Being caught by the press was a big no-no. Nina watched the video quietly, opting not to chime in. Whether Miranda was involved with the male actor did not matter much to her. But Nash's reaction, was he getting jealous?Nina had no interest in checking if they were in the office or why Nash was upset. That would just spell trouble. She reminded herself not to overthink it.Meanwhile, Taylor and Cynthia discussed Nash and Miranda's relationship. The office door swung open once more, this time by Miranda herself. Taylor and Cynthia fell silent."Nash, there's nothing between us. It's just tabloid nonsense. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. Please don't be mad," Miranda's voice wavered as she tried to calm Nash down.Taylor could not help but roll her eyes. Miranda was quite the performer, so fake.Nash's expression was stern, his eyes grave as he replied in a deep voice, "This is the last time. I don't want to see this kind of gossip again.""I'll be more careful," Miranda e
Rattled by a blow to her pride, Miranda felt as though Nina was mocking her acting abilities, implying her performances required no intellectual effort.She had intended to boast about her accomplishments as a singer, suggesting that her acting career had taken her to new heights, even surpassing her previous success. But instead, Nina's remark felt like an insult, fueling a desire within Miranda to lash out.With Nash present, however, she had to rein in her temper."I think this poster turned out quite well. What do you think, Nina?" Miranda deliberately strolled to the window, glancing at the billboard on the building across the street. She chuckled, surprised by how prominent Nina's position was. Seeing her poster every day must be uncomfortable for her.Without even turning her head, Nina replied, "Miss Miranda, I still have work to do. Do you have any other business?"She had no interest in engaging with Miranda, who seemed more concerned with showing off than anything else.
Upon receiving the order, Cynthia simply replied, "Oh."Nash stared at Nina, his expression darkening involuntarily, and added, "I'm not accustomed to drinking what others make."Cynthia halted in her steps once again.However, Nina retorted, "Didn't you hear what Miss Miranda say? The company doesn't keep idlers. If Cynthia can't handle the drink, what else can she do?"Her words carried a sting, far from pleasant.This caused both Taylor and Cynthia to draw in a sharp breath, feeling uneasy.The atmosphere did not seem quite right.Taylor had been by Nina's side for several months now. Although she was reserved by nature, she was gentle in her demeanor, especially in front of Mr. York, showing utmost respect.She always knew how to handle any situation.When would she ever speak in such a tone to him?They dared not breathe heavily, standing there obediently.Nash's eyes darkened. He was not feeling pleased about this matter either. He said coldly, "Didn't you bring this u
Nina was completely stunned. When did Nash have the leisure to watch a movie with her? They had been married for so long, and he had never bothered to have dinner with her alone or watch a movie together. These were things that couples typically did.Seeing her silence, Nash asked again, "Why aren't you saying anything? I've already had Quincy reserve a restaurant for us. After dinner, we can catch a movie before heading home."Nina asked suspiciously, "Why do you suddenly want to have dinner and watch a movie with me? Is it some important holiday?"She maintained skepticism about anything that seemed overly unusual, especially between her and Nash. Recently, she had been pushing for a divorce and had been distant from him. Perhaps Nash just wanted to make amends, thinking she might not have such thoughts anymore. He said, "I simply want to have dinner with you. Come along with me when the time comes."Finishing his coffee that Nina made, he sensed something was off. "Did you cha
Her friend asked curiously again, "How do you know? You mentioned before that you had work collaboration with the York Corporation. Did Nash tell you?"Stella looked at Miranda walking towards them, confirming that she was indeed very beautiful, fitting the description of "unrequited love." But back then, she had asked Nash in person, and he had said he did not have feelings for anyone. The rumors of them falling in love since high school did not hold up.Stella composed herself and opened the car door. Just as Miranda walked past the car and heard the sound of the door opening, she instinctively glanced over and then looked away."Miss Miranda," Stella called out.Miranda stopped and turned to look.Seeing it was a girl, her guard lowered a lot. Now that her status was different, if she wanted to attract attention, she had to be approachable and friendly. So she subconsciously smiled and said, "Hello.""Miss Miranda, I didn't expect to meet you here. I'm your fan. I've watched y
Miranda chuckled again. "Actually, it's not much of a secret anymore. Nash admitted his marriage a while back, but he didn't want to tell everyone who his wife is.""Do you know?" Stella asked.Miranda replied, "I do know, but Nash doesn't want me to say. After all, it's a secret marriage. They've been married for so long, so naturally, he doesn't want everyone to know about the woman.""Alright, I have to go. I won't keep you any longer. I'll treat you to tea when I'm less busy." With that, Miranda got into her chauffeured car.Stella was left alone, puzzled for a while.Before getting into the car, Miranda glanced at Stella and smirked."Miranda, why didn't you assert your dominance? Let others know you're Mr. York's sweetheart. They'll feel the pressure and back off!" Her assistant, Ruby, did not understand why she acted that way.Miranda would not have said something like this before. But she noticed Stella's keen interest in Nash, which changed things.Since Stella mention
Nash still harbored some anticipation. Over the years, he had never prepared gifts to please women, so he was curious about Nina's reaction. However, upon arriving, he found Nina's desk empty. Approaching, he noticed her computer was off. He turned to Taylor, who was approaching, and asked coldly, "Where's Nina?"Taylor, holding a stack of documents, replied, "Nina left ten minutes early, said she had plans to dine with a friend."Nash's expression immediately soured!Dining with a friend? A male friend or a female friend? Didn't he mention they would have dinner together tonight? Was she rejecting him?Nash was displeased, his deep gaze turning extremely cold. Taylor, observing his gradually darkening expression, felt her heart pound in her throat, unaware of why he suddenly became upset. She quickly added, "Mr. York, I heard Nina's phone call. It was a woman's voice."Nash, with a stern face, swiftly walked out. Downstairs, Quincy had been waiting for a long time. They
"What's wrong?" Yvonne, noticing her sudden withdrawal, stopped the playful banter and asked instinctively. As she stood up, her gaze met Nash's looming figure, and she too felt a pang of panic. Why was Nash suddenly here? No one was more nervous than Nina herself. She had barely been catching up with Yvonne for a while, and now Nash appeared out of nowhere.Instinctively, she tidied her appearance to disguise her unease. Nash, still visibly displeased, approached with a stern, icy demeanor. Observing their apparent discomfort, he inquired sharply, "What's so amusing? You seem unusually happy."His penetrating gaze scanned the table, taking note of the tea, snacks, and an inconspicuous package that did not belong. Nina hurriedly removed the books and package, placing them behind her. "Nothing, just chatting with Yvonne, having some fun," she replied quickly, attempting to deflect his attention."Yeah, yeah," Yvonne chimed in, trying to help Nina navigate the awkward situat
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