Thinking about the grievances she had endured, Nina cried even harder. Her tears attracted onlookers."Hey buddy, did you upset your girlfriend? Look at her crying like that, she must have been really upset!" A passerby couldn't help but comment upon seeing the situation.Nash didn't want to deal with this in public. He had never encountered such a situation before. "She’s just throwing a tantrum. She'll be fine in a while," he said.He tried to pick up Nina to take her away, but she clung to him like an eel, crying loudly."Patience is key when coaxing your girlfriend," another passerby advised. "You must have upset her for her to refuse to leave with you. No girl gets angry for no reason."Nash had no idea why she was angry. He wasn't even angry himself, so where was her temper coming from? But seeing her cry so much, he didn't know what to say.Nash got a headache. He had never comforted a woman like this before, feeling awkward and helpless. It was even harder than negotiatin
Upon hearing this, Nash looked over and noticed that she was scratching her hand, which had developed a rash. He immediately grabbed her arm to prevent her from scratching recklessly. "Stop scratching," he said in a deep voice.Nina was in great discomfort. "It's itchy," she replied.Nash furrowed his brows and said gravely, "You're allergic to alcohol and yet you drank so much."Nina was a bit disoriented as she opened her eyes and seemed to see Nash's figure. "Where am I?" she asked."At home," he replied.Nash took off her shoes, then removed her clothes that were in the way and tucked her into bed.Nina became somewhat clear-headed, recalling that she had attended a class reunion, where she had a bit to drink and encountered some minor issues. It was at this critical moment that Nash appeared."Did you bring me back?" Nina asked.Nash went to the bathroom and brought back a basin of hot water, dampening a towel to gently wipe her arms. Her small arms were red and covered in
Upon hearing what Nina said, Nash's face turned extremely pale, and a heavy sensation weighed on his chest. He got up, ignoring Nina's crying, and stood solemnly by the window, lighting up a cigarette and puffing away. Smoke lingered, and the air turned icy cold. After finishing the cigarette, he left the bedroom without returning.The next day, Nina woke up with a severe headache. As she rose from bed, she held her head, feeling it heavier than her feet. Pouring herself a glass of water, she tried to sober up. Heading to the bathroom to freshen up, she noticed her swollen eyes, indicating that last night wasn't peaceful. She remembered Nash bringing her back home, but there were no signs of him having moved, suggesting he didn't sleep beside her. However, she recalled him taking care of her for a long time. It was the first time he had been so caring towards her. Nina was a bit puzzled as to why Nash happened to be with her last night and why he escorted her home. Vaguely, she
"Nash has plenty of designer clothes," Nina said expressionlessly. "As long as it's me who buys them, he'll wear them. I'm just wondering who you are picking clothes for."Miranda walked over, and their eyes met, both refusing to back down, sparks almost flying between them. Miranda smirked, "I got a limited-edition designer outfit for my boyfriend. There are only ten in the world. Would you like to see it?" Her tone was tinged with a hint of boastfulness. She could afford to order luxurious, high-end clothes, while Nina's choices in the store were commonplace. They were not on the same level when it came to selecting clothes for their men.The sales assistant brought out the box containing the limited-edition coat, exuding the scent of money from inside out. Nina at her with a hint of sarcasm, "You need someone else's money even to buy a dress. Are you sure this time it's not the case?"Miranda raised an eyebrow, "My boyfriend is willing to spend money on me. Are you envious?"
She didn't believe that Nash would have given Nina a bank card with twenty million dollars in it. She had inquired, and their relationship wasn't good; Nash rarely took care of her. She had been his secretary for seven years and couldn't even get him to look at her properly. If Nash cared about her, he wouldn't hide their marriage; instead, he would openly announce their relationship. The only possibility was that Nina was financially supported by her sugar daddies behind Nash's back.She would rather believe this than believe Nash would give her money to spend."What's wrong with my nephew giving his wife some money? Does it need to be suspected by others? Do you feel a bit sour about not getting what you want?" Suddenly, another voice came from their conversation.Following the voice, Nina saw Zoe York, gracefully swaying her slender waist. She was wearing a black dress, outlining her graceful figure. With her hair pinned up into a bun, she appeared to be almost fifty years old,
Miranda stood there, forcing a smile as she turned back, "Zoe, do you have any other business?"Zoe looked at her, "Are you here to buy clothes too? This coat isn't for yourself, is it?"Miranda's face stiffened, "It's for someone else."Zoe saw through it but didn't expose it. With her arms crossed, she spoke coldly, "Miranda, you're a public figure after all. You should know what's right and what's wrong. Just because I don't say anything doesn't mean I agree. I'm just turning a blind eye out of respect for your family’s reputation. Don't wait until everything falls apart to regret it. I'm not like Sally, allowing you to do as you please!"Miranda's expression turned ugly, feeling humiliated. Her steps faltered, and her assistant helped her leave."Nina, it's rare to meet. Let's go for a drink," Zoe said with a smile."Sure, Zoe, there's a café nearby. Let's go there," Nina replied.The two headed to the café.Though Zoe didn't often involve herself in family matters, she sti
He just didn’t love her, plain and simple. In Zoe's view, she and Nash made a good couple, but it was crucial to also consider whether being with her could truly bring happiness to Nash.However, it took a different turn with Zoe, who smiled and said, "I only said a few words, and you're already defending your husband. Nina, I know you love Nash deeply, and it's all his luck. He could search for a million years and still wouldn't find a wife like you. Maybe he went through too much hardship in his childhood, so now that he's grown up, he deserves a little happiness."Nina was puzzled. "Did he not have a good childhood?"Growing up in such a privileged family, he should have been happier than ordinary people.Zoe's expression changed for a few seconds, but then she laughed casually and said, "Let's not dwell on those matters. Nash probably wouldn't want to either. I just hope you two will give me grandchildren soon."She also wanted to retire in the future and stay at home to tak
Hearing this, Nash was shocked and turned pale, furrowing his brows tightly. He said, "Where are you? I'll be right there!""What's happening, Nash?" Miranda asked, seeing his urgency."Nina is in trouble!" Nash didn't even glance at her, he just ran out.Seeing how hurried he was, Miranda sensed his deep concern for Nina, but she had no idea what was going on. Nina had been perfectly fine during the day. How could something happen so suddenly? She looked at the gift box left behind, untouched, feeling a pang of disappointment.The assistant beside her said, "Just a few hours ago, Nina was fine. What could have happened? Could it be that she found out Mr. York was here and intentionally caused trouble to ruin the relationship between you two?"Miranda's face went slightly pale, but she composed herself and said, "That's unlikely. Nina isn't that petty. Maybe something really did happen. I'm thinking if I should go help.""Miranda, you're too kind. I think Nina is quite cunning,"
Leonard, a cheerful and outgoing young man, worked skillfully at the machine while apologizing profusely. “Sorry about this. I don’t know what’s up with this machine today. It’s being a bit temperamental. I hope it’s not causing too much trouble for you.”Karina smiled back warmly. “It’s no problem at all.”As Leonard glanced up at Karina and Wilfred, he couldn’t help but comment, “You two look great together! Are you on a date?”Karina’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she opened her mouth to clarify, but Wilfred cut in first. “Thank you. It’s a rare day off, so I thought I’d take her out to relax.”Startled, Karina glanced at him in surprise, but the unexpected sweetness of his words brought a quiet warmth to her heart.Leonard grinned knowingly. “This movie’s been super popular lately. Lots of couples have been coming to watch it. You’re lucky to have snagged tickets—later in the day, it’s almost impossible to get seats.”Wilfred nodded politely. “Is that so? Then I suppose we’re
Karina couldn’t reconcile the composed, confident, and highly skilled Wilfred she knew with the idea of him as a slave. Her lips trembled as though she wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. Wilfred noticed the shock in her expression and let out a faint, bitter smile before continuing. “In that dark, endless hell, I was subjected to all kinds of drug experiments every day. My body and mind were pushed to the brink, treated as nothing more than a tool. My life and death were entirely in their hands.” A sharp pang shot through Karina’s chest as she listened. She couldn’t begin to imagine the suffering Wilfred had endured. “How did you escape?” she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. Wilfred’s gaze grew distant, his eyes clouded with memories. “There was a rare moment of carelessness during a transfer. I seized the opportunity with everything I had left and escaped. After that, I hid my identity, pouring all my effort into studying medici
Instead of heading out to eat, Wilfred decided to head home. It was the weekend, and with Mrs. Santos off-duty, they could cook for themselves. The fridge had just enough ingredients left for a proper meal. Karina pulled out an unopened carton of cream and called toward the living room, “Do you like cream of mushroom soup?” A response came from Wilfred, and with his approval, she got to work preparing the ingredients. The dishes she planned weren’t particularly complicated, so in no time, the table was filled with food. After all the bustling in the kitchen, Karina almost forgot the reason she had come in the first place. But seeing Wilfred pick up his utensils brought her back to her thoughts. “I wanted to ask you about your sleepwalking last night. Mrs. Santos said it happens often,” she said, her tone filled with concern. Karina had known Wilfred for quite a while now, and their relationship was fairly close. Yet she had never heard about his sleepwalking, not from hi
Yvette’s expression lit up with the thrill of gossip. “Who are we talking about? Is it Dr. Wilfred?” “It’s about a friend,” Karina lied smoothly, her face betraying nothing. Yvette’s face immediately screamed, “Yeah, right.”“Come on, at least come up with a better excuse. That ‘it’s for a friend’ line is so overused it’s practically expired,” she teased, before shifting gears. “Alright, spill the details. And don’t leave anything out. I want to know everything. Not just for gossip but to help you figure things out.” With no other choice, Karina recounted Wilfred’s hot-and-cold behavior toward her. After hearing the story, Yvette leaned back with a sharp hiss, as if processing something heavy. “I think your, uh, friend’s boyfriend might just have something he’s keeping to himself. Maybe there’s a reason he doesn’t want her to know.” Karina’s brows furrowed slightly. “Think about it,” Yvette continued. “If he really didn’t care, would he have been so quick to catch he
Karina stood, but as she took a step, her foot caught on something, and she nearly fell. Before she could hit the ground, Wilfred caught her. The unexpected gesture left Karina more confused than ever. If he was so cold and distant moments ago, why would he help her like this? She wasn’t the only one caught off guard. Wilfred himself was surprised by his reaction. It had been pure instinct. The moment he saw her about to fall, he moved to catch her without a second thought. It was as if his heart acted faster than his words ever could. Before she could ask anything, Wilfred released her quickly, his demeanor detached once more, as if trying to explain away his actions. “Regardless, thank you for earlier.” He hesitated briefly before adding, “Do you have a way to get home? I can drive you if it’s inconvenient.” The warmth Karina felt moments ago instantly turned cold. She forced a bitter smile. “No need. I’ll get home on my own.” She laughed at herself inwardly, a s
Mrs. Santos glanced upstairs. “Mr. Wilfred went straight to bed after coming home, but I noticed he’s having nightmares again. Honestly, I think you should—"Before she could finish, Karina rushed past her, ignoring the protest.Mrs. Santos tried to stop her, but it was no use. Karina sprinted up the stairs and pushed open the bedroom door, her heart clenching at the sight before her. Wilfred, who was usually so composed and aloof, lay on the bed, visibly distressed. His eyes were tightly shut, his face drenched in sweat, and his lips were pressed together so hard they were turning pale. Karina knelt by the bed, gently taking one of his hands in hers. It was so cold that it sent a chill through her. “Wilfred, can you hear me? It’s Karina. I’m here. Wake up,” she urged softly. But he didn’t respond. Karina took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She placed her palm against his cheek and spoke in a soothing tone. “It’s just a nightmare. That’s all it is. Wake up
Still, as long as she could see the smiles on the faces of patients and their families, it all felt worth it. But when Karina went to the director’s office, it was empty. The quiet room seemed to carry traces of Wilfred’s presence, leaving her momentarily dazed. “Where could he have gone?” she wondered.Just then, someone passing by said, “Are you looking for Dr. Wilfred? I just saw him change clothes and leave. He might have gone home. It’s already past office hours.” Karina glanced outside at the darkening sky and nodded in realization. But something still didn’t sit right. Not to mention, Wilfred always let her know when he was leaving work. Most days, he would even drive her home. If he wanted to go back on his own today, wouldn’t he at least say something? Shaking her head, she gave her cheeks a hard slap—hard enough to make them sting. “What are you even thinking, Karina? Who are you to him, anyway? He doesn’t owe you an explanation for leaving.” Talking hersel
By now, everyone had fully recognized Wilfred’s skills. In fact, when trouble arose, he was the first person they turned to for a solution. With Wilfred around, everyone felt much more reassured.On the way to the operating room, Karina trailed behind him, her gaze fixed on his back. She clenched her fists silently. She had always thought she had made progress, but moments like this reminded her she still wasn’t good enough and still couldn’t quite match his level. She resolved to work even harder and live up to the expectations he had for her. *Karina entered the operating room and prepared to take the lead. When the assisting nurses and doctors inside saw that the surgeon had suddenly changed, they were visibly surprised. But in the sterile silence of the operating room, and with their faces hidden behind masks, no one spoke out loud. Instead, they quietly worried in their hearts. Wilfred found a seat nearby, observing silently. Karina stayed focused, pouring a
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