"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
Nina suddenly realized, "So he knew all along." She had not said anything, but Scott understood it all too well.Yvonne looked at her and chuckled, "That's why not everyone can remain committed, Nina. Just be content." Nina fell into deep thought. What did she have to be discontented about? The two chatted for a while longer before Yvonne emerged. Scott was still standing at the doorway. Seeing Yvonne come out, he asked, "Is she feeling better?"Yvonne said, "Your mind is all on Nina. She's much better now. Don't worry, she's coming to terms with it. In her marriage with Nash, she had already envisioned the ending, though she still harbored dreams of growing old with him if luck was on her side. But dreams eventually must yield to reality."Scott fell silent, a trace of worry crossing his face. These years must have been tough on Nina too.Yvonne walked over, gripping the railing of the corridor. "I put in a good word for you."Taking a deep breath, she looked out the window.
"I'm not upset," Scott replied. "I know," she continued, "I’m referring to me. But Scott, I have to tell you, I'm not ready to accept another relationship.""What was I thinking?" Scott chuckled. "Don't underestimate me. I admit I'm selfish, but I want to help you more than anything. Despite our feelings, I still consider you my best friend.""What's so good about me?" Nina did not understand, making him worry for so many years.Scott paused for a moment, then simply said, "You're very kind."Nina smiled again. Scott stayed by her side until she fell asleep. As he watched her up close, he reached out to touch her face, noticing the furrow between her brows even in her sleep. He gently smoothed it away, then whispered in her ear, "Nina, I'll never ask you for anything, because everything I have now is thanks to you." With that, he tucked her in, hoping she would sleep well and be free from worries in this life.---Nina was awakened by the sound of her alarm clock. As she
Nina could not relax and was about to go find Zoe. Before she could, she saw Zoe walk in unharmed."Nina, look what I brought you. I noticed you've been feeling nauseous lately, so I brought some sour and appetizing pickles for you, and also this - your favorite soup.""Zoe."Nina's relieved heart sank back down, and she immediately ran over to hug her. Seeing her so excited, Zoe put down what she was holding."What's wrong? You're all grown up, yet you're acting so impatient!" Zoe teased.Nina let go and looked at her carefully. "Were you hurt? Did anyone throw stones at you?""What nonsense! How could I possibly get hurt? Don't forget what your aunt does. Who could dare to bully me!" Zoe rolled her eyes."Haven't you seen the news? Your beauty salon was vandalized. How could I not worry?" Nina was deeply concerned.Zoe sat down, crossed her legs, and took out a handful of nuts from her pocket, munching on them casually. "Let them vandalize. They'll have to pay for the damages
Worries would always find a way to surface. This not only affected Zoe but also the company. Nash watched the video briefly. The video captured from this angle was taken at the entrance. It could have been secretly filmed by someone with an agenda or by one of the people present at the scene. At that time, they were all present, making it unlikely for any of them to have filmed it, but he overlooked another possibility. This could work to their advantage."Find a way to suppress the hot search topics," Nash instructed. "Minimize the losses."As an outsider to the entertainment circle, Zoe was accustomed to her freedom, making it difficult for her to deal with the various rumors and controversies on the internet. The power of the internet remained formidable. He did not want anyone to influence her in any way."Understood, Mr. York."They would have to work overtime to suppress the trending topics. After sorting out the trivial matters of the entertainment company in a meeting,
“I only had one surgery today,” Caleb said as he drove, his voice calm but firm. “Now that it’s done, I want to know why this happened.” After that, he said nothing more. Vera sat in silence, her heart uneasy as the car pulled up in front of an upscale club. Even though her hand was already bandaged, she still felt a sting of pain every time Caleb showed concern. “So this is what it feels like to have someone care,” she thought to herself.Back when Vera had been stepped on, her only concern had been the contract—whether the deal would fall apart and if her suffering had been for nothing.If it had been anything else, she probably wouldn’t have cared as much.But Caleb’s concern made it impossible for her to brush aside.It kept lingering in her mind, refusing to let her feel indifferent.“Don’t overthink it,” Caleb said, his voice firm. “Whatever happened between Luna and me doesn’t change the fact that this concerns me too—and I owe it to you to make things right.”
“Oh? So this is the apology you wanted?” Vera’s forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain, but the two women standing over her barely reacted. As if this was normal to them. As if humiliating her was just another game. “I asked you a question.” Vera remained half-crouched on the ground, her hand still pinned under Luna’s heel. Helena smirked. “Yeah, I’d say that’s good enough.” She hadn’t expected Vera to be this stubborn, but it didn’t matter. With an exaggerated sigh, she casually scribbled her signature onto the contract. The deal was officially secured. Vera didn’t waste another second. She cast one last glance at the two women. “I have no interest in getting involved in your personal drama. As for Caleb and me, that’s between us. We both made our choices.” Luna’s expression twisted slightly. “I won’t bother commenting on your relationship,” she said, voice dripping with disdain. “But don’t think for a second that this will ever earn
The moment Vera heard her assistant’s words, her expression darkened. Her previously calm tone turned firm. “If that’s the case, I understand. But I still have to go. This is my responsibility, and no one else can handle it.” If she didn’t take the lead, the other party would only grow bolder. However, the moment she glanced at the name on the negotiation list, she couldn’t help but frown. Because the person she was supposed to meet wasn’t just anyone. It was Helena Xander. Vera had encountered her before—back when her relationship with Caleb hadn’t yet escalated. Even then, Helena had openly mocked her, saying that since Caleb had been Luna’s devoted lapdog for years, he should know his place and never overstep. She had also thrown a few sharp words at Vera, telling her to recognize her own status—as if warning her that getting involved would only bring trouble. Back then, Vera hadn’t taken it seriously. She never thought she would cross paths with the
“Alright, enough of this. If you’re serious about investigating, you’ll need proper psychological evaluations,” Caleb said nonchalantly.“The best way to assess something like this is through clinical observation—watch for behavioral inconsistencies, memory gaps, or personality shifts. If you can, gather video footage of his daily life. That’s the only way to get a clearer picture. Otherwise, it’s just speculation.”Caleb made the remark casually, then swiftly issued a dismissal.“You came all the way here just to mess with me? What about your own situation? How’s that going?” Caleb’s sarcasm was dry and pointed. Hunter let out a long sigh. “What else could it be? Business as usual. Compared to others, I’m probably the only one with enough patience for this mess.” He was, of course, referring to his ongoing battle with Liam. Caleb gave him a small nod. “Alright, you should get going now. I need to rest. Don’t loiter around here.” Without hesitation, he waved his hand
Vera forced an awkward smile at Hunter before quickly retreating back into the bathroom to change. Hunter, watching her leave, couldn't help but smirk. “You’re really living the good life, huh?” he teased. “Didn’t expect you to have such luck.” Caleb rolled his eyes, clearly uninterested. “Enough with the nonsense. Why are you here? And who exactly were you talking about over the phone?” He didn’t want to entertain pointless banter, especially not about women. If he was being honest, even he couldn’t fully explain his feelings toward Luna. He wasn’t sure what was left between them—was it love, or just the remnants of something that had long turned sour? That pitiful look in her eyes earlier had shaken him. For a fleeting moment, he had wanted to pull her into his arms, to comfort her like he used to. But after so many years of being humiliated and pushed aside, he had forgotten how to even speak to her anymore. So instead, he did what was easiest—he change
Hunter spoke casually, his tone light. “Just someone, that’s all. Do you really need all these details?” Caleb was now certain of his suspicion. “Hunter, did you forget what I do for a living? I’m a doctor. If you’re asking me about this, I need to get a clear picture before I can give you an answer.” Hunter exhaled lightly. “That’s fair, but some things can’t be diagnosed right away.” Based on the information Yelena provided earlier, Hunter was only speculating about Liam. But Caleb was an expert in this area, so he specifically called to ask him.Still, explaining everything over the phone wasn’t going to work. “Forget it,” Hunter said. “This isn’t something I can explain over a call. Where are you? I’ll come over.” Caleb hesitated for a moment before glancing at Vera, who was still beside him. In the end, he gave Hunter the address to his villa. Hunter chuckled. “Haha. I’m surprised. You actually do go home to rest.” Caleb ignored the jab and tossed his p
“Call me Liam.” Before Yelena could finish speaking, Liam cut her off with a sharp, angry voice. She quickly nodded and corrected herself. “Liam, don’t worry. I’ll do exactly as you say. I’ll be good. I won’t make you angry again.” But Liam didn’t care. With a violent shove, he threw her to the ground. Yelena barely had time to brace herself before hitting the cold floor hard, pain radiating through her limbs. Liam, however, just looked down at her with a twisted grin, laughing like she was nothing more than a ridiculous joke. “You’d better learn fast,” he sneered. “And leave your hand broken for a few days—feel the pain properly.” “Alright.” Her voice was quiet, submissive. But Liam wasn’t listening. Without another glance, he turned and walked away. As she watched his retreating figure, Yelena felt a deep sense of dread rise in her throat. Liam wasn’t human. He was something far worse. Her future with him would be nothing short of hell.
Yelena had made her stance clear—her loyalty was with Hunter. But instead of being convinced, Hunter let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “You sure your loyalty is to me? Or is it just to money?” His words hit like a slap. Yelena stiffened, feeling the sting of humiliation. It was true. When she had been desperate, with nowhere left to turn, she had thrown herself at Hunter, begging him for help. If she had any other choice, if she hadn’t been pushed into a corner, she would have never given up her pride like that. Lowering her gaze, she spoke with measured calmness. “Mr. Hall, you gave me two hundred thousand dollars. You helped me when no one else did. That makes you my benefactor. And loyalty to one’s benefactor… that’s only right.” She didn’t dare meet his eyes, but her voice was firm. Hunter studied her for a moment before scoffing. “Enough with the useless talk.” His voice was cold and dismissive. “Just go back to Liam’s side and do what you’re suppose
Yelena needed to tell Hunter about this. But before she could finish, Hunter’s cold voice cut through her thoughts. She lowered her head. “This is just how I normally dress. I didn’t deliberately choose my outfit to seduce you, Mr. Hunter. Besides, your brother isn’t even interested in me.” She hesitated before adding, “That two hundred thousand…” Hunter narrowed his eyes. “What are you trying to say?” Seeing his growing impatience, Yelena clenched her fists, still looking down. “I mean exactly what I said. Any normal man wouldn’t turn down a woman who willingly throws herself at him. That night, Liam clearly said he would take me somewhere else… but when we got there, he never touched me. Ever since then, he treats me like I don’t even exist—like I’m nothing but air.” Hunter’s expression darkened instantly. “Are you implying something?” The implication in Yelena’s words was clear. She had just suggested that any normal man wouldn’t refuse a willing woman.