"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
Upon hearing the noise, Nina instinctively slammed on the brakes. Her gaze shifted towards the alley, where she saw a few rough-looking men gathered together. These guys seemed shady, and when Nina caught a glimpse of the girl's clothing, it struck a chord. Wasn't that Eve? She stared for a moment longer, noticing the panic and fear on Eve's face. Clearly, she was in distress and did not know what to do in such a situation. Eve's complexion was grim."Don't come any closer! If you lay a finger on me, my grandfather won't let you get away with it!" Eve had grown up sheltered and privileged, never encountering such a situation before, let alone being bullied. She had intended to go out for dinner with Stella, but since Stella had something to attend to and was on the phone, Eve wandered around nearby. A few steps later, she found herself lost and ended up in this sketchy area.Initially, she had wanted to find Stella, but as she turned a corner, she stumbled upon several men acting
She did not react immediately. That wasn’t right."Two hundred bucks," the person holding the money was still greedy, not willing to give in. "She should have more than that.""This is all the cash we have," Nina replied. "If you want more, there's nothing left. Let her go, don't end up causing trouble for yourselves.""Are you trying to intimidate us?" They scoffed. "We're not easily scared. Just by selling a few of you, we could make more than a measly two hundred bucks."This cash is just a drop in the bucket, it should be at least twenty grand.""Twenty grand? Who carries that amount in cash? That's not realistic. How about this, you let her go, and I'll get the money for you," Nina replied."Are you trying to fool us like kids? If we let her go, won't you all just run away?"Considering your good looks, you could fetch tens of thousands if we sell you. If you want to redeem yourselves, you have to pay the price!"Seeing they were being unreasonable, greedy beyond measure,
Taylor and Eve were terrified, screaming loudly. Thankfully, her car was sturdy enough and did not get smashed through."Stop her, don't let her get away!" The men surrounded Nina's car, trapping her inside, preventing her from leaving."You've hurt a few of our brothers and now you want to run? If you dare ram into us, I'd like to see where you'll go!"Get out of the car!"These guys were furious, getting a bit crazy. Seeing them hiding in the car, they started smashing it.Eve's face turned pale with fear, tears streaming down her face. Taylor, seeing how skinny these men were but how strong they seemed, was getting worried. She asked, "What do we do, Nina? What should we do?"Glancing at the time, Nina reassured them, "Don't be afraid, we'll be fine.""Driving such a nice car, you must be wealthy. Giving us two hundred bucks to brush us off, treating us like beggars, do you think we're beneath you?"They kicked and smashed the car."Get out of the car!"They wanted them ou
Eve took the bottle and had a sip, but the fear made her choke on the water. "Take it slow," Nina advised. Eve tightened the cap, hesitated for a moment, then looked at Nina and decided to speak up, "Thanks for earlier. If it weren't for you, I probably would've been in trouble." Nina joked, "I usually see you as pretty tough, but you seemed pretty scared just now." Eve pursed her lips and looked down again. "I know I've embarrassed you twice. It's normal for you to make fun of me." "Alright, get in the car. I'll take you home. If you're late, your grandpa will worry about you." Saving her was for the sake of Eve’s grandfather.He only had her, and if she had not helped Eve, he would surely be upset. She could not be indifferent to that extent. Suddenly, Eve remembered something. "My phone and bag are with Stella. I wonder where she went!" Hearing this, Nina hesitated and asked, "Weren't you with Stella just now? How come you're suddenly alone?" Eve explained, "Stella
On the day of the engagement banquet, Ben’s phone appearing near Jamie should have been a warning sign, but she missed it. Later, she had warmly welcomed Jamie into her home, showering her with care. She had even worried that Ben might dislike Jamie and tried to help them get along. And what happened in the end? While she had been tirelessly caring for them, the two of them ended up in bed together. Now, they were living under the same roof, while she and her child were left with nothing. How could Winnie not harbor resentment? Especially when she looked at Charlie, a chilling thought crept into her mind: If her own child’s life was ruined because of Jamie, then shouldn’t she retaliate by ruining Jamie’s child? An eye for an eye. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Every time Charlie called her "Aunt Winnie" with such innocence, it reminded her of the bond between them. How could she be so heartless? “I’m in Ben’s villa. He won’t let me leave,” Jamie
Ben gripped Jamie's chin tightly, his voice firm and unyielding. When Jamie had disappeared from his life, he had exhausted every possible means, called in countless favors, and poured his energy into finding her. But he had failed. Just when he was on the verge of giving up, he had met Winnie. It felt like fate had stepped in, intertwining their paths once more, as if destined for a lifetime of entangled love and hate. If that was his reality, then he would play along with it.“Instead of plotting ways to escape from me, why don’t you focus on apologizing? Show me some sincerity, and maybe I’ll make your life a little easier,” Ben said.Jamie’s lips curved into a bitter smile. She knew what he wanted.He wanted an apology and an attitude of remorse. But she also knew she had no leverage to stay by his side.Even if she played along now, making him happy temporarily, there was no future for them. Mrs. Lucas’s disdain for her was an insurmountable mountain, and she couldn’t see
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