After speaking, Julia went to the kitchen. Nina still felt very happy. She had loving parents who were in good health. With all the commotion at home, Zion woke up too. He got up and brought them some fruit to eat. As parents, they always feared their children might go hungry and were eager to provide food.“Dad, you should go back to bed. Sorry to disturb you so late,” Nina said.“What are you talking about? It's never too late for you to come home,” Zion replied, his eyes full of affection. He then turned to Yvonne. “You also haven't visited for a while.”“I’ve been busy with work, but I stay in touch with Nina. I’m sorry I came in such a rush that I didn’t bring any gifts,” Yvonne said.“It’s fine, you don’t need to bring anything. You and Nina are like sisters, and to me, you’re like another daughter. No need to be so formal,” Zion said warmly. Then he got up. “I’ll go check on your mom.”He also headed to the kitchen. The TV in the living room was still on. Yvonne bit into
"Alright," Nina agreed, telling her, "Let's sleep."Yvonne was exhausted and quickly fell back asleep. However, Nina had too much on her mind to rest. Yvonne's mention of praying made her think of the green prayer beads Wilfred always had with him, which felt oddly familiar.In the morning, Nina was awakened by Yvonne's urgent voice."Nina, wake up! It's bad. Nash is in critical condition!"Nina's eyes flew open. "What?"Her heart raced as she jumped out of bed. "When did this happen?""Just now. They called from the hospital!" Yvonne explained.Seeing the missed call on her phone, Nina's heart sank. Was Nash really not going to make it?Tears welled up in her eyes as she imagined a life without Nash. If he died, she would never see him again, and that thought was unbearable. She felt as though her heart had been ripped apart.Fighting back her tears, Nina hurriedly dressed, knowing she needed to be strong and get to the hospital.On the way, Yvonne tried to comfort her,
Nina shook off his hand. "I don't accept this. If you want to die so badly, go ahead and die!" She turned to leave."Nina!" Nash tried to get out of bed to follow her, but the movement pulled at his wound, and he fell back, coughing heavily. Nina stopped and looked back, seeing him in pain, his brows furrowed. She could not help but rush back to his side. "Are you okay? Did you pull your wound? Should I call the doctor?"Despite the pain, Nash held onto her hand. "I'll be fine as long as you don't leave."Looking at his pale face and the desperation in his eyes, she found it impossible to be cold-hearted. "Alright. Lie down properly. Let the doctor check on you."Nash obeyed, lying back down but still asked, "So, you're not leaving?"Nina replied, "You got hurt because of me. If I leave now, that would be ungrateful. I still owe you."A small smile appeared on Nash's lips. "As long as you stay, I'm happy."Seeing him smile touched Nina deeply. She had been thinking about endin
Upon hearing that, Nina thought something was wrong and asked with concern, "Uncomfortable? Where does it hurt?"Her eyes widened as she looked at him.Looking at her face, Nash said in a husky voice, "My body hurts."Nina quickly checked to see what was wrong. When she felt his burning body and heard his labored breathing, she realized what was happening. Her face immediately turned red, and she pulled away, a bit annoyed. "At a time like this, you're thinking about that? Can't you control yourself?""It's a natural reaction. How could I possibly control it?" Nash said with a hint of helplessness, trying to calm the fire within him.Nina retorted, "I think you just think about it too much. It's always on your mind!"Nash looked at her and disagreed, saying, "If I didn't think about it, that would be a problem. If I couldn't get an erection being this close, I might as well be useless!"Nina, embarrassed by his bluntness, could not respond directly."Just sleep," Nash said, p
Nash used the process of elimination. The fact that they fired at him suggested a personal grudge. The only unresolved case from back then was the human trafficking case.These criminals would typically target children, not an adult woman like Nina, unless it involved organ trafficking.Given the exposure from the first attempt, they would likely be cautious and avoid targeting the same person twice. Moreover, Nina’s status made her an unlikely target for such criminals. This pointed more towards someone hiring them specifically to harm Nina.“Captain York, that woman from yesterday is here again,” a soldier reported urgently, unable to keep her out.Miranda stood not far away, visibly emotional as she saw Nash awake. As a public figure, she always wore sunglasses to avoid negative press, especially during sensitive times. Removing her glasses now, her eyes were red and tears streamed down her face, making her look both pitiful and deeply affectionate.“Nash, are you okay?” she
“What's going on? Are they getting along better now?”, Miranda thought to herself.She wanted to tear them apart, but wasn’t she just helping them now?Miranda's fingers clenched tightly, her unwillingness almost spilling from her eyes. If she could not have him, why should Nina? She knew Nash first and had risked half her life for him. Nina should not get to benefit from her sacrifices! It was not fair.“Miranda.” Nash’s sharp gaze fixed on her. “Did you hear what I said?”Miranda snapped back to attention, hiding the fierceness in her eyes. She softened her expression and said, “I understand. I won’t let myself be plagued by negative news anymore. I’ve already taken on several new roles and will focus on my career. I’ll make sure to build a solid image.”She had already stumbled once. To make a comeback, she needed to keep taking on new projects. As long as she focused on her career, people would eventually notice her. In the internet age, any image could be easily promoted.
Nina nodded. Nash had just finished his IV drip and was ready to eat together.In the hospital room, Nash had prepared a hearty meal specifically tailored for a pregnant woman. He opened the lid and handed a bowl of soup to Nina.She took a sip and found it delicious, even better than her own cooking. Her appetite had been quite good lately.Nash sat across from her. Nina picked up a piece of meat, tasted it, and found it too gamey. "This isn't good. You can have it." She tossed it into Nash's bowl and continued drinking her soup.Nash looked at the food in his bowl, then at Nina. He noticed how casually she relied on him for things she did not want, which made him feel needed. A smile crept onto his lips. "Alright, I'll eat anything you don't like."He ate what Nina did not want. Nina did not think much of it. It was just a natural action from her.After finishing her meal, she noticed that Nash had eaten everything she had left. She was a bit surprised and asked, "Why are you e
Nina was stunned by his actions. "How did you know I wanted strawberry cake?"Nash gave a slight smile. "I can do magic."Nina did not believe it. How could it be so coincidental?She glanced at the cabinet, then at Nash, and walked over skeptically to open it.Inside, she found it filled with all sorts of things such as snacks, fruits, cakes, and more, completely packed.She looked back at Nash.Nash pursed his lips. "It’s all for me."Nina laughed. "You’re putting on quite a show to please me. You must have put a lot of thought into this."Nash’s expression looked a bit unnatural, and his gaze shifted to James, who was standing guard at the door.James awkwardly looked away, starting to stare at the wall as if contemplating his actions.Just half an hour ago, Nash and James had been discussing how to surprise and delight Nina.James had suggested, "Fill the cabinet with snacks and then magically produce her favorite treats. It always works, every girl loves it!"Nash was
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