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
Why did Sue set her sights on Nash? Sue emerged with her elbow scraped and tears streaming down her face. Fearful of being mocked by Nina, she hurried away. Nina watched her silhouette and furrowed her brows once more. Then, she turned to Nash. His expression had not softened as he coldly stared at her. "Your cousin was trying to seduce me, didn't you see?" Nina calmly replied, "I saw." Her response darkened Nash's face further. "No reaction?" he asked. Nina didn't understand, "What reaction do you need?" Nash's face grew even colder. He observed that Nina never reacted when any woman tried to seduce him. She didn't get angry or upset, not even shedding a tear. But this annoyed him greatly. She never felt jealous.After a moment, Nina added, "I was surprised to see Sue act like that, but now I understand. She never liked me and wanted to retaliate. I'm sorry for the trouble she's caused you." "Is that all?" Nash stared at her. "Yes," she replied.Nash's gaze turned icy,
"I'm considering your best interests!" Lily's mother said sternly. "Xander just can't compare to his older brother! Money rules over everything else. Look at how glorious Nina is. She's praised by so many. The moment her name is mentioned, everyone knows how outstanding she is. And how about your daughter? Even if she marries an old man, as long as he's wealthy, she'll never have to worry for the rest of her life!""Mom!" Lily disagreed. "I'm not as materialistic as you. You're obsessed with money. Everyone says I'm petty. I know who I resemble now—it's you. You're the one who's led me down this path, and now you want my daughter to follow in my footsteps!""How can you say that? What's wrong with that?" Lily's mother retorted angrily."Fine, fine, fine! I'm useless then. If that's what you think, then go on, go find your son. Stop bothering me, your daughter!" Lily's heart turned cold. She couldn't understand why she had a mother like this.Nina heard everything from outside the d
Nina knew very well that this person had contact with them all. After Lily vented her emotions, she calmly asked, "At the scene where Xander abducted me that day, there was another person, a woman. She didn't want me to recognize her, so she altered her voice. You framed me. I already know someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes. Another person was present during my abduction, and I suspect it's the same person. To uncover who killed Xander, we have to rely on your identification!""Nonsense, pure nonsense, it's impossible!" Lily didn't believe it. "You're just trying to absolve yourself and lessen your guilt!"Lily's refusal to accept reality was evident. She couldn't bear to admit that Nina's kidnapping led to this dire situation. Instead, she shifted all blame onto Nina, absolving themselves of any responsibility.Nina's words were clear: "Think carefully for yourself. Is Xander's death worth it? If not, tell me who that woman is. I won't let her off the hook!"These w
Ben would never believe the truth, and his mother would never allow Charlie’s existence. Instead of creating chaos and an irreparable fallout, Jamie chose to keep it hidden. She thought that once Ben’s anger subsided, he would eventually let her go.“Even if you figure out who the father is, what difference does it make?” Jamie met Ben’s intense gaze calmly. “We’ve already said everything that needed to be said. Can’t we stop making each other’s lives miserable?”"Your mother offered so much money. Why wouldn’t I take it? I’m not a fool. I gave you up for one million before. After these past four years, do you really think there’s any love left between us? Do you honestly expect me to cry and beg for you?”Jamie’s voice was steady as she stared calmly at Ben. She had been scared at first, but over time, she had come to terms with her reality. Ben wasn’t going to kill her. And as long as she stayed alive, there would eventually come a day when he’d let her go. Right now, his anger wa
The next second, there was only silence on the phone.Ben sent the phone number to his assistant. “Investigate thoroughly.”A thought suddenly struck him. He couldn't let Jamie continue to roam freely outside.*Four days later, Ben's mother came to visit. “You refuse to take over the family business, and now you're going against me by keeping Jamie around again?”Ben didn’t respond, but her anger only grew. “Ben, you’ve seen for yourself what kind of person Jamie is. Why are you still so obsessed with her? The fiancée I arranged for you is far better than the one you’ve chosen!”The Larson family was also one of the prominent families in Birkham. While the Lucas and Larson families couldn’t rival the York family, the Lucas family still held its position as the second most influential family in the city. On top of that, they were relatives of the Scott Lucas. Even Scott, who had initially resisted marriage, eventually followed his parents’ wishes and entered into a family
Jamie closed her eyes briefly, sinking further into despair. She didn’t even notice when Ben had left the room. Her thoughts were scattered, her mind drifting in and out of focus.Though she wanted to leave the hospital, she was constantly watched, making it impossible. By afternoon, a nurse came in to change her dressing.Jamie glanced up absentmindedly. “It’s fine. I don’t need it.”“This is under Dr. Lawson’s direct orders,” the nurse replied gently but firmly. “I can’t afford to cut corners. Since you’re still admitted, please cooperate.”Jamie lifted her gaze slightly, her tone subdued. “I’d like to get some fresh air.”“Of course, once we’re done changing your dressing, I can take you outside. Just make sure not to strain your muscles,” the nurse said patiently.The weather was exceptionally pleasant that day. As she sat in the wheelchair outside, Jamie made several calls to Winnie. The phone was still off, as if Winnie had made up her mind to disappear completely from her
“You're the patient, and I'm the doctor. Taking care of you is my job,” Jay said with a light smile, handing her the utensils. “Go ahead, try it.”Jamie was indeed hungry. She hadn’t felt like eating, but she couldn’t refuse his gesture. Besides, she needed to regain her strength quickly if she hoped to find Charlie. She picked up the utensils and was just about to take a bite when footsteps sounded outside the room. The door swung open, revealing Ben. His expression darkened instantly, his face stormy as he took in the scene before him. “So, Dr. Lawson, is this how you treat all your patients, or is this a special case?” Ben’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Just giving an old classmate some extra care. What’s the harm in that?” Jay replied, his words laced with subtle defiance. The room's atmosphere froze, tension thick in the air. Ben’s sharp gaze flickered between Jamie and Jay before finally settling on Jamie’s pale face, his expression unreadable. Jamie, sensing th
“Wake up, Charlie.” Winnie held him tightly, panic overwhelming her. She wanted to take him away, not harm him! Just then, the sound of a car pulling up broke through the darkness. Footsteps approached, slow and deliberate. A tall man emerged from the shadows and stopped in front of her. Tears streaming down her face, Winnie looked up. The man’s sharp, angular features were obscured by the dim light, adding to his air of mystery. But she immediately recognized him. It was the same man who had told her the truth about Jack Green being Ben Lucas. Winnie glared at him with fierce determination. “Why are you here? Are you happy now that things have come to this?” “You foolish woman, do you think being deceived feels any better?” the mysterious man sneered. “The truth is nothing but a bloody wound. I’d rather…” Winnie’s voice faltered, unable to continue. “Stop lying to yourself,” the man said with a slight shake of his head. “What do you want?” Winnie asked
Jamie couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath. “Stop pretending.” Ben's harsh words cut through the air, as cold and unrelenting as ever. Jamie couldn’t straighten up for a long moment. She gritted her teeth, determined to ignore the pain radiating from her wound, spreading like fire through her body. Sweat dripped from her forehead onto the pale hospital bed, leaving tiny dark stains. “I don’t need to play games with you,” she said finally, her voice frail but resolute. “It wouldn’t work, and I don’t want to. I just want my child back.” Ben’s sharp gaze faltered for a moment before he replied in a cold tone, “Focus on recovering first.” With that, he turned and left the room. Jamie slumped against the edge of the bed, exhausted and broken. *Meanwhile, Winnie drove aimlessly, following random road signs, unaware of where she was heading. The road grew increasingly desolate, with the sun sinking below the horizon and barely a soul in sight. “Where are we, Aunt
Perhaps due to her injuries, Jamie couldn’t muster much strength, and her resistance felt as feeble as a kitten pawing at someone.Jay gently guided her back to the hospital bed. While examining her injuries, his expression turned serious. “All these years, I’ve attended every class reunion, but I’ve never seen you. Did you move abroad?” Jamie shook her head slightly. “Life’s been messy. Nothing worth mentioning.” “If there’s anything troubling you, tell me. Maybe this old classmate can help,” Jay said softly, his eyes full of concern. Though time had barely left its mark on her face, her eyes carried a deep weariness, dulling the radiance she once had. It was clear she had endured more than her fair share of hardships over the years. Jamie remained silent for a moment before shaking her head again. “I’m fine, Jay.” Instinctively, he asked, “So, did you become a lawyer?” The question hit her like a sharp sting. Her lips trembled for a second before she forced a weak
Jamie bit her lip tightly, her face pale as paper from blood loss. A mocking smile played on her lips. “Don’t worry, Ben. I know my place. How could someone like me possibly hurt someone like you?” Ben felt a heavy weight settle in his chest, as if a boulder had lodged itself there. It was neither something he could expel nor swallow. His dark, piercing eyes glinted with cold, unrelenting anger. “Jamie, you never fail to impress me,” he said, his voice dripping with icy sarcasm. Mrs. Lucas, watching their verbal sparring with satisfaction, chimed in, her tone sharp. “This woman would throw you away for the smallest gain. Why waste your energy on her?” “Enough,” Ben snapped, his voice even and calm, though his gaze burned with quiet fury. It was as if the exchange hadn’t phased him at all. “No need to give her any more money. She’s not worth it.” His cold, piercing stare lingered on Jamie, making her breath hitch. Mrs. Lucas couldn’t contain her glee. “Good. Now that yo
Jamie forced herself to swallow the rising pain in her chest. If cutting Ben off completely was the only way to make him give up, then so be it.A million dollars...For Ben, whether as the alias "Jack Green" or as his true self, money had never been an issue. His mother had made sure he never lacked anything. However, Jamie’s single remark, sharp and calculated, cut straight to the heart of their relationship. It reduced everything they had shared to something insignificant and transactional.Ben’s expression turned grim, his dark eyes filled with anguish and anger. “Jamie, if you needed money, you could’ve just asked me. Winning me over would’ve gotten you more than a million. Was it really worth it?”There was a deep sadness in his voice, almost as if he was pleading for her to lie to him, just to make him feel wanted. Jamie could feel the weight of his words, the memories of his kindness clawing at her heart. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say a word,