Vera was anxious, but she knew that now was not the time to panic. The more critical the moment, the more composed she needed to be. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and sat next to Caleb. The food was served quickly, but even though Nash had suggested they eat first, he only took a few casual bites before setting his utensils down. “I hear Mason Corporation is looking to partner with York Corporation on our new project,” Nash said casually.The York Corporation’s latest project required a reliable construction materials supplier. But their vetting process was rigorous. And even with that, Nash had better options. There was no real need to choose the Masons. Still, since Caleb had made the introduction, Nash figured it wouldn’t hurt to hear them out. Hearing this, Vera carefully placed her utensils down, trying to contain her excitement. “Yes,” she said. “The Mason Corporation has been in the construction materials industry for nearly ten years.”
The Mason Corporation specialized in construction materials, ensuring high quality. But with their financial struggles, they desperately needed funding and the security of working under York Corporation’s umbrella. That made them the cheapest and most reliable option.And really—who could say no to cheap and reliable? Not even Nash. He didn’t hesitate. “Alright, let’s sign the contract. I brought my assistant.” His assistant, sharp as ever, immediately stepped forward with the documents. A few moments later, Vera held the freshly signed contract in her hands. Suddenly, the food tasted even better.As they left, Nash pulled Caleb aside for a brief conversation. Vera was curious. But not enough to eavesdrop. When Caleb returned, his expression was a bit complicated, but it didn’t seem to concern her. “Let’s go,” he said. “I’ll drive you home.” She originally planned to take a cab, but since he insisted, she didn’t argue. By the time they arrived, it was la
Caleb emerged from the bathroom, his expression completely neutral, as if nothing had happened. That, at least, spared Vera some of the lingering awkwardness. Still, her mind kept flashing back to what she had seen—the broad chest barely covered by the towel, the long legs that looked even longer than hers. She quickly shoved those thoughts away. “You okay?” she asked, clearing her throat. “The water cuts off occasionally around here.“It didn’t used to happen much, so we never really got around to fixing it,” she added, feeling slightly guilty. Too much had happened with her family, and something like inconsistent water pressure had never made it onto the priority list. Now, she kind of regretted that oversight. Luckily, Caleb didn’t seem bothered. “I’m fine. I already finished showering.” Vera let out a breath of relief. Then she remembered the real reason she had come downstairs. “Oh, right. Do you think Nash will send someone to inspect the factory?”
The fact that Nash even asked this question made one thing clear. He knew the Mason Corporation’s current situation inside and out.Even if Vera wanted to deny it, she couldn’t. She was in a tough spot. The factory was still there, but without workers, it was useless. Her original plan had been to use the remaining money to rehire some of the old employees. But how many of them would actually come back? After all, when the company collapsed, many had lost their jobs overnight. Worse, they were still owed a full month’s salary. A lot of people. A lot of money. Vera had no idea how she was going to handle it. She had been relying on one simple thought—take it one step at a time. Things had to work out somehow. She took a deep breath and pushed down the flicker of pride rising in her chest. Now wasn’t the time for ego. “Just the funding will be enough,” she said. “I’ll take care of the manpower.” The assistant’s eyes flickered with approval. H
Mrs. Scott’s expression was less than welcoming when she saw Vera at the door. She didn’t say much. She just stepped aside and gave a curt nod. “Come in.” Stanley, on the other hand, was much warmer. “Vera, what brings you here?” he asked, immediately setting out tea and fruit for her. Mrs. Scott watched from the side, growing more and more displeased. “That cherry’s for Charlie,” she muttered. “You know how expensive cherries are this time of year.” Stanley shot her a look. “She’s a guest. It’s almost dinnertime. Why don’t you head to the kitchen and start cooking?” He had no idea why Vera had come. Maybe to ask for help. Maybe to plead for understanding. Either way, he wouldn’t turn her away. He wasn’t someone who would hound the Mason family for money, but when they could afford to pay him back, he would accept it. No matter how hard times got, he wasn’t about to forget kindness. “Stay for dinner,” he told Vera. “It’s nothing fancy, but you’re wel
“Already getting paid this fast?” Even with the cash in his hands, Stanley still felt like this was all too surreal. “Vera… where did you get this money?” “Uncle Stanley, I landed a deal recently,” Vera explained patiently. “The partner invested funds, and the first thing I wanted to do was clear everyone’s wages. You all have worked hard. It’s only right you get paid.” She took a deep breath before continuing, “I also wanted to ask—have you found another job yet? If not, would you be willing to return to the factory? We still need a plant manager, and we have orders coming in. The only thing missing is workers.” Stanley was stunned. Was the factory really back in business just like that? Of course, he had always hoped the Mason family would rise again. But never—not in his wildest dreams—did he think the one making that happen would be Vera. She had always been the sheltered youngest daughter of the family, the one never expected to bear any responsibilities.
Vera gave Stanley a detailed rundown of the York Corporation project.Having worked as a factory manager for several years, Stanley was well aware of the plant’s production efficiency. After hearing the project details, he told her directly, “Vera, if we can get even half of the old employees back, we’ll be able to meet the production targets on time. But what if more of them want to return—should we take them in or not?”“Of course we should, Uncle Stanley. You guys are all seasoned workers. The company is in a tough spot right now—we couldn’t even pay wages. Yet, despite the hardship, you’re still willing to stay. That means a lot. There will be more projects in the future. As long as the old employees want to come back, I’ll take as many as we can get,” Vera said firmly. She had already made up her mind about this.York Corporation had only granted her this project as a favor to Caleb, which gave her just enough breathing room to keep the factory afloat. But Vera didn’t want
“If they don’t want to come back, then let them go,” Leonard Quinn said, trying to comfort him. “Their hearts aren’t in it anymore. Even if they do return, they won’t put in the effort.” “I don’t care whether they come back or not,” Stanley sighed. “But Vera’s new project is about to start, and we don’t have enough workers. Overtime is fine for a while, but no one can work around the clock indefinitely—it’s just not sustainable.” The bigger the task, the heavier the responsibility. Since Vera had entrusted him with this, even paying out bonuses in advance, he had to see it through properly. He couldn’t afford to let her down. “I remember there are quite a few people in our village struggling to find steady work,” Leonard suggested after thinking for a moment. “They’re just picking up odd jobs here and there, getting paid by the day. Since we all know each other, why don’t you write down the names of the reliable ones? Later, we can check with Vera, and if she agrees, we’ll
“I only had one surgery today,” Caleb said as he drove, his voice calm but firm. “Now that it’s done, I want to know why this happened.” After that, he said nothing more. Vera sat in silence, her heart uneasy as the car pulled up in front of an upscale club. Even though her hand was already bandaged, she still felt a sting of pain every time Caleb showed concern. “So this is what it feels like to have someone care,” she thought to herself.Back when Vera had been stepped on, her only concern had been the contract—whether the deal would fall apart and if her suffering had been for nothing.If it had been anything else, she probably wouldn’t have cared as much.But Caleb’s concern made it impossible for her to brush aside.It kept lingering in her mind, refusing to let her feel indifferent.“Don’t overthink it,” Caleb said, his voice firm. “Whatever happened between Luna and me doesn’t change the fact that this concerns me too—and I owe it to you to make things right.”
“Oh? So this is the apology you wanted?” Vera’s forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain, but the two women standing over her barely reacted. As if this was normal to them. As if humiliating her was just another game. “I asked you a question.” Vera remained half-crouched on the ground, her hand still pinned under Luna’s heel. Helena smirked. “Yeah, I’d say that’s good enough.” She hadn’t expected Vera to be this stubborn, but it didn’t matter. With an exaggerated sigh, she casually scribbled her signature onto the contract. The deal was officially secured. Vera didn’t waste another second. She cast one last glance at the two women. “I have no interest in getting involved in your personal drama. As for Caleb and me, that’s between us. We both made our choices.” Luna’s expression twisted slightly. “I won’t bother commenting on your relationship,” she said, voice dripping with disdain. “But don’t think for a second that this will ever earn
The moment Vera heard her assistant’s words, her expression darkened. Her previously calm tone turned firm. “If that’s the case, I understand. But I still have to go. This is my responsibility, and no one else can handle it.” If she didn’t take the lead, the other party would only grow bolder. However, the moment she glanced at the name on the negotiation list, she couldn’t help but frown. Because the person she was supposed to meet wasn’t just anyone. It was Helena Xander. Vera had encountered her before—back when her relationship with Caleb hadn’t yet escalated. Even then, Helena had openly mocked her, saying that since Caleb had been Luna’s devoted lapdog for years, he should know his place and never overstep. She had also thrown a few sharp words at Vera, telling her to recognize her own status—as if warning her that getting involved would only bring trouble. Back then, Vera hadn’t taken it seriously. She never thought she would cross paths with the
“Alright, enough of this. If you’re serious about investigating, you’ll need proper psychological evaluations,” Caleb said nonchalantly.“The best way to assess something like this is through clinical observation—watch for behavioral inconsistencies, memory gaps, or personality shifts. If you can, gather video footage of his daily life. That’s the only way to get a clearer picture. Otherwise, it’s just speculation.”Caleb made the remark casually, then swiftly issued a dismissal.“You came all the way here just to mess with me? What about your own situation? How’s that going?” Caleb’s sarcasm was dry and pointed. Hunter let out a long sigh. “What else could it be? Business as usual. Compared to others, I’m probably the only one with enough patience for this mess.” He was, of course, referring to his ongoing battle with Liam. Caleb gave him a small nod. “Alright, you should get going now. I need to rest. Don’t loiter around here.” Without hesitation, he waved his hand
Vera forced an awkward smile at Hunter before quickly retreating back into the bathroom to change. Hunter, watching her leave, couldn't help but smirk. “You’re really living the good life, huh?” he teased. “Didn’t expect you to have such luck.” Caleb rolled his eyes, clearly uninterested. “Enough with the nonsense. Why are you here? And who exactly were you talking about over the phone?” He didn’t want to entertain pointless banter, especially not about women. If he was being honest, even he couldn’t fully explain his feelings toward Luna. He wasn’t sure what was left between them—was it love, or just the remnants of something that had long turned sour? That pitiful look in her eyes earlier had shaken him. For a fleeting moment, he had wanted to pull her into his arms, to comfort her like he used to. But after so many years of being humiliated and pushed aside, he had forgotten how to even speak to her anymore. So instead, he did what was easiest—he change
Hunter spoke casually, his tone light. “Just someone, that’s all. Do you really need all these details?” Caleb was now certain of his suspicion. “Hunter, did you forget what I do for a living? I’m a doctor. If you’re asking me about this, I need to get a clear picture before I can give you an answer.” Hunter exhaled lightly. “That’s fair, but some things can’t be diagnosed right away.” Based on the information Yelena provided earlier, Hunter was only speculating about Liam. But Caleb was an expert in this area, so he specifically called to ask him.Still, explaining everything over the phone wasn’t going to work. “Forget it,” Hunter said. “This isn’t something I can explain over a call. Where are you? I’ll come over.” Caleb hesitated for a moment before glancing at Vera, who was still beside him. In the end, he gave Hunter the address to his villa. Hunter chuckled. “Haha. I’m surprised. You actually do go home to rest.” Caleb ignored the jab and tossed his p
“Call me Liam.” Before Yelena could finish speaking, Liam cut her off with a sharp, angry voice. She quickly nodded and corrected herself. “Liam, don’t worry. I’ll do exactly as you say. I’ll be good. I won’t make you angry again.” But Liam didn’t care. With a violent shove, he threw her to the ground. Yelena barely had time to brace herself before hitting the cold floor hard, pain radiating through her limbs. Liam, however, just looked down at her with a twisted grin, laughing like she was nothing more than a ridiculous joke. “You’d better learn fast,” he sneered. “And leave your hand broken for a few days—feel the pain properly.” “Alright.” Her voice was quiet, submissive. But Liam wasn’t listening. Without another glance, he turned and walked away. As she watched his retreating figure, Yelena felt a deep sense of dread rise in her throat. Liam wasn’t human. He was something far worse. Her future with him would be nothing short of hell.
Yelena had made her stance clear—her loyalty was with Hunter. But instead of being convinced, Hunter let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “You sure your loyalty is to me? Or is it just to money?” His words hit like a slap. Yelena stiffened, feeling the sting of humiliation. It was true. When she had been desperate, with nowhere left to turn, she had thrown herself at Hunter, begging him for help. If she had any other choice, if she hadn’t been pushed into a corner, she would have never given up her pride like that. Lowering her gaze, she spoke with measured calmness. “Mr. Hall, you gave me two hundred thousand dollars. You helped me when no one else did. That makes you my benefactor. And loyalty to one’s benefactor… that’s only right.” She didn’t dare meet his eyes, but her voice was firm. Hunter studied her for a moment before scoffing. “Enough with the useless talk.” His voice was cold and dismissive. “Just go back to Liam’s side and do what you’re suppose
Yelena needed to tell Hunter about this. But before she could finish, Hunter’s cold voice cut through her thoughts. She lowered her head. “This is just how I normally dress. I didn’t deliberately choose my outfit to seduce you, Mr. Hunter. Besides, your brother isn’t even interested in me.” She hesitated before adding, “That two hundred thousand…” Hunter narrowed his eyes. “What are you trying to say?” Seeing his growing impatience, Yelena clenched her fists, still looking down. “I mean exactly what I said. Any normal man wouldn’t turn down a woman who willingly throws herself at him. That night, Liam clearly said he would take me somewhere else… but when we got there, he never touched me. Ever since then, he treats me like I don’t even exist—like I’m nothing but air.” Hunter’s expression darkened instantly. “Are you implying something?” The implication in Yelena’s words was clear. She had just suggested that any normal man wouldn’t refuse a willing woman.