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
Nina did not quite understand and asked. "What do you mean? How is he being too hard on you?"James explained, "Yesterday, the captain punished me by making me train until midnight and then get up at the crack of dawn.""Didn't he say you like working out at night?" Nina was surprised."Did he say that?" James felt pitiful and could only swallow his tears and admit, "Alright, I like working out at night."When they arrived at Nina's floor, she said, "Wait here. I'll be back soon.""Okay." James would ensure her safety while respecting her privacy. They had checked the apartment environment, and it seemed relatively safe.Nina was heading home but paused at Wilfred's door. She had many questions but did not know why he wouldn’t see her. Maybe he had his reasons. Was he home now?Nina hesitated for a moment and then rang his doorbell three times.After waiting for a while with no answer, she assumed he wasn't home. Just as she was about to leave, the door suddenly opened, and
"How is this possible?" Nina never imagined seeing Wilfred like this. Why would he be afraid she wouldn't like him? He had every reason to be confident and not fear anyone's disapproval. Right now, Nina needed to take care of his wounds. She spoke softly, "Be good, let me take care of your injuries first."Wilfred was still hesitant. But Nina couldn’t worry about anything else. She needed to help him with his current problem. She unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his pale skin covered in horrifying scars. It pained her to see it.There was medicine on the coffee table. She gently applied it to his wounds and asked, "Did you come to see me yesterday?"Wilfred looked down and didn’t speak.As she treated his wounds, Nina thought over the past few days' events and said again, "You came to see me yesterday. You came but didn’t dare to face me. At that time, you weren’t injured. You got hurt after I was kidnapped. That woman, the red-haired woman, I saw her coming out of your ro
Nina was startled by his actions. "What are you trying to do?" Nina asked, pressing against his chest.Wilfred's eyes were dark and cold. "Aren't you afraid of the danger of barging into a strange man's room?"Nina replied, "We've known each other for a while now.""Do you really know who I am?" Wilfred challenged.Nina looked at him fearlessly. "Do you dare?"Even if I don't know everything about you, do you really dare to do anything to me?" Nina moved closer, completely unafraid of his threats.Wilfred's expression grew more complex.As Nina moved closer, he took a step back.Nina had guessed correctly that he was only trying to intimidate her with words. If he had wanted to harm her, he wouldn't have saved her in the first place.Wilfred stood up from the sofa, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. "You're right. No matter what, I can't hurt you."Nina also stood up. "Scarlett didn't try to kill me that day."Wilfred said, "Don't concern yourself with that.""I don't wa
When James saw Nina, he said, "Ma’am, what took you so long? I was about to knock on your door."Nina did not mention meeting Wilfred and replied, "I was talking to my chief editor for a while, so it took longer than expected. Let's go."James nodded, but as Nina approached, he caught a faint scent of blood. He sniffed the air. "Ma’am, are you hurt?""No," Nina said, thinking she might have picked up the scent from Wilfred. "Maybe it's from Nash."James did not question it further, but he noticed the new set of beads on her wrist. Throughout the journey, Nina kept touching the beads. She could not understand why Wilfred had given them to her. As she inspected them more closely, she noticed a hint of blood inside the beads. Was it always like this?Nina was puzzled. She had many questions about Wilfred's past, and now she had another mystery. However, she was certain that Wilfred would not harm her.While on the road, Angel called her. "Nina, Penelope's role has been snatched
Penelope looked up and met Nina's gaze. "You're going to help me?"Having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, she had seen her fair share of good, bad, and treacherous people. She was not one to easily trust anyone. But Nina was an exception. Penelope could see that Nina had a good heart. It was thanks to Nina's help that her short videos had gained traction. But in the entertainment industry, talent alone was not enough."Nina, it's not that I don't trust you, but I know the rules of this game all too well." Penelope hesitated and then added, "I know your relationship with Nash isn't simple. Even though it's not public, those who know you both would suspect that you're his mysterious wife."Nina did not deny it. "I am."Penelope smiled. "Well, you've kept it well hidden. Who would have thought that Nash's secretary is actually his wife?"But you should know that Miranda is part of Nash's company, as is that newcomer. If you help me, it means you're going again
After parting ways with Penelope, Nina sprang into action. She called Angel again."Write an article saying that Penelope's role was stolen by someone who brought financial backing, and that it's all being manipulated by powerful interests," Nina instructed.Angel was taken aback. "Are you sure? That newcomer is from your husband's company."She was worried about the potential repercussions for Nash. They could not afford to offend him.Nina was beyond caring about such concerns. In business, competition was inevitable, even between husband and wife. "Just write it. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility.""Alright," Angel said. "But if Mr. York asks about it, don't blame me.""I won't. This is fair competition."Angel was still puzzled. "You're helping Penelope so much. Did you two make some kind of deal?""Yes," Nina confirmed.They were now on the same team. Penelope's success and failure were tied to her. It was as if Nina had become Penelope's manager, and she coul
Nash met her gaze, understanding that she was giving him a heads-up. He chose to take a step back. "Penelope isn't one of our company's artists. If you're really interested, I can find some people to help you."Their conversation seemed to be on different wavelengths. Nash probably thought she was just dabbling in this out of curiosity, and that she would eventually lose interest and let it go. But Nina was determined. Once she set her mind to something, she would not stop until it was done well.She could not accept Nash's proposal. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Let's keep personal matters separate from business. My relationship with Penelope doesn't need your intervention."Nash asked, "Do you really need to team up with her?""I believe in her potential.""Are you sure this isn't just about having a problem with Miranda?" Nash pressed further.Nina hesitated, considering that her multiple kidnappings might have been orchestrated by Miranda. She was not sure wheth
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