Leonard, a cheerful and outgoing young man, worked skillfully at the machine while apologizing profusely. “Sorry about this. I don’t know what’s up with this machine today. It’s being a bit temperamental. I hope it’s not causing too much trouble for you.”Karina smiled back warmly. “It’s no problem at all.”As Leonard glanced up at Karina and Wilfred, he couldn’t help but comment, “You two look great together! Are you on a date?”Karina’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she opened her mouth to clarify, but Wilfred cut in first. “Thank you. It’s a rare day off, so I thought I’d take her out to relax.”Startled, Karina glanced at him in surprise, but the unexpected sweetness of his words brought a quiet warmth to her heart.Leonard grinned knowingly. “This movie’s been super popular lately. Lots of couples have been coming to watch it. You’re lucky to have snagged tickets—later in the day, it’s almost impossible to get seats.”Wilfred nodded politely. “Is that so? Then I suppose we’re
Wilfred snapped out of his thoughts, meeting Karina’s eager gaze. Without hesitation, he nodded. “Sure, as long as it’s something you’ll enjoy.”The two of them arrived at an escape room venue, where the receptionist greeted them warmly.Karina asked curiously, “Hi, we’d like to play an escape room. What themes do you have?”The receptionist smiled and began explaining, “We have a horror-themed ‘Midnight Fright,’ an adventure-themed ‘Lost Tomb,’ and a mystery-themed ‘Misty Manor.’ Each has its own level of difficulty and style.”Wilfred looked at Karina. She thought for a moment before saying, “Let’s try ‘Lost Tomb.’ It sounds mysterious and fun.”The receptionist nodded. “This theme is very popular, but it’s also quite challenging. Are you sure?”Wilfred replied confidently, “No problem. We’ll go with this one.”“All right,” the receptionist continued. “The ticket price for this theme is $30 per person. If you complete it within the time limit, you’ll even get a special gift fr
“Be careful,” Wilfred whispered, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor. Karina leaned into his embrace and said softly, “Thank you. I was too careless.”They proceeded cautiously down the corridor and arrived at a room filled with ancient books and peculiar instruments. Curious, Karina picked up a dusty old book. As soon as she opened it, the faint sound of gears turning echoed in the room. Slowly, a stone table emerged from the center of the floor, revealing a complex puzzle box resting on top.Karina studied the puzzle box carefully, noticing that each piece was engraved with unique symbols and patterns. She tried fitting a few pieces together but couldn’t make sense of it. Meanwhile, Wilfred searched the room for other clues and discovered an ancient mural in one corner. The mural depicted several figures gathered around a similar-looking box, seemingly performing some kind of ritual. He examined the gestures and expressions of the figures in the mural and suddenly
Karina sensed the girl’s unfriendly gaze and instinctively moved closer to Wilfred. Without a word, Wilfred casually placed a hand on her shoulder, a subtle but protective gesture. The girl’s jealousy flared even stronger at the sight. Forcing a strained smile, she turned to Karina and asked, “And who might this be?”Wilfred answered before Karina could speak. “This is Karina, my… friend.” As he spoke, he glanced at Karina, a trace of warmth flickering in his gaze, unnoticed by anyone but her. The girl let out a faint scoff. “A friend, huh? Dr. Wilfred, you’re always so busy with work. It’s rare for you to take time off, yet you didn’t think to invite me? I thought we were close. After all, you took such good care of me when I was your patient.”Her voice was laced with grievance and subtle reproach. Wilfred frowned slightly. His tone remained polite but distant. “It’s good that you’ve recovered. Taking time off is just for relaxation. I didn’t give it much thought.”Though
Her eyes turned redder, tears stubbornly welling up as if refusing to fall. Karina, watching the girl’s pained struggle, felt a pang of sympathy. She was about to say something to console her when Wilfred gently pulled her behind him, shielding her once more.His gaze remained cold, but his tone carried an unmistakable impatience. “That’s enough. This ends here. Don’t come bothering us again.”The girl froze as if struck by his blunt and merciless words. Her body trembled, and at last, the tears spilled over, rolling down her cheeks and hitting the ground in heavy drops. She opened her mouth, managing to squeeze out a broken, choked whisper: “I… I just…” But the rest of her words were swallowed by the overwhelming tide of her emotions, dissolving into silence.Wilfred frowned slightly but didn’t respond further. He simply took Karina’s hand and turned to leave. Just as they were about to walk away, the girl suddenly shouted hysterically, “Wilfred, I’ve liked you for so long! E
Seeing this, Karina finally let out a breath of relief. She walked over carefully, crouched beside the girl, and softly asked, “Are you okay?”The girl’s body tensed at the sound of Karina’s voice. Slowly, she lifted her tear-streaked face, her red, swollen eyes resembling overripe peaches. Upon realizing it was Karina and Wilfred, she froze momentarily before turning her head away. Her voice was thick with sobs as she muttered, “Why are you here? Are you here to laugh at me?”Karina quickly stepped closer, intending to comfort her, but before she could, the girl fixed her gaze on Wilfred. Her emotions boiled over as she shouted hysterically, “Dr. Wilfred, can you just stay away from me? Seeing you makes me sick! I only want to talk to Karina alone. Leave! The farther, the better—don’t hover in front of me!”Wilfred frowned slightly, his expression tinged with helplessness. Yet, seeing how distraught the girl was, he didn’t want to escalate the situation further. He glanced at K
Seeing this, Karina grew anxious and immediately said, “Alright, don’t worry. I’ll help you get there.” Without hesitation, she carefully supported the girl and quickly headed toward the park entrance. Wilfred, who had been keeping an eye on them from a distance, noticed their hurried departure and quickly walked over to ask, “What’s going on? What happened?”The girl looked up briefly, her annoyance flashing across her face. Clenching her teeth, she said, “Dr. Wilfred, I’m not feeling well, and I only want Karina with me. Don’t follow us. Just stay back. I don’t want to see you. Seeing you makes me even more upset.”Wilfred frowned, worry written all over his face, but he held back his frustration and reluctantly agreed. “Alright, but be careful. If anything happens, call me immediately.”He stopped in his tracks, his concerned gaze fixed on their retreating figures as he maintained a discreet distance, silently following them from afar.Karina supported the girl with steady b
As soon as they stepped out of the clinic, the girl exhaled deeply, as though shedding a heavy burden. Yet her expression remained unsettled, shifting between hesitation and determination. She turned to Karina, forcing a faint smile that looked strained and unnatural. “Karina, can you wait here for a moment? I’m going to the convenience store nearby to grab something. I’ll be right back.”Karina, though slightly puzzled, nodded. “Alright, but don’t take too long. I’ll wait for you here.”The girl nodded and jogged toward the store in the distance. Minutes ticked by, but she didn’t return. Karina stood by the roadside, craning her neck to look around, her worry growing with every passing moment. Suddenly, a figure darted out from a nearby alley and charged straight toward her. Before Karina could react, a bucket of liquid was dumped over her, drenching her completely. The acrid smell hit her immediately, and her mind buzzed with alarm. Her heart dropped as she realized what it
Caleb had mentioned taking Vera back to the hospital. Even though she was the one driving, that should have been their destination. But instead, she brought him to his villa. This clearly showed she had done her homework on him. Vera pressed her lips together. “Since you asked me to drive, I figured I’d drop you off at your place first.” “Is that so?” Caleb scoffed, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “And after you drop me off, how are you planning to get back?” As he spoke, he leaned closer to her. Vera instinctively leaned away, uncomfortable with the sudden proximity. She had never been in such close contact with a man before, and her intentions truly were as simple as dropping him off—nothing more. But Caleb didn’t believe her. He grabbed her shoulder with one hand, his grip firm. “I’m asking you a question. Why aren’t you answering?” Vera knew avoiding the question wouldn’t work with him. He wasn’t the type to let things slide. “If I didn’t drop you off, h
“Why don’t you go find my dad if you made the deal with him?” Caleb said coldly. “My mom’s gone. If you—”“What are you talking about?” Vera interrupted, her voice tinged with disbelief. She couldn’t believe Caleb could say something so cutting. But then again, they had no relationship to speak of. Caleb was free to say whatever he wanted. Her throat tightened, and a wave of bitterness washed over her. Caleb truly was her only hope. “Your father approached me because he wanted me to win you over, to change you,” Vera said firmly. “Right now, I have no other choice. We could just pretend to be a couple. If your dad insists on a marriage, we can cross that bridge later. What do you think?” “Make way!” Before Caleb could respond, a sharp voice called out from behind. Someone was rushing past in a hurry. Vera instinctively tried to move aside, but the person barreled straight into her. She couldn’t avoid it and stumbled violently to the side. She braced herself
Caleb couldn’t bring himself to violate his professional ethics, let alone lead by example in doing so.“There’s no need for any agreements,” Caleb said firmly. “I don’t intend to turn this into a transactional relationship. You’re still young, and you can take your time dealing with your debts.”With that, Caleb turned to leave. But Vera continued to follow him. “There’s no time to take it slow. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here in front of you. Uncle Smith and my dad were the best of friends, but under the current circumstances, whatever help he can offer is barely a drop in the bucket. However, if I follow Uncle Smith’s advice and win you over, everything will be different.”Caleb’s father wanted him to settle down, marry, and have a family. If Vera became his wife, it would naturally secure her father’s support and resources. “I don’t even have money to go home…” Vera murmured from behind him. Her voice was so soft, it was barely audible, but Caleb heard her clearly. He
Caleb only escorted Vera to the entrance of the club before stopping. “I’m not interested in you. Don’t follow me,” he stated bluntly. “If it’s money you’re after, there are plenty of ways to earn it without doing this.” Knowing that Luna and Simon were also inside, Caleb had no intention of lingering at this club any longer. To his surprise, Vera followed closely behind him. He turned, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Don’t you have anywhere else to go?” “Your father gave me one task—to stay close to you and win you over,” she replied firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. Her meaning was clear: she wouldn’t leave until her mission was complete. With her head bowed, Caleb couldn’t see her expression, but her unwavering tone was enough to leave him momentarily speechless. “How much money are you short of that you’d stoop to this?” he asked, unable to hide his disbelief. They’d had no prior interactions, yet now Vera clung to him as though her life
Luna noticed Caleb, but the one to greet him was Simon. Caleb didn’t respond. His lips pressed into a thin line as his gaze fell on Luna, noticing the faint chill in her eyes as she looked at him. Hunter chuckled lightly. “If we’re all acquaintances, why don’t we set up a gathering and hang out together?” Hunter seemed amused by the situation. This self-proclaimed fiancée of Caleb’s was intriguing, and with more people, things might loosen up and get interesting. Unexpectedly, Caleb replied sternly, “There’s no point. We’re not on the same wavelength. We can’t even find common ground to have fun.” Without waiting for a response, Caleb grabbed Vera’s hand and turned to leave. If not for Luna’s presence, Caleb wouldn’t have touched Vera, let alone held her hand. But seeing Luna’s cold demeanor as she stood beside Simon in a place like this, it was obvious what she was thinking. She believed he was following her on purpose. Why should he let her think so little of him?
Caleb’s disdain was obvious, but compared to the dire situation Vera's family was facing, his scorn was nothing. Vera had already made up her mind—wherever Caleb went, she would follow. After all, Caleb’s father had made it clear—if she could win Caleb over, she would have free access to the Smith family’s resources. More than that, Caleb’s father promised her unconditional support. Caleb never expected this. No matter how harshly he spoke, this woman still insisted on staying by his side! His expression darkened. “What kind of deal did you strike with my father? Let me give you some advice—you’d better come clean before I investigate.” If Caleb wanted to dig into something, uncovering the truth would be effortless. Rather than waiting for Caleb to investigate, Vera figured it was better to lay everything out herself. “My family is facing some challenges,” she admitted. “And your father just happened to be looking for a suitable match for you. That’s when I stepped up
“What's that supposed to mean, Hunter? Don’t tell me you’re…” Caleb pointed an accusing finger at Hunter, his voice laced with disbelief.Over the years, Caleb had always treated Hunter as a brother. Their banter, even the occasional rumors, had never made him think twice. But now, with Hunter’s words and demeanor, Caleb couldn’t help but feel a hint of suspicion.Before he could finish his thought, Hunter slapped Caleb’s hand away, rolling his eyes. “What kind of nonsense are you spouting now?”Caleb’s frustration boiled over. “What nonsense? I already told you, I don’t want my dad meddling in my life any more than he already has. And here you are, making things worse! Do you have a death wish or something?”Hunter smirked, unbothered. “What’s the big deal? If the situation escalates, then nobody’s going to try setting you up anymore. Problem solved. If we go down, I’ll go down with you. That’s what brothers are for, right?”Caleb’s glare darkened, his patience wearing thin. “You
Luna's expression turned cold, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment. “Caleb, how can you say that? You confessed to me, you proposed, and I’ve always been clear in rejecting you. I’ve never strung you along.”Her words stunned Caleb. If it had been before, her disappointed tone would have stopped him in his tracks. “You’re right. You’ve always rejected me,” he admitted, his voice steady. “But you’ve also kept me close, leaned on me when you needed someone, knowing I would drop everything for you. I did it because I cared for you.” Caleb’s eyes softened for a brief moment before hardening with resolve. “Luna, now that Simon’s back, you should focus on him. You two deserve to figure things out. As for Terry, just follow the advice I gave you—make his final days as peaceful as possible.” Without waiting for her response, Caleb turned and left, his steps steady but heavy. If Simon hadn’t returned, Caleb might have convinced himself to keep waiting, to stay in Luna’s orb
“Terry has been with me for so long. He’s like family to me. I can’t imagine life without him,” Luna Gibson said through her tears, her sorrow overwhelming. Caleb crouched in front of her, his lips pressing into a thin line before he spoke in a hoarse voice. “I’ll help you take care of Terry. Luna, marry me. That man—he’s not coming back.” For years, Caleb had stood by Luna’s side. She had been his senior during their university days, and he had fallen for her instantly. But Luna’s heart belonged to someone else—a man she had loved for as long as Caleb could remember. He had proposed to her several times over the years, always waiting, always hoping. Luna stared at him, stunned. She hadn’t expected Caleb to still hold on after all this time. Caleb’s dark eyes reflected her image as he gazed at her silently. His unwavering sincerity was unmistakable, and while others might not have seen it, Luna knew it better than anyone. Just as she parted her lips to respond, her ph