Jamie stayed by Linda’s side throughout the examination. When the results came back, the doctor adjusted his glasses, his expression unusually serious. “It appears her brain has been damaged by drugs. Do you know what might have happened to her in the past?” Jamie clenched her hands tightly, her voice trembling. “My mom went missing for many years. We don’t know much about what happened during that time.” The doctor studied them carefully, but their genuine expressions dispelled any suspicion he might have had. “It seems that during those years, someone injected her with harmful substances.” Jamie’s heart sank. “Does that mean she’ll be like this forever?” Her voice quivered as the fear gripped her. She couldn’t bear the thought of her mother living like this for the rest of her life. Sensing her tension, the doctor softened his tone. “Don’t worry. With proper care, there’s still a chance she could recover.” A wave of relief washed over Jamie. It matched what Wi
Linda nodded slightly, and the helper went to ladle some soup, treating her with the same gentle care as one might a child. When the helper left, Linda seemed a little reluctant to see her go. Jamie reassured her, “Don’t worry, she’ll be back in a couple of days.” Linda continued eating, her focus unwavering. It was hard to tell if she truly understood Jamie’s reassurances or not. Oddly enough, despite her mental state being comparable to that of a five-year-old, many of her actions still carried the poise of an adult. Perhaps her body remembered what her mind could not. Jamie watched her mother eat with quiet relief, feeling a small sense of comfort seeing her mother in a more settled state. Then, the doorbell rang. Jamie glanced at Linda. “I’ll just get the door,” she said softly before heading toward it. As she opened the door, she froze, completely taken aback by the unexpected sight before her. Charlie, oblivious to her reaction, chirped cheerfully from Mrs.
Mrs. Lucas couldn’t help but think back to how she had once treated Jamie. Now, to lower herself and ask for Jamie’s help felt humiliating, even to her. She couldn’t help but feel that what she was doing was utterly inappropriate.Jamie poured her a glass of water and handed it to her with a calm smile. “Mrs. Lucas, please take your time.”Mrs. Lucas stared into Jamie’s eyes, noticing the calmness and sincerity there. She hesitated for a moment before finally taking the glass. After a long pause, she spoke hesitantly, “I want to apologize for how I treated you before. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have done that. And now, having to come to you like this, even I find it hard to look at myself.”“You don’t need to say that, Mrs. Lucas,” Jamie replied gently.“Jamie, I want to ask for your help to talk to Ben,” Mrs. Lucas said, taking a deep breath before continuing. She slowly began explaining what had happened over the past few days. Ever since Ben had walked out that day, he hadn’t
It felt expected, the kind of decision Ben Lucas was bound to make. But right now, the focus wasn’t on Lucas Corporation. It was on his father, who was ill.Jamie studied Ben’s expression. Beneath his composed exterior, there was a subtle distraction. “I heard Mr. Lucas is unwell,” she said softly.Ben paused, his expression unreadable. “And what does that have to do with me?”“I just thought you should know. After all, he’s still your father.”After she said this, Ben fell silent. Jamie worried she might have upset him. She hesitated, then carefully lifted her gaze to check his reaction. He didn’t look angry.So, she had been right.She felt a sense of relief but also an ache in her heart. Ben was like a block of ice. He was cold and unyielding on the outside but fragile underneath. He might not say it aloud, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t hurting. He just buried it deep, where no one could see.“If you feel uneasy about it, maybe you should go see him. Of course, if you don’t
Jamie hesitated, unsure how to explain. She couldn’t exactly say, “They just want to eat on your dime and indulge in a feast, that’s all.”“Do you have something to say?” Ben raised an eyebrow.Jamie didn’t expect him to see through her so quickly. She took a deep breath. “Yes, actually. They want to go out for a team dinner.”She blurted it all out in one go, then stood there quietly, waiting for his response.To her surprise, Ben’s eyebrows arched a little higher, but his expression didn’t shift much. “That’s it?”Then, without hesitation, he approved it.When Jamie relayed his response, the team was in disbelief.“What? Ben actually agreed?”“No way! I thought for sure he’d shut it down. He’s such a workaholic, always buried in his work without taking a break. Who would’ve thought he’d be so easygoing about this?”The assistant, however, knew better. It wasn’t that Ben was particularly agreeable. It was just that he tended to be more accommodating when it came to Jamie.Th
It seemed like someone had upset Ben, leaving him in a sour mood, and now the assistant was left to smooth things over. Jamie played along, cooperating seamlessly. Gradually, the conversation at their table became lively, with everyone shedding their initial stiffness. Just as the atmosphere lightened, someone casually asked, "Jamie, have you ever thought about getting married?" Ben's icy glare shot toward the speaker, sending a chill down their spine. The assistant’s heart practically jumped out of his chest. Thankfully, Jamie deflected the question effortlessly. “If I meet the right person, maybe. But for now, I haven’t given it much thought.” The food soon arrived, shifting the focus. Everyone ate and drank their fill before heading home. Many had one drink too many and were swaying unsteadily. The assistant took charge, making sure they were all sent home safely. Jamie, who had only sipped two glasses, was mostly fine, though her cheeks were flushed pink. “J
Jamie paid the cab fare and got out of the car. “Thank you. I’ll get off here.”After stepping out, she headed straight for the black car. As she reached it, she knocked on the window. Ben turned his head at the sound, his gaze landing on her with mild surprise. Rolling the window down, her voice reached him. “Ben, unlock the door.”His eyes flickered with a trace of emotion, and after a moment of hesitation, he reached over and unlocked the door. Jamie climbed in without wasting a second. “Why did you come here alone without saying a word? You know Charlie hasn’t been dismissed from school yet at this hour.” “I just came to take a look.” “I already heard about it from your assistant,” Jamie said, cutting to the point. Ben’s lips twisted into a bitter, self-deprecating smile. “You don’t need to tell me. I already know who’s behind it.” He didn’t need to guess. The only person capable of putting him in such a position and didn’t want him to be a lawyer, was his fath
That was why Mr. Lucas was so furious and displeased when Ben so casually brought Jamie, an “outsider,” into his private space.“Do older people all lose their sense of reasoning? I’ve already told you that Jamie isn’t an outsider,” Ben sneered, his tone sharp with ridicule.“You dare talk to me like that?” Mr. Lucas nearly leaped out of bed, his face flushing an angry shade of red. Ben let out a dry chuckle, his expression practically screaming, “You’re not just irrational, you’re deaf too.” Though his words seemed harmless on the surface, their cutting undertone was impossible to miss. Mr. Lucas turned an even darker shade, his face swelling like it might explode, as he clutched his chest and struggled for breath. “How did I end up with such a disgrace of a son!” Ben’s pupils contracted slightly. Jamie quickly realized something was wrong. She rushed to press the call button, summoning the medical staff. The nurse arrived swiftly, using calm methods to stabilize Mr
But instead of feeling touched, Vera’s first reaction was nausea. A wave of discomfort surged up from her stomach, and Vera’s face paled. She bolted for the bathroom. Caleb followed quickly. “Are you feeling sick?” “I don’t think so. I’ve been eating normally—nothing too heavy or weird lately.” Vera clutched her stomach, just as confused as he was. Then, a possibility flashed through her mind. Caleb clearly had the same thought. Without a word, he turned and walked into their bedroom, returning moments later with a pregnancy test. Vera looked at him, stunned. “When did you buy that?” He responded matter-of-factly, “Better safe than sorry.” Vera was momentarily speechless. Five minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. It was positive. They had only been married for three months. How did this happen so fast?Caleb, on the other hand, remained composed—at le
Of course, Vera wasn’t about to dump all her responsibilities on her assistant. That would be exploitation. She called her assistant into her office. “You’re twenty-five this year, right?” Her assistant blinked, confused. Wasn’t her age common knowledge? Why was Vera suddenly bringing it up? A thought struck her. Was this an arranged marriage situation? Her face immediately filled with silent refusal. “Miss Vera, I’m still young. I’m not thinking about marriage anytime soon.” Vera tapped her pen against the desk. “I’m not telling you to get married.” “Oh.” “I just want to offload some of the smaller daily tasks to you. You don’t have to run every minor document by me.”Her assistant instantly understood. A raise. After confirming she was on board, Vera gave her a salary bump and had her hire a few more assistants to distribute the workload. “If I don’t have time to handle everything, you guys will take care of it. If something’s too complicated, jus
Vera could sense danger the moment the conversation turned in this direction. Her father had never questioned her about married life, and she was lucky enough to avoid nosy relatives. But just because she hadn’t experienced it firsthand didn’t mean she hadn’t seen it happen to others. Without hesitation, she abandoned the half-folded pastry in her hands. “I... uh, need to use the restroom.” Before she could escape, Mrs. Smith caught her wrist. “You and Caleb aren’t getting any younger,” she said matter-of-factly. “You should start thinking about kids—make sure you’re putting in the effort, hmm?” Vera left the kitchen visibly drained. Mrs. Smith was a wonderful mother-in-law, the kind who treated Vera like her own daughter. Despite knowing Vera came from a well-off family, she had still gifted them a house as a wedding present. Of course, Caleb already owned a place, but his mother had insisted. “That’s your house. This is the home I’m giving you as a weddi
That undeniable possessiveness flickered in Caleb’s gaze—subtle yet impossible to ignore. It was the kind of look a powerful man might give his beloved in an old Hollywood film. And right now, the photographer felt like the unlucky bystander who had accidentally stumbled upon an intimate scene. His voice wavered slightly, caught up in his own imagination. “Mr. Smith, lift your eyes toward the camera.” Caleb’s sharp gaze flickered over, intense and commanding. The photographer instinctively pressed the shutter. They continued with several more poses, reviewing the shots as they went. Vera loved them all, but her favorite was still the vintage-inspired one. “How long until we get the final prints?” she asked. “Two to three days at most,” the photographer replied. “I’ll have them shipped directly to you.” Then, after a slight pause, he hesitated before making a request. “I actually have a personal favor to ask—would you both be open to letting us displa
Vera was tempted. They had already taken plenty of wedding photos—several sets at the island, more at the wedding itself. But this wasn’t just any photo studio. It was privately booked and known for being one of the most prestigious studios in the city. Appointments here were nearly impossible to get. The fact that Caleb had managed to secure a session meant he had gone to great lengths to make it happen. If they were just going to take ordinary wedding pictures, it would be a waste of an opportunity. Still, she wasn’t sure what kind of shoot she wanted. The photographer, understanding her hesitation, pulled out a sample album. “You can take a look at our past work. These are some of the styles we’ve done.” Flipping through the pages, Vera saw an array of stunning concepts—each picture more breathtaking than the last. Then, one particular set caught her eye. A Golden Age Hollywood theme.It was classic, nostalgic, and beautifully atmospheric. “Ca
After the wedding, Vera considered taking some time off for a honeymoon. But the thought quickly faded when she realized Caleb had been practically living at the hospital. With a sigh, she dismissed the idea. She was used to it, but to say she wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. Her assistant picked up on it. “Mrs. Smith, don’t you want to go on a honeymoon?” she asked one day. “One of my friends just got married, and she’s been obsessively researching destinations. “She even said a marriage without a honeymoon is already half a failure.” Vera froze mid-page, suddenly losing interest in the documents she had been reviewing. Her assistant hesitated, then offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you go visit Dr. Smith at work?“You seem… distracted. Maybe seeing him will help.” Vera snapped out of her daze, suddenly aware of how preoccupied she had been lately. It was embarrassing to admit, but she had been zoning out far too often—especially after coming hom
Whenever they did this in the past, Caleb always maintained some restraint. But tonight—he didn’t hold back at all. He took her from the bedroom to the bathroom, then back to the bed, his searing kisses trailing every inch of her skin. The next morning, even as she woke up, Vera could still feel the lingering traces of last night’s intoxicating pleasure. As expected, she ended up taking the day off. It wasn’t until two days later that she finally returned to work. *Everyone at the company had already prepared for this. The moment Vera walked into the office, she was greeted with knowing smiles and teasing remarks. “Congratulations, Mrs. Smith!” “Newlywed bliss, huh?” “Three whole days off? Someone had a good time.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she had been up to. Obviously, her married life was going exceptionally well—so well that she had completely abandoned work for it. Under the weight of their mischievous stares, Vera barely k
Yelena still hadn’t accepted Hunter, but he wasn’t giving up either and was relentlessly closing in on her. Knowing Yelena’s soft heart, Vera figured it was only a matter of time before she gave in. She let out a sigh. Her friend’s love life wasn’t something she could interfere with. Besides, Caleb had already given her a little inside scoop. “She came to the hospital for a follow-up a few days ago,” he had mentioned casually. “Hunter was the one who brought her.” Vera had clicked her tongue at the news. Yelena always seemed quiet and reserved, but apparently, she was full of surprises.*Time flew by in the blink of an eye.By mid-month, Caleb had rented out an entire vineyard and spent several days transforming it into the perfect wedding venue.When the day arrived, the celebration took place right there.The vineyard was sprawling and elegant, every bit as grand as any luxury hotel—if not better. Even the wine cellar remained untouched, stocked with years-
“Did you plan this from the start?” Vera narrowed her eyes, feeling like she had just walked into a carefully laid trap. “Mm.” Caleb smiled, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Because yes—he had always been planning this. The biggest change in Vera’s life after the island proposal was the ring now sitting on her finger. It wasn’t just any ring. It was custom-made, something Caleb had specially ordered. She only found out by accident when she glanced at his phone one day and saw the purchase record. It had been ordered two months ago. Vera did the math and was stunned. He had been preparing for this long before she even started getting impatient. Her heart swelled with emotion. And as soon as Caleb’s parents heard that their son had finally proposed, they wasted no time pushing them to get the marriage license. *One day, Vera overheard Caleb’s mother lecturing him. “Your dad and I weren’t expecting much from you. With how much ti