Nash intervened, pulling Zoe back, fearing her impulsive actions might escalate the situation. "What's going on, Aunt Zoe? Let her go!"Zoe shrugged off Nash's hand. "I'm not letting go. Today, I'm going to reveal her true colors and show you all. She's nothing but a liar. She's not deaf at all!""Ah—" Miranda screamed loudly. "You all wish for my death, I'll die then!" In the midst of their entanglement, she pushed past everyone and ran out. She crashed into the wall. Blood gushed from her head, and she fell to the ground unconscious. Nina widened her eyes, watching Miranda's action in shock, her face pale and her body retreating. Zoe was also stunned, not expecting Miranda to be so reckless. No one reacted in time. "Miranda!" The assistant called out in fear, "You gang of tormentors, you're all hurting her!" Nash did not hesitate, and he carried Miranda out directly. "Quick, call the doctor!" The assistant did not have time to argue with them and hurried out to call the d
"Nash..." She had just approached and was just about to call out but Nash turned back. He was still on the phone and he walked past her without noticing. "Block the news. Don't let anyone know about Miranda's condition. It won't look good..." Brushing shoulders with Nash, she felt like she was being treated as invisible. At that moment, Nina felt quite uneasy. While she worried about Zoe, it seemed that Nash was consumed with concern for Miranda, fearing it might affect her future prospects. She should not have thought so much about it, but everything she saw planted seeds of doubt in her mind. Seeing Nash so preoccupied with Miranda, he must have been very worried. Nina did not want to trouble him to find out more, so she headed towards the office. The doctor would surely provide her with accurate answers.Talking to the doctor about Miranda's condition, she learned that Miranda was deaf in both ears, completely unable to hear. She had already known about Miranda's inability
She owed him too much, debts she had not yet repaid."I'm fine," Scott walked in, wiping his sweat with a smile. "I rushed over from home so I didn't even have time to change clothes."Looking at him, Nina smiled. "Sit down, I'll pour you a glass of water.""No need, I'll do it myself!" Scott grabbed it, not wanting her to strain herself. "Is the baby okay?"Hearing him, Nina sat back down. "Has Leonard already told you everything?"Scott sipped his water, smiling but not saying a word.Nina teased, "He tells you everything. I suspect he's your informant. The moment something happens to me, it's immediately in your ears.""No way," Scott placed the glass down. "He and I are just good friends. We chat more because we're classmates.""Good then, or else I'd have no privacy left," Nina joked.Scott's gaze lingered on her belly."The baby's fine. There’s been some bleeding but it's not serious, the doctor told me to rest more," Nina informed him.Scott inquired further, "How man
Upon hearing this, a look of shock crossed Nina's face. Scott hung up after finishing his words. This decision had been on his mind for a long time. He needed to be brave and give it a try. If he did not seize this opportunity, he might never have it again."Scott, what are you saying!" Nina had never expected him to do this. She was not carrying his child, yet he was eager to step in as the father. This was unheard of.Scott explained, 'I'm sorry for making this decision on my own, but I believe it's the only way to make him give up.'"But what about you?" Nina furrowed her brows. "The child isn't yours, yet you're taking on this responsibility. It's not fair to you!"She was mindful of the situation. Scott was still young, with a long road ahead. What would his future wife think? What about his family? She could not let him bear this responsibility for her sake, inviting gossip and criticism.Scott responded, "Fair or unfair, in this life, I'll do what I like. I don't care w
"Scott..."The door slammed open, revealing Nash's grim face as he stormed in angrily."Scott!" Nash grabbed Scott's collar as he approached. "You've got some nerve to say that!"He had been itching to punch him for a while now! Lingering around Nina, it had been fueling his frustration.But for Scott to say something like that today... it was asking for trouble!He landed a direct punch on Scott's face."Nash!" Nina intervened immediately, scolding, "This is a hospital, don't resort to violence!"Nash's voice turned cold. "He's the one I'm hitting!"Despite taking a punch, Scott chuckled. "Go ahead, I owe you this. But once it's done, can Nina be returned to me?"Seeing his relaxed smile, Nash clenched his fists so hard they creaked. "Scott, you're not leaving with a face!""As long as you give Nina back to me, my face means nothing. I'd even give you my life!" Scott wiped the blood from his lip, completely unfazed by how much more beating he might take."You're asking for
Scott knew Nina inside out. Everything became crystal clear to him."Great, you two are on the same page now, and I've become the outsider!" Nash's heart turned cold. His gaze shifted to Nina, a smirk playing on his lips. "You want to tell me this, don't you? You and Scott have the closest relationship!"From that moment on, Nina knew they had completely severed ties. It still hurt her. However, knowing how caring he was towards Miranda, it was an insurmountable barrier even if their marriage persisted. He would never let go of Miranda. For her, it was a thorn in her side, a nagging feeling that would not go away."Think what you will," Nina said. "I've said my piece.""There’s no need for you to say anything," Nash retorted. With icy resolve, he pulled out their marriage certificate from his inner coat pocket.Holding up the certificate, he scoffed at Nina. "Our marriage, you don't want it? Well, neither do I!"Before their eyes, he tore up the marriage certificate. Nina wat
Nash was unaware, but Scott was. She had truly kept it to herself, not mentioning it to anyone.Scott's words resonated with her deeply. If someone paid even a bit of attention to her, they would recognize the person reflected in the depths of her eyes.The absence of attention meant ignorance. This indirectly suggested that Nash did not know about her feelings because he hadn't focused on her.She felt immensely sad. Scott's heart ached sharply. He had never seen Nina cry so intensely. It was merely Nash tearing up their marriage certificate, seemingly a trivial act, yet it left Nina utterly devastated. Scott embraced her, gently patting her back. "I understand your sadness. I understand you. You're not wrong. There's nothing wrong with liking someone.""I was wrong," Nina shook her head. "I was wrong from the beginning. I thought I was special, but I was just a passing figure in his life. It was wrong from the start!"She liked him because Nash had saved her, and she believe
In Nina's perspective, she could not allow herself to affect others. Though she did not always succeed, within her capabilities, she had to make it happen."You're not him, so why do you think you're holding him back?" Yvonne remarked again. "It's the modern era now with emotional freedom and marital freedom. Don't confine yourself. So what if you have a child? You'll still be living together in the future. Besides, he doesn't mind. Why do you? You're just too considerate, always afraid of others being at a disadvantage, while they consider it a blessing!"Nina looked at Yvonne. Their views on relationships were different. Yvonne was carefree, true to herself. When it was time to break up, she did it without feeling indebted. But Nina was different."I don't like him enough," Nina told her.Yvonne did not see it as an issue. "You haven't even dated. How can you be sure you won't like him? Love can grow over time.""What if I let him down?" Nina pondered deeply. " Relationships sho
The woman had deliberately spoken in a vague and ambiguous way. She had been sent by Summer, with Mrs. Lucas's covert assistance. Together, they had schemed to place a helper in the villa with a simple enough task with their combined influence. But to Jamie, the words carried a different implication. This was Lucas’s territory, which meant this woman had likely been instructed by Ben. If Jamie didn’t drink the soup, she was certain Ben wouldn’t let it slide. A wave of bitterness washed over her. “Fine, just leave it over there. I’ll drink it later when I’m thirsty.” “Miss Lewis, I need to personally see you finish the soup before I can leave. If you’re not ready to drink it now, that’s no problem. I’ll just wait here.” The woman placed the tray on the table, pulled a chair over, and sat directly in front of Jamie. Her stare was unrelenting, her attitude clear. She wasn’t leaving until the job was done. If it had been anyone else in Jamie’s place, the woman wouldn’t da
“Don’t beg me. If begging worked, I’d have begged Ben not to leave a long time ago,” Winnie said as she wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes. “Here’s the deal. I called to make one thing clear. Everything you owe me, I’m going to take back, bit by bit, through Charlie. He’s your son, and they say the sins of the mother fall on the child.” With that biting remark, Winnie hung up without hesitation.Clutching her phone, her chest ached with a deep, lingering pain. The masked man approached, standing by her side. “Winnie, what’s the point of all this? You’re clearly full of hate for Jamie, but instead of taking it out on her, you’re here looking after her kid. I don’t get you sometimes.“If it were me,” he continued, “I’d grab this opportunity and make her suffer. Why are you holding back?”Winnie shook her head. “Charlie calls me his aunt, and besides, it’s not right to blame a child for the mistakes of adults.”She might despise Jamie, but Winnie couldn’t bring herself
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