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
As her superior, Sawyer was sipping tea, indifferent to Scarlett's fate. It was only when she collapsed that he put down his teacup and fixed his sharp gaze on her. "Are you trying to let that woman go on purpose?"Scarlett lay on the ground, her eyes open as she struggled to crawl towards him. "I didn't..."Sawyer said, "You were clearly about to throw her off, but you hesitated. I have to suspect that you're having second thoughts."Scarlett's face was pale and she looked disheveled. She grabbed the bottom of his pants with all her strength. "She grabbed my hand. I tried to throw her, but I couldn't. Please forgive me this time. I promise I won't fail again!"Without mercy, Sawyer kicked her away.Scarlett groaned in pain, the taste of blood heavy in her mouth, making her nauseous. But what she wanted now was to survive. "In the end, the plan worked out. Your target was the man, and he's been shot. He's at death's door. I've done my part."At this, Sawyer walked over to her and
Sawyer's anger subsided as he met Wilfred's gaze, narrowing his eyes slightly. "That depends on your sincerity."Seeing this, Scarlett turned pale. "Wilfred knows nothing about my plan. He had no idea. Please, spare him this time."Sawyer reached for Wilfred's hand, but Wilfred withdrew it. Wilfred then said meaningfully, "Let's have a drink tonight."All of Sawyer's rage dissipated, and he smiled. "Alright, I'll be waiting."With that, Sawyer let Scarlett go and left with his men.Scarlett struggled to her feet, despite her body being covered in whip marks. She endured the pain and, with urgency in her voice, said, "You're insane! Don't you know he's a pervert? Going there is a death sentence!"Now, it was just the two of them.Wilfred's gaze shifted to Scarlett, and he used a disinfecting wipe to clean the hand that had touched Sawyer's face. A flicker of disgust appeared in his eyes.He despised it, but there was no escape."Don't worry," Wilfred said calmly.Scarlett in
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