Seeing the person he loved most trying to arrange things for him tore Wilfred apart. It felt like he was feeling torn between two extremes, an unbearable torment. "I'm sorry... I just want you to be happy. I want you to—" "I know," Wilfred interrupted gently, offering Nina a soft smile. His eyes were full of warmth and sincerity as they rested on Nina. "Nina, can I hug you?" This was the first and only time he had asked, and it would be the last. Once Orion's bone marrow transplant was successful and he recovered, Micah and Pharaoh would prepare the ceremony for her. Nina would not stay long in the Yaren Tribe and she would return to Birkham with Nash. Wilfred had already established his practice in Salterra. If he closed it and followed her to Birkham, his feelings for her would be obvious to everyone. He and Nina might not see anything wrong with it, maintaining a respectful distance, but others would not see it that way. Wilfred could handle the gossip, but he would no
Before the test results were in and before Pharaoh had finished the surgery, no one was allowed to approach Mr. Kerr. Nash held Nina’s hand tightly. "Don't be afraid, I’ll be right here with you." "Okay."Even without his reassurance, Nina knew Nash would never leave her side.Three long hours passed before the door to the lab finally opened. Pharaoh stepped out first, followed by Wilfred, who was pushing a bed with Orion lying on it. His pale face was framed by the stark contrast of the blue oxygen mask."How is he?"Nina rushed forward, her legs feeling weak beneath her."The surgery was successful," Pharaoh said. "Once the anesthesia wears off, he’ll wake up. But we’ll need to monitor him for a while. If there are no complications, he can go back to living like any other child."Nina could not hold back her tears, crying out in relief, "That’s wonderful!"Her entire focus was on Orion at that moment.But Micah had not forgotten about Mr. Kerr. Just then, Mr. Joker arrive
When Nina rushed over, Pharaoh was lying on the bed, with Wilfred hurriedly performing an examination. In truth, Micah had already arranged for others to check on Pharaoh before Wilfred arrived. Pharaoh's condition was a result of overexertion, and more critically, his body had weakened from testing medicines on himself. Among everyone, Micah trusted Wilfred the most.Wilfred quickly assessed the situation and realized that Pharaoh’s current state was due to his efforts in saving Orion. As Wilfred treated him, he could not help but admire Pharaoh’s dedication. The fact that Pharaoh had gone to such lengths for Nina’s child showed how much he truly cared for her and how earnestly he was trying to make amends.Wilfred immediately began preparing medicine, but Nina was frantic. "Wilfred, how is my father?"The word "father" seemed to carry a magical weight. Lying on the bed, Pharaoh slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Nina standing before him, his eyes welled up with tears. "Ivy, I th
As more people voiced their discontent, Pharaoh remained silent, his expression stern.At that moment, Micah stepped forward. "The position of Yaren Tribe leader has always been hereditary. If any of you think you can be the leader, then show us your true capabilities."His sharp, cold eyes scanned the crowd.In such a short time, there was no chance for any significant change to happen."What true capabilities does this lady have?""And the man beside her, wasn’t he a soldier in Birkham? And didn’t Salterra send an envoy looking for him? Now, he’s working for Salterra!""Keeping someone like him in our tribe is a threat to our survival!""No, we can’t let them stay!"......Micah’s voice boomed with authority, "I’m the leader now. If I decide someone stays, they stay. If you have a problem with that, you’re free to leave."There were many in the tribe. Even if some left, there were always others to train. In any case, Micah would not allow anyone to speak ill of Nina. Her st
And this decision was one she and Nash had made together. Seeing the determination and confidence in Nina's eyes, Micah knew there was no point in trying to persuade her otherwise.However, he was determined to provide her with all the support she needed. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Nina, you're always welcome here. If you ever feel like managing the tribe, the position of leader is yours."And if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call me. I'll be there to help you immediately."Nash had the financial resources, and Nina had her own savings. Power? The influence of the York family was still strong. Even though she had transferred her shares to Aunt Zoe before leaving, Aunt Zoe never accepted them. Everything was still under Nina's name. Once they returned, she would restore everything to its rightful place. With Nash's business acumen, he could easily rebuild a commercial empire. They would not lack for anything in terms of material wealth or living conditions.Micah
Leaving Orion here was nothing but beneficial."I understand your thoughts. You believe that keeping the child with you will convince Dominic that you're genuinely unguarded. But remember, there's always a bigger fish," Pharaoh said quietly, his voice full of concern. "Don't forget, he's the president of Salterra. He wouldn't have gotten to where he is without being formidable."Nina fell silent, realizing she had overlooked that fact."So, we'll leave Orion here for now, and Nash and I will go ahead.""If all goes well, you can come back to get him. Nina, I just want to make up for everything I owe you. Even if it costs me my life, I won't let anything happen to him," Pharaoh said, his voice husky and resolute.Nina's breath caught in her throat. She had seen the lengths Pharaoh had gone to for Orion."Father..." she whispered, reaching out to embrace him.Pharaoh patted her shoulder gently. "Child, staying here with the Yaren Tribe would be the best choice for you. But I know
"And... Daddy!" Parting was already emotional. However, hearing Orion say that made it feel as though someone was carving into Nina and Nash's hearts with a sharp knife, one slow cut at a time. "We will. We’ll come back together to get you," they promised in unison. Their voices were thick with emotion, as if something was lodged in their throats, making it impossible to swallow the pain. But they had no choice. They could only keep moving forward without looking back.Orion watched them leave, not shedding a single tear. Pharaoh knelt beside Orion, speaking to him with patience. "What do you want to do, grandson? Do you want to go out and play, or would you like to start school?"At five years old, children in the Yaren Tribe were usually finishing their last year of kindergarten and preparing to enter the first grade. But because of his health, Orion had not had the chance to attend school. Like most kids, he longed for playmates and the experience of school.Looking up at
When interacting with strangers, Orion was particularly quiet, and in this case, he did not say a word. Seeing his silence, the other kids began to sneer, "If you can't talk, why are you even here to learn? I think you should be in a school for disabled kids!""Exactly!"These kids were brought in with the expectation of making a new friend, but instead, they found someone who would not talk. Feeling frustrated, they started to ridicule him, assuming he was mute. Orion, though he disliked talking, was not mute or incapable. He glared at them and said firmly, "Apologize!"Just as the kids were about to mock him further, they noticed Micah striding over with a serious expression."Mr. Micah!" they all called out in unison.Orion looked at Micah, his gaze softening though he remained silent. Micah nodded, crouching down to place a hand gently on Orion’s head. "Orion, how are you feeling?"One of the boys, dressed in a white t-shirt with tanned skin, pointed at Orion and said,
Hunter took a bite of the biscuits and ravioli she had made. The taste was surprisingly good. It wasn’t on the level of a Michelin-starred chef, but it had something even more special—the taste of home. And of course, there was the oatmeal. He took one spoonful after another, finishing the entire bowl. *Meanwhile, Vera still hadn’t found her brother. Disappointment weighed heavily on her as she prepared to leave. But just then, her phone buzzed. An anonymous message. She tapped it open and stared at the image attached. It was a watch. Alone, a watch meant nothing. But this watch was her brother’s. Vera immediately zoomed in on the photo, carefully inspecting the engravings inside. There they were—his initials. No mistake. This was his watch. Below the image, a location pin was attached. The place was nearby. Vera’s eyes filled with determination. If she had found nothing, she would have simply left. But now, she had recei
When Yelena woke up again, she was shocked to find that she wasn’t at the club. She sat up abruptly, looking around in confusion. Then, she got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and pushed the door open. “Where am I?” “At my place,” Hunter replied casually. He was working in the living room when he saw her wake up. “You slept for a long time. I couldn’t just leave you alone at the club, so I brought you back here.” Seeing the uncertainty on her face, he added, “It’s already late. Just stay here for the night. I’ll take you back tomorrow.” Yelena nodded. There was no other choice now. “There’s food in the fridge. If you’re hungry, heat something up. There are also snacks in the drawer—take whatever you want.” “Alright.” She really was hungry. She opened the drawer, grabbed a few small bread rolls, ate them quickly, and then went back to her room to rest. *The next morning, Yelena woke up early. Thinking about everything Hunter had done—treatin
Yelena quickly lowered her arm, letting her sleeve fall over the mark to cover it. “It’s nothing. Here’s your cocktail. Please enjoy.” “Yelena.” Hunter grabbed her wrist without warning. He pulled up her sleeve, revealing the deep, ugly scars on her arm. His brows knitted together instantly. “Who did this to you?” The force behind it was brutal—downright inhuman. Yelena remained silent. Who else could have done this besides Liam? But she had agreed to this. She had willingly accepted Hunter’s request and entered Liam’s world. She had no right to complain. Her silence gave Hunter all the confirmation he needed. “Liam did this to you, didn’t he?” Yelena nodded. “It’s nothing. The wounds have already started healing. They look worse than they feel. Give it some time, and they’ll fade.” “Wait here.” Hunter stood abruptly and walked away. Yelena had no idea what he was doing, but since he told her to wait, she didn’t argue. A few minu
Then again, it made sense. How could a normal person possibly empathize with a lunatic? If Yelena could understand Liam, that would make her just as twisted. *For the next few days, Yelena stayed home to recover. During that time, Liam came back a few times, bringing her flowers and food. Like a child showing off a treasure, he placed the food in front of her. “Yelena, these are your favorite honey crullers. I got them fresh from the bakery. Try them and see if you like them.” “I’m not really hungry.” She didn’t want to eat anything he gave her. She couldn’t even stand looking at him. But she had made a promise. So, she had to force herself to stay. Liam’s expression darkened. “Are you really not hungry, or do you just not want to eat what I give you?” For someone like him, once he had lost his temper once, the second time would only come faster and smoother. With a heavy thud, he slammed the honey crullers onto the table. “Yes, I hit y
If Liam had been a normal person, Hunter never would have sent her here in the first place. But of course, Yelena could only think that. She wasn’t suicidal enough to say it out loud. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. “I was really just messaging an old classmate. If you don’t believe me, go ahead—check my phone.” She wasn’t worried. Whenever she contacted Hunter, she deleted each message immediately. She had even forged an entire fake conversation just in case Liam ever got suspicious. So, no matter how thoroughly he checked, there would be nothing for him to find. Liam narrowed his eyes. “Is that so? Then why do I still feel like you’re lying? Women like you—nothing but liars, every last one of you.” Then, he struck her again. Yelena screamed. The pain was relentless, merciless. She had no idea how long it lasted—only that by the time he finally stopped, she was barely breathing. Her body slumped against the floor
Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind Yelena. She spun around, her heart hammering in her chest. Liam was walking toward her, a faint smile on his lips—but the coldness in his eyes told a different story. Memories of his past cruelty flashed through her mind, sending a shudder down her spine. She forced herself to stay calm. “Who are you messaging?” He was getting closer. So close that when he finally stopped, they were nearly pressed against each other. Then, without warning, his fingers clamped around her chin, gripping tighter and tighter. Pain shot through her jaw, and Yelena winced. “No one. Just an old classmate. I ran into her a few days ago while I was out.” “Oh? Is that so?” Liam’s voice softened, almost gentle. To anyone watching, he might have seemed like a kind, easygoing man. But Yelena knew better. He would never let her off that easily. And sure enough— In the next second, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her hea
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.“Haven’t I been just fine lately?“Or do you think my hand isn’t injured enough? If that’s the case, go ahead—do it yourself. “You already know I wouldn’t fight back no matter what.” Without warning, Yelena stretched out her injured hand, an act that instantly enraged Liam. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He snapped. “I was just making a casual remark. Is that really what you think of me? I already told you—I’m not going to lay a hand on you.“It wasn’t intentional before, and you know it. We both do. Stop acting like you’re above all this when we both know who sent you here.” Yelena felt a pang of sadness. They had spent so much time together, yet this was how he treated her—always choosing to hurt her. “I know—I wasn’t someone you chose, and none of this was intentional. But after all this time we've spent together...“I thought maybe I was a little different to you. But I guess I was wrong. Nothing has changed at all.
“Why do you even care about what happens to other people? Haven’t I made myself clear enough already?“Whose card is this—yours or mine?” His assistant immediately apologized upon hearing Caleb’s tone. “I hope you won’t hold this against me. I really wasn’t thinking clearly at the time—I should have considered this more carefully.” Caleb didn’t bother responding. After hanging up, he focused entirely on investigating Vera’s brother. *Meanwhile, Vera was deeply worried. If things had been somewhat under control before, now they were completely off track. The situation on both sides was far more complicated than she had anticipated. “Don’t worry. That’s exactly how it is. If you don’t want to go in person, I can go for you—but it won’t be cheap,” the private investigator said.Since Caleb had warned her about the private investigator, Vera started testing him, probing for inconsistencies. And sure enough, his story had too many holes. “Why are you so sure my b
As Caleb spoke, he looked at Vera with a hint of helplessness. After all, her hand had been injured because of Luna. “Don’t feel guilty about this. Honestly, it’s nothing to me.“And I’m not the type to carry burdens over things like this.“Besides, it’s been so long. If this had happened back then, I might have cared. But now? I just don’t think it matters anymore.” Vera’s voice was steady and sincere. But Caleb’s expression darkened. “Why would you say that? Why do you think it doesn’t matter? Do you really see me as just the same as everyone else?” For some reason, at this moment, Caleb took it personally. Vera couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course not. You’re different from the rest—so obviously, I wouldn’t see it the same way.“You’ve helped me so much. The least I can do is acknowledge that, instead of stubbornly nitpicking about what’s right or wrong, don’t you think?“Besides, whatever happened between you and Luna, that’s none of my business. It’s in