Jamie’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions. But she couldn’t deny that compared to her outright rejection in the past, she was beginning to waver. Ben’s words echoed in her mind: even if she could ignore her own feelings, what about Charlie? Was she really going to let him grow up without a father he could proudly call his own? And as for her feelings toward Ben… “I need to talk to Charlie first,” Jamie finally said, looking directly into Ben’s eyes. At last, she wasn’t running away. “This isn’t just about us,” she continued. “It’s about him too. He doesn’t even know about you yet. I need to tell him first.” Ben’s grip on her shoulders loosened. It wasn’t the definitive answer he had hoped for, but it was progress. Jamie’s willingness to consider it gave him hope. “Alright,” Ben said softly, his voice gentle. “Take your time to talk to him. I’ll wait.” Jamie felt a wave of relief at his understanding. As Ben left, he immediately tasked his assistant with preparing
“Mommy, why haven’t you come yet,” Charlie muttered to himself, his small voice lost in the chaos of the bustling schoolyard.At that moment, a woman in a black dress with long flowing hair appeared, her steps unhurried. She crouched down to meet his gaze and asked gently, “Are you Charlie?”Charlie looked at the unfamiliar lady, his curiosity piqued. After a moment of scrutiny, his eyes widened in surprise. She looked so much like his aunt! But uncertainty lingered in his young mind, so he cautiously replied, “You look familiar.”Winnie smiled faintly, a glimmer of complexity in her eyes as she studied the child before her. She already knew exactly who he was. “I know your mom pretty well. We’re… friends.”“Do you know why she hasn’t come yet?” Charlie asked, his brows furrowed with concern.“She might be held up on the way. How about this? Come with me, and we’ll wait for her together at a nearby cafe. It’ll be more fun than standing here.”Charlie hesitated, his mother’s const
Ben nearly walked out of the company the moment he learned Charlie was missing. Unfortunately, he was in the middle of a crucial meeting when the call came in. As Ben rose to leave, the board members exchanged nervous glances and scrambled to stop him.“Mr. Lucas, where are you going?”“You can’t leave now! This issue hasn’t been resolved yet. Without a clear direction, how can we proceed?”Their frantic objections only made Ben’s temper flare. Shooting them a sharp glare, his icy tone silenced the room. “I have more important matters to attend to. This discussion can wait.”The board members gaped, but Ben didn’t give them a chance to argue further. He strode out, leaving behind a roomful of frustrated sighs and resigned faces.*Meanwhile, Jamie arrived at the preschool, her face pale and her steps quick. She spotted Miss Georgia pacing nervously and hurried over. “Miss Georgia, have you found him yet?”Miss Georgia looked momentarily relieved at Jamie’s arrival, but her exp
After hearing Charlie’s explanation, Jamie finally managed to calm down. However, the emotional rollercoaster of the day had been overwhelming, testing her limits.“What did the lady who took you look like?” Jamie asked.“She kind of looked like Aunt Winnie,” Charlie replied, his words causing Jamie’s hand to freeze mid-motion.Winnie?Her pulse quickened at the mere mention of her sister’s name, her newly found composure teetering on the edge. It was as though her body instinctively reacted, her chest tightening and her breath growing shallow.Sensing Jamie’s unease, Ben intervened. “That’s enough for now, Charlie. Come here.”Charlie glanced hesitantly at his mother, noticing her troubled expression, but eventually obeyed Ben’s firm yet gentle instruction.Ben, after settling Charlie down, turned his attention back to Jamie. “Take a moment to breathe, Jamie. Remember, Charlie’s still watching.”Her eyes snapped to his, and for a moment, she looked like someone pulled from dro
The assistant had barely picked up the phone when a strange expression crossed his face. “Mr. Lucas, this call seems to be for you.”The receptionist had called to say that someone was specifically asking to see Ben Lucas.Ben frowned.This wasn’t the kind of person he would waste his time meeting. If he entertained every random person who claimed they wanted to see him, his days would be endless.But just as he was about to decline, the assistant slowly added, “She says her name is Winnie Lewis.”Ben’s sharp eyes narrowed as a glimmer of light flickered across them. “Let her up.”The assistant nodded and made the arrangements. Ben immediately headed to the lounge to wait.Before long, the door opened, and a woman stepped inside.Ben’s gaze landed on her face, and for a moment, surprise flickered in his eyes. “Your face…”From her build, she was unmistakably Winnie. Her facial features were strikingly similar too, yet something about her was vastly different.It was her aura.
Ben’s response shattered Winnie’s fantasy. “No.”“Why? If not for Jamie, I’m the one who understands you best. I’ve always been the one standing behind you,” Winnie said, her voice rising in urgency.Ben looked at her deeply. “The fact that you don’t understand why—that’s the reason.”Winnie froze.After a moment, the straight line of her posture gave way, as if she had finally released a breath she’d been holding onto for far too long.Ben’s words were cold, but sometimes coldness was the most effective medicine. Lingering in uncertainty would only make it harder to let go.In truth, what Ben said mirrored what Winnie already knew deep down. After surviving the brink of death, she wasn’t the same person she used to be. It wasn’t so much love that still bound her to him, but an obsession—a need for resolution. And Ben’s bluntness shattered that obsession.It took her a while, but eventually, Winnie stood up. “I understand.”As she reached the door, Ben’s voice followed her from
Fortunately, Charlie didn’t resist the idea, which was a relief for both Jamie and Ben. With that weight lifted off her shoulders, Jamie finally made up her mind and told Ben her decision later that same day.The moment she said yes, Ben cupped the back of her head and kissed her deeply. It was a long time before he let her go, his forehead pressed against hers as he whispered, breathless, “Finally, Jamie. You’ve agreed to marry me.“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this day?”Hearing the slight tremble in his voice, Jamie couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. But it wasn’t just him who had struggled. When Jamie made the painful decision to leave all those years ago, it had taken her months of inner turmoil to sever her feelings. Thankfully, after all these years, they had finally found their way back to each other.They decided to hold a wedding and informed Ben’s mother first. Mrs. Lucas didn’t seem particularly surprised. Instead, she jokingly compla
Ben held the wedding dress up in front of Jamie, measuring it against her. “It’s a perfect fit. Keep it,” he said, his tone carrying a subtle hint of amusement.Hearing the teasing undertone, Jamie’s cheeks flushed red. Ben was always so playful.But she couldn’t deny the sweetness that warmed her heart, a feeling she could never experience on her own. Half a month flew by—neither too fast nor too slow. During this time, the Lucas Corporation essentially put all its work on hold. Nearly everyone in the company was involved in preparing for the grand wedding.By now, everyone knew about Jamie’s relationship with Ben. “You’ve got to hand it to Miss Lewis,” someone joked. “We’ve been working hard for years, but she came in and landed the toughest one of all.”“Well, she’s got the skills for it.”“Exactly. Anyone else might not have survived Mr. Lucas’s icy glares.”The group burst into laughter, the atmosphere lighthearted and full of good-natured teasing. Of course, there wer
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