Nina slapped Nash hard.Nash did not flinch, he caught her slap head-on, leaving a bright red mark on his face. He tilted his head and then coldly stared at Nina.Nina was also shocked, looking at her hand. She had slapped him with considerable force, and her hand was stinging. Her own reaction surprised her as well. In their seven years together, they had conflicts before, but she had never raised her hand. In fact, she doubted if anyone had ever hit Nash before."Nina..." Nash's voice was filled with menace.Nina withdrew her numb hand, explaining, "I didn't mean to... If you didn't act out, I wouldn't have hit you!"Nash was seething with anger. Nina had the courage to leave him and even to strike him. His clenched fists crackled with tension. His furious demeanor made Nina tremble, fearing he might retaliate with a slap of his own.But Nash just continued to stare at her coldly. "You're willing to do anything for this man!"Nina would not disclose the truth about the child
She even resorted to drugging him! He had only one demand which was to terminate the pregnancy, and she refused! She even wanted to carry someone else's child. How dare she! How dare she utter such words to him! In the end, Nash released her hand, no longer forcing her. However, his gaze was icy, filled with enough disappointment towards her. "Nina, you'll regret this!" His words were firm and decisive. With that said, he paid no attention to Nina's sad expression. Her eyes, slightly teary, showed her strong will as a single tear ran down her cheek, revealing her refusal to give in to him.Nash left without a second glance, disappearing from Nina's view. Nina slowly sank to the ground. Her hands were sore from the tug-of-war and her eyes downcast, filled with indescribable anguish. She was utterly alone. Yet, this solitude was not what she initially desired. It was only after years of disappointment that she thought being alone was preferable and that ending her marriage was
After pausing for several seconds, Nina looked up at Kate. "You want me to interview the CEO of York Corporation?" Kate folded her hands and stood up casually. "Yes, any problem? Interviewing Nash isn't something anyone can handle. You're the most suitable."Nina closed the file and said, "My resume clearly states that I left York Corporation. Aren't you sending me back?"She had left York Corporation without notice. Returning now would be embarrassing.Kate shrugged, unaware of Nina's conflict with Nash. "Just because you came from York Corporation doesn't mean you're off the hook. This task is yours."Nina placed the file on the table. "Chief Editor, I decline this assignment."She did not want any more involvement with Nash.Moreover, he would not treat her well this time. It was a dilemma.Kate insisted, "Didn't I say it before? You need to step out of your comfort zone. Interviewing Nash is a challenge, but I've assigned it to others before. Nash isn't giving anyone an ea
In just a few days at the TV station, Nina had already remembered the names of her colleagues, although she had not interacted with everyone yet. For instance, she had never spoken to Michelle, the person in front of her."That's how it is," Nina said, picking up the scattered documents.Michelle was not pleased. "Why did the editor assign such a task to you? You've only just arrived. Who do you think you are?"Nina sensed the sting in Michelle's words. "I also feel I might not be up to the task." She was familiar with this situation. It seemed like this assignment was desirable, so she glanced at Michelle and asked, "Do you want to go?"Michelle did not answer. With her pride wounded, she gave a cold snort and headed straight to the editor's office.Nina was not bothered by Michelle's arrogance. If Michelle took on the task and the editor approved, it would be for the best. Although the TV station was highly competitive, Nina had seen enough of the world to know that an inter
"Okay," replied Nina softly.Seeing her lack of reaction, Michelle initially wanted to say something but then felt she was giving too much importance to this newcomer. She withdrew her gaze, maintaining her haughty posture, picked up the files, and turned on her high heels to leave.Watching Michelle's departure, Angel made a face.Noticing Angel's antics, Nina could not help but ask, "What's your issue with Michelle?"Angel replied, "She's rubbed many people the wrong way, not just me. They're angry but silent because she's the best performer here!"Nina remarked, "There's a reason she's the top performer. She dares to seize opportunities and work hard!""It's not just that. She's ruthless," Angel continued. "I had a good project before, one that could have been my way out of typing all day here. Even though success wasn't guaranteed, I deserved a chance. But Michelle snatched it away. She doesn't want to give newcomers a chance. She wants to be the perennial favorite at the TV
Michelle took the water bottle and smiled, "This time I'll succeed for sure. I'll definitely get a promotion and a raise. I've heard internal news that the chief editor position is opening up, and my performance stands out the most. The chief editor position will be mine. When that happens, I'll groom you two to be the next me, and I won't forget your contributions!""That's wonderful! Thank you so much, Michelle!" The two girls were delighted. Their prospects depended entirely on whether Michelle could ascend to the chief editor position.Michelle made several calls to York Corporation again, using the same excuses as before. She did not want to wait idly anymore, with no results. Based on her past experience, she knew she had to fight for it herself.After a four-hour drive, they arrived at the entrance of York Corporation's building. Michelle had also bribed the security guard, repeatedly asking, "Are you sure Nash will leave from here at 5 p.m.?""Absolutely. Mr. York usually e
“I'm from Starry Sky Television Station!” Seeing Nash responding to her, Michelle felt delighted. She quickly pushed aside the security guard's obstruction and approached Nash. "Here's my identification. You can take a look. I'm from a legitimate TV station. I've interviewed many prominent figures. Mr. York, as long as you accept my interview, I guarantee it will bring you both fame and fortune…"Michelle kept boasting about her accomplishments, emphasizing how she could bring more benefits to Nash. However, Nash's focus was on the TV station. If he remembered correctly, Nina was working at this TV station. Nash still could not understand why Nina would choose this job, undoubtedly starting over again. After all these years by his side, climbing to this position, she had good connections and resources. There was no need for her to stay at a TV station. Actually, he was worried if she would be at a disadvantage there. After all, she had long outgrown her days as a naive young g
"The other girl has an idea," she said, moving closer to Michelle. "Do you know that newcomer came from the York Corporation?"Michelle looked at her. "Who?""It's Nina," she replied. "I heard she used to work for Mr. York. Maybe she can help."Michelle was surprised. She had no interest in the backgrounds of people at the television station. If it did not help her work, she did not need to know. Besides, she had been at the station for four years and had not seen a more outstanding reporter. She could handle any challenge, and the chief editor valued her abilities. If she could solve the problem of interviewing Mr. York, the chief editor would surely be pleased, and she wouldn't worry about promotion. It was no wonder the chief editor had given such an important task to Nina. The chief editor valued Nina's previous experience at the York Corporation, and Michelle could not underestimate her.--The next day, Michelle's first stop at the television station was Nina's desk. N
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