"Call me Nina," she said.Before, it was just a name, and she had not spent much time with Wilfred. She did not know that Ivy was the Pharaoh's daughter's name. Now that she knew, a sense of powerlessness overwhelmed her."I've always called you Ivy. From the moment I met you, you were Ivy. Even though you're Nina now, Ivy, no one can change your past. We are born with many things beyond our control, but we must strive to understand them fully," Wilfred said, looking at her.Understand fully? Nina wanted to laugh but could not."I know about the Pharaoh and his followers—how they killed, burned, and looted, and how he turned you into this! He did it all for his own selfish desires."The scenes Nina had witnessed played in her mind like movie clips, one after another. She could not imagine how she had survived in the Yaren tribe as Ivy."I'm tired, Wilfred. I want to sleep. When Nash comes back, wake me up." She turned over and lay back on the camp bed.Wilfred stayed by her side
Nina couldn't bring herself to say what she felt, but Nash understood.He cupped Nina's face and kissed her deeply, as if trying to merge her into his own body. But at the critical moment, he pulled away."Rest here for a few days. I'll arrange everything for your departure.""Alright," Nina replied, breathless, watching Nash leave the tent.Nash had further preparations to make. Deploying forces for Nina's sake had convinced the Yaren tribe to surrender, but it had also led to disciplinary action against him. He was now on three days' suspension.Unable to explain everything to Nina himself, Nash sent James to update her on the situation.Nina understood. However, she hadn't seen Scarlett yet."Where's Scarlett?" she asked instinctively."She's in another tent, Ms. Nina. Don't worry, she's doing well. Captain has enlisted her as a soldier to help her regain some of her memories through muscle memory training.""Take me to her.""Of course," James said, leading the way.With
Nina shook her head. "You shouldn’t take me out to relax, you have your own work to do. I can't keep affecting you."Nash was confined because of her, and she believed he should stay with his unit. They had plenty of time in the future."Foolish girl, how could you be a burden? It's me... I'm sorry. I'm still not strong enough, still too negligent. I failed to protect you, that's why you got hurt."There was a glint in Nash's eyes, and his voice grew hoarse with emotion.It pained Nina to see Nash apologizing. She put her hand on his lips. "Don't say that. I understand. I'll take Scott and Scarlett back."To her surprise, neither Scarlett nor Scott wanted to leave. Scarlett was thriving as a soldier, enjoying her new life. Scott found a sense of peace around Nina, even with their limited interactions.Respecting their wishes was essential, but Nina felt it necessary to insist with Scott. She approached him to explain."I don't know why you don't want to go back, but you have fam
"This isn't my territory. I don't make the rules," Nina replied hoarsely, pursing her lips.She understood Wilfred's feelings and intentions, but she saw him only as a friend."Then I'll go talk to Nash," Wilfred said earnestly, waving at Nina before heading off to find Nash.In a few minutes, he found Nash in his tent, standing in front of a map. Dressed in his military uniform, Nash exuded an air of authority that set him apart. It was not just the uniform. Nash had an inherent quality that made it clear why Nina was so captivated by him.Wilfred hesitated for a moment before approaching Nash. "Nina has a problem. You know that, right?"Nash paused, lowering his marker, and met Wilfred's gaze. Though he said nothing, his intense, dark eyes spoke volumes."It seems you do," Wilfred observed."Yes," Nash finally replied.Wilfred continued, "She likely experienced strong empathy in the slave camp, absorbing others' pain and suffering until she believed their experiences were her
Nina held the flowers close, inhaling their scent. Soon, Nash approached her, his eyes filled with tenderness. "It's a shame we don't have a phone to capture this moment," he said. "Now I understand why people like to take pictures everywhere. They want to freeze these beautiful moments."Nina chuckled. "Look at our situation. After everything we've been through, my perspective has changed."She had always been cautious, working as Nash's secretary, strictly adhering to his instructions, and hiding their relationship from everyone. Now, with all they had endured, the thought of taking photos seemed trivial.Nash smiled and sat down beside her, pulling her into his embrace. "Nina, I know I've let you down in so many ways. I'm working hard to take care of everything so I can be the Nash you deserve.""Mm, I know," Nina murmured, leaning into his chest as they watched the sunset together.Gently stroking her hair, Nash said, "Nina, Micah and the Pharaoh are here. The Yaren tribe ha
Nina had never seen the Pharaoh without his mask. But now, the Pharaoh stood beside Micah, his eyes deeply fixed on her.She averted her gaze. "I don’t plan on returning to the Yaren tribe," she said calmly, not intending to acknowledge the Pharaoh or her connection to the tribe. Her tone was cold and detached.Nash put his arm around her shoulder. Though he said nothing, his determined look made it clear that he supported her decision completely. He would stand by her no matter what.The Pharaoh, trembling, took a step towards Nina. "Ivy…" he croaked, his voice choked with emotion.Nina waved him off. "My name is Nina," she corrected. His voice made Nina feel uncomfortable, as if a heavy stone was pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe. Emotions and attitudes can change over time, but this reunion was difficult for both of them.The Pharaoh had imagined many scenarios of their reunion, including the possibility of Nina's coldness. But now, facing it, he couldn't deny ho
"We would like to stay here for a while," Micah proposed, seizing the opportunity.Nash understood the real reason behind Micah and the Pharaoh wanting to stay. They hoped that proximity would allow them to win Nina over. Before Nash could respond, Micah gestured for him to follow outside. Without a word, Nash signaled his subordinate to take care of the Pharaoh while he and Micah stepped out.Once outside the tent, Micah spoke frankly, "My father was deceived by Seth. He truly cares for Ivy. Given how close you and Nina are, could you help mediate between them?"Micah looked at Nash with a hopeful glint in his eyes. Nash had not forgotten how Micah had helped both him and Nina during their time in the Yaren tribe. Without Micah's assistance, their safe exit would have been impossible.However, Nash was not Nina. He could not make decisions on her behalf. He had already done that once previously and faced her resentment. After everything they had been through, he could not risk h
Wilfred spoke slowly, his gaze growing more resolute. He suddenly remembered Ivy from years ago, how warm and beautiful her smile was. Most importantly, she had once brought warmth and protection to him. Without her, he would not have survived. Even though his life was nearing its end, being by Ivy's side was the greatest comfort to him now.Pharaoh listened to Wilfred and then realized something. After a moment of silence, he spoke softly, "Don't forget, I was the one who turned you into a healer."Pharaoh could make Wilfred a healer, and he could also just as easily restore him to a normal state, allowing him to live a regular life. He now understood that those experiments only led to more madness. To him, his children were the most important."Really?" Wilfred's eyes showed a glimmer of joy and excitement. When he had left, it was because he knew his life was nearing its end. Although he wanted to stay with Nina, he had no identity or healthy body and didn't want to bring her s
Why would someone as unbothered by non-work matters as Wilfred suddenly intervene in this situation? Karina didn’t think too deeply about it. She failed to notice that the real reason lay in Wilfred’s reluctance to let Xavier stay at the hospital. After all, the only person Wilfred trusted in the Atlantis hospital was Karina. If Xavier stayed, she would inevitably be the one to care for him. And Wilfred, stationed in Birkham, wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on things. Just the thought of Karina and Xavier spending days and nights together in a place out of his sight, talking and sharing moments, made Wilfred’s gaze grow icy without him realizing it. Meanwhile, Karina, shivering from the sudden chill, blamed the air conditioning or her choice of outfit. She was completely oblivious to the most obvious culprit standing right next to her. The discharge procedures went smoothly. By the afternoon, Xavier’s belongings were packed, and he was ready to leave. Since he was Karina’
Harley gritted his teeth, glaring at her as if he wanted to press further, but before he could act, Karina was pulled back. Wilfred fixed him with an icy stare. “This isn’t your place to lay a hand on anyone.” “Wilfred!” Ignoring him entirely, Wilfred turned to Karina and asked softly, “Does it hurt?” Her wrist was red, but as she looked at his serious expression, any discomfort seemed to fade. She shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt. With you here, he wouldn’t dare go too far.“Still, there’s no point wasting time on him. Let’s go.” Wilfred nodded. Before leaving, he glanced coolly at Harley and left him with a parting shot. “This bet? I won. Relay this to your mentor and tell him to keep the association’s hands out of Birkham and Atlantis. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to make sure his reputation is shattered, no matter his age.” With that, they left the corridor. Karina didn’t turn to see Harley’s expression, but as they walked away, she couldn’t help voicing her
At the time, Wilfred had already guessed that this had everything to do with Harley and his mentor, Professor Zeller. “You and your so-called association don’t focus on benefiting patients. Instead, you spend all your time trying to monopolize everything. And now you want to turn me into one of you? Keep dreaming.” Wilfred’s tone was filled with disdain, his eyes cold with contempt. The smug smile on Harley’s face slowly faded. With a sneer, Harley’s voice turned bitter. “You know what I despise most about you? That self-righteous, holier-than-thou attitude of yours. I was offering you advice, but if you don’t want to hear it, fine. There’s nothing more to say. After all, if the surgery fails—” Before he could finish the word “fail,” the surgical light outside the operating room flicked off. Clack!The sliding doors parted, and Karina burst through, her face flushed with emotion. She didn’t even notice Harley. Her focus zeroed in on Wilfred. “Wilfred!” Her voice trem
As the surgery approached, Karina worked overtime, meticulously double-checking for any possible oversights. Before stepping into the operating room, she took a deep breath."Karina, you’ve got this!" a nurse beside her encouraged.This surgery was particularly significant, and the assistants and nurses weren’t from her hospital. They were brought in by the project, specifically by Harley’s team. Without a single familiar face around, Karina felt a twinge of anxiety. Opportunities to lead surgeries were already rare for her, let alone under circumstances like this, with no one she could truly rely on.But there was no turning back now. Gritting her teeth, Karina donned her gloves. As she was about to enter the operating room, her peripheral vision caught sight of a figure standing silently in the distance. It was Wilfred. His steady gaze met hers, his eyes carrying something profound she couldn’t quite decipher. When their eyes locked, a faint smile curved his lips.In th
“Ava.”A deep voice cut through the air, and Karina turned to see a man in a black suit, wearing a hat and a mask, striding toward them. But the man’s white eyelashes and distinctive eyes were all Karina needed to recognize him. He was her albino patient, Xavier Jasper!Xavier also didn’t expect to run into both Wilfred and Karina here. “It’s you two,” he exclaimed in surprise.Wilfred’s gaze sharpened as he calmly addressed Xavier. “Keep your sister in line. Apologize.”Before Xavier could respond, Ava stepped forward and, to everyone’s surprise, said, “I’m sorry. I was too impulsive. Please forgive me.” Karina was taken aback by how quickly Ava apologized. Even Xavier, who knew his sister’s arrogant tendencies well, looked stunned.Karina nodded, her tone steady but firm. “I forgive you, but that doesn’t mean everyone else will. You should work on your attitude. Stop acting so entitled everywhere you go.” With that, Karina turned on her heel and walked away. Although Xavie
”Those were her meticulously compiled notes, the result of hours of hard work—and now they were ruined just like that?” Karina thought.“I’ve never wronged you. Why would you do something like this?” she demanded, her voice trembling with indignation. Something about the situation felt off, and Karina’s sharp intuition told her this wasn’t a simple misunderstanding.Under Karina’s intense gaze, the nurse finally broke down, revealing Ava’s role in orchestrating the whole thing. Karina’s anger turned into a mix of rage and incredulous amusement. “Really? Rich people—did they all enjoy throwing money around like this?”All this trouble, just to ruin her hard-earned work over a seat?Her carefully compiled notes were gone, and there wasn’t a second copy. Arguing wouldn’t bring them back, but Ava wasn’t going to let this slide without giving someone a piece of her mind.Finding Ava wasn’t difficult. In fact, Ava didn’t even try to avoid her. She seemed to be waiting, eager to see
Just as Ava was about to cause a scene, the sound of steady footsteps filled the room. Wilfred strode in, his white coat enhancing his composed, almost ethereal aura. Ava shot Karina a glare, silently committing her to memory, then begrudgingly found another seat. Wilfred’s gaze swept across the room, pausing ever so briefly on Karina before moving on. She wasn’t sure if it was real or just her imagination. “Today, we’ll discuss cellular structures. I’ll start with an example from my doctoral thesis,” Wilfred announced, adjusting the projector. To Karina’s surprise, he was an exceptional lecturer—clear, engaging, and far more comprehensible than many university professors. She listened intently, taking meticulous notes. Yvette peeked over at Karina’s notebook, wide-eyed at the densely packed writing. “Karina, when you eventually get promoted, land a big raise, or go for your doctorate, I promise I won’t be jealous. Truly.”Karina chuckled. “If you need these notes, I can len
Karina glanced at the time and quickly gestured for Yvette to sit down as well. However, barely had they taken their seats when a haughty woman marched up to Karina, her sharp gaze fixed on the chair she was sitting on. “You, get up. I want that seat!” Karina frowned, studying the unfamiliar woman. She didn’t recognize her from the hospital, but the designer jewelry around her neck and the branded bag on her arm screamed wealth. She seemed like the kind of entitled socialite who rarely had to fight for anything, let alone a seat.Unsure if the woman was trying to pick a fight or genuinely wanted the chair, Karina pointed to the open seats nearby. “There are plenty of seats over there. Take one of those.”Then, she lowered her head, dismissing the woman entirely.The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Excuse me? I said I want your seat. Get up. Now!” Not content with words alone, she reached out to pull Karina up by force. Karina, now genuinely angry, shook her off. “I was h
Karina looked slightly surprised. She distinctly remembered that Wilfred wasn’t a drinker. “I thought you avoided alcohol?” Wilfred, ever the epitome of control and composure, preferred to steer clear of anything that dulled his sharpness. Back when they worked at the Birkham Central Hospital, she had seen him reject bottles of expensive wine from people trying to curry favor with him. He sipped his tea slowly before replying, “You’ve started at a new hospital. As your former mentor, I haven’t given you a proper congratulatory gift yet.” “This is… for me?” Karina asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. Wilfred’s gaze was steady as he replied, “Don’t like it? If not, I can send it back and we can find something else later.” He raised his hand to call the server over. “Wait! No need. I like it a lot,” Karina interjected hastily, stopping him in his tracks. The idea of going gift shopping with him later felt uncomfortably like a date. And knowing Wilfred’s personality, w