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
He took a sip, bitter yet sweet. Only Nina could brew this cup of pure black coffee so skillfully.Nina hesitated for a moment, but was still quite moved, "How long will it be roughly until you finish this busy period?"Aside from their immediate families and closest friends, hardly anyone knew she was married to Nash. Beyond their marriage certificate, they did not even have a photo together, let alone gone on a honeymoon.If Nash decided to take her to Frangelia, she could consider it their honeymoon trip. That would be a way to live without regrets in this lifetime.Nash was silent for a few seconds, then slowly responded, "At most, a week later.""Okay." That was a wait she could manage.Since she did not have to go to the office tomorrow, she could look for a hospital to have a proper prenatal check-up. With Yvonne around, she could use Yvonne as a shield.Nina dared not drift off too much, "Then you go ahead, I’ll head back to my room."After Nash nodded, Nina left the st
Unexpectedly, just as they entered the foyer, they saw Nash's mother, Sally, sitting on the sofa with a dark expression.“You all stir up public opinion, and yet you seem quite carefree yourself.”At the Harris Corporation’s banquet, Nash had defended Nina, and the incident was still trending.Nash gave Nina a look. Nina understood but still greeted Sally, “Mom, breakfast is ready. If you haven’t eaten yet, I can have the helper prepare a portion for you.”In the villa, the helpers knew their duties well. Since Nina had not gone to the kitchen herself, the helper would prepare breakfast when it was time.However, Sally did not even look at Nina, “Nash, I’m talking to you!”Nash responded calmly, “The fact that Nina and I are married will come out sooner or later. Besides, everyone talks.”So many people, so many mouths. He did not see the need to bother.Sally’s chest heaved visibly. She suppressed her anger, “I heard your little aunt invited you to a masquerade?”Nash’s tone
Nash did not want to engage further, "Nina's already taken care of delivering the items for you. If you need anything else, just give us a call."The implication was clear which was not to come over unless absolutely necessary. Nash's dismissiveness was palpable. It seemed Sally would have to step up her efforts with Miranda!Sally did not want to argue with Nash there, "I am the lady of the York family, your father's wife."But Nash could not be bothered to continue the conversation, walking away without another word.—Nina carried the health supplements to the hospital to see Miranda. When Miranda heard the door open, she thought it was Nash.So, when she saw Nina, the joy that appeared on her face instantly froze. “Why is it you?”Nina calmly responded, “My mother-in-law wasn’t feeling well, so I came to deliver this as a favor.”Saying this, Nina walked to Miranda’s bedside and placed the health supplements on the nightstand. Nina left the room as soon as she put down the
The voice was so familiar that it made Nina tense up. She turned around, trying to conceal her emotions.To her surprise, it was her college classmate, Mike Denver. She remembered Mike well.Three months ago, he had joined York Corporation's technical department, and Nina had personally interviewed him. Beyond their shared college background, Mike not only aced the interview but also met all the qualifications impressively.Nina managed a small smile. "What a coincidence." Perhaps her desire to keep the baby made her feel guilty, as if she were a thief."I took the day off for a health check at the hospital and did not expect to run into you here. Hey, Nina, are you going to our class president's baby boy's first celebration next Friday?" Mike glanced at Nina as he spoke slowly.The class president was a down-to-earth and honest guy from a small town in the countryside. He was renowned around campus for his unwavering helpfulness and kindness to all, ever ready to lend a hand to
Then she phoned Yvonne. Yvonne's voice sounded sleepy, and Nina felt apologetic. "I'm sorry if I disturbed your rest. But I'm on my way to the mall now, near your place. I'll find a spot and wait for you there.""Okay," Yvonne didn't decline.Upon reaching the mall, Nina located a popular boba tea shop and ordered two drinks. When Yvonne arrived, she spotted Nina from a distance, seated at a small cream-colored round table, cradling a cup of milk tea."Why did you decide to call me out today, and to such a trendy spot? What's your motive?" Yvonne teased Nina with a sidelong glance. Despite her playful tone, she pulled out a chair and seated herself opposite Nina.Nina smiled, "No particular reason, just wanted you to join me for a stroll, and then... Nash told me that Quincy has already settled the matters with the exhibition center."Yvonne's mood had been fine, joking around with Nina, but the mention of Nash reminded her of the veiled threats in his words and Nina’s leniency to
With about two hours left before the surgery, Karina focused intently on reviewing the patient’s information. She had never taken over a major surgery at the last minute before, and she didn’t want to waste a single second. Wilfred didn’t remain idle either. Leaning forward slightly, he pointed to the patient file with a steady hand. “This patient has coronary artery disease, along with several other complications causing vascular blockages. When he arrived at the hospital, he had already lost consciousness.” He continued in a calm, soothing tone, like the gentle flow of a stream. “Since the patient is over fifty, you’ll need to be particularly mindful during the procedure…” His steady voice eased Karina’s anxiety, giving her a sense of calm she desperately needed. When a knock at the door interrupted them, signaling it was time to head to the operating room, Karina felt more composed. Just as she stood, Wilfred rose with her. “I’ll go with you,” he said. “Having me ther
Wilfred looked at Karina, but in the end, he didn’t say what was on his mind. “How much longer are you going to wrap it?” he asked. Karina snapped out of her thoughts and realized she had nearly mummified his hand in bandages. “Oh, sorry! You were talking to me earlier, and I got distracted. Let me undo some of this.” She carefully unwrapped a couple of outer layers, and the bandaging instantly looked much better. Still, Karina couldn’t help her worried expression. “How did you get hurt? Did you grab the knife directly earlier?” Adjusting the bandages to feel more comfortable, Wilfred replied casually, “No, it just grazed me.” Karina’s brows knit tightly together. She felt an urge to storm down to the police station and give the culprit a piece of her mind. At the same time, she couldn’t understand Wilfred’s calm demeanor. He acted as if being injured was no big deal, his expression unbothered, like this was just another ordinary day. She couldn’t hold back. “You
Without sparing the man another glance, Karina let out a breath of relief as the police quickly left, bringing an end to the chaotic ordeal. Just as she thought she could relax, Yvette appeared nearby, making exaggerated winks and smirks, her face practically screaming curiosity. “Do you have a twitch or something?” Karina asked, raising an eyebrow. Yvette rolled her eyes. “Twitch? Who taught you how to talk? And no, that’s not the point! Spill it—what’s going on with you and the director?” Karina blinked, confused. “What do you mean by what’s going on?” Yvette’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you serious? Just now! You two were like all hugged up together! Do you think we’re blind? We all saw it. If you say there’s nothing going on, even a ghost wouldn’t believe you!“I’m telling you, honesty is your best option. Spill the truth now, and our friendship might survive this,” Yvette teased with mock seriousness. Karina’s brain blanked out. Her face flushed bright red
As soon as the man’s attention shifted, Karina acted without hesitation. She lifted her leg and delivered a sharp kick straight to his groin. The man immediately let go, doubling over in pain. Karina didn’t waste a second. She bolted for the door, grabbing anything within reach—a patient file, a water glass—and hurling them at him as she ran, not even pausing to aim. His curses and shouts echoed behind her as she escaped. Just as she darted out the door, she collided with what felt like a wall of solid muscle. Before she could react, large hands gripped her shoulders, holding her firmly in place. Karina didn’t look up. In her panic, she assumed it was one of the man’s accomplices. Terrified, she yelled, “No! Get away from me!” She tried to repeat her earlier tactic, but this time her attempt was blocked. Her heart sank in despair—until a familiar voice came from above her. “Why are you so shaken up? Did someone hurt you?” Karina froze, then looked up and saw Wil
But Karina still felt embarrassed. Noticing this, Wilfred stopped what he was doing, sat back in the driver’s seat, and fixed his gaze on her. In the light, his usually dark eyes softened to a deep, rich brown. His stare made Karina fidget, her heart pounding in her chest. She was certain her face was already bright red. “What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?” Wilfred’s lips curved into a faint smile, so subtle it was almost imperceptible. “If you really want to thank me, hurry up and write a proper thesis.” Thud!Karina’s heart skipped a beat, and any trace of excitement crashed and burned.She was momentarily speechless. How could someone constantly bring up writing a thesis? Wasn’t that the least romantic thing he could say? She completely forgot how flustered she had been moments earlier, unable to even meet Wilfred’s eyes. *Once the lawyer was arranged, the next step was filing a lawsuit with the court. This was beyond Karina’s scope, so she left ev
The woman didn’t mind at all. She knew very well that most people wouldn’t get involved in something like this. Karina’s willingness to help came from her kindness. Even if things didn’t work out, the woman wouldn’t hold it against her. Karina, however, felt a sense of responsibility. After confirming the meeting time with Wilfred, she took the day off, postponing all her work to focus on the matter. When the time came, Wilfred drove to pick her up. *At the café, a man stood and offered his hand. “Hello, Ms. Norman. I’m Attorney Jenkins from Birkham Law Firm. You can call me Jenkins.”Karina shook his hand with a polite smile. “Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. I appreciate you coming all the way from Birkham.”“It’s no trouble. I happened to be in Atlantis for another matter. Besides, when a friend asks for a favor, it’s not something I can refuse.” After a bit of small talk, the group sat down, and the conversation shifted to the case. Since Mr. Jenkins had only been give
“Dr. Norman… my life is so miserable. If I had known it would come to this, I’d rather have died than gotten married. What do I do now? If it were just me, I’d leave everything behind and disappear. But my daughter is only eight years old—she’s still so little,” the woman sobbed. Karina hesitated for a moment. “You do need to consider her…” Suddenly, she thought of Wilfred. Among her own connections, she didn’t know anyone in the legal field. But Wilfred might. Still, since she hadn’t asked him yet, she couldn’t promise anything. For now, she focused on calming both the mother and the child. The little girl was surprisingly mature for her age. At just eight years old and barely into elementary school, she didn’t fully understand the situation or what had been done to her. In her own innocent words, she said, “Daddy just played a little game with me. He said if I didn’t cry, I’d get a reward.” Even so, she understood that her mother was upset because of her. “Mommy,
After leaving the room, Karina quickly patted her cheeks, trying to calm herself down. At the very least, she couldn’t let anyone notice anything was off. “Dr. Norman?” someone called from behind her. She turned to see a woman she recognized as the family member of a former patient. Noticing the child in the woman’s arms, Karina’s expression immediately softened with concern. After a brief exchange, Karina learned that the child’s condition had flared up again. She led them back to her office and conducted a thorough examination. Five minutes later, she reviewed the results with a slight frown. “Her stomach and intestines seem fine. Can you tell me where exactly she’s feeling discomfort?” Karina asked, assuming the mother may have misunderstood or misspoken. But the woman hesitated, stammering nervously. Sensing something deeper was going on, Karina softened her tone. “It’s okay. This is a hospital—we’re here to help. There’s no need to hide anything. Just tell me wha
But Wilfred wouldn’t bother explaining. In fact, he thought it was better to let the misunderstanding linger. The nurse glanced at Karina, then back at Wilfred, her face twisting with humiliation before she turned and fled the room. Karina instinctively stepped aside, avoiding a collision. “For a moment there… I thought I was interrupting something,” she hesitated, her tone uncertain. She couldn’t deny the relief she felt after Wilfred’s firm stance. The suffocating feeling, like someone gripping her throat, had finally dissipated. Her breathing steadied, though a lingering bitterness remained in her chest. She couldn’t help but wonder why the nurse had acted that way. Wilfred looked at her briefly and explained, “I don’t know her. She knocked and let herself in. And not long after, you walked in.” Karina’s expression softened significantly. “Maybe it has something to do with the rumors going around the hospital recently.” Wilfred frowned. Though he said nothi