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
Karina barely had time to say anything before Dr. Wilfred turned and left. Although he was the director, Karina had only seen him during meetings and never this close before. Today was the first time. He wore a surgical gown, mask, and cap. Though his face was obscured, his deep, dark eyes held a calm detachment—cool, collected, and unwavering. Throughout the operation, no matter how critical things got, he never showed a hint of panic. His composure and skill radiated excellence. Karina exhaled, her chest tightening slightly. She suddenly understood why so many nurses, interns, and even female doctors in the hospital were infatuated with him. She stretched her stiff muscles and left the operating room. But just as she returned to her office, a colleague showed up at her door. Judging by the badge on her chest, Karina quickly recognized her as an intern. Karina maintained her professional courtesy. “Hello. What can I help you with?” The intern, Sera Quinn, didn’
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