"Hi, I'm Nina," she introduced herself.Nash cut their conversation short, saying, "Alright, let's move."The child had calmed down, thanks to one of the women. Chana remained in the group, her eyes constantly drifting toward Nina and Nash, monitoring their interactions.Seeing a chance, she pulled out a handkerchief she had embroidered. "Captain, you're sweating. Let me help you wipe it off."As she reached out, Nash turned his head, avoiding her touch. "No need."Embarrassed, Chana apologized, "I'm sorry, Captain. I just wanted to help."Nash pursed his lips, ignoring her. Chana felt a pang of awkwardness, unsure of how to bridge the gap between them.Nina noticed their interaction, seeing that Chana and Nash had spent quite a bit of time together. It was evident from the way Chana offered to wipe his sweat.As Nina was pondering this, Nash suddenly said, "You wipe my sweat."He clearly wanted Chana to see this. Chana's face fell, her hands clenching tightly."Huh?" Nina wa
The conditions alone made her heart flutter with joy. She didn't want to endure the hardships of war any longer. Back then, she had been quite a beauty, and it was her looks and talent that had allowed her to marry a man from Birkham.But then she glanced at Nina. She couldn't just sit and do nothing."Nina, come change your clothes. They're soaked through," one of the older women called out.Arin said, "You can wear my clothes. We're about the same size.""Alright," Nina replied, finishing up with the herbs in her basket.They had their own unique clothing, made from fabric they wove and sewed themselves. It looked a bit like traditional minority attire, with colorful designs representing their customs and culture. Nina found their clothes beautiful.After changing, Arin exclaimed, "Wow, Nina, you look stunning! Our clothes make you even prettier!""Really?" Nina was unsure but felt a bit shy from the compliment."Absolutely! You should show Captain!" Arin said excitedly, push
Nina did not care what Nash thought. She was just stating the truth. They were practically strangers now, so there was no reason to stick to just one option. She needed to show him that she didn't rely solely on him. Ignoring Nash's gaze, she linked arms with Arin and walked away. Arin still thought it was a good opportunity, but things hadn't turned out as she hoped.---In a grand, old building made of bamboo and wood, nestled among mountains, rivers, and bamboo groves, the environment was serene and exuded an ancient charm. The large structure, several hundred square meters in size, had intricately carved wooden walls.Inside, a woman's voice called out, "Brother."A man was in the study, which was enormous, with seven or eight-meter-high walls lined with bookshelves, filled with a variety of books. Hearing the woman's voice, the man's face remained expressionless as he focused on his reading."Brother," the woman said excitedly as she entered the room and saw him. "You c
Ivy asked him again, "Is he like this with everyone?""I don't interact with him much, but he's usually like this, not caring about much," Wes replied, trying to comfort her.This made Ivy feel a bit better. She asked, "Where does he go when he's not here?""He likes to wander around the nearby villages.""He has the leisure for that? What's so interesting about those places?""His thoughts are different from most people.""And Dad doesn't mind?"She wished her father would control him more. Who else dared to treat her with such indifference?"No, he doesn't," Wes said.Ivy grew curious about what was so interesting about those villages. She wanted to see for herself.--"Why do you and Captain seem so awkward and distant?" Arin felt they had missed a great opportunity. "It looks like you've known each other for a long time, not just met.""You're right," Nina replied."Really?" Arin was shocked.Nina's mind was not on Nash. She had been in the village for a while and sti
Nina could easily hear the implication in Chana's words. It was obvious what she was hinting at. "So, you're cooking for Nash?" Nina asked, playing along.Chana smiled. "Yes, Captain has been very kind to my son and me. I'm very grateful. He even got hurt saving us and said he would take us back to his country. I owe him my life, and I don't know how to repay him." She paused before adding, "I've noticed Captain Nash is always alone. He must be single, right?"Nina replied, "You can ask him yourself."Chana hesitated. "I couldn't possibly ask him such a thing. I thought you might know since you seem to talk to him a lot.""You've been around him longer than I have," Nina said directly. "Shouldn't you already know? Or are you worried I might get in the way of whatever you're planning?""That's not what I meant," Chana quickly backtracked. "Miss Nina, I know Captain doesn't have those feelings for you. You've misunderstood me. Have I offended you? I'm sorry..."Nina didn't want
She thought Nash hadn't returned yet. She was just about to leave the belt and go when she saw the scene unfold. Her face froze in place, feeling like she had interrupted something she shouldn't have. Seeing Nina come in, Chana seized the moment, immediately confessing to Nash, "As long as you don't mind, I can be your woman. Even if it's just a fleeting relationship while you're here, I'd be willing."She was desperate, hoping for someone to protect her. She and her child had no other support. Nash was her best chance at safety, especially in this war-torn region where life was so uncertain. If Nash could take her back to his country, she and her child could finally be safe. Even if it was just a temporary relationship here, she believed he would still protect her. In the Yaren territory, having someone powerful to rely on made all the difference. Without a strong protector, they were just ordinary people. In times of civil unrest, it was always the common folk who suffered the
Nash frowned slightly but still explained, "There’s nothing between Chana and me. She’s just a woman I helped along the way."Hearing this, Nina laughed coldly, "Yes, I know. I've heard that there are many distressed women here. You saved her because she's somewhat attractive. She also has a child, so if you get involved with her, you'll have to be a stepfather. But if that's what you want, then nothing else matters.""I didn't know she would come into my tent," Nash said. "But it's not what you think. I helped her because her husband was Birkhamese and had helped us. That's all."Nina, already fuming, shook off his hand and said coldly, "Why are you explaining this to me? We're divorced. Your business doesn't interest me."Nash's hand grabbed at nothing but air. In his desperation, he forgot they were divorced, letting his emotions override his principles. He didn't want her to misunderstand. He instinctively wanted to be close to her."I'm sorry," Nash said quietly. "I overstepp
Nina's eyes widened in shock, feeling as if she were in a dream. She was frozen, unable to react, as Nash parted her lips and claimed her breath with a deep, passionate kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly as if afraid she might slip away again. Through his embrace, he poured out his longing and deep affection. He had missed her so much. In every dangerous moment, it was the thought of her that gave him the will to survive.Nina felt the intensity of his emotions and didn’t resist. she wrapped her arms around his broad back and kissed him back with equal fervor. She closed her eyes, overwhelmed with emotion, and tears began to well up. A single tear escaped, which Nash gently wiped away with his thumb as he continued to kiss her passionately.Words were unnecessary. His actions spoke clearly of his love for her. She didn’t even remember how they made it into his tent. When she regained her senses, Nash was laying her gently on the bed. She clung 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