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
Nina was dumbfounded, unsure why he had such a sudden strong reaction. "Does this feel better for you?" Nina asked him again.Nash looked into Nina's eyes and realized she did not mean it that way. He slightly pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and replied softly, "Mmm, much better." He knew she was changing the subject, so he did not press further.Nina continued to massage him, feeling her hands getting sore. Hearing Nash's steady breathing, she paused and fetched a thin blanket for him. As she stepped out of the office, she ran into Serene."Nina," Serene instinctively greeted her upon seeing her.Nina entered Nash's office and stayed there for over an hour. Last night at the banquet, Nash smashing a wine bottle over Sean's head made it obvious even to the discerning eye that the relationship between Nash and Nina was far from shallow.Nina nodded and returned to her desk. Yvonne sent her a message: [Have you considered my proposal? Do you want to accept?]Nina replied: [I’ve b
"No, today's meeting is with an important client. Just focus on your job at the company." Nash was the kind of person who remained indifferent to everyone. If he truly disliked someone, in a situation where there were no interests involved, he would not allow that person to appear before him. Seeing Serene's silence, Nina added, "Your focus should be on your job, making sure you excel in your responsibilities, rather than worrying about whether he likes you or not."If he doesn't like you, does that mean you'll lose motivation for your job?" Nina's words were sharp and direct.Serene pondered for a moment. "You're right, I see now. I shouldn't be so anxious."Nina calmly said, "Just focus on your tasks." With that, Serene returned to her workstation. Nash went to meet with the person in charge of Jasper Corporation, so she could freely leave work and visit her parents. However, she did not expect to find Sue and Lily there. This time, the mother and daughter did not display th
Nina's breath caught for a moment. She decided to keep it to herself. "I'm not pregnant, just had too much of the same, wanted to change things up a bit."Her mother cautioned her, "It's best if you're not pregnant. After all, you've made a decision. Being pregnant at this juncture could complicate things."There was more that her mother wanted to say, but Nina's father gave her a meaningful look, urging her, "Nina, eat a little more. When it comes to having a child, you young folks should figure it out on your own.""Okay," Nina nodded. Now that she was pregnant, her appetite had changed, and she felt tired easily. After eating, she soon felt drowsy and was about to go back to her room when Quincy called."Nina, Mr. York got drunk.""Where is he?" Nina could not ignore it."I'm with Serene, sending him to the Riverview Estate."Hearing Serene's name, Nina paused. Nash had gone to meet the person in charge of the Jasper Corporation but he only took Quincy."Okay, I'll be right
As soon as Serene left, Nash’s deep, dark eyes settled intensely on Nina. “Where did you get all these things?”Since it was in a transparent bag, only some packed food items were visible.Nina replied, “I went to my parents’ place.”“Did not run into Scott?” Nash asked somberly.At this moment, there was not a hint of drunkenness about him. It seemed that Serene's learning and execution abilities were truly strong.Nina calmly said, “He has his own matters, we're both not that idle.”With that, Nina carrying two large bags, walked towards the kitchen. Since she was going to stay at Riverside Estate for a while, she did not say much else.After she put away the items and came out, Nash nodded at her, “Come here.”Nina did not want to confront him, so she quickly walked over to him.Nash extended his hand, and the next second, she was pulled into his embrace. A strong smell of alcohol instantly enveloped the surroundings. The scent was extremely unpleasant to Nina.She frowned
Nina, fearing he might take further action, quickly agreed, "Okay."Nash seemed pleased with this, "You’ve been having stomach issues lately but how come you seem to have gained weight?"Nina froze. This was not the first time Nash had brought this up.She quickly diverted the topic, "Maybe it’s because I haven’t been resting well lately, my face looks a bit swollen. Also, hormonal imbalances can lead to weight gain..."Nash furrowed his brows, "Did not you hire Serene to reduce your workload? Why is there still so much pressure?""Maybe I’m just too much of a perfectionist." That was all Nina could say, and she did not even dare to look at him.Nash seemed displeased, "Why does it sound like you don't want to deal with these matters by my side and are deliberately finding excuses?""No." Nina was somewhat anxious, but she dared not show it too obviously.She clearly did not want Nash’s attention on her, yet the conversation had turned this way again. Nina felt a headache comin
Unfortunately, Ben couldn’t see through any of this. Summer, however, wasn’t the least bit intimidated. Shaking her head confidently, she said, “I’ve never done anything to upset him. I don’t believe that just exchanging a few words with him would make him kick me out.”Mrs. Lucas opened her mouth, about to say something, but seeing Summer’s confident demeanor, she hesitated. Maybe, just maybe, Ben might actually feel too awkward to reject her outright. And if a little covert manipulation were added into the mix…Suddenly, Mrs. Lucas had an idea. Hearing it, Summer’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Mrs. Lucas, that’s an excellent plan! We should act quickly before he does anything else irrational.” “Alright.” Though the plan was solid, the two of them decided to put it into action three days later. Meanwhile, Ben hadn’t been to the office lately, but he was still keeping track of all the firm’s cases. He was also trying to reach Winnie, but while her phone would ring,
Ben wanted nothing more than to wring Jamie's neck after hearing her cold, cutting words. “I don’t need your lectures,” he growled. Human nature? Didn’t she think he knew enough about it already? He had seen it in every case he handled, and he had learned it the hardest way through her betrayal. When he fell for Jamie, it had been with the intent to marry her, to share a future. But she had stabbed him in the back without hesitation. And yet, when he tried to hate her, tried to wish for her downfall, he couldn’t bring himself to follow through. “Stay here and reflect on your actions, Jamie.” Ben knew her well enough. If she cried, begged for forgiveness, he would soften. But she didn’t. Instead, all she cared about was that child, the child he refused to acknowledge. “Fine,” he thought grimly. “Let’s see how long that bastard can survive.”*Meanwhile, Ben’s mother, Mrs. Lucas, had failed to convince him to cut ties with Jamie. This left her in a tough spot, especial
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