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’
He didn’t recognize Wilfred and dismissed him as some young guy trying to play the hero. “Want to play hero? Take a look at yourself first. Get lost, or I’ll call the manager and have you thrown out!” To him, customers were ranked in tiers, and as a VIP who could afford an Ace of Spades, he considered himself in a league far above the average patron. Wilfred’s gaze flicked over him, filled with disdain as though he were looking at a fool. Even the thought of engaging with him felt like a waste of effort. Wilfred turned to Karina and said calmly, “Go get the manager.” “Got it, I’ll be right back.” Karina, understanding the urgency of the situation, didn’t hesitate and dashed toward the bar. Seeing her run off, the man felt his pride take a massive hit, as though he had been publicly humiliated. His face twisted in rage as he swung a fist toward Wilfred. But Wilfred wasn’t just anyone. He had training, and dealing with a drunkard was no challenge at all. The thought
Karina’s expression darkened instantly.Yes, she needed money, and she genuinely wanted to earn it, but she had not fallen to the point of trading her body for cash. She stepped back, keeping her tone polite but firm. “Sir, I’m just a server here. My job is to sell drinks—nothing more.”“Don’t play innocent,” the man sneered, his gaze filled with undisguised contempt. “If you’re working in a place like this, doesn’t that mean you’ll do anything for the right price? Look, I’m not asking for free. If you make us happy tonight, I’ll buy everything on your cart. Don’t believe me? Go ask your manager if he’s heard of Mike Taylor.”Karina forced an awkward smile, grabbing the cart and trying to leave. She had no intention of compromising herself, but she also couldn’t afford to escalate the situation.However, the drunk man, seeing her attempt to walk away, grew angry. He shot to his feet and grabbed her arm, muttering profanities under his breath. “I’m giving you face by choosing you,
In the end, Karina decided to call the police.The officers arrived quickly and brought both of them to the station. After understanding the situation, they began by addressing Kieran. “I have a sister too, so I understand your feelings,” one of the officers said. “But your sister is an adult, and you need to respect her decisions. Plus, you’ve caused a significant disturbance for her neighbors, and this qualifies as a public nuisance.”“I’m really sorry, Officer. I got too emotional because my dad is sick, and I wanted to persuade her to come home,” Kieran replied, his tone remarkably convincing. If Karina hadn’t witnessed his other side herself, she might have believed his performance too. The officer then turned to Karina. “Miss, when a parent falls ill, it’s a serious matter. Even if there are issues within the family, the focus should be on resolving them. You can’t avoid it forever.” Karina quickly came up with an excuse. “It’s not that I don’t want to go back, but I
Karina was more than willing to rest. It had been a while since she felt this exhausted, the kind of tiredness that made her want to stay still for days. After grabbing a cup of instant noodles from the cupboard and finishing it off, she took a quick shower and climbed into bed, ready to sleep for as long as her body needed. But just as she was drifting off, loud knocks on her door startled her awake. The banging grew louder and more insistent. At first, she thought it might be a delivery, but when she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of Kieran sitting in a wheelchair. Instantly alert, her first instinct was to slam the door shut. “Karina, is that it? You see me and don’t even want to say a word?” Kieran’s hand shot out to block the door. He was strong. No matter how hard Karina pushed with all her might, she couldn’t close the door. Her resistance only seemed to fuel his anger. Grabbing her wrist tightly, Kieran said, “I’m here to talk, that’s all. Let m
The young man smiled faintly but then asked, “Do you know how old I am?” Karina paused, caught off guard. Though unsure why he was asking, she played along. “Twenty?” Looking no older than eighteen, she had deliberately guessed a little high. With his rapid cell division slowing his aging, she figured he might appear a couple of years younger than his actual age. But his smile deepened. “I’m thirty-five. I might even be 10 years older than you.” Karina’s eyes widened in shock. He explained that he was the CEO of a publicly traded company. Because he was already in his thirties yet didn’t age, his family was pressuring him to seek treatment. He was also increasingly uneasy about his condition. “I can’t keep living like this forever. What if I end up becoming some kind of monster?” Hearing this left Karina disoriented. She couldn’t believe it. He didn’t look a day over high school age. For the first time, she truly grasped the saying: appearances can be deceiving.
Sweat beaded on the researcher’s forehead as he struggled internally, hesitating for what felt like an eternity. In the end, he caved, allowing them to see the patient. As the researcher scurried away, Karina glanced at Wilfred. “Earlier, you mentioned Dr. Carter and Professor Zeller. Who are they?” Wilfred’s response was calm and straightforward. “Harley Carter, the person you just met. A dual specialist in internal and external medicine with years of overseas training. As for Professor Zeller, he’s a towering figure in the medical field. He’s given lectures at prestigious universities.” “Dr. Carter is his last and most esteemed protégé.” Karina’s heart raced. “Are you talking about Tim Zeller? The Professor Zeller?” Wilfred glanced at her, his tone neutral. “That’s him. What, are you a fan?” Realizing her excitement might have been a bit much, Karina hesitated. Given the earlier tension, it seemed like there might be some conflict between Wilfred and the mentor-prot
The man’s smile faded slightly, and he curled his lips. “You’re quite protective, aren’t you?” Not wasting words, Wilfred brushed past him and entered the facility, with Karina following closely. As they passed, the man leaned in toward Karina and murmured in a low voice, “I just wonder if the one being protected is actually worth it.” Karina stopped in her tracks, glancing back at him as they reached the elevator. He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised that she turned around. She met his gaze and said evenly, “Why don’t you wait and see?” Ignoring the sudden spark in the man’s eyes, she stepped into the elevator and took a deep breath.Wilfred glanced at her briefly as she lagged behind but said nothing.*The patient’s room was clean and minimalistic. Wearing hospital-issued pajamas, the patient moved about within a severely limited range—about five steps from the bed to the washroom, no more than ten or so in total. The room was shockingly cramped, barely en
Wilfred’s gaze soon settled on Karina, sharp and probing. “What’s on your mind?” Karina shook her head but hesitated. “I do have some thoughts… but until I meet the patient in person, they’re just ideas. Dr. Wilfred, you’re the one who taught me that.” She lifted her head, her bright eyes unintentionally glowing with determination. Wilfred’s gaze flickered for a moment, as if momentarily dazzled by her intensity. Resting his hands on his knees, he deliberated briefly before saying, “Then pack your things—we’re going.” Karina blinked in surprise, completely caught off guard. His lips curved slightly. “Didn’t you say it’s best not to jump to conclusions without seeing the real person? Well, let’s go meet them.” It was both an exciting and overwhelming surprise—no, more like a shock. Karina didn’t even know where to start. Should she grab sterilized gloves? Instruments? Maybe her notes? In the end, Wilfred took only her notebook, tossing the rest aside. “These aren
Karina questioned herself. “What am I even thinking? Dr. Wilfred has been so kind to me. What does his personal life have to do with me?”For someone as emotionally oblivious as Karina, the realization hit her hard. She was acting out of character. The subtle closeness she had felt toward Wilfred, born of gratitude, now felt awkward and unwarranted. A pang of guilt surged through her, making her want to retreat entirely. Wilfred, noticing her silence, assumed she had concerns. “Why aren’t you saying anything? If you have any reservations, speak up now. We can deal with them together.” He didn’t like leaving issues unresolved, which was why he offered so openly. But how could Karina let him know what was on her mind? Even imagining the look of disdain that might cross Wilfred’s face if he found out made her feel as though she were being ripped apart from the inside. Steeling herself under his questioning gaze, she forced a smile and said casually, “No concerns. Miss Walk