t the solution. It could harm your health and reputation. “I’m not offering charity. I see you as a friend, and I want to help you through this tough time.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she bit her lip. “But I don’t want to owe yo
He didn’t recognize Wilfred and dismissed him as some young guy trying to play the hero. “Want to play hero? Take a look at yourself first. Get lost, or I’ll call the manager and have you thrown out!” To him, customers were ranked in tiers, and as a VIP who could afford an Ace of Spades, he considered himself in a league far above the average patron. Wilfred’s gaze flicked over him, filled with disdain as though he were looking at a fool. Even the thought of engaging with him felt like a waste of effort. Wilfred turned to Karina and said calmly, “Go get the manager.” “Got it, I’ll be right back.” Karina, understanding the urgency of the situation, didn’t hesitate and dashed toward the bar. Seeing her run off, the man felt his pride take a massive hit, as though he had been publicly humiliated. His face twisted in rage as he swung a fist toward Wilfred. But Wilfred wasn’t just anyone. He had training, and dealing with a drunkard was no challenge at all. The thought
Karina’s expression darkened instantly.Yes, she needed money, and she genuinely wanted to earn it, but she had not fallen to the point of trading her body for cash. She stepped back, keeping her tone polite but firm. “Sir, I’m just a server here. My job is to sell drinks—nothing more.”“Don’t play innocent,” the man sneered, his gaze filled with undisguised contempt. “If you’re working in a place like this, doesn’t that mean you’ll do anything for the right price? Look, I’m not asking for free. If you make us happy tonight, I’ll buy everything on your cart. Don’t believe me? Go ask your manager if he’s heard of Mike Taylor.”Karina forced an awkward smile, grabbing the cart and trying to leave. She had no intention of compromising herself, but she also couldn’t afford to escalate the situation.However, the drunk man, seeing her attempt to walk away, grew angry. He shot to his feet and grabbed her arm, muttering profanities under his breath. “I’m giving you face by choosing you,
In the end, Karina decided to call the police.The officers arrived quickly and brought both of them to the station. After understanding the situation, they began by addressing Kieran. “I have a sister too, so I understand your feelings,” one of the officers said. “But your sister is an adult, and you need to respect her decisions. Plus, you’ve caused a significant disturbance for her neighbors, and this qualifies as a public nuisance.”“I’m really sorry, Officer. I got too emotional because my dad is sick, and I wanted to persuade her to come home,” Kieran replied, his tone remarkably convincing. If Karina hadn’t witnessed his other side herself, she might have believed his performance too. The officer then turned to Karina. “Miss, when a parent falls ill, it’s a serious matter. Even if there are issues within the family, the focus should be on resolving them. You can’t avoid it forever.” Karina quickly came up with an excuse. “It’s not that I don’t want to go back, but I