Nash turned his gaze away. "Just driving on this road!" he retorted.His stubbornness only made Nina more frustrated. They continued in this awkward stalemate, with Nina pedaling ahead and his car following behind. Seeing him trailing her like a shadow, Nina decided to head in the opposite direction from home. This made Nash frown even more. He signaled her with a honk and said in a low voice, "This isn’t the way to your house!""I never said I was going home," Nina replied. "Can't I just go for a walk?"She added mockingly, "But what a coincidence, Mr. York. You’re still on the same road as me."Nash remained silent. Nina, filled with anger, was puzzled by Nash's behavior. He was the one who asked for the divorce, yet he was the one following her now.She finally stopped, turned around, and faced him with a stern expression. "Are you done or what?"Nash looked up and asked, "What’s the matter?"Nina parked her bicycle and walked right up to him. Her voice was sharp and cutt
"Not taking more rest?" Wilfred asked, walking beside her."No, if I keep staying home, I’ll go crazy. I need to get back to normal life."Even though she could live comfortably in the villa with no worries, life would feel meaningless without something to do."Alright."Nina returned to her job. As soon as she arrived, Angel bombarded her with questions.She didn't want to answer anymore. "What you see is what you get. Just focus on work!"Angel felt as frustrated and upset as Yvonne had been. But since Nina did not want to talk about it, she stopped asking. However, the office buzzed with conversations."Have you seen the latest trends? Miranda’s popularity is through the roof!""Yeah, it’s because of the news about her marrying Nash. That came out of nowhere!""Rumors about them have been circulating for a while, but I never thought they’d come true. It's like a plot from a romance novel!""Did you see the livestream where Nash proposed to another girl? That girl didn’t lo
"Just because something is popular now doesn't mean it will be well-received once it airs. The higher the expectations, the greater the potential for disappointment," Nina said slowly. She added, "To win the audience's love, current popularity isn't enough. Plus, if everyone is after Miranda, we shouldn't join the crowd and get nothing but trouble."She looked at the remaining scripts. "Just because these aren't trending now doesn't mean they're not good. Plenty of shows become hits after they air."She then looked at Angel, "This could also significantly raise audience expectations.""You have a point," Angel nodded seriously. "But who wouldn't want a sure thing? The risk is too high. Penelope is relying on this next role to make a comeback."In the entertainment industry, one successful drama could be a make-or-break opportunity. Missing this chance could mean no more opportunities.Nina said, "That's why we need to choose carefully. This could be the dark horse we're looking
"Does that mean we're on the same page this time?" Nina asked.Penelope showed a warm look. "Maybe we were best friends in a past life, given how in sync we are now."Nina smiled without saying anything."But I'm more worried about your situation," Penelope continued. "Have you really moved on?"She was referring to the recent drama. Miranda was getting together with Nash while Nina was left out. It seemed absurd to her.Nina shrugged, responding cheerfully, "With a great career, why would I need to worry about men? Once I reach the peak of my success, there will be plenty of men around!"Penelope could not help but give her a thumbs up.They entered the female director's studio together. It was small, almost cramped. Previously, this director had made documentaries, winning several awards. This was her first time directing a TV series. The script, which took her five years to perfect, showed her passion and dedication to the industry, indicating she was not just chasing trend
They were taken aback. "Not producing it? Why not?" Nina asked. Nelly smiled and said, "I'm not some big-shot director. I've only made a few documentaries and, yes, I've won some awards, but I don’t have much income. This script took me five years to write, and even though I want to shoot it, I can’t find investors. Without funding, it’s impossible to move forward. Plus, the competition is fierce. Thousands of scripts are submitted, and mine hasn’t attracted any interest. I wanted to produce it myself, but the funding fell through. I just can’t make it happen!"Nina thought it was for some other reason. "Your script is really good!" Nina encouraged her. "Both Penelope and I think it’s well written.""Don’t give up!" Penelope joined in. "Look, we’re here to support you."Nelly appreciated their encouragement but had to face reality. "Thank you, but I need to make money first. That’s why I’ve been working on other projects lately. Even though I’m proud of this script, investors
"No regrets," Nina replied. "I just never imagined I'd be in this position. I used to be just a secretary, and now I'm making a huge gamble with ten million. It's enough to scare anyone!"Penelope put her arm around Nina’s shoulder. "You're my biggest investor now. I'll be counting on you!""Don't say that!" Nina said. "The hard work is just beginning. We'll only be able to relax once the drama airs and gets good feedback. Otherwise, we'll be in big trouble. We have to win this time!"Penelope knew she was making a huge gamble just like Nina. The stakes were high, and this project could make or break them. She did not know why she felt compelled to take such a risky path. Perhaps it was Nina's determination that inspired her. It ignited a fire in her, driving her to aim for the top. She was no longer just Penelope from a small town. She was aiming to become Queen Penelope.A confident smile tugged at Penelope's lips. "We can only win, no room for failure!"Back at the office,
Wilfred was always decisive and had no intention of letting Scott go. However, he hesitated, considering whether Scott’s words were trustworthy and if he could be a reliable ally. Their struggle made a lot of noise in the room.Feeling somewhat better, Nina woke up and saw them grappling with each other. "What are you two doing?" she asked.With his back to Nina, Wilfred blocked Scott from view, preventing her from seeing the fight. She had no idea they were actually in a confrontation."Scott?" Nina called out, having glimpsed his figure.Hearing her, Wilfred released Scott and quickly hid the scalpel. Scott, understanding the situation, smiled as if nothing had happened. "Nina, you're awake."Nina sat up. "Why are you here?"Scott, holding the gifts he brought for her, replied, "I came back from a business trip and didn't find you at home. I guessed you might still be at work, so I came by. Here, these are for you."He handed her a champagne rose and a box of chocolates.
"Where is it?" Scott continued to ask.Wilfred hesitated before finally responding, "Do you know the Nile organization?"Scott's expression tightened. "Isn't that a terrorist organization? It was supposed to have been eradicated years ago. How could...""It wasn't," Wilfred said, his eyes darkening. "I was one of them."Scott fell silent, recalling the time Nina was kidnapped. He looked at Wilfred again. "Is Nina being targeted by this organization?"Wilfred looked down. "I don't think so.""Nash and Miranda's scandal, could it be that he…" Scott had a terrifying thought that seemed to make sense."She might not have the antidote," Wilfred said. "But right now, it's our only lead. Without her, finding the antidote would be nearly impossible."Scott clenched his fists, the concern for Nina evident. They were all worried about her, each in their own way. "I understand," Scott said. "I'll find a way."Wilfred cautioned him, "Do what you can, but be careful."Just then, Nina
Just as Ava was about to cause a scene, the sound of steady footsteps filled the room. Wilfred strode in, his white coat enhancing his composed, almost ethereal aura. Ava shot Karina a glare, silently committing her to memory, then begrudgingly found another seat. Wilfred’s gaze swept across the room, pausing ever so briefly on Karina before moving on. She wasn’t sure if it was real or just her imagination. “Today, we’ll discuss cellular structures. I’ll start with an example from my doctoral thesis,” Wilfred announced, adjusting the projector. To Karina’s surprise, he was an exceptional lecturer—clear, engaging, and far more comprehensible than many university professors. She listened intently, taking meticulous notes. Yvette peeked over at Karina’s notebook, wide-eyed at the densely packed writing. “Karina, when you eventually get promoted, land a big raise, or go for your doctorate, I promise I won’t be jealous. Truly.”Karina chuckled. “If you need these notes, I can len
Karina glanced at the time and quickly gestured for Yvette to sit down as well. However, barely had they taken their seats when a haughty woman marched up to Karina, her sharp gaze fixed on the chair she was sitting on. “You, get up. I want that seat!” Karina frowned, studying the unfamiliar woman. She didn’t recognize her from the hospital, but the designer jewelry around her neck and the branded bag on her arm screamed wealth. She seemed like the kind of entitled socialite who rarely had to fight for anything, let alone a seat.Unsure if the woman was trying to pick a fight or genuinely wanted the chair, Karina pointed to the open seats nearby. “There are plenty of seats over there. Take one of those.”Then, she lowered her head, dismissing the woman entirely.The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Excuse me? I said I want your seat. Get up. Now!” Not content with words alone, she reached out to pull Karina up by force. Karina, now genuinely angry, shook her off. “I was h
Karina looked slightly surprised. She distinctly remembered that Wilfred wasn’t a drinker. “I thought you avoided alcohol?” Wilfred, ever the epitome of control and composure, preferred to steer clear of anything that dulled his sharpness. Back when they worked at the Birkham Central Hospital, she had seen him reject bottles of expensive wine from people trying to curry favor with him. He sipped his tea slowly before replying, “You’ve started at a new hospital. As your former mentor, I haven’t given you a proper congratulatory gift yet.” “This is… for me?” Karina asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. Wilfred’s gaze was steady as he replied, “Don’t like it? If not, I can send it back and we can find something else later.” He raised his hand to call the server over. “Wait! No need. I like it a lot,” Karina interjected hastily, stopping him in his tracks. The idea of going gift shopping with him later felt uncomfortably like a date. And knowing Wilfred’s personality, w
Wilfred’s gaze swept over her without a word, and Karina climbed into the car on her own. When choosing her seat, she instinctively moved toward the back, but before she could get in, Wilfred spoke, “Sit in the front. It’s more convenient.” Karina hesitated briefly. Not wanting to appear overly particular, she complied and took the passenger seat. Although there was a saying that the front seat was reserved for a girlfriend, Wilfred didn’t strike her as someone who cared about such details. She decided to pretend she didn’t know. After buckling her seatbelt, a phone suddenly appeared in front of her. She looked up, her face full of confusion and surprise. Wilfred glanced sideways at her, one hand on the steering wheel, the car still stationary. “I haven’t decided on a restaurant yet. I’ll be driving soon. You pick something.” Karina took the phone. As Wilfred drove, she scrolled through the options, narrowing it down to three restaurants. But her mild indecisivenes
Karina forced a smile. “Really, it’s fine. You all go ahead.”Yvette pouted, her disappointment clear as she relented. “Alright then.”Once the others had left, Karina tried to refocus on work. She pulled out her research materials, determined to get something done. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept wandering. The cheerful chatter from outside finally snapped her out of it, making her realize just how distracted she had been.Karina gave a wry smile and muttered to herself, “This is why you don’t get ahead of yourself. Seriously, one of life’s biggest delusions.”For a fleeting moment, she had thought Wilfred might feel something for her too. But it was better this way, she told herself—better to wake up now than to fall in too deep later. Romance wasn’t her strong suit; focusing on her career was safer.While others might drown their heartbreak in food or a night out, Karina chose the most grueling outlet: work. It might be exhausting, but it was effective. S
After hearing Wilfred’s response, the director could barely contain his excitement. He immediately signed the contract.As he finished, the director couldn’t help but remark, “Dr. Wilfred, I had a feeling you’d be a great ally for our hospital. And now I see I was absolutely right!”Wilfred replied in his usual composed tone, “Well, considering you’ve helped me solve a big problem, it’s only fair I return the favor.”The director froze for a moment. When had he ever helped Wilfred? He had no idea what Wilfred was referring to.Instinctively, he glanced at Karina, catching the fleeting surprise and uncertainty in her expression. Realization dawned, and he let out a hearty laugh. “Dr. Wilfred, you’re too kind! Honestly, Dr. Norman is so talented. She’s hardly a burden. If anything, we’re the ones benefiting.”The rest of the conversation blurred in Karina’s mind. Her thoughts were stuck on Wilfred’s earlier comment, delivered so casually yet carrying so much weight. Was it really
Karina froze for a moment, watching as Wilfred walked through the crowd toward her. He wasn’t wearing his white coat but casual clothes—a khaki turtleneck sweater that softened the sharp angles of his features, paired with tailored pants. The outfit gave off a relaxed, homely vibe, yet the air of aloofness surrounding him remained untouched. If anything, that distance only added to his allure, intensifying the crowd’s fascination and desire to get closer. Wilfred extended a hand to the hospital director. “Dr. Lincoln, thank you for personally greeting me.” “No need for thanks, Dr. Wilfred,” the director said with a chuckle. “It’s a privilege to have someone of your stature visit our hospital. As the director, it’s my duty to show the proper respect.” Their handshake was brief, followed by the usual pleasantries. Karina kept her gaze down, avoiding any indication of familiarity with Wilfred. She guessed he would prefer it that way, and her suspicion was confirmed when
For a moment, she wanted to ask Karina, "If you’re so eager to study, why don’t you just sign up for a class?" But seeing Karina’s confused expression, she swallowed her words and instead said, “It’s time to eat. You need to take care of yourself. Just the other day, I saw you taking medicine for your stomach pain.” Karina wanted to cover the phone, but it was too late. Wilfred had already heard everything. The other end of the line fell silent for a moment. Karina was a little afraid of this silence. After the female doctor left, she tried to explain, “I really have been eating well…” Wilfred interrupted, “Can you charge your meal card at the cafeteria? I’ll load it up for you with my account.” This way, he could get real-time notifications whenever she ate or didn’t eat. Karina recognized the firm tone in his voice and reluctantly accepted. After the meal card was loaded, with Wilfred constantly monitoring her meals, Karina never had to worry about skipping a
Harley replied, “The bottom line is, if you can't get it done, Wilfred will have to resign.”Boom!Karina felt like she had been struck by lightning, frozen in place for a moment. After the shock passed, overwhelming anger followed! She couldn’t believe that Wilfred had personally proposed it. She could tell how much he loved his profession, and there was no way he would voluntarily say he would give up his career. It had to be because they pressured him! However, Harley said, “You’ve got it wrong. It was definitely Wilfred who proposed it himself.” His gaze turned more meaningful. “That’s why I said, he cares about you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made so many exceptions for you.” Karina could barely process his words, her mind only echoing that one sentence that Wilfred cared about her.Just the thought of it felt like being burned, as though her heart was on fire. Her heart became a tangled mess, and she couldn’t bring herself to ask Wilfred directly. She cou