Although Nash had clarified his marital status at a previous York Corporation gala, stating he was married, the public remained unaware. Today, he publicly acknowledged his marriage to prevent further speculation about him and Miranda in the media."This can't be a joke, Mr. York. Your marriage shouldn't be such a secret. How come there's been no news about it?""It's not April Fools' Day, Mr. York. Please don't joke around...""I am married," Nash said earnestly. "I've never been one for jokes. My wife has been by my side for seven years, and we've been married for three. We've always been very close. I don't want any of you to misreport and cause misunderstandings with my wife!"Miranda's expression turned somewhat unnatural. Nash publicly acknowledging their marriage was something she had never anticipated. Despite her discomfort, she maintained her composure in front of the cameras, though her fingers tightened in an effort to control her inner anxiety.Nash had always indulge
"Penelope…""I've been through so much to get where I am today. Even if no one watches the dramas I'm in and my popularity declines, it's my own problem. The entertainment industry is vast. Does everyone who's better than me have to be seen as a threat?" "That's not true. It's because Miranda relies on her patron...""Let's not speak ill of others. I don't want to hear that kind of talk. You know me well. I've made plenty of mistakes in the past, so now I need to cherish myself more and protect my reputation."Penelope cherished her future immensely. What she despised the most was using jealousy of others' achievements to elevate oneself. She and Miranda were fundamentally different. She had climbed up from the bottom and understood the hardships within. Miranda, on the other hand, was born with a silver spoon, born into unfairness. Without that privilege, Penelope relied on her own efforts to strive for what she wanted. She believed that one day she would reach the peak.---
She found herself in the ocean, struggling to breathe as she attempted to swim to the surface. But a massive rock pinned her down, leaving her trapped and facing imminent death. As panic gripped her, she screamed, "I don't want to die!""Wake up, miss," a voice called out.Wiping away tears, she realized it was all just a nightmare. Her pillow was soaked with tears, and she was back in the hospital.Fearing for her unborn child, she touched her belly, asking about its well-being. The nurse reassured her, "The baby is fine. Despite signs of miscarriage when you arrived, timely medical attention saved the child."Relieved, she nodded gratefully. "That's a relief. As long as the baby's okay."The nurse then asked if she wanted to inform her family. Looking around, she considered the situation. It was not the same hospital as last time, where acquaintances of Nash might discover her pregnancy. She decided, "Yes, please make a call for me."In less than half an hour, Yvonne arrived, v
Hearing her words, Yvonne's eyes welled up with tears. She had never felt such deep concern for her before. Facing everything alone, without her husband's support, Yvonne could not imagine enduring it herself. What kind of karma led to Nina's marriage being like this?Yvonne hugged her, gently patting her back. "You still have me. Everything will be alright," she said, her heart aching.Nina leaned against Yvonne's shoulder, feeling comforted. Fortunately, she was not completely alone. She still had many things to hold on to. It was just that she could not have Nash anymore.Nina was discharged from the hospital after finishing her IV drip. The doctor advised her not to overexert herself and to avoid strenuous exercise. There was not anything major to worry about.Yvonne stayed by her side. "Do you... want to go back?" she asked.Nina thought for a moment. "Let's go back," she replied.Yvonne helped Nina into the car, and as she drove, she said, "Alright, keep in touch. If you ne
"Mr. York, we haven't found Nina yet. Today, the wind was strong and the waves were high. It's highly likely that she might have been swept away. The chances of her being alive are very slim."Hearing this news, Nash could not bear it anymore. It felt like a knife had been thrust into his heart. He grabbed the person and coldly interrogated, "What did you say? Nina won't die!"The person tried to calm his emotions, saying, "Mr. York, I know you're anxious, but you need to calm down. If we haven't found Nina yet, there's still a chance she might have been rescued in time. Let's think positively and hope for the best.""Yes, she might have been rescued." Nash dared not think of the worst. He had never imagined Nina leaving him in this way. She could not possibly be dead."Today, many fishing boats returned to shore, and I heard they rescued several people. We don't know if Nina was among them," the person continued, trying to console Nash.Nash refused to believe that Nina was still
The couple rushed into the hospital room. Seeing her daughter lying pale and unconscious in the bed, Mrs. Jasper broke down in tears, collapsing to the floor. "My daughter, how could this happen to you? My poor, unfortunate daughter! If only I hadn't let you come back to the country, look at the suffering you're enduring!"Mr. Jasper helped his wife up, trying to console her. "Our daughter will be fine. Don't be too upset. She's been wronged, and we'll make sure she gets justice. If you collapse from crying, how will we help our daughter?"Hearing her husband's words, Mrs. Jasper cried a little more softly but with determination in her eyes. "My daughter didn't fall into the sea. She was pushed!"Outside the hospital room were members of the Jasper Corporation and Taylor. It was Taylor who first found Stella. Not having seen Nina for a while and knowing that Stella was following Nina, Taylor went to look for them but could not find them. She panicked when she saw Stella struggli
She had never seen such unreasonable parents before. They accused Nina of harming Stella without any evidence, and if something were to happen to Nina, her parents would have nowhere to turn to for justification. The thought made Taylor feel even more bitter. Nina had raised her from scratch, and she believed in Nina's kindness. She could not have done such a thing. As for Stella, she was cunning enough to be capable of anything. Taylor did not need evidence to believe it. As for Stella being harmed and falling into the sea, that was just retribution. She deserved it!"Do you even have the right to speak?" Mr. Jasper rebuked Taylor sharply, "The York Corporation has all sorts of people, and even a lowly employee dares to interrupt me!"Nash's gaze at Mr. Jasper was extremely sharp. He casually put his hands in his pockets to control his displeasure and sneered, "Mr. Jasper, you live abroad after all, where democracy and freedom are valued. What's wrong with my employee expressing
Not far away, Nina looked at the figure of Nash and called out softly. Yvonne was beside her. Yvonne, worried about her, accompanied her to the hospital, only to see such a chaotic scene.Nash heard the voice and instinctively froze, turning back to see Nina standing unscathed before him. In that moment, he felt incredibly moved. The person he almost lost was suddenly back by his side, a feeling he had never experienced before. He quickly hurried over and hugged Nina tightly.Nina did not expect such a strong reaction from him, her hands unsure where to go. She only felt his grip tighten, almost making it hard for her to breathe.In that moment, Nash realized just how afraid he was of losing her. He never wanted to lose her again! With her by his side, he felt a sense of security he had never felt before.Nash reached out and stroked her hair, his voice becoming hoarse but gentle, as if afraid to startle her away again. "Where did you go? Do you know how worried I was about you?"
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