"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
In the box lay the emerald bracelet Miranda liked.Nina walked in and spotted them all. She politely inquired, "Mr. York, what do you need from me?"Nash glanced her way and beckoned, "Come here."Nina approached.Nash retrieved the box, opened it, and, amid their watchful eyes, slid the emerald bracelet onto Nina's wrist.At that moment, Miranda's expression shifted.Sally was taken aback and exclaimed, "Nash, wasn't this meant for Miranda?"But Nash retorted, "Don't you already spoil her enough?"Sally pursed her lips, feeling unsettled.Nina was taken aback. Suddenly, her hand felt considerably heavier. This was a twenty-million-dollar emerald bracelet.Wasn't this too much for her?She'd never worn such an expensive item before and felt it wasn't right. "It's alright, it's too valuable. What if I accidentally damage it? I should take it off."She hurried to remove it.But Nash held onto her hand, saying with significance, "I got it for you. Take good care of it and don'
With those words, Nina was frozen in place, a chill creeping up from the soles of her feet, leaving her ice-cold and lifeless.What did Zoe say?Did Nash marry her for the shares his grandfather held?Nina's gaze went blank as she turned away, peering through the half-concealed crack to see the scene inside. She saw Zoe standing, her emotions a bit agitated, while Nash sat with his legs crossed on the sofa, his eyes showing no hint of emotion."Yeah," he simply replied.Nina's face turned deathly pale, shock evident in her eyes.No wonder he married her; it was all part of a deal.No wonder on their wedding night, he said there would be no intimacy between them, and he made her realize her status.She was just a pawn from the beginning.Once he got what he wanted, he could let go, hence the three-year contract.Zoe said, "I knew you wouldn't compromise easily, but is this fair to Nina? You're hurting her."Nash's eyes remained calm, and his lips barely moved. "I will compens
Nina was gasping for breath, letting the cold wind hit her, yet she remained oblivious to the chill as she was too consumed by her need to escape.She didn't know how long she'd been running. Exhausted, she finally stopped, panting heavily.With her hands on her knees, tears streamed down her face, falling to the ground without her noticing.In that moment, Nina realized her cheeks were soaked with tears, each warm droplet turning icy, stinging her skin.Why did it have to be this way?Why?Nina silently questioned herself, why did all the good things turn out to be lies?She believed that Nash's most tender and attractive demeanor was merely a facade of compensation and guilt.Finally, she grasped the meaning behind Miranda's words.Nash had married her only to exploit her.He showed no empathy and no hint of affection towards her.Nina sank to the ground, feeling her heart grow cold, her arms tightly wrapped around herself.She wished she had a shell to retreat into, wher
The person on the other end hesitated for a moment. "Someone did see Nina in the office, but no one was keeping watch, so we can't guarantee she was there the whole time."It was a mystery.He had once questioned Nina's suspicion.In his memory, Nina had always maintained her boundaries with him, never making any mistakes, so he didn't have too many doubts.Recalling the moment, Nina seemed quite flustered.She was the only woman who could get close to him.But he was certain it couldn't have been Miranda.Nash hung up the phone, shut down the computer, and left the study.In the bedroom, the lights were on, but Nina wasn't inside.Even her phone was left on the bed.He searched around but didn't find her, then asked the helper, "Where is Nina?"The helper replied, "Mrs. York was seen going downstairs just now."Nina was nowhere to be found in the villa, and she hadn't taken her phone, which worried Nash. He quickly made a call, "Nina's missing, find her!"---Nina woke u
"Quarrels between husband and wife happen all the time; it's just part of marriage. What's the big deal? I'll let Nash know you're in the hospital so he won't worry himself sick about you."Nina internally resisted. "Please, don't tell him.""Didn't you hear what the nurse said? You need to notify your family. Without that, you can't leave the hospital," Caleb insisted.Nina glanced at Caleb. "I hope you stay out of this."Her complexion was dreadful, and she was stubborn, but her tone mirrored Nash's. Truly like a married couple.Caleb continued, "Nash has been searching all over for you. I've already reached out to him, and he'll be here at the hospital soon."Nina pursed her lips tightly. She didn't want to, but Caleb was Nash's friend, surely biased toward him.Afraid that Nina might try to escape, Caleb kept a close eye on her until Nash arrived at the hospital.He was out of breath. Upon seeing Nina, he finally relaxed and walked over briskly. "What's wrong? Where does it
She should not be asking for anything more, but rather, she should let their relationship go back to square one. That was what she should do.Nash felt everything was normal yet somewhat abnormal. Looking at her pale face, he couldn't bring himself to question too much. Instead, he said, "Next time, don't be so reckless to run off alone. At least take your phone with you and have someone with you so I can find you immediately."Nina bitterly smiled. What was he pretending for? Was he pretending to care about her to make up for his guilt? Should she play along with his act?"I understand. I'll listen to you," Nina replied obediently.Nash took a chair and sat across from her. His deep gaze scanned her several times, ensuring she had no other issues. Then he asked, "Nina, do you remember what happened that night?"Nina asked uncertainly, "Which night?""The night I had business and got drunk," Nash said flatly, but it made Nina tense up.Her gaze rested on Nash. It had been a wh
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