Ben had decided to play mysterious, leaving Jamie both curious and secretly overjoyed. In the end, he hadn’t hidden the surprise too deeply. That night, as Jamie got ready for bed, she found his surprise tucked under her pillow—a photograph. In the picture, taken at a famous tower overseas, her sister and mother stood together, smiling brightly. Jamie froze, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. Her voice trembled as she turned to Ben. “How did you find them?” Ben rested a hand on Jamie’s shoulder, pulling her gently into a half-embrace. He was silent for a moment before picking up the photograph. “I didn’t find them,” he said softly. “To be precise, they found me.” He went on to explain. Yesterday, he had received a letter from overseas. In today’s world of instant communication, handwritten letters were almost unheard of, and this one had taken a long time to arrive. Even if they wanted to fly out to find her family now, it would be nearly impossible. L
Jamie cast a sidelong glance at Lila, her cold expression saying it all.Even if she weren’t working as a secretary at Lucas Corporation, she was still a college graduate. If she couldn’t even handle creating a PowerPoint, she might as well give up entirely.Lila paused, momentarily caught off guard. “Am I not allowed to question things?” she retorted defensively.Jamie let out a dry laugh, ignoring the jab as she set up the projector. The PowerPoint Lila had demanded appeared crisp and professional on the screen.Jamie turned to her with a composed smile. “Miss Lila, do you have any more concerns now?”When it came to working with Lila, Jamie had already anticipated all the challenges Lila might throw her way. She had prepared meticulously for every possible scenario. On top of that, during their encounter at Chroma Club, Ben had held back from taking further action against Lila solely because of Jamie. Lila understood this now. She also realized that Jamie wasn’t just aimi
Charlie had lived with Jamie for three years, and their bond was incredibly close. From a young age, Charlie had longed for the love and care of a father. Now that Ben was back in their lives, it made sense for them to stay together as a family, doing parent-child activities and strengthening their relationship. Mrs. Lucas, however, had other ideas. “But you’ve seen for yourself,” she said. “Charlie is doing so well with me. I’ve been taking great care of him. While you and Ben have the time and energy, and with Charlie now in school, you should have more kids. I can help take care of them, and our home will be lively and full of joy. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” As Jamie thought about how to respond, Ben stepped in before she could. “It’s not that it’s a bad idea,” he said evenly. “But Jamie and I have decided to focus on raising Charlie for now. We’ll think about having more kids later.” Ben understood the weight of this decision. He hadn’t even been around to properly care
“Why make things harder on yourself when you can let others handle it?” Mrs. Lucas said with a matter-of-fact tone. Ben couldn’t help but laugh, exasperated yet amused. “Mom, you also need to think about Jamie’s health. For four years, she worked tirelessly to take care of Charlie, waking up early and staying up late. She hasn’t been with me for that long. Don’t you think she deserves to enjoy life a little before going through the exhaustion of another pregnancy? You know as well as anyone that pregnancy is no easy journey, and childbirth is even harder.” His words immediately silenced Mrs. Lucas. Seeing her hesitation, Ben added, “Having just one child might feel a little lonely, but Jamie and I will definitely have a second, maybe even a third. You don’t need to worry. We’re just letting nature take its course for now.” “Alright, I’ll leave it to you two,” Mrs. Lucas finally relented. She realized that pushing further would seem like she didn’t care about Jamie’s well-be
Summer froze. “Mr. Lucas... which one? Was it Ben’s father?” she wondered.After all, when Ben decided to go after her, no one could stop him, not even his own father. “Which Mr. Lucas?” Summer asked, needing clarity. The man in front of her looked at her incredulously, as though her confusion was ridiculous. “Do you really need us to spell it out for you? You know perfectly well who you crossed.” Who else could it be but Ben? Taking a deep breath, Summer braced herself. She couldn’t understand why Ben, known for his ruthless determination, would suddenly change his mind. Why would he repay her actions with forgiveness? Curious and desperate for answers, she sought him out. When she found him, Ben was with Jamie. The two of them looked utterly happy, their connection unmistakable. Summer felt a pang of emotion as she watched them, but before she could dwell on it, Jamie stepped forward to meet her. Seeing Jamie up close left Summer momentarily stunned. How long ha
Jamie wrapped her arms around him. “I know, I understand everything. And now, I’m here by your side.” “Yeah, by my side,” Ben murmured, repeating her words softly. The separation of those four years had left its scars. Even now, Ben couldn’t shake his fear. Every morning, the first thing he did when he woke up was to look over and make sure Jamie was still there next to him. Only then could he feel at ease. He wanted her to stay by his side, to see her thrive, and to share in the life they were building. Of course, Mrs. Lucas’s words about having a big family hadn’t escaped him either. The thought of having four kids running around, filling their home with laughter and joy, brought a small smile to his face. Ben decided it was time to host a grand banquet. With the help of Nash, and his powerful connections, Ben would invite all of high society in the city. He wanted everyone to know how proud he was of Jamie, his remarkable wife. There was no issue with Ben hosting such
The pressure from Nash, Ben and Jamie quickly silenced any dissent. No one dared to say another word. Ben had initially planned the banquet as a way to celebrate Jamie and let everyone see how proud he was of her. Yet, it had unexpectedly turned into fodder for rumors involving him and Nash. Ben felt genuinely apologetic toward Nash. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t expect people to come up with such bizarre ideas.” Nash waved him off, his expression calm. “We’ve been through worse rumors before. If I got upset over something this trivial, how would I face the real storms in life? Just focus on living well. Those people won’t dare talk nonsense again.” Not only had they made the troublemakers apologize publicly, but Nash had also instructed his assistant to deal with the matter privately, ensuring it wouldn’t happen again. Later, as Nash and Nina left the banquet, Nina couldn’t resist teasing him. “You know, this isn’t the first time people have spread rumors about you and Be
With Jamie’s growing ambitions and dedication, her schedule became increasingly demanding. She was out early and back late, and soon, their time together became so staggered that Ben hardly saw her at all. Having already experienced separation, Ben deeply cherished every moment he spent with Jamie. Now, with her so busy, he wasn’t having it. That evening, he cornered her. “I used to think we could balance everything—home, work, and family. But look at us now. Jamie, are you really okay leaving me and Charlie alone at home? Do I need to make an appointment just to see you?” Jamie hadn’t expected him to say that and let out a soft laugh. “I’m just busy right now, Ben. Once things settle down, I’ll have more time for you, okay?”She wanted to catch up to him, to stand beside him as his equal. She didn’t want to just be known as Mrs. Lucas, the wife who depended on Ben. She wanted to be someone who could walk shoulder to shoulder with him. Ben frowned, clearly unconvinced. “Ja
Karina felt the need to clarify. “It’s not because of what they’re saying about me. It’s… something else.”She left the rest unsaid, but Wilfred had already pieced it together. He had seen the trending posts online, and after hearing the truth from her a few days ago, everything made sense.The online rumors didn’t just accuse her of secretly taking photos. They delved into her past, exposing videos and photos of her working multiple part-time jobs day and night. The posts claimed she came from a poor background and insinuated that her position at the hospital was only secured by leveraging a powerful benefactor.It didn’t take much to infer that the “benefactor” in question was him.Karina’s past wasn’t common knowledge in the hospital. Even Wilfred only learned about it through her explanation. The only people who could expose such private details were her own family. Wilfred’s gaze softened with an almost imperceptible hint of pity. She had sacrificed her youth working hersel
Karina’s grip loosened instantly, her eyes filled with disbelief. “What did you just say?” How could they possibly know... Could it be the intern? But hadn’t she already left the hospital?The nurse smirked and shook her hand dismissively. “Oh, you didn’t know? Go check online yourself. Someone’s already exposed all your shameful secrets.” Boom! Karina staggered back, her face pale as a sheet. It took all her strength just to steady herself. With trembling hands, she pulled out her phone. Her movements were frantic, her urgency barely concealed. In her mind, she prayed over and over again, begging it not to be true. But reality wasn’t kind. Karina unlocked her phone, and an overwhelming flood of messages and trending headlines popped up. The words “secretly taking photos” leapt off the screen, stabbing her like a blade. Her limbs turned to jelly, and she nearly collapsed under the weight of the revelation. One of the nurses sneered, her voice dripping with m
Karina had never seen that particular look in Wilfred's eyes before. The emotions were subtle, hidden beneath the surface, almost imperceptible unless one paid close attention. Having spent so much time by his side recently, she had grown adept at reading his subtle expressions.“Sorry, Dr. Wilfred, have I caused trouble for you again?” she asked hesitantly, her guilt written all over her face.Wilfred lifted his gaze, ready to deliver a prepared response. Yet, faced with her earnest eyes, his words faltered, and what he finally said was, “From now on, you don’t need to call me ‘Dr. Wilfred’ every time.”“Then what should I call you? Mr. Wilfred?” she asked tentatively.“Just my name.”Wilfred’s voice was calm as he used his knife and fork to cut into his steak. His dark lashes framed eyes that seemed to glimmer with depth, as if they held secrets untold. Despite his cool demeanor, Karina felt a small surge of satisfaction and smiled. “Alright. At the hospital, I’ll call y
Karina handed the menu to Wilfred. “Take a look and let me know if there’s anything you can’t eat.”Wilfred’s reply was brief. “No.”Relieved, Karina took the menu back and carefully selected a few dishes she could afford within her current budget. “How about this?”Wilfred glanced at the choices. His expression was calm as always, but Karina felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She couldn’t even lift her head. She had invited him out for dinner, confidently saying it was her treat, yet this was all she could afford. “He must think so little of me,” she thought. But before her thoughts could spiral further, Wilfred withdrew his gaze. “This is fine, but you don’t need to factor in my preferences so much. Order whatever you like.” Karina flushed, realizing he had seen right through her. She had indeed chosen the dishes based on what she thought he would like. The food arrived quickly. Karina, ever attentive, handed Wilfred a set of utensils. “This restaurant h
“Send me forty thousand. I need to upgrade to a better wheelchair.”Karina frowned. “Didn’t you just get a new wheelchair recently? Let’s be real, it’s not for the wheelchair, is it? You’re just going to blow it on something else.”Caught off guard, Kieran’s voice rose in anger. “Cut the crap! Just tell me, are you giving me the money or not? Give me forty thousand, and I’ll stay out of your life for a while. Deal?”Listening to his voice through the phone, Karina gripped her phone tightly, regret and frustration bubbling up inside her. No one knew how much she regretted that day. If only she hadn’t gone out, hadn’t gotten into that car, or if she had been the one to die instead. At least then, she would be free. Instead, she was stuck, drained by this family like a parasite that wouldn’t stop until they had sucked her dry.Exhaustion weighed heavily in her voice as she responded, “I told you last time, I don’t have any more money. No matter how many times you ask, the answer wo
Dr. Kerr was quickly taken into custody for investigation, and the truth emerged not long after. What happened to the girl was no accident. He had secretly swapped the liver source.The originally matched donor liver had been replaced, leading to the rejection that ultimately cost the patient her life. Following the revelation, the hospital paid a substantial settlement for Dr. Kerr's actions, though no amount of money could ease the pain of the grieving family. A life lost was irreplaceable.For Karina and Wilfred, the outcome was bittersweet. They felt the sorrow of the situation but could do little more than reflect on it. After Wilfred's name was cleared, he followed through on his promise to Karina. He assigned her to an important research project, one of the hospital's most significant undertakings. The decision was met with resistance.Many colleagues believed Karina was too young and inexperienced for the role. But Wilfred stood firm, defending her. “I chose her. If th
Karina was startled and quickly grabbed Wilfred's hand, rummaging through her bag for a wet wipe. “How did this happen? Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”Wilfred gently brushed her hand aside, his cool demeanor and tired expression softened under the streetlight. “It’s nothing. Just a small injury. It’ll heal on its own.”“That’s not okay!” Karina shot back, ignoring his resistance as she took his hand and cleaned the wound with the wet wipe. She then pulled out a bandage, her movements precise yet tender.Wilfred watched her in silence, his gaze inscrutable. For a fleeting moment, something flickered in his eyes, as if his thoughts were both present and absent at the same time. Beneath the cold glow of the streetlamp, the air seemed to soften. Wilfred let himself linger in the moment, indulging in the rare warmth of being cared for.*The next day, they confronted Dr. Kerr, a prominent figure in organ transplantation. Dr. Kerr had narrowly lost the hospital's directorial po
Wilfred’s back was smooth and unblemished, his skin noticeably fairer than most, making the bruises stand out starkly. However, Karina wasn’t distracted and her entire focus was on carefully applying the medication. But for Wilfred, maintaining his composure was far more challenging.The warmth of her breath and the faint tremble of her fingertips felt like a persistent feather brushing over his senses, teasing his composure. For the first time, Wilfred realized just how sensitive his back was, and the discovery filled him with regret. His fists clenched as he silently endured. Suddenly, Karina leaned closer and gently blew on the bruised area. “Does it hurt? I’ll blow on it to make it better.” His entire body stiffened, and in one swift motion, he grabbed his shirt and shrugged it back on, quickly pulling his lab coat over it. His voice came low and firm. “That’s enough. No need for anything else.” Karina froze, her eyes darting around the empty office. It was just t
Seeing the two men gearing up to strike again, Karina instinctively reached for Wilfred, ready to pull him away. A little humiliation was better than getting hurt, she thought.The blow Wilfred had taken earlier still made her heart pound with fear just thinking about it. She couldn’t imagine the state of his back now. It was likely bruised and swollen but there was no time to sit down and check. Without hesitation, Karina reached out and grabbed Wilfred’s hand. His wide, warm palm enveloped hers, though she didn’t seem to notice. “Dr. Wilfred, let’s go. The police will handle this when they arrive,” she urged, tugging him gently. Karina didn’t pay attention to the moment, but Wilfred did. Her hand felt so small, so delicate in his, as if he could completely enclose it with just a slight movement. A strange warmth crept into his chest, unsettling him. He pulled his hand free, his voice calm but firm. “There’s no need.” Before Karina could argue, the sound of sirens p