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
Eve walked directly to Nash's side. "Previously at Zoe's party, we did not get a chance to talk properly before you left. You're staying for a few more days this time, right?" She took Nash's arm, leaving Nina behind.She did not act like this at the banquet. Back then, she did not know what kind of person Nina was. Plus, she had promised Zoe to help Nash out. She had treated Nash like a real brother for years and was willing to assist him. Now that Nash had a wife, she should treat her as a sister-in-law, but she just could not warm up to Nina.She had heard from friends that Nina was a tough character. At work, she used her position to oppress others, and she was even arrogant about it! She heard that Nash's mother did not like her. She did not know Nash was married, but thinking about facing such a formidable sister-in-law in the future, she did not want to be mistreated. If they got divorced, that would be even better."I can't stay for long," Nash pushed Eve's hand away gentl
She immediately nestled into Grandpa George's embrace, seeking comfort. Grandpa George held her face, examining it carefully. It was just a minor cut, nothing serious. "The wound is small, you'll be fine, Eve. Don't cry in front of so many people.""Grandpa," Eve sniffled, "You have to stand up for me."Before Grandpa George could respond, Frank spoke up, "Eve is injured. From childhood to now, Mr. George has never let her suffer. Anyone who dares to bully her, I won't let them off!"Nina glanced at Frank, who was quite robust. If he really got physical, she would be nothing. She felt a shiver run down her spine instinctively. However, Nash held her hand and looked at Frank coldly. "Do you think there's no one who will stand up for Nina?"Nina glanced at Nash, somewhat surprised. No matter what others said about him, he always remained silent, never once retorting. But whenever she was bullied, he would stand up for her without hesitation, no matter who the offender was.Frank a
Without further ado, Nina did not say anything more and agreed with Grandpa's wise words. It was easy to hurt others, but it often backfired. "I'm sorry, Nina," Eve apologized."It's okay, I forgive you!" Nina responded graciously.Grandpa George was satisfied with how things turned out. At least Eve had not made a big mistake this time. "Knowing your mistake is good. What's important is that you don't repeat it. That's what makes a respectable person. No more of these antics in the future," he instructed.Eve obediently promised, "Got it, Grandpa. I'll make sure to get along well with Nina from now on." With that, she linked arms with Nina, wanting to assure Grandpa that she and Nina got along and that such incidents would not happen again.Seeing this, Grandpa George smiled. "Good, keep in touch with her."Nina felt a bit uncomfortable with Eve's sudden warmth. Such sudden affection must have an ulterior motive. Fortunately, Eve did not have any ulterior motives. She was just
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