“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
The doctor's body stiffened. "Miss Walker, what are you talking about? Are you questioning my professional ability?"Nina clutched her tightly. "Doctors aren't allowed to have manicures. With nails that long and a scent that strong, you can't possibly be a real doctor."The doctor felt a pang of guilt and quickly pulled her hand back.Taking advantage of the moment, Nina bolted for the door.Seeing this, the doctor rushed to grab her. "Where do you think you're going?"She caught Nina by the hair at the door.Her movements were swift and ruthless, and Nina realized she was dealing with someone trained in combat. She had no chance of winning and shouted, "Help..."Before she could finish, the doctor grabbed her neck and injected her with a needle.It was the same syringe she was going to use to draw blood.Nina winced in pain, her hands digging into her thighs as her consciousness began to blur.Seeing Nina calm down, the doctor relaxed, letting her slowly collapse to the grou
It was filled with despair, and there were screams.A pair of warm hands held her, whispering softly in her ear, "Don't be afraid. I will get you out of here."Then another pair of cold hands grabbed her, asking, "Have you ever seen sunlight? What does it feel like?"She could not see their faces. In that dark house, it was impossible to make out their faces. She could only hear the voices."Ivy... I will make sure you see the sunlight.""Miranda—"Nina's eyes flew open in terror, her breathing rapid. She clenched her hands tightly, her body drenched in cold sweat. As she regained consciousness, she found herself still in the cramped, dark space.Trembling, she clutched her head and screamed, "No—"The car came to a sudden halt.Nina's scream had reached the ears of those in the vehicle, causing them to stop instinctively.They thought they had misheard."Did you hear that?" Scarlett asked."I think so. Could she have woken up?" her assistant said.The assistant was a tall
And he was their captain.So, even though Nash was no longer in the military, they still called him Captain York.After that phone call with Nina, he suspected something was wrong when she hesitated to say something. Therefore, he rushed back overnight.To his shock, someone really was trying to kidnap her!There was no way he would let them get away with this."Keep pursuing," Nash said gravely. "There's someone else in their car. Be careful!"Blowing out all four tires would make them stop, but with Nina in the car, he could not take that risk.If anything happened to them, Nina would be in danger too, and she was pregnant.They could only chase at high speed.As they crossed a bridge, Scarlett's assistant said, "We're almost there. Once we cross this bridge, we'll be safe."Scarlett saw the military vehicles closing in, getting nearer and nearer. "It's not going to be that easy."With only three tires, they were much slower.In a few minutes, the military vehicles would
Scarlett looked at Nina, gritting her teeth. "I'm sorry!"Her grip gradually loosened. Nina did not want to let go. She still wanted to live. But suddenly, Scarlett placed Nina’s hands on the railing.Nina stared at Scarlett in shock."Life or death is up to your fate. This is as far as I can help," Scarlett said.Nina grabbed onto the railing with both hands, her feet dangling with no support, struggling to hold on."Nina!"Nash saw her hanging there and rushed forward without a second thought."Captain York, it's dangerous!" his men tried to stop him, but Nash had only Nina in his mind. He knew if he did not go, she would fall.If she fell, she would die!He pushed past them and ran to her.Sawyer watched the scene unfold, a smile creeping across his lips as if he had caught his chance.Scarlett and her assistant quickly fled.They soon reached the area within Sawyer's control."Captain York!" his team shouted as they tried to rush forward, but a burst of gunfire block
She clung tightly to Nash's clothes, too afraid to look back, fearing the worst.Then she heard Nash's deep voice in her ear, "It's okay. Don't be afraid. We'll be safe soon."His words gave Nina the strength to hold on."As long as you're okay, that's good!" Nina said frantically."Captain York!" the man in the camouflage uniform shouted anxiously.During the gunfight, they had been blocked and could not move forward. Only Nash had made it through.They tried to cover him as best they could but did not know his exact situation.They were worried about whether Nash had been injured.Nash handed Nina over to them and said, "Let's get out of here first!"They could not stay there any longer.Sawyer and his group decided to retreat as well, knowing that prolonged chaos would attract more attention.Several vehicles kicked up dust as they sped away.Nina and Nash's group got into their vehicles as well.Nina sat in the car, feeling safe now, but her heart was still racing.Ev
"It won't happen," Nash said, panting and wincing in pain. "I won't die. If I die, who will protect you? So, I won't die."Nina could not bear to hear such words, and she cried even harder.Nash, with a gentle look in his eyes, patted her back to calm her down.He was afraid, too. He was afraid of dying, afraid of leaving her alone. If something like this happened again, who would protect her? He also feared that the so-called Zac would come to take her away or deceive her. He worried she might get hurt or fall for another man.His possessiveness made him worry about these things, though he knew he would be ridiculed if he admitted it.Nash's lips curved into a bitter smile.Nina wiped her tears away, though she could not stop herself from crying. It was not the time for tears.Her eyes, red from crying, locked onto his. "It's a promise then. I believe you."She found no other way to comfort herself.Nash stared at her with a smile, not a bitter one this time, but one of
Yvonne furrowed her brows and said sternly, "Have you lost your mind? What do you mean by self-protection? Can you match a man in strength? Do you have superhuman martial arts skills? Be realistic. You're not a superhero. You're a woman, and a pregnant one at that. Blaming yourself won't solve anything while the real criminals are still out there. Pressuring yourself with guilt won't fix the problem!"Nina blamed herself for being too weak, while so many people wanted her dead. She felt powerless and guilty for putting others at risk.Yvonne's words made sense. No matter how upset she was, the real criminals were still free.Nina hugged Yvonne, leaning on her shoulder. "I'm scared. I feel like this isn't just a simple kidnapping. I can't fight them!"She had felt this fear in the trunk. The experience had put immense physical and mental pressure on her.Yvonne's expression softened, and she gently comforted Nina. "Don't be afraid. I'll be by your side, and we'll face and solve thi
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