Mrs. Lucas nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a good idea.” Since her injury wasn’t too severe, she just needed to keep up with dressing changes and avoid strain. Back home, with the sound of Charlie’s playful laughter filling the space, her recovery seemed to pick up pace. When Ben returned home, he looked visibly tired but managed a warm smile. “Jamie, come to the study. I have something to discuss with you.” Jamie put down what she was working on and followed him. “Sure.” Inside the study, Ben pulled a document from his briefcase and placed it in front of her. “Take a look.” Jamie skimmed through it quickly. “What is this?” “It’s an application for a national legal debate competition. The winners not only gain recognition but significantly enhance their reputation within the legal field,” Ben explained. “I’ve definitely heard of it,” Jamie said, nodding. “But I also know it’s not easy to qualify. I used to watch this program a lot when I dreamed of being a lawyer.”
“Got it!” Jamie nodded subtly, a flicker of excitement coursing through her. As more attendees filled the room, a prominent attorney, Ken Freeman, walked by, glancing at the name placard in front of her. His lips curled into a cold smirk. “The Lucas firm must be scraping the bottom of the barrel, bringing in just anyone to represent them.” Jamie frowned slightly but refused to show any sign of insecurity. She understood that her background and status made her an easy target for skepticism in this elite circle. However, she had no intention of letting such dismissive remarks define her.Looking him squarely in the eye, she responded with a calm, unwavering smile. “Everyone has to start somewhere. What matters is how far we go, isn’t it?”Attorney Freeman hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by her composure and steady gaze. Then he let out a derisive laugh, as if her confidence was amusing.“Well, it looks like this year’s grand prize is heading elsewhere,” Attorney Freeman
After the press conference, Jamie returned to her seat, and Ben approached, sitting beside her. He gently patted her shoulder, offering silent encouragement.Jamie exhaled deeply. “Did you really invest a lot just for me?”“This was an additional slot. It doesn’t impact anyone else. It’s the best way to give you a chance,” Ben replied earnestly. His expression was steady, silently urging her to focus on the competition and not dwell on minor concerns.Jamie steadied herself. “I can’t promise I won’t disappoint you.”“It’s not about me being disappointed. It’s about not disappointing yourself,” Ben said, looking at her intently.Her heart swelled with gratitude.The next day marked the first round of preliminary debates. The setup was straightforward: participants argued as opposing counsel for a hypothetical case. There were no absolute right or wrong answers and the key was the skill of persuasion.By sheer luck, Jamie was paired against a small law firm representative. As she
Ben met Attorney Freeman’s provocation with cool composure, glancing back at him with a faint smile. “Feel free to file a complaint against me. I’ll countersue for defamation, and we can settle it properly in court. How about that?”Attorney Freeman’s smirk faltered, and he shrugged nonchalantly. “Forget it. I’m not looking for trouble. Everyone knows you’re not someone to cross. Besides, I never explicitly said there was favoritism.”Ben let out a faint chuckle. “If you’re not interested in facing me in court, then let’s leave it to the competition. When the time comes, we’ll see who comes out on top.”Freeman raised a brow. “You’ve got that much faith in Jamie?”“Absolutely,” Ben replied firmly.Meanwhile, onstage, the host announced the advancing contestants, and Jamie’s name was among them. Relief and excitement washed over her as she stepped off the stage, her heart brimming with satisfaction.Ben stood waiting, taking a bouquet of flowers from his assistant and presenting i
After confirming the time, Jamie picked up Charlie and headed to Nina’s house. Recent events had taken a toll on Nina, and she looked visibly tired. When she opened the door, she welcomed Jamie with a smile and handed her a glass of water. “Come in, have a seat.” “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you during such a critical time,” Jamie said, her voice tinged with guilt as she noticed Nina’s weary expression. Nina gave a smile, exhaling softly as she sat beside Jamie. “Don’t be. There’s no need for formality between us. It’d feel out of place.” Jamie offered a few comforting words, but Nina quickly shifted her attention to Charlie, who had been quietly observing. Charlie blinked and said, “I heard Orion hasn’t been feeling well. I brought him a gift to cheer him up.” Nina smiled warmly and pointed upstairs. “He’s in his room. He’s been spending most of his time up there since… well, you know.” Jamie understood completely. She gently patted Charlie’s head. “Why don’t
“Then I'll bring Charlie over more often,” Jamie said with a warm smile. “Thank you, but let’s wait until after your competition is done,” Nina replied graciously. She appreciated Jamie's kindness but was thoughtful enough to acknowledge Jamie’s current commitments. By the time they left, the sun had set. Charlie was bursting with excitement on the ride home, chattering non-stop about everything that had happened that day. “It sounds like you and Orion really hit it off. Should we come back more often?” Jamie asked, her tone lighthearted. “Of course! Orion’s my friend now, and friends should meet often,” Charlie said seriously, his face full of determination. Jamie ruffled his hair affectionately, her heart full of warmth. “I’m glad you’ve found a good friend. I’ll make sure we visit more often.” She hoped Charlie’s companionship would help Orion heal from his loss. When they arrived home, Ben was already waiting at the door. “You’re back late. I’ve been waiting fo
After his shower, Ben stepped out wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. As he searched the house, it didn’t take long for him to guess where Jamie might be. Sure enough, the soft glow of light beneath the study door confirmed it. Pushing the door open, Ben strolled in confidently, his toned body glistening with droplets of water trailing from his hair down to his chest and well-defined abs. He looked like a proud peacock showing off its plumage. Jamie, however, didn’t even glance up. “You should go to bed. I’m still reviewing cases,” she said, her eyes glued to the stack of papers in front of her. “You’ve already gone through these cases several times,” Ben said, standing right in front of her. “It’s still not enough!” Jamie sighed, flipping another page. “What I lack compared to others is practical experience. That’s not something you can make up overnight.” Ben leaned closer, his gaze steady. “There’re still a few days before the next round. Take a break! You’
It was obvious that someone was deliberately stirring the pot, with influencers and media outlets amplifying the negativity. Jamie stared at the barrage of critical comments online, her heart growing heavier with each passing moment.She knew the best course of action was to ignore baseless accusations and focus on the task at hand—her next competition round. With the match scheduled for the next day, she resolved to give it her all. Jamie refused to let the rumors distract her. The next day, she arrived at the competition venue with her confidence intact, ready to tackle the challenges ahead. The preliminary rounds were grueling, with one debate following another, testing her endurance and resolve.Just as she was catching her breath, Attorney Freeman sauntered over, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, well, looks like we’ve got someone who used connections to get in. Makes you wonder why the rest of us even bother trying, doesn’t it?”His words immediately drew the atten
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