"Am I being sarcastic? I'm just stating the facts," Nina replied to Miranda. "A scratch is nothing to him."Miranda insisted, "Even if it's just a scratch, I still worry."She reached for the first aid kit, intending to treat his wound.Nash pulled his hand back. "No need," he said coldly, clenching his fist. "It's a small wound, it'll be fine in a couple of days.""No," Miranda said firmly. "It needs to be treated. Listen to me, I'm afraid it might get infected."Nina continued, "Let her take a look. She worries because she cares. Otherwise, she might not sleep well tonight."Nash's expression darkened even more. He was visibly uncomfortable.Seeing no reason to stay, Nina decided it was best to leave them be. Angel loved gossip and complaining. She found Miranda’s behavior so annoying that it gave her goosebumps. Because of this, Angel had complained to Nina many times about how pretentious Miranda was. Nina had interacted with Miranda many times before and knew that Miran
Scott smiled and looked deeply at Nina. "Maybe it’s faith.""Isn't there a way to avoid going?" Nina was still worried about him.Scott replied, "I have to go. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been through a lot, trust me, I’ll come back safely!"It was rare for him to speak like this. Despite the danger, why was he willing to take the risk? Nina’s expression grew heavy. She did not want him to take this risk."Can I hug you?" Scott asked. "It might be a while before we see each other again."Nina looked at him, thinking there was no reason not to hug him. She opened her arms like an old friend.Scott, always the gentleman, only wrapped his arms around her back and gently patted her shoulder. "Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.""But you said it’s dangerous. I can’t help but worry about you," Nina said."It’s enough that you care," Scott smiled more deeply and whispered, "This trip is worth it."After hugging for a while, they separated. Scott waved at her like he always did, but it felt
Nina was quite surprised by this."Director? No, no, no, I don’t know anything about directing!" Nina had not even considered it before.Nelly responded, "Don’t be modest. You’re always running around, watching, and discussing dramas. Even if you think you’re just a dabbler, you always speak insightfully. Maybe you just have a natural talent for this.""You’re flattering me," Nina said, thinking Nelly was joking.Initially, Nina had absolute confidence that this drama would be a hit. She wanted to help Penelope find a way out and benefit herself in the process.At that moment, Penelope was also resting, sitting beside her. She chimed in, "I know you see this drama as very important. After all, this is our chance for a comeback. If you're interested, you could listen to Nelly. This is part of your career, after all."Nina was in a confused phase, unsure of what she wanted or what interested her. Becoming a reporter was a way to seek justice for ordinary people. Investing in th
Scott’s mother almost fainted upon hearing this."Mrs. Scott," Yasmine quickly supported her."The Yaren tribe?" Nina asked, "What kind of place is that?"Yasmine looked at Nina with frustration. "It’s a place where people kill without batting an eye! Why would he suddenly go there, asking all these strange questions? Did you put him up to this?"Nina was utterly confused. "What strange questions did he ask you?"Yasmine’s eyes turned red with anxiety. "He asked me about the Yaren tribe and whether they could make medicine or poison. I told him everything. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have said anything. He actually went there! I thought he was just curious. Why would he go, knowing how dangerous it is?"Nina’s heart sank. Making medicine and poison… Could there be a connection?Overcome with tension and worry, Nina felt dizzy. Fortunately, Angel supported her.They must be hiding something from her!Scott’s mother broke down in tears. "I only have one son. If anything happens t
Wilfred’s expression grew complicated, then darkened. "Ivy…""Tell me," Nina clutched his sleeve, her anxiety rising. "Is there something wrong with my body? Did he go to get medicine for me?""Ivy…" Wilfred’s voice faltered, lacking confidence.He had wanted to keep it from her until she recovered. He wished for her to be carefree, but she had still found out.Nina understood from his words. She released his sleeve, her eyes reddening, and a bitter smile forming on her lips. "No wonder… No wonder I felt off and always weak. It turns out there really is something wrong with my body. No wonder you stayed by my side. No wonder…"Her voice choked up."No wonder Nash abandoned me. It’s because of my health, isn’t it?""Don’t say that," guilt flashed in Wilfred’s eyes. He reached out to touch her but let his hand fall back. "You will get better. I won’t let you die.""Die?" Nina turned to look at Wilfred. "Is it that serious? Then why do I feel fine? Tell me, what’s going to happen
Wilfred followed Nina’s gaze toward the door. Then, he walked over and opened it. The person who entered was Scarlett.Her worried eyes turned to Wilfred. "How are you?" she asked.Noticing someone behind him, she saw Nina. Scarlett looked surprised but then pressed her lips together, remaining silent.Seeing her, Nina felt a whirlwind of emotions. Nina had just learned about her poisoning, and now Scarlett appeared. The pity she had felt earlier vanished and was now replaced by anger and resentment."It’s you," Nina said, walking over.Scarlett looked up at her. "It’s been a while."Nina asked, "Was it you who poisoned me?"Scarlett’s expression changed, and she chose to remain silent.For her, this matter was also extremely complicated and troubling. But thinking of how it involved Wilfred, Scarlett felt a twinge of guilt.Nina realized she had been too naive, always hoping for the best. "Why did you do it? If you wanted to kill me, why didn’t you just push me off a cliff? T
Wilfred's brown eyes met Scarlett's gaze. Seeing the worry and fear in her eyes, he pulled his hand away from hers. "You don't need to be involved in this."Scarlett's eyes reddened, and she said hysterically, "Is it worth it? Are you insane? We’ve fought so hard to stay alive, and now you want to throw your life away for someone else. I’ve done so much for you, taken so many hits from Sawyer to protect you. Just think of it as doing this for me. I’m your partner. You can’t abandon me!"Wilfred’s hand dropped limply by his side, his voice calm. "I never asked you to do all that for me. This is my burden to bear alone.""Wilfred!" Scarlett shouted, walking over and grabbing his hand again. "Do you have a death wish?"Wilfred looked at her. "Haven’t I told you before? What’s so frightening about death?"Scarlett let go of him and stepped back, filled with disappointment. "If you’re this crazy, I should have killed her back then!"Wilfred’s eyes turned sharp, and he said coldly, "Ha
"Don’t talk like that," Wilfred said.Scarlett's tears continued to fall, but this time, they were for herself, not Wilfred."It’s true," Scarlett said, her eyes hollow as she spoke to him. "Every time I have a nightmare, I dream that no one will take care of my body. I have no family, no friends. If I die, it will be as if I were garbage."Wilfred tried to comfort her. "That day will never come."Scarlett closed her eyes, feeling a deep sadness she could not overcome. She had always been different from other girls. Others had parents while she did not. Her life was filled with killing. People said her parents sold her for two thousand dollars. The idea that no parent would sell their child was ridiculous. She was the proof that some parents did not love their children. They wanted boys, not girls, and sold her without hesitation.Since she could remember, her life was about training to kill and steal. Her childhood was filled with beatings and coldness. Sold into a life wit
Life is unpredictable. Every twist and turn happens in the blink of an eye, and fate had long chosen her path, forcing him to move forward relentlessly, unable to look back. “Jamie!” She jolted awake, her eyes darting around in the haze, barely making out Ben’s shadowy figure in the distance. She ran toward him, laughing softly as she teased, “Attorney Lucas, you’re looking more and more impressive these days.” But Ben’s expression didn’t soften at her lighthearted remark. Instead, his eyes narrowed as he closed the distance between them. “Cut the act. How are you going to repay what you owe me?” Jamie rubbed her temples. What was going on? Why did it feel like she had forgotten so much? Of course, they were strangers now. That was all they had become. When she looked up again, Ben had his hand around her neck, veins bulging beneath his pale skin. “How will you repay me?” He advanced menacingly, his face twisted with fury. Jamie felt beads of sweat forming on her forehead
Jamie was momentarily at a loss for words, her throat tight with emotion. Years ago, she had wronged Ben, and now, how could she possibly harm him to such an extent? Ben loomed over her, his intense, dark eyes locking onto her unsettled gaze. “Or is it that even you can feel a twinge of guilt, a flicker of hesitation?” he pressed, his tone dripping with mockery. Jamie forced a weak, sarcastic smile. “Ben, there’s probably no one more heartless than me, right? If I had a soft heart, I wouldn’t have left you for money back then.” Ben’s pupils contracted sharply, as if her words had driven a knife through his chest. For so long, he had tried to bury that truth, deluding himself into forgetting, but it was laughable. She had moved on without a trace of remorse. “You want me to let you go?” Ben braced his hands on the edge of the bed, leaning in closer. His eyes, once warm, now glinted with cold cruelty. “Forget it, Jamie. People need to pay a price to understand what they ca
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,