Jamie struggled desperately to free herself from Ben’s grip, but it was futile. Ben watched her attempts with a mix of frustration and curiosity. Beyond her anger and resistance, Jamie showed no other emotions. Yet, according to Caden, she had risked everything to obtain the recording. His mother had also confirmed it was Jamie who had handed it over. Still, she had never used it to threaten him. Ben’s voice dripped with sarcasm as he stared her down. “What’s your angle, Jamie? You risked so much to get that recording, you ignored your son’s safety, and now you’re here telling me to take care of your sister and build a happy life with her? Are you really that noble?” His sharp, icy gaze bore into her, as though he wanted to rip her apart piece by piece. Jamie hadn’t expected Ben to know the truth, but it didn’t matter. She had done what she felt was right and had no intention of using it against him. “My sister is carrying your child, and the two of you are engaged
The bitterness in Jamie’s heart surged like an unstoppable tide. She hesitated for a long moment before speaking softly, almost timidly. “She’s my sister. No matter what happens, we’ll work it out.” Suddenly, Ben, reeking of alcohol, lurched toward her, his bloodshot eyes locking onto hers. “And what about me?” he demanded, his voice harsh and raw. “What am I to you? You left without a word, Jamie. What did you take me for?” Jamie couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. She turned her head awkwardly, her voice barely audible. “It’s all in the past. There’s no point in talking about it now.” Ben stared at her calm, indifferent expression, and for the first time, he felt the weight of all these years of longing and heartache was nothing but a cruel joke. “It’s easy for you to say it doesn’t matter because you’ve moved on,” he said, his tone laced with bitterness. “But how can anyone understand their mistakes if they don’t feel the pain?” With those words, his exp
Ben’s voice was low and hoarse, each word sounding as though it was wrenched from deep within. Jamie’s heart felt like it was being torn apart. She knew she had no defense. It was true that she had chosen to leave. She had chosen to abandon their love. But she had her reasons! “Ben, I—” Before she could say another word, Ben cut her off, his voice harsh and unyielding. “Don’t say anything. I don’t want to hear it!” Jamie flinched at his abrupt interruption, tears spilling from her eyes. A profound sense of helplessness enveloped her as she turned her face away, silently enduring the humiliation and despair that hung in the air. Just as Ben was on the verge of overstepping an irreversible line, a clear, piercing voice shattered the silence of the office. “Ben, what are you doing?” The words rang out like a thunderclap, freezing them both in place. They turned toward the doorway to see Winnie standing there, her face pale and her wide, disbelieving eyes f
Winnie turned her head, only to be blinded by a glaring white light. She instinctively stumbled backward but lost her balance in the rush, landing hard on the ground. The small delivery truck swerved sharply, narrowly grazing her back before screeching to a halt just behind her. Pain shot through her body. A cold sensation seemed to spread, replacing the warmth she desperately clung to. Sweat poured down her forehead as a sharp, agonizing cramp spread through her lower abdomen. She instinctively placed a hand on her stomach, only to feel a warm, sticky flow. Blood. Her eyes widened in terror as she screamed, “Help me! Somebody, help!” The truck driver, clearly shaken and panicked, glanced back briefly before flooring the gas pedal and fleeing the scene. The cold night air cut through her like a blade as she lay sprawled on the wide, empty road, the pain tearing through her body amplifying the bitterness and hatred already consuming her. ……Meanwhile, Jamie had ru
“You can rest assured, we’ll speak to the doctor about the baby,” the kind stranger said. Only then did Winnie close her eyes, finally letting herself relax.Meanwhile, Ben had been sitting alone in the dark for what felt like ages. He had a few drinks, but his mind was only growing sharper and colder with each passing moment.*Knock, knock, knock!*The sudden noise broke through the silence, echoing sharply in the stillness. His lips curled into a slight smirk. So, she had come after all. But when he opened the door and saw who it was, the playful smile on his face vanished, replaced by an icy chill. “Who are you?” The delivery driver, dressed in his uniform, suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine. He cleared his throat nervously and held up a bag. “Mr. Ben Lucas, right? This is your express delivery.”Ben narrowed his eyes slightly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. “That woman really does have a bit of wit,” he muttered to himself.Without sayi
Winnie’s face twisted into a mocking smile as she glanced back at Charlie, her expression dark and unnerving. “What if the one who hurt me is your mom?” Charlie froze, his innocent eyes wide with disbelief, but he still whispered, “Mom wouldn’t hurt you, Aunt Winnie.” Winnie let out a cold, bitter laugh. Why should her sister’s child thrive while her own never even had the chance to see this world? Why should she endure such loss while Jamie got to keep everything? “I want to see my mom,” Charlie whimpered, his small voice trembling with unease. Winnie forced herself to soften, her tone placating. “I was just joking. When we get to where we’re going, I’ll let you call your mom, okay?” Charlie’s worry eased as he turned his attention back to the scenery outside the car window, humming happily to himself. Meanwhile, Jamie had been calling all morning, her worry mounting with each unanswered ring. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong.
Jamie was too overwhelmed to handle the tangled mess of emotions and threats. All she could focus on was Charlie’s safety. Her voice cracked as she nearly begged Winnie.“He’s your blood relative. What are you trying to do? Don’t use him to threaten me. I’ll help you.” Winnie let out a cold laugh. “Jamie, you’re nothing but a hypocrite. Without leverage, would you really be so willing to do what I ask?” Jamie tried to reason further, but Winnie cut her off impatiently. “Enough with the useless chatter. I need you to get Ben to meet me.” Jamie’s heart sank. “What are you planning?” Winnie’s voice carried a mocking edge. “That’s between me and him.” Jamie hesitated before replying, “Ben and I haven’t been in contact for a long time. I might not be able to do it.” Winnie’s tone turned icy and menacing. “That’s your problem. I assume you still care about Charlie’s safety, right?” Jamie fell silent. Winnie was teetering on the edge of madness. If Jamie didn’t
Ben grabbed his keys and headed for the door. His assistant immediately called out, “Mr. Lucas, where are you headed? Should I adjust your schedule?”“No need. Cancel all my afternoon appointments.” Ben left these words behind as he strode out toward the parking lot. Sitting in his car, he couldn’t help but berate himself. “What am I doing? Chasing after her again, just because of one vague comment.” After hesitating for a moment, he still decided to go check it out. Meanwhile, two men with hardened expressions were watching him closely in a black car nearby. One of them nudged his partner. “Hey, isn’t that him?” The other man, who had been typing a message on his phone, looked up sharply. His eyes narrowed as he saw Ben step into his luxury car. “That’s him. It’s because of his defense that my son got such a harsh sentence. Even if he turned to ash, I’d recognize him.” “He’s heading out alone. Isn’t this the perfect chance?” The two exchanged a look of agreemen
The trash can sailed through the air, scattering its foul-smelling contents across the police station, filling the air with a pungent odor. Several young officers flanked Kieran from both sides, trying to grab hold of his arms. But Kieran thrashed wildly, his surprising strength allowing him to break free from one officer’s grip. With a sharp elbow strike, he hit another officer square in the stomach. The officer grunted in pain, stumbling back a few steps but gritted his teeth and held his ground. The scene in the reception hall descended into chaos. Civilians seeking assistance huddled in corners, some shrieking in fear. Mrs. Stone stood to the side, wringing her hands and stomping her feet in desperation. Her voice, pleading and panicked, was drowned out by her son’s shouting. “Kieran, stop this! Calm down!” she cried. But Kieran was too far gone, consumed by his manic performance. He couldn’t—or wouldn’t—hear her. The situation was teetering on the brink of tot
Karina stared at the flood of messages, feeling nothing but disgust and revulsion. Kieran’s texts were growing increasingly obsessive, filled with unhinged threats, unreasonable demands, and even veiled warnings against her safety. No. She couldn’t allow the Stone family’s harassment to continue unchecked. Taking a deep breath, she decisively dialed the police. She provided the authorities with a detailed account of the Stone family’s relentless harassment, including Kieran’s disturbing demands and the threatening content of his messages. The officers assured her that they would investigate promptly and provide her with protection if necessary. With the police now involved, Karina finally felt a sliver of relief. *The response was swift. The blare of sirens pierced through the city’s noise as several police cars raced toward Kieran’s address. Flashing red and blue lights reflected off the surrounding buildings, drawing curious stares from passersby. Guided by
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