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
Jamie watched as Ben's face darkened the instant he saw the man approaching them. Her suspicions were immediately aroused.“I’m his personal secretary,” Jamie said with a calm smile, deliberately clarifying the relationship. The implication was clear that he shouldn’t falsely assume a close relationship.Noah Lucas raised an eyebrow, a look of mild surprise crossing his face. “Oh? My brother hasn’t won you over yet? My apologies! I thought you two were already…”“This has nothing to do with you,” Ben interrupted coldly.Noah paused, his hands casually shoved into his pockets. The two men locked eyes, exchanging no words, yet the air between them grew thick with tension, brimming with unspoken hostility.Noah’s smirk dimmed slightly as he leaned back. “I can’t compare to you. Dad poured his heart into trying to pull you into the company, but you stuck to your guns and insisted on being a lawyer. That kind of stubbornness? I could never match it.”His words feigned admiration, but
Mr. Lucas never truly had the best interests of either of his sons at heart. Forcing them into an uncomfortable relationship, knowing their complicated dynamic, was more like raising fighting insects in a jar to see which one would survive.Noah’s expression darkened slightly as he looked at Ben’s aloof demeanor. He curled his lips into a mocking smile. “I’ve always hated that superior attitude of yours. You’re only where you are because you were born lucky.”“If you’re finished, you can leave,” Ben said flatly, uninterested in listening to Noah’s ramblings.Noah let out a cold laugh. “You used to take everything for granted. But now that I’m here, you don’t still think Lucas Corporation is entirely under your control, do you? Let’s see how things go.”Ben watched him leave with icy eyes.When the office door swung open, Jamie stepped back, her expression cool and detached, clearly unwilling to engage with Noah. But Noah, being someone who never understood boundaries, did not take
Jamie couldn’t bear to leave so easily. “I’m not leaving. Don’t try to push me away.”Ben stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his silhouette obscured by the interplay of light and shadow. His expression was unreadable but carried an unexpected gentleness. “Charlie will be out of school soon. If he doesn’t see you, he’ll get anxious.”Jamie felt as though she had been struck silent. Reluctantly, she left after ensuring Ben’s assistant promised to keep an eye on him. Only then did she reluctantly head out to pick Charlie up.When they got home, Charlie wandered through the house, searching for someone. Disappointed, he came back and asked, “Mom, isn’t Uncle Ben coming over today?”“Uncle Ben is tied up with something right now. He’ll probably come by later. Can you wait for a little while longer, Charlie?”Lately, Ben had been a constant presence, joining Jamie to pick Charlie up from school and often staying for dinner. Charlie had grown used to his company. Still, Charlie was
There was praise, of course, but also criticism. However, the damage was undeniably minimized. Since he was no longer a lawyer, the issue of lawyers not being allowed to engage in commerce was no longer a point of contention.Meanwhile, the demolition of the old district's buildings had finally begun. Unexpectedly, there was also progress in the investigation into who had been orchestrating Daniel’s provocations. “Daniel’s been spotted frequenting a casino. Someone saw him withdraw a large amount of cash. I suspect the person behind all this didn’t use digital transfers. They dealt in cash,” Jamie speculated during a team meeting.The assistant nodded silently, considering the possibility. Then he turned and found Ben’s sharp gaze fixed on him. Ben pointed a finger directly at him, his expression making it clear what he wanted. The assistant froze, bewildered. “Me again?”Under Ben’s authoritative glare, the assistant could only nod reluctantly. As he lamented his bad luck,
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