Miranda was still a part of Nash's company. If she got into trouble, the company would protect her. In recent days, there had been a lot of articles aimed at rehabilitating Miranda's image. Nina looked at her outfit and commented, "Trying to imitate, huh?"Nina's words hit Miranda's pride, but this time, she was not backing down. She wanted to win, so she smiled and said, "Nina, you're not in the entertainment industry. How would you know what the audience likes? Whoever is prettier gets more attention. Do you really think there's a need for me to imitate?”She implied that she was more beautiful than Penelope. But Penelope's acting skills far surpassed hers. She was a true talent and did not need to compete based on looks alone. Penelope stood there with a cold expression. She did not utter a word of rebuttal, seemingly unwilling to argue with Miranda.Nina decided not to argue with her either. She wanted Miranda to realize that relying on others was futile. "If you want it so
Meanwhile, Miranda was also in the midst of her photoshoot. She and Penelope were both dressed in historical costumes for their respective shoots."Great, Miranda, you're looking stunning!" The photographer praised her as he snapped pictures from various angles. "This angle is exquisite, it really pops!"Miranda, confident in her beauty, took the shoot seriously. Her looks were even more striking than Penelope's, which gave her an advantage in the entertainment industry. In this business, beauty could attract a massive following on its own. Miranda had both acting skills and beauty, and she was determined to outshine Penelope. Her real target was Nina, for collaborating with Penelope. Her real target was not Penelope, but Nina. But because Penelope was working with Nina, winning over Penelope meant winning over Nina. Winning this time would pave the way for future victories.She reviewed the photos and was satisfied, confident that they would trend."Let's ride the wave of th
"You're right, when comparing the two, I much prefer Penelope's video. I absolutely loved her character in that drama!" Miranda's face turned green with anger. What were these people saying? That Penelope's video was better than hers? Impossible! She was definitely more beautiful than Penelope.Her assistant, who had been watching from the side, started to chime in as the likes on Penelope's video exceeded ten million. "What are these people commenting? It's obvious that our Miranda looks better. Penelope is just playing on nostalgia and doesn't have any real talent. And to think she's making vide. Those are for ordinary people. No self-respecting celebrity would post on that platform. It's beneath us!"The assistant looked down on this type of behavior. In her eyes, most of the celebrities on these short video platforms were nobodies trying to make a quick buck. They would not stoop to that level."Ugh!" Miranda screamed and threw her phone against the wall.Her assistant, who h
Wilfred said, "A bit later, at the usual place."The red-haired woman gave a meaningful smile. "Okay, I'll be waiting for you."With that, the red-haired woman quickly left his territory.After she left, Wilfred calmly put the animal's heart back in place.He stitched it up meticulously.No matter how bloody the surgery had been, from this moment on, the heart could still beat.After finishing everything, Wilfred took off his bloody gloves and repeatedly washed his hands with disinfectant and soap until there was no smell left. Only then did he leave.He drove to the farm.There were guards at the entrance. Seeing Wilfred’s car, they immediately opened the gate to let him in.The farm was decorated with some flowers, but it only grew strawberries.The strawberries had not been picked, and many were rotting on the ground.Wilfred got out of the car, a smile on his face as he looked at the meticulously planted strawberries, feeling quite pleased.A guard handed him a basket.
Nina said, "It's not really helping. You have the talent, and we came up with this idea together. If it were someone else and you have the same idea, the result would be the same. Besides, helping you is also helping myself."Penelope smiled, "Even a great horse needs a good trainer. This is fate. Alright, I have to get busy now. Let's catch up later.""Okay."After hanging up the phone, Angel leaned on the table and winked at Nina. "Nina, I think you are excellent at everything you do. You could even be Penelope's agent.""You're flattering me too much," Nina said modestly. "Her success was inevitable. Traditional media might not achieve this, but short videos certainly can."It was no longer the era when exposure relied solely on traditional media.The first person to break new ground would always unforgettable.At the end of the workday, Nina said to Angel, "It's time to go home.""Okay." Angel packed up her things. "We don’t go the same way, or I’d go home with you."Nina
The mission was accomplished!But before she could smile for even three seconds, she noticed a car following closely behind her.It was tailing her tightly.She sped up.The road was busy with traffic, and despite her increased speed, the car stayed right on her tail, seemingly reckless in its pursuit.Realizing the risk of a serious accident, she could not accelerate any further.The car caught up.After a long standoff, they reached a large bridge, and her car was forced to the edge, on the verge of falling into the river below.She slammed on the brakes to stop.The other car performed a sharp drift, blocking her path to prevent her escape.Wilfred stepped out of the car without hesitation.The woman in the car took a moment to adjust herself, then got out and demanded, "Why did you follow me? Didn’t you say you had an urgent matter? You’re always punctual, never early or late. Are you more in a hurry than I am?"Wilfred, eyes narrowing dangerously, asked, "Is the pregna
Scarlett could not understand.She had worked with Wilfred for so many years, but she had never seen him like this before.Wilfred did not say anything. He placed Nina in the back seat, then drove away without looking back.Scarlett watched his car leave, feeling a twinge of sadness. He did not even explain himself to her. Had he really become indifferent to life and death?But she could not just watch him throw his life away.Scarlett clenched her fists tightly, calming herself down before releasing her grip. She then casually brushed her red hair as if nothing had happened, got into her car, and left the scene.Wilfred took Nina straight home.Since he did not know the code to her apartment, he carried her into his own home.He laid her on the sofa. After ensuring she was not injured, he sat quietly beside her, waiting.His gaze lingered on Nina’s face, his eyes filled with emotion. The bandages on his exposed arm were clearly visible.He waited like this, doing nothing.A
Wilfred lowered his eyes and said, "I won’t hurt you."Nina stood up, distancing herself from him. "I don’t know if I should trust you, but you don’t seem entirely clean. I hope we don’t have too much contact."She did not dare get too close to him.Protecting herself was the most important thing.Wilfred offered a bitter smile and looked at the strawberries he had picked earlier. He picked them up and handed them to her. "These are the strawberries you like. I just picked them today. Take them."Nina did not accept them and instead said, "Thank you, but no thanks."With that, she quickly walked out.Her palms were sweating.One moment she wondered if Wilfred was pretending, planning to kill her. Everything was uncertain.Now she wondered if she should move.Living next door to him might be dangerous.She could not risk her life.She hurried away as if he were a virus.Wilfred remained alone in his apartment, the basket of strawberries still in his hand.His expression wa
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