"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
At that moment, Nash was still at a social event, feigning compliance while secretly resenting it. Upon hearing the news about Nina, he immediately put down his drink."I understand," he said, hanging up the phone and quickly standing up.Miranda was busy mingling with influential directors and producers, key figures who could help her climb to the top of the industry. She did not notice Nash's departure until she saw the unfinished drink left behind. Distracted, she forced herself to smile and continue engaging with the influential guests as if nothing had happened.Boom—Thunder rumbled in the distance, signaling an impending downpour. Soon, a raindrop fell to the ground. Then another.And another...The rain began to pour more heavily.When Nash arrived, he saw Nina, looking lost and lifeless, wandering aimlessly. Frowning, he got out of the car and walked briskly through the rain toward her. He grabbed her arm and shouted, "What are you doing? It’s raining! Are you c
As she fell into Nash's arms, Nina felt her eyes burn with unshed tears. "Let go of me!" she pushed him away, her eyes locked onto his. "I don't need your sympathy.""Nina..." Nash called her name helplessly.Nina took a step back, her bitter smile unwavering. "Don’t look at me with pity. We have no ties after the divorce. Take your people and go.""I can’t just leave you," Nash stepped forward. "Things aren't what you think.""Don’t come any closer! That’s enough!" Nina shouted hysterically. "Nash, I hate you! You hid everything from me, left me in the dark, and now Scott has to risk his life to save me. If anything happens to him, I’ll hate you forever!"Nash's expression grew complicated. "Would you really treat me like this for Scott?"Nina retorted, "Scott is a hundred times better than you! He’s willing to risk his life for me. Would you do that? You chose someone else when I was at my lowest!""Is that how you see me?" Nash’s voice was tinged with sorrow.Nina sneered.
While keeping Miranda in check, they also had to search for a cure."It’s not like what Ma'am said. It's not just Scott risking himself for her. You are too..." James felt a deep sense of injustice. Nina could not see all that Nash was doing for her. It felt so unfair.Mentioning this, Nash's brows furrowed slightly. "I didn’t expect Scott to find out."He certainly did not expect him to venture into such a dangerous place alone."We'll find another way," Felix said. "Right now, Ma'am needs reassurance."Nash gave a bitter smile. "Didn’t you see? She hates me now. Going back will only make her more upset."He took off his soaked jacket and headed upstairs to change clothes. James and Felix followed, sensing his sadness and frustration. They had rarely seen him this dejected. Even a strong man could be vulnerable in matters of the heart."Solving the core issue is what matters most," Nash said softly. Despite Nina's anger and resentment, he knew what he wanted. He needed to f
Nash said, "She doesn’t need me anymore.""So, there’s a rift in their relationship? No wonder he came back soaked. Even the strongest bonds can be irreparably damaged once a crack appears," Miranda thought to herself.Miranda felt a spark of joy in her heart. She looked at Nash and said, "Nash, I will always need you. I will never abandon you. Believe me, I love you the most. If Nina truly loved you, she wouldn’t treat you this way."As she spoke, she leaned into Nash's chest, her entire being filled with joy.---Upon learning about her poisoning, Nina went to the hospital for a check-up. She wanted to know how long she had left to live and whether she could survive until her baby was born. But the doctor told her there was nothing wrong with her body.Could the poison be undetectable by the hospital?Nina's mind was heavy with worry, facing numerous difficult decisions. What if she died before the baby was born? What if she died after the baby was born? She had to ensur
The script called for a romance between an older woman and a younger man, creating strong chemistry between Penelope and Ivan."Nina."Ivan, bare-chested, approached. His physique, a result of long-term training, combined with his height, made him stand out. If this drama became a hit, he was destined to be the next big star. After every scene, he was polite, bowing to the crew and thanking them for their hard work. Then, he would come to Nina to review his scenes on the camera."Did I not capture that scene well?" he asked, referring to a pool scene with Penelope.Ivan's performance had been a bit raw.Nina reassured him, "No, your character is supposed to be young and inexperienced with relationships. Your performance fits perfectly.""That's good to hear."Ivan was dedicated and serious. Penelope, dressed in a swimsuit, wiped herself with a towel and joined them to review her scene."There's no problem," she said, patting Ivan's shoulder. "Don't worry.""Thank you, Penelo
Her face lit up with joy as she quickly answered the call, "Scott!"But the voice on the other end was speaking in a language she did not understand.Nina’s expression froze. "What are you saying? You’re not Scott?"The voice on the other end was male, and the background noise was chaotic, making it impossible to understand.Nina began to panic. Why wasn't Scott answering his phone?"Don't hang up, I need to find someone who can translate..." she said urgently, but before she could find help, the call disconnected.She tried calling back, but the phone was turned off, leaving Nina even more anxious. The phone was not with Scott, which meant he might be in danger.Her heart raced with fear and uncertainty."Nina," Penelope called out, noticing her distress. "What happened?"Nina looked at Penelope, not knowing what to do. "Scott is in danger.""Scott?" Penelope thought quickly. "He’s still missing. Was that call about him?""The person on the other end was a stranger, speakin
"This kind of news still exists? It's like we've gone back decades. It's terrifying!""We should avoid isolated places. Even if it’s not this case, there are still rapes and murders. It's always right to cherish your life and protect yourself!"Nina overheard their conversation and felt uneasy. With everything happening to her, it seemed like trouble was brewing. Organ harvesting... it sounded like organ trafficking. Had things gotten that out of control?She clenched her fists, pushing aside her fear and feeling a surge of defiance. She could not help but think about that organization.After the night shoot, Nina prepared to go home. Penelope reminded her to be careful and avoid deserted places. Nina left with Angel, but they parted ways at a certain point. Even though it was night, the streets were still crowded. However, she felt like someone was following her. They said these crimes happened in isolated places, but would someone dare to act in such a public area with so m
“Ava.”A deep voice cut through the air, and Karina turned to see a man in a black suit, wearing a hat and a mask, striding toward them. But the man’s white eyelashes and distinctive eyes were all Karina needed to recognize him. He was her albino patient, Xavier Jasper!Xavier also didn’t expect to run into both Wilfred and Karina here. “It’s you two,” he exclaimed in surprise.Wilfred’s gaze sharpened as he calmly addressed Xavier. “Keep your sister in line. Apologize.”Before Xavier could respond, Ava stepped forward and, to everyone’s surprise, said, “I’m sorry. I was too impulsive. Please forgive me.” Karina was taken aback by how quickly Ava apologized. Even Xavier, who knew his sister’s arrogant tendencies well, looked stunned.Karina nodded, her tone steady but firm. “I forgive you, but that doesn’t mean everyone else will. You should work on your attitude. Stop acting so entitled everywhere you go.” With that, Karina turned on her heel and walked away. Although Xavie
”Those were her meticulously compiled notes, the result of hours of hard work—and now they were ruined just like that?” Karina thought.“I’ve never wronged you. Why would you do something like this?” she demanded, her voice trembling with indignation. Something about the situation felt off, and Karina’s sharp intuition told her this wasn’t a simple misunderstanding.Under Karina’s intense gaze, the nurse finally broke down, revealing Ava’s role in orchestrating the whole thing. Karina’s anger turned into a mix of rage and incredulous amusement. “Really? Rich people—did they all enjoy throwing money around like this?”All this trouble, just to ruin her hard-earned work over a seat?Her carefully compiled notes were gone, and there wasn’t a second copy. Arguing wouldn’t bring them back, but Ava wasn’t going to let this slide without giving someone a piece of her mind.Finding Ava wasn’t difficult. In fact, Ava didn’t even try to avoid her. She seemed to be waiting, eager to see
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