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
Pharaoh finally nodded in agreement.Now settled in the VIP room, he had double the space of his previous room, complete with a private bathroom and a small kitchenette. There was no gas line, but they could use an electric cooker for meals. The room also included a separate section with a five-foot bed, designed for family members staying over, providing convenience and privacy.Freya brought in their luggage, settling in for the next few days. Nina helped them get organized, preparing to head home with the kids. With things in order for Pharaoh and Micah here, she could breathe a bit easier. It was time to finally address that organization. They had caused enough harm to innocent children and families. It was time they faced consequences.“I’ll be back soon,” Nina said, picking up Gemma and holding Orion’s hand as they left the room. Freya watched them go with longing, hoping she, too, would soon experience the joy of holding her own child. She didn’t care if it was a boy or
At dinner, the three of them shared stories and laughs, with Nash recounting a few lighthearted moments from work. Orion was captivated, putting his utensils down and, in a grown-up tone, declared, “When I grow up, I want to be like Dad, have my own company, make lots of money, and take care of the people I care about.”Nash smiled, encouraging his son’s ambition. “When you’re a bit older, you can come intern at the company.”His hope was to pass the business on to Orion and Gemma, caring little about tradition or gender. If either of his children showed interest in taking on the family business, he would fully support them. And if they chose a different path, he and Nina would back them just the same.Orion shook his head resolutely. “No, I want to start my own company. If you can do it, Dad, I can too!”Nina chuckled, seeing the determination in Orion’s expression. She gave him a thumbs-up, cheering him on, “That’s the spirit, sweetheart! I know you can do it.”After dinner, O
“That's because you're such a good teacher,” Nina replied simply, ending the call.After a quick wash and breakfast, she took Orion and Gemma to the hospital. When they arrived, they found Micah deep in conversation with Pharaoh, seeking his advice.The moment Nina walked in, Freya rushed over, saying, “Let me hold Gemma!”Nina checked in on Pharaoh’s condition, then shared a glance with Micah. He understood immediately, and together they slipped into a side room.Once the door closed, Nina updated him on the mission. “Nash and I are flying out today to take down the Shadow organization. It’s a multinational crime ring involving children, with deep, devastating impacts.”Children are the future of a nation. Kids like Hope, if raised by their biological parents or placed in foster care, would at least have a chance at a normal life. But with that organization, she was being forced into terrible things at such a young age. Who knew what kind of person she would become as she grew up
The bodyguard behind quickly complied, opening the cage door with a rough tug and yanking Hope out. She tried to resist, but the man slapped her hard, knocking her to the ground. Her head was spinning, and she couldn’t utter a word.“Enough noise,” the man in the mask muttered, rubbing his temples. “Shadow One, what did you find out from the investigation I assigned you?”“Micah is already in Birkham, and Nina and Nash are on their way,” Shadow One reported, relaying all the intel he’d gathered.The man in the mask nodded in satisfaction. “And the woman I asked you to prepare, is she ready?”Receiving a confirmed answer, his lips curled into a smirk. It was time for the next act to begin.……Meanwhile, Nina and Nash had just landed after several hours in the air. As they moved toward baggage claim, a sudden commotion erupted ahead. A throng of people surged toward their direction, causing Nash to instinctively grab Nina’s hand. But the crowd was thick, pressing in from all si
Nash agreed to everything calmly. Back at the hotel, he called Orion on a video chat. Unlike his usual cheerful self, Orion stared intently at the woman on the screen, a confused frown crossing his face. Something about his “mom” felt off, although he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. The woman, however, kept showering him with concern, trying her best to act motherly.After a few short responses, Nash ended the call. This hotel belonged to Freya’s family, making it his turf. He had already sent his security team to check for any suspicious figures on the premises, so now it was time to start gathering information.……When Nina finally regained consciousness, she found herself face-to-face with a masked man. She kept her tone steady, cold. “If you went through all this trouble to bring me here, why hide behind a mask? Is your face really that shameful?”The man let out a laugh, handing her a photo of a woman who looked strikingly like her. “What do you think of her resemblan
Time ticked by, and at first, the masked man was filled with confidence. But as the minutes slipped away, unease began to creep in. Why hadn’t he received a call by now? The delay could only mean one thing. His meticulously crafted decoy had failed. If that were true, it meant not only that his true identity would be uncovered, but also that his base could be compromised. If Nash arrived with backup, everything would fall apart.“Nina, you and he must have a deep connection,” the masked man sneered, his gaze piercing as he looked at her. “Otherwise, how could he have spotted the imposter so quickly?” He tried to brush off his failed plan, thinking he still had her as leverage. Both Nash and Micah would be reluctant to let her be harmed, making her a powerful bargaining chip in his hands.He stepped closer, ripping off his mask to reveal a remarkably plain face beneath. “The bet’s over, I lost,” he admitted. “Per our agreement, I’m showing you my face. But there’s one more thing
Nash, of course, immediately approved the leave. What neither he nor anyone else knew was that Ben harbored an unrequited love, someone he adored in his youth but came to despise over the years. ……“Ben, not here... please...” Jamie Lewis’s voice quivered in pleading as he held her tightly against the narrow vanity. She was trapped, nowhere to escape under his unyielding hold. Her protests did nothing to sway him.His gaze only hardened with a cold fury. “Now you know how to beg?” he sneered. “Where was your mercy when I was the one pleading?” Jamie swallowed hard, her throat constricting painfully as she forced the words, “Ben, I know I wronged you back then. But Winnie is innocent. She’s out there right now.” It was the engagement day of her younger sister, Winnie Lewis. While Winnie stood outside, joyfully greeting the guests in her wedding dress, Jamie was trapped here, humiliated by Winnie’s own fiancé. Terror and a crushing guilt overwhelmed her, leaving her para
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