“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
If he couldn’t convince her with words, then he would find another way to act on it. After all, if Jamie really ended up pregnant, she wouldn’t just get rid of it, would she? With that thought in mind, Ben started scheming. But before he could make much progress, Jamie announced she would be going on a business trip. That threw Ben into a sulk, his mood completely wrecked. Even at the office, he couldn’t focus on anything. Seeing him so distracted, his assistant couldn’t help but speak up. “Mr. Lucas, if you’re not doing well, I can call Mrs. Lucas and ask her to come back early.” The assistant had long noticed that ever since Jamie stopped working as Ben’s secretary and started focusing on her own career, Ben had been a complete mess—clearly missing her every day. “She’s away on a business trip. How are you going to call her back?” Ben sighed heavily, looking completely defeated. “Then… what if I tell her you’re sick?” the assistant suggested hesitantly. It was a cle
The doctor Nash recommended was Wilfred, a highly capable professional. Wilfred and Caleb were the ones who had performed surgery on Charlie. Without their skill, Charlie wouldn’t have recovered so quickly. “I’m not sick,” Ben protested firmly. There was no way he would admit to having any psychological issues. Nash’s voice was calm and low. “You spent those four years in treatment, so I get why you feel this way. But like Quincy said, you can’t deny how incredible Jamie is. She belongs to the world, Ben. You can’t keep her locked by your side forever. Besides, you’re not some overbearing CEO forcing love on her. You two haven’t even been married that long. Don’t let something so small turn into a real problem.”Ben understood everything Nash was saying. But how could he explain how he felt? It was an overwhelming mix of frustration and suffocating unease. He wanted Jamie to be brilliant and respected by the world, yet he also selfishly wished her beauty and talent were fo
As Orion grew older, he became even more well-behaved. It had only been a few days since he started school, but he had already earned praise from his teacher, which made Nash incredibly proud.Still, no matter how well things were going, Orion couldn’t stop thinking about Pharaoh.One day, after earning a gold star at school, he carefully placed it on the door of Pharaoh’s old room.Noticing this, Nina knelt beside him and gently stroked his hair. “Orion, don’t be sad. Grandpa has become a star now. He’s up in the sky, watching over us. And next year, your aunt’s baby will be born.”“But Mom,” Orion sniffled, his voice trembling, “Grandpa promised me. He said when I started first grade, he’d teach me how to read and write. He said he would…” Before he could finish, tears rolled down his cheeks. When Orion had lived with Dominic, he had been treated with harsh discipline. But during Pharaoh’s time in Birkham, he had spoiled Orion endlessly, showering him with love and care. Wh
“Jenna, have you heard? That notoriously difficult patient from the neighboring department actually thanked the staff today. I can’t believe it,” Mandy said, her face lit with surprise.Jenna chuckled and replied, “Maybe our care finally moved him. By the way, why hasn’t Dr. Karina come back yet? She should’ve finished her rounds by now.”Mandy shrugged casually. “Probably a patient with a more complex situation. You know how meticulous and responsible Dr. Karina is.”“That’s true, but it’s been so long already. I’m starting to feel uneasy,” Jenna said, frowning as a sliver of worry crept into her thoughts.“Oh, don’t overthink it. Maybe she ran into someone she knows and stopped to chat. This hospital’s big, after all,” Mandy tried to reassure her.But as the minutes ticked by, Karina still didn’t return.Jenna couldn’t sit still anymore. She stood up and said, “This isn’t right. I’m going to check on her. It’s late, and I don’t want anything bad happening.”Seeing Jenna’s seri
Karina threw out those words and ran off.The only place she could go was the hospital, where she had switched shifts to cover the night shift.Tonight, the hospital hallways were unusually quiet, with only the occasional beeping of medical equipment breaking the silence. As usual, Karina patrolled the patient ward, checking on the conditions of her patients. But then, an unexpected figure appeared before her. Kieran hobbled toward her, leaning heavily on his crutches, his gait uneven. Karina wrinkled her nose. What was that smell? It seemed to be coming from him. The closer he got, the stronger the scent became.Kieran reeked of alcohol, and his eyes were clouded with confusion and wildness. “Karina…” he slurred her name, his voice thick and indistinct. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed her wrist tightly.Startled, Karina tried to pull away. “Kieran, you’re drunk! What are you doing here? Let go of me!” But Kieran ignored her protests. Fueled by alcohol, he ya
Kieran didn’t see it that way. “Of course, it benefits me. Look at you! You came back, didn’t you? Regretting not giving me that 40,000 yet? You could’ve saved us both the trouble if you’d just handed it over earlier.” “You—” “Now it’s 100,000,” Kieran interrupted, reclining smugly in his wheelchair. “You want the trending posts gone, don’t you? Pay up—100,000, not a penny less. Otherwise...” His voice dropped, laced with menace. “I’ve still got a few things up my sleeve.” The blatant threat made Karina’s hands tremble, her voice quivering as she spoke. “One hundred thousand? Wasn’t it forty just a few days ago?” Kieran sneered. “That was the old price. It’s 100,000 now, take it or leave it.” Karina could taste blood in her mouth. Her lips had been bitten raw without her noticing. Rage and utter disappointment overwhelmed her. This was her family. Twenty years of being with them, and all they had ever done was take. They had given her nothing in return. Her mind wa
Wilfred pondered briefly after hearing Karina's words. “I’m coming with you. Don’t rush to refuse. After what happened last time, I don’t think I need to remind you of the situation. If I hadn’t been there, leaving the Stone family might not have been so easy.”Karina couldn’t argue, especially when she remembered Kieran’s aggressive demeanor during her last visit. She took a deep breath and smiled faintly. “I’ll have to trouble you again, Dr. Wilfred.”Wilfred’s lips curved into a faint smile. True to his word, he personally drove Karina to the Stone residence that very day.As they arrived, Karina stopped at the door. “You can wait here. If things get bad, you can come in.”Wilfred glanced at her phone. “Keep the phone on you.”Karina held it up for him to see. She had already set him as her emergency contact. “If anything happens, I’ll call right away.”Prepared, Karina used the key she still had to open the door and walked in.The moment she stepped inside, Mr. Stone’s face
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