Charlie still didn’t know that Ben was his father. Throwing Charlie into such a situation, expecting him to adapt and stay with Ben before he even had time to process the truth, would undoubtedly leave him unwilling and confused. Hearing Charlie’s name, Jamie felt a stabbing pain in her heart. She began to avoid the subject. “Stop it. Let’s not talk about things that haven’t happened yet. Ben, I’m not going to be with you. And I can’t stand the thought of being separated from Charlie. If there’s no other way, then let’s just keep the truth from him forever.” Ben refused to let her avoid the issue. “What you’re doing is cruel to Charlie. He’s just over three years old, Jamie. He’s been battling illness his whole life, and he’s never had a father. Now that he has one, how can you deny him that?” Jamie fell silent. Ben’s words cut to the harsh reality of their situation. “I’ll find Winnie as soon as I can,” Ben said. He knew Jamie’s biggest concern was her sister.
Winnie held onto one belief that she had to call Jamie. Fighting through the waves of pain overwhelming her body, she slowly pulled out her phone. When Jamie saw Winnie’s name on the caller ID, she answered immediately. “Where are you?” “Jamie…” Winnie’s weak voice came through the phone. Jamie instantly sensed something was wrong. Panic set in as she shouted, “Winnie, where are you right now?” Turning to Ben, she cried out, “Ben, something’s happened to Winnie! Use your connections to locate her. She just called me. She’s in trouble!” Hearing this, Winnie’s mind flashed to an image of Jamie and Ben together. Ben had taken Charlie back, and now they were a happy family of three. But instead of anger, Winnie felt relief. “Jamie, you’ve worked so hard your whole life. Now, just be with Ben. I fell in love with Jack Green, not Ben. I lost control and acted impulsively. For Charlie’s sake, be with Ben and give Charlie a complete family. You’ll always be my sister. I do
Wilfred said, "I’ll skip this meal. Let’s head over to see your friend’s child first."“Alright, but take care on the road,” Nina replied.Since Wilfred insisted, she didn’t press him to stay. Nash then took Wilfred to Ben’s home. When they arrived, Ben wasn’t there, but Mrs. Lucas was, along with a three-year-old boy. “Mrs. Lucas,” Nash greeted politely. “Is this the child Ben mentioned?” Nash had never met Jamie’s son before, and this was his first time seeing him. Looking at the boy’s features, Nash immediately saw traces of Ben in him. Combined with Mrs. Lucas’s presence and protectiveness, it was obvious this was Ben’s child. “This must be your friend,” Mrs. Lucas said, glancing at Wilfred. “Please take a look at Charlie.” She quickly brought the boy forward. With both Ben and Jamie unwell, Mrs. Lucas had taken it upon herself to care for the child, hoping to make amends. Charlie, being an obedient and understanding boy, had quickly warmed to her. But now, wi
Hearing this, Jamie finally exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. She focused on arranging Winnie’s funeral, even though the weight of it was almost too much to bear. The dead take the past and all the pain, mistakes, and regrets with them, leaving behind only memories worth keeping. But the more Jamie remembered, the more it hurt. Ben had steadied her, calm and supportive. “If you need to cry, just cry. Your sister is gone, and everyone knows how much this hurts.” Jamie shook her head. She had cried enough. Now was the time to stay strong and see the funeral through, to send Winnie off properly. The funeral lasted a long time, though few people attended. Winnie hadn’t had many close connections in life. “Where’s Jack Green?” Jamie suddenly asked midway through. He hadn’t shown up. Winnie had held onto her feelings for him until the very end. How could he not be here for her funeral? Jamie’s heart began to race with urgency. “Ben, can you
“You’re sick. Here, drink some water and take your medicine,” Ben said quietly. Jamie’s mind was a foggy blur when she tried to recall what had happened before she fell ill, but she quickly gave up. Taking a small sip of water, she let it soothe her dry throat, and her complexion improved slightly. After swallowing the medicine, she lay back down. She didn’t want to stay in bed. She wanted to go to the hospital to see Charlie. But Ben firmly pressed her back onto the bed. “Rest and recover. I already told you, don’t worry about Charlie. He’s doing just fine.” Looking at his unyielding expression, Jamie pressed her lips together and reluctantly gave in. Taking a deep breath, she stared at the ceiling, her mind blank. Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Winnie’s presence still lingered by her side. Her voice wavered. “Do you think… maybe Winnie hasn’t really left?” Ben paused, his gaze softening. “Those who leave don’t disappear. They’ve just gone somewhere else,
Jamie was in a terrible state. The death of her younger sister had left her dazed and lost. Night after night, she dreamed of Winnie, who would cry out in pain, telling her how much it hurt. One such nightmare startled Jamie awake in the middle of the night. Before she could gather herself, the soft glow of a lamp filled the room. She looked up to see Ben standing there, his tall frame casting a shadow across the room. Charlie was at the hospital, and Jamie had initially wanted to visit him. But Ben had stopped her. “You’re not in the right state to go. My mom is there, along with a professional team.” Jamie had reluctantly stayed behind, not wanting Charlie to see her in such a fragile condition. Now, staying in Ben’s villa, she hadn’t expected her state to deteriorate this badly. “Do you want me to call Caleb?” Ben asked her patiently. He had been deeply worried about her since the funeral. He feared that if she kept bottling up her emotions, the grief woul
Ben grasped Jamie’s shoulders firmly. “I heard the conversation you had with Winnie. Jamie, she wanted you to live well. She wanted us to move forward.” Ben wasn’t denying his own responsibility, but they had already reached this point, and looking forward was their only option. Winnie had been laid to rest with dignity, but her memory still weighed heavily on Jamie. “Yes, you’re right,” Jamie said, her voice trembling. “But how can I let go? Every time I think of Winnie, I think of how you intentionally got close to her. I know I can’t blame you, but I can’t forget it. Because in the end, it all comes back to me.” “Winnie is gone, Jamie. We can’t bring her back,” Ben said softly, his voice steady but piercing. “But what about Charlie? Are you willing to let him grow up in an incomplete family? Is that what you want for him?” Each word landed heavily in Jamie’s heart. She couldn’t forget Winnie’s final call, how she had used her last bit of strength to ask Jamie to be with
Winnie had no idea what was happening to her. Her body was completely immobile, and she lay there, questioning everything. Wasn’t she already dead? How could her eyes still open? She vaguely remembered someone pulling her out just before the explosion.“You’re awake?” A deep, familiar voice broke the silence. Winnie’s eyes widened in shock as the man’s face came into focus. It was him! The masked man. Her eyes burned with anger, glaring at him as if she wanted to tear him apart. Unfazed, the man smirked and said, “Don’t look at me like that. I saved you. If it weren’t for me, you’d already be dead. Show some respect to your savior.” Winnie couldn’t speak, so her furious glare only intensified. The man nonchalantly patted her shoulder. “Focus on recovering. I still have plans for you.” Her pupils trembled. What did he mean by that? What was this man planning? *Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Jamie was still feverish and delirious, murmuring Winnie’
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