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
The middle-aged man snorted disdainfully and left.Scarlett collapsed to the ground, finally relaxing.She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. One side of her face was swollen, losing its usual refinement, and her eyes showed a fear that was not there before.It was clear she was scared.They were people who lived in the shadows and could not leave the organizationLeaving meant the only path left for them was death.She began to worry about Wilfred. His current actions were directly opposing the organization.If he was discovered one day, what would happen?A hint of sorrow appeared on Scarlett’s face. No matter what, she had to complete the mission.It was not only to save herself but also Wilfred.She had no time to waste, just one week.This was their countdown.Scarlett stood up, covered the red mark on her face with foundation, tidied her hair, and left looking as if nothing had happened.She arrived at the riverbank.Wilfred was already waiting there."S
But instead of feeling touched, Vera’s first reaction was nausea. A wave of discomfort surged up from her stomach, and Vera’s face paled. She bolted for the bathroom. Caleb followed quickly. “Are you feeling sick?” “I don’t think so. I’ve been eating normally—nothing too heavy or weird lately.” Vera clutched her stomach, just as confused as he was. Then, a possibility flashed through her mind. Caleb clearly had the same thought. Without a word, he turned and walked into their bedroom, returning moments later with a pregnancy test. Vera looked at him, stunned. “When did you buy that?” He responded matter-of-factly, “Better safe than sorry.” Vera was momentarily speechless. Five minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. It was positive. They had only been married for three months. How did this happen so fast?Caleb, on the other hand, remained composed—at le
Of course, Vera wasn’t about to dump all her responsibilities on her assistant. That would be exploitation. She called her assistant into her office. “You’re twenty-five this year, right?” Her assistant blinked, confused. Wasn’t her age common knowledge? Why was Vera suddenly bringing it up? A thought struck her. Was this an arranged marriage situation? Her face immediately filled with silent refusal. “Miss Vera, I’m still young. I’m not thinking about marriage anytime soon.” Vera tapped her pen against the desk. “I’m not telling you to get married.” “Oh.” “I just want to offload some of the smaller daily tasks to you. You don’t have to run every minor document by me.”Her assistant instantly understood. A raise. After confirming she was on board, Vera gave her a salary bump and had her hire a few more assistants to distribute the workload. “If I don’t have time to handle everything, you guys will take care of it. If something’s too complicated, jus
Vera could sense danger the moment the conversation turned in this direction. Her father had never questioned her about married life, and she was lucky enough to avoid nosy relatives. But just because she hadn’t experienced it firsthand didn’t mean she hadn’t seen it happen to others. Without hesitation, she abandoned the half-folded pastry in her hands. “I... uh, need to use the restroom.” Before she could escape, Mrs. Smith caught her wrist. “You and Caleb aren’t getting any younger,” she said matter-of-factly. “You should start thinking about kids—make sure you’re putting in the effort, hmm?” Vera left the kitchen visibly drained. Mrs. Smith was a wonderful mother-in-law, the kind who treated Vera like her own daughter. Despite knowing Vera came from a well-off family, she had still gifted them a house as a wedding present. Of course, Caleb already owned a place, but his mother had insisted. “That’s your house. This is the home I’m giving you as a weddi
That undeniable possessiveness flickered in Caleb’s gaze—subtle yet impossible to ignore. It was the kind of look a powerful man might give his beloved in an old Hollywood film. And right now, the photographer felt like the unlucky bystander who had accidentally stumbled upon an intimate scene. His voice wavered slightly, caught up in his own imagination. “Mr. Smith, lift your eyes toward the camera.” Caleb’s sharp gaze flickered over, intense and commanding. The photographer instinctively pressed the shutter. They continued with several more poses, reviewing the shots as they went. Vera loved them all, but her favorite was still the vintage-inspired one. “How long until we get the final prints?” she asked. “Two to three days at most,” the photographer replied. “I’ll have them shipped directly to you.” Then, after a slight pause, he hesitated before making a request. “I actually have a personal favor to ask—would you both be open to letting us displa
Vera was tempted. They had already taken plenty of wedding photos—several sets at the island, more at the wedding itself. But this wasn’t just any photo studio. It was privately booked and known for being one of the most prestigious studios in the city. Appointments here were nearly impossible to get. The fact that Caleb had managed to secure a session meant he had gone to great lengths to make it happen. If they were just going to take ordinary wedding pictures, it would be a waste of an opportunity. Still, she wasn’t sure what kind of shoot she wanted. The photographer, understanding her hesitation, pulled out a sample album. “You can take a look at our past work. These are some of the styles we’ve done.” Flipping through the pages, Vera saw an array of stunning concepts—each picture more breathtaking than the last. Then, one particular set caught her eye. A Golden Age Hollywood theme.It was classic, nostalgic, and beautifully atmospheric. “Ca
After the wedding, Vera considered taking some time off for a honeymoon. But the thought quickly faded when she realized Caleb had been practically living at the hospital. With a sigh, she dismissed the idea. She was used to it, but to say she wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. Her assistant picked up on it. “Mrs. Smith, don’t you want to go on a honeymoon?” she asked one day. “One of my friends just got married, and she’s been obsessively researching destinations. “She even said a marriage without a honeymoon is already half a failure.” Vera froze mid-page, suddenly losing interest in the documents she had been reviewing. Her assistant hesitated, then offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you go visit Dr. Smith at work?“You seem… distracted. Maybe seeing him will help.” Vera snapped out of her daze, suddenly aware of how preoccupied she had been lately. It was embarrassing to admit, but she had been zoning out far too often—especially after coming hom
Whenever they did this in the past, Caleb always maintained some restraint. But tonight—he didn’t hold back at all. He took her from the bedroom to the bathroom, then back to the bed, his searing kisses trailing every inch of her skin. The next morning, even as she woke up, Vera could still feel the lingering traces of last night’s intoxicating pleasure. As expected, she ended up taking the day off. It wasn’t until two days later that she finally returned to work. *Everyone at the company had already prepared for this. The moment Vera walked into the office, she was greeted with knowing smiles and teasing remarks. “Congratulations, Mrs. Smith!” “Newlywed bliss, huh?” “Three whole days off? Someone had a good time.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she had been up to. Obviously, her married life was going exceptionally well—so well that she had completely abandoned work for it. Under the weight of their mischievous stares, Vera barely k
Yelena still hadn’t accepted Hunter, but he wasn’t giving up either and was relentlessly closing in on her. Knowing Yelena’s soft heart, Vera figured it was only a matter of time before she gave in. She let out a sigh. Her friend’s love life wasn’t something she could interfere with. Besides, Caleb had already given her a little inside scoop. “She came to the hospital for a follow-up a few days ago,” he had mentioned casually. “Hunter was the one who brought her.” Vera had clicked her tongue at the news. Yelena always seemed quiet and reserved, but apparently, she was full of surprises.*Time flew by in the blink of an eye.By mid-month, Caleb had rented out an entire vineyard and spent several days transforming it into the perfect wedding venue.When the day arrived, the celebration took place right there.The vineyard was sprawling and elegant, every bit as grand as any luxury hotel—if not better. Even the wine cellar remained untouched, stocked with years-
“Did you plan this from the start?” Vera narrowed her eyes, feeling like she had just walked into a carefully laid trap. “Mm.” Caleb smiled, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Because yes—he had always been planning this. The biggest change in Vera’s life after the island proposal was the ring now sitting on her finger. It wasn’t just any ring. It was custom-made, something Caleb had specially ordered. She only found out by accident when she glanced at his phone one day and saw the purchase record. It had been ordered two months ago. Vera did the math and was stunned. He had been preparing for this long before she even started getting impatient. Her heart swelled with emotion. And as soon as Caleb’s parents heard that their son had finally proposed, they wasted no time pushing them to get the marriage license. *One day, Vera overheard Caleb’s mother lecturing him. “Your dad and I weren’t expecting much from you. With how much ti