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
Nina held Orion close, staying by his side.But later, while in the lab, she came across a treatment list that Pharaoh had compiled. One particular herb caught her attention—Seven-Leaf Clover.This herb thrived in shady areas and would only grow deep in the mountains. Due to its unique medicinal properties, venomous snakes often guarded it. It was said that only experienced herbalists would dare to harvest it and ordinary people would not risk it.Pharaoh had marked the herb's name, possibly indicating the difficulty of obtaining it. Nina bit her lip. If others were afraid to go, she would go herself. If it meant saving her son, she was willing to risk her life.With that resolve, Nina set out immediately.Nash, seeing her heading toward the mountains from afar, quickly caught up. "Where are you going?""I’m going to find Seven-Leaf Clover," Nina replied directly, adding, "I can go alone. You stay here with Orion.""No, I’m going with you," Nash insisted firmly. Nina, not wantin
The relentless pursuit was a battle between them, the tiger, and the venomous snake. Nina knew they could not keep this up. Once darkness fully set in, their chances of escape would be even slimmer.As they passed by a tree trunk, Nina used it as leverage, planting her foot firmly and springing up to snap off a branch. In one swift motion, she spun around and drove the branch into the snake's weak spot, right at the seven-inch mark.The snake dropped to the ground, lifeless. The tiger roared furiously, seemingly enraged by the death of its companion."Climb up the cliff!" Nash shouted, throwing the torch at the tiger.The tiger did not dodge. The torch hit its head and fell to the ground, extinguished. A small flame flared up on the tiger’s head, causing it to freeze in panic.Nina seized the opportunity, picked up the fallen torch, and with all her strength, drove it into the tiger's body.A single, lethal strike.Nash was stunned. In the five years they had been apart, his
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
Wilfred’s gaze swept over her without a word, and Karina climbed into the car on her own. When choosing her seat, she instinctively moved toward the back, but before she could get in, Wilfred spoke, “Sit in the front. It’s more convenient.” Karina hesitated briefly. Not wanting to appear overly particular, she complied and took the passenger seat. Although there was a saying that the front seat was reserved for a girlfriend, Wilfred didn’t strike her as someone who cared about such details. She decided to pretend she didn’t know. After buckling her seatbelt, a phone suddenly appeared in front of her. She looked up, her face full of confusion and surprise. Wilfred glanced sideways at her, one hand on the steering wheel, the car still stationary. “I haven’t decided on a restaurant yet. I’ll be driving soon. You pick something.” Karina took the phone. As Wilfred drove, she scrolled through the options, narrowing it down to three restaurants. But her mild indecisivenes
Karina forced a smile. “Really, it’s fine. You all go ahead.”Yvette pouted, her disappointment clear as she relented. “Alright then.”Once the others had left, Karina tried to refocus on work. She pulled out her research materials, determined to get something done. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept wandering. The cheerful chatter from outside finally snapped her out of it, making her realize just how distracted she had been.Karina gave a wry smile and muttered to herself, “This is why you don’t get ahead of yourself. Seriously, one of life’s biggest delusions.”For a fleeting moment, she had thought Wilfred might feel something for her too. But it was better this way, she told herself—better to wake up now than to fall in too deep later. Romance wasn’t her strong suit; focusing on her career was safer.While others might drown their heartbreak in food or a night out, Karina chose the most grueling outlet: work. It might be exhausting, but it was effective. S