Ben had said he would come tonight, and he would keep his word.Finally, a knock echoed from outside her door.Jamie hesitated. She had locked the door. Maybe if she stayed in bed and pretended to be asleep, she could avoid this ordeal tonight. She would deal with the consequences of facing him tomorrow.But then her phone buzzed loudly, jarring in the quiet room. The knocking grew louder.She picked up her phone, and there was a message from Ben. “I know you’re not asleep. Either come over here and open the door, or I’ll keep knocking until I wake up Winnie. Let’s have her come in and watch the show.”Her heart sank. Just what kind of person would force her sister to witness something like that? It was beyond cruel.Jamie rushed to the door, tears streaming down her face. “Stop knocking, please.”“What, weren’t you pretending to be asleep just a moment ago?” Ben taunted, taking his time. Standing in the doorway, he reached out and grasped her neck, his tone low and mocking.
“I'm not trying to run. I was just going to close the door,” Jamie quickly explained, panic in her voice.There was no way she could leave now. Ben was already venting his anger on Winnie because of her, and if she walked away, she would be leaving her sister even more vulnerable.“Did I say you could close the door?” Ben’s tone was anything but satisfied.His fingers reached for her collar, and with one sharp tug, he tore it apart. “And I didn’t say you could walk. Remember our old dog? It always crawled around on all fours.”He paused, then let out a mocking chuckle. “But maybe you’ve forgotten all about that. Should I find a video to refresh your memory?”“I haven’t forgotten.” Jamie shook her head, her voice barely a whisper.That dog held so many happy memories for the two of them. She had planned to take it with her the day his mother showed up, forcing her to leave. But she had been stopped.His mother’s words were burned into her memory. “That money may seem like a fortu
Jamie lay in bed alone, tears flowing freely, soaking her pillow. She didn’t know how long she cried, but eventually, exhaustion overtook her, and she fell into a deep sleep.Ben didn’t sleep well that night either. He returned to his study, took a cold shower and sat at his desk. He then opened a drawer, pulling out an old photo of them together. He had never been able to throw it away. In the photo, they were nestled close, eyes filled with love for each other.But now, he despised Jamie, and Jamie clearly hated him too. Logic told him he should stay far away from her, yet he couldn’t bring himself to let go. Even if they were only left to hurt each other, he had accepted it.……The next morning, Winnie woke up to find the other side of the bed empty. She barely glanced at it before getting up, washing up, and heading next door to check on Jamie.She knocked at the door, but there was no response inside. This felt wrong.Though they hadn’t lived together for years, Winnie kne
Jamie shook her head. “I’m just really tired right now.”“Then keep sleeping. I’m relieved to see you’re okay.” Winnie stood up to leave, not wanting to disturb her further.She headed downstairs to make breakfast and set the table, then called Ben over to eat. After all he had done for her, she felt it was only right to show her gratitude by taking care of these small things.Once breakfast was over, Ben left for work, and Winnie sat on the couch, watching TV. Jamie continued sleeping until she woke up naturally. Glancing at the time, she quickly got ready and hurried downstairs. “Winnie, I overslept. I need to get to the hospital now.”“Wait, I already packed breakfast for you. Take it with you to eat on the way. Skipping breakfast will upset your stomach, and you know how sensitive it is.” Winnie dashed into the kitchen and returned with the packed breakfast.“I made two portions. One for you and one for Charlie.”“Thank you,” Jamie said, taking the breakfast but unable to m
“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have to spend all this money, Mom.”“That’s not true,” Jamie replied, hugging her son tightly. “You’re a gift from heaven, my most precious treasure. You’ve never been a burden to me.” Despite all the hardships over the years, she had never once regretted having him. He brought so much joy and purpose to her life.“But, Mom, what about the medical bills? I hate seeing you so tired,” Charlie said, looking up at her, his face full of worry. He didn’t fully understand the challenges, but he could see that making money was hard for her—otherwise, why would she look so stressed?Jamie fell silent, thinking it over. Even if she took on as many side jobs as possible, it would still take her at least two days to scrape together the $100 she needed, and the hospital wouldn’t give her that long. Besides, more bills were coming, and there was no way she could earn money fast enough to keep up with them.Unless… she used that card.There was over $10,000 in
Ryan followed her, saying, “Honestly, from the moment I saw you, I could tell something was off. If you need any help, just let me know. After all, we grew up together and were childhood friends.”Back then, he had a crush on Jamie. But when his family moved to another city, they lost touch, and those unspoken feelings faded, tucked away in the past. Now he had a girlfriend, and he knew he and Jamie weren’t meant to be. But for the sake of their shared history, he still wanted to help if he could.“Thanks, but there’s really nothing I need help with. I can manage everything on my own,” Jamie replied, pausing to thank him. She didn’t want to owe anyone any more favors. Ryan had his own life, and so did she; she didn’t want to pull him into her problems.“Alright, but if you don’t mind, could we sit down for a few minutes to catch up?” Ryan asked again.Jamie agreed, and they chatted briefly about their lives since they had last met. When Ryan heard that her child was sick, his exp
“Who are you? This hospital hallway has plenty of cameras. I’m warning you to watch yourself and don’t go bullying women in public!” Ryan rolled up his sleeves, ready to step in.Ben wasn’t the least bit intimidated. He had been into fitness since college, initially because Jamie liked men with abs, and eventually, it just became a habit. He loved the intense, sweaty workouts, and facing off against someone like Ryan barely registered as a challenge.“Don’t fight, please!” Jamie quickly stepped between them. She turned to Ryan. “I know him. Please, just go.”“But he was about to hurt you right in front of me, no less. If he’s this rough now, imagine what he’d do if I left!” Ryan protested, refusing to back down.Every word he said only added fuel to Ben’s already raging anger.Ben’s jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ground together. He had canceled a meeting, sped through traffic, and run countless red lights, all in a rush to make sure Jamie was safe. And what did he find? Jami
But Ben’s sharp tongue didn’t let up, and within a few cutting remarks, he had Jamie feeling utterly humiliated.She tried to explain, “There’s really nothing between us. We just ran into each other today and talked for a bit.”Ben cut her off before she could finish, “Oh really? Then it just shows you’ve been surrounded by men for the past four years. A woman like you probably wouldn’t even know who the father is if you were pregnant.”Jamie’s body tensed at his words. He could insult her, but she wouldn’t allow him to bring her child into it.“Ben, I’ve only ever been with you. If I’m pregnant, the child would only be…”“Are you trying to say the child is mine?” he challenged, staring directly into her eyes. “I remember asking you, the night before you left, what you would do if you got pregnant. You told me, without a second thought, that you’d abort it.”Back then, he had been thinking that if she were pregnant, they would get married. He was ready to defy his parents if need
The Stone family wasn’t just greedy. They were relentless, always pushing boundaries and expecting more.Karina sighed. “It’s not that I can’t stand up to them, but sometimes it feels unnecessary. There are things that just can’t be explained.”Wilfred didn’t press further. “Pack your things and come with me. I have to travel for a project negotiation that will help our hospital continue expanding.” He was determined to firmly establish himself in Birkham, not just for his professional ambitions but also because Nina was there. Wilfred wanted to protect her and mentor his students, ensuring they could safeguard Nina’s children in the future. “But didn’t we already promise a patient that we’d perform surgery?” Karina asked, a little hesitant. “I’ll arrange for someone else to handle it.” While Karina might have been the better choice for the surgery, Wilfred had other options, including pulling Caleb in at the last minute. “Alright,” Karina replied. Since Wilfred had
Sera blocked Karina’s path, her expression cold and disdainful. “You think you can just use that money to brush me off? Do I look like someone who needs your measly cash?”She grabbed Karina’s arm tightly, her nails biting into her skin. “Let me make this clear. If you don’t do what I’ve asked, I’ll ruin you, Karina. Completely.”Karina’s fear was palpable, but the thought of endless torment and manipulation was even more terrifying. She met Sera’s fierce gaze with a calm, unyielding stare. “Do whatever you want. But let me remind you, the money you gave me? I’m willing to go down with you if it comes to that. My life might not be worth much, but you’ve worked so hard to get into Wilfred’s hospital. Are you really willing to throw that all away?”Sera faltered. She had worked incredibly hard to get where she was. Countless sleepless nights studying, memorizing every detail of her medical texts, and enduring the challenges of difficult patients had pushed her to the brink. She often
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