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
Jamie smiled softly. “I got home late last night and didn’t see you. I was just about to call when Nash showed up with you.”Ben rubbed his temples, his headache a sharp reminder of the previous night’s drinking. “Take some vitamin C.” Jamie had everything ready and handed him a tablet. Ben accepted it wordlessly, his mind still clouded. He had spent the previous night wrestling with his thoughts, wanting to talk things through with Jamie. He had even considered flying to her business trip destination if she couldn’t make it home. But as it turned out, she had come back. He let out a bitter laugh. “Jamie, do you ever get tired of me acting like this?” “What are you talking about?” Jamie replied with a hint of exasperation. “You’re my husband. How could I ever get tired of you? You, of all people, should know how I feel.” Her wishes were simple: for their child to be happy and healthy, for Ben to stay well, and for the three of them to live a peaceful, joyful life togeth
The property titles were no accident. Sophie had slipped them into Charlie’s backpack on purpose. Charlie was good-looking and quiet, and Sophie had been watching him for a while, hoping to be his friend. But Charlie rarely talked, and Sophie didn’t know how to approach him. Her uncle had told her, “What’s so great about being friends? Just get married!” So, Sophie decided to take matters into her own hands. She snuck her family’s property titles to school, convinced this would seal the deal. When Sophie's father heard Charlie explain the situation, he was beyond embarrassed. “Sophie, sweetheart, you’re too young to understand things like marriage gifts. Don’t go putting things in other people’s backpacks, okay?” But Sophie looked deadly serious. “I just wanted to be friends with Charlie! And if I want to be friends, I have to show my intentions, right? If I don’t show I’m sincere, how will he believe me?” Jamie couldn’t help but chuckle at the little girl’s earnestne
Sophie wailed loudly, “Those were my gifts! You can’t take them away! Daddy, you always say people should keep their promises, but now you’re the one breaking your word! You’re a liar!”Her father let out an exasperated sigh. With the property titles returned, he had no desire to embarrass himself further. Ignoring Sophie’s protests, he hoisted her over his shoulder and marched away, leaving her kicking and squirming in frustration.Jamie ruffled Charlie’s hair gently. “She’s just a little girl who doesn’t understand these things. Don’t feel pressured, okay? But next time, try not to ignore people on purpose.”“Got it,” Charlie replied softly.When they got home, Mrs. Lucas burst into laughter as soon as she heard the story. “I never would’ve guessed my grandson would be such a heartthrob in kindergarten!”After a moment of humor, Mrs. Lucas added with a thoughtful tone, “Eight property titles—now that’s quite a marriage gift. If we start planning early, maybe it’s not such a bad
Jamie was no longer seen as someone relying on Ben’s success, she had truly carved out her own path. She had even reconciled with people like Summer and others, turning former rivals into friends.Meanwhile, everything had settled smoothly for Freya, and Nina already had plans to take Orion back to the Yaren Tribe for the summer. Wilfred planned to join them as well. Seeing Wilfred still alone, Nina couldn’t help but think about everyone around her. One by one, they were building their own happiness. Scarlett was expecting her baby, Jamie and Ben were blissfully happy, and even Aunt Zoe, who had once faced doubts about her relationship, was now being cherished deeply by her partner. Then there was Scott, who had shared the joyful news just last month—twin boys. Now, it seemed like Wilfred was the only one left. Nina hesitated. She knew she shouldn’t interfere too much, but Wilfred had helped her so much, standing by her side all those years. To her, he had long been f
Nina stood firmly in front of him. “This is a major life decision. How can you say you’re not interested? Even the doctors and nurses at your hospital get time off. What are you, a machine that never stops working?“I know what you’re thinking,” she continued, her tone softening slightly. “You’re considering adopting a child. But adoption will never be quite the same as having one of your own. If you have the time and energy, why not just have a child yourself?” Her concerns weren’t unfounded. Many adoptive families face challenges—misunderstandings, conflict, or emotional distance. Wilfred chuckled lightly, brushing her worries aside. “Why would I adopt someone else’s child when you already have two of your own? Pharaoh entrusted me with one task: to watch over you and Orion. When Orion grows up, do you think he’d just leave me to fend for myself? I’m sure he’ll take me in. Then, I’ll be under the same roof as you again. That counts as a kind of companionship too, doesn’t it?”
If anything went wrong with the surgery, the hospital’s reputation would be ruined. Christine looked exasperated. “Dr. Wilfred, your private line and office phone have been tied up all day. You wouldn’t believe how popular you’ve gotten…” It wasn’t just interns crowding around his office anymore—there were patients, admirers, curious students, and even wealthy socialites hoping to catch his attention. Somehow, they had managed to get hold of his phone numbers, calling nonstop, day after day, leaving his lines perpetually tied up.If this hadn’t been an emergency, Christine wouldn’t have dragged him here, let alone needed him to step in personally. Dr. Wilfred wasn’t in the mood for any of it. Ignoring Christine’s rambling, he got up and strode toward the door. The moment he stepped out, the group of female interns watching him were frozen in place, their jaws practically hitting the floor. “Wow… He’s so young and already running the hospital!” “And so good-looking! I he
“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