Previously, when Ben and Jamie were separated, they had both suffered deeply. In his desperation, Ben had even used the name Jack to get close to Winnie, a decision that nearly cost him his chance to be with Jamie.Mrs. Lucas’s voice was hoarse as she spoke, her guilt spilling out. “Even if we’re moving forward, we can’t completely forget the past. I’ve been a terrible person. Now you’re both taking care of me, but I know how busy you are. You don’t have to waste your time here with me. Focus on your own lives.”She genuinely didn’t want to take up their time, but how could Jamie just leave Mrs. Lucas unattended? And with Jamie determined to stay, Ben had no intention of leaving either. After all, the woman lying on that hospital bed was his mother.“If we don’t take care of you, who will?” Jamie said firmly. “Don’t say things like that. Right now, the most important thing is for you to recover. And if you don’t, who’s going to watch over Charlie?”Ben reached out, gently rufflin
Leaving was the best choice for Winnie.“But that’s all in the past. You can’t stay away forever. Winnie, you’re my only sister,” Jamie said, her throat tight, her voice heavy with emotion.Ben, overhearing her conversation, gently patted her shoulder, giving her an encouraging look.Jamie hesitated but quickly made up her mind. “Winnie, wait for me. I’m coming to see you now. If you’re really going to leave, you at least owe me a proper goodbye in person.”Without waiting for a reply, Jamie dashed out of the hospital room, leaving Ben, Mrs. Lucas, and Charlie behind.Charlie wanted to go with her. He adored his aunt, and she had always been so kind to him. But he held himself back, knowing now wasn’t the time to cause trouble. *Winnie wanted to take their mother away, and Jamie was sure that Winnie was with Linda now.Jamie hurried to where Winnie was, her heart racing. When she arrived, she spotted her sister immediately. Winnie smiled. It was a bittersweet expression tha
Winnie gave a faint smile. “I’ve already let it go. But think about it, you’re now living a high-profile life as part of an influential family. Do you really want the media constantly digging into your past because of me?”She spoke calmly, but the weight of her words hit Jamie like a stone. Linda and Winnie were destined to live in the shadows.Jamie understood what Winnie was saying, but she also knew that no one could choose the circumstances of their birth. And she, for one, would never turn her back on her mother or her sister.“Winnie…” Jamie tried to argue, but Winnie interrupted her.“Don’t start, sis. Living a good life is the best thing you can do for both of us.“And even if I don’t leave now, I’ll have to eventually. You might be able to keep me here for a year, maybe two, but you can’t control my life forever. Right now, I just want a bit of freedom and to take Mom with me. I’ve already made up my mind, so let’s not waste time going in circles.”Jamie hesitated for a
Ben looked at Jamie and asked, “Are you sure you can manage this on your own? Mom’s condition makes it hard to care for her without help. Turning her over in bed alone won’t be easy without a nurse.”Jamie’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Did you forget what I used to do? I’ve handled far worse jobs to pay for Charlie’s medical bills. Compared to that, this is nothing.”Her words tugged painfully at Ben’s heart. Jamie had carried the entire family’s burden on her own in the past, and the thought of her enduring so much made him ache.“I’m sorry… for everything before. You’ve been through so much,” he said in a low, hoarse voice.Jamie waved it off with a light laugh. “This isn’t some grand apology ceremony. Besides, haven’t we agreed to leave the past where it belongs?”Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang. It was Nina.“Come over with Charlie,” Nina said over the phone. “Gemma keeps asking about her little brother.”Nina genuinely considered Jamie a friend, and besid
“The military is the military, but this is my home. Now that you’re here, there’s no way I’m letting you be treated poorly,” Nina said, holding Scarlett’s hand warmly. It had been a long time since they had seen each other, and seeing Scarlett now reminded her of Yvonne.Scarlett chuckled. “You could never treat me poorly. But I heard Pharaoh has been unwell. How is he doing?”“He’s undergoing chemotherapy,” Nina replied with a sigh. “With cancer, you never really know. Some people survive for decades, while others have only days after their diagnosis.”“I’d like to visit him,” Scarlett said. Despite everything, she felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Pharaoh. After all, he and Wilfred had trained her. Even though her past with Sawyer had been painful, it was behind her now. Everyone was trying to move forward.“Let’s eat first. I’ll take you to see him after,” Nina offered.“All right,” Scarlett agreed.Nina decided that leaving everything to the helper wasn’t enough. She
Scarlett wasn’t swayed by Nina’s attempts to persuade her to stay, and Nina decided not to press further. After finishing lunch, Nina, Scarlett, and the children headed to the hospital to visit Pharaoh, with Nash driving them.Pharaoh had expressed a desire to move back home, but Nina firmly refused. At the hospital, his condition could be monitored around the clock, and Nina wasn’t willing to take any risks with his health. She couldn’t bear the thought of any sudden emergencies.Pharaoh’s face lit up when he saw the children. Orion clung to her grandfather, while little Gemma sat happily in his arms. Pharaoh gently pinched her cheeks, and she responded with a bright, toothy grin.“Pharaoh, am I really that invisible?” Scarlett teased, noticing how he only seemed to have eyes for the kids.Pharaoh finally turned his attention to Scarlett. “It’s been ages since I last saw you. My old eyes must be failing me. I didn’t even notice you. Sorry about that.”Scarlett smiled warmly. “Don
“Fish stew isn’t good for you right now. You need to eat lighter meals,” Nina said, trying to balance Pharaoh’s preferences with his health.Pharaoh smiled warmly. “Lately, everything tastes like nothing. I’d really like to eat something flavorful.”Before Nina could respond, Nash placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and spoke up. “Let’s get you discharged, and once we’re home, Nina can cook it for you.”“Alright,” Pharaoh agreed, leaving Nina with no room to argue.Nash drove them home while Pharaoh held baby Scarlett in his arms. Meanwhile, Scarlett and Nina said their goodbyes at the hospital, parting ways.Once they arrived home, Nina went straight into the kitchen, and Nash joined her to help. “Dad’s not looking great,” Nash said quietly as he chopped vegetables. “If he wants to be home, let him. Whatever he wants to eat, whatever requests he has, let’s just give him that. And call your brother and tell him to come.”Nash’s words carried a weight that Nina couldn’t ign
“Don’t say such things! You’re not going to die!" Nina held back her tears, fearing that once they started, she wouldn’t be able to stop.Pharaoh smiled calmly. “Life and death are natural parts of the world. Everyone has to face it eventually. But I’ve been lucky. I found you, reunited with you, got to be part of your life, and even earned your forgiveness. I’ve already lived a fulfilled life.“All right, let’s eat. No more heavy talk.” Pharaoh seemed wary of his own emotions, not wanting his words to bring him to tears.“Okay,” Nina agreed, swallowing her emotions and putting on a brave face. She made sure the two children stayed close to Pharaoh, their laughter a comforting distraction.The next day around noon, Micah and Freya arrived. Seeing them, Pharaoh immediately guessed they had come at Nina’s urging.“You both came? The Yaren Tribe is so busy right now, especially during this critical development phase. Didn’t I tell you to focus on the important work first?” Pharaoh sa
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