“I remember when my sister was pregnant. She was near her due date and in such a rough state, emotionally shattered. I didn’t want to ask about the father and reopen her wounds. But I assume the child’s father is her ex-boyfriend.”Ben’s exasperation grew. Her ex-boyfriend? That was him. He kept his tone neutral and probed further, “So why did your sister break up with him? They had a child. They should’ve married, like we’re planning to.”“Maybe he didn’t want to settle down? I really don’t know. She never talked to me about it,” Winnie replied, oblivious to the depth of his reaction.A wry smile played on Ben’s lips. Jamie had really spun things in her favor. She had ended their relationship in a way that tore him apart, yet somehow managed to paint herself as the wronged party to her sister. Now, he was cast as the heartless one, the one who had abandoned her.“It’s been four years now,” Winnie continued, oblivious to Ben’s brooding. “Charlie’s grown up so much. I keep telling
Jamie replied calmly, “But being a cleaner pays better.” She had heard similar comments before. Even Mrs. Lawrence, the agency manager, had mentioned how rare it was to see someone her age in this line of work. Given the choice, Jamie wouldn’t have picked this path either. But with no one to lean on, and Charlie needing costly medical treatments, she had no other option. Even though Winnie had lent her some money, it still needed to be repaid. Jamie preferred earning her own way, even if it meant harder work. At least she could spend that money with a clear conscience.“Got a younger brother at home or something?” Mr. Adams asked, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her skin crawl.Jamie was focused on cleaning the TV stand, her back to him. “I don’t have a brother. But I do have a son. I’m working to save up for his medical expenses.”At first, Mr. Adams thought Jamie was joking. “Come on, you’re kidding, right? Look at you! You’re so slim and fit! You can’t pos
Mrs. Adams transferred the payment quickly. “Let’s add each other as contacts,” she suggested. “Our place needs cleaning three times a week, and if we're ever away, you could stop by daily. I’ll reach out directly.”“Sounds good. I’ll be on my way, then.” Jamie returned the cleaning supplies to the service room and headed out. High-end apartments were convenient. With all the cleaning supplies provided, she didn’t need to bring a thing. She only had to show up.Behind her, she could hear Mr. Adams complimenting his wife, “Is that the new dress you bought? It looks amazing on you, really brings out your glow. You’re looking better every day.” He had a comfortable life in a city-center luxury apartment and a high-paying job, not because of his talent, but thanks to his wife’s connections and background. Though he resented her, privately thinking of her as frumpy and unattractive, he was always quick to lavish her with praise.As for Jamie? He hadn’t succeeded today, but he figured
After graduation, one became a lawyer and the other a judge, and with their lines of work, they still saw each other fairly often. During the four years he was apart from Jamie, Ben often met up with Caden for drinks, finding it a small comfort for the ache he carried. Their friendship ran deep, and lending some cash was no big deal.“Alright, I'll just come out with it. Could you lend me $20,000?” Caden asked. “But I’ll need it in cash. Let’s meet at the bar tonight, and you can bring it with you.”“Why cash? A transfer would be a lot easier.” Ben’s curiosity was piqued.After a pause, Caden explained, “It’s for my grandma. She’s in her eighties, doesn’t read, doesn’t have a phone, and trusts cash only. I owe you one, buddy.”“Alright, old place tonight,” Ben agreed, thinking he could use a drink himself.He withdrew the cash from a nearby bank, placed it in a small paper bag, and drove to their usual bar. Over the years, he had come here often enough to be familiar with the st
Caden didn’t press him. He had other priorities. Glancing at the bag, he asked, "So, you brought the cash, right?"“Of course. It’s not every day you ask me for a favor,” Ben replied, sliding the bag over. “It’s exactly $20,000. I just withdrew it, so if it’s not enough, just let me know. Between us, don’t worry about the whole ‘borrow and return’ thing. You’ll pay it back when you can, and if not, it’s no big deal.”Caden hesitated as he held the bag in his hands. Once he opened that zipper, there would be no turning back. Ben had always treated him well, genuinely seeing him as a brother. But, no matter how generous a friend might be, it could never compare to having wealth of one’s own. After a moment of wavering, Caden made his decision and unzipped the bag. Inside, stacks of cash were neatly arranged. He dumped them out onto the table, giving a quick count to estimate the total amount.“You really thought I’d short you?” Ben laughed.“It’s not that,” Caden said, shaking
“I’m not as drunk as you. I’ll just call a ride home. It’s pretty convenient these days with all the ride-hailing apps. Do you want me to wait for someone from your family to come pick you up, or should I head out?” Caden had mostly been watching Ben drink tonight, barely touching his own glass.Ben shook his head. “No need to wait for me. Head home, and just shoot me a message when you get there.”“Alright, then I’ll go,” Caden replied, standing up quickly and leaving in a hurry.After walking a bit, he glanced back and sighed to himself. He would like to consider Ben a good friend, but their families were just too different. It was an uncrossable gap lay between them. No matter how hard he worked, his destination would never match Ben’s starting point.Still, was it wrong for him to want a better life, to try and change his situation?……After working the whole day, Jamie sank onto the sofa, exhausted. Today had really worn her out. But looking at her bank balance, she felt
Jamie’s heart raced, anxiety tightening her throat. She dreaded what Ben might say next.As soon as the call connected, Winnie hit the speaker button.Silence lingered on the other end, broken only by the faint sound of Ben’s breathing.“Jack, where are you?” Winnie couldn’t wait and spoke first.Ben’s voice came through, unmistakably slurred from drinking. “I’m at the bar. Can you come pick me up?”“I’m coming right now!” Winnie set her phone down and hurried upstairs to change, missing the name Ben muttered afterward.“Mimi…”It was the nickname he used to call her when they were together. Even after their breakup, she hadn’t heard him use it again until now.Jamie froze, fear washing over her. If Winnie had heard him say that, she would have been furious.Quickly, she picked up the phone and ended the call.Winnie returned a few minutes later, throwing a casual jacket over her pajamas. “Jamie, come with me to pick up Jack. I can’t lift him on my own, especially if he’s tha
“He… likes my sister?” The shocking thought had barely surfaced before it jolted Winnie. “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not Winnie,” Jamie quickly pushed Ben toward Winnie’s side.A look of irritation crossed Ben’s face. It was Jamie he wanted to hold. What did Winnie have to do with him?Annoyed, he grumbled, “Why do you keep pushing me away?”“Jack, you’re mistaken. I’m your fiancée!” Winnie finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She strode over, took Ben’s hand, and placed it around her waist. “I get that my sister and I look a bit alike, but you can’t keep confusing us like this!”She had brushed it off the first couple of times, but this was going too far.Ben still seemed inclined to push her away.Just then, the taxi arrived, and Jamie opened the front passenger door, slipping inside. Seeing this, Ben staggered in her direction, while Winnie hurried to open the back door for him.Once inside, Ben leaned back in the seat and fell asleep almost immediately.Not wanti
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