“But I just can’t shake this feeling.” Lydia murmured, anxiety gnawing at her.“Unfortunately, you can’t reach Mr. Quincy right now unless you have someone who can get in touch with him,” her secretary suggested.Lydia’s eyes lit up. Why hadn’t she thought of that? She could call her father!Without wasting another moment, she dialed her father’s number, heart pounding with worry for both Quincy and her dad. As the phone rang, each second felt like an eternity, and she silently prayed that nothing had happened.Finally, the call connected.“Hello… signal’s bad here…” came Mr. Fay’s voice, crackling with interference.The signal was awful, and Lydia’s heart leapt back into her throat. Raising her voice, she tried to make herself heard. “Dad, where are you? I saw a video saying there might be an earthquake in Salt City!”“What? I can’t… hear you clearly,” Mr. Fay’s voice came in and out, making it hard to communicate.“I said there might be an earthquake where you are! Don’t go o
Mr. Fay lay under the blanket, listening to Mrs. Fay’s conversation with the doctor outside. From the sound of it, Lydia could tell her father had injured his leg, but she didn’t dare pull back the blanket to see for herself.Unconsciously, tears welled up in her eyes and began to soak the edge of the blanket. Lydia leaned against the hospital bed, overcome with guilt for her past stubbornness, for always defying her father. “Dad, I was wrong. I’ve really been so wrong.”“Why are you crying? I’m not dead or crippled,” came a strong voice from above her.Surprised, Lydia looked up to see her father, his face flushed with color. He was still as stern as ever, his thick brows knitted together, looking as if he could find fault with her at any moment. But this time, Lydia felt no defiance. Her eyes red from crying, she hugged her father tightly. “Dad, I’m so sorry I got here late.”“It’s just a little earthquake,” Mr. Fay said, clearly flustered by her display of affection, unsure
Lydia immediately toned down her excitement, unsure whether to let go of Quincy’s hand or not, worried her father might catch on. Feeling nervous, she shot a pleading look toward Quincy for help.Luckily, Quincy understood.With Mrs. Fay staying at the hospital to care for Mr. Fay, the two didn’t linger and left soon after. Since the biggest hurdle had been Mr. Fay’s disapproval of their relationship, Lydia wanted to secure everything while things were still in their favor. She had brought all the necessary documents with her just in case, so they decided to head to the courthouse and get their marriage license right away.A short while later, holding their official marriage license in her hands, Lydia’s face lit up with a radiant smile.She extended her hand toward Quincy and playfully said, “Hello, Mr. Quincy. From today onwards, let’s take care of each other.”Quincy’s charming smile, warm and intoxicating like the finest wine, softened his features. Seeing that no one was
Lydia instinctively wanted to decline, but Mrs. Ford seemed to anticipate her response. "It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other," she said. "I still remember when you were just a little girl, and now look at you. You’re not going to get distant with me, are you?"With Mrs. Ford putting it that way, Lydia couldn’t refuse without seeming ungrateful, so she reluctantly agreed.After hanging up, she realized she hadn’t asked if Eugene would be attending the charity gala, and a wave of regret washed over her. She wasn’t eager to see him again. But now that she had accepted, calling back would feel too deliberate.Sighing, Lydia murmured to herself, "I guess it’s better to just clear the air when I see him."Meanwhile, at the Ford family’s living room, Mrs. Ford set down the phone and looked over to the side. "I’ve made the call for you. The rest is up to you."Next to her sat a man dressed in a dark gray outfit, his silver-framed glasses and casual clothing giving him an approac
Waitstaff moved gracefully through the crowd, balancing trays of drinks as they wove between guests. When Lydia and Quincy stepped aboard the yacht, they immediately drew attention. It wasn’t hard to see why. Lydia looked stunning.She wore a deep blue gown adorned with tiny crystals that sparkled like stars, creating the illusion of a shimmering ocean under the moonlight. Her curled hair added the perfect finishing touch, and as she walked with grace, she looked almost otherworldly, like a mythical sea siren.The yacht was filled with a wide variety of people. There were new business elites, overseas investors, and those who were simply there to admire the beautiful women attending the event. Many eyes scanned the female guests, with some men immediately approaching any woman who caught their interest. Lydia, with her striking beauty, quickly became a prime target for attention.“She’s a real knockout,” one man whispered to his friend. “Do you think I could get her number?”“H
Lydia knew exactly what Quincy was worried about, so she offered him a reassuring smile. "I’ll be fine. I’ll go and be right back. If you’re still chatting with Mr. William and I’m not back, come find me. Does that put your mind at ease?"Only then did Quincy reluctantly let her go.The yacht was enormous, and Lydia wandered for a bit before finally finding the restroom. The interior was lavish with golden walls and ornate mirrors with intricate designs on the edges. Everything exuded luxury. After washing her hands, she was ready to head back, but as soon as she stepped outside, she froze."Lydia, what a coincidence to run into you here."The man standing in front of her was none other than Eugene."What are you doing here?" she blurted, immediately regretting the question. Mrs. Ford was attending the gala, so of course her son would be there too. She mentally chastised herself for asking something so obvious.Eugene smiled, his eyes dark and intense as he stared at her. The d
Lydia quickly muttered an apology and tried to slip past the man.“Where do you think you’re going? You bump into me and think a simple ‘sorry’ is enough? There’s no way it’s that easy!” The man grabbed her arm forcefully, pulling her back.With a yelp, Lydia stumbled into the wall.That seemed to jolt the man’s alcohol-fogged brain into some clarity, and when he got a good look at her, his eyes lit up.“Well, aren’t you something,” he sneered. “How much for the night? I’ll take good care of you.”The man was sporting a beer belly and a sleazy grin. He looked Lydia up and down as if she were one of the many women on the yacht hoping to land a rich guy for the night. But Lydia wasn’t one of them.“Get lost! Take a good look at yourself. Do you think I’m someone you can mess with?” Lydia snapped, stomping her heel down on his foot.The man howled in pain, and Lydia took the chance to gather her dress and run.But the man’s furious roar followed her down the hallway. “You filthy b
Eugene's gaze briefly lingered on Lydia, though his words were addressed to the crowd around him. "The auction is about to begin. If you don’t want to miss out, you’d better get ready."His tone made it clear he wasn’t interested in further conversation. The people around them were quick to pick up on social cues and nodded in agreement.“Mr. Ford is right, we can’t miss this one!”“It’s time to head in,” someone else chimed in.As soon as the words were spoken, the lights in the room dimmed. Amid the collective gasps of the crowd, a spotlight shone on the stage where the host stepped into view. After the usual pleasantries, the auction officially began.People quickly found their seats, and Lydia followed Quincy to a spot with a good view of the stage. As they settled in, Eugene passed by, leaning slightly toward her as he said, “I’ll see you after the auction.”Lydia glanced at him but didn’t respond, keeping her focus on Quincy. Once seated, she reached for Quincy’s hand and
The Stone family wasn’t just greedy. They were relentless, always pushing boundaries and expecting more.Karina sighed. “It’s not that I can’t stand up to them, but sometimes it feels unnecessary. There are things that just can’t be explained.”Wilfred didn’t press further. “Pack your things and come with me. I have to travel for a project negotiation that will help our hospital continue expanding.” He was determined to firmly establish himself in Birkham, not just for his professional ambitions but also because Nina was there. Wilfred wanted to protect her and mentor his students, ensuring they could safeguard Nina’s children in the future. “But didn’t we already promise a patient that we’d perform surgery?” Karina asked, a little hesitant. “I’ll arrange for someone else to handle it.” While Karina might have been the better choice for the surgery, Wilfred had other options, including pulling Caleb in at the last minute. “Alright,” Karina replied. Since Wilfred had
Sera blocked Karina’s path, her expression cold and disdainful. “You think you can just use that money to brush me off? Do I look like someone who needs your measly cash?”She grabbed Karina’s arm tightly, her nails biting into her skin. “Let me make this clear. If you don’t do what I’ve asked, I’ll ruin you, Karina. Completely.”Karina’s fear was palpable, but the thought of endless torment and manipulation was even more terrifying. She met Sera’s fierce gaze with a calm, unyielding stare. “Do whatever you want. But let me remind you, the money you gave me? I’m willing to go down with you if it comes to that. My life might not be worth much, but you’ve worked so hard to get into Wilfred’s hospital. Are you really willing to throw that all away?”Sera faltered. She had worked incredibly hard to get where she was. Countless sleepless nights studying, memorizing every detail of her medical texts, and enduring the challenges of difficult patients had pushed her to the brink. She often
Sera’s gaze was so sharp it felt like it could pierce through Karina. Karina hadn’t expected her momentary greed to create such a mess. If she couldn’t stay a doctor, she would have no source of income, and her life would spiral further out of control. “Please, don’t do this. Tell me what you want, and I’ll keep helping you. Maybe… I could spike his drink for you again, or set up another opportunity,” Karina said, grabbing Sera’s hand out of desperation. Sera clearly wasn’t short on money. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to give Karina such a large sum back then.All she wanted now was to secure her position at the hospital.Sera pulled her hand away, a mocking smile on her face. “Set up another opportunity? Do you think Wilfred would fall for it twice? Do you take him for an idiot, Dr. Norman?” Wilfred wasn’t an idiot, and ordinary drugs didn’t seem to affect him much.Karina felt utterly helpless. One wrong step had led to another, and now she had no idea how to
“Starting today, you’ll officially resume your position as my assistant. I trust you’ll adapt quickly,” Wilfred said firmly. Karina’s eyes lit up with a hint of surprise. “Dr. Wilfred, really? I’ll do my best to fulfill the responsibilities of the assistant role.” Wilfred stood up and walked over to her, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Familiarize yourself with the current work schedule and the relevant materials. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me. I have confidence in you.” Karina hesitated, a trace of worry crossing her face. “But… I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Wilfred already had an assistant. If Karina agreed to take the position, wouldn’t that make her a target for trouble from his former assistant? And then there were all the people at the hospital who were infatuated with Wilfred. Lately, she had already been spending more time with him, drawing enough attention as it was. If she officially became his assistant, she’d surely
Back home, the first thing Karina did was take a shower, cranking the water temperature to the highest setting as if that was the only way to wash away the grim memories of the night.She scrubbed her arms fiercely, the spots where those repulsive men had touched her. Even through her clothes, the thought made her feel sick. Again and again, she lathered herself with soap until her skin turned slightly red, but no matter how hard she tried, the discomfort in her heart lingered.After her shower, Karina changed into clean pajamas and sat on the edge of her bed, unable to sleep. Her gaze fell on her phone. She hesitated for a moment before sending a text to Wilfred.“Dr. Wilfred, I’m truly grateful for your help tonight. I’ll never forget it.”After sending the message, she set her phone down, hugged her knees, and curled up on the bed. Returning to the hospital had always been her dream, but now she worried whether she could truly meet expectations and not let Wilfred down.As she
The men exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating for a moment before reluctantly mumbling, “Sorry,” to Karina. Wilfred watched their retreating figures with thinly veiled disgust. Turning to Karina, he asked gently, “Are you okay?” Karina shook her head lightly, brushing it off. “I’m fine, Dr. Wilfred. Thank you.” Wilfred let out a soft sigh. “Come with me. You shouldn’t be working here.” Karina nodded, following him out of the private room. Wilfred guided Karina through the bustling bar. The pounding music and chaotic chatter seemed distant and muted, fading into the background as they moved. They made their way to the parking lot, where Wilfred opened the car door, carefully helping Karina into the passenger seat before getting in himself and starting the engine. As Karina buckled her seatbelt, she turned to Wilfred with a look of curiosity. “Dr. Wilfred, didn’t you say you had things to handle at the hospital? How did you get here so quickly?” Wilfred kept his ey
When Karina stepped into the room, one of the men, his gaze hazy from drink, chuckled and said, “Well, so this is the beauty they sent over?”Karina forced herself to stay calm and replied politely, “Good evening, gentlemen. Here’s the drinks you ordered.” She began placing the drinks on the table one by one, hoping to finish quickly. Before she could finish, another man grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him. “Come, have a few drinks with us, sweetheart.”Karina’s heart raced as she pulled her hand away with force. “Sir, I’m just here to deliver your drinks. I don’t entertain guests.”The men burst into laughter. “What bar do you think you’re in? There’s no such thing as not entertaining here. Don’t play coy, sweetheart. Sit with us, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely.”Fear surged through Karina as she instinctively stepped back, trying to maintain some distance. “I’m really just here for work,” she said, her voice trembling. “Please respect me!”But the men, emboldened
The woman leaned closer to Karina, lowering her voice. “You ruined my fun. The manager and I were having a great time, and you interrupted us. You need to make it up to me.”Karina’s frustration flared. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. The door wasn’t fully closed, and I was only there to talk about resigning.”But the woman wasn’t about to let it go. “I don’t care. You need to make it up to me. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your night will go smoothly or that you’ll get to leave this job without issues.”Anger surged through Karina. “You’re being unreasonable! I didn’t do anything wrong!”The woman sneered. “In this bar, what I say goes. If you don’t cooperate, I have plenty of ways to make sure you can’t stay.”Karina knew arguing with her in this chaotic environment would only make things worse. But the idea of being bullied like this made her seethe. Taking a deep breath, she tried to stay calm. “What do you want me to do?”The woman’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “It’s simple. Ha
A strikingly glamorous woman sat perched on the manager’s lap, the two locked in a tight embrace, passionately kissing. The scene was nothing short of intimate, their connection palpable.Karina stood awkwardly at the door, caught between stepping in and retreating. She coughed lightly, trying to get their attention.Hearing the sound, the manager gently pushed the woman aside and turned toward the door. His expression showed no embarrassment; instead, he appeared slightly annoyed. “Karina, why didn’t you knock before coming in?”Karina forced a smile, her discomfort evident. “The door wasn’t fully closed. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m here to talk about resigning.”The manager adjusted his clothes, gesturing for the woman to sit aside. He raised his brows slightly. “Resign? Why the sudden decision to quit?”Karina bit her lip nervously. “It’s for personal reasons. I really can’t continue working here.”The manager leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. A f