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
"Or are you worried that our father might do something to Nash?" Micah's words hit Nina directly, resonating deep within her. She was not afraid that Pharaoh would harm Nash. At this critical moment, she knew Pharaoh wouldn’t do anything to him.But Micah seemed to read her mind. He chuckled softly and said, "Since you know he won’t do anything to Nash, what are you worried about? Get some rest. At this point, none of us will deceive you. You are our only priority, and we’re all trying to make things right for you. We would never want to hurt you."Nina did not respond, but she took in every word. Micah’s words were not just empty promises. She had felt their sincerity in their actions as well.Meanwhile, on Nash’s side, Wilfred led him to Pharaoh and then left the lab.Orion was lying on the operating table, an IV needle in his right hand, receiving fluids.Men tend to have more self-control than women, Pharaoh thought as he handed Nash the results of the recent tests. "This ch
Nash held a high place in Nina’s heart, and with his willingness to help, it was only a matter of time before their family would be reunited. However, Pharaoh also made a promise to Nash."Rest assured, I genuinely want to make amends with Nina. And I truly want my grandson to survive."In other words, Pharaoh did not need Nash’s help to ensure that Orion received proper treatment."I understand," Nash replied slowly, those few words carrying all the meaning needed.However, Nash and Orion were not a successful bone marrow match.As for Nina...Nash said, "Nina is sharp-minded. We can’t bring her in for testing."If Nina found out, it would be devastating for her. From her perspective, she had just found her child and had barely reunited with him. To then learn that he was gravely ill with multiple conditions would be unbearable."No one could handle that," Nash added.Pharaoh nodded. "I’ll arrange for the child to be tested against our people. We have plenty to choose from."
Nina did not want to listen to their argument, but she could tell there was some chemistry between them. Over the past few years, she had heard the good news that James and Scarlett were together. They were planning to get married at the end of this year, and Scott’s family was also making arrangements. The only one left without a partner seemed to be Felix.While things with Felix were uncertain, one thing was clear. Neither Wilfred nor Micah had found someone yet. Although Nina had her differences with Freya, she thought that if Freya and Micah could develop something, it would be a good match.As Nina walked away, Micah called after her, but noticed she was moving quickly. Freya, however, blocked his path, her head lowered like a child who had done something wrong. "Mr. Micah, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to upset her. I just…""You didn’t see that you already drove her away with your nonsense? If you keep spouting this rubbish, do you believe I won’t have your tongue cu
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