"Are you talking about the trafficking case?" Ben responded, "I remember, it was a very serious criminal case, and I was involved as a defense lawyer."At that time, there was no public trial. There were many dark things involved and he had a strong impression of it."Yeah." Ben was no stranger to this matter. Nash then said to him, "It was also around this time that Miranda left the country without notice."Ben added, "It might just be a coincidence. Miranda is just a girl. She shouldn't be involved in such a big case."If she was involved in this case, it would probably involve even more people around her. It would also indicate that Miranda was not simple.Ben had very little contact with Miranda. He had been friends with Nash for many years, and had only met her a few times. He wouldn't befriend her either."Let's hope not."Nash could only say that, "But you know, even though the case was solved, the mastermind behind it was never caught.""There were many suspicious point
Nina hesitated for a moment. "Aunt Zoe got into trouble because of me. How can I not get involved? I know you want to protect Miranda, but Aunt Zoe has been subjected to so much online abuse. She needs to clear her name. She shouldn't be bullied like this!""It's not as simple as you think," Nash said with a meaningful tone.But Nina smiled. "I know it's not simple. Miranda is not a simple person, and if she can do it, others can too. You may not want to help, but I will find a way to help Aunt Zoe.""I didn't say I wouldn't help Zoe," Nash added.Nina looked at Nash, somewhat incredulous. "Didn't you ask Miranda to move to Riverside Estate? I'll be with Zoe these days. If she has any problems, I'll protect her!"Just now in the hospital room, Nash's words could not have been clearer. Even Zoe was on the verge of severing ties with him. Nina had hoped that regardless of the circumstances, Nash would not let things escalate further. Unfortunately, she was mistaken. For Miranda's
Nina and Zoe were holding hands. At this moment, Zoe was very angry and had already cursed Nash numerous times. Nina said, "Aunt Zoe, you still have me to keep you company. You won't be lonely.""Back then, everyone wanted sons, but daughters are so much better. Daughters are more caring and affectionate. Look at Nash, the only child of our York family. He just keeps upsetting me. Now, he doesn't even acknowledge me as his aunt." Zoe complained, feeling her blood pressure rising at the thought.Nina still tried to comfort Zoe, "Perhaps Nash has some hidden troubles?""What hidden troubles!" Zoe snapped, her anger flaring. "I don't want to talk about him anymore. Every word feels like a stab in my heart. Let's just go, the farther away from them, the better!"She did not want to stay in the hospital any longer."I just asked the doctor. Deafness can also be artificially induced," Nina said.Nina was still worried about Zoe. The internet was a breeding ground for gossip, and spre
"I’ve got to remember it. If I don't, people will think I’m heartless, and how will I get by in this world?" Zoe was also a generous person. Scott did not refuse either. "Alright, I'll count you as a friend."Zoe and Scott got along well with each other.Soon, they arrived at Scott's residence. It was a spacious flat. There were security guards downstairs, keeping watch twenty-four hours a day."How do you feel about it?" Scott asked them."It's quite nice, Scott. We're not that particular," Zoe said."Then you'll stay here tonight. I used to live in this house. There's still some clutter inside, so I'll tidy it up today," Scott suggested."Wouldn't that be too much trouble?" Nina asked."Not a bother at all. Besides, it all needs to be tidied up anyway. I've already called my assistant to come over." Scott, upon learning about their ordeal, had thought they needed a completely new place. He had it prepared since early on."Alright." Nina looked at Zoe and accepted Scott’s ki
Upon hearing this, a look of astonishment appeared on Scott's face. "How is that possible? It's supposed to be Nina."At that time, he had already developed feelings for Nina. He cared about her so much that he rushed back to the country overnight.The assistant, holding the newspaper, also found it incredulous. He thought he might have made a mistake. "I remember you mentioning that you and Nina were classmates, but this person is one grade below you," the assistant remarked.With that, Scott's expression registered another wave of shock. He hurried over, taking the newspaper and examining it closely. Despite its age, the newspaper was well-preserved. The headline was clear, detailing a murder case at a certain high school, with casualties listed, and the only survivor being...Scott stared blankly, unable to believe it. He blinked a couple of times, afraid he might be seeing things wrong. Suddenly, it felt as if this newspaper was not the same one he had seen before. The survivor
Scott was completely puzzled. Back then, he was so focused on Nina that he overlooked crucial information and likely misinterpreted things. But what about Nina's real experiences? Could it be that the newspaper was mistaken? Seeing Scott lost in thought since earlier, Nina asked, "What are you thinking about, Scott?" Scott snapped out of his daze and replied, "Nothing, let's just order takeout." "Already done," Nina said. "Aunt Zoe might have some beer. Would you like some too?" "Sure." The two left the study. Zoe was calmly watching TV on the sofa. For her, watching TV was just a way to pass the time, and the TV was airing her scandal. Nina walked over and joined Zoe in watching TV. They saw Michelle in the hospital room. "Look at the camera. This is our victim, Miss Miranda. Miss Miranda, can you still hear us?" Miranda resisted the camera a bit. "Stop filming. I don't want to be interviewed." "Miss Miranda," Michelle called again. "I can't hear. I don't know what
"It's okay. There's still plenty of time. I'll eventually become the lady of the house here. Look, I’m already one step closer now." Miranda thought to herself.Miranda glanced at Quincy, who accompanied her. After all, he was someone close to Nash. She needed to maintain a good relationship with him, so she asked in a friendly tone, "Quincy, does Nash stay here often?"Quincy replied, also typing on his phone, "Mr. York has been staying here quite frequently lately, but he hasn't been around here for many days.""He doesn't return to the York residence?" Miranda realized she had not reached out to Sally in a while. Work had kept her busy, causing her to overlook Sally's messages on several occasions."Mr. York does visit occasionally," Quincy replied tactfully. "But Madam isn't fond of going back there, so Mr. York's visits are less frequent."Miranda tightened her fist instinctively but maintained her composure. "Will he be coming by soon?""I can't say for certain," Quincy res
"Now! Now is the perfect time!" Miranda smiled. She knew Sally must be eager to see her. All she had to do was wait. She took a spin around and found herself curious about the master bedroom. She opened the door and walked in. It was evident that no one had stayed there for a while. She went straight to the wardrobe, where she found numerous women's pajamas, some with tags still attached. There were a few sexy camisole nightgowns as well. She held one up against herself and twirled in front of the mirror. If she wore these and twirled in front of Nash, he would undoubtedly find her attractive. She did not linger too long. There would be other opportunities she could wait for. Glancing at the large bed, she could not help but imagine scenes of passion with Nash. Twenty minutes later, Sally arrived at Riverside Estate. She called out, "Miranda! Miranda!" at the door, but Miranda did not appear. Not finding Miranda in the living room, Sally asked, "Where is she? Wasn't she s
Mrs. Stone was stunned into silence by the officer’s stern words. She stopped her hysterics, but her eyes still held traces of resentment and unease. Meanwhile, in another part of the station, Karina sat on a sofa, her mood as heavy and oppressive as the overcast sky outside. Her mind replayed the countless entanglements with the Stone family—the slander, the extortion, the endless pain. Those memories surged like waves, solidifying her determination to break free entirely. Staying in Birkham would only mean being drained by the insatiable greed of the Stones. Slowly, Karina took out her phone. Her fingers hesitated before they hovered over Wilfred’s contact. Taking a deep breath, she dialed his number. The line connected quickly, and Wilfred’s calm, caring voice came through. “Karina, what’s wrong?” Her lips trembled slightly, her voice tinged with an almost imperceptible quaver. “Dr. Wilfred, I need to tell you something.“I don’t think I can stay in Birkham anymor
“If your son is indeed suffering from a mental illness, we will proceed according to the appropriate legal procedures after professional evaluation. Until then, he must remain under our supervision and be investigated,” the officer explained firmly. Meanwhile, in another room at the station, Kieran, who had been subdued, was gradually calming down. Despite his quieter demeanor, a hint of cunning flickered in his eyes. The officer assigned to watch him kept a vigilant eye on his every move. Noticing the scrutiny, Kieran raised his head and feigned innocence. “Officer, I was having an episode earlier. I didn’t mean to act that way. I couldn’t control myself.” The officer’s response was cold and detached. “There will be time for explanations later. For now, sit tight and behave.” Kieran pursed his lips, remaining silent outwardly but scheming internally. *The police then called Karina to inform her of Mrs. Stone’s claims and to verify their accuracy. Karina let out
The trash can sailed through the air, scattering its foul-smelling contents across the police station, filling the air with a pungent odor. Several young officers flanked Kieran from both sides, trying to grab hold of his arms. But Kieran thrashed wildly, his surprising strength allowing him to break free from one officer’s grip. With a sharp elbow strike, he hit another officer square in the stomach. The officer grunted in pain, stumbling back a few steps but gritted his teeth and held his ground. The scene in the reception hall descended into chaos. Civilians seeking assistance huddled in corners, some shrieking in fear. Mrs. Stone stood to the side, wringing her hands and stomping her feet in desperation. Her voice, pleading and panicked, was drowned out by her son’s shouting. “Kieran, stop this! Calm down!” she cried. But Kieran was too far gone, consumed by his manic performance. He couldn’t—or wouldn’t—hear her. The situation was teetering on the brink of tot
Karina stared at the flood of messages, feeling nothing but disgust and revulsion. Kieran’s texts were growing increasingly obsessive, filled with unhinged threats, unreasonable demands, and even veiled warnings against her safety. No. She couldn’t allow the Stone family’s harassment to continue unchecked. Taking a deep breath, she decisively dialed the police. She provided the authorities with a detailed account of the Stone family’s relentless harassment, including Kieran’s disturbing demands and the threatening content of his messages. The officers assured her that they would investigate promptly and provide her with protection if necessary. With the police now involved, Karina finally felt a sliver of relief. *The response was swift. The blare of sirens pierced through the city’s noise as several police cars raced toward Kieran’s address. Flashing red and blue lights reflected off the surrounding buildings, drawing curious stares from passersby. Guided by
The Stone family wasn’t just greedy. They were relentless, always pushing boundaries and expecting more.Karina sighed. “It’s not that I can’t stand up to them, but sometimes it feels unnecessary. There are things that just can’t be explained.”Wilfred didn’t press further. “Pack your things and come with me. I have to travel for a project negotiation that will help our hospital continue expanding.” He was determined to firmly establish himself in Birkham, not just for his professional ambitions but also because Nina was there. Wilfred wanted to protect her and mentor his students, ensuring they could safeguard Nina’s children in the future. “But didn’t we already promise a patient that we’d perform surgery?” Karina asked, a little hesitant. “I’ll arrange for someone else to handle it.” While Karina might have been the better choice for the surgery, Wilfred had other options, including pulling Caleb in at the last minute. “Alright,” Karina replied. Since Wilfred had
Sera blocked Karina’s path, her expression cold and disdainful. “You think you can just use that money to brush me off? Do I look like someone who needs your measly cash?”She grabbed Karina’s arm tightly, her nails biting into her skin. “Let me make this clear. If you don’t do what I’ve asked, I’ll ruin you, Karina. Completely.”Karina’s fear was palpable, but the thought of endless torment and manipulation was even more terrifying. She met Sera’s fierce gaze with a calm, unyielding stare. “Do whatever you want. But let me remind you, the money you gave me? I’m willing to go down with you if it comes to that. My life might not be worth much, but you’ve worked so hard to get into Wilfred’s hospital. Are you really willing to throw that all away?”Sera faltered. She had worked incredibly hard to get where she was. Countless sleepless nights studying, memorizing every detail of her medical texts, and enduring the challenges of difficult patients had pushed her to the brink. She often
Sera’s gaze was so sharp it felt like it could pierce through Karina. Karina hadn’t expected her momentary greed to create such a mess. If she couldn’t stay a doctor, she would have no source of income, and her life would spiral further out of control. “Please, don’t do this. Tell me what you want, and I’ll keep helping you. Maybe… I could spike his drink for you again, or set up another opportunity,” Karina said, grabbing Sera’s hand out of desperation. Sera clearly wasn’t short on money. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to give Karina such a large sum back then.All she wanted now was to secure her position at the hospital.Sera pulled her hand away, a mocking smile on her face. “Set up another opportunity? Do you think Wilfred would fall for it twice? Do you take him for an idiot, Dr. Norman?” Wilfred wasn’t an idiot, and ordinary drugs didn’t seem to affect him much.Karina felt utterly helpless. One wrong step had led to another, and now she had no idea how to
“Starting today, you’ll officially resume your position as my assistant. I trust you’ll adapt quickly,” Wilfred said firmly. Karina’s eyes lit up with a hint of surprise. “Dr. Wilfred, really? I’ll do my best to fulfill the responsibilities of the assistant role.” Wilfred stood up and walked over to her, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Familiarize yourself with the current work schedule and the relevant materials. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me. I have confidence in you.” Karina hesitated, a trace of worry crossing her face. “But… I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Wilfred already had an assistant. If Karina agreed to take the position, wouldn’t that make her a target for trouble from his former assistant? And then there were all the people at the hospital who were infatuated with Wilfred. Lately, she had already been spending more time with him, drawing enough attention as it was. If she officially became his assistant, she’d surely
Back home, the first thing Karina did was take a shower, cranking the water temperature to the highest setting as if that was the only way to wash away the grim memories of the night.She scrubbed her arms fiercely, the spots where those repulsive men had touched her. Even through her clothes, the thought made her feel sick. Again and again, she lathered herself with soap until her skin turned slightly red, but no matter how hard she tried, the discomfort in her heart lingered.After her shower, Karina changed into clean pajamas and sat on the edge of her bed, unable to sleep. Her gaze fell on her phone. She hesitated for a moment before sending a text to Wilfred.“Dr. Wilfred, I’m truly grateful for your help tonight. I’ll never forget it.”After sending the message, she set her phone down, hugged her knees, and curled up on the bed. Returning to the hospital had always been her dream, but now she worried whether she could truly meet expectations and not let Wilfred down.As she