For now, the only option was to coax him into eating a bit more. Thankfully, Micah’s words seemed to work. However, apart from eating, Orion remained completely silent.Micah watched Orion, hesitating for a moment before dialing Wilfred’s number. Wilfred quickly answered, "Mr. Micah."Micah said, "Nina has been helping a little boy, but he won't speak. I have a feeling something's wrong. Are you in Salterra? If so, come over and take a look at him."Since Nina had come to Salterra as a war journalist, Wilfred had also relocated and opened a small clinic to treat the local residents. Knowing how devoted Wilfred was to Nina, the Pharaoh had even helped Wilfred regain a civilian identity."Yes, I’ll come right away."Although Wilfred was usually busy treating patients at his clinic, he would always make time to see Nina. But Nina was often unavailable, and he did not want to impose, so he always asked her first before visiting. Lately, though, she had not been responding to his mes
Wilfred’s eyes widened in shock. "I was summoned by the military and just got out today."Micah understood immediately. He then signaled with a look, "Just do the DNA test between him and me.""Alright."However, when Wilfred tried to draw Orion’s blood, the boy resisted fiercely, clenching his teeth like a cornered wild animal.Orion quickly fled.Micah tried to calm him down, saying, "We just need to run some tests to make sure you’re not sick. We’re Nina’s friends, and we mean no harm.""You… liar!" Orion struggled to speak.Micah was taken aback. He had not expected Orion to talk but he was determined to get an answer now.Just as he was about to catch Orion, the boy ran straight into someone’s arms. Micah looked closely and realized it was Nina.Standing beside her was a man, about six-foot-three, wearing a black mask. From his sharp, cold eyes, Micah recognized him instantly.He blurted out, "Nash?""It’s me," Nash replied in a low, hoarse voice.He and Nina had rushe
Nina held Orion's hand and led him to find something to eat. She had made up her mind. She would resign from her position as a war journalist and take Orion back to Birkham to live a normal life. When the time came, Orion would go to school, and she would work to support them.Nash noticed that Nina was preoccupied and did not press further.Meanwhile, although Wilfred had come to understand everything, the heavy expression on his face said it all. When Nash was presumed "dead," Wilfred thought he might have a chance. But despite his efforts over the past five years, Nina had never allowed him into her heart.Now that Nash was alive and their child was too, Wilfred knew he had even less of a chance. But all he wanted was for Nina to be happy.Micah, who had always stood by Nina’s side, was ready to support her no matter who she chose."I’m warning you, don’t let your love turn into hatred. If you even think about disrupting Nina and Nash’s relationship, I won’t let you off eas
Nash walked up to Nina, a gentle smile on his lips. "Nina, let’s remarry."Let’s go back to Birkham together."Nash had made up his mind.The idea of reuniting their family was something Nina had only dreamed of, and now that it was slowly becoming a reality.It felt almost unreal to her. She reached out, instinctively touching Nash’s face, feeling the tangible warmth of his skin.Her throat tightened with emotion.At that moment, Orion suddenly collapsed, convulsing in pain, his face twisted in agony."Orion!" Nina screamed.Previously, when Orion had shown signs of distress, Nina’s concern was driven by compassion. But now, it was a mother’s worry for her child.Nina cradled Orion in her arms, her whole body trembling.Wilfred quickly approached. "Nina, let me take him. I’ll treat him!"Reluctantly, Nina released her hold on Orion.But Nash suddenly realized something important. Back when Orion was with his father, he had specific meals at regular intervals, including a s
"Alright." Wilfred responded immediately, but Nina was not on board. Just as she was about to object, Wilfred grabbed her arm."Nina, in this situation, even if you chase after them, it won’t do any good."Let Nash handle everything. Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, no matter what antidote is needed, I’ll make sure to get it for you," Wilfred said firmly, pressing his lips together in determination. He was resolute, even if it meant becoming the "healer" once again.Nina knew Wilfred would help, but her concern for Orion was overwhelming. A child of just five years old, yet he was enduring such intense suffering.She wished she could take his pain upon herself. But she also understood that giving in to grief would not help. She had to push those feelings aside.Meanwhile, Nash had taken Orion to his father. Dominic had anticipated Nash’s return, but he had not expected him to bring Orion along."You sent the child away before, so why are you bringing him back now? Do you think
Voices of discussion grew louder around them.Dominic stood there with his expression unchanged.Nash held Orion tightly, saying nothing, but his eyes conveyed everything. He had not wanted it to come to this, but today, Dominic had forced his hand."Give me the antidote. I have always been a citizen of Birkham. I’m here only because you saved me. I’ve been looking for a way to return.""Mr. President! We can’t let a Birkham citizen remain here!""Mr. President, please reconsider!"These were the voices of Dominic’s closest advisors.Dominic stared at Nash, his expression cold and calculating. Nash, however, remained resolute, convinced that his actions were the only way to resolve the situation."Don’t forget, your roots are here! If it weren’t for me, you would have been buried in a cold, icy river long ago! Nash…""Of course, I haven’t forgotten. But don’t you forget that I was once a military captain of Birkham. If you want Birkham’s military to attack Salterra, then go ah
If Nash and the child stayed in Salterra, Nina would be left all alone, and Wilfred felt that he might have another chance. But the problem was, this would cause Nina pain, and all he wanted was for her to be happy and at peace.Wilfred pressed his lips together and stepped forward decisively. "Nina, don’t worry. You still have me, and you still have Pharaoh. Don’t forget who I used to be."His words jolted Nina from her despair. Pharaoh, with his love for research and experimentation, had once transformed Wilfred into a healer. Perhaps Pharaoh could help again.For her child’s sake, Nina was willing to humble herself.Nina felt like a traveler in the desert who suddenly finds an oasis. She said, "Nash, let’s go to the Yaren Tribe first!""Alright," Nash agreed in a low, hoarse voice. For now, he was following Nina’s lead.Wilfred walked behind them with a single purpose. As long as Nina could live a good life and be happy, he was willing to stay by her side forever.Orion woke
As soon as Wilfred made his offer, Pharaoh immediately understood his intent. He knew that Wilfred was wholly devoted to Nina. Even if it was not for Nina herself, Wilfred would do anything to make her happy, including saving those she cared about.However, Nina already considered Wilfred a friend. Pharaoh also knew that when Nina was a child, she had given Wilfred a string of emerald beads, a precious keepsake from her late mother. Sacrificing Wilfred would undoubtedly cause Nina great sorrow.And Pharaoh could not bear to see his only daughter in pain.Pharaoh slowly smiled, his voice low and calm, "When I first saw you, I did think about using you for something. But now, you're Ivy's friend, and you're wholeheartedly committed to her well-being. I can't bring myself to sacrifice you. However, while I treat the child, you can assist me.""Understood," Wilfred agreed without hesitation.Pharaoh needed to clearly understand Orion's condition, so he prepared to draw some blood for
Her eyes turned redder, tears stubbornly welling up as if refusing to fall. Karina, watching the girl’s pained struggle, felt a pang of sympathy. She was about to say something to console her when Wilfred gently pulled her behind him, shielding her once more.His gaze remained cold, but his tone carried an unmistakable impatience. “That’s enough. This ends here. Don’t come bothering us again.”The girl froze as if struck by his blunt and merciless words. Her body trembled, and at last, the tears spilled over, rolling down her cheeks and hitting the ground in heavy drops. She opened her mouth, managing to squeeze out a broken, choked whisper: “I… I just…” But the rest of her words were swallowed by the overwhelming tide of her emotions, dissolving into silence.Wilfred frowned slightly but didn’t respond further. He simply took Karina’s hand and turned to leave. Just as they were about to walk away, the girl suddenly shouted hysterically, “Wilfred, I’ve liked you for so long! E
Karina sensed the girl’s unfriendly gaze and instinctively moved closer to Wilfred. Without a word, Wilfred casually placed a hand on her shoulder, a subtle but protective gesture. The girl’s jealousy flared even stronger at the sight. Forcing a strained smile, she turned to Karina and asked, “And who might this be?”Wilfred answered before Karina could speak. “This is Karina, my… friend.” As he spoke, he glanced at Karina, a trace of warmth flickering in his gaze, unnoticed by anyone but her. The girl let out a faint scoff. “A friend, huh? Dr. Wilfred, you’re always so busy with work. It’s rare for you to take time off, yet you didn’t think to invite me? I thought we were close. After all, you took such good care of me when I was your patient.”Her voice was laced with grievance and subtle reproach. Wilfred frowned slightly. His tone remained polite but distant. “It’s good that you’ve recovered. Taking time off is just for relaxation. I didn’t give it much thought.”Though
“Be careful,” Wilfred whispered, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor. Karina leaned into his embrace and said softly, “Thank you. I was too careless.”They proceeded cautiously down the corridor and arrived at a room filled with ancient books and peculiar instruments. Curious, Karina picked up a dusty old book. As soon as she opened it, the faint sound of gears turning echoed in the room. Slowly, a stone table emerged from the center of the floor, revealing a complex puzzle box resting on top.Karina studied the puzzle box carefully, noticing that each piece was engraved with unique symbols and patterns. She tried fitting a few pieces together but couldn’t make sense of it. Meanwhile, Wilfred searched the room for other clues and discovered an ancient mural in one corner. The mural depicted several figures gathered around a similar-looking box, seemingly performing some kind of ritual. He examined the gestures and expressions of the figures in the mural and suddenly
Wilfred snapped out of his thoughts, meeting Karina’s eager gaze. Without hesitation, he nodded. “Sure, as long as it’s something you’ll enjoy.”The two of them arrived at an escape room venue, where the receptionist greeted them warmly.Karina asked curiously, “Hi, we’d like to play an escape room. What themes do you have?”The receptionist smiled and began explaining, “We have a horror-themed ‘Midnight Fright,’ an adventure-themed ‘Lost Tomb,’ and a mystery-themed ‘Misty Manor.’ Each has its own level of difficulty and style.”Wilfred looked at Karina. She thought for a moment before saying, “Let’s try ‘Lost Tomb.’ It sounds mysterious and fun.”The receptionist nodded. “This theme is very popular, but it’s also quite challenging. Are you sure?”Wilfred replied confidently, “No problem. We’ll go with this one.”“All right,” the receptionist continued. “The ticket price for this theme is $30 per person. If you complete it within the time limit, you’ll even get a special gift fr
Leonard, a cheerful and outgoing young man, worked skillfully at the machine while apologizing profusely. “Sorry about this. I don’t know what’s up with this machine today. It’s being a bit temperamental. I hope it’s not causing too much trouble for you.”Karina smiled back warmly. “It’s no problem at all.”As Leonard glanced up at Karina and Wilfred, he couldn’t help but comment, “You two look great together! Are you on a date?”Karina’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she opened her mouth to clarify, but Wilfred cut in first. “Thank you. It’s a rare day off, so I thought I’d take her out to relax.”Startled, Karina glanced at him in surprise, but the unexpected sweetness of his words brought a quiet warmth to her heart.Leonard grinned knowingly. “This movie’s been super popular lately. Lots of couples have been coming to watch it. You’re lucky to have snagged tickets—later in the day, it’s almost impossible to get seats.”Wilfred nodded politely. “Is that so? Then I suppose we’re
Karina couldn’t reconcile the composed, confident, and highly skilled Wilfred she knew with the idea of him as a slave. Her lips trembled as though she wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. Wilfred noticed the shock in her expression and let out a faint, bitter smile before continuing. “In that dark, endless hell, I was subjected to all kinds of drug experiments every day. My body and mind were pushed to the brink, treated as nothing more than a tool. My life and death were entirely in their hands.” A sharp pang shot through Karina’s chest as she listened. She couldn’t begin to imagine the suffering Wilfred had endured. “How did you escape?” she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. Wilfred’s gaze grew distant, his eyes clouded with memories. “There was a rare moment of carelessness during a transfer. I seized the opportunity with everything I had left and escaped. After that, I hid my identity, pouring all my effort into studying medici
Instead of heading out to eat, Wilfred decided to head home. It was the weekend, and with Mrs. Santos off-duty, they could cook for themselves. The fridge had just enough ingredients left for a proper meal. Karina pulled out an unopened carton of cream and called toward the living room, “Do you like cream of mushroom soup?” A response came from Wilfred, and with his approval, she got to work preparing the ingredients. The dishes she planned weren’t particularly complicated, so in no time, the table was filled with food. After all the bustling in the kitchen, Karina almost forgot the reason she had come in the first place. But seeing Wilfred pick up his utensils brought her back to her thoughts. “I wanted to ask you about your sleepwalking last night. Mrs. Santos said it happens often,” she said, her tone filled with concern. Karina had known Wilfred for quite a while now, and their relationship was fairly close. Yet she had never heard about his sleepwalking, not from hi
Yvette’s expression lit up with the thrill of gossip. “Who are we talking about? Is it Dr. Wilfred?” “It’s about a friend,” Karina lied smoothly, her face betraying nothing. Yvette’s face immediately screamed, “Yeah, right.”“Come on, at least come up with a better excuse. That ‘it’s for a friend’ line is so overused it’s practically expired,” she teased, before shifting gears. “Alright, spill the details. And don’t leave anything out. I want to know everything. Not just for gossip but to help you figure things out.” With no other choice, Karina recounted Wilfred’s hot-and-cold behavior toward her. After hearing the story, Yvette leaned back with a sharp hiss, as if processing something heavy. “I think your, uh, friend’s boyfriend might just have something he’s keeping to himself. Maybe there’s a reason he doesn’t want her to know.” Karina’s brows furrowed slightly. “Think about it,” Yvette continued. “If he really didn’t care, would he have been so quick to catch he
Karina stood, but as she took a step, her foot caught on something, and she nearly fell. Before she could hit the ground, Wilfred caught her. The unexpected gesture left Karina more confused than ever. If he was so cold and distant moments ago, why would he help her like this? She wasn’t the only one caught off guard. Wilfred himself was surprised by his reaction. It had been pure instinct. The moment he saw her about to fall, he moved to catch her without a second thought. It was as if his heart acted faster than his words ever could. Before she could ask anything, Wilfred released her quickly, his demeanor detached once more, as if trying to explain away his actions. “Regardless, thank you for earlier.” He hesitated briefly before adding, “Do you have a way to get home? I can drive you if it’s inconvenient.” The warmth Karina felt moments ago instantly turned cold. She forced a bitter smile. “No need. I’ll get home on my own.” She laughed at herself inwardly, a s