This incident became a sensitive topic in their conversations, creating a jealousy instead of blame. Among these individuals, Nina's family fared the best. They were ordinary people with no chance of marrying into wealth and had never even seen a wealthy household before. The success of Nina's family made others feel uneasy.Why should they share the same last name, "Walker," when their statuses were so different?"That's right! Our Walker family's family tree can't accommodate someone as important as you!" Zion had grown used to these rumors over the years, but he didn't want Xander's spirit to be affected by them. Zion exclaimed, "We never had such intentions. You're all speaking nonsense without knowing the truth! I don't want to argue with you. We're here today to pay our respects to my brother. Spare us your gossip!""Get out! We don't want you here. We don't need your prayers!" Lily shouted, "Your family are all guilty parties!"They forcefully pushed them out. "You should
The crowd instantly fell silent, their attention drawn to the voice's source. A few cars were parked in the background, and a tall, noticeable figure approached. He wore a black-grey suit and had a stern demeanor. His sharp, serious eyes emitted an aloof aura, causing people to be cautious yet respectful, keeping their distance. They made way for him as he walked through. Nina turned around, feeling somewhat startled. How had he also ended up here? The tension eased as she released the water hose from her grip. After a few seconds of silence, someone angrily questioned, "Who do you think you are, interfering in the Walker family's business?" Nash's piercing gaze fixated on the individual, who felt a shiver run down their spine under the pressure. Nash's voice turned cold as he replied, "I am Nina's husband. Do you think I have the rights to speak?" "Husband?" they exclaimed in astonishment, curiosity piqued. "That means he comes from a wealthy family." Numerous luxury car
It had been a while since she last stayed there, but the place was regularly cleaned. Zion and Julia were grateful people, despite knowing that their marriage was over, they still made Nina thank Nash.Nash sat in the living room. Nina poured him a glass of water, "My parents said to thank you.""No need to be polite."Nina sat beside him and teased, "I couldn't make them believe me no matter how hard I tried, but a few words from you and they believed. Am I just weak? Why do they believe you instead of me?"She couldn't understand. Even though she could handle it herself, in the end, it was Nash who resolved it. Nash sipped his glass of warm water, his expression unchanged as Nina spoke. He responded casually, "You need to understand one thing: human nature is ugly, especially among your relatives. They magnify your flaws while turning a blind eye to your strengths. Don't sympathize with those who deserve none. The more people dislike you, the more miserable their lives tend to
Upon hearing Nash's words, Nina felt no need to hide any longer and replied, "Grandpa Henry, I am already married. You don't need to find suitors for me."Grandpa Henry was delighted. Before Mr. Walker Sr. passed away, Nina was still a student. Now, seeing her married, he could not help but size up Nash. He smiled and said, "Handsome and talented, a rare gem among men. Clearly, Nina has excellent taste!"Grandpa Henry continued, expressing his concern for their marriage, "You two must cherish each other and your marriage. Meeting is fate, staying together is even more precious. Cherish it!" Nash's lips curled slightly upwards upon hearing this. Nina chose to listen patiently, not interrupting Grandpa Henry's words.As they were about to have dinner together, Grandpa Henry sighed, "This Xander, it's a good thing Mr. Walker Sr. passed away. If he found out, it would've been infuriating!" He had watched Xander grow up and seeing him change so drastically, he couldn't help but feel
Nina took the glass of water and responded lightly. "He is so thoughtful, always thinking of his wife!" To others, their small gestures seemed like banter and teasing, which made Nina feel a bit uncomfortable.Nash raised his glass and chuckled, "Of course, I have to spoil my own wife.""Oh my, you truly are the best. If my husband had even half your thoughtfulness, we wouldn't be arguing every day!"They laughed heartily. Nina didn't say much, as Nash had already saved face for her. In the eyes of others, she was married into a wealthy family, with a considerate husband, making many envious.Nina was a bit puzzled and asked, "Earlier, these relatives were all cold towards me, but suddenly they became so enthusiastic. Did you secretly do something?"Nash was skilled at dealing with relatives and might have exchanged some pleasantries. "Nothing much, just a little favor," he replied.No wonder. That explained why everyone found him so likable. People tend to become more enthus
"It's not just me saying this; it's the truth! I've heard it. Nina became a secretary even before she graduated. Opportunity favors those who are near, how could she not marry into a wealthy family? She's just clever, unlike you all. What can Sue do now? She doesn't even have a job, and her reputation is so bad. What kind of future can she have?" Lily's mother's words were sharp and hurtful to Sue. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at her grandmother. "Grandma, am I still your granddaughter? How can you say I'm not as good as Nina!"With that, Sue ran out crying.Lily was worried and called after her, "Sue, Sue!"Then she turned to her mother. "Mom, how could you say such things in front of Sue? Are you trying to make our lives miserable?""I said that to motivate you. Some things need to be fought for. As long as life is good, anything goes!" Lily's mother sipped her tea, utterly unconcerned about Sue's well-being.Sue ran to the edge of a small river, grabbed a stone,
The room had been tidied up, appearing neat and clean. However, it lacked vitality and had a faint musty smell due to being unoccupied for a long time. Nina opened all the windows to freshen the air and retrieved the blankets from the cupboard."If you're tired, feel free to rest here for a while," she said.Nash sat on the sofa, closed his eyes, and emitted a slight scent of alcohol. Nina noticed his silence, a clear sign of fatigue. She intentionally organized everything, hoping he would rest on the bed. Nash furrowed his brows and nodded. "Alright," he said.Nina did not say anything more and turned to go downstairs to the kitchen. There were not many household items in the house, and she suspected there was no hangover remedy available. She needed to go out for a while.At that moment, Sue was surveying the area and happened to spot Nina leaving. She knew Nash was upstairs, having consumed a considerable amount of alcohol with relatives and friends. This was the perfect opportu
But suddenly, there was a cold voice in her ear. "Do you know that I’m your cousin-in-law?" Sue's body stiffened, and she looked up to see Nash staring at her with icy eyes. There was no trace of normal male desire in his eyes, just coldness, as if she were performing a solo act. It sent shivers down her spine. Sue tightened her grip on her hands, trying to compose herself, her tone becoming soft, "Of course, I know you're my cousin-in-law."Nash frowned. Seeing this, Sue offered eagerly, "Nash, are you having a headache? Let me massage it for you." She was about to reach out when Nash said, neither cold nor warm, "Since you know I'm your cousin-in-law, shouldn't you know your boundaries?" Sue saw him distant, showing no interest in her whatsoever.How could that be? What man wouldn't like a young and beautiful woman? Sue forced a smile, "Nash, I just want to help you. Since my cousin isn't home, I'll do it. I'm even more considerate than my cousin." Her words carried a hint
But instead of feeling touched, Vera’s first reaction was nausea. A wave of discomfort surged up from her stomach, and Vera’s face paled. She bolted for the bathroom. Caleb followed quickly. “Are you feeling sick?” “I don’t think so. I’ve been eating normally—nothing too heavy or weird lately.” Vera clutched her stomach, just as confused as he was. Then, a possibility flashed through her mind. Caleb clearly had the same thought. Without a word, he turned and walked into their bedroom, returning moments later with a pregnancy test. Vera looked at him, stunned. “When did you buy that?” He responded matter-of-factly, “Better safe than sorry.” Vera was momentarily speechless. Five minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. It was positive. They had only been married for three months. How did this happen so fast?Caleb, on the other hand, remained composed—at le
Of course, Vera wasn’t about to dump all her responsibilities on her assistant. That would be exploitation. She called her assistant into her office. “You’re twenty-five this year, right?” Her assistant blinked, confused. Wasn’t her age common knowledge? Why was Vera suddenly bringing it up? A thought struck her. Was this an arranged marriage situation? Her face immediately filled with silent refusal. “Miss Vera, I’m still young. I’m not thinking about marriage anytime soon.” Vera tapped her pen against the desk. “I’m not telling you to get married.” “Oh.” “I just want to offload some of the smaller daily tasks to you. You don’t have to run every minor document by me.”Her assistant instantly understood. A raise. After confirming she was on board, Vera gave her a salary bump and had her hire a few more assistants to distribute the workload. “If I don’t have time to handle everything, you guys will take care of it. If something’s too complicated, jus
Vera could sense danger the moment the conversation turned in this direction. Her father had never questioned her about married life, and she was lucky enough to avoid nosy relatives. But just because she hadn’t experienced it firsthand didn’t mean she hadn’t seen it happen to others. Without hesitation, she abandoned the half-folded pastry in her hands. “I... uh, need to use the restroom.” Before she could escape, Mrs. Smith caught her wrist. “You and Caleb aren’t getting any younger,” she said matter-of-factly. “You should start thinking about kids—make sure you’re putting in the effort, hmm?” Vera left the kitchen visibly drained. Mrs. Smith was a wonderful mother-in-law, the kind who treated Vera like her own daughter. Despite knowing Vera came from a well-off family, she had still gifted them a house as a wedding present. Of course, Caleb already owned a place, but his mother had insisted. “That’s your house. This is the home I’m giving you as a weddi
That undeniable possessiveness flickered in Caleb’s gaze—subtle yet impossible to ignore. It was the kind of look a powerful man might give his beloved in an old Hollywood film. And right now, the photographer felt like the unlucky bystander who had accidentally stumbled upon an intimate scene. His voice wavered slightly, caught up in his own imagination. “Mr. Smith, lift your eyes toward the camera.” Caleb’s sharp gaze flickered over, intense and commanding. The photographer instinctively pressed the shutter. They continued with several more poses, reviewing the shots as they went. Vera loved them all, but her favorite was still the vintage-inspired one. “How long until we get the final prints?” she asked. “Two to three days at most,” the photographer replied. “I’ll have them shipped directly to you.” Then, after a slight pause, he hesitated before making a request. “I actually have a personal favor to ask—would you both be open to letting us displa
Vera was tempted. They had already taken plenty of wedding photos—several sets at the island, more at the wedding itself. But this wasn’t just any photo studio. It was privately booked and known for being one of the most prestigious studios in the city. Appointments here were nearly impossible to get. The fact that Caleb had managed to secure a session meant he had gone to great lengths to make it happen. If they were just going to take ordinary wedding pictures, it would be a waste of an opportunity. Still, she wasn’t sure what kind of shoot she wanted. The photographer, understanding her hesitation, pulled out a sample album. “You can take a look at our past work. These are some of the styles we’ve done.” Flipping through the pages, Vera saw an array of stunning concepts—each picture more breathtaking than the last. Then, one particular set caught her eye. A Golden Age Hollywood theme.It was classic, nostalgic, and beautifully atmospheric. “Ca
After the wedding, Vera considered taking some time off for a honeymoon. But the thought quickly faded when she realized Caleb had been practically living at the hospital. With a sigh, she dismissed the idea. She was used to it, but to say she wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. Her assistant picked up on it. “Mrs. Smith, don’t you want to go on a honeymoon?” she asked one day. “One of my friends just got married, and she’s been obsessively researching destinations. “She even said a marriage without a honeymoon is already half a failure.” Vera froze mid-page, suddenly losing interest in the documents she had been reviewing. Her assistant hesitated, then offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you go visit Dr. Smith at work?“You seem… distracted. Maybe seeing him will help.” Vera snapped out of her daze, suddenly aware of how preoccupied she had been lately. It was embarrassing to admit, but she had been zoning out far too often—especially after coming hom
Whenever they did this in the past, Caleb always maintained some restraint. But tonight—he didn’t hold back at all. He took her from the bedroom to the bathroom, then back to the bed, his searing kisses trailing every inch of her skin. The next morning, even as she woke up, Vera could still feel the lingering traces of last night’s intoxicating pleasure. As expected, she ended up taking the day off. It wasn’t until two days later that she finally returned to work. *Everyone at the company had already prepared for this. The moment Vera walked into the office, she was greeted with knowing smiles and teasing remarks. “Congratulations, Mrs. Smith!” “Newlywed bliss, huh?” “Three whole days off? Someone had a good time.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she had been up to. Obviously, her married life was going exceptionally well—so well that she had completely abandoned work for it. Under the weight of their mischievous stares, Vera barely k
Yelena still hadn’t accepted Hunter, but he wasn’t giving up either and was relentlessly closing in on her. Knowing Yelena’s soft heart, Vera figured it was only a matter of time before she gave in. She let out a sigh. Her friend’s love life wasn’t something she could interfere with. Besides, Caleb had already given her a little inside scoop. “She came to the hospital for a follow-up a few days ago,” he had mentioned casually. “Hunter was the one who brought her.” Vera had clicked her tongue at the news. Yelena always seemed quiet and reserved, but apparently, she was full of surprises.*Time flew by in the blink of an eye.By mid-month, Caleb had rented out an entire vineyard and spent several days transforming it into the perfect wedding venue.When the day arrived, the celebration took place right there.The vineyard was sprawling and elegant, every bit as grand as any luxury hotel—if not better. Even the wine cellar remained untouched, stocked with years-
“Did you plan this from the start?” Vera narrowed her eyes, feeling like she had just walked into a carefully laid trap. “Mm.” Caleb smiled, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Because yes—he had always been planning this. The biggest change in Vera’s life after the island proposal was the ring now sitting on her finger. It wasn’t just any ring. It was custom-made, something Caleb had specially ordered. She only found out by accident when she glanced at his phone one day and saw the purchase record. It had been ordered two months ago. Vera did the math and was stunned. He had been preparing for this long before she even started getting impatient. Her heart swelled with emotion. And as soon as Caleb’s parents heard that their son had finally proposed, they wasted no time pushing them to get the marriage license. *One day, Vera overheard Caleb’s mother lecturing him. “Your dad and I weren’t expecting much from you. With how much ti