Nina said, "Forget it, there’s no need." Sometimes she did not understand Nash that well. Whenever they met, he would be somewhat unpredictable. If explanations were something he could listen to, he would not have turned around and left."Scott, thanks just now." Regardless, Scott's appearance helped her out of trouble. Scott gave a gentle smile, "It was nothing."Just as Scott was about to say something else, Nina interjected, "I'm going back to the private room. If you're free another day, I'll treat you to a meal.""I'm free tomorrow afternoon." Knowing Nina's offer was just a formality, but he took it seriously. Nina hesitated for a moment before nodding, "I'll send you the address tomorrow.""Great." Scott watched Nina leave with a smile.---Though Nash turned around, he was followed by Stella. However, he did not go and watch the fireworks display with Stella. He stopped in his tracks and distanced himself from her, saying, "Miss Jasper, I'm not interested in the fir
When he applied for the job, Quincy made it clear to him about the relationship between Nina and himself.Since getting into the car, Nash had been chain-smoking, a clear indicator of the tension between them. Moreover, Nash's instructions to his subordinate about keeping tabs on Nina, along with his recent attempt to open the car door, did not go unnoticed.Nash narrowed his eyes. As for the new driver, Nash merely glanced at him. He was tall, thin, with slightly dark skin.A cold smirk played at the corner of Nash's lips. "Didn't Quincy inform you about the rules?"The driver kept his head down. "Assistant Quincy did, Mr. York. I know I shouldn't speak out of turn, but I once had regrets. My wife and I were like this. We had conflicts, misunderstandings, and I never apologized, nor did she explain. Later, when I left home to earn a living, she had someone else's child. And then, I lost her forever."Nash pursed his lips, then after a few seconds of silence, he spoke in a low, co
Nina remained calm and said lightly, "I'm just stating the facts.""You..." Sally was itching with anger, but then she heard movement outside the door and saw Nash entering from outside."Nash, you came back just in time. Look at how your lovely wife here is talking back to me. Does she have any manners?" She stood up and quickly complained to Nash.Nash strode in, his gaze deep as he glanced at Nina before turning to Sally. "If you don't provoke her, why would she talk back to you? Nina has always been gentle when she's with me."He walked over to Nina in just a few steps.His towering figure made Nina feel a sense of oppression, especially coupled with the strong smell of tobacco emanating from him.She could not help but look up at him.Seeing the two of them together, Sally was almost stomping her feet, angrily saying, "You, you really don't care about me anymore!""Go upstairs and wait for me," Nash said, tossing the words at Nina.Nina snapped back to reality, complying
He made such demands of her, but did he ever demand the same of himself? Nash furrowed his brows. "What about me?"Nina looked at him, suddenly unsure whether she should ask. Perhaps she did not have the courage to face it in her heart. She clenched her fists and averted her gaze. "It's nothing."Seeing her uneasy expression and sensing her hesitation to speak, Nash knew something was on her mind. Just as he was about to inquire, there was a knock at the door."Sir, ma'am!" the helper called out.Nash went to open the door. The helper handed him an invitation. "Sir, this is an invitation from the Gibson family.""You can go," he instructed the helper.Nash opened the invitation, which was for the seventieth birthday celebration sent by Grandpa George. Despite knowing Grandpa George for so long, he rarely attended his birthday celebrations. They had an unspoken agreement not to disturb each other excessively. This time, sending the invitation meant that it was an important occ
Nina walked over and took the dress out of the gift bag. It was a dark green evening gown with a flowing skirt and a strapless cut, crafted from luxurious fabric that felt like a dream against her skin. She had been browsing fashion magazines lately and instantly recognized it as haute couture from a top designer.Although she could not recall the designer's name, she knew their clothes typically started at a hundred thousand dollars. Suddenly, she remembered the dress Nash bought for Miranda for two hundred thousand dollars.Glancing at him, she remarked, "That must have cost quite a bit."Money was just a number to Nash and what mattered was Nina's happiness. "I thought it would suit you perfectly when I saw it," he replied."And was the one you bought for Miranda just as fitting for her?" Nina blurted out without thinking, instantly regretting her words. How could she bring up such a sensitive topic, embarrassing them both?She bit her lip, expecting Nash to scold her for being
Yet Nina still sensed something off. Nash's seemingly casual remark carried a hint of indifference and a touch of resignation. Maybe she was reading too much into it. She could not shake the habit of analyzing Nash's emotions from his words, caring about his ups and downs. She should not worry so much.Entering the Gibson residence, they found it already bustling with people, around a dozen or so. Some were dressed in suits, others in military uniforms, all looking quite distinguished. Grandpa George wore a simple suit, not a new one, but rather giving off a vintage vibe, just as Nash had mentioned. Grandpa George was indeed a thrifty man.Grandpa George seemed to be enjoying himself with the others, but upon seeing Nash and Nina approach, his face lit up. "Ah, Nash is here, and Nina too," he exclaimed, rising from his seat with the help of a cane to greet them.Nina quickened her pace subconsciously, not wanting Grandpa George to exert himself. "Grandpa George!""Nina," Grandpa
Nina could not help but wonder why she had never heard him bring it up before. Maybe because there was always an unspoken agreement between Nash and Nina not to pry too much into each other's business. It was just a matter of mutual respect. Besides, he probably could not fully disclose everything. She quickly averted her gaze. Out of the blue, someone chimed in to ease the tension, saying, "Mr. George, we get where you're coming from. We're not here to gossip. It's just that the truth is evident. Even Vice Commander Frank is also feeling indignant on your behalf. After all, you're our elder, and you haven't been in the know for long, right? Honestly, it looks like Nash doesn't have much respect for you." Nina felt like these folks were really going after Nash. She looked at Nash again, noticing his silence. Knowing him, he typically would not tolerate such gossip in his presence. It seemed like he was likely concerned about Grandpa George's dignity, especially since these were als
"Nina, this drink is for you." At the same time, Frank handed a glass of wine to Nina. Nash wrapped an arm around her shoulder and took the glass from Frank's hand. "She's allergic to alcohol, so I'll drink on her behalf."Nash quickly downed the drink in his hand. Others chimed in, "Wow! Look at Nash here. Back in the camp, he was tough as nails, always ready to face any challenge. Now, all soft-hearted for his sweet wife. Ah, the iron-blooded man has gone tender!""You bet.""Nash, since you've introduced her to all of us, when are you planning to have a proper wedding ceremony? You two haven't had one yet, right? When the time comes, I'll give you a big wedding gift. We'll come to toast to your happiness!"Nina watched as they laughed. She could tell that despite some initial discontent towards Nash, Grandpa George's words had smoothed things over. Some of these people were genuinely caring.She maintained her smile throughout. Nash's lips curved slowly as he spoke, "I'll mak
The trash can sailed through the air, scattering its foul-smelling contents across the police station, filling the air with a pungent odor. Several young officers flanked Kieran from both sides, trying to grab hold of his arms. But Kieran thrashed wildly, his surprising strength allowing him to break free from one officer’s grip. With a sharp elbow strike, he hit another officer square in the stomach. The officer grunted in pain, stumbling back a few steps but gritted his teeth and held his ground. The scene in the reception hall descended into chaos. Civilians seeking assistance huddled in corners, some shrieking in fear. Mrs. Stone stood to the side, wringing her hands and stomping her feet in desperation. Her voice, pleading and panicked, was drowned out by her son’s shouting. “Kieran, stop this! Calm down!” she cried. But Kieran was too far gone, consumed by his manic performance. He couldn’t—or wouldn’t—hear her. The situation was teetering on the brink of tot
Karina stared at the flood of messages, feeling nothing but disgust and revulsion. Kieran’s texts were growing increasingly obsessive, filled with unhinged threats, unreasonable demands, and even veiled warnings against her safety. No. She couldn’t allow the Stone family’s harassment to continue unchecked. Taking a deep breath, she decisively dialed the police. She provided the authorities with a detailed account of the Stone family’s relentless harassment, including Kieran’s disturbing demands and the threatening content of his messages. The officers assured her that they would investigate promptly and provide her with protection if necessary. With the police now involved, Karina finally felt a sliver of relief. *The response was swift. The blare of sirens pierced through the city’s noise as several police cars raced toward Kieran’s address. Flashing red and blue lights reflected off the surrounding buildings, drawing curious stares from passersby. Guided by
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