Ben’s expression seemed off. Jamie paused subtly, her gaze shifting toward his phone. “What is it? Is it something about the old district?” “No,” Ben replied, setting the phone down quickly to keep her from seeing the screen. After that, he refused to discuss it further. Jamie resisted the urge to press him in front of Charlie, opting to hold her questions until later. Once Charlie had wandered off to play, she seized the moment. “You didn’t seem yourself earlier during dinner. If it’s work-related and there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know,” she offered. After all, she was his secretary now, and it was only natural for her to assist. Jamie brushed aside the faint unease tugging at her and convinced herself it was nothing. But Ben didn’t seem inclined to talk. Rubbing his temples, he stood up. “I’ve stayed long enough. I should head out.” When Jamie moved to see him off, he stopped her. Watching him leave, Jamie didn’t feel the relief she expecte
“I’m going back to the Lucas family home today.” “It might be a misunderstanding. It doesn’t necessarily mean it was your father,” Jamie said cautiously. Ben interrupted her, his expression unnervingly calm. It was the kind of calm that felt dangerous. Jamie could sense a storm brewing, but she didn’t know how to comfort him. In situations like this, no words ever felt right. Fortunately, Ben seemed to notice her unease. His voice softened, just barely, as he said, “So, you’ll need to tell Charlie that I won’t be able to see him for a while.” “I’ll go with you,” Jamie blurted out, surprising even herself. But in the next moment, her resolve solidified. “Charlie can be picked up by the nanny, or we can bring him home first and go afterward. Either way, I’m going with you,” she said firmly. “This is different from last time.” “Exactly. That’s why I need to go with you.” Ben stared at her for a long moment before sighing. Finally, he gave in. *That after
Ben didn’t back down. Instead, he lifted his gaze and said coldly, “Wasn’t it you? Or are you saying you did it but don’t even have the courage to admit it?” Seeing how enraged his father was, Ben’s face remained calm, though his heart was heavy. When he first uncovered the truth, he could hardly believe it. Though their father-son relationship had always been distant, Ben had assumed that, as family, his father wouldn’t stoop to such underhanded tactics. Yet this incident slapped him in the face with harsh reality. It told him he was wrong. “You—” His father was so furious he started coughing violently. Ben’s mother, caught between the two, looked panicked. She hurried to comfort her husband while trying to get Ben to stop. “Don’t say any more. Your father has high blood pressure. He’ll make himself ill.” Jamie noticed Ben’s fists clenching tightly. Without thinking, she reached out and placed her hand over his, a silent gesture of reassurance. The tension in Ben’
Jamie turned her head sharply, stunned by what she had just heard. The look in Ben’s eyes was more serious than she had ever seen before. His words weren’t casual. They came from the depths of his heart, and anyone could tell they were genuine. Mrs. Lucas watched the scene unfold, her emotions a mix of complexity and relief. A few years ago, she never would have imagined that someone she once dismissed could not only gain Ben’s acceptance but also hers. It was clear now that Jamie was not just anyone. She was important to her son. But not everyone shared their sentiment. Mr. Lucas frowned as his critical gaze swept over Jamie. He turned to Ben, his tone full of disapproval. “So, this is the reason you’ve rejected all those other women? What’s so great about her? Her family background doesn’t match yours, and her career is nothing special.” Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Have you planted someone in the company to keep tabs on me?” Otherwise, there was no way his semi-retired
Jamie had a habit of waking up in the middle of the night. When she stepped into the dimly lit living room, the faint silhouette of someone startled her. She froze for a moment before realizing it was Ben. “Ben, why are you sitting here instead of sleeping?” Ben let out a low grunt, his voice so faint she thought she had imagined it. As Jamie approached, the sheen of sweat on his forehead and his unusually pale face came into view. “Are you feeling unwell?” she asked, her tone laced with concern. “Could you get me some antacid?” Ben replied, his voice carrying a subtle weakness that was uncharacteristic for him. It clicked. Ben had always struggled with stomach issues. His workaholic lifestyle often made it worse. Her worry spiked. She paced the living room, trying to recall where she might have stored some medicine. “Wait here. I think I have some in my room.” She hurried back, returning moments later with the medication and a cup of warm water. Ben took the me
He must have been utterly heartbroken.“Alright, I’ll stay with you,” Jamie relented, her heart softening.It was just staying with a sick person for one night. If Ben didn’t get better, he probably wouldn’t be able to make it to the office the next day anyway.Hearing her agreement, Ben’s grip on her hand loosened slightly. Jamie kept her word, settling on the sofa beside him and draping a blanket over herself. Through the quiet night, Ben’s hand never let go of hers. By the time dawn broke, they were still holding on to each other, as if that touch alone could ward off the pain and keep the world at bay. *The next morning, Jamie was woken by the sound of movement.She opened her eyes to find herself still lying on the sofa. Instinctively, she glanced to her side, but the spot was already empty.The helper entered with breakfast.“Do you know where the man who was here went?” Jamie asked.The helper, who had likely arrived early, looked slightly startled. “He left ea
Wilfred's gaze turned meaningful. "This friend of yours, he wouldn’t happen to be named Ben Lucas and work as a lawyer, would he?"Jamie averted her eyes, feeling caught. It was awkward to have him guess correctly, but thankfully, Wilfred didn’t press further. He simply gave her the advice she needed and added a warning. “Tell Ben to tone down his workaholic tendencies. If he keeps pushing like this, even the best doctors won’t be able to save him.” After parting ways with Wilfred, Jamie headed to the hospital room. The patient, Mrs. Lopez, was sixty-five years old. At her age, suffering from heart disease was highly dangerous. One wrong move could lead to a heart attack, which was why Lucas Corporation had gone to great lengths to ensure her care. They had arranged for the best room and covered her medical expenses. Given these efforts, Jamie couldn’t help but feel that the man causing such chaos earlier was unbelievably ungrateful. “I’m here to see Mrs. Lopez. Has
Jamie reluctantly suppressed her thoughts and focused on resolving immediate concerns. Her first priority was arranging a caregiver for Mrs. Lopez at the hospital. After ensuring Mrs. Lopez would be well cared for, she turned her attention to the police station.The instigator of the old district riot, Daniel Lopez, was still in custody, serving a one-month sentence.Back at the company, Jamie sought out Ben. Before he could say a word, she launched into her thoughts. “I believe Daniel is being manipulated by someone behind the scenes.” Daniel, the ringleader, had incited most of the others to cause trouble. Ben raised an eyebrow but remained silent. It was obvious he shared the same suspicion. The sequence of events seemed far too deliberate. The dissatisfaction of the holdouts, Mrs. Lopez’s sudden illness, and the escalation of the conflict all felt perfectly orchestrated. It was as if everything was being guided by an unseen hand.Jamie succinctly relayed what she had
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