Charlie was now in the operating room. Mrs. Lucas was just as anxious as Jamie, if not more. Seeing Mrs. Lucas’s unconcealed worry, Jamie felt ashamed of the fleeting suspicion she’d had earlier. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Lucas. I thought…” “It’s understandable that you’d feel that way,” Mrs. Lucas said, giving Jamie a complicated look. She hadn’t forgotten how harshly she had treated Jamie in the past. If not for Charlie, she might still be holding onto her prejudice against Jamie, unwilling to see things clearly. “Let’s not dwell on it,” Ben interjected, cutting the conversation short. “The lead surgeon is here.” He stepped forward to speak with the doctor, his usual calm demeanor overshadowed by a hint of urgency. Though Ben tried to appear confident, his concern was evident, no less intense than Jamie’s. He just wasn’t the type to openly express it. Jamie observed him, her emotions complicated. Soon, the surgery began. Heart transplants were lengthy procedures, and
Charlie needed to stay in the hospital for further observation, so Jamie put everything else on hold to stay by his side. “Mom, I want some tacos,” Charlie said, swinging his legs playfully. A week had passed since the surgery, and there were no signs of rejection. Jamie finally felt some relief, and Charlie’s complexion had grown noticeably healthier. But she still had to follow the doctor’s strict dietary rules. “No, sweetheart. The doctor said you can’t have that yet. How about something else? I brought you some ravioli.” Jamie opened the insulated container, revealing ravioli she had made herself. Charlie didn’t mind. His face lit up with excitement. “Yay! I love your ravioli, Mom!” Jamie’s heart softened at his enthusiasm. “Okay, let me feed you. Take it slow, they’re hot.” “They’re still steaming!” The mother and son shared a warm, peaceful moment until the door opened unexpectedly. Charlie craned his neck to see who it was and quickly shouted in del
Ben let out a quiet sigh of relief. “You weren’t doing so well earlier, but you’re fine now.” He had looked into Jamie’s condition extensively, and the advice was clear that she couldn’t handle too much emotional stress. For now, it was best to avoid telling her about the full extent of her issues. Jamie didn’t suspect anything. Her memories of what had just happened were hazy and disjointed, and Ben’s explanation that she was simply overexerted seemed plausible enough. Charlie tugged at her hand. “Mom, are you really tired? You should go rest. I’m a big boy now and I don’t need you to stay with me all the time.” Jamie couldn’t help but smile, pinching his chubby cheek. “Yes, you’re my little man, but I still worry about you.” “I think you should rest too,” Ben added. “I’m fine,” Jamie replied. “If this is about Winnie, I’ve already come to terms with it.” “I’ve arranged for a nurse to help watch over Charlie. Take tomorrow off and come back the day after,” Ben
Jamie stared at the pills in her hand, her emotions swirling. After a long pause, she quietly put them away, pretending she had never taken them out. Ben had gone to great lengths, all for her benefit. She decided not to confront him about it. The nurse Ben hired to look after Charlie was incredibly attentive, significantly easing Jamie’s stress. After a few visits to the hospital, Jamie felt reassured enough to focus more on her own recovery. Ben arranged for Caleb to follow up on her condition. “Caleb isn’t busy these days. I asked him to check in on you,” Ben said casually. Jamie didn’t comment, but Caleb had plenty to say. “Not busy?” Caleb grumbled as he arrived. “Your dear Mr. Lucas dragged me out of the hospital to do this. I’m swamped, you know!” After examining her, he made a few observations. “Your stomach’s a bit off. Have you been eating properly? Looks like you haven’t had much lately. You need to eat more.” Jamie avoided his gaze, and for the first ti
Jamie’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly as she asked, “Charlie, do you like that Uncle Ben a lot?” “I do! He brings me lots of stuff, and I like that grandma too.” “I see.” Jamie looked at Charlie who was oblivious to the truth that the “Uncle Ben” he adored was actually the father he had always longed for.Her chest tightened with an uncomfortable heaviness. For a moment, doubt crept in. Had she made the right choice back then, hiding the truth and keeping Ben and the Lucas family in the dark?Maybe if she hadn’t, Charlie wouldn’t have grown up without a father in his life.Charlie suddenly stopped, his face lighting up with joy as he spotted someone. Letting go of her hand, he ran ahead. “Uncle Ben!” he shouted, launching himself into Ben’s arms. Ben crouched down to scoop him up. The usually reserved man, known for his detached demeanor, softened visibly in Charlie’s presence, even smiling. “I haven’t visited in a couple of days. Were you good?” “I
While Charlie was riding the carousel, Jamie found a place to sit and rest. Ben approached her with a cup of hot milk tea and handed it over. “Here, it’s cold. This will warm you up.” Jamie looked at him, puzzled. “Where did you get this?” Ben gestured toward a diligent staff member working at a nearby stall. The staff member, spotting them from afar, waved enthusiastically. Despite the fact that the park was rented out with only three visitors, the worker remained earnestly on duty, a level of dedication that would inspire many employers. Jamie’s lips twitched in amusement as she took the cup. “Thanks.” Ben glanced at her seat, then, surprisingly, sat down right next to her. Jamie shifted slightly to the side, her face filled with astonishment. For someone like Ben, with his composed and dignified demeanor, casually sitting down on a random bench seemed completely out of character. It was almost eye-opening to see. “You could’ve asked one of the staff for
The discovery of three bodies buried weeks ago raised a pressing question. If Winnie were still alive, who did those bodies belong to? There were too many unanswered questions. Ben decided to focus on calming Jamie for now. “Even if you want to look into this, now isn’t the time. Let’s get back in the car, and we’ll figure it out later.” Jamie, reluctantly, let herself be ushered back to the car. The planned lunch outing was abandoned. Charlie woke up from his nap in the afternoon, ate the meal the housekeeper prepared for him, and promptly went back to sleep. In the bedroom, Jamie lay on her side, her mind replaying the woman’s side profile over and over. It did resemble Winnie in some ways, but the more she thought about it, the more doubts crept in. Had she really mistaken someone else for her sister? Ben moved quickly. After reviewing the street surveillance footage his assistant retrieved, he came to tell her, “I had the cameras checked. There’s no sign of Winnie
Ben had prepared an evening gown for Jamie. It was a strapless champagne-colored dress that fit her perfectly. However, having not worn such formal attire in a long time, Jamie felt a bit awkward, checking herself repeatedly in the mirror. “You look stunning, Miss Lewis. It fits perfectly,” the helper said with a smile. Jamie returned the smile but didn’t say much. “She’s right. It suits you perfectly.” Ben’s voice suddenly cut through the room. Jamie turned to find him already dressed in a sleek suit, complementing her gown perfectly. Her discomfort grew, and the helper, sensing the tension, quietly excused herself. Ben stepped forward and revealed a necklace. “A gown like this needs the right jewelry. I picked out a necklace just for you. Try it on.” Jamie instinctively tried to refuse. “That’s not necessary…” But Ben’s calm demeanor left no room for negotiation. Before she could resist further, he clasped the necklace around her neck. The moment it sett
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.“Haven’t I been just fine lately?“Or do you think my hand isn’t injured enough? If that’s the case, go ahead—do it yourself. “You already know I wouldn’t fight back no matter what.” Without warning, Yelena stretched out her injured hand, an act that instantly enraged Liam. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He snapped. “I was just making a casual remark. Is that really what you think of me? I already told you—I’m not going to lay a hand on you.“It wasn’t intentional before, and you know it. We both do. Stop acting like you’re above all this when we both know who sent you here.” Yelena felt a pang of sadness. They had spent so much time together, yet this was how he treated her—always choosing to hurt her. “I know—I wasn’t someone you chose, and none of this was intentional. But after all this time we've spent together...“I thought maybe I was a little different to you. But I guess I was wrong. Nothing has changed at all.
“Why do you even care about what happens to other people? Haven’t I made myself clear enough already?“Whose card is this—yours or mine?” His assistant immediately apologized upon hearing Caleb’s tone. “I hope you won’t hold this against me. I really wasn’t thinking clearly at the time—I should have considered this more carefully.” Caleb didn’t bother responding. After hanging up, he focused entirely on investigating Vera’s brother. *Meanwhile, Vera was deeply worried. If things had been somewhat under control before, now they were completely off track. The situation on both sides was far more complicated than she had anticipated. “Don’t worry. That’s exactly how it is. If you don’t want to go in person, I can go for you—but it won’t be cheap,” the private investigator said.Since Caleb had warned her about the private investigator, Vera started testing him, probing for inconsistencies. And sure enough, his story had too many holes. “Why are you so sure my b
As Caleb spoke, he looked at Vera with a hint of helplessness. After all, her hand had been injured because of Luna. “Don’t feel guilty about this. Honestly, it’s nothing to me.“And I’m not the type to carry burdens over things like this.“Besides, it’s been so long. If this had happened back then, I might have cared. But now? I just don’t think it matters anymore.” Vera’s voice was steady and sincere. But Caleb’s expression darkened. “Why would you say that? Why do you think it doesn’t matter? Do you really see me as just the same as everyone else?” For some reason, at this moment, Caleb took it personally. Vera couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course not. You’re different from the rest—so obviously, I wouldn’t see it the same way.“You’ve helped me so much. The least I can do is acknowledge that, instead of stubbornly nitpicking about what’s right or wrong, don’t you think?“Besides, whatever happened between you and Luna, that’s none of my business. It’s in
“I didn’t mean to just now. Besides, you’ve been acting all sneaky lately—so really, who else is to blame?” Seeing Yelena in tears, Liam, who had been furious just moments ago, felt a small pang of guilt. He was never good at expressing emotions. But watching her like this made him a little uncomfortable. “Go get your hand treated. Otherwise, people who don’t know any better might think I’ve been abusing you.” With that, he turned and walked away. Yelena watched his retreating figure, feeling a bit helpless. This wasn’t something she could decide on her own. Installing surveillance? It wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Liam was naturally suspicious. If he caught wind of it, the consequences would be disastrous. But she had no choice. She had a mission to complete, and there was more at stake than just this moment. Letting out a deep sigh, she finally decided to head to a clinic to get her hand treated. *“What happened to you? That’s a serious injury. You
And just like that, the conversation fell into a brief silence. Meanwhile, on the other side, Hunter received a call from Yelena. “What did you just say?” Yelena told him that her hand was broken, and on top of that, Liam seemed to be getting suspicious. She wasn’t sure what to do, so she called Hunter for advice. “I don’t really care what happens to you, but at the very least, take care of yourself.“Otherwise, if something else goes wrong later, I’ll have to step in and clean up the mess. Don’t you think so?” Hearing this, Yelena was a little taken aback. “It’s not just about my injury. The real problem is, I’m scared of what he might do now.” Sure, she had taken the two hundred thousand dollars, but she had to stay alive to spend it. At this rate, she wouldn’t even make it through in one piece. “I already told you—protect yourself. If you need anything else, I’ll try to provide it. But right now, I need you to do something for me.” Hunter had been look
“Yes, it’s in that mountain area. If you’re worried, you can go check it out yourself. But as for anything else, we don’t really have much more information.”Compared to everything else, this was the most baffling situation.“You make a good point. But given the current circumstances, I think it’ll be difficult to pull off.”Vera was speaking with the private investigator. Deep down, she was more worried than anything else.“Don’t worry,” the private investigator reassured her. “Aside from what we discussed earlier, nothing else seems too extreme. Plus, we’ve already looked into it pretty thoroughly.”By the time he finished speaking, his expression had grown more complicated.“Alright. I understand.”After hanging up, she anxiously looked straight ahead. If she had been mentally prepared before, now she was starting to feel uneasy. “What’s going on?” Caleb asked while driving, glancing at her. Vera hesitated, debating whether to tell him or not. But seeing the strange
“I only had one surgery today,” Caleb said as he drove, his voice calm but firm. “Now that it’s done, I want to know why this happened.” After that, he said nothing more. Vera sat in silence, her heart uneasy as the car pulled up in front of an upscale club. Even though her hand was already bandaged, she still felt a sting of pain every time Caleb showed concern. “So this is what it feels like to have someone care,” she thought to herself.Back when Vera had been stepped on, her only concern had been the contract—whether the deal would fall apart and if her suffering had been for nothing.If it had been anything else, she probably wouldn’t have cared as much.But Caleb’s concern made it impossible for her to brush aside.It kept lingering in her mind, refusing to let her feel indifferent.“Don’t overthink it,” Caleb said, his voice firm. “Whatever happened between Luna and me doesn’t change the fact that this concerns me too—and I owe it to you to make things right.”
“Oh? So this is the apology you wanted?” Vera’s forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain, but the two women standing over her barely reacted. As if this was normal to them. As if humiliating her was just another game. “I asked you a question.” Vera remained half-crouched on the ground, her hand still pinned under Luna’s heel. Helena smirked. “Yeah, I’d say that’s good enough.” She hadn’t expected Vera to be this stubborn, but it didn’t matter. With an exaggerated sigh, she casually scribbled her signature onto the contract. The deal was officially secured. Vera didn’t waste another second. She cast one last glance at the two women. “I have no interest in getting involved in your personal drama. As for Caleb and me, that’s between us. We both made our choices.” Luna’s expression twisted slightly. “I won’t bother commenting on your relationship,” she said, voice dripping with disdain. “But don’t think for a second that this will ever earn
The moment Vera heard her assistant’s words, her expression darkened. Her previously calm tone turned firm. “If that’s the case, I understand. But I still have to go. This is my responsibility, and no one else can handle it.” If she didn’t take the lead, the other party would only grow bolder. However, the moment she glanced at the name on the negotiation list, she couldn’t help but frown. Because the person she was supposed to meet wasn’t just anyone. It was Helena Xander. Vera had encountered her before—back when her relationship with Caleb hadn’t yet escalated. Even then, Helena had openly mocked her, saying that since Caleb had been Luna’s devoted lapdog for years, he should know his place and never overstep. She had also thrown a few sharp words at Vera, telling her to recognize her own status—as if warning her that getting involved would only bring trouble. Back then, Vera hadn’t taken it seriously. She never thought she would cross paths with the