Moreover, he had only recently returned to the country, which made the situation even more unlikely.Nina matched his pace as they walked side by side.Scott relished the feeling of walking with her, a subtle smile adorning his lips.However, their tranquil moment was abruptly interrupted by a passing car.As the vehicle approached directly towards them, Scott, fearing it might collide with Nina, instinctively moved to push her to the side, walking along the outer edge of the road.This scene unfolded directly in front of Nash, who observed it through the rearview mirror."Mr. York, Nina is also here, accompanied by a man," Quincy noticed through the rearview mirror and felt compelled to alert Nash.Nash's frosty gaze locked onto Quincy.Initially, Quincy hadn't fully grasped the situation, but Nash's demeanor made it clear that this was not a favorable development.He mentally berated himself for his oversight.Men's possessiveness and selfishness often couldn't tolerate the
Nash didn't view it that way. Several chance encounters couldn't simply be dismissed as coincidences; there was more to it than meets the eye.Nina's seemingly genuine joy each time they crossed paths only made it even harder to explain."Oh, Mr. York is here too!" Wallace, oblivious to any underlying tension, greeted Nash warmly. "Since everyone's here, let's head to the restaurant. I'll treat you all to a feast."Nash nodded at Wallace but kept his words to a minimum.After several interactions, Wallace had gleaned some insight into Nash's demeanor – reserved, decisive, not one for small talk – so he didn't press further.Scott, gesturing towards the car, said, "Please, Mr. York."With a stern expression, Nash got into the car without uttering a word. He didn't acknowledge Nina, curious to see if she would react on her own.Quincy was tactful. He glanced at Nina and offered them a way out, "Nina, why don't you sit next to Mr. York?"Aware of Nash's discontent, Quincy didn't w
Nina hesitated for a moment. Perhaps he was more inclined to find this woman himself. Or maybe he was testing her.Though Nina didn't fully grasp the situation, she had to comply with his wishes. "Mr. York has assigned me tasks, and I will fulfill them, not just this one, but all others as well."Was her response appropriate? As his secretary, she had to obey his commands, demonstrating her loyalty to him.There was no hint of sadness on her face, even as she willingly assisted him in locating a woman he had been intimate with. Whether as his wife or secretary, she was exceptionally accommodating.Nash diverted his gaze, his expression icy as he spoke calmly, "You are truly an excellent secretary to rely on."Initially tense, Nina relaxed upon hearing his praise, responding formally, "It's my duty, and I'll continue to do my best in the future."Listening to their exchange, Quincy found it absurd. Without context, it sounded like a subordinate reporting work. With context, it fel
"Well, Nina looks so beautiful, there must be many people chasing after her, naturally, she has high standards," Wallace looked at Scott again, "But Scott is also quite impressive, young and full of potential, with a great personality and boundless prospects!"Listening to his praise, Nash's expression visibly soured. It was clear that Wallace was highly pleased with Scott and was actively attempting to set them up.Scott looked at Nash and smiled, "Mr. Wallace, you're too kind in your praise. However, Nina is the best person in the world. She deserves to be loved and cherished."Nina felt moved by Scott's words, even though she was taken aback. He said she was the best person in the world, deserving of love and care. No girl could resist such tenderness.Nash also observed Nina's gaze towards Scott, which seemed to suggest she was moved by him, stirring a discomfort deep within him. He instinctively adjusted his tie and remarked coldly, "Actions speak louder than words. When Nin
Wallace only had this one precious daughter, and he adored her immensely. In front of guests, he might say a few words, but at home, she was the apple of his eye, and he cherished her beyond measure.He seldom took Melody out unless she was interested. But he had never taken her to meet Nash. Nash was such a headstrong person, he worried that his daughter couldn't handle him. Previously, he had thought about introducing Melody to Scott. Scott had a good personality, and if his daughter married him, she wouldn't suffer. But things had changed now; Scott liked Nina, and they could all see that. Melody was more interested in Nash, so he could only comply with her wishes and see if it could work out. Besides them, Wallace also had some friends coming over. They were mostly uncles and older relatives who had watched Melody grow up and were quite fond of her. When they arrived, they inquired about her well-being, and Melody greeted them graciously.After everyone had gathered, Melody
Back in middle school, he was a chubby kid. How could he possibly muster the courage to stand beside her? He could only silently steal glances at her."Now, I am the best version of myself," he declared.Nina hadn't realized he harbored such feelings for her; she truly hadn't paid attention.Looking at her, Scott spoke with an indulgent smile, "Nina, even when I was far away in Estaland, I came back once. It was when I found out you were injured, and by the time I returned, you had entered high school. I could only dare to sneak a glimpse of you from far, but seeing you well made me very happy! At that moment, I made a firm decision that when I came back, I would surely bring you happiness."Nina was at a loss for words.She could understand him.From middle school to now, it had been more than ten years.And Scott's affection for her surely surpassed her feelings for Nash by far.She asked, "Have you not liked anyone else in these years?"Scott joked, "Perhaps people from the
At that moment, Nina felt as if struck by lightning, her face drained of color, her body stiff and unyielding. She wanted to flee the place, but her feet seemed nailed to the ground, unable to move. Her eyes remained fixed on them, unable to look away. She hadn't anticipated that by the time she emerged from the restroom, they would have progressed to the point of kissing. However, the next second, Nash pulled Melody's hand away. Coincidentally, his gaze met Nina's, and he paused for a moment. Their eyes met, and for a moment, they exchanged a gaze filled with doubt and sorrow.Nash didn't have time to explain. He simply distanced himself from Melody and spoke coldly, "Miss Wallace, have some self-respect."Melody had followed them out from behind. Seeing Nash alone, she intended to make some intimate gestures toward him. She believed no man could resist a beautiful woman, and no one had ever turned her down before. If she made the first move, she could have Nash. Even if it
The relationship between them couldn't progress any further. Nina composed herself, smiled faintly, then looked back at Melody behind her. "Mr. York, as your secretary, I know better than to pry into matters that don't concern me. Whatever happens here will remain confidential, and I won't speak a word about it."Melody instantly grasped the situation and approached. "Mr. York, if you're concerned about someone overhearing, rest assured, your secretary is trustworthy. Over the years, you've kept a low profile with no scandals or public relationships. I don't need a formal commitment; we can keep it discreet. What do you say?"She was attracted to Nash, longing to get closer to him, to conquer him. If he were interested, she could be his secret lover. He couldn't refuse that, could he?Nash was already displeased with Nina's aloofness and indifference. Now, with Melody adding irrelevant remarks, he felt even more irritated. His cold gaze shifted from Nina to Melody.Melody's smile f
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