The fine ceramic bowl shattered on the floor with a sharp crash.The food spread across the tiles, its aroma filling the air.Nicole looked at the food she'd bought from the restaurant, feeling oddly relieved.At least she hadn't wasted hours cooking for Travis like she used to.Lucy watched the scene with secret delight while feigning shock. "Travis, that was food Nicole worked so hard to make for you!"She turned to Nicole with fake sympathy. "I'm so sorry, Nicole. Travis is only acting this way because he's unwell. Please don't take it personally."Nicole inwardly scoffed - Lucy had already said everything. What was left to say?"It's fine. I just picked it up on my way here. If Mr. Graham doesn't want it, that's that. I won't buy any more - no point wasting food. You know, there are starving children in Africa. Wasting food like this could send you to hell."Travis had regretted knocking over the bowl the moment he did it.But his nascent remorse vanished when he heard Nic
The attending physician's face twitched at Travis's words. With his hands tucked into his white coat pockets, he was about to give this arrogant CEO a piece of his mind when James begged him to discuss it outside.When he saw James's pleading expression, the doctor swallowed his anger and followed James out.Nicole went after them."Doctor, what if we paid $5,000 per night for the private room?" James negotiated."Absolutely not! We're severely short on beds! Your boss is taking up a four-person room all by himself - it's completely wasteful! Hospital administration has ordered me to free up the room today!""How about I contact the hospital director directly to discuss this?""The director was clear - the room must be vacated today, no matter the money offered! We can't prioritize your wealth over other people's lives! Other patients need proper hospital care too!"The doctor, having worked his way through medical school on scholarships and part-time jobs, particularly resented
Nicole didn’t respond to James and instead walked straight back into the hospital room, took out her phone, and started recording, pointing the camera at Travis."Mr. Graham, there are three elderly patients outside, and you have exactly three empty beds in this room. Please agree to let them move in."Travis looked into the camera, slightly narrowing his eyes."What are you doing?""There are three elderly patients who need beds. As the CEO of Graham Corporation and someone known for charitable work, I'm sure you would agree to such a request."Nicole knew Travis cared deeply about his company's interests. He would never allow anything to tarnish its reputation.Travis slowly straightened up, his handsome face darkening. "Are you threatening me?""Travis Graham, the youngest CEO in the history of Graham Corporation, is not just an ambitious business leader but also a passionate philanthropist," Nicole paused deliberately. "If I'm not mistaken, that was the praise from a major b
"Your ex-husband?' The elderly patient looked utterly surprised, casting a sideways glance at Travis. 'Why are you still taking care of him and tolerating his attitude after your divorce?"Sometimes, blunt words carry deep wisdom.Nicole secretly chuckled, watching Travis's face turn green with anger.Lucy quickly tried to explain to the elderly man, "One day of marriage means a hundred days of kindness. Besides, Nicole was once part of the Graham family…" Her voice trailed off before she could complete “adopted child.”"Miss, forgive me for being direct, but what exactly is your relationship with Mr. Graham?" the patient asked sharply, cutting her off mid-sentence.The question left Lucy speechless. She looked expectantly at Travis, hoping he would clarify their relationship verbally.Of course, she hoped for the answer she wanted to hear. After all, Travis had divorced Nicole, and if he truly loved her, he should publicly acknowledge their relationship.Noticing Lucy's silent,
Lucy heard the familiar voice and felt a wave of relief.Casting a seemingly casual glance at Nicole, she called out tearfully, "Mom!"An elegantly dressed middle-aged woman entered, walking rhythmically in high heels.However, rather than going to Lucy, she strode straight toward Nicole.Nicole's heart sank.Simultaneously, she recalled Lucy's meaningful glance from earlier, and a sense of foreboding swept over her."Slap!"A loud, crisp sound rang out in the hospital room.Immediately after, the sound of a miniature hearing aid falling to the floor followed.Nicole's face turned to the side, her left cheek burning with pain."This is what happens when you bully my daughter!" the woman spat, her tone sharp with indignation.Standing with arms crossed, her elegant face wore an air of superiority typical of those in power.Her black hair was perfectly coiffed, her makeup immaculate, a luxurious gold necklace adorning her long neck.Designer handbag, dress, earrings... Her e
From the moment Karen entered, arrogantly slapping Nicole and then stomping on her hearing aid, Travis had remained coldly detached throughout.Or at least, that’s how Nicole saw it.She had long stopped expecting anything from this man.But when he demanded she apologize to Karen, who had slapped her, Nicole's anger surged from her chest. "Apologize? Absolutely not."Her indifferent gaze swept over Travis’s chiseled, shadowed features before settling on the elderly patient.She walked over and said gently, “Sir, I'm leaving now. Take care of yourself, and thank you."The elderly patient, already frail with a weak heart, had been too intimidated by Karen’s aggression to speak up earlier.Hearing Nicole's thanks, he felt slightly ashamed for not being more helpful.Nicole shook her head, telling him that taking care of his health was most important.After saying goodbye to the patient, Nicole walked toward the hospital room door, never once glancing at Travis.Travis watched a
Seeing Richard's horrifying face appear in the hospital doorway, Helen instinctively shouted, “Nicole, run! Quickly run!"After years of experiencing a man's brutal behavior, she was determined to prevent her daughter Nicole from falling into this monster's hands."Run? Run where? If you're not remarrying Travis, you're not going anywhere!" Richard blocked the door with his drunken body, resolute in preventing Nicole's escape.When he first learned that his abandoned daughter had married into the wealthy Graham family, Richard had laughed triumphantly, believing he'd finally found a cash cow.He knew that despite Nicole's seemingly cold attitude toward Helen, she deeply cared about her mother's well-being.Whenever he called Nicole and let her know Helen was injured, she would obediently send him money.This tactic had worked flawlessly for years.But Richard was never satisfied."The Graham family is worth billions, and you're giving me just tens of thousands? Are you trying t
The bottle flew through the air, about to strike Nicole. Helen mustered all her strength to push Nicole away."Bang!"The bottle exploded on impact.Helen felt no pain on her body.But her heart ached as if a piece had been torn out.Because Nicole had shielded her with her own body.The bottle crashed directly into Nicole's arm, shattering on impact.Helen felt Nicole's body tremble, and her own heart nearly broke.She tried to turn Nicole's body with her good right hand but couldn't move her.Tears streaming, she begged, “Nicole, let mo… let me see how badly you're hurt. Let me see!"Feeling unworthy of being a mother, she struggled to even call herself "mom."Nicole straightened up, covering her bleeding shoulder, and smiled, "I'm fine. Just a surface wound. I'll just bandage it."Seeing Nicole trying to comfort her, Helen's heart sank further, and her tears wouldn't stop.She looked at Richard with desperate rage, screaming, "She's your own daughter! How could you do t
Nicole thought she must have misheard him.Or perhaps she was dreaming.So when Travis said, "Nicole, settle down. Stay here. Let's live well together," she couldn't help but laugh coldly."Travis, do you even know what you're saying?""Just behave and I won't make things difficult for you." Travis clenched his fist."We're divorced. Saying these things now is meaningless." Nicole turned her head away, refusing to look at him."But isn't this how we've lived for all these years?"Nicole tilted her head back and laughed, her eyes reddening.Had this man forgotten how he had hurt her?"Fine. Untie me first, and we'll discuss this further." Nicole offered Travis a rare smile.Travis was taken aback by Nicole's sudden smile, but the darkness in his expression lightened considerably."Promise me you won't run away again." Travis sat on the floor, gradually moving closer to Nicole's side.His black shirt was half-open, revealing toned muscles.Nicole still wouldn't look at him,
Once Travis realized how important Nicole was to him, he would surely treat her well.But that process would be painful.Nicole would have to suffer a bit.James wasn't sure if Nicole could wait for that day to come."James, you know exactly what my relationship with your boss has been like all these years. What's the point of going back? To endure more of his insults?""Mrs. Graham, perhaps things aren't as bad as you think." James naturally sided with Travis.The reason was simple: Travis was his meal ticket.Besides, having worked for Travis for so many years, James believed his boss wasn't truly a bad person."Stop calling me Mrs. Graham. How many times do I have to tell you?" Nicole got a headache just hearing that title."Yes, Mrs. Graham. I'll be more careful in the future. Will you come back with me now?" James bowed respectfully to Nicole.Nicole shook her head with a bitter smile."James, do you not understand what I'm saying?""Mrs. Graham, you can't beat these t
"I know what game you're playing," Nicole said quietly.She lightly raised her foot to kick away Lucy's hand, then calmly brought the basin of hot water to Travis.Seeing Nicole easily dodge her attempt, Lucy's smile momentarily froze."Where's your washcloth?" Nicole glanced at Lucy, a slight curve to her lips, then turned toward Travis.Travis pointed to the wardrobe across from his hospital bed. "In there.""Hmm." Nicole turned and opened the wardrobe, immediately spotting the small white square cloth on top.As she was about to close the wardrobe door, she heard the sudden sound of a basin crashing to the floor behind her.This was followed by Lucy's scream."Ah! It's burning hot!"Nicole quickly turned around to see the hot water she'd carefully brought now spilled all over the floor.Lucy was soaked, moaning as she clutched her reddened arm."Nicole, did you do this on purpose? Did you deliberately place the basin precariously?" Travis's accusation immediately followed
"How am I supposed to drink this soup? It's scalding hot!"Travis discovered his hand firmly trapped in Nicole's grip, his handsome face darkening like the bottom of a pan.When he tried to use brute force to break free, he realized that the normally soft and gentle Nicole now possessed astonishing strength.The cold-faced Nicole before him seemed completely unfamiliar.She hardly resembled the woman he had so easily pushed around before."Mr. Graham, if the soup is too hot, you can drink it slowly. But isn't it time to break this bad habit of knocking over dishes whenever you're upset?""You used to blow on it to cool it down before feeding me. Why can't you do that now?" Travis was accustomed to Nicole's meticulous care.But the current Nicole treated him with less warmth than his household staff.Her cold, aloof attitude infuriated Travis."Mr. Graham, I suggest you wake your mind up. We're divorced. I'm no longer your wife. How could I possibly treat you like before?"Nic
Ben spoke with such sincerity that Nicole felt she would be letting him down if she refused."No problem."Nicole had heard that Ben was wealthy, but she didn't know the extent of his wealth.It wasn't until she saw the sprawling lawn, European-style villa, outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, and basketball court on Ben's phone that her perception of him was completely refreshed."If you have no objections, let's sign a contract."Ben pulled out a briefcase from behind him and extracted three copies of an employment contract.Nicole finally realized something was off."Professor Wallace, you came prepared tonight?"Ben made no attempt to hide his intentions. "Yes. Calvin really likes you. He keeps talking about the pretty Professor Spencer... What can I say? The things we do as parents."After quickly reviewing the contract and finding no issues, Nicole signed it.Even after showing Ben out of her apartment, Nicole still found the situation unbelievable.Was she now working
"I'd appreciate fewer jokes like that. I don't want the whole school filled with rumors about us."Recently, due to the surgery and other matters, Nicole and Ben had been spending more time together, which had already sparked gossip that they were dating.Nicole had to repeatedly explain, "Don't misunderstand—Professor Wallace and I have a purely professional relationship!""Professor Spencer, no need to explain. You're both single—there's nothing wrong if you've fallen in love," her colleagues would tease.Only Richard would grimly say, "Professor Spencer, Professor Wallace's family situation is complicated. You'd be better off with someone whose background is simpler and cleaner."As for why he described Ben's background as complicated, Richard didn't dare elaborate. Ben had happened to walk by at that moment and shot him a warning glance."So, Professor Spencer, are you suggesting we should maintain a proper distance?" Ben asked, his eyes fixed intently on Nicole's."Yes." Ni
"Professor Wallace, you're quite the smooth talker. I imagine you're good at winning over the ladies."After years of being insulted and belittled by Travis, being complimented by another man felt strange to Nicole. She even felt herself getting warm.She stood up, gathering the empty dishes, and turned toward the kitchen.From behind her came the man's deep, magnetic voice."Professor Spencer, I'm not good at winning women over. I'm good at keeping them at a distance."Nicole paused. "Those women must be quite heartbroken then!"With that, she hurried into the kitchen.She turned on the faucet, cool water running over her skin.Her rational mind gradually cleared.Nicole, men love to sweet-talk, don't let yourself be fooled by their words.She reminded herself of this as she washed the dishes."Washing dishes this way wastes water. Let me do it."Ben, having finished his meal, walked into the kitchen and noticed Nicole staring absent-mindedly at the running water."Sorry,
Nicole was exhausted.After returning to her dorm and quickly freshening up, she slept from 2 PM straight through until 6 PM.She hurriedly ordered ingredients from a delivery app, then tidied up her apartment.After spending half an hour washing and chopping vegetables, she realized it was already seven o'clock.Ben knocked on her door right on time."Professor Spencer, is dinner ready?" he asked, walking in with drinks in hand.Nicole glanced at her cold stove and pots, and cleared her throat."I woke up late, so I've just finished prepping the ingredients. I'll be done quickly, Professor Wallace. Please make yourself comfortable on the couch.""Need any help?""No need. I can manage.""Okay then. I'll take you up on that."Though he said he wouldn't impose, Ben did exactly that—settling onto the couch and casually picking up a medical journal to read.When Nicole finally called him to the table, he returned the book to the shelf, washed his hands, and helped arrange the
Lucy's question was like a hand reaching for the delicate veil covering Travis's thoughts, nearly exposing his true feelings.Travis gently touched his bandaged head and immediately denied it. "Lucy, what are you saying? How could I ever like that woman? She's the one who caused your condition."Lucy wiped tears from the corners of her eyes, her voice choked with emotion. "Travis, I know I'm disabled now and no longer worthy of you. I would bless your relationship with anyone—anyone except Nicole!""I understand. Don't worry, I won't fall for her. I just don't want her to have it easy.""Would you swear to it?"Travis fell silent.As a man approaching 30, he certainly knew how childish and hollow such oaths were.But if it would give Lucy some peace of mind, saying a few more words didn't matter.He raised his right hand toward the ceiling, his handsome face solemn and serious."Lucy, I swear on my life that I will never develop feelings for Nicole. If I ever like Nicole, may