Nash gave her butt a sharp slap with his hand. A searing pain. "It seems you haven't learned your lesson yet!" Nash's voice was cold.After a while, Nina could not bear his torment any longer. She was still too tender, and soft pleas escaped her lips, "Stop... please... please, spare me..."Nash observed Nina, limp and delicate on the table. Her disheveled hair framed her flushed cheeks while small beads of sweat glistened on her forehead. Her blouse hung loosely around her waist, her stockings ripped off, and her skirt pushed up to her thighs. Tears flowed continuously down her cheeks, her nose red from crying and her sobs making her look like a pitiful little thing being bullied.He could not bear it either, gathering her up in his arms and sitting her down. Nina's mind was now clouded. Her cries were too intense, making her throat hoarse and her vision blurry. She was like a broken doll in Nash's arms, devoid of resistance.Then, Nash dressed her, cradling her in his arms. All t
He was curious about this man named Zac. What kind of magic had made her hold onto him for so many years? What if this man was not good? Would it make her give up, stop thinking about divorcing him altogether?---Nina had a nightmare, where she found herself bound hand and foot, locked in a cage, completely becoming a bird in captivity. There was no one around, and no one cared about her. She struggled in the darkness but could not break free from the chains. Waking up from the nightmare, she was panting slightly, her face covered in cold sweat. Sitting up, she touched her face, calmed down for a while, then looked around. She found herself in a strange place. The room was heated, she was covered in a thin down comforter, and she was wearing a camisole dress, exactly like the one in her dream. This made Nina panic, wondering if she was really locked up. She hurriedly got out of bed and ran to the door. Opening it, everything here was unfamiliar, she had never been here before.
She did not know what Nash was up to. But she did not want to sit around here and wait for doom either. A caged bird was not her style. She was not willing.Nash looked at her, noticing her emotional turmoil and her heightened caution and wariness towards him Frowning, he said, "Nina, get this straight. You're my wife in name. How can you call yourself a pet? Being with me is perfectly normal."They had been together like this before, and she had never been this agitated. What could have changed her? He could not figure it out either.Nina gripped the bedsheet tighter and asked, "When are we going to the district court to get divorced?""Are you in a hurry?" "Yes," Nina said firmly. "When we set a date, we shouldn't keep delaying it. Do you understand?"Nash's deep gaze locked onto her. Her words had no hint of warmth. She was not the same Nina as before. Now she just wanted to escape from him, which inevitably made him wonder, "Is it because of that guy called Zac?"Nina hesit
He suddenly changed his tone, his voice deep and calm. "You don't have to say anything. Just stop talking about divorce and stay put here honestly!" Nina was taken aback. How could he say such a thing? Her emotions flared up. "Nash, what do you mean?" "Be good," Nash said softly, with a hint of indulgence, as he stroked her hair. "You haven't eaten yet, are you hungry? I've asked the helpers to prepare your favorite meal. Go downstairs and eat." Nina was surprised that he was not buying into her expectations. She wondered if she had misjudged Nash or if she simply did not know him well enough. She had expected him to explode, unable to tolerate the thought of her loving someone else, and immediately divorce her. After all, they both had their own loves. But he preferred to confine her rather than divorce. Nina was anxious. She wanted a divorce, not to continue staying by his side. "Nash, why don't you want a divorce? Tell me, what needs to happen for us to get divorced?" Na
"No need. Food tastes the same no matter who cooks it, and it's all good. I'm just a bit hungry today, so I ate more than usual," Nina did not want him to fuss over her so much. Putting too much focus on her was not good. The more effort one puts in, the deeper the cost might be."I'm tired, can I go rest now?" Nina asked."Mm," Nash softly replied.Nina finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurried upstairs. Tomorrow, she could go to the company and maybe she would not have to stay here anymore. After work, she could go home. Back in the room, Nina relaxed, but unexpectedly, Nash followed right behind her. Seeing the door open, Nina stepped back and asked, "Why are you coming in too?""This is the master bedroom, if I don't come here, where else can I go?" Nash said matter-of-factly.Nina said, "Then I'll go to the guest room."She tried to leave, but Nash grabbed her hand, looking at her as he said, "Do you need to avoid me like this now? We've been together for so long,
Her actions were too intense, which made Nash could not help but feel puzzled. "What's wrong?" he asked.Nina was a bit flustered, her hand instinctively caressing her stomach. Had her stomach gotten slightly bigger? It was not time for that yet.As Nina locked eyes with Nash, she saw his suspicious gaze upon her, which made her even more nervous. She said, "Maybe I ate too much. I want to sleep early. Let's go to bed."After speaking, Nina lay down, closing her eyes, not wanting to face Nash's questioning.Nash looked at her, then glanced at her voluptuous figure. Indeed, she looked much better than before when she was thinner. But Nina's reaction was significant, casting doubt on him again.Nina had become different from before. But now, she was different in too many ways. For instance, she was not as devoted to him, wanted a divorce, and even considered quitting her job.It seemed like, in the blink of an eye, she had changed completely. It was really something he was not used
Nina glanced sideways.On the notebook, there was a note about a white T-shirt. She had not remembered wrong. It was his simplest attire back then, full of youthful vigor. Why would she have it noted in her notebook? The notebook had been around for some time, maybe she had not had the chance to cross it out."Nina?" Serene noticed Nina's absent-minded look and called out to her.Nina snapped back to reality, lips curling into a slight smile. "Cross it out, I remembered wrong.""Okay," Serene replied.She thought, how could someone like Mr. York, who dominated the business world, have a habit of wearing a white T-shirt?Serene was a recent graduate, but she had a strong ability to learn. Nina thought she was very suitable for Nash.She found the right assistant for Nash. Now that she had found the right one for him, he should finally be willing to let her go.She sat at her desk, lost in thought.Serene noticed her gaze and asked, "Nina, are you feeling unwell?"Nina smiled w
Nash gestured towards the group, "So according to you all, I need the approval of you high-level executives to hire a new employee?""We didn't say that."From the back, Serene heard Nash mention her and spoke up amidst the silence, "Hello everyone, I'm the new employee, Serene. It's a pleasure to meet all the high-level executives."Their gaze turned to Serene with confusion. They were still wondering where this girl had come from and what gave her the right to speak?Seeing them look at her, Serene became bolder and continued to defend her stance, "Mr. York is the leader here and his call for this meeting is a gesture of respect to all. But let's not forget, the ultimate decision-making power lies with Mr. York. His intentions are consistently geared toward the company's benefit. If you're on Mr. York's team, it's because you recognize his capabilities. So why cast doubt on his actions? Could it be that you're having second thoughts?"At her words, Nash narrowed his eyes. Serene
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,