The man's rugged voice suddenly boomed from across the room, "Damn it, where did this little pretty boy come from, trying to play the hero here? I'll teach you a lesson!"The voice grew closer and closer.The man charged forward, his attack fierce.However, Nash simply lifted his foot, and in an instant, the man went flying out."Bang!" The man landed heavily on the ground. Nash wrapped an arm around Nina while dialing a number, "Hunter, get a few guys to deal with the scumbag at the door of the room, and tell Caleb to bring the first aid kit to the room." Leaving this message, Nash led Nina into the room. With Nash's swift actions and his authoritative tone while making the call, the man realized Nash was not to be trifled with. Instinctively, the man bolted, but he could not escape. Hunter, Caleb, and Ben had all come together after some effort. As Caleb had used Nash's phone to call Nina, it was fine if Nash did not join them. However, since the three of them had pla
"Thank you." Setting aside all that, it was a fact that Nash helped her.Nash was already agitated and drinking did not diminish it a bit. Just now, the words from that man undoubtedly acted as a catalyst.And now Nina said thank you to him?Nash's thin lips lifted coldly. "Courtesy demands reciprocity, the word 'thank you' is unnecessary."A heaviness settled in Nina's throat. He was just repaying her favor.That was fine. There would be no more indebtedness in the future.Nina pursed her lips, then, after a moment of silence, she finally picked up Nash's words, "Are we going home now?""Just wait for me.""Okay." Nina did not dwell on it.Nash placed the ice cubes in Nina's hand, his large palm gripping hers, "Keep it on for a bit. Since you're still here, you're still a reflection of the York family." His tone was devoid of emotion.Nina nodded. "Got it."He rescued her because she was his wife and his secretary, both roles representing the York family's image. And also,
Nina was washing her face, using a lot of facial cleanser. She even used hand soap and body wash. The air was filled with a faint scent of gardenia, which was the perfume scent Nina liked. Wasn't Nina doing this to mask his scent? What could possibly linger on his body? The pungent smell of cigarette, the strong smell of alcohol, and the bloody smell from that man. Nina froze and she quickly explained, "You're reading too much into it. You know why we're getting divorced."The time had come and he never truly wanted her to stay anyway. If she did not leave, was she supposed to continue witnessing the development between him and Miranda? Nash's lips curled into a sneer. He knew all too well. She was returning to Zac, to Scott's side.Nash reminisced about earlier today, Nina seated beside Scott by the flower bed, their laughter filling the air. Especially Nina's expression at that moment. She seemed so calm but since her return, she had not uttered a single word to him.
Ben's words were slow and clear. Nina was dumbfounded. In two and a half months, she would be four months along, visibly pregnant. By then, Nash would be even less likely to let her go. However, Nina quickly realized something. Her lips curled into a smirk as she said, "Should I address you as Nash's friend?" Ben's eyes narrowed slightly, but he quickly smiled. "Miss Walker has sharp eyes." Although Ben appeared nonchalant on the surface, he admired Nina inwardly. She had seen through him with just one glance. "Since you won't handle my divorce case, I'll take my leave," Nina said, turning to leave. After she left, Ben called Nash. Nash was still asleep, having drunk too much. He was awoken by the noise, his entire body aching. Hearing Nash's hoarse voice, Ben chuckled. "Still sleeping? Your wife came to see me early in the morning, and she saw through my identity. I think you should pay more attention!" Nash's exhaustion vanished from his pupils, replaced by a coldness
Stella walked up to Nina with a smile on her face, a stark contrast to yesterday's demeanor. Nina could only respond with a smile, "No problem, Cynthia, come and greet our business partner."Even though Stella's attitude had improved significantly since yesterday, Nina still wanted to introduce Cynthia to her. Despite Stella's inner displeasure, she remained composed outwardly. "Is Nina training new staff recently?" Stella inquired, noticing the arrival of both Serene and now Cynthia. With Nash still nowhere in sight, Stella was growing increasingly dissatisfied, but she restrained herself from expressing it.Nina replied, "Is Miss Jasper worried about delays in our cooperation? Rest assured. All agreements will be reviewed personally by Mr. York.""Then let's discuss matters at the York Corporation. Nina, what are your thoughts on the proposed cooperation plan?" Stella redirected the conversation.After Nina left, Stella learned that Nina had been Nash's secretary for seven year
Nina was also caught off guard by Stella's struggle to keep hold of the tea cup."Miss Jasper, you've misunderstood. I don't hold grudges. It's just that you didn't hold it steady yourself," Nina replied calmly. She met Stella's dark gaze, and a hint of coldness flickered in her own eyes."I didn't hold it steady? Am I unable to even hold a cup of tea? Mr. York, I approached you with the utmost sincerity for cooperation, but your secretary is acting so arrogantly?" Stella retorted with two questions in a row. In her final sentence, she looked directly at Nash.Nash stood nearby, his gaze cool with a hint of disdain. "Should I have Miss Jasper review the surveillance footage?" he added.He understood Nina's character well. Nina would not bother holding a grudge against someone who countered her. Until she quit, she would not slack off but instead would fulfill her duties diligently.Stella's behavior was evidently aimed at defaming Nina. Indeed, after Mr. York's comment, Stella's f
Stella's expression stiffened. "Mr. York, there was a bit of unpleasantness between your secretary and me before, and just now, I believe at least seven out of ten people would think it was deliberate."And besides, do you really not remember who I am?" Stella's lack of control over her emotions grew with each word.Nash's gaze was devoid of warmth, radiating a chilling sternness. "I don't need you to remind me of what kind of person my secretary is. Even if it were true, what difference would it make?"Nash's words silenced Stella outright. His expression, along with the fact that he did not respond to her final question, clearly indicated he had no recollection of her at all.Stella felt a mixture of anger, frustration, and embarrassment.Suddenly, Nina's voice cut in, "Miss Jasper, here are the ice cubes for you." Nina remained calm, unaffected by the tension.Glancing at Nash's cold demeanor and the oppressive atmosphere in his gaze, it was evident that unless Stella apologiz
Now having to give up twenty percent, Stella was certainly incurring a loss, particularly while carrying the burden of a stained reputation.For Nash to pose such a question at this juncture was a deliberate attempt to unsettle her. Regrettably, she found herself unable to respond at this moment.She could only maintain her smile. "Mr. York, we need to look at the big picture here. Giving up twenty percent means I'll earn a little less, but it secures you as a major client. However, my bottom line is twenty percent, I can't go any lower.""Fine," Nash agreed readily.However, Stella planted seeds of resentment in her heart. "Mr. York, since we've agreed, I'll be hosting a banquet at the Scarlet Leaf Bistro tomorrow night. I hope Mr. York can grace us with your presence.""Okay." At this point, Nash could only agree. Stella nodded to Nash. "Mr. York, then I'll take my leave.""Nina, see our guest out," Nash called for Nina.Though Stella was extremely reluctant, she did not say
But instead of feeling touched, Vera’s first reaction was nausea. A wave of discomfort surged up from her stomach, and Vera’s face paled. She bolted for the bathroom. Caleb followed quickly. “Are you feeling sick?” “I don’t think so. I’ve been eating normally—nothing too heavy or weird lately.” Vera clutched her stomach, just as confused as he was. Then, a possibility flashed through her mind. Caleb clearly had the same thought. Without a word, he turned and walked into their bedroom, returning moments later with a pregnancy test. Vera looked at him, stunned. “When did you buy that?” He responded matter-of-factly, “Better safe than sorry.” Vera was momentarily speechless. Five minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. It was positive. They had only been married for three months. How did this happen so fast?Caleb, on the other hand, remained composed—at le
Of course, Vera wasn’t about to dump all her responsibilities on her assistant. That would be exploitation. She called her assistant into her office. “You’re twenty-five this year, right?” Her assistant blinked, confused. Wasn’t her age common knowledge? Why was Vera suddenly bringing it up? A thought struck her. Was this an arranged marriage situation? Her face immediately filled with silent refusal. “Miss Vera, I’m still young. I’m not thinking about marriage anytime soon.” Vera tapped her pen against the desk. “I’m not telling you to get married.” “Oh.” “I just want to offload some of the smaller daily tasks to you. You don’t have to run every minor document by me.”Her assistant instantly understood. A raise. After confirming she was on board, Vera gave her a salary bump and had her hire a few more assistants to distribute the workload. “If I don’t have time to handle everything, you guys will take care of it. If something’s too complicated, jus
Vera could sense danger the moment the conversation turned in this direction. Her father had never questioned her about married life, and she was lucky enough to avoid nosy relatives. But just because she hadn’t experienced it firsthand didn’t mean she hadn’t seen it happen to others. Without hesitation, she abandoned the half-folded pastry in her hands. “I... uh, need to use the restroom.” Before she could escape, Mrs. Smith caught her wrist. “You and Caleb aren’t getting any younger,” she said matter-of-factly. “You should start thinking about kids—make sure you’re putting in the effort, hmm?” Vera left the kitchen visibly drained. Mrs. Smith was a wonderful mother-in-law, the kind who treated Vera like her own daughter. Despite knowing Vera came from a well-off family, she had still gifted them a house as a wedding present. Of course, Caleb already owned a place, but his mother had insisted. “That’s your house. This is the home I’m giving you as a weddi
That undeniable possessiveness flickered in Caleb’s gaze—subtle yet impossible to ignore. It was the kind of look a powerful man might give his beloved in an old Hollywood film. And right now, the photographer felt like the unlucky bystander who had accidentally stumbled upon an intimate scene. His voice wavered slightly, caught up in his own imagination. “Mr. Smith, lift your eyes toward the camera.” Caleb’s sharp gaze flickered over, intense and commanding. The photographer instinctively pressed the shutter. They continued with several more poses, reviewing the shots as they went. Vera loved them all, but her favorite was still the vintage-inspired one. “How long until we get the final prints?” she asked. “Two to three days at most,” the photographer replied. “I’ll have them shipped directly to you.” Then, after a slight pause, he hesitated before making a request. “I actually have a personal favor to ask—would you both be open to letting us displa
Vera was tempted. They had already taken plenty of wedding photos—several sets at the island, more at the wedding itself. But this wasn’t just any photo studio. It was privately booked and known for being one of the most prestigious studios in the city. Appointments here were nearly impossible to get. The fact that Caleb had managed to secure a session meant he had gone to great lengths to make it happen. If they were just going to take ordinary wedding pictures, it would be a waste of an opportunity. Still, she wasn’t sure what kind of shoot she wanted. The photographer, understanding her hesitation, pulled out a sample album. “You can take a look at our past work. These are some of the styles we’ve done.” Flipping through the pages, Vera saw an array of stunning concepts—each picture more breathtaking than the last. Then, one particular set caught her eye. A Golden Age Hollywood theme.It was classic, nostalgic, and beautifully atmospheric. “Ca
After the wedding, Vera considered taking some time off for a honeymoon. But the thought quickly faded when she realized Caleb had been practically living at the hospital. With a sigh, she dismissed the idea. She was used to it, but to say she wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. Her assistant picked up on it. “Mrs. Smith, don’t you want to go on a honeymoon?” she asked one day. “One of my friends just got married, and she’s been obsessively researching destinations. “She even said a marriage without a honeymoon is already half a failure.” Vera froze mid-page, suddenly losing interest in the documents she had been reviewing. Her assistant hesitated, then offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you go visit Dr. Smith at work?“You seem… distracted. Maybe seeing him will help.” Vera snapped out of her daze, suddenly aware of how preoccupied she had been lately. It was embarrassing to admit, but she had been zoning out far too often—especially after coming hom
Whenever they did this in the past, Caleb always maintained some restraint. But tonight—he didn’t hold back at all. He took her from the bedroom to the bathroom, then back to the bed, his searing kisses trailing every inch of her skin. The next morning, even as she woke up, Vera could still feel the lingering traces of last night’s intoxicating pleasure. As expected, she ended up taking the day off. It wasn’t until two days later that she finally returned to work. *Everyone at the company had already prepared for this. The moment Vera walked into the office, she was greeted with knowing smiles and teasing remarks. “Congratulations, Mrs. Smith!” “Newlywed bliss, huh?” “Three whole days off? Someone had a good time.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she had been up to. Obviously, her married life was going exceptionally well—so well that she had completely abandoned work for it. Under the weight of their mischievous stares, Vera barely k
Yelena still hadn’t accepted Hunter, but he wasn’t giving up either and was relentlessly closing in on her. Knowing Yelena’s soft heart, Vera figured it was only a matter of time before she gave in. She let out a sigh. Her friend’s love life wasn’t something she could interfere with. Besides, Caleb had already given her a little inside scoop. “She came to the hospital for a follow-up a few days ago,” he had mentioned casually. “Hunter was the one who brought her.” Vera had clicked her tongue at the news. Yelena always seemed quiet and reserved, but apparently, she was full of surprises.*Time flew by in the blink of an eye.By mid-month, Caleb had rented out an entire vineyard and spent several days transforming it into the perfect wedding venue.When the day arrived, the celebration took place right there.The vineyard was sprawling and elegant, every bit as grand as any luxury hotel—if not better. Even the wine cellar remained untouched, stocked with years-
“Did you plan this from the start?” Vera narrowed her eyes, feeling like she had just walked into a carefully laid trap. “Mm.” Caleb smiled, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Because yes—he had always been planning this. The biggest change in Vera’s life after the island proposal was the ring now sitting on her finger. It wasn’t just any ring. It was custom-made, something Caleb had specially ordered. She only found out by accident when she glanced at his phone one day and saw the purchase record. It had been ordered two months ago. Vera did the math and was stunned. He had been preparing for this long before she even started getting impatient. Her heart swelled with emotion. And as soon as Caleb’s parents heard that their son had finally proposed, they wasted no time pushing them to get the marriage license. *One day, Vera overheard Caleb’s mother lecturing him. “Your dad and I weren’t expecting much from you. With how much ti