"Why is there a swimming pool here?" Nina thought to herself.Just as Nina was puzzled, she heard a splash in the pool. Startled, she raised her hands to shield her face from the water droplets. Once the water settled, she noticed someone swimming in the pool. The swimmer's tall, muscular physique was evident even through the rippling water.Wasn't the CEO of Grand Era Corporation over fifty? How could he have such a young and fit body?As Nina tried to make sense of the situation, she realized that the swimmer's body seemed increasingly familiar. When the man swam closer and emerged from the water, Nina was stunned."Why is it you?" she exclaimed.The man wiped the water from his face and looked at her with a confident, almost smug, expression. "Why couldn't it be me?"Nina scanned the surroundings again, her expression growing cold. "Where is the CEO of Grand Era Corporation?"She was here for an interview, not to play games with him.With a slight smirk, Nash leaned against
Nash was not wearing any clothes, his disheveled hair still dripping water. His deep-set eyes and chiseled features were accentuated by the droplets trailing down his jaw, over his neck, and disappearing into his chest. Even though she had known Nash for seven years and had been his wife for three, seeing him like this still made her feel uncomfortable.She maintained a cold demeanor, but her eyes avoided looking directly at him. "Why didn't you let me know earlier? Someone else took the assignment, and I couldn't go against the editor's decision."Nash did not continue the topic but asked, "And this time?""Well, now that I'm here, you should know I'm sincere about this interview," Nina replied.She reminded herself that they were no longer married. No, they had never truly been a couple. They just had a piece of paper saying they were. She had never experienced happiness or joy in their so-called marriage."Alright then, let's begin," Nash said.He was still in the pool, comp
Nina was startled and instinctively wanted to scream, but she did not fall completely into the water. Nash had one hand supporting her hips and the other under her back, keeping her head above water. She was not choking, but she was entirely soaked. The pool water was warm, not cold. Nina was furious and was glaring at him. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to avoid falling into the water."What are you doing?!" Nina's tone was sharp.Nash pinned her against the pool's edge, his hands still holding her hips, their eyes level. "You wouldn't have come over otherwise."Nina pushed against his chest, but he was as immovable as a wall. "You said we could work, but what are you doing now? Are you trying to end the interview? Mr. York, your mind clearly isn't on business. If you're not serious, then I'm leaving!"She struggled to get out, but Nash grabbed her hand. "We'll get to work, but sometimes you need to relax."Nina retorted, "Getting dragged into the wa
Hearing this, Nash's expression finally changed, the words striking a nerve."Do you really have to bring this up?" Nash's tone grew colder."I'm saying this to minimize the harm to both of us."Nash stared at her intensely, struggling to accept what she was saying. He had been trying hard to forget these unpleasant truths, yet she insisted on bringing them up. "Just get rid of the baby," he said."I don't want to."Nash's lips tightened as he took a step back, offering a compromise. "I can give you time to think about it."Nina looked up at him, her eyes firm. "There is no time left."Nash pressed further, "Then tell me, whose child is it?""It's Zac's."Nash's fists clenched with veins bulging on his forehead. He asked coldly. "Who is Zac? Does this person even exist, Nina?""He does," Nina said, her eyes locked with his. "I've told you before. He's my hero. He saved me."A surge of heat rushed to Nash's head. He had heard this name countless times, but had never seen any
Nash's eyes fixed on Nina.Feeling uneasy under his intense gaze, Nina asked, "Are you done swimming? If so, can I leave now?"Nash's eyes darkened further. "Are you lying to me?"Nina's heart tightened, as if bound by an invisible string. She met his gaze and said, "No."Nash's brows furrowed slightly, and he slowly released her. "You've lied to me once. I won't allow you to lie to me again."Nina remained silent. Given their current situation, whether she lied or not seemed irrelevant. Sometimes, lying was a way to protect herself.Nash did not press her further but instead let her go to the changing room to put on a fresh set of clothes. He had prepared everything in advance.Inside the changing room, a female secretary handed her a comfortable, loose-fitting tracksuit. "Miss Walker, Mr. York asked me to bring this for you."Nina's clothes were soaked through, and her hair was half-wet. She planned to towel it dry. "Alright, you can leave now."The secretary suggested, "Wou
Nash let out a cold laugh, "Have you ever seen such mutual affection?"The other person was left speechless. They were all adults and should be responsible for themselves, not easily deceived. It seemed to him that Nash was overreacting. However, it was understandable. Worry could cloud judgment, and Nash's concerns weren't entirely unfounded.Nash pulled back the curtain and gazed outside, his eyes deep with worry. "She hasn't interacted with many men. What if someone tricks her with a few sweet words? It's not impossible."Anything was possible. He could not afford to let his guard down for a moment.After hanging up the phone, Nash walked back to the changing room. Nina was already out, and seeing Nash come in right on time, she reached for the hair dryer. "I'll do it myself."Nash didn't insist. He looked at her and said, "I have some business to attend to. You'll have to come back another time.""Alright." Nina turned her back to him as she dried her hair, not meeting his
Reporters were not the only ones arriving here. With the rapid development of the internet, everyone was racing to be the first to publish news. Whoever reported first and with the highest accuracy would get the best ratings.Though the fashion show was not exactly breaking news. It was a live event. Everyone was vying for that first wave of traffic.Some models were already walking the runway, and several celebrities were seated in the audience. Nina was busy looking for the best angles to take photos."Miss Walker."She turned around at the sound of her name and saw Penelope behind her. She looked around. It was all staff here, while the celebrities were in the main area. "Ms. Zimmerman, what are you doing here?"Penelope responded warmly, "You don’t need to call me Ms. Zimmerman, just call me Penelope."Nina had a good impression of her. "What are you doing out here? You should be in the main area. It’s all staff here. You might get mobbed by photographers!"She knew how craz
Compared to Miranda's knack for maintaining her controversial fame, Penelope's high standards and refusal to take on bad roles set her apart. The entertainment industry was like a fast-food market these days, with new talents constantly emerging and old ones easily forgotten. Some people became famous with just one show, but without a follow-up success, even top-tier stars could quickly fade into obscurity. In such a competitive field, Nina, despite not being in showbiz herself, understood these harsh realities. Taking on bad roles or gaining a bad reputation did not matter as long as it drew attention. In this sense, Miranda was a successful product."You’re a great actress. Not only is your acting superb, but you also stay true to yourself. It's rare to see someone like you," Nina said to Penelope. "You’re bound to have your moment of explosive success."Penelope looked at Nina, genuinely pleased with her praise. "I guess I should call you Reporter Nina now. Thank you for you
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