Nash furrowed his brows, striding towards her. "You're overthinking it. Linda brought this upon herself; it has nothing to do with you. Why do you want to make yourself miserable?"Miranda quietly pinched her palm, lowering her head, murmuring, "That's a real human life. I saw it, I can't just pretend I didn't see anything... Nash, life is so fragile!""Everything has its cause and effect. If you keep this up, I'll have to find you a psychologist." Nash stood not far from her with his 1.88-meter height looming over her. His gaze conveyed a coldness with a hint of detachment.Miranda became anxious with her voice breaking, "Nash, please, don't. Don't find a psychologist. If you do, what about the film I'm shooting? How could a film crew possibly accept someone who's crazy? I can't sing the way I used to anymore, I don't want to lose this one chance to be in the spotlight, I beg you..."Miranda half-knelt on the sickbed, reaching out to grab Nash's wrist.Her voice grew more choked
The next moment, Caleb was already on his feet. Approaching Nash, he extended his hand in a gesture to check Nash. Nash, with a look of disdain, dodged his hand. "Find a reliable psychologist for Miranda," he said. As soon as Caleb heard it was related to Miranda, his expression darkened."Bro, you've been married for three years already! Doing this, aren't you worried Nina might misunderstand?" Nash responded lightly, "Just lending a hand." He had always maintained a distance between himself and Miranda. Caleb did not believe it. He sneered, "In a marital relationship, it all starts with lending a hand. Once married, it's destiny. Cherish it!" Caleb patted Nash's shoulder.This time, he spoke a bit too much. Nash gave a faint "Hmm" in response, his expression aloof. Since he had come and spoken, Caleb could not refuse to help. While Caleb was making contacts, Nash kept his eyes on his phone screen. But not a single message popped up on his phone. Meanwhile, Nina had been
Nash did not let any of it bother him. A cold, mocking smile flickered across his lips. "Temporary kindness can't erase past grievances." With that remark, he did not even look back at her as he walked past her and headed upstairs. Sally's face turned livid with anger.If things continued this way, Nina would take over as the lady of the house.Nina not only had the favor of Nash's grandfather but also now had Nash's support.No, this could not be allowed to happen!Instantly, a determined gleam flashed in Sally's eyes.--Nina had already arrived at Yvonne's apartment. Yvonne could immediately see the look on Nina's face, distracted and troubled. "If you’re already divorced, then you need to ease your mind. It's just a temporary effect, you have to learn to let go. If you’re not divorced yet, then you need to think about how to end this marriage."Yvonne led Nina to the sofa and then opened the takeout box. She had not eaten much for dinner as there were some incidents at t
"Other than here, Nina has nowhere else to go," Nash's voice carried a firmness, even a hint of coldness.She sat up abruptly, only to realize that it was already dawn.Yvonne's mocking voice chimed in again, "Nash, don't you think what you just said is ridiculous?"This was not a dream. Nash had indeed arrived.She got out of bed and walked out of the room, only to find Nash and Yvonne standing face to face in the living room. Nash was wearing a smoke-gray shirt today. Yvonne, being only five foot four, stood half a head shorter than Nash."Nash, if you're here to fulfill what I want, then I'll go with you," Nina pursed her lips and spoke, stepping towards Nash one step at a time.Both Nash and Yvonne looked at her simultaneously.Nash noticed her pajamas, and the cartoon pattern made him frown. Nina had never worn this type of clothing before. Additionally, her long hair cascaded naturally down both sides of her shoulders, and with no makeup on her face, she emanated a lazy vi
He could be gentle, he could be cruel but he never brought up divorce. Nina wanted to pull away, but he tightened his grip even more. "Nina, don't be silly."Nina felt even worse. "How is it silly for me to want some clarity? If you and your mother share the same mindset, then I can return the two million to you.""Nina, do you even have two million?" Nash did not believe her. At that moment, the car was moving slowly. The central locking system was engaged, and the doors could not be opened. Nina said hoarsely, "No, I don't, but I can earn it."Nash chuckled lightly. "And how do you plan to do that? If you leave the York family, who do you think will hire you? How much do you plan to pay me back each month?" Before Nina could respond, Nash continued to laugh, "How long do you plan to take to repay this two million?"Nina fell silent. She had not considered all this yet. But now that Nash brought it up, she could take on part-time jobs, borrow some money from Yvonne, work as a
Nina asked quietly, "If I must ensure your happiness, appease your mom, and prevent your aunt from feeling disappointed, then what about me?"Nash responded somewhat resentfully, "Nina, don't forget, it was you who told Grandpa that you wanted to marry me."Nina recalled the promise of two million and the shares. Her head throbbed, and it felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her heart fiercely. For a moment, she struggled to breathe. She did not want to discuss these matters with Nash anymore. Leaning against the car window, she closed her eyes.Nash remained silent, assuming she was tired. Before long, the driver parked the car at the entrance of Riverview Estate.Initially, Nash had not planned to wake her up, thinking she could rest a while longer. Surprisingly, Nina pushed open the car door. Observing her steady steps, Nash suddenly realized she was not tired; she just did not want to face him.He pursed his lips, following her. "You head in first. If everything's fine, w
Although Zoe was of a certain age, she liked being addressed as "Miss York" just like the younger folks.Watching his aunt lead Nina away, Nash opted to adhere to the rules and donned a silver-white metallic mask.By the time he entered, Zoe had already taken Nina to the second floor of the lobby. From this vantage point, one could overlook the entire scene of the ground floor, although outsiders could not see inside.There were many people at the dance, all dressed in their finery, with the youngsters showcasing their enviable figures.Nina did not understand the purpose of Zoe hosting such a dance."Have some juice. Tonight, I can help you test that stinky kid, Nash," Zoe pushed a glass of juice toward Nina, her smile sly.Although Nash claimed that he married Nina for the shares their grandfather promised, Zoe did not believe that there was no affection between them after three years of marriage.Nina hastily grabbed Zoe's hand. "Zoe, please don't try. I've been swamped with
Nash and Nina were both drawn to this voice. They saw a girl in a long pink dress. She was tall with fair skin, hair elegantly pinned up, and adorned with jewels. She was running towards Nash while holding up her skirt. She wore a silver-white mask similar to the one on Nash's face.Most notably, there was a significant height difference between them when the girl reached Nash. Recognizing him even with his mask on indicated a strong familiarity."Who are you?" Nash frowned. He was certain this girl was not Nina. He had no idea what tricks his aunt was up to, and he was unaware that Nina was watching everything.The girl smiled, lifting the corners of her mouth. "Nash, never mind who I am. Can I invite you to dance now? Since my aunt hosted tonight's event, I should make good use of this opportunity, shouldn't I?"The girl's reference to "aunt" piqued the curiosity of Nash and Nina. Who exactly was this girl?Nash coldly declined her offer, "I don't accept invitations from strange
The Stone family wasn’t just greedy. They were relentless, always pushing boundaries and expecting more.Karina sighed. “It’s not that I can’t stand up to them, but sometimes it feels unnecessary. There are things that just can’t be explained.”Wilfred didn’t press further. “Pack your things and come with me. I have to travel for a project negotiation that will help our hospital continue expanding.” He was determined to firmly establish himself in Birkham, not just for his professional ambitions but also because Nina was there. Wilfred wanted to protect her and mentor his students, ensuring they could safeguard Nina’s children in the future. “But didn’t we already promise a patient that we’d perform surgery?” Karina asked, a little hesitant. “I’ll arrange for someone else to handle it.” While Karina might have been the better choice for the surgery, Wilfred had other options, including pulling Caleb in at the last minute. “Alright,” Karina replied. Since Wilfred had
Sera blocked Karina’s path, her expression cold and disdainful. “You think you can just use that money to brush me off? Do I look like someone who needs your measly cash?”She grabbed Karina’s arm tightly, her nails biting into her skin. “Let me make this clear. If you don’t do what I’ve asked, I’ll ruin you, Karina. Completely.”Karina’s fear was palpable, but the thought of endless torment and manipulation was even more terrifying. She met Sera’s fierce gaze with a calm, unyielding stare. “Do whatever you want. But let me remind you, the money you gave me? I’m willing to go down with you if it comes to that. My life might not be worth much, but you’ve worked so hard to get into Wilfred’s hospital. Are you really willing to throw that all away?”Sera faltered. She had worked incredibly hard to get where she was. Countless sleepless nights studying, memorizing every detail of her medical texts, and enduring the challenges of difficult patients had pushed her to the brink. She often
Sera’s gaze was so sharp it felt like it could pierce through Karina. Karina hadn’t expected her momentary greed to create such a mess. If she couldn’t stay a doctor, she would have no source of income, and her life would spiral further out of control. “Please, don’t do this. Tell me what you want, and I’ll keep helping you. Maybe… I could spike his drink for you again, or set up another opportunity,” Karina said, grabbing Sera’s hand out of desperation. Sera clearly wasn’t short on money. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to give Karina such a large sum back then.All she wanted now was to secure her position at the hospital.Sera pulled her hand away, a mocking smile on her face. “Set up another opportunity? Do you think Wilfred would fall for it twice? Do you take him for an idiot, Dr. Norman?” Wilfred wasn’t an idiot, and ordinary drugs didn’t seem to affect him much.Karina felt utterly helpless. One wrong step had led to another, and now she had no idea how to
“Starting today, you’ll officially resume your position as my assistant. I trust you’ll adapt quickly,” Wilfred said firmly. Karina’s eyes lit up with a hint of surprise. “Dr. Wilfred, really? I’ll do my best to fulfill the responsibilities of the assistant role.” Wilfred stood up and walked over to her, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Familiarize yourself with the current work schedule and the relevant materials. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me. I have confidence in you.” Karina hesitated, a trace of worry crossing her face. “But… I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Wilfred already had an assistant. If Karina agreed to take the position, wouldn’t that make her a target for trouble from his former assistant? And then there were all the people at the hospital who were infatuated with Wilfred. Lately, she had already been spending more time with him, drawing enough attention as it was. If she officially became his assistant, she’d surely
Back home, the first thing Karina did was take a shower, cranking the water temperature to the highest setting as if that was the only way to wash away the grim memories of the night.She scrubbed her arms fiercely, the spots where those repulsive men had touched her. Even through her clothes, the thought made her feel sick. Again and again, she lathered herself with soap until her skin turned slightly red, but no matter how hard she tried, the discomfort in her heart lingered.After her shower, Karina changed into clean pajamas and sat on the edge of her bed, unable to sleep. Her gaze fell on her phone. She hesitated for a moment before sending a text to Wilfred.“Dr. Wilfred, I’m truly grateful for your help tonight. I’ll never forget it.”After sending the message, she set her phone down, hugged her knees, and curled up on the bed. Returning to the hospital had always been her dream, but now she worried whether she could truly meet expectations and not let Wilfred down.As she
The men exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating for a moment before reluctantly mumbling, “Sorry,” to Karina. Wilfred watched their retreating figures with thinly veiled disgust. Turning to Karina, he asked gently, “Are you okay?” Karina shook her head lightly, brushing it off. “I’m fine, Dr. Wilfred. Thank you.” Wilfred let out a soft sigh. “Come with me. You shouldn’t be working here.” Karina nodded, following him out of the private room. Wilfred guided Karina through the bustling bar. The pounding music and chaotic chatter seemed distant and muted, fading into the background as they moved. They made their way to the parking lot, where Wilfred opened the car door, carefully helping Karina into the passenger seat before getting in himself and starting the engine. As Karina buckled her seatbelt, she turned to Wilfred with a look of curiosity. “Dr. Wilfred, didn’t you say you had things to handle at the hospital? How did you get here so quickly?” Wilfred kept his ey
When Karina stepped into the room, one of the men, his gaze hazy from drink, chuckled and said, “Well, so this is the beauty they sent over?”Karina forced herself to stay calm and replied politely, “Good evening, gentlemen. Here’s the drinks you ordered.” She began placing the drinks on the table one by one, hoping to finish quickly. Before she could finish, another man grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him. “Come, have a few drinks with us, sweetheart.”Karina’s heart raced as she pulled her hand away with force. “Sir, I’m just here to deliver your drinks. I don’t entertain guests.”The men burst into laughter. “What bar do you think you’re in? There’s no such thing as not entertaining here. Don’t play coy, sweetheart. Sit with us, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely.”Fear surged through Karina as she instinctively stepped back, trying to maintain some distance. “I’m really just here for work,” she said, her voice trembling. “Please respect me!”But the men, emboldened
The woman leaned closer to Karina, lowering her voice. “You ruined my fun. The manager and I were having a great time, and you interrupted us. You need to make it up to me.”Karina’s frustration flared. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. The door wasn’t fully closed, and I was only there to talk about resigning.”But the woman wasn’t about to let it go. “I don’t care. You need to make it up to me. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your night will go smoothly or that you’ll get to leave this job without issues.”Anger surged through Karina. “You’re being unreasonable! I didn’t do anything wrong!”The woman sneered. “In this bar, what I say goes. If you don’t cooperate, I have plenty of ways to make sure you can’t stay.”Karina knew arguing with her in this chaotic environment would only make things worse. But the idea of being bullied like this made her seethe. Taking a deep breath, she tried to stay calm. “What do you want me to do?”The woman’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “It’s simple. Ha
A strikingly glamorous woman sat perched on the manager’s lap, the two locked in a tight embrace, passionately kissing. The scene was nothing short of intimate, their connection palpable.Karina stood awkwardly at the door, caught between stepping in and retreating. She coughed lightly, trying to get their attention.Hearing the sound, the manager gently pushed the woman aside and turned toward the door. His expression showed no embarrassment; instead, he appeared slightly annoyed. “Karina, why didn’t you knock before coming in?”Karina forced a smile, her discomfort evident. “The door wasn’t fully closed. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m here to talk about resigning.”The manager adjusted his clothes, gesturing for the woman to sit aside. He raised his brows slightly. “Resign? Why the sudden decision to quit?”Karina bit her lip nervously. “It’s for personal reasons. I really can’t continue working here.”The manager leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. A f