If Harley had never seen Karina’s genuine smile, perhaps he wouldn’t have noticed. But he had seen how she smiled at Wilfred, so radiant and pure it could light up a room. In contrast, her cold indifference toward him was painfully stark.Sliding the key into the ignition, Harley glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Can’t you at least crack a smile? All this frowning—it’s hard to look at.”Karina didn’t even bother turning her head. “I’m a doctor, not here to provide entertainment. If you’re that desperate for a smile, hit up a bar tonight. You can pay someone to grin at you all you want.”Harley froze, his expression darkening ever so slightly. For a moment, he was genuinely at a loss for words. Apart from Wilfred, no one else had ever managed to leave him speechless quite like this.Karina remained oblivious or perhaps indifferent to the fact that she had joined Wilfred in Harley’s mental list of thoroughly disliked people. And even if she knew, it wouldn’t have fazed her
Karina wasn’t naive enough to take Professor Zeller’s words as a compliment. Given his position and history with Wilfred, it was far more likely he was testing her or subtly undermining her. Still, Karina knew how to hold her ground. “So, Professor Zeller,” she began calmly, though her nails were already digging into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped imprints. “Why exactly did you call me here? I have responsibilities back at the hospital, and I’d prefer not to waste time.” Professor Zeller raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into an amused smirk. “You’re quite fond of your current job, aren’t you?” “Yes, I am.” Karina’s voice was steady, though her body was tense. She couldn’t afford to offend him—not someone with his influence. Zeller studied her in silence for a moment, then tilted his head with a thoughtful frown. “There’s something familiar about you... but I can’t quite place it.” Karina blinked, caught off guard, but before she could ask, he shook his head. “N
Karina heard Harley’s parting word, but she didn’t stop walking. She already had someone like Wilfred who dared to stand up against authority. She wasn’t alone in her fight. When she returned, Yvette bombarded her with questions about her visit to the association. Karina chose to gloss over certain details, recounting only the less controversial parts. Even that left Yvette in awe. "You actually turned them down? You really did? Gosh, I admire you!" Yvette exclaimed.Karina swatted Yvette’s exaggerated thumbs-up. "Cut it out. I’m barely holding it together. I was so nervous."Yvette’s face twisted in mock disappointment. "You? Nervous? Where’s all that boss energy you walked in here with?""Boss energy? More like trembling cowardice," Karina retorted with a wry smile. "I was barely holding my knees steady in there."“No wonder people used to bow down to authority back in the day,” she thought. Standing her ground in front of someone like Professor Zeller had been nearly impos
Inside the hotel room, the place was a mess. Nina Walker woke up, her entire body sore and achy. She rubbed her temples, preparing to rise, and glanced at the tall figure lying next to her. His strikingly handsome face boasted sharply defined features and deep-set eyes. He remained sound asleep, showing no signs of waking.Nina sat up, the sheets slipping off, revealing faint marks on her fair, sensual shoulders. She got out of bed, bloodstains clearly visible on the sheets.Glancing at the time, realizing she was almost late for work, she grabbed her scattered professional attire from the floor and changed into it. Her stockings were already torn by him. She balled them up and tossed them into the trash, slipping on her high heels. There was a knock at the door. Nina was already neatly dressed, back in her role as an efficient secretary, holding her purse as she headed out. Entering was a pure-looking beauty. Nina had called her. The type that Nash York liked. Nina said, "You ju
Upon hearing the voice, Nina's face jolted with surprise, nearly stumbling.With her balance faltering, her body leaned towards him. Nash felt her body tilting and reached out to steady her by the waist. The scorching warmth instantly reminded her of the scene from last night when he ravaged her recklessly.Nina composed herself, lifting her head to meet his deep gaze. His eyes were too serious, containing both questioning and doubt, as if trying to see through her with just one look. Nina's heart raced rapidly. She dared not hold his gaze for another second, instinctively lowering her head.When he assumed it was the woman from earlier, he flew into a rage. If he were to discover it was her, her fate wouldn't be any better. Yet, she couldn't accept it. If Nash knew it was her, could their marriage last a little longer? She dared not meet his eyes. "Why would you ask such a thing?" Only she knew she was hoping for it.However, Nash chuckled lightly. "You don't have the courage."
She looked up to see Miranda wearing an apron, holding a ladle. Upon seeing Nina, her smile faltered for a moment, then she warmly greeted, "Are you Sally’s guest? I just made some extra soup. Come in and have a seat." Her demeanor was composed, entirely that of the lady of the house. It was as if Nina was the guest from afar. Indeed, before long, she would become an outsider.Nina frowned, feeling deeply repelled. When she married Nash, Miranda even sent a congratulatory letter. It was impossible for her not to know Nina was Nash's wife. Seeing her standing motionless at the door, Miranda quickly came over and took her hand, "A guest is a guest, don't be shy, come in." As she approached, a faint jasmine scent filled the air, the exact same fragrance of the perfume Nash gave her on her birthday last year. She felt her throat ache, and her breathing became heavy, as if there were a thousand pounds on her feet, making it difficult to move. Sally noticed Nina standing there m
"Nina seems to be in a bad mood today. She didn't want to come to deliver the documents, so I had to come instead," Miranda placed her scalded hand in front of him. "Nash, don't blame Nina. I don't think she did it on purpose. I hope it didn't delay you."It was the first time Nina had done something like this with the company's documents in someone else's hands. Nash's expression was grim, but he restrained himself in front of Miranda. He just adjusted his tie and replied calmly, "It's okay." Changing the subject, he added, "Since you're here, stay for a while."Hearing him say this, Miranda felt a sense of relief. At least he accepted her and didn't dislike her. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting? Will I disturb you?" Nash made a call, "The meeting is postponed for half an hour." Miranda smiled faintly. Before coming, she had wondered if her departure without notice would make him resentful. It didn't seem as bad as she had imagined. Lost time could be made up for. Sitting
Nina stopped in her tracks, her demeanor devoid of the harmony that would typically exist between them as spouses, instead exuding an air of detachment more akin to that of superior and subordinate: "Mr. York, do you have any further instructions?" Nash turned his head, gazing at Nina's somewhat distant expression, his tone carrying a commanding undertone. "Sit down."Nina suddenly couldn't fathom what he intended to do next.Nash approached.As he drew nearer, Nina watched, sensing a difference in the air, making it feel thin, tense, and peculiar.She remained still, but Nash took the initiative to grasp her hand.The warmth of his palm against hers felt like a burn, and she instinctively tried to pull away. However, Nash held her firmly, not giving her the chance to withdraw, pulling her aside instead, his brows furrowed as he asked, "You've injured your hand. Didn't you notice?"His concern caught Nina off guard. "I... I'm fine," she stammered."Your hand has blistered," Na
Karina heard Harley’s parting word, but she didn’t stop walking. She already had someone like Wilfred who dared to stand up against authority. She wasn’t alone in her fight. When she returned, Yvette bombarded her with questions about her visit to the association. Karina chose to gloss over certain details, recounting only the less controversial parts. Even that left Yvette in awe. "You actually turned them down? You really did? Gosh, I admire you!" Yvette exclaimed.Karina swatted Yvette’s exaggerated thumbs-up. "Cut it out. I’m barely holding it together. I was so nervous."Yvette’s face twisted in mock disappointment. "You? Nervous? Where’s all that boss energy you walked in here with?""Boss energy? More like trembling cowardice," Karina retorted with a wry smile. "I was barely holding my knees steady in there."“No wonder people used to bow down to authority back in the day,” she thought. Standing her ground in front of someone like Professor Zeller had been nearly impos
Karina wasn’t naive enough to take Professor Zeller’s words as a compliment. Given his position and history with Wilfred, it was far more likely he was testing her or subtly undermining her. Still, Karina knew how to hold her ground. “So, Professor Zeller,” she began calmly, though her nails were already digging into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped imprints. “Why exactly did you call me here? I have responsibilities back at the hospital, and I’d prefer not to waste time.” Professor Zeller raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into an amused smirk. “You’re quite fond of your current job, aren’t you?” “Yes, I am.” Karina’s voice was steady, though her body was tense. She couldn’t afford to offend him—not someone with his influence. Zeller studied her in silence for a moment, then tilted his head with a thoughtful frown. “There’s something familiar about you... but I can’t quite place it.” Karina blinked, caught off guard, but before she could ask, he shook his head. “N
If Harley had never seen Karina’s genuine smile, perhaps he wouldn’t have noticed. But he had seen how she smiled at Wilfred, so radiant and pure it could light up a room. In contrast, her cold indifference toward him was painfully stark.Sliding the key into the ignition, Harley glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Can’t you at least crack a smile? All this frowning—it’s hard to look at.”Karina didn’t even bother turning her head. “I’m a doctor, not here to provide entertainment. If you’re that desperate for a smile, hit up a bar tonight. You can pay someone to grin at you all you want.”Harley froze, his expression darkening ever so slightly. For a moment, he was genuinely at a loss for words. Apart from Wilfred, no one else had ever managed to leave him speechless quite like this.Karina remained oblivious or perhaps indifferent to the fact that she had joined Wilfred in Harley’s mental list of thoroughly disliked people. And even if she knew, it wouldn’t have fazed her
Although Karina had no idea what they intended, with Harley already waiting outside her office, she figured she had no choice but to meet him. Taking a few deep breaths to steady herself, she entered her office. Harley stood by the window, examining her pot of red dianthus on the windowsill. Karina frowned. “Dr. Carter, that plant is mine. Please be careful not to knock it over.”As soon as the words left her mouth— Crash!The flower pot toppled off the windowsill, shattering into pieces on the floor. Karina jumped in shock, quickly followed by relief. At least it had shattered indoors and not fallen outside. Someone could have been seriously hurt if it had. But that didn’t stop her from getting angry. “Dr. Carter, what’s the meaning of this?” she snapped, her frustration evident. She had barely finished warning him, and the pot had already fallen. Was that really just an accident?Harley pocketed his hands and apologized with an infuriating nonchalance. “My apo
Wilfred ended up eating two full bowls without realizing it. Only when he couldn’t take another bite did he put his spoon down and wipe his mouth. “The porridge is well made,” he remarked. The housekeeper chuckled. “It’s all thanks to Miss Karina’s idea. And to think I’m a certified nutritionist, but I didn’t come up with something like this. It’s a good thing she was here today!” Karina smiled sheepishly. “It’s just something I learned growing up in a regular household. We didn’t have much, and when I didn’t have an appetite as a kid, I’d make this porridge for myself. I’d always end up eating a lot. So, I figured it might work this time too. I’m glad it turned out well.” The housekeeper insisted she was being modest, showering Karina with praise. Wilfred, watching the simple yet thoughtful meal on the table, felt a rare warmth in his chest. It might not compare to a five-star meal, but knowing that every bite was made with care, specifically for him, made it more satis
Karina wasn’t eager to turn to the association for help. After all, the people there weren’t just disliked by Wilfred—she couldn’t stand them either. Hesitating, she muttered, “When the time comes, something will work out… right?” Wilfred glanced at her indecisive expression and sighed lightly. He could already tell she hadn’t given the matter much thought. “I figured it’d be like this. I’ve already thought it through for you. If you need a recommendation letter, I’ll write one for you.” “Really?” Karina’s eyes lit up, and she couldn’t suppress the excitement in her voice. She had considered asking Wilfred for help. His reputation and capabilities were unmatched—even those in the association couldn’t hold a candle to him. But Karina had hesitated, feeling like she had already leaned on him for too much. He had helped her in countless ways. Asking for a recommendation letter felt like pushing the boundaries of her gratitude. Her joy didn’t last long before she falte
Wilfred coughed lightly and replied, “There’s nothing else to do while staying in the room.” His explanation only made things worse. Karina’s brows shot up immediately. “What do you mean by nothing else to do?” Her expression turned serious, and her tone carried an unusual firmness. “It doesn’t matter. When you’re sick, you need to rest properly. Your book is confiscated. Go lie down.” It was the first time someone had ordered Wilfred around like this, and he found it oddly amusing. Of course, if it had been anyone else, he wouldn’t have listened. Only Karina could manage to sway him. Even so, Wilfred didn’t head to bed but remained seated in his chair. “You mentioned earlier that you came because of something. What is it?” Karina hesitated briefly. “Well, the association sent me an email. I just saw it. They’re inviting me to visit when I have time.” As soon as she finished, she watched Wilfred’s reaction nervously. Knowing his antagonism toward the association
Karina had no idea why the association would send her such a letter. The invitation at the end even encouraged her to visit them in person. But instead of feeling flattered, her first thought was suspicion. Was this truly an act of goodwill, or was there something more behind it? Were they targeting her or perhaps Wilfred? Yvette noticed Karina’s lack of enthusiasm and tried to persuade her. “You’re not planning to go? This is an invitation from the association! For newcomers like us, meeting any of those big names is practically impossible.“If you join, everything could change.” Karina shook her head firmly. “I’m not interested at the moment.” “But what about finding a mentor…” “I’ll figure something out,” Karina replied calmly. “Thanks for your concern, but please don’t try to convince me. I don’t have a good impression of the association, and I won’t be joining.” Her tone left no room for further discussion. Yvette wanted Karina to join out of genuine conce
In the medical field, the association referred to here was an elite organization. Its members were either highly reputable figures like Professor Zeller or individuals with exceptionally powerful connections, like Harley. The majority of the association fell into two categories. The first was well-connected individuals who used their influence to secure their positions. The second was a rare group who stayed out of cliques and politics, dedicating themselves solely to their craft. These individuals were admitted into the association based purely on merit and skill. Wilfred had once belonged to this latter group before he chose to leave the association. Karina had learned all this inadvertently from Wilfred, whose brief mentions of the association had piqued her curiosity for a long time. Finally catching sight of the association’s forum, her eyes instinctively lit up. But then her gaze landed on a highlighted post in bold red letters: “How Can an Unknown Nobody Pull Off