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
"I still remember when you were a bit shorter than me, and now you’re a head taller. You've grown into quite a handsome man. Seeing you makes me as happy as if I were seeing my own son," Mark said, patting Nash’s shoulder and looking him up and down.In the past, Nash had been under Mark’s guidance.Back then, Mark was not yet a colonel, just a small squad leader.They had shared life-and-death experiences, forming a deep bond.Even though Nash had left the military for many years, they both remembered the old camaraderie.Given their age difference, Nash could have been Mark’s son, and Mark regarded him as such.They chatted for a while, reminiscing about past experiences. When the moment was right, Nash said, "I came because I need your help with something."Mark immediately responded, "Whatever you need, just say it. If I can help, I will. But I have to ask, do you have any plans to return to the military?"He hoped Nash would consider staying."I’m not considering that for
"Hello?"Nash was sitting, and hearing Nina’s voice made his eyes flicker with emotion. In a raspy voice, he said, "I miss you."For a moment, Nina tightly gripped her phone but could not find any words to respond.Having just nearly been kidnapped today, Nina was still shaken. With Wilfred living next door, she was not sure how safe she was. Talking to Nash helped distract her.She could not help but talk a bit more. "Where are you?"Nash looked outside at the people doing exercises, the loud commands making him shut the window tightly. "Out of town.""You're out of town?" Nina remembered that when they parted ways, Nash had something urgent to attend to, but she had not known he would be leaving town."Yes, I had some things to take care of." He did not elaborate, not wanting Nina to worry.Nash asked, "How have you been? Eating regularly?"He was still very concerned about Nina.Nina thought for a moment, her worries evident. "I’m fine."Nash wanted her to talk more.
She came in carrying a lot of things. When Nina saw Yvonne, she felt as if she were seeing an angel and immediately hugged her. “Thank goodness you came. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep well tonight.”“What’s going on?” Yvonne asked. “No wonder Nash called me and asked me to come check on you. Something must have happened.”Nash would not have asked her to check on Nina for no reason.She was worried and came over right away.“He called you?” Nina was a bit surprised.Yvonne replied, “Nash must be tied up and couldn’t come himself, so he asked me to keep you company.”She touched Nina’s face. “Look at you, you’re pale. Did something scare you?”Nina held her hand and explained, “I don’t know who I’ve offended, but I was almost kidnapped today.”“What?” Yvonne was shocked. “Why didn’t you tell Nash? If he knew, he would have made sure the kidnapper was caught. And why would someone want to kidnap you? Think about it, who could you have offended?”Nina thought for
"She's doing well," the assistant replied. "She's been very busy with work lately and hasn't been able to visit you.""Busy with work, huh," Sally felt a twinge of disappointment but said, "That's good. Being busy with work is a good sign. She's a big star now, and she'll only get more successful. Having lots of work means she has a bright future. I'm really happy for her.""Alright, Sally, I have to get back to work," the assistant said."Okay." Sally could not see Miranda in person, but she looked at the thermos bottles in her hand and quickly handed them to the assistant. "I made this chicken soup myself. She must be too busy to eat properly. Please give it to her so she can have it when she has some time."The assistant took the thermos bottles. "Sure, I'll make sure she gets it."With that, the assistant went back inside.Sally stayed at the entrance for a while, hoping to catch a glimpse of Miranda, but it was in vain. After lingering for a long time, she finally got into h
“You bastard!” Sally's eyes were red with anger, and she gritted her teeth. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have married into the York family. Seth, you owe me for the rest of your life!”Seth Duncan remembered this favor. “I haven’t forgotten.”He paused before continuing, “However, when I get out, it will benefit both you and your daughter.”Sally’s expression remained cold. “When you get out, just live your life and stay away from me and Miranda. Don’t interfere with her career. That’s the biggest favor you can do!”She no longer expected anything from him. She only hoped he would not cause further trouble.Miranda had worked hard to get to where she was, and Sally would not let him ruin that.She could imagine that giving Miranda to him had not led to a good life.These years had been hard on her, which only deepened Sally’s sense of guilt.Seth said nothing, giving Sally a meaningful look.Sally had come to warn him and had nothing more to say.After delivering her me
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