She stopped in her tracks, her face turning pale as she looked back at her in shock. "What did you say?"She tightly gripped Lucy’s hand, thinking she must have misheard. How could she have known Miranda in high school? According to her previous memories, she should have only known about Miranda when she started secretly liking Nash. Given her personality, there was no way she would have hung out with Miranda. They were rivals in love!Now that she knew she did not meet Nash in middle school, how could she have known Miranda? It was too unbelievable. She suddenly felt like all her memories were a lie!Seeing Nina’s expression change dramatically, Lucy was taken aback, thinking she had said something wrong. "Nina... Did I say something wrong? Why are you reacting like this?"Nina tried to calm her expression but still gripped Lucy's hand tightly. "No, it's not that. Did I really tell you that I knew a girl named Miranda? Are you sure?"She looked to Lucy for an answer.Lucy, a
Nina understood all too well. Initially, she had not taken Miranda seriously. But after all the schemes Miranda had pulled, Nina certainly would not let her off the hook."Let’s go back," Nina said.She was still reeling, the more she thought about it, the more terrifying it became. Miranda had exploited her memory loss. What else had she done? What had Nina gone through in the organization? Why had Miranda deceived her? And how had she managed to get out?Nina could not shake the feeling that there was a bigger secret behind all of this. She wished she could remember everything. Maybe then some answers would come to light. Her memory loss was not random. Someone did not want her to recall what had happened.At that moment, Yvonne spoke up again. "Nina, Miranda has been released!"Nina looked up. "Released? She’s out?""Yes, I just saw the news. It’s not an old one, it’s fresh. She was seen outside a restaurant." Yvonne immediately showed her phone to Nina, displaying papar
Miranda was still dreaming of being a big star. As long as she wasn't exposed, she believed she could become a huge celebrity and win major awards. Once she reached the peak of her career, nothing would trouble her anymore.But reality hit her hard. When she saw the article exposing everything that happened in the criminal hideout and revealing some unknown secrets from her past, she was terrified. This could ruin her career.Miranda had barely settled back into her routine when this bombshell dropped, affecting her future roles. Several directors had approached her for new projects, and she couldn’t afford to have her reputation destroyed.Her expression darkened. "Who did this?""Starry Sky TV Station."In a fit of rage, Miranda smashed a cup. "Her again! Nina! She’s always against me. After everything I’ve been through, I come out unscathed, and she still can’t see who’s in charge. That bitch!"Her assistant, though accustomed to her tantrums, was shocked by the malicious expr
"Now you remember I'm your manager? But whenever something happens, you run to the company or Mr. York instead. Go find him. Why come to me now? You treat me like I'm invisible. Now that Mr. York isn’t helping you, you turn to me? I’m done being your manager!" The manager had had enough of Miranda's tantrums and arrogance. If it were not for the powerful backers she had, the manager would not have put up with her."Hey, wait..."The manager hung up before Miranda could finish her sentence. With Miranda constantly in the headlines, even ten managers would be overwhelmed.Fuming at the lack of support, Miranda threw her phone against the wall. "He kicks me while I'm down! What a bastard!"Her assistant was equally frantic. "Miranda, maybe you should call Mr. York. You’re supposed to be getting married, right? He’ll definitely help you..."The assistant, unaware of the recent developments, still believed Miranda and Nash were on good terms and that he would solve her problems."If h
Upon hearing this, Sally's face turned pale, and she shouted, "When did all this happen? Why didn’t anyone tell me? How dare Nina interfere in their relationship after they have already divorced? How shameless! No, I have to go find her. She dares to treat my Miranda like this? I’ll fight her!"Just the thought of Miranda being wronged made Sally furious. She would do anything to get justice for her.Miranda quickly grabbed her. "Sally, you can’t do that. If you go, she’ll definitely treat you harshly. I can’t let you be mistreated.""What kind of power does she have! If she wants to be part of the York family, she’ll have to go through me first. Don’t worry, Miranda. If she makes things difficult for you, I won’t let her get away with it. I’ll go down with her if I have to!" Sally was too angry to think rationally. All she wanted was to make Nina pay, no matter the cost.Sally stormed off to defend Miranda, and no one could stop her. Miranda called out, "Sally, Sally," but did n
The helpers, fearing the situation, hesitated but did their best to push Sally out. Nina was no longer polite and said, "Whenever Miranda is in trouble, you jump to her defense. You just want me to know she’s your daughter and you want to protect her. But remember, you abandoned her once. Now you want to make it up to her? You should consider whether she even wants your help!"Sally was taken aback, thinking this was still a secret. But realizing Nina already knew, she did not bother hiding it. "Yes, Miranda is my daughter. I've sacrificed so much for the York family. How dare you slander her!""I don't slander," Nina replied firmly. "If you want to seek justice for her, take it up with the police, not me. Today, her reputation is ruined. Tomorrow, I’ll make sure she’s in jail for life!"Turning to the helpers, she added sternly, "Show her out!"Recognizing Nina’s authority, the helpers hurriedly escorted Sally out. Sally, deeply shocked and humiliated, couldn't tolerate the insu
Sally showed no remorse and wanted Nash to see Nina's true colors.Nash walked up to her, expressionless, and coldly asked, "Who let you in?"Sally replied, "I’m your mother. Why wouldn’t I be allowed in?"She said it as if it was a matter of course.Nash’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes cold as ice, filled with a murderous glint. It was the first time Sally had seen such an expression on Nash’s face, and she felt a chill run down her spine."You came here to burn down my house?" Nash's voice grew even colder.Sally, who had been confident, now changed her tune. "I only wanted to teach Nina a lesson, I didn’t mean to burn down the house. Nash, how could I possibly cause you trouble…""You didn’t just want to burn down the house. You intended to harm Nina and her unborn child!" Nash’s voice was icy, devoid of any warmth. "You think I won’t do anything to you?"The cold words made Sally tremble. "Nash…"Nash's chest heaved, his clenched fists shaking, his eyes tinged
Sally, seeing that Nash wasn't going to help her, panicked. "Nash, how can you listen to her? I am your mother, and you want to send me to jail? How can you do this! You must be bewitched by this woman!"Her emotions became even more agitated, and she directed all her hatred at Nina. "What kind of spell have you cast on Nash? You’re a witch, Nina. I won’t let you get away with this. If you ruin things for me and Miranda, I’ll haunt you even after I’m dead!"She continued to hurl insults and threats at Nina, but she couldn’t avoid being taken to the police.Finally, the house fell silent.Nash looked at the scorched floor and said to Nina, "We shouldn’t stay here. I’ll take you somewhere more comfortable.""It’s fine," Nina replied. "Only a small part is burned. We can fix it easily. There’s no need to go to all that trouble."Nash insisted, "As long as you’re comfortable, it’s no trouble."Nina declined, "Staying here is fine."Nash didn’t press the issue further and called som
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
Hearing Wilfred’s suggestion, Karina was stunned for a moment. After some careful thought, she shook her head. “No, I’d rather not.”Now it was Wilfred’s turn to be caught off guard.“Switching back and forth isn’t a solution. Looking back, I shouldn’t have left in the first place. Were those people really capable of doing anything to me? Probably not. I just wanted to avoid trouble,” Karina said slowly.A person’s family would have a way of shaping their personality, and Karina’s upbringing with the Stone family had left her overly cautious—afraid of causing trouble or confronting conflict. But now, after everything she’d been through, she wasn’t scared anymore. Trouble was just trouble. She could handle it. “I’ll face whatever comes my way,” she added. “If it’s a challenge, I’ll rise to it.” When she shared her thoughts, there was silence on the other end of the line. Worried she might have disappointed him, Karina hesitated. “Did I let you down?” “No.” Wilfred’s quiet
Karina heard Harley’s parting word, but she didn’t stop walking. She already had someone like Wilfred who dared to stand up against authority. She wasn’t alone in her fight. When she returned, Yvette bombarded her with questions about her visit to the association. Karina chose to gloss over certain details, recounting only the less controversial parts. Even that left Yvette in awe. "You actually turned them down? You really did? Gosh, I admire you!" Yvette exclaimed.Karina swatted Yvette’s exaggerated thumbs-up. "Cut it out. I’m barely holding it together. I was so nervous."Yvette’s face twisted in mock disappointment. "You? Nervous? Where’s all that boss energy you walked in here with?""Boss energy? More like trembling cowardice," Karina retorted with a wry smile. "I was barely holding my knees steady in there."“No wonder people used to bow down to authority back in the day,” she thought. Standing her ground in front of someone like Professor Zeller had been nearly impos
Karina wasn’t naive enough to take Professor Zeller’s words as a compliment. Given his position and history with Wilfred, it was far more likely he was testing her or subtly undermining her. Still, Karina knew how to hold her ground. “So, Professor Zeller,” she began calmly, though her nails were already digging into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped imprints. “Why exactly did you call me here? I have responsibilities back at the hospital, and I’d prefer not to waste time.” Professor Zeller raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into an amused smirk. “You’re quite fond of your current job, aren’t you?” “Yes, I am.” Karina’s voice was steady, though her body was tense. She couldn’t afford to offend him—not someone with his influence. Zeller studied her in silence for a moment, then tilted his head with a thoughtful frown. “There’s something familiar about you... but I can’t quite place it.” Karina blinked, caught off guard, but before she could ask, he shook his head. “N
If Harley had never seen Karina’s genuine smile, perhaps he wouldn’t have noticed. But he had seen how she smiled at Wilfred, so radiant and pure it could light up a room. In contrast, her cold indifference toward him was painfully stark.Sliding the key into the ignition, Harley glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Can’t you at least crack a smile? All this frowning—it’s hard to look at.”Karina didn’t even bother turning her head. “I’m a doctor, not here to provide entertainment. If you’re that desperate for a smile, hit up a bar tonight. You can pay someone to grin at you all you want.”Harley froze, his expression darkening ever so slightly. For a moment, he was genuinely at a loss for words. Apart from Wilfred, no one else had ever managed to leave him speechless quite like this.Karina remained oblivious or perhaps indifferent to the fact that she had joined Wilfred in Harley’s mental list of thoroughly disliked people. And even if she knew, it wouldn’t have fazed her