Ben couldn’t help but be amused by the little boy’s suspicion. An idea struck him, and he pulled up an old photo on his phone, showing it to Charlie. “Look, isn’t this your mom in the picture?”Charlie glanced at the screen and nodded.“Now you believe me, right? I really know your mom.”Charlie hesitated. “But… photos can be edited too. How do I know this one’s real?”Ben was taken aback. “You’re pretty young to know about things like that.”He hadn’t considered just how much Jamie, a single woman raising a child, might have gone through. People had likely tried to deceive her and Charlie countless times. It was no surprise the boy was so wary.“I even have a video here,” Ben offered, scrolling through his album. “See for yourself. If it were fake, you’d notice.”Charlie finally started to relax. Since this man really did know his mother, he figured he didn’t need to be so guarded.Answering Ben’s earlier question, Charlie said, “I don’t have a dad.”“Not at all?”“Nope. He
They had only been apart for four years, and the child was already over three. If the child were his, Jamie wouldn’t be so hesitant to speak up. Maybe, just maybe, she had left him back then because she was already carrying someone else’s child.“So who is the father?” Ben pressed, his tone cold. “Was it the guy you were just flirting with, or someone else?”Jamie couldn’t answer. She remained silent.Ben’s patience was wearing thin. “If you care so much about your son and don’t want him to see his mother humiliated, then just tell me the truth! Why are you so unwilling?”Could it be that the father’s identity was truly shameful? Was she involved with a married man?As he continued to speculate, Charlie, lying in bed, spoke up, “Mom, Uncle, what are you talking about?”“Oh, nothing, honey. This is just a friend of mine, and we’re talking about work,” Jamie replied with a forced smile, trying to keep things light for her son. Charlie had enough struggles with his illness—he didn’t
“Is she still dreaming, not facing reality?” Ben thought.“No, please… he’s just a child, he doesn’t understand. Don’t hold anything he said against him,” Jamie shook her head repeatedly, desperation in her voice. Her only wish now was to stay as far from Ben as possible, never to see him again. She didn’t want any connection to him, least of all his help.Charlie looked at them, utterly confused.“I’m heading back to the office now, but in three hours, I’ll be home to wrap up this case,” Ben said, turning to Jamie with an intense gaze. “I expect to see you there when I return. If not…well, I know which hospital room your son is in. And don’t forget your sister, either. Just where do you think you could hide?”With that, he left, satisfied. Until now, he had only had one piece of leverage over Jamie. Now he had two.As Ben walked out of the room, he opened his hand to reveal a single strand of hair, plucked from the root. Though he knew the chances were slim that Charlie was his
"Madam, Mr. Ben Lucas has already gone to conduct a paternity test," the butler continued his report.At this, Mrs. Lucas swept the teacup off the table, smashing it to pieces on the floor with a sharp crack."Well, isn't this just perfect," she sneered. "Once the results are out, I bet Jamie will be dragging that sick child into our home, demanding marriage!"Mrs. Lucas had never thought highly of her. Jamie came from a humble background. What support could she bring to the Lucas family? Her genes weren’t desirable either. She had a sickly child who needed extensive medical treatment even at a young age.It wasn’t that the Lucas family couldn’t afford medical expenses, but Ben was supposed to be the family’s heir. Was she expected to welcome a frail child as the future eldest grandson of the Lucas family? Unthinkable.She commanded, frowning, "I don’t care if this child is Ben’s or not. The paternity test must say he isn’t. If you fail, consider your position here finished."
No matter who reached out first this time, one thing was clear that Ben still had feelings for Jamie. Simply pushing her away, as they had tried before, wouldn’t work. The allure of what one couldn’t have would only keep his interest simmering.She might keep him at bay for a while, but could she really keep him away forever? If they crossed paths again, the spark could reignite instantly.“Make him despise you. Make him give up on you completely. If you can do that, I’ll cover all of Charlie’s medical expenses, along with a lifetime of living costs for both of you. If you can’t… then neither of you has a reason to go on.” Mrs. Lucas coldly sealed both Jamie’s and her son’s fate in a few chilling sentences.If Mrs. Lucas wanted to harm Charlie, she had countless ways to do so. Jamie, an ordinary person, couldn’t possibly stand against the power of the Lucas family. Her only option was to follow Mrs. Lucas’s orders and make Ben detest her. But he already resented her deeply. He sim
Just as Winnie and Jamie thought the topic had passed and had moved on to other conversation, Ben suddenly spoke up. “So, if she’s borrowing all this money, when exactly is she planning to pay it back?”The room fell silent.Winnie looked at her sister, caught in a difficult position. On one side was her sister, and on the other was the man who was her partner, the one she planned to spend her life with. She tried to smooth things over. “My sister isn’t someone who would avoid repaying her debts. Once she’s able, she’ll definitely pay us back.”Ben wasn’t willing to let it go. “And when will she be able to? No offense, but she’s already struggling to cover her child’s medical bills, and after the surgery, there’ll be ongoing care expenses. How exactly is she supposed to pay it back?”This time, Winnie was at a loss for words. She had thought the money was no big deal and that helping her sister wouldn’t impact her and Jack’s life together. But she realized he might not see it tha
But the reality was clear. Refusing wouldn’t change anything.“Instead of serving different men, you might as well just serve me,” Ben taunted. “I’ll pay you more than anyone else would. How about $10,000 a month? And if you please me, I’ll throw in bonuses.”His words were like needles, stabbing deeper into wounds that had already been torn open. Yet Ben showed no mercy. "Or do you think that since you borrowed this money from your sister, you can act like a shameless dog without consequence?”“No,” Jamie said firmly, “I’ll repay every penny. But if you want me as your mistress, I have one condition.”“Let’s hear it,” Ben replied, curious.Jamie took a deep breath. "I’ll be your mistress for three months. In those three months, you can do whatever you want, but once they’re over, you let me go. Let me and my sister live in peace, and we never cross paths again. Can you agree to that?”This way, Mrs. Lucas would be satisfied, and Winnie wouldn’t suffer further. And as for Ben, th
Jamie stayed silent, tears streaming down her face. Once she had gathered all the money, Ben threw a piece of clothing at her. "Put it on, right here in front of me."She glanced at it and felt a surge of shame. There was hardly any fabric at all, mostly black lace, sheer and revealing. If this were a moment of intimacy, she might not have minded the outfit as much, but right now, it felt purely degrading.“Aren’t you going to change? Or do you need my help?” Ben’s gaze was unyielding, making her feel exposed. They had been physically close many times, but she couldn’t bring herself to change in front of him like this. Quietly, she asked, “Can I at least change in the other room?”“In your sister’s room, perhaps?” he replied sharply, his patience gone. Without waiting for her consent, he grabbed her shirt and ripped it apart. “I’ll say it again. Change. Now.”She had no choice but to comply. With the living room windows open, she could feel the cold air on her skin, amplifying he
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