~Karen's House~
“I heard from the hospital that some men dressed in black came asking for records of r**e or abortion. I made sure they didn’t get any information. Are you sure he’s not the one?” Karen asked, looking at Delina, who lay quietly on the sofa.
“I don’t think so. He’s not that wealthy, but… his temperament is strange, and he does have an easygoing character. Let’s not talk about him now. I’m just glad you didn’t disclose anything. But why would they come asking for such private matters?” Delina replied, puzzled.
Karen sighed. “Wealthy people think they can acquire anything with threats and money. It’s such a cruel world.”
Hearing this from Karen, Delina guessed she had endured a lot in her life but kept her thoughts to herself. Over the following month, Delina’s morning sickness subsided, and she became accustomed to the early stages of pregnancy. Day by day, her love for her unborn child grew, and she longed to meet her baby.
A few days later, Karen was called to her boss’s office at the hospital.
“Good morning, Mr. Robert,” Karen greeted, taking a seat as he gestured.
“Mrs. Lane, I called you here to inform you that the higher-ups have decided to reward you,” he said.
Karen was stunned. A reward? She had already achieved her dream of becoming the head nurse and was being well-compensated. What more could they offer? Sensing her surprise, Mr. Robert chuckled.
“You seem taken aback. Actually, you’ve done an exceptional job at this hospital. We greatly appreciate your dedication and the passion you bring to your work. Please, read this document and sign here,” he said, handing her some papers.
Karen took the papers and, after reading them, her eyes widened in amazement. The document stated that she would be transferred to another country to manage one of the company’s largest hospitals. For the next two years, she would pay the company 50% of the earnings, after which the hospital would be fully transferred to her ownership.
With shaky hands, Karen signed the papers, still overwhelmed by the offer. “Isn’t this too much?” she asked, feeling the weight of the opportunity.
“You deserve it, Mrs. Lane. You’ll move to Ventria next week. We’ll take care of everything, including providing a house in your name. You’ll just need to sign a few more papers this week to finalize the arrangements,” Mr. Robert explained.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Robert. I can’t believe this kindness. What did I do to deserve this?”
“You’ve earned it all, Mrs. Lane.”
Apex Company was renowned globally as a leader in the medical field, known for its wealth, top-notch practitioners, and cutting-edge facilities. This offer was the greatest blessing Karen had ever received. What she didn’t know was that Mr. Robert had feelings for her, but he never had the courage to confess. Admiring her dedication, he arranged this promotion out of admiration and as a way to give her a better life. His parents had recently forced him into an arranged marriage, a situation made even harder by the trauma of losing his first wife and unborn child in a car accident years ago. Unable to be with Karen and unwilling to see her struggle, he orchestrated the promotion as his final act of care.
That evening, Karen shared the news with Delina.
“Oh my God, really? I’m so happy for you!” Delina exclaimed, hugging Karen tightly.
“Thanks, my dear. Finally, we’ll have some peace. Thank goodness we’re leaving this city for a better life,” Karen said with a relieved smile.
Delina loved the idea of moving out of Helix City. The city held too many painful memories. After completing all the preparations, they left for the airport. As they drove through the city, Delina’s attention was drawn to a towering building that stood out among the others.
“That’s the Archon Group, owned by the Daniels family. It’s the biggest and wealthiest company in the country and has branches worldwide,” Karen explained noticing Delina's gaze .
“Wow… I’m shocked. It’s my first time seeing it,” Delina responded, still in awe.
“I was shocked too, the first time I saw it.”
Their car passed the building, heading straight to the airport. Meanwhile, on the twentieth floor of the Archon Group, Devon stood by the window, his eyes fixed on the bustling city below. Thoughts of Delina haunted him. Her smile, her kindness—he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Where had she gone? Was she dead? He couldn’t bear the thought, refusing to believe she had simply disappeared. Was someone hiding her? These questions tormented him.
His thoughts were interrupted when someone hugged him from behind, speaking in a coquettish tone. “Devon, what are you thinking about?”
Recognizing the voice, Devon’s eyes flashed with disgust. He shook her hands off and turned to face her with a cold expression. “What are you doing in my office, Milly?”
Seeing his cold demeanor, Milly hesitated but mustered the courage to speak. “Um… Mom asked me to check on you. She was worried you might be thinking about…”
“It’s fine. You can go now. And next time, knock before entering my office,” Devon cut her off, brushing her off coldly.
Milly forced a smile despite the sting of his rejection. “Okay, Devon. I understand. I’ll leave now,” she said, leaving the office immediately.
Devon sighed deeply as he sat down, his mind still preoccupied with thoughts of Delina.
Back at the airport, Karen and Delina went through security, and a few minutes later, the plane took off, leaving Helix City behind.