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,
“Hold on, I have something to announce,” Noah suddenly raised his hand. “I’ve already secured the bid for South Haven District.”Everyone froze in surprise. Even Jamie couldn’t hide the flicker of astonishment in her eyes. The bid for South Haven District was already locked down?Hearing the murmurs in the room, Noah propped his elbow on the table, resting his chin on his hand. He tilted his head back with a deliberate smirk. “Oh, you didn’t know? Looks like I forgot to mention it. But everyone should know about something this significant. Don’t you think so?”As he spoke, his gaze shifted directly to Ben. The tension in the room thickened instantly, suffocating enough to make everyone want to bolt for the door.Jamie’s concern grew as she glanced at Ben.“Then move on to the next project. South Haven District isn’t the only one project that the company is working on,” Ben replied smoothly, his tone calm and composed, without a hint of hesitation.Noah’s smile faltered, his exp
It was all just teasing. No one truly meant it. After all, a woman accompanying a man to such occasions wasn’t necessarily a future wife, She could just as easily be a passing fancy. After all, wasn’t that what men often did? The laughter grated on Jamie, her brows knitting tightly together. She found it revolting. Then Ben’s cold, clear voice sliced through the room, abruptly silencing the laughter. “Actually, there is someone.” The room froze. It was as if someone had yanked the strings of a puppet show, and all the performers had stopped mid-act. “Cough… cough, my mistake,” stammered the man who had been leading the jokes, his voice cracking as he desperately tried to recover. “I didn’t realize this young lady held such a position.” Jamie, naturally, didn’t care for their opinions, but Ben’s quiet, unwavering defense warmed her heart. Though it was a dinner meeting under the guise of drinks, the reality was clear that it was all business. And Ben, with his positio
In a company as large as theirs, there weren’t many people dressed as sharply as that. At most, there were only two. Jamie guessed the figure outside the door wasn’t Noah. With a faint smile to her assistant, she said, “It’s probably Ben. After all, I’m his secretary. It’s only right to support my boss.” The assistant nodded, thinking her reasoning made sense. Outside, Ben raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips curling into a satisfied smile before walking away. After the distinct glimpse of his suit disappeared, Jamie’s smile deepened. Saying something like that to make him happy once in a while wouldn’t hurt. *In the blink of an eye, Charlie had already been attending kindergarten for over half a month. Jamie called his teacher, Miss Georgia, to ask about his behavior at school, only to be met with glowing praise. “Charlie’s mom, you have no idea. Charlie is the easiest child I’ve ever had to look after. He’s just wonderful,” Miss Georgia gushed. Hear
Charlie had the smallest rolling pin. The three of them sat around the table, earnestly rolling out dough for ravioli. Charlie poured all his energy into it, his little hands pressing down with all his might.“Charlie, you don’t need to push so hard,” Jamie said, her tone warm and encouraging. “Watch how Mom does it, okay?”She guided him patiently, her gentle expression lighting up the moment. Ben, seated across from her, paused in his work to watch the scene, captivated without even realizing it. Jamie, oblivious to his gaze, focused on teaching Charlie.After some practice, Charlie began to get the hang of it. They rolled out the sheets of dough, cut them into squares, dusted them with flour, and set them aside for filling later.“That should be enough,” Jamie said as she stood up, stretching her back after being hunched over the table.Ben reached over to her without warning. She instinctively dodged, but he pressed her gently back into place. “Hold still. You’ve got some fl
Charlie needed to ease into seeing Ben as his father figure. That way, when the truth came out, it would be easier for him to accept. Yet, guilt still weighed heavily on Jamie.“Today, when he asked me, I almost told him. I didn’t even think about how to explain later why his dad didn’t acknowledge him,” she said, her voice tinged with remorse.Ben gently pulled her into his arms, letting her rest against him for comfort. “If anyone should feel guilty, it’s me, not you.”Sure enough, Charlie grew even closer to Ben. What started as admiration for someone kind to him and his mom had shifted into complete trust and reliance, like a child with his father. Jamie noticed the changes, too. Her relationship with Ben, often nudged by Charlie, became increasingly intimate. She felt a mix of unease and warmth but couldn’t find the words to address it. Before she could make sense of her emotions, something happened. Her mom, Linda, was rushed to the hospital.“How is she? Last night, she
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