Scarlett's fingers twitched as she opened her tired eyes and saw Nina's face. She grabbed Nina's hand tightly.Nina noticed and looked at her again. "Scarlett!"Scarlett's weak voice whispered, "So cold..."Nina held her close. "I'll hold you. You won't be cold. You won't be cold.""Am I dying?" Scarlett asked weakly. "I'm sorry. I couldn't find the antidote for you... I... cough, cough...""It’s okay, it’s okay!" Nina said. "Don't talk. The ambulance is here. I'll get you on it, and you'll be fine."Scarlett's eyes started to glaze over. She spoke faintly, "Don't be sad for me. We didn't have much connection. It was all for Wilfred. Living is exhausting. It’s kind of nice that I won’t have to struggle to survive anymore."Her life felt like it should never have started. There was no joy, only constant helplessness. No family, alone, and no one to love her. Living had lost its meaning. "Now you can live well," Nina said, trying to ignite Scarlett's will to survive. "Sawyer is
Nina could not find the words to express her sympathy for Scarlett. There were so many people suffering in this world, and her time in the dark room seemed insignificant in comparison. At least she had family, while Scarlett had never known warmth. It made her heart ache and filled her with immense sadness.Nina was placed on another stretcher and carried away. She and Scarlett were taken in different vehicles. As she looked out, she saw that the situation was under control. The gunfire had ceased, and the criminals were being apprehended. Many police cars had arrived, and the scene was being cleaned up.Sawyer, the ringleader, had been captured. His head was covered with a black hood, and his hands were shackled. He limped, his body bearing various injuries. Nina also saw James and Felix hurrying out, their faces stern. However, Nash was nowhere to be seen.Nina was filled with questions. Why wasn't he there? Usually, James and Felix would be by his side. Maybe Nash was b
They ran after the car but were quickly left behind. Through the rearview mirror, Miranda saw Nash in the back seat. His tremors were lessening, which made her even more anxious. She feared his life was slipping away."Hang in there, Nash! Stay with me, we're almost there. I will save you, just hold on!" Miranda shouted, trying to keep him conscious.She wouldn't let him die! As long as he held on, she would find an antidote. Miranda drove through winding paths, from the forest to the bustling city, and finally to a remote area. She screeched to a halt at an abandoned factory.The sight of the unfamiliar car on surveillance immediately raised alarms.Miranda jumped out and shouted, "Dad, it's me! Help!"She rushed to the back seat and struggled to lift Nash out. People began emerging from the abandoned factory. They were Seth's trusted men.Seth, observing from the surveillance room, did not panic upon seeing the car. He knew it was Miranda and Nash. This whole situation was
Shelves lined with bottles and jars, test tubes filled with colorful liquids, and the bubbling sound of distillation surrounded them. This was just a part of Seth's lab, which contained both poisons and antidotes. Each was labeled with a code, not a name. The lab housed at least a dozen researchers, fully geared up and working diligently. Nash was placed on a sofa, unconscious.---Nina was taken to the hospital for a full-body check-up. Apart from some scrapes, she was fine. Thanks to Scarlett's protection, she had survived the ordeal. She worried about Scarlett, who had always expressed her loneliness and isolation. Even in the operating room, Scarlett was alone, with no one to visit her. Nina did not want her to be alone and wanted to provide her with some warmth.Nina waited outside the operating room, hoping that when Scarlett woke up, she would see someone who cared about her. Maybe that would give her more hope to live. After three hours, Scarlett was wheeled out
Nina's questioning left James somewhat flustered. "Ma'am, you're overthinking it," James decided to stick to the cover story, which was also Nash's wish. "Captain has official business to handle. It's normal for you not to see him."Nina asked again, "What about Miranda?"James replied, "That, I don't know."Seeing that James did not want to say more, Nina had to stop her questions."Can I stay with Scarlett?" Nina asked."Um... well..." James hesitated."Is it not allowed?" Nina looked at James."It's allowed," James relented, "but Scarlett cannot leave the room without our permission, and you will have to undergo checks when entering and leaving. Those are our rules."As a soldier, James was somewhat rigid, but Nina understood the need for protocol and replied, "I understand."She entered the room, with James watching from outside. He was anxious, still waiting for news from Nash, unsure when they could move forward. Every moment was agonizing, but he knew they could not
She looked at Scarlett lying in the hospital room, thinking Scarlett might have the answers. Nina sat quietly, opened her phone, and checked for information online. The road explosion had made the news immediately, given the connected world they lived in. People were discussing it everywhere, creating a sense of panic.The official announcement simply stated that an anti-crime operation had begun, with no details provided. She asked Kate about it. Kate explained that to avoid public panic, details would only be released once the operation concluded successfully. This meant that the current calm could be the precursor to a larger storm. The operation wasn't over, which likely meant Nash was still on duty.Nina furrowed her brows, feeling the complexity of the situation. Who was the real target of this operation?Looking outside, everything seemed calm. Compared to the chaos she witnessed at the scene, the hospital felt much more serene. At mealtime, James showed his concern b
"The anesthesia wearing off will cause you some pain. Hang in there. It will get better in a couple of days," Nina comforted her.Scarlett seemed relaxed. "It's okay. Pain is no big deal for me. I'm just happy to see you again."Nina sat beside her, tightly holding her hand. "You'll see me often from now on. Everything you've longed for will come true."Scarlett nodded, feeling content. Even a small amount of attention and love made her happy."I want some water."Nina quickly got her some water. Scarlett drank it in a few gulps, feeling a lot better, her throat less sore."Do you want to rest some more?" Nina asked.Scarlett shook her head. "No, I don't want to sleep. I want to enjoy this moment of peace. Even if I'm lying in a hospital, at least I'm living like a normal person now."Without Sawyer's control, she felt truly free for the first time. Having faced death, she now cherished life and wanted to live without regrets.Noticing the guards outside, Scarlett asked, "Who
Scarlett did not understand. "What are you talking about?"Nina looked outside again, noticing James’s occasional expressions of unease. She felt that her suspicions were partially correct. Nash might be trying to gain Seth’s trust and would likely take some calculated risks. The fact that Nash and Miranda were still missing only added to her concerns."James, did Nash go to see Seth?" Nina asked directly."Well..." James hesitated. "Captain will come back. Don't worry about him. If he returns, I'll inform you immediately."Scarlett, catching on, said to Nina, "If Nash really went to see Seth, it’s probably to get the antidote. Seth can make medicines and likely has his own lab. He must have learned from Pharaoh. He wouldn’t waste his skills."Nina's expression grew tense as she turned back to James. "Why didn’t you go with him? You haven’t made any moves. Did Nash go alone? Isn’t that too dangerous?"James was cornered. "Captain didn’t want us to follow.""Big goof, why can’t
But instead of feeling touched, Vera’s first reaction was nausea. A wave of discomfort surged up from her stomach, and Vera’s face paled. She bolted for the bathroom. Caleb followed quickly. “Are you feeling sick?” “I don’t think so. I’ve been eating normally—nothing too heavy or weird lately.” Vera clutched her stomach, just as confused as he was. Then, a possibility flashed through her mind. Caleb clearly had the same thought. Without a word, he turned and walked into their bedroom, returning moments later with a pregnancy test. Vera looked at him, stunned. “When did you buy that?” He responded matter-of-factly, “Better safe than sorry.” Vera was momentarily speechless. Five minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. It was positive. They had only been married for three months. How did this happen so fast?Caleb, on the other hand, remained composed—at le
Of course, Vera wasn’t about to dump all her responsibilities on her assistant. That would be exploitation. She called her assistant into her office. “You’re twenty-five this year, right?” Her assistant blinked, confused. Wasn’t her age common knowledge? Why was Vera suddenly bringing it up? A thought struck her. Was this an arranged marriage situation? Her face immediately filled with silent refusal. “Miss Vera, I’m still young. I’m not thinking about marriage anytime soon.” Vera tapped her pen against the desk. “I’m not telling you to get married.” “Oh.” “I just want to offload some of the smaller daily tasks to you. You don’t have to run every minor document by me.”Her assistant instantly understood. A raise. After confirming she was on board, Vera gave her a salary bump and had her hire a few more assistants to distribute the workload. “If I don’t have time to handle everything, you guys will take care of it. If something’s too complicated, jus
Vera could sense danger the moment the conversation turned in this direction. Her father had never questioned her about married life, and she was lucky enough to avoid nosy relatives. But just because she hadn’t experienced it firsthand didn’t mean she hadn’t seen it happen to others. Without hesitation, she abandoned the half-folded pastry in her hands. “I... uh, need to use the restroom.” Before she could escape, Mrs. Smith caught her wrist. “You and Caleb aren’t getting any younger,” she said matter-of-factly. “You should start thinking about kids—make sure you’re putting in the effort, hmm?” Vera left the kitchen visibly drained. Mrs. Smith was a wonderful mother-in-law, the kind who treated Vera like her own daughter. Despite knowing Vera came from a well-off family, she had still gifted them a house as a wedding present. Of course, Caleb already owned a place, but his mother had insisted. “That’s your house. This is the home I’m giving you as a weddi
That undeniable possessiveness flickered in Caleb’s gaze—subtle yet impossible to ignore. It was the kind of look a powerful man might give his beloved in an old Hollywood film. And right now, the photographer felt like the unlucky bystander who had accidentally stumbled upon an intimate scene. His voice wavered slightly, caught up in his own imagination. “Mr. Smith, lift your eyes toward the camera.” Caleb’s sharp gaze flickered over, intense and commanding. The photographer instinctively pressed the shutter. They continued with several more poses, reviewing the shots as they went. Vera loved them all, but her favorite was still the vintage-inspired one. “How long until we get the final prints?” she asked. “Two to three days at most,” the photographer replied. “I’ll have them shipped directly to you.” Then, after a slight pause, he hesitated before making a request. “I actually have a personal favor to ask—would you both be open to letting us displa
Vera was tempted. They had already taken plenty of wedding photos—several sets at the island, more at the wedding itself. But this wasn’t just any photo studio. It was privately booked and known for being one of the most prestigious studios in the city. Appointments here were nearly impossible to get. The fact that Caleb had managed to secure a session meant he had gone to great lengths to make it happen. If they were just going to take ordinary wedding pictures, it would be a waste of an opportunity. Still, she wasn’t sure what kind of shoot she wanted. The photographer, understanding her hesitation, pulled out a sample album. “You can take a look at our past work. These are some of the styles we’ve done.” Flipping through the pages, Vera saw an array of stunning concepts—each picture more breathtaking than the last. Then, one particular set caught her eye. A Golden Age Hollywood theme.It was classic, nostalgic, and beautifully atmospheric. “Ca
After the wedding, Vera considered taking some time off for a honeymoon. But the thought quickly faded when she realized Caleb had been practically living at the hospital. With a sigh, she dismissed the idea. She was used to it, but to say she wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. Her assistant picked up on it. “Mrs. Smith, don’t you want to go on a honeymoon?” she asked one day. “One of my friends just got married, and she’s been obsessively researching destinations. “She even said a marriage without a honeymoon is already half a failure.” Vera froze mid-page, suddenly losing interest in the documents she had been reviewing. Her assistant hesitated, then offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you go visit Dr. Smith at work?“You seem… distracted. Maybe seeing him will help.” Vera snapped out of her daze, suddenly aware of how preoccupied she had been lately. It was embarrassing to admit, but she had been zoning out far too often—especially after coming hom
Whenever they did this in the past, Caleb always maintained some restraint. But tonight—he didn’t hold back at all. He took her from the bedroom to the bathroom, then back to the bed, his searing kisses trailing every inch of her skin. The next morning, even as she woke up, Vera could still feel the lingering traces of last night’s intoxicating pleasure. As expected, she ended up taking the day off. It wasn’t until two days later that she finally returned to work. *Everyone at the company had already prepared for this. The moment Vera walked into the office, she was greeted with knowing smiles and teasing remarks. “Congratulations, Mrs. Smith!” “Newlywed bliss, huh?” “Three whole days off? Someone had a good time.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she had been up to. Obviously, her married life was going exceptionally well—so well that she had completely abandoned work for it. Under the weight of their mischievous stares, Vera barely k
Yelena still hadn’t accepted Hunter, but he wasn’t giving up either and was relentlessly closing in on her. Knowing Yelena’s soft heart, Vera figured it was only a matter of time before she gave in. She let out a sigh. Her friend’s love life wasn’t something she could interfere with. Besides, Caleb had already given her a little inside scoop. “She came to the hospital for a follow-up a few days ago,” he had mentioned casually. “Hunter was the one who brought her.” Vera had clicked her tongue at the news. Yelena always seemed quiet and reserved, but apparently, she was full of surprises.*Time flew by in the blink of an eye.By mid-month, Caleb had rented out an entire vineyard and spent several days transforming it into the perfect wedding venue.When the day arrived, the celebration took place right there.The vineyard was sprawling and elegant, every bit as grand as any luxury hotel—if not better. Even the wine cellar remained untouched, stocked with years-
“Did you plan this from the start?” Vera narrowed her eyes, feeling like she had just walked into a carefully laid trap. “Mm.” Caleb smiled, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Because yes—he had always been planning this. The biggest change in Vera’s life after the island proposal was the ring now sitting on her finger. It wasn’t just any ring. It was custom-made, something Caleb had specially ordered. She only found out by accident when she glanced at his phone one day and saw the purchase record. It had been ordered two months ago. Vera did the math and was stunned. He had been preparing for this long before she even started getting impatient. Her heart swelled with emotion. And as soon as Caleb’s parents heard that their son had finally proposed, they wasted no time pushing them to get the marriage license. *One day, Vera overheard Caleb’s mother lecturing him. “Your dad and I weren’t expecting much from you. With how much ti