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
Nash walked over and joined her in the breeze, his tone casual as he said, "I've gotten used to it. There's no point in trying to change things now. It's all the same."All the same? What did he mean by that? Nina thought she knew him well, but she realized there were still many secrets about him. She observed his side profile intently and inquired, "Did they treat you like this before? Isolated you?"But why, though?It was evident that these people were older than Nash. They dote on Eve so much, why couldn't they be more understanding toward Nash? He must have been very young when he was in the military.Nash replied, "I rarely meet with them anymore, so you don't need to worry too much.""You've never told me about your time in the military."Nash glanced at Nina. "I spent some time in the military, but it wasn't official. At that time, nobody cared, and Grandpa George took me in."Nina was surprised. "Why? Didn't your family take care of you?"Nash shrugged it off. "They
"Eve, thank you so much for being so kind to me," the person expressed gratitude. "I'm sorry you had to endure this.""You don't need to thank me. Anyone who bullies you is basically bullying me too. I naturally have to stand up for my friend and not let the bad guys win," Eve replied."I was just venting to you, but you took it to heart. I'm really touched by how you treat me. It's great to have a friend like you," the person said, moved.Eve had always been like this, sincere in her friendships. She had been pampered since childhood, never experiencing much hardship or the darker sides of human nature. When she heard her friend was being bullied, she immediately wanted to stand up for her, even though it ended up causing her trouble. But she had no regrets. Next time, she would do the same."I don't know if you're free lately, but I'd like to treat you to a meal to thank you properly," the person continued."I am," Eve replied, lying on her bed. "Anytime works for me, as long as
"I watched the behind-the-scenes footage, and she definitely did not use a stunt double. Her fight scenes were smooth and natural, so it's no wonder she's getting popular!""Have you seen it? Miranda is on fire. The stock market hit the ceiling today."Nina overheard people in the office discussing. She grabbed a glass of water from the pantry. Coincidentally, Taylor was there too. Seeing Nina, she said, "Nina, did you hear what they were saying? Mr. York invested heavily in Miranda. It's thanks to him that she's become this big. Miranda must have been Mr. York's savior in a past life!"Taylor still could not understand how Miranda could become popular. And it was just one drama that made her popular. She had not watched the drama yet, but she had heard others rave about how good it was. She was not fond of Miranda so even if her drama was popular, she did not want to watch it.Nina looked at Taylor and said with a smile, "Even if they praise her, it still depends on whether she
The two of them arrived in the city area, and Nina first took Taylor to do some shopping. The beverages in the pantry were mostly purchased from this store. It was done in no time. However, Nina's task was a bit more complicated. The coffee beans she bought for Nash required a phone call appointment, but fortunately, she managed to secure it."Is there such a fuss about the coffee beans you buy for Mr. York? You even need an appointment," Taylor asked, puzzled by the scarcity of these coffee beans."Mr. York is quite particular," replied Nina. "He only drinks this particular kind of coffee beans."Taylor could only sigh, marveling at the world of the wealthy, where even coffee beans were top-notch.Nina had already made an appointment with the shop manager. When she went in, she asked, "Manager, is it all prepared for me? Same as before?"The manager seemed somewhat hesitant. "Miss Nina, there's only this one bag left, and maybe..."He hesitated to continue, seemingly having di
"You better stop!" Eve interrupted her, "There's no Nash here, and no Grandpa either. You don't need to pretend in front of me. Show your true colors, you bad woman!"Her words caught Nina off guard. How did she become a bad woman? They had no conflict between them, right? Yet, she was labeled as such by her.Not wanting to cause trouble, Nina looked at Eve, who was several years younger and the granddaughter of Grandpa George. She grew up without her parents. Nina decided to compromise. "Since you both like it, you can have it. It's not a big deal."But Taylor was not willing to let it go. She wanted to stand up for Nina.Nina, however, said, "Taylor, let's go."Taylor asked, "What about Mr. York's coffee beans? They're gone now. If he can't have his coffee, he'll blame you.""It's okay."Seeing her trying to act good, Eve snorted, "Don't pretend to be nice. Even if you yield, I won't thank you. You got me scolded by Grandpa and embarrassed me. I haven't settled the score with
Unfortunately, Ben couldn’t see through any of this. Summer, however, wasn’t the least bit intimidated. Shaking her head confidently, she said, “I’ve never done anything to upset him. I don’t believe that just exchanging a few words with him would make him kick me out.”Mrs. Lucas opened her mouth, about to say something, but seeing Summer’s confident demeanor, she hesitated. Maybe, just maybe, Ben might actually feel too awkward to reject her outright. And if a little covert manipulation were added into the mix…Suddenly, Mrs. Lucas had an idea. Hearing it, Summer’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Mrs. Lucas, that’s an excellent plan! We should act quickly before he does anything else irrational.” “Alright.” Though the plan was solid, the two of them decided to put it into action three days later. Meanwhile, Ben hadn’t been to the office lately, but he was still keeping track of all the firm’s cases. He was also trying to reach Winnie, but while her phone would ring,
Ben wanted nothing more than to wring Jamie's neck after hearing her cold, cutting words. “I don’t need your lectures,” he growled. Human nature? Didn’t she think he knew enough about it already? He had seen it in every case he handled, and he had learned it the hardest way through her betrayal. When he fell for Jamie, it had been with the intent to marry her, to share a future. But she had stabbed him in the back without hesitation. And yet, when he tried to hate her, tried to wish for her downfall, he couldn’t bring himself to follow through. “Stay here and reflect on your actions, Jamie.” Ben knew her well enough. If she cried, begged for forgiveness, he would soften. But she didn’t. Instead, all she cared about was that child, the child he refused to acknowledge. “Fine,” he thought grimly. “Let’s see how long that bastard can survive.”*Meanwhile, Ben’s mother, Mrs. Lucas, had failed to convince him to cut ties with Jamie. This left her in a tough spot, especial
Ben would never believe the truth, and his mother would never allow Charlie’s existence. Instead of creating chaos and an irreparable fallout, Jamie chose to keep it hidden. She thought that once Ben’s anger subsided, he would eventually let her go.“Even if you figure out who the father is, what difference does it make?” Jamie met Ben’s intense gaze calmly. “We’ve already said everything that needed to be said. Can’t we stop making each other’s lives miserable?”"Your mother offered so much money. Why wouldn’t I take it? I’m not a fool. I gave you up for one million before. After these past four years, do you really think there’s any love left between us? Do you honestly expect me to cry and beg for you?”Jamie’s voice was steady as she stared calmly at Ben. She had been scared at first, but over time, she had come to terms with her reality. Ben wasn’t going to kill her. And as long as she stayed alive, there would eventually come a day when he’d let her go. Right now, his anger wa
The next second, there was only silence on the phone.Ben sent the phone number to his assistant. “Investigate thoroughly.”A thought suddenly struck him. He couldn't let Jamie continue to roam freely outside.*Four days later, Ben's mother came to visit. “You refuse to take over the family business, and now you're going against me by keeping Jamie around again?”Ben didn’t respond, but her anger only grew. “Ben, you’ve seen for yourself what kind of person Jamie is. Why are you still so obsessed with her? The fiancée I arranged for you is far better than the one you’ve chosen!”The Larson family was also one of the prominent families in Birkham. While the Lucas and Larson families couldn’t rival the York family, the Lucas family still held its position as the second most influential family in the city. On top of that, they were relatives of the Scott Lucas. Even Scott, who had initially resisted marriage, eventually followed his parents’ wishes and entered into a family
Jamie closed her eyes briefly, sinking further into despair. She didn’t even notice when Ben had left the room. Her thoughts were scattered, her mind drifting in and out of focus.Though she wanted to leave the hospital, she was constantly watched, making it impossible. By afternoon, a nurse came in to change her dressing.Jamie glanced up absentmindedly. “It’s fine. I don’t need it.”“This is under Dr. Lawson’s direct orders,” the nurse replied gently but firmly. “I can’t afford to cut corners. Since you’re still admitted, please cooperate.”Jamie lifted her gaze slightly, her tone subdued. “I’d like to get some fresh air.”“Of course, once we’re done changing your dressing, I can take you outside. Just make sure not to strain your muscles,” the nurse said patiently.The weather was exceptionally pleasant that day. As she sat in the wheelchair outside, Jamie made several calls to Winnie. The phone was still off, as if Winnie had made up her mind to disappear completely from her
“You're the patient, and I'm the doctor. Taking care of you is my job,” Jay said with a light smile, handing her the utensils. “Go ahead, try it.”Jamie was indeed hungry. She hadn’t felt like eating, but she couldn’t refuse his gesture. Besides, she needed to regain her strength quickly if she hoped to find Charlie. She picked up the utensils and was just about to take a bite when footsteps sounded outside the room. The door swung open, revealing Ben. His expression darkened instantly, his face stormy as he took in the scene before him. “So, Dr. Lawson, is this how you treat all your patients, or is this a special case?” Ben’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Just giving an old classmate some extra care. What’s the harm in that?” Jay replied, his words laced with subtle defiance. The room's atmosphere froze, tension thick in the air. Ben’s sharp gaze flickered between Jamie and Jay before finally settling on Jamie’s pale face, his expression unreadable. Jamie, sensing th
“Wake up, Charlie.” Winnie held him tightly, panic overwhelming her. She wanted to take him away, not harm him! Just then, the sound of a car pulling up broke through the darkness. Footsteps approached, slow and deliberate. A tall man emerged from the shadows and stopped in front of her. Tears streaming down her face, Winnie looked up. The man’s sharp, angular features were obscured by the dim light, adding to his air of mystery. But she immediately recognized him. It was the same man who had told her the truth about Jack Green being Ben Lucas. Winnie glared at him with fierce determination. “Why are you here? Are you happy now that things have come to this?” “You foolish woman, do you think being deceived feels any better?” the mysterious man sneered. “The truth is nothing but a bloody wound. I’d rather…” Winnie’s voice faltered, unable to continue. “Stop lying to yourself,” the man said with a slight shake of his head. “What do you want?” Winnie asked
Jamie couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath. “Stop pretending.” Ben's harsh words cut through the air, as cold and unrelenting as ever. Jamie couldn’t straighten up for a long moment. She gritted her teeth, determined to ignore the pain radiating from her wound, spreading like fire through her body. Sweat dripped from her forehead onto the pale hospital bed, leaving tiny dark stains. “I don’t need to play games with you,” she said finally, her voice frail but resolute. “It wouldn’t work, and I don’t want to. I just want my child back.” Ben’s sharp gaze faltered for a moment before he replied in a cold tone, “Focus on recovering first.” With that, he turned and left the room. Jamie slumped against the edge of the bed, exhausted and broken. *Meanwhile, Winnie drove aimlessly, following random road signs, unaware of where she was heading. The road grew increasingly desolate, with the sun sinking below the horizon and barely a soul in sight. “Where are we, Aunt
Perhaps due to her injuries, Jamie couldn’t muster much strength, and her resistance felt as feeble as a kitten pawing at someone.Jay gently guided her back to the hospital bed. While examining her injuries, his expression turned serious. “All these years, I’ve attended every class reunion, but I’ve never seen you. Did you move abroad?” Jamie shook her head slightly. “Life’s been messy. Nothing worth mentioning.” “If there’s anything troubling you, tell me. Maybe this old classmate can help,” Jay said softly, his eyes full of concern. Though time had barely left its mark on her face, her eyes carried a deep weariness, dulling the radiance she once had. It was clear she had endured more than her fair share of hardships over the years. Jamie remained silent for a moment before shaking her head again. “I’m fine, Jay.” Instinctively, he asked, “So, did you become a lawyer?” The question hit her like a sharp sting. Her lips trembled for a second before she forced a weak