This took everyone by surprise. It sent chills down their spines and was a real eye-opener for Penelope."Nina, are you out of your mind? You slapped Miranda!" her colleague exclaimed, shocked.Miranda tilted her head slightly, stunned for several seconds.Nina replied, "You slapped Yvonne; it's only fair I return the favor!"The assistant, startled, immediately pushed Nina away. "Are you crazy? How dare you hit Miranda..."Nina retaliated by slapping the assistant back. "You lack manners. With such a troublemaking assistant like you, it's no wonder Miranda got slapped!""You... Nina, you..."The assistant couldn't articulate her anger as Nina remained unfazed.Miranda covered her face, tears streaming down, and said softly, "Ruby, let it go. We can't afford to provoke her...""Who can't afford to provoke her?"Sally rushed over in a fit of rage at the sight of Miranda being slapped. "Nina, it's you again. This time, I didn't make a mistake, did I? You are bullying Miranda be
Nash's sudden announcement left everyone in the room stunned for a considerable time.Married?Was this something they were supposed to hear?Miranda's face instantly drained of color, her eyes welling up with tears as she fixed her gaze on Nash. It felt as though a sharp blade had pierced her heart, her hands instinctively balling into fists.He actually admitted to being married in front of so many people!This dealt a heavy blow to her, nearly causing her to lose her balance, but fortunately, Sally beside her managed to support her.Nina glanced up at Nash once more, her hands tightening involuntarily. She didn't know what he was thinking or why he would admit it in front of so many people.It left her feeling a bit confused.She couldn't react for a moment, feeling nervous at the same time.What came to mind were the words Nash had said on the night of their marriage, that if anyone found out, she would pay the price.It all felt surreal.Others were stunned for several
Miranda despised the fact that Nina had snatched her beloved away from her. Despite all she had done for Nash, why was it Nina who reaped the benefits?Sally handed her a tissue and gently wiped away her tears. "Miranda, just be patient and keep your composure. In the end, everything will fall into place for you."Sally offered Miranda another dose of solace. She had to endure; eventually, everything would be hers. Miranda's eyes turned cold once more.---"Nina, did you see that? Nash publicly humiliated Miranda!" Yvonne chuckled. "It was so satisfying! Did you see her expression? She was so jealous! If it weren't for your mother-in-law supporting her, she might have fallen over!"With this spectacle today, Miranda has been disgraced. With so many people watching, let's see how she tries to spin this lie!"And you know what? I don't think Nash is that bad after all. At least he's standing up for you!"The fact that he stood up for Nina in front of so many people, admitting to b
Nina was taken aback by this. She lifted her head once more, unable to believe it. He had never praised her like this before. What was happening today?Locking eyes with Nash, Nina asked, "Really?"Nash reached out, gently stroking her hair. "Are you lacking confidence now?"Encountering a different demeanor from him, Nina felt a bit uneasy, but she didn't want to admit it. "Of course not.""You look beautiful tonight, very fitting for you," Nash said, wrapping his arm around her waist. Nina took a few steps forward, nestling into his embrace."I hate to let you out to meet people," Nash said in a husky voice.His warm breath fell on her face, tantalizing and intriguing. Nina's cheeks flushed, and she pushed him away. "Stop goofing around. Since you said it's good-looking, then it must be good-looking."She smiled faintly.Nash's gaze softened, and he lowered his head again. "Why is it that when I say it's good-looking, it is?"Looking up, Nina saw the flicker of stars in his
"Mr. York," omeone approached with a greeting, then glanced at Nina standing next to him. "So, it's Nina. You really know how to keep your beauty under wraps. You look stunning today, I'm genuinely impressed!"The individual then extended their hand for a shake with Nina."Thanks for the kind words. It's all about the magic of makeup, though. Not quite on par with your companion," Nina responded with her usual professional demeanor, promptly reciprocating the handshake with a smile.But Nash stepped in, saying, "No need to be so formal tonight."Nina withdrew her hand once more.The person didn't seem bothered, just teasingly remarked, "Looks like Mr. York is quite protective of his little secretary."Meanwhile, nearby, another conversation was underway."Check it out, Mr. York's companion is actually his secretary. I thought it would be someone else!" Penelope's assistant smirked, deliberately making the comment. "I'd say a secretary's position is more powerful than some people
Nina smirked. It hurt, so this wasn't a dream after all. Nash was really massaging her feet. Noticing her expression, Nash thought he might have pressed too hard and instinctively asked, "Did I hurt you?"Nina shook her head. "No, you didn't." She paused, her nose slightly moist, and said, "I just didn't expect you to be like this." To her, his tenderness was surprising. Nash lifted his deep gaze, noticing her bright yet somewhat pitiful eyes, and he softly said, "I'm sorry you had to endure this."Nina shook her head and remained silent. She wasn't enduring anything. She just loved him but couldn't have him. As Nash rubbed her feet, the warmth of his touch eased Nina's discomfort. She focused on gazing at him, soaking in his tenderness while remaining clear-headed.Her eyes fell on his deep gaze, his prominent nose bridge, and then his rosy lips... At that moment, she felt overwhelmed with emotions, and finally, she couldn't resist calling out, "Nash." At the sound of her voice
"You can still call me Nina," Nina said, "You suddenly changed how you address me. I'm a bit uncomfortable, especially since we're outside and there are many people watching."Quincy didn't understand. They were clearly husband and wife, so why keep it a secret?But it was their business, and he didn't want to pry.He simply complied with Nina's request, "Okay, Nina."Nina finished eating and headed towards the auction area.Suddenly, she bumped into someone. Following her professional habit, Nina apologized first, "Sorry for bumping into you.""It's okay, Nina, thank you for that glass of lemon water."She looked up and surprisingly, it was Penelope.Nina politely greeted, "Penelope."Penelope smiled faintly and shook hands with her warmly, "Nina, you look beautiful today. No wonder Mr. York is infatuated with you."Nina immediately clarified the situation, "No, Penelope, please don't misunderstand. I'm Mr. York's secretary, just his companion. Mr. York is already married. I
The main gemstone was ten carats, with additional diamonds of over one carat each as accents. A style worthy of collection.Nina glanced back and caught Miranda's gaze, noticing the smirk and subtle challenge in her eyes. Indeed, Miranda had every reason to flaunt.After marrying into the York family, Nina couldn't recall a single occasion when Sally had bought her anything. Finally, Sally bid six million without any hesitation. The gemstone was placed in front of Miranda. With so many people watching, it gave Miranda plenty of face, making her very happy. "It's so beautiful, Sally, you have such good taste."Sally's indulgent look: "As long as you like it, everything is worth it."As Miranda held it, bystanders looked on with envy, and one person quickly remarked, "Miranda seems to be quite favored by Sally, treating her like her daughter.""Her daughter? Clearly, she's being treated like her daughter-in-law.""But didn't Nash mention he's married? How could she be her daughte
If his son were in the same situation, Caleb figured he would probably do what his father was doing now. Forget it. “Fine,” he said at last. “You can stall my father for now. But let me be clear—whatever money you take from him, you’ll have to pay back later.” He had no intention of having a child with Vera. Vera readily agreed. “Alright. As long as I can clear my family’s debt, I’ll do whatever you ask.” “First, put your clothes back on.” Caleb had encountered countless situations as a doctor. He had performed surgeries on both men and women without a second thought. But this was different. Vera wasn’t his patient. Vera had already braced herself for the worst. Now that Caleb had set the terms, she quickly put her clothes back on. But even after dressing, she remained on her knees. Caleb hadn’t heard any movement, and since he didn’t want to turn around prematurely, he was caught off guard when Vera spoke. “I’m dressed.” Only then did he turn to look at h
Caleb had acted out of kindness, offering Vera a place to stay for the night since she had nowhere else to go. He had assumed that after their conversation, she would let go of her ridiculous plan. He truly never expected that Vera would see him as her last lifeline. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. “Vera, I finally understand why no one is willing to help the Mason family. There’s not a single decent person among you!” Vera had anticipated Caleb’s anger, but she never thought he would lash out like this, dragging her entire family into it. Say what he wanted about her—but how could he insult her family? Frustration flared in her eyes. “I know what I’m doing is wrong. But I have no other choice. Caleb, you don’t have to take your anger out on my family.” “If your family was so ‘good,’ then why did they leave you with mountains of debt? Why is your brother missing?” Caleb snapped, his voice sharp. He hadn’t wanted to throw those words at her, b
Caleb’s voice was low, but there was a hint of bitterness tugging at the corners of his mouth. He never thought he would be speaking to Luna in such a tone. It didn’t feel good. “Caleb, I’ve never trampled on your feelings,” Luna said, her voice hoarse and her gaze tinged with sorrow. “I never once accepted your proposals. If I were you, I wouldn’t have proposed a second time. I would’ve kept my distance. I’ve always seen you as a friend, but look at the things you’ve done and the words you’ve said. I’m not obligated to say yes to you, yet you bring someone else into this just to put on some sort of show?” Her voice cracked, and the pain in her eyes was unmistakable. Caleb’s smirk deepened, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You’re right. You’re not obligated to accept me. But have you ever thought about this? When you call for me, I’m not obligated to come running, either. And as for your accusation—I’m not ‘putting on a show’ with anyone. The girl who came here with me
Caleb stayed by the operating room until Luna’s surgery was completed successfully. After that, he remained at her bedside, not leaving for a moment, until she finally regained consciousness hours later. When Luna opened her eyes, disoriented, she murmured, “Am I… dead?” The sharp smell of disinfectant made her dizzy, and the unfamiliar surroundings only heightened her anxiety. “This is the hospital,” Caleb said softly. “You had appendicitis, and surgery was necessary.” Hearing Caleb’s voice, Luna finally relaxed. She wasn’t dead. But the thought of Caleb sitting by her bedside brought other concerns to mind. Were they alone? Was anyone else around? After all, Caleb had brought another woman when he came to find her earlier. Luna glanced around the room, her searching gaze caught immediately by Caleb. “Don’t bother looking,” he said coolly. “It’s just me here. I arranged for a VIP room for your recovery.” Only then did Luna let out a long breath of relief. She
“My father’s interest is just a passing phase,” Caleb said calmly. “Once he realizes there’s no outcome, he’ll naturally let it go. I’ve been in love with someone who didn’t love me back—it was exhausting. So why would I willingly enter a marriage with someone I don’t even have feelings for?”Caleb didn’t want a marriage without love, and he certainly didn’t want the worst-case scenario—a child born into such a situation. Even though Vera had suggested signing an agreement where the child would stay with him, Caleb couldn’t bring himself to agree. How could a child grow up happy without a mother’s love? And what would he do when the child inevitably started asking for their mom? He couldn’t bear the thought of the child calling someone else “mom.” And if he stayed with Vera just for the child, wouldn’t that create a miserable, loveless relationship for both of them? It was better to draw a clear line from the beginning. Vera hadn’t expected Caleb to be so straightforward a
Caleb’s words left Vera increasingly confused. He had taken her along to see Luna, and now that Luna had been brought to the hospital, there wasn’t much else for her to do. What could Caleb possibly want from her now? If he wanted to continue their "act," he would’ve stopped her earlier, not waited until now to come looking for her. But Caleb remained silent, and Vera didn’t dare to jump to conclusions. She waited patiently for him to speak. After a moment of quiet, Caleb finally broke the silence, his voice low and slightly hoarse. “You don’t have money, and your father is in a standard hospital room. If you don’t rest properly, how will you have the energy to take care of him? Here.” He pulled out a key and handed it to Vera. “This is the key to my dorm at the hospital. I don’t use it often. You can rest and freshen up there.” Vera stared at Caleb in disbelief. Caleb had made it clear he didn’t want any involvement with her and had outright rejected her earlier su
The moment Caleb entered the password at the door, Vera realized he frequented this place. Who could it be? Her mind swirled with guesses, but when the door opened, she followed Caleb inside and saw Luna curled up on the couch in the living room. Caleb immediately strode over to Luna and began checking her condition. Vera trailed closely behind, holding the first aid kit she had brought. “This is appendicitis,” Caleb said firmly. “We need to get you to the hospital right away.” He didn’t even use the supplies in the first aid kit. However, Luna noticed Vera standing there and was visibly startled. She hadn’t expected Caleb to bring someone else—especially Vera—along. When Caleb bent down to lift Luna, she resisted, trying to push him away. “Caleb, what are you doing? What’s the point of all this? Why are you acting like this?” Caleb’s focus was entirely on Luna’s worsening condition. Her appendicitis had escalated to a critical point, and she needed surgery imme
Vera clenched her teeth, making a desperate decision. She moved closer to Caleb, taking the initiative to grab his hand, her sincerity clear. “Caleb, look at me. I’m not as bad as you think. Whether it’s real or fake, I can do it.” Without responding to her plea, Caleb coldly threw out a single sentence, “You can sleep in the car tonight.” Then, without a backward glance, he pulled the car door open and left. Watching his retreating figure, Vera felt as though an invisible hand was squeezing her heart tightly. She had never imagined that her life would come to this point. *Later that night, Caleb was woken by a call from Luna. Through the phone, Luna’s voice was laced with pain. “Caleb, can you come over? My stomach hurts… really badly…” Her words were like a hook, sinking deep into Caleb’s heart. He loved Luna and couldn’t bear to see her in pain or distress. Yet, he forced himself to remain clear-headed. “Isn’t Simon with you? Call him,” Caleb said coldly
Caleb had mentioned taking Vera back to the hospital. Even though she was the one driving, that should have been their destination. But instead, she brought him to his villa. This clearly showed she had done her homework on him. Vera pressed her lips together. “Since you asked me to drive, I figured I’d drop you off at your place first.” “Is that so?” Caleb scoffed, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “And after you drop me off, how are you planning to get back?” As he spoke, he leaned closer to her. Vera instinctively leaned away, uncomfortable with the sudden proximity. She had never been in such close contact with a man before, and her intentions truly were as simple as dropping him off—nothing more. But Caleb didn’t believe her. He grabbed her shoulder with one hand, his grip firm. “I’m asking you a question. Why aren’t you answering?” Vera knew avoiding the question wouldn’t work with him. He wasn’t the type to let things slide. “If I didn’t drop you off, h