Seeing this, Taylor took the wine and said, "Mr. Lincoln, Nina doesn't drink. I'll drink in her place."Mr. Lincoln was not pleased. "That's not good enough."Taylor felt a bit embarrassed. She lacked social experience and couldn't be as smooth, feeling nervous and afraid of making mistakes, which made her timid."Nina, your drink can't be drunk by your subordinate."Both of them were women, giving Mr. Lincoln more courage to speak less politely. "You're representing Mr. York and he always drinks with us. How can you refuse to drink? Since you're here, you should blend in with us. That's the proper thing to do."Here, let me fill your glass. Let's drink heartily tonight."Others chimed in, "Nina, don't embarrass yourself. Mr. Lincoln asked you to drink, so drink. Stop making so many excuses for yourself!"Don't ruin our mood. If Mr. York finds out you're not handling things properly, you'll get scolded when you go back!"Nina disliked this type of gathering. Just because Nash c
His touch instantly disgusted Nina, she couldn't accept it and pushed him away forcefully. "Mr. Lincoln, please show some respect!""What more respect do you need? You're just one of Nash's mistresses, who knows how many times you've been slept with. Giving you the chance to drink with us is already giving you face, so don't act like you have any dignity!" Mr. Lincoln's malicious intentions persisted. Despite her repeated refusals, his patience wore thin, and he approached Nina, embracing her. "What Nash has given you, I can give you too. I'll give you a villa, so you won't have to worry about anything in the future. Be my mistress, it'll be much better than being with Nash...""Get off!" Nina couldn't hold back either, she slapped him hard. "Don't touch me!"Mr. Lincoln, now slapped, his eyes burning with rage, glared at Nina. "You little slut, how dare you hit me! I'll make sure you regret it!"Taylor was terrified beyond measure. Nina also feared for Taylor's safety. Sitting n
Nash embraced Nina tightly, wishing he could envelop her completely to protect her from all harm. Resting his chin on her head, he responded to her deep with remorse, "I'm here, Nina, you're safe now, you're safe!"Nina buried herself in his chest, her body still trembling uncontrollably. She choked out, "Why did you only just come? I almost, I almost... thought I wouldn't see you again!"Nash held Nina, her lips drained of color, and clenched his fists tightly, anger evident in his eyes. However, he patiently comforted Nina, wanting to provide her with enough security to ease her recent pain. "I'm sorry I'm late. Don't be afraid, I'll never leave you alone again!"He was worried about Nina, so he came over, but he was still late!Nina broke down in tears, expressing her anxiety, fear, and resentment towards She clenched her fists and lifted them, pounding them onto his chest. "You'll abandon me, just like you always have. In the past, and now too."She couldn't remember how many
After he left, there were only desperate cries inside. Nina had a long dream where a demon was chasing her. She wanted to run but couldn't move. Overwhelming fear enveloped her, making it hard to breathe, as if she was about to die. She sobbed, tears still streaming down her face. Nash saw this and wiped the tears from her eyes. Nina had a high fever. Taylor cried on the side. She had wanted to call for help but encountered Nash at the door. Luckily, he arrived in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable. She cried, "Mr. York, it's all my fault. I didn't take care of Nina properly. She has a fever. Let's take her to the hospital." At this moment, Nash was very indifferent, like a block of ice, devoid of any compassion. He simply said, "No need, Quincy, take her home!"With that, Nash carried Nina into the car and left.Meanwhile, Taylor continued to blame herself incessantly, crying uncontrollably. Quincy advised, "Stop crying, let's go home. With Mr. Yor
Opening the bathroom door, Nash saw Nina sitting in the bathtub, vigorously rubbing her body, not making a sound, fearing he might hear her. "Nina, stop!" He hurried over and grabbed her hands that were hurting herself. Nina's eyes were red, caught by him, just avoiding him, struggling hard. "Don't touch me, I'm dirty...""You're not dirty," Nash said softly, wrapping his arms around her body to prevent her from hurting herself. "You're not dirty at all."All Nina could think of was the image of being pressed against the table, feeling nauseous all over. Even a slight touch from Nash made her feel unclean. She shook her head. "Stop comforting me. I know I'm dirty. I even feel disgusted with myself!"Nina continued rubbing her reddened body."Nina."No matter how Nash called out, Nina couldn't hear him. She washed every inch of her body, muttering repeatedly, "I'm dirty, I need to clean myself."I..." Nina repeated the same words, but suddenly stopped, her mouth trembling, her
Nina wrapped her arms around his neck, "I want you to stay with me.""I won't go anywhere," Nash caressed her cheek, "Your skin is all red. When you sleep, try not to move too much to avoid aggravating your wounds, okay?"Looking at him, Nina finally understood how it felt for Miranda to show vulnerability to him.The crying baby gets the milk. She showed a bit of vulnerability, and Nash was indeed very gentle with her."Okay," Nina reluctantly let go of his hands.Nash tucked her in and sat on the edge of the bed, "Are you feeling cold?"Nina shook her head, "No, I'm not.""You have a slight fever," Nash said with concern, "Let me cool you down with a towel.""Okay, you're so good to me," Nina looked at him, speaking from her heart.Nash smiled, pinching her nose. Nina didn't flinch, just gazed at him affectionately, wanting to remember his kindness forever.However, Nash said, "Little girl, don't easily praise others."He added some ice to a towel and placed it on her fore
Taylor said, "It's not like that at all. I barely made it back in time. It just happened that I ran into Mr. York rushing over. Nina, Mr. York seems to have a sixth sense. I could tell he was really worried about you."As she spoke, Taylor found it strange and continued, "Nina, you wouldn't believe it. When Mr. York arrived at the scene, he was like a completely different person. He completely lost his temper, took down Mr. Lincoln, and even got into a scuffle with those involved. Mr. York was furious, held you close, and wouldn't let anyone near you."Taylor's words made Nina pause for a moment. She picked up a nearby glass of water and took a sip."Nina, does Mr. York care so much about his subordinates? I've never seen it before. If it were me injured, would he care like this?" Taylor seemed perplexed, as if she was searching for something, murmuring to herself, "Even for subordinates who have been by his side for so many years, he's never shown this level of concern. Nina, could
"You guys just don't get it, do you? Nina's aiming to climb the social ladder. She's Mr. York's secretary, but she can't secure the role of his official wife. Over the years, she's probably considered finding another route. Banking on her looks, she's aiming to become Mr. Lincoln's lover. Perhaps she couldn't even pull that off, so she went ahead and falsely accused Mr. Lincoln of rape, ruining him in the process. He could even wind up behind bars!""I always thought Nina was so kind, but it turns out she's quite cunning. Just look at how she's made Mr. Lincoln suffer. It's no surprise she's always hovering around Mr. York; she's probably schemed her way into that position!""Hmph, you guys are just realizing Nina isn’t as simple as she seems? I figured that out long ago. Look around—among the company's early employees, who isn't more capable than Nina? Our manager, Paris, has the skills and experience, far exceeding Nina's. But just because Nina relies on her flirtatious charm to se
Vera forced an awkward smile at Hunter before quickly retreating back into the bathroom to change. Hunter, watching her leave, couldn't help but smirk. “You’re really living the good life, huh?” he teased. “Didn’t expect you to have such luck.” Caleb rolled his eyes, clearly uninterested. “Enough with the nonsense. Why are you here? And who exactly were you talking about over the phone?” He didn’t want to entertain pointless banter, especially not about women. If he was being honest, even he couldn’t fully explain his feelings toward Luna. He wasn’t sure what was left between them—was it love, or just the remnants of something that had long turned sour? That pitiful look in her eyes earlier had shaken him. For a fleeting moment, he had wanted to pull her into his arms, to comfort her like he used to. But after so many years of being humiliated and pushed aside, he had forgotten how to even speak to her anymore. So instead, he did what was easiest—he change
Hunter spoke casually, his tone light. “Just someone, that’s all. Do you really need all these details?” Caleb was now certain of his suspicion. “Hunter, did you forget what I do for a living? I’m a doctor. If you’re asking me about this, I need to get a clear picture before I can give you an answer.” Hunter exhaled lightly. “That’s fair, but some things can’t be diagnosed right away.” Based on the information Yelena provided earlier, Hunter was only speculating about Liam. But Caleb was an expert in this area, so he specifically called to ask him.Still, explaining everything over the phone wasn’t going to work. “Forget it,” Hunter said. “This isn’t something I can explain over a call. Where are you? I’ll come over.” Caleb hesitated for a moment before glancing at Vera, who was still beside him. In the end, he gave Hunter the address to his villa. Hunter chuckled. “Haha. I’m surprised. You actually do go home to rest.” Caleb ignored the jab and tossed his p
“Call me Liam.” Before Yelena could finish speaking, Liam cut her off with a sharp, angry voice. She quickly nodded and corrected herself. “Liam, don’t worry. I’ll do exactly as you say. I’ll be good. I won’t make you angry again.” But Liam didn’t care. With a violent shove, he threw her to the ground. Yelena barely had time to brace herself before hitting the cold floor hard, pain radiating through her limbs. Liam, however, just looked down at her with a twisted grin, laughing like she was nothing more than a ridiculous joke. “You’d better learn fast,” he sneered. “And leave your hand broken for a few days—feel the pain properly.” “Alright.” Her voice was quiet, submissive. But Liam wasn’t listening. Without another glance, he turned and walked away. As she watched his retreating figure, Yelena felt a deep sense of dread rise in her throat. Liam wasn’t human. He was something far worse. Her future with him would be nothing short of hell.
Yelena had made her stance clear—her loyalty was with Hunter. But instead of being convinced, Hunter let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “You sure your loyalty is to me? Or is it just to money?” His words hit like a slap. Yelena stiffened, feeling the sting of humiliation. It was true. When she had been desperate, with nowhere left to turn, she had thrown herself at Hunter, begging him for help. If she had any other choice, if she hadn’t been pushed into a corner, she would have never given up her pride like that. Lowering her gaze, she spoke with measured calmness. “Mr. Hall, you gave me two hundred thousand dollars. You helped me when no one else did. That makes you my benefactor. And loyalty to one’s benefactor… that’s only right.” She didn’t dare meet his eyes, but her voice was firm. Hunter studied her for a moment before scoffing. “Enough with the useless talk.” His voice was cold and dismissive. “Just go back to Liam’s side and do what you’re suppose
Yelena needed to tell Hunter about this. But before she could finish, Hunter’s cold voice cut through her thoughts. She lowered her head. “This is just how I normally dress. I didn’t deliberately choose my outfit to seduce you, Mr. Hunter. Besides, your brother isn’t even interested in me.” She hesitated before adding, “That two hundred thousand…” Hunter narrowed his eyes. “What are you trying to say?” Seeing his growing impatience, Yelena clenched her fists, still looking down. “I mean exactly what I said. Any normal man wouldn’t turn down a woman who willingly throws herself at him. That night, Liam clearly said he would take me somewhere else… but when we got there, he never touched me. Ever since then, he treats me like I don’t even exist—like I’m nothing but air.” Hunter’s expression darkened instantly. “Are you implying something?” The implication in Yelena’s words was clear. She had just suggested that any normal man wouldn’t refuse a willing woman.
Vera, as a bystander, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for Luna. But if she felt that way, how much worse must it be for Caleb—the man who had loved Luna for years? His pain was unimaginable. Yet, despite the hurt clawing at his chest, Caleb remained cold and unmoved. He didn’t let go. He didn’t waver at Luna’s tearful pleas. Instead, his voice was indifferent as he spoke. “Luna, women always say that late affection is the cheapest thing of all. But the same goes for men—I don’t love you the way I used to. You should go back to Simon.” And as if to drive the knife even deeper, he added, “I’m sure Simon still loves you very much.” If Luna had truly wanted Simon’s love, she would have accepted it long ago. She would have stayed by his side instead of chasing after Caleb now. In the end, men and women were the same. When they loved you, they would cherish you like a treasure. When they stopped, you became nothing more than an afterthought.
Caleb had no desire to argue with Luna any further. Instead, he turned to Vera. With just one look, she understood and stepped closer to him. Caleb wrapped an arm around her waist. “Luna,” he said calmly, “being with Vera isn’t as exhausting as being with you. Love should go both ways. I hope you can understand that.” “No!” Luna’s voice cracked. “She’s only with you because you helped her solve her problems. If you weren’t Caleb Smith, if you didn’t have the power to fix things for her, she’d be nothing!” Her dark eyes burned with resentment as she glared at Vera. Vera knew she had become Luna’s enemy—but what could she do? Caleb had already made his stance clear. Was she supposed to deny it? Pretend he didn’t just declare his feelings in front of Luna? With a steady voice, Vera replied, “Yes, I do go along with Caleb. He treats me well, and we’ve chosen to be together. We’re both single adults. What exactly is the problem?” She met Luna’s icy gaze head
Caleb had never seen Luna like this before. But then again, even after realizing her feelings, she still carried herself with the same untouchable arrogance. He turned his head away, refusing to look at her. “Don’t you already have Simon by your side? “Or is he not enough for you?” The moment the words left Caleb’s lips, Luna felt a sharp stab of pain in her chest. Simon had always been the biggest issue between her and Caleb. To her, there was nothing between them now—just an unresolved regret from the past. Yet Caleb had never stopped making it an issue, over and over again. “You keep bringing up Simon because you want me to push him away. But tell me, Caleb, where exactly do you expect me to send him? He’s alone with a daughter to care for.“We’ve known each other for years. It’s not just about Simon. If you were in his position, I would help you too.” Luna’s voice was steady, her words firm—completely oblivious to the mistake in her reasoning. Caleb ha
Luna took a deep breath, clarity washing over her. In that moment, she knew that she had to get Caleb back. She yanked her hand free from Simon’s grasp. “Simon, I need to go find Caleb,” she said firmly. “I’ll be leaving now. You and your daughter can rest here. Stay in this villa for now, and once you have the money, I’ll sell it to you at half price.” With that, she turned and walked away without hesitation. Luna drove as fast as she could to find Caleb. Caleb was a complete workaholic—aside from the hospital, there was nowhere else he would be.But when she arrived, he was nowhere to be found. A nurse informed her that Caleb had taken the day off. Luna knew exactly where his private villa was. Instead of calling him, she went there directly. She knocked on the door, and to her surprise, the person who answered wasn’t Caleb—but Vera. Vera seemed equally taken aback but quickly regained her composure, maintaining polite courtesy. “Miss Gibson, please wait h