Wilfred raised his hand, gently brushing aside a strand of hair from Karina's forehead. His fingertips grazed her cheek, the touch lingering with a subtle trace of something ambiguous. Karina's face flushed instantly, heat spreading across her skin. Her wide eyes reflected a mix of shock and embarrassment. “Dr. Norman, you’re acting very strangely today,” Wilfred said softly, his deep voice tinged with an almost hypnotic calm, sending shivers down her spine. Karina’s lips trembled, and she stammered, trying to explain but failing miserably. “I—I… Dr. Wilfred, I… ” Wilfred's gaze sharpened, his eyes turning cold as he suddenly grabbed her wrist. The strength of his grip made Karina gasp in pain. "So this is your plan? I finally see it now," he said, his voice laced with anger and disappointment. "You spiked my water, thinking I wouldn’t notice? Did you really think I wouldn’t taste it?" Karina froze, terror flashing across her face. She hadn’t expected him to notice.
Without hesitation, Wilfred scooped Karina up and carried her back into the room, gently placing her on the bed. He quickly grabbed a towel, soaked it in cold water, and carefully laid it across her burning forehead, trying to bring her fever down. As he looked at her pale and vulnerable face, his emotions swirled into a complicated mess. Sitting at her bedside, Wilfred silently watched over her, his thoughts wandering. He recalled Karina’s usual demeanor at the hospital—her diligent work ethic, the unwavering focus she showed while treating patients. Although she sometimes seemed shrouded in mystery, her commitment to her job was unmistakably genuine. He also thought of the times they had worked side by side in the operating room, where her calm and professional composure made her an exceptional partner. That confident woman seemed worlds apart from the fragile figure lying before him now. “Is she really as calculated as she seems?” he wondered. “Or is there somethin
The patient’s family rushed forward, shoving Karina hard. She fell to the floor, her forehead striking the edge of a corridor chair. A sharp pain shot through her, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. Wilfred immediately crouched down to help her up. Seeing the blood trickling from her forehead, he shot a furious glare at the aggressors. “What do you think you’re doing?” One of the family members sneered. “What are we doing? You dare to ask? You’re a worthless doctor! If it weren’t for you, my daughter could’ve had a few more years to live. Now she’s gone—all because of you!” Wilfred was stunned, but Karina’s soft whimper of pain in his arms drew his attention back to her. Suppressing his anger, he glanced at the group advancing toward them. Before they could close in, he swiftly lifted Karina into his arms, causing several nurses nearby to gasp in surprise. His icy glare swept over the furious family members. “There’s a limit to how far you can go. If you don’t want this
At that moment, Karina shouted, her voice trembling, “I’ll tell you everything!” Her hands twisted together anxiously, her fingers fidgeting, and her rapid blinking betrayed her extreme hesitation and nerves. Wilfred didn’t rush her, standing silently as he waited for her to continue. Karina took a deep breath, her words spilling out as she recounted everything that had happened over the past few days. She left nothing out, from the stolen photos to the motivations behind her actions. When she finished, it felt as though a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders. But Wilfred’s brows remained furrowed the entire time. Noticing his reaction, Karina’s initial relief was quickly replaced by regret. She had relaxed too soon. “I’m sorry. If you want to press charges, I’ll accept whatever consequences come my way.” Her confession was partly motivated by her desire to salvage her career, but even more so, she couldn’t bear to keep Wilfred in the dark any longer. She
Karina might appear frail, with slim arms and legs that seemed as if a single push could knock her over, but Wilfred knew better. He understood just how resilient she truly was.Others might work hard, but Karina always pushed herself several times beyond that. He often worked late into the night, performing back-to-back surgeries, and every time he left his office, she would still be there, pouring over medical journals long after everyone else had gone home. It was that dedication that had sparked Wilfred’s decision to give her a chance. Thinking back, he realized he had never seen Karina cry before. Not when the Stone family kept demanding money, not even when Kieran threatened her. Yet here she was, her eyes rimmed with red, struggling to hold back tears in front of him—a man who had once gone out of his way to help her. “I know I’ve disappointed you, Dr. Wilfred,” Karina said, her voice trembling. “Don’t worry, I’ll resign tomorrow. I’ll come up with an excuse, and if
“I don’t know,” the nurse replied. “She said there was an emergency at home and she had to leave immediately.” Karina’s chest tightened, and her fingers curled into fists. The more she thought about it, the more something felt off. Could it really just be a coincidence? It seemed far more likely that the intern knew she was about to be exposed and decided to disappear before they could question her—cutting off all leads and leaving them with nowhere to turn. While Karina felt heavy with unease, Wilfred seemed much calmer. It was as if he had anticipated this outcome all along. “Thank you for your efforts,” he said to the nurse, his tone steady and composed. He then turned his attention to Karina, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before turning away and walking off. Karina quickly followed him out of the room. The nurse couldn’t hold back any longer and called after her, “Dr. Norman, when did you get so close to Dr. Wilfred? Everyone’s saying he’s grooming you
The man who charged forward with the attack was the younger one. Wilfred had momentarily let his guard down, not expecting such a sudden outburst. The wooden stick struck him squarely on the back with a dull thud, causing him to grunt in pain. Karina froze, her mind going blank in shock. She rushed to Wilfred’s side, supporting him as best she could. “Dr. Wilfred, are you okay? Why would you take the hit for me?” Wilfred straightened up, his expression calm despite the obvious pain. Even now, he had the composure to explain. “It wasn’t for you. The attack was meant for me from the start.” He glanced briefly at his back, his gaze darkening. It hurt a lot but he wasn’t an ordinary person. As someone who had endured far worse as Pharaoh’s former test subject, he was accustomed to such pain. That didn’t mean he wasn’t angry. Wilfred turned his icy gaze to the young man who had attacked him, his penetrating eyes enough to make the assailant hesitate for a brief moment.
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
When Karina stepped into the room, one of the men, his gaze hazy from drink, chuckled and said, “Well, so this is the beauty they sent over?”Karina forced herself to stay calm and replied politely, “Good evening, gentlemen. Here’s the drinks you ordered.” She began placing the drinks on the table one by one, hoping to finish quickly. Before she could finish, another man grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him. “Come, have a few drinks with us, sweetheart.”Karina’s heart raced as she pulled her hand away with force. “Sir, I’m just here to deliver your drinks. I don’t entertain guests.”The men burst into laughter. “What bar do you think you’re in? There’s no such thing as not entertaining here. Don’t play coy, sweetheart. Sit with us, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely.”Fear surged through Karina as she instinctively stepped back, trying to maintain some distance. “I’m really just here for work,” she said, her voice trembling. “Please respect me!”But the men, emboldened
The woman leaned closer to Karina, lowering her voice. “You ruined my fun. The manager and I were having a great time, and you interrupted us. You need to make it up to me.”Karina’s frustration flared. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. The door wasn’t fully closed, and I was only there to talk about resigning.”But the woman wasn’t about to let it go. “I don’t care. You need to make it up to me. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your night will go smoothly or that you’ll get to leave this job without issues.”Anger surged through Karina. “You’re being unreasonable! I didn’t do anything wrong!”The woman sneered. “In this bar, what I say goes. If you don’t cooperate, I have plenty of ways to make sure you can’t stay.”Karina knew arguing with her in this chaotic environment would only make things worse. But the idea of being bullied like this made her seethe. Taking a deep breath, she tried to stay calm. “What do you want me to do?”The woman’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “It’s simple. Ha
A strikingly glamorous woman sat perched on the manager’s lap, the two locked in a tight embrace, passionately kissing. The scene was nothing short of intimate, their connection palpable.Karina stood awkwardly at the door, caught between stepping in and retreating. She coughed lightly, trying to get their attention.Hearing the sound, the manager gently pushed the woman aside and turned toward the door. His expression showed no embarrassment; instead, he appeared slightly annoyed. “Karina, why didn’t you knock before coming in?”Karina forced a smile, her discomfort evident. “The door wasn’t fully closed. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m here to talk about resigning.”The manager adjusted his clothes, gesturing for the woman to sit aside. He raised his brows slightly. “Resign? Why the sudden decision to quit?”Karina bit her lip nervously. “It’s for personal reasons. I really can’t continue working here.”The manager leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. A f
Karina froze for a moment, staring at Wilfred's earnest eyes. A wave of mixed emotions swirled within her. She was indeed under immense financial pressure. The entanglements with Kieran and the Stone family had left her utterly drained, and every penny counted. Yet, her pride made it hard for her to accept charity, even from someone like Wilfred. Lowering her head, she softly said, “Thank you for your kindness, Dr. Wilfred, but I can’t accept your money. I’ll work hard and solve this on my own.” Wilfred frowned, stepping closer. He gently tilted her chin upward, compelling her to meet his gaze. “Karina, I understand your concerns. But working in an environment like this, exhausting yourself, and exposing yourself to danger isn’t the solution. It could harm your health and reputation. “I’m not offering charity. I see you as a friend, and I want to help you through this tough time.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she bit her lip. “But I don’t want to owe yo
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.