The person blocking their way was none other than Micah, the very man everyone believed was too poisoned to wake up anytime soon.Wilfred instinctively shielded Nina behind him. "I'm taking her out of here."Micah didn't respond immediately. With a gesture, Mr. Joker and others surrounded them.They were taken to another secure location. But just as they arrived, a dire report came in. "Mr. Micah, it's bad! Seth has rebelled!"Micah's lips curled into a cold smile. Seth's rebellion was inevitable, but Wilfred and Nina's escape from the lab had accelerated the process."Whatever happens in the Yaren tribe is none of our concern. You don't want Ivy trapped in this hellhole, do you?" Wilfred gripped Nina's hand tightly, his brows furrowed with worry. His expression was grave, shadowed with a sense of urgency.Micah didn't reply directly. Instead, he instructed Mr. Joker and the others, "Everyone, defend—""Mr. Micah, the tribesmen have been swayed by Seth. We don't have many people
Nina noticed the blood streaming down Micah's face, her eyes widening in shock. She wanted to speak, but it felt like an invisible hand was choking her.Before she could say anything, Micah forcefully pushed her away. "Go find Nash! Don't come back!"Nina stumbled, nearly falling, but a strong hand caught her around the waist. Before she could react, gunshots rang out, deafening her.Wilfred grabbed her and kept moving forward.Micah, meanwhile, was surrounded by Seth's men. Mr. Joker fought with all his might but was forced to stop.Seth, covered in dirt, wore a triumphant smile. His white teeth stood out in stark contrast. He looked smug and confident."Micah, I didn't think you had such a deep mind. I really thought you were poisoned. I underestimated you."He had planned to make his move at the banquet, but Wilfred and Nina's escape attempt had accelerated his plans. Nonetheless, he was impressed by Micah's tactics.Micah sneered.As Seth approached, Micah struck quickly.
Seth initially intended to pull the trigger and end Micah's life, but reconsidered and stopped himself. Squinting, he looked at Micah with a sneer, "I'll make sure you and your father experience the fall from grace to the depths of hell."With a gesture, his men dragged Micah and Mr. Joker away.Seth issued an order, "Wilfred and Nina won't get far. Bring them back to me. I want to them alive or see their bodies if they're dead!""Yes, sir," his men responded in unison.......Taking advantage of the chaos, Nash infiltrated the Yaren tribe. He understood the importance of targeting the leader to disrupt the opposing force effectively.Micah had many people with him, but Nash saw an opportunity with Ivy. He pointed his gun at Ivy's head. "Don't move. Take me to Nina!"Ivy was sitting at her desk, in front of a painting she had completed—a sea of roses. It wasn't very lifelike, but the outlines and colors revealed the artist's state of mind.She had long noticed the footsteps app
Nash didn't even glance at her. "Do I need to spell out your relationship with Seth?"He had already investigated and uncovered the connection between Miranda and Seth. Seth's attacks on him and Nina weren't just driven by ambition and Nina's identity, but also by Miranda."Indeed, one can't keep secrets forever. But now that you've walked right into my trap, I won't let you leave. Nash, you've always looked down on me, and you even allowed Nina to scheme against me. You're so arrogant. I'm going to drag you down and make you my prisoner!" Miranda sneered.Nash's gaze was icy and filled with disgust.Suddenly, Nash’s soldiers rushed in, surrounding Miranda. Only then did she realize that Nash had tricked her. Of course, Nash wouldn't charge into enemy territory alone when his main goal was to rescue Nina.Nash slowly stood up, seemingly unaffected by the powder Miranda had used. She stared at him in disbelief. At this moment, she realized that Nash had only used her as a hostage,
Nash had his soldiers around him and also sharp instincts, so Seth's attempt to harm him failed. However, in any battle, casualties were inevitable.Seth didn't care about Miranda, and while Nash knew she was no longer a useful hostage, he wouldn't spare her either.Seeing the unfavorable situation, Seth waved a white flag to negotiate with Nash. "Nash, you came here for peacekeeping, to find an antidote, and to locate Nina. You have no deep hatred for the Yaren tribe, and there's no unresolved enmity between us."I can help you meet your demands. I don't want to be your enemy."Seth's primary goal was to rule the Yaren tribe and become the master of this land. Opposing Nash without leverage made him the weaker party.Nash dismissed Seth's pleas. "I want Nina."The antidote? The war? Life and death? None of that mattered. He needed to see Nina safe in front of him. Everything else was secondary.Miranda's heart ached as she looked at Nash. She felt foolish, still caring for Nash
Nash pressed his lips together and made a gesture, signaling his soldiers to assist Micah and the unconscious Pharaoh. Micah was a key figure in the Yaren tribe, essential for its stability. If their actions could bring peace, it would be the best outcome.Nash then instructed James and Felix, "Search everywhere for Wilfred and Nina."Given the situation, with Wilfred having no phone and Nina potentially injured, and with Seth still on the run, there was a possibility Seth could reach Nina before Nash could. It was a scenario Nash didn't want to contemplate."Don't worry, Captain. We've already dispatched people. We won't let anything happen to Miss Nina," James and Felix assured him in unison.Micah saw the determination in Nash's eyes. They exchanged a look, but neither spoke further.Micah had noticed Nash's deep feelings for Nina, while Nash had sensed Micah and Wilfred's protectiveness over her. Nash had pieced together much of the story."Micah, we need you to take charge
"Did you really save me?" Nash's lips curled into a sneer before Miranda could finish her sentence.Standing before her, Nash's imposing tall frame loomed like a mountain, especially with the cold, dark glint in his eyes. In that moment, he exuded the aura of a high and mighty ruler, and Miranda found this version of Nash utterly unfamiliar.Even though Nash had always been distant and cold towards her, it had never felt like this. Nash knew enough about the past to see through her lies.It was no use lying anymore. Besides, Nash's indifference had only grown more apparent over time. She had given up."Does it really matter if it was me? Nash, your heart is all for Nina. But you know the obstacles between you two, don't you?" Miranda's smile widened.Nash said nothing, but the intensity in his eyes grew. As harsher punishments were inflicted on Miranda, Nash watched coldly. He did not need her to remind him of the differences between his and Nina's statuses.......Meanwhile,
If she could not survive, then that was her fate, and she would not burden anyone else.Wilfred noticed Nina's voice growing weaker. He shook her vigorously. "Nina, you need to stay awake. I know Seth used extreme methods on you, but please, you have to survive. With me here, I'm your best antidote. You'll be alright!"He shouted desperately, tears welling up in his eyes, but Nina had already closed her eyes, completely unresponsive."Damn it!" Wilfred cursed, his mind filled with images of Seth's face. He loathed Seth with every fiber of his being, wanting nothing more than to tear him apart. Seth had caused so much suffering, ruling the Yaren tribe for so long, even turning his own daughter into the Pharaoh's daughter, taking over her life.Seth still would not leave Nina alone. If it weren't for Seth experimenting on her and poisoning her, Nina would not be in this state.At that moment, Wilfred had only one thought which was to confront Seth and tear him to pieces. But right
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