“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
Jamie’s face went pale instantly. Winnie, oblivious to her sister’s turmoil, released Jamie’s hand and moved toward the source of the sound, only to discover Ben’s phone sitting on the vanity by the mirror.Jamie felt her stomach twist in anxiety. How could she possibly explain this?With a relieved smile, Winnie commented casually, “So careless, leaving his phone behind.” She picked up the phone without a hint of suspicion. Jamie held her breath, quickly shifting the conversation. “You’re the guest of honor today. Get back out there. I need to run to the restroom again.”Without waiting for a response, Jamie dashed into the restroom and locked the door in one fluid motion. But once inside, she felt Ben closing in behind her, pressing her back against the door with an ominous intensity.Just as his hand began to roam in a way that was both cruel and deliberate, Winnie’s voice sounded from outside the door, “Jamie, I really think you should go to the hospital. I’m going to get J
Jamie was certain of one thing. Ben did not love Winnie. This engagement party was nothing more than a trap. It was a twisted game Ben was playing for revenge against her. He had known about Winnie’s connection to her all along and had orchestrated each move to pull her into his plan.She had no choice.“Don’t tell her. I’ll do whatever you want,” Jamie said, defeated.“Perfect. Tonight, I want to see you at my feet, playing the obedient little dog I need. Don’t disappoint me,” he sneered, leaning in close, his breath hot against her ear, yet filled with chilling cruelty.Jamie steadied herself and, with shaky steps, forced herself to leave the room. After a moment, she joined Winnie outside.Winnie rushed over to her. “Jack couldn’t get here right away, so I had someone pick up some medicine from the pharmacy. And, Jamie,” Winnie continued with a determined look, “later, I’m taking those jewelry pieces to get some cash for Charlie’s hospital bills.”Each word pierced Jamie’s h
As Winnie's gaze drifted to the side, she noticed Ben approaching, dressed in a sleek black three-piece suit. Behind her, Jamie saw him too, and memories came rushing back. “Jamie, the man you were once with was Jack Green, but now he's Ben Lucas. You have to let him go!” Jamie thought to herself.He was both Ben Lucas and Jack Green. She could have been happy with Jack, but with Ben, there could be no connection. That was why she chose to walk away. She had buried Jack deep in her memory until today, when her sister’s repeated mentions of his name brought those memories flooding back.He was using his identity as Jack to get close to her sister, and now her sister was carrying his child. He wanted her to move into his house with her sister. It was all part of his revenge. But why drag Winnie into this? She had done nothing wrong. If anyone was at fault, it was only for having her as a sister.“I just went out to meet a guest. Are you all set on your end?” Ben asked casually, sl