As they approached the entrance to the carnival, the crowd looked overwhelming, stretching as far as the eye could see. Nash immediately wrapped his arm around her and whispered, "Maybe we should change clothes first. I don’t want anyone getting too close to you in that dress."Nina scoffed, "What? You didn’t think about this when you picked out the dress? No way, I’m not changing. I look great tonight, and with so many people here, I’m not missing out."Nash sighed, realizing there was no changing her mind. He stayed close, carefully watching over her.With that decision made, Nina threw herself into enjoying the night. She tried different foods, handing anything she couldn’t finish to Nash. She sipped on drinks, offering what she didn’t finish to him as well. She experimented with games, and when she got scared, she would rush into Nash’s arms for safety.She was like the brightest star in the night sky, playfully shining, attracting admiration from those around her. But not
"That's it? You're just giving up?" Nina's mind was racing, but deep down, she was anxious.She was worried the woman would keep pursuing Nash. It wasn’t men’s wandering hearts that scared her, it was when other women got serious. No man could resist temptation when it’s served to him on a silver platter."Nash, consider yourself lucky," Nina muttered under her breath. Suddenly, someone blocked her path. She looked up, locking eyes with Nash, his gaze filled with tenderness. "Aren't there other women looking for you? Why aren't you with them? Go on, make them happy, so..." "Then I'll go." Nina grabbed his arm. "Don't you dare." Taking advantage of the moment, Nash stole a quick kiss, grinning mischievously. "I wouldn't dare, and I won't. You and Orion are all I need." Reassured by his words, Nina's face lit up with joy. The little incident made them forget all about the earlier unpleasantness. They wandered through the carnival, eating and drinking as they went.
Michael, somewhat reluctant, pulled Zoe aside. "Zoe, I really like you. No matter who you are, I like you just the way you are."Zoe, though not Nash’s biological aunt, had become highly regarded by him after the recent turmoil at York Corporation. Nash now treated Zoe as his own family. This was evident from how Zoe had become involved in the company’s advertising campaigns.Michael had worked hard to build a connection with her and wasn’t about to let it slip away. But Zoe was unaware of his intentions; to her, Michael just seemed outdated in his thinking.She glanced at Nina for help, but before she could react, Michael cupped Zoe’s face in his hands. Startled, she immediately pushed him away.Nina let out a scream and rushed over to Zoe, clinging to her while crying hysterically. The tears and cries made it seem like Zoe had truly broken her heart."You can’t be with him! I won’t allow it! You promised me. You said you’d never leave me…" Her voice trailed off as she choked on
Sally did not spare Xavier a glance. She had no interest in the affairs of York Corporation. Xavier chuckled. "Mrs. York, I wouldn’t be here without a reason. Haven’t you heard? There's been a major shake-up at York Corp. Nash has gotten rid of all of the previous CEO’s people. The company is truly his now."Sally responded with a nonchalant "Oh," without adding anything more.Undeterred, Xavier continued with a smile. "Mrs. York, if York Corporation were still under the old leadership, you wouldn't be stuck in a place like this. I heard you wanted to go abroad, but financial support has been an issue. And honestly, that's all because Nash has monopolized everything.""What are you getting at?" Sally finally spoke, but her expression remained calm.Xavier, no longer able to contain himself, leaned in and whispered a few words.A small smile crept onto Sally's lips. "Alright, I'll leave the arrangements to you, Mr. Wright."Xavier was so delighted that he nearly jumped for joy,
"You’re so thoughtful," Sally said with a hint of emotion. "To be honest, I almost forgot about that myself. Yes, I did once dream of settling in Ponyville, but..." She trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid, but everyone understood.Nina handed her a gift box with a smile. "Let’s not dwell on anything unpleasant. This is a gift we prepared for you. Take a look and see if you like it."Sally opened the box and was shocked to find a set of keys and a property deed inside. Her surprise only deepened when she realized the deed was for a home in Ponyville. Tears welled up uncontrollably.Nina stepped forward to comfort her. "You can choose anyone you want to accompany you, and we’ve already taken care of the medical team. Nash has made sure everything is arranged."Zoe was stunned. She had suspected Sally’s sudden family gathering had ulterior motives and had been worried Nash might lose out. But now it was clear. Nash never lets himself get taken advantage of. The promise of a home in
"The driver already said it was one fare. Just count it as mine, no need to pay me back," Michael said as he paid for the ride. After getting out, he walked around to open Zoe’s door.Nina arrived just in time to witness the scene. Without thinking, she rushed over and stood protectively in front of Zoe. "You two are together?" She sounded genuinely jealous, which made Zoe flash a thumbs-up in appreciation.Michael chuckled softly. "Nina, should I call you Mrs. York or Miss Nina?"Both Nina and Zoe froze. It turned out Michael had known the truth all along, but he had been pretending to be clueless. Zoe had no desire to deal with him any further, so she grabbed Nina and headed into the building, ignoring him completely."Zoe, I’ve told you, I like you. No matter how you treat me, I’m not giving up. You’ll be mine, no matter what!" Michael’s voice echoed in the lobby, drawing the attention of nearby employees. Recognizing who they were, whispers quickly spread.Zoe dismissed his
After taking a few sips, Zoe immediately knew something was wrong. With her usual tolerance, there was no way she should feel this dizzy and unsteady. The drink was spiked. Michael had done it.Realizing this, Zoe moved closer to Leo next to her and asked, "Leo, did you drive here? I'm suddenly feeling unwell. Could you give me a ride?"Leo quickly exchanged glances with Michael and nodded. "Sure, I haven't had anything to drink," he replied, guiding her out. While Zoe wasn’t looking, he signaled Michael to follow. Michael exited through another door and got into the car ahead of them.When Leo opened the car door, Zoe spotted Michael sitting in the front passenger seat. She frowned. "Why is he here?""Oh, he's a friend of mine. We came together. Since I'm leaving, I thought I'd bring him along. Don't worry, I'll drop you off first," Leo explained, trying to sound reassuring.But his words only made Zoe more alert. She pulled away from him, backing up cautiously. These two wer
"No need," Nash said calmly. "So, Eugene from the Lowe family is back in Birkham."As the man turned away, Nash recognized him. Eugene Lowe was the carefree and unrestrained son of the Lowe family who had spent his youth wandering the world. He had grown up a lot since then.The Lowe family was known for their strict upbringing. While they didn’t demand their children become outstanding, their character had to be impeccable. Nash believed Eugene wouldn’t harm Zoe. And even if he did… A thought crossed Nash’s mind, and a sly smile appeared. If something did happen, he wouldn’t hesitate to pressure the Lowe family into marrying Zoe off to him. Forming an alliance with the Lowe family wouldn’t be a bad thing after all."But Mr. York," his subordinate continued, "the drug they gave Miss Zoe is a powerful sedative. It's one of the strongest out there."Nash’s eyebrow twitched slightly at that. Could something really be happening?At the hospital, Eugene stood outside the emergenc
But Karina still felt embarrassed. Noticing this, Wilfred stopped what he was doing, sat back in the driver’s seat, and fixed his gaze on her. In the light, his usually dark eyes softened to a deep, rich brown. His stare made Karina fidget, her heart pounding in her chest. She was certain her face was already bright red. “What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?” Wilfred’s lips curved into a faint smile, so subtle it was almost imperceptible. “If you really want to thank me, hurry up and write a proper thesis.” Thud!Karina’s heart skipped a beat, and any trace of excitement crashed and burned.She was momentarily speechless. How could someone constantly bring up writing a thesis? Wasn’t that the least romantic thing he could say? She completely forgot how flustered she had been moments earlier, unable to even meet Wilfred’s eyes. *Once the lawyer was arranged, the next step was filing a lawsuit with the court. This was beyond Karina’s scope, so she left ev
The woman didn’t mind at all. She knew very well that most people wouldn’t get involved in something like this. Karina’s willingness to help came from her kindness. Even if things didn’t work out, the woman wouldn’t hold it against her. Karina, however, felt a sense of responsibility. After confirming the meeting time with Wilfred, she took the day off, postponing all her work to focus on the matter. When the time came, Wilfred drove to pick her up. *At the café, a man stood and offered his hand. “Hello, Ms. Norman. I’m Attorney Jenkins from Birkham Law Firm. You can call me Jenkins.”Karina shook his hand with a polite smile. “Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. I appreciate you coming all the way from Birkham.”“It’s no trouble. I happened to be in Atlantis for another matter. Besides, when a friend asks for a favor, it’s not something I can refuse.” After a bit of small talk, the group sat down, and the conversation shifted to the case. Since Mr. Jenkins had only been give
“Dr. Norman… my life is so miserable. If I had known it would come to this, I’d rather have died than gotten married. What do I do now? If it were just me, I’d leave everything behind and disappear. But my daughter is only eight years old—she’s still so little,” the woman sobbed. Karina hesitated for a moment. “You do need to consider her…” Suddenly, she thought of Wilfred. Among her own connections, she didn’t know anyone in the legal field. But Wilfred might. Still, since she hadn’t asked him yet, she couldn’t promise anything. For now, she focused on calming both the mother and the child. The little girl was surprisingly mature for her age. At just eight years old and barely into elementary school, she didn’t fully understand the situation or what had been done to her. In her own innocent words, she said, “Daddy just played a little game with me. He said if I didn’t cry, I’d get a reward.” Even so, she understood that her mother was upset because of her. “Mommy,
After leaving the room, Karina quickly patted her cheeks, trying to calm herself down. At the very least, she couldn’t let anyone notice anything was off. “Dr. Norman?” someone called from behind her. She turned to see a woman she recognized as the family member of a former patient. Noticing the child in the woman’s arms, Karina’s expression immediately softened with concern. After a brief exchange, Karina learned that the child’s condition had flared up again. She led them back to her office and conducted a thorough examination. Five minutes later, she reviewed the results with a slight frown. “Her stomach and intestines seem fine. Can you tell me where exactly she’s feeling discomfort?” Karina asked, assuming the mother may have misunderstood or misspoken. But the woman hesitated, stammering nervously. Sensing something deeper was going on, Karina softened her tone. “It’s okay. This is a hospital—we’re here to help. There’s no need to hide anything. Just tell me wha
But Wilfred wouldn’t bother explaining. In fact, he thought it was better to let the misunderstanding linger. The nurse glanced at Karina, then back at Wilfred, her face twisting with humiliation before she turned and fled the room. Karina instinctively stepped aside, avoiding a collision. “For a moment there… I thought I was interrupting something,” she hesitated, her tone uncertain. She couldn’t deny the relief she felt after Wilfred’s firm stance. The suffocating feeling, like someone gripping her throat, had finally dissipated. Her breathing steadied, though a lingering bitterness remained in her chest. She couldn’t help but wonder why the nurse had acted that way. Wilfred looked at her briefly and explained, “I don’t know her. She knocked and let herself in. And not long after, you walked in.” Karina’s expression softened significantly. “Maybe it has something to do with the rumors going around the hospital recently.” Wilfred frowned. Though he said nothi
Even though Karina dismissed the situation lightly, it didn’t stop the rumors from spreading around the hospital. Gossip sprang up out of nowhere, speculating that she had a personal relationship with Wilfred and had only gotten her opportunity through backdoor connections. The details were so vivid, it almost seemed believable. Yvette was furious. “Seriously? If they’re jealous, they should just admit it. Why do they have to sneak around and spread petty rumors behind your back?” Karina, however, remained calm and even comforted her. “Don’t be upset. Here, have some tea to soothe your throat.” She handed Yvette a cup of tea from a recent online purchase. It was advertised as premium oolong tea, though she wasn’t sure how good it really was since she hadn’t tried it yet. This seemed like the perfect chance to give it a taste. Yvette, coaxed into it, took a sip. Smacking her lips, she suddenly realized something was off. “Hey, they’re talking about you! Aren’t you even a l
Karina stood frozen in shock, just like everyone else. She didn’t snap out of it until Wilfred gently pulled her aside, her cheeks glowing bright red. Noticing her flushed face, Wilfred gave her a meaningful look and casually asked, “Why is your face so red? Are you running a fever?” As he spoke, he reached out toward her forehead. Karina panicked and quickly dodged him. She wasn’t sick. She just knew that if he touched her, her face would turn an even deeper shade of red. “I’m fine. Maybe it’s just the heat and humidity,” she mumbled, fanning herself as if she were uncomfortably warm. Wilfred watched her, clearly seeing through her little act but choosing to keep his amusement to himself. He recalled Xavier’s suggestion to take the initiative. What a brilliant idea. That evening, Karina put her skills to the test and prepared a platter of garlic butter crab. Wilfred happily indulged, eating several pieces with obvious enjoyment. *Wilfred quickly settled into his
Wilfred paused for a moment after hearing Karina’s suggestion, then nodded. “Sure. Let me grab my coat.”Karina didn’t think much of it at first. But when they arrived at the house, she realized it was the same one he had been borrowing last time. Surprised, she asked, “Weren’t you just renting this from a friend? You’re still staying here?”“Not renting anymore,” Wilfred replied casually, his eyes flicking toward her, a rare glimmer of something unspoken in them. “I bought it from him.”Karina didn’t catch the look. She didn’t know much about Wilfred’s circle of friends, nor did she pry.Inside, the same housekeeper from before greeted them. Familiarity made her more relaxed this time, and she didn’t try to stop Karina from stepping into the kitchen. But halfway through the preparations, Karina discovered a problem—no gas, and the fridge was nearly empty.The housekeeper smacked her forehead. “Oh no, I forgot to restock! I’ll run out and grab some now.”“No, we’ll go,” Wilfred i
After Yvette finished her rant, she finally got to the point.Karina learned that Dr. Lincoln had transferred out, leaving a vacant spot for a new director at the hospital.“So someone new is being transferred in,” she mused, absentmindedly nibbling on her pen. “I wonder who it could be.”But even Yvette, the self-proclaimed hospital gossip queen who usually knew everything, was stumped this time.“For once, I’ve got nothing,” she admitted, crossing her arms. “But I’ll bet you anything—they must have serious connections. Someone like that doesn’t just fly under the radar.”Karina just shook her head. Gossip wasn’t really her thing. She usually listened and moved on without a second thought. This time was no different. To her, it didn’t really matter who the new director was. After all, what were the odds it would be someone she knew?She would soon find out just how wrong she was.Not only did she know the new director, but she knew him very well. On his first day, Karina