The nurse wheeled her cart over to Pharaoh’s bedside, handing him his medication and carefully setting up his IV. “Are you really not considering chemotherapy?” she asked, trying one last time. “These medications can only do so much, especially at this stage.”These medications had very limited effects. To put it nicely, it's conservative treatment but bluntly, it's just waiting to die. She really couldn’t understand his choice.Pharaoh shook his head. “No, I’ll just take the pills. You don’t need to keep trying to convince me. I know what I’m doing.”The nurse sighed heavily. “If you won’t do chemotherapy, will you still want to come in for regular scans to monitor the cancer’s spread?”After a pause, Pharaoh nodded. “Yeah, I’ll keep up with the checkups. At least that way, I’ll know how much time I have to set everything in order.”With that, the nurse finished setting up the IV, then turned to leave. As she opened the door, she came face to face with Nina standing right outside
“It’s not as simple as that,” Nina gently but firmly corrected him. “By actively undergoing treatment, even if a full recovery isn’t possible, it’ll at least ease the pain and extend your life. You know enough about medicine to understand this, don’t you?”She had a good guess about what was really holding him back and got straight to the point. “Is it because you think chemo will make you lose your hair and look different, so you don’t want to go through it?”Pharaoh nodded. He wanted to leave this world with dignity, not as a shadow of his former self that might scare the kids. “Oh, come on,” Nina said, half-amused, half-exasperated. “You’re not a young guy anymore. What’s with the vanity? A little hair loss isn’t the end of the world. When people get older, they naturally lose hair! Look at all the grandpas out there. They’re healthy as an ox, but barely a strand left on their heads.”“Losing some hair and going completely bald are two very different things,” Pharaoh grumbled,
Nina smiled and nodded, standing up to call the attending doctor to discuss Pharaoh’s health in detail. “Doctor, my dad has decided he’s ready to start treatment.”“That’s wonderful to hear. We tried convincing him before, but nothing seemed to get through. Sometimes, it really takes family,” the doctor replied with a smile. He was glad to move from simply managing pain to actively trying to save a life. After going over the treatment plan with the doctor, Nina chatted with Pharaoh for a little while before heading home.When she got home, Nina immediately called Micah on a video call. After a long wait, he finally answered, and the weariness etched on his face made her heart ache. “Is work too much?” she asked, concern filling her voice.Micah managed a faint smile. “Yeah, you never truly understand the weight of this job until you’re in it.”Although the doctors had explained that Freya’s miscarriage likely had to do with the embryo’s development, Micah couldn’t help but wond
Nina respected their decision completely. It was their life, and they should be the ones to decide. As his sister, the best she could do was be there to comfort them during hard times.After a few more words, Nina shared the news about Pharaoh with Micah. “Dad was just diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer.”Micah froze. “How could that happen?” he murmured, stunned. When Pharaoh left the country, he had been in good health, and now, in such a short time, it was late-stage cancer.Nina wished it weren’t true either, but the official report from a top-tier hospital left no room for doubt. “Dad initially wanted to skip treatment and just take some medication, but I managed to convince him otherwise,” she said, hoping Micah would come see their father. After all, they were father and son by blood. Even though Pharaoh would not say it outright, Nina was certain he missed his son deeply. Still, given Micah’s current situation, she hesitated to ask him to come back.Micah then spoke u
Freya lowered her head, feeling a wave of sadness. Earlier, she had hoped that once things settled down, she could rest more and start prenatal bonding activities for the baby. But that dream was no longer possible.“Freya? What’s on your mind?” Micah noticed her expression and gently asked.Freya shook her head. “It’s nothing. You should get back to work. I’ll be fine on my own.”She held back her tears while he was with her, not wanting to burden him with her sorrow. Once he left, she could finally let herself grieve.“I’ll stay a bit longer,” Micah said, unwilling to leave her alone. As her husband, he knew her well. He could see she was holding something back, and he suspected it had to do with their loss. He couldn’t take away her physical pain, but he could at least offer comfort.Freya saw through his gentle attempt to comfort her and smiled softly. “I just want to nap. Really, there’s no need for you to stay. Do you think I’d lie to you?”Micah drew her close, wrapping
In the next couple of days, Micah focused intensely on work, while Freya made a point to eat well and get plenty of rest, and her overall complexion noticeably improved. Seeing her like this, a smile crept onto Micah's face. “You look wonderful right now. I love seeing you like this.”Freya teased him, “So, did you not like me before?”Micah’s grin grew wider. “How could I not? As long as it’s you, I’ll love you no matter what. But I still want you to stay healthy. Freya, I want us to have a long, full life together.”Freya felt the same way. Especially when she thought about Pharaoh’s late-stage liver cancer, she realized that money couldn't always buy health. It reminded her how important it was to take good care of herself. Only by loving herself could she truly love others.Micah had arranged a private flight, and as soon as they landed, they drove straight to the hospital. When they arrived, Pharaoh had just finished his treatment for the day.……“Grandpa, does it hurt?” O
“Of course I can,” Pharaoh laughed, feeling a lightness he hadn’t felt in a while. “I could change one in the morning, another at night, no problem at all.” He had been bothered by losing his hair, but talking with Orion and seeing his grandson’s bright eyes filled with excitement made him feel at ease. Who cares about hair? With the right wig, he could still be the coolest grandpa around.“That would be so awesome! Grandpa, you have to pick me up from school sometime with a cool wig on. All the kids would be so jealous,” Orion exclaimed, barely containing his excitement at the thought.Watching the lively conversation between her son and father, Nina couldn’t help but laugh. The way they were enjoying themselves reminded her just how playful grandparents could be, almost like “big kids” themselves.Meanwhile, little Gemma babbled, wanting to join in, though neither Orion nor Pharaoh could understand her baby talk. Pharaoh immediately lifted her into his arms. “Oh, my little pri
Freya held Gemma gently, humming a lullaby as she rocked her. Gemma let out a small yawn, reached up to grip Freya’s collar, and fell asleep in her arms. Freya immediately froze, not daring to move an inch for fear of waking her.She even mouthed to Nina, “I got the baby to sleep!”Nina just smiled. She could tell Freya had put real effort into learning how to soothe a child, and with Gemma being such an easygoing baby, the experience had clearly delighted her. After holding her a little longer, Freya reluctantly laid Gemma down.Meanwhile, Pharaoh exchanged a few words with Micah before getting to the point. “You two came all this way. You’ve seen me, and that’s what matters. Have dinner here tonight, rest up, and head back tomorrow.”Micah gave a resigned smile. “We barely got here and have been here less than half an hour, and you’re already trying to send us off?” He understood Pharaoh’s intention. It was his father’s way of being considerate, not wanting to take up their tim
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
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