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
Nina was going to take some photos of Penelope. Although she was not famous for her looks, her acting skills were top-notch, and she had helped many male actors rise to fame. Nina admired her for her humility and composure.As the fashion show was wrapping up, Nina brought the photographer over to find Penelope.Seeing Penelope, Angel let out a loud squeal, "Penelope! I can't believe I'm seeing her in person!"Nina, amused by Angel's reaction, asked, "Why are you so excited?"Angel replied, "Of course I'm excited! I've watched so many of her dramas. Is this real? I'm meeting my idol! I adore her!"Penelope approached them and said, "Hello, I'm Penelope Zimmerman," extending her hand to Angel.Angel, feeling like she was dreaming, shook Penelope's hand, "Am I dreaming? I've seen all your dramas. I know your story, how you came from a small town and fought your way through the entertainment industry. I'm your fan..."As Angel spoke, her voice choked with emotion.Penelope quickly
Caleb organized the medications and explained everything meticulously. "These are oral meds, three times a day after meals," he said.Caleb noticed that Ben’s eyes were fixed on Jamie. At that moment, his face was filled with worry and urgency."It's just a fever," Caleb reassured. "The shot's been given, the IV is running, and the meds are sorted. What else is there to worry about? I'll write out the steps for the IV change—"Before Caleb could finish his sentence, Ben shot him a sharp look that cut him off immediately.Fine, Caleb thought, throwing his hands up mentally. He would stay until the IV was done. Better that than risk being bombarded with Ben’s relentless calls later if anything went wrong. Caleb simply wasn’t up for that kind of torture.Although Jamie on the bed hadn’t woken up, Caleb didn’t want to stick around any longer. He had no interest in watching Ben fuss over her like some lovesick fool.Not long after Caleb left, Jamie stirred. Seeing Ben sitting by her b
Jamie was in a terrible state. Her injuries from shielding Ben during the stabbing incident hadn’t healed, and now, thanks to Summer’s scheming, she had developed a fever soaring to a dangerous 104 degrees Fahrenheit.Lying in bed, delirious and motionless, Jamie didn’t even realize how bad things had gotten. When the housekeeper came to deliver her meal and saw her lying there unresponsive, panic took over.“Mr. Lucas, Miss Lewis looks like she’s dead!” the housekeeper stammered, trembling with fear.“What did you just say?” Ben shot up from his chair, his piercing gaze locking onto the housekeeper. The housekeeper could barely meet his eyes, shrinking under the intensity of his glare. Ben had never looked so alarmed, his usual composure replaced by a pale, stricken expression.Without waiting for further explanation, Ben bolted out of his study, stumbling as he rushed down the hallway. When he finally reached Jamie’s room, he found her lying in bed, breathing heavily, her face
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