Chapter 1

"Dr. Lawrence, we have an emergency. The patient was in a traffic accident. It's an urgent case!"

Nicole Lawrence was just worried about her boyfriend, Jacob Escobar, getting his meals on time during overtime when a nurse suddenly called out to her from outside.

"The patient is the chairman of Boyd Corporation. His influence on society is extensive, and a bunch of reporters are already gathered at the entrance to the hospital."

Nicole snapped back to her senses immediately. With a grim expression on her face, she hurried to the operating theatre.

She said, "There's no need to bother with them. Prepare for surgery immediately!"

…

Four hours later, a weary Nicole plodded out of the operating theatre and removed her mask. The first thing she did was to check the time.

It was already 8:00 pm. She figured that Jacob should still be working overtime at this time.

Bone-piercing winds still blew in the nighttime in March in Silverwood.

Nicole bought Jacob's favorite supper for him and then hurried to his workplace.

Before she even walked up to his office, she could hear the bouts of joyous yet mocking laughter that came from within.

Someone said, "You're amazing, Jake. How is it that Nicole hasn't realized who you are even after all this time?"

When she heard this, Nicole paused halfway through pushing the door open.

Then, she heard Jacob's ridicule-filled voice coming from within his office. "She's just a dumb woman. I can't believe that I haven't gotten sick of her after so many years.

"Maybe it's because I haven't managed to sleep with her. Once I manage to do so, I'll dump her.

"Still, I'm the winner of that bet we made, right? Who was the one who said that it would be challenging to win Nicole over?

"I easily achieved this in just a month. With those small gestures of mine, she ended up becoming utterly devoted to me."

After Jacob bragged, one of his friends asked, "Jake, aren't you afraid that she'll realize that you are a scion of the Escobar family and have been pretending to be poor the past three years?"

"Exactly. She has been giving you money continuously all these years. If she found out that you aren't actually a draughtsman at this company but a scion, she'd lose her mind!"

Someone else guffawed. "I'm sure she'll cry her eyes out!"

…

The sounds of laughter rang in Nicole's ears.

Her mind was blown, and her limbs felt cold and numb. She couldn't believe that Jacob was a scion of the Escobar family. As her mind went blank, she wondered if she had dreamed that revelation or if it was just a joke.

However, what Jacob said next shattered the remaining sense of hope within her.

"I asked her for 2,000 dollars two days ago and spent it all on just a meal. Let me just have a little more fun with her. Once I'm sick of her, I'll break up with her.

"Just wait and see how she cries her eyes out."

Nicole's legs went weak as she took a step back. Her head felt heavy.

Even though she was clearly filled to the brim with anger, all she could manage was a scoff and some tears.

She was indeed foolish. She and Jacob had met at university and dated one another for three years. Yet, she never realized his true identity in all that time.

He was a scion of the Escobar family. Even that had a noble ring to it.

He was so noble that he could trample on someone else's genuine feelings and lie to someone else so that he could complete a ridiculous bet.

Nicole felt like a sharp blade had pierced through her chest when she had least expected it to. It hurt so badly that she could barely straighten her back.

In that case, what about her feelings? What about all that she had sacrificed and given all these years?

In the past three years, she worked as hard as she could and put in as much overtime as possible so he could focus on his postgraduate studies.

Her most challenging period was when she had to work three jobs every day to cover both of their expenses and school fees. She even footed his rent.

Nicole lived frugally and saved up little by little. Then, she bought Jacob's favorite shoes and watch for him, all because she worried that he would feel ashamed in public.

Yet, as it turned out, it was all a lie!

She pressed her hands against her chest. The heartache felt so bad that it was difficult for her to breathe.

Through the gap in the door, she saw Jacob sitting on the couch with an amused look on his face. She continued tightening her grip over her thermos until she started shaking all over.

After a long while, she took a deep breath. With her hand that had become numb from the cold, she took her phone out and pressed the button to record a voice note.

The conversation in the office continued. Every word that was spoken became etched in Nicole's broken heart.

Nevertheless, the more merciless they were with their words, the more clear-headed she became.

She only saved the voice recording with her shaky hands after they changed the subject. She ultimately walked away feeling weak at the knees.

When she got back home, she sat on the couch. All the color had drained from her face. The only color that remained was the redness in her bloodshot eyes.

The windows in the living room were open, so gusts of cold wind came through. Even so, she looked as if she couldn't feel anything. Her eyes were just numb and empty.

After quite some time, she suddenly heard the sound of the door being unlocked from the outside.

Jacob had come to her place. When he felt the cold breeze in the living room, he shuddered.

"Nicky, why didn't you close the windows when the temperature is so low?"

He walked to the balcony and shut the windows. Then, with a smile, he walked over and sat next to her, just like always.

Holding her in his arms, he asked, "Was work at the hospital busy today? Why didn't you bring me dinner?"

Something flickered through Nicole's empty eyes. She was instantly reminded of those ear-piercing voices she heard earlier that day.

Her numb heart wrenched in pain again. She clenched her hands into tight fists to stop herself from crying.

"I did," she said hoarsely.

Her simple, two-word response made Jacob's smile freeze on his face. A little awkwardly, he pulled his arms away from Nicole and picked up the glass before him, hiding the diffidence that flashed across his eyes.

"When did you come over? Why didn't I know about it?"

Nicole gulped. With the lump still at the back of her throat, she pulled her phone out. Even a simple action like this seemed to drain her of all her energy.

She placed her phone on the table and then played the voice recording.

The sound of a stir played right away.

Nicole listened to it again and again. Once the entire recording played, she pulled the track slider back and continued listening to it. It was as if she was tormenting herself.

Toward the end, her hands were shaking almost uncontrollably.

Jacob looked extremely upset. He tried to explain himself by saying, "Nicole, listen to me—"

"What is there to listen to? Do you want to explain why you've played with my feelings for these past three years?

"Jacob—Oh, no. I should say, Mr. Escobar."

Glaring at the gloomy-looking Jacob through her reddened eyes, Nicole said, "Let's break up."

Jacob gripped the glass in his hand firmly. The emotions surging within him were hidden in the depths of his dark eyes.

After a long while, he lowered the glass in his hand. It was as if he had removed his mask. His expression was so cold that he seemed unfamiliar to Nicole.

"Yes. That's right. I am Jacob from the Escobar family. So what?"

He looked straight at Nicole without a hint of panic or embarrassment after being caught in his lie.

"Shouldn't you be happy, then? You could marry into a wealthy family in the future."

Other than the hurt in her heart, Nicole felt that this was such an absurd situation.

"So, I should pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate the fact that I was played like a fool by you these three years?"

Jacob gritted his teeth and remained silent. It seemed like there was no point in arguing when there was evidence as concrete as a voice recording.

That being said, he was confident that Nicole would not break up with him. After all, she loved him a lot.

Moreover, why would a woman opt for a breakup after discovering that her boyfriend was an heir to a wealthy family?

Any woman who did so would be ridiculously righteous.

Nicole did not wish to continue this conversation with Jacob. Straightforwardly, she said, "Keep this in mind, Jacob. This time, you did not play me.

"I was the one who dumped you. It was me, Nicole Lawrence, who dumped you, Jacob Escobar."

Chapter 2

After saying her piece, Nicole got to her feet to leave.

A loud smash from breaking glass came from behind her.

After smashing his glass, Jacob leaped to his feet. He flew into a rage after being humiliated by what she said, "Nicole, you will regret it and beg to get back with me one day. I will see to it!"

After saying all that, Jacob left the place with a gloomy look on his face, slamming the door behind him.

The moment the door slammed shut, Nicole's heart dropped.

With tears in her eyes, she stared at the door and balled her hands into fists so tight that her nails dug into her flesh just so that she could distract herself from the hurt.

Was this what Jacob was truly like?

Even after finding out that his tenderness from the past was all just an act, she couldn't help but feel her heart wrench in pain right now. Her grief gradually intensified in the empty room, so much so that even the air felt heavy.

Right at that moment, the sharp ringing of her phone broke the silence. Forcing herself to stop the corners of her lips from quivering, she took her phone out a little belatedly.

The moment she answered it, over the phone, a nurse said urgently, "Dr. Lawrence, there's a wounded patient who's a victim of domestic abuse. They've been stabbed more than ten times.

"It is an emergency!"

"Okay. I'll be there right away."

Nicole had no time to grieve or think about Jacob. She grabbed her coat and darted out the door.

Her apartment wasn't too far from the hospital. She managed to get to the operating theatre ten minutes later.

Nicole held onto the scalpel firmly in the brightly-lit operating theatre and worked with precise and smooth movements.

The patient's wounds were terrifying and gruesome. With the hemostatic forceps in her hands, she managed to get an accurate grip on the torn blood vessel. Then, she stopped the bleeding with speed and efficiency.

It was already midnight by the time she was done with the surgery.

Nicole returned to her office, feeling numb. Just when she had the time to take a sip of water after catching her breath, her assistant rushed into her office.

"Dr. Lawrence, please help. The patient in Room 405 is having an acute heart attack!"

Nicole's heart dropped. Once again, she found herself immersed in the hectic administration of treatments. However, even after the patient's vitals returned to normal, she still had a frown.

"This patient in Room 405 has been stable these days. He should be able to be discharged tomorrow. Why did he have a heart attack out of nowhere today?"

"I have no idea either. I just fed him his medication, then he suddenly started—"

Before her assistant could finish speaking, a commotion came from outside Nicole's office.

The department head, Nigel Greer, walked into the room with a few doctors on duty. He had a grim expression on his face.

"Nicole, a word, please."

Nicole followed him out of the room.

Nigel showed her a bottle of medication. Looking livid, he chided, "Nicole, I can't believe that you swapped a patient's medication in secret. Didn't you know that this could cost him his life?"

Nigel's words came like a bolt from the blue, leaving Nicole in utter shock. At that instant, she felt her limbs go numb.

"Dr. Greer, what are you talking about? When did I swap the patient's medication?"

"This patient's condition is unique, and you've been the one personally dispensing his medication!" Nigel was absolutely infuriated. He continued, "I never thought that a primary physician from a hospital in the city like you could actually make a mistake like this!

"I have reported this to the hospital's medical director. From tomorrow onward, you will be suspended upon further investigation."

Nicole couldn't believe her ears. Her mind went blank.

"That's impossible. I'm sure that there was nothing wrong with the medication!"

She grabbed the bottle of medication from Nigel. Then, she tipped a few pills out and sniffed them.

As expected…

Her heart sank. She quickly explained, "You're right. This medication has been swapped. But it had nothing to do with me. There's no way that I made a mistake with the dispensed medication.

"Isn't there a surveillance camera in the dispensary? I'll check the footage now."

"The surveillance camera wasn't working at that time."

Looking enraged, Nigel continued, "Of all times, the surveillance camera didn't work when you dispensed the medication.

"Are you still going to claim that this incident had nothing to do with you?"

Nicole felt like she had just been struck by lightning.

Just as she was about to reply, she heard a stir from the end of the corridor.

"Nicole, where are you?"

Then, she saw Jacob staggering in their direction. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were unfocused. Clearly, he had too much to drink.

Seeing him like this, Nicole felt a heavy wave of helplessness settle on her shoulders. The tension inside her finally snapped.

In a hopeless voice, she asked, "Jacob, what are you doing here at the hospital?"

Jacob stumbled his way toward Nicole. After showing his true colors, he didn't even bother to put on an act.

Looking down on Nicole, he mocked, "Nicole, why should you force yourself to hold yourself together? I know that you're playing hard to get. But guess what? That tactic doesn't work on me.

"Plus, all I did was spend some of your money. Do you have to be like this?

"Go home and make me supper now. I'm hungry!"

A crowd was gathering around them. Nicole felt heat rise to her face, as if she'd been slapped several times.

With her eyes closed, she let out an exhale, feeling exhausted.

"Jacob, take a good look at where you're currently at. You're at the hospital. Let's talk after I get home."

"So what if we're at the hospital? My family is rich! At most, I'll just acquire this shitty hospital!" he yelled in a voice so loud that it echoed through the corridor in the wee hours of the morning.

Nigel's already dark expression became stormier.

"Dr. Lawrence, we're at the hospital. Please keep your boyfriend under control."

In a deep voice, he continued, "I think you'd better head home. You may come back after you've settled your personal matters!"

"Dr. Greer." Helplessly, Nicole explained, "I honestly have no idea what happened with the swapped medication—there must be some kind of misunderstanding.

"Moreover, this man and I have broken up. I really…"

However, she did not have the energy to finish her sentence. She was physically exhausted, but more than that, she was emotionally drained.

She had completed five surgeries within a day. On top of that, her boyfriend lied to her, and the people at the hospital misunderstood her.

Everything that happened felt like mountains pressing down on her, leaving her no time to catch her breath.

"I—Dr. Greer, please give me some time. I'll handle all these matters properly. Is that okay with you?"

Jacob interjected, saying, "Nicole! Take the opportunity that I'm giving you. If you apologize to me right now, I might still have some pity toward you and reconcile with you."

He then grabbed Nicole's hand and dragged her away with him forcefully.

"Jacob, let go of me. Let go!"

Right at this moment, a frigid voice came from within the crowd.

"That's enough!"

Everyone turned their heads to look toward the source of the voice. People in the crowd stepped aside to make way for a tall and noble-looking man who emerged from the crowd.

He looked sharp in a neatly tailored suit, his facial features striking. His cold, dark eyes, in particular, were like a bottomless abyss. On top of that, the atmosphere around him carried an air of intimidation and tension that filled the entire corridor.

A few trained bodyguards dressed in black stood in two neat rows on both sides of the corridor. All of a sudden, the atmosphere tensed up.

The man shot a cold and sharp glare toward Jacob. In a deep and extremely firm voice, he commanded, "Let go of her."

Jacob was startled by the man's intimidating presence. Following that, his face fell.

"Who are you? How dare you stick your nose into my affairs! I will—"

Before he could finish his sentence, he let out a cry. A few individuals dressed in black had abruptly approached him from the side and lifted him onto their shoulders.

Chapter 3

Jacob sobered up a fair bit from being hoisted into the air.

He exclaimed, "What are you people doing? Do you know who I am?"

Aaron Compton lifted his well-defined hand and gave it a wave. Then, the few bodyguards walked out, carrying Jacob on their shoulders.

Jacob yelled, "Nicole, why are you just standing there? Come help me!"

However, Nicole remained unmoved.

Soon enough, the hospital corridor quietened down.

Nigel shot Nicole a look and sighed before walking away, looking disappointed. The rest of the crowd who came to watch the commotion also dispersed.

It felt like everything had reset, back to square one, as if nothing had ever happened. Nicole was the only one who remained standing at the same spot, feeling like her entire body had gone cold.

"Are you okay?"

The husky and pleasant-sounding voice came from the man who was taller than her. Nicole lifted her head, only to find herself looking into a pair of deep-looking eyes.

She licked her chapped lips. "Thank you for that."

With an obscure glint in his eyes, Aaron fixed his gaze on Nicole's face. He asked, "H-How old are you?"

Nicole was taken aback by that question. "M-Me?"

Aaron nodded.

She responded, "I'm 25."

Then, she paused. Confused, she asked, "Why do you as—?"

"Are you an orphan?" Aaron interrupted.

Nicole was stunned. "How did you know that?"

She started searching for Aaron in her memories, but to no avail. She was certain that this was their first meeting.

Aaron pursed his lips and did not answer her question. Instead, he retrieved a name card and handed it to Nicole calmly. "Here's my number. Feel free to contact me anytime you need."

After saying that, he studied her for a moment with a deep gaze before turning and walking away.

Nicole watched his slender figure from behind for quite a while before lowering her head to look at the name card in her hands. She learned that he was Aaron Compton, the chairman of Compton Group.

She thought that his name sounded really familiar.

However, Nicole couldn't recall where she had heard his name before, so she gave up thinking about it. She slipped the name card into her pocket and returned to her office to pack up her things.

"Dr. Lawrence, do you really have to go?"

Nicole's assistant hurried over and looked at her with a pitiful gaze. "What happened with the medication?"

"Someone probably swapped it."

Nicole placed the photo frame on her table in a cardboard box and responded to her assistant, reassuringly smiling.

"Don't worry about it. I will think of a way to get to the bottom of this incident. Work hard and do your best to become a permanent staff member soon."

After saying that, Nicole left her office with a box of her belongings in her arms. It was 1:00 am by the time she got home.

The moment she entered her apartment, she spotted Jacob sitting on the couch. His expression was as dark as the night sky.

Nicole knitted her brows together. "It's over between us. Who told you that you could come in here? This is trespassing!"

"That's enough!" Jacob lifted his head. Through gritted teeth, he growled, "Other than playing hard-to-get, don't you have anything else to say to me?"

Nicole looked extremely upset.

"What were you hoping that I'd say to an ex-boyfriend who did nothing but lie?"

Jacob got to his feet. Scowling, he questioned, "Who was that man earlier?"

"I don't know him."

"You don't?" Jacob raised his voice, and the veins on his temples popped. "Why would he help you if you didn't know him?"

"Think whatever you want. I'm tired. Please leave my home!"

Jacob exploded with rage. With a few strides, he went up to Nicole and grabbed her wrists, causing everything in her hands to scatter all over the floor.

"Nicole, you broke up with me because of that man, didn't you? I can't believe you actually freaking cheated on me!"

His hands were like a clamp, grasping so tightly onto Nicole's wrists that her fingers were starting to go cold and numb.

"Is this how cheap you are? You can't live without a man, can you? Why did you act so virtuous with me, saying we couldn't live together before marriage, when you were being promiscuous behind my back?"

Nicole heaved as she stared at the familiar-looking yet unfamiliar face before her eyes. All the emotions she had suppressed all day finally exploded.

A knot of grievance, fury, and sorrow formed in Nicole's throat, choking her. At last, she couldn't take it anymore.

She shoved Jacob's hands away from her forcefully and freed herself.

"Jacob, what right do you have to question me? Who was the first to betray the relationship? So what if I had an affair? That's better than a liar like you who has been spinning webs of lies from the very beginning!"

"Why, you—"

What Nicole said had enraged Jacob. He suddenly raised his hand and swung it in her direction.

Nicole's heart dropped. Instinctively, she shut her eyes. Nonetheless, the pain she expected never arrived.

Her surroundings suddenly went completely silent. She gulped, then opened her eyes slowly.

Jacob had paused with his hand mid-air. After a while, he lowered his hand slowly and exhaled heavily, as if he had restrained himself from lashing out.

"Nicole, can't we just get back together?" His voice softened as he said, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have lied to you, but I had my reasons for doing so. Now that you've found out, I'll make it all up to you."

In the last three years of their relationship, Nicole always gave in whenever Jacob said a few kind words after a fight.

This time, though…

Eyes filled with disappointment, Nicole stared at Jacob as if he were a stranger.

"Jacob, do you feel like I'd still believe you? Three years. You had countless opportunities to own up to me, but you did not.

"From this day forward, I won't believe a single word you say. Stop putting on that act of yours. You disgust me."

In the blink of an eye, the tender persona Jacob had forced himself to wear was torn away. He clenched his hands into fists by his side so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

"Also, I will call the cops if you still refuse to leave!"

Wearing a frigid expression, Nicole met Jacob's gaze without a hint of fear.

Overwhelmed by anger and humiliation, Jacob pointed a finger right in her face. He roared, "Fine! Nicole, that was your last chance. You were the one who refused to take my kind offer. Don't regret it in the future!"

After that, he stormed out of her place, slamming the door behind him.

Nicole sat on the couch alone, in the dark. She clasped her cold hands together for quite some time as she gathered herself. Then, she took out her phone and dialed the number of a doctor she was once close to.

"Hello, Dr. Lawson. Are you on duty today? I wanted your help looking into the medical negligence case from today…"

Nicole briefly explained her request to Audrey Lawson, who then expressed her willingness to help Nicole out.

The call she made was probably the only positive thing from Nicole's day.

She was just about to switch off her phone display and go wash up when a news article popped up on her phone's screen.

The headline read, "Mrs. Boyd of Boyd Corporation to Attend a Charity Dinner".

Nicole tapped into the notification and saw a photograph of the aforementioned woman.

Her heart skipped a beat. She immediately zoomed in on the woman's photo.

After examining the woman's face, Nicole's fingers trembled.

Why did she look so much like this woman?

Chapter 4

Nicole closed the news article and searched the internet for information on Boyd Corporation. While waiting for the web page to load, she inexplicably curled her fingers into tight fists.

Soon enough, she saw the headline pinned at the top of Boyd Corporation's official website, indicating that the Boyd family was offering a high reward in the search for their daughter.

At that moment, Nicole's heart sank.

With her trembling finger, she tapped on the headline to view the information provided by the Boyds from when their daughter was young. The young girl was only two years old and dressed up like a princess.

All these years, the Boyds had partnered with several foundations and willing parties to search for their child. Despite their efforts, they still had no clue about her whereabouts.

Nicole couldn't help but stare at Heidi Wright, the wife of the president of Boyd Corporation, as she fell into deep thought. She wondered if they would look so much like one another if they weren't blood-related.

Nicole had a tough childhood. After the orphanage raised her until she reached high school, Trevor Gibson, the director, changed.

He demanded that she start earning money to repay the orphanage for everything they had done for her. As such, Nicole began to work while studying. Subsequently, she even had a falling out with Trevor.

She inhaled sharply. She looked down and saw that her palms had turned red from clenching her fists. She closed her eyes, no longer wanting to recall the past.

Nevertheless, this post on the Boyd family's missing daughter made her waver.

The night went by just like that. After Nicole woke up the next morning, she walked to the bathroom, feeling numb. She showered, then blew her hair dry.

Working at the hospital never allowed her to live such a disciplined lifestyle. Now that she was suddenly suspended from her role and Jacob was out of her life, a sizeable part of her seemed to have been cut out from the deepest depths of her heart.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she could see the paleness of her face and the gloominess in her dark eyes.

She smiled bitterly, then spoke to her reflection in the mirror, saying, "Nicole, can you just cheer up?"

She picked up her makeup from her dressing table and applied some light makeup on her face. Then, she found a decent-looking outfit in her wardrobe.

She had never attended a banquet, so she wasn't sure what to wear.

Over the last three years, Nicole had treated Jacob better than she had treated herself. When she worked at the hospital, she was always in a standard lab coat. Other than a few basic outfits, she had never bought new clothes.

Now that she was wearing a white, long dress, its cut highlighted her slenderness and height. Then, she matched some simple yet elegant hair accessories with pearl earrings.

When she was done, she pressed her lips together. She thought that this was the best she had ever looked. She wondered how Heidi would react when she saw her.

She left home and hailed a cab to the entrance of the Boyd Corporation's banquet. She looked at the grand bungalow before her, the many luxury cars parked at the entrance, and the well-dressed guests who happily walked into the venue.

She stood in a corner, looking extremely out of place.

Classical music was being played at the banquet. Its melodious tunes drifted into Nicole's ears, and more than that, they made her emotional.

She walked forward, only to be stopped in her tracks.

"Excuse me, miss. Do you have your invitation with you?" an attendant asked in a voice that was loud enough for the others around her to hear.

Everyone glanced toward Nicole simultaneously. Although these people hadn't seen her face and only saw her from behind, they mocked her out loud.

"Why was someone like her invited to a banquet like this?"

"She clearly looks poor and powerless."

"Who knows if she's just here to try her luck? Look—she can't even present her invitation."

Nicole heard every word that emphasized the distance between her and upper-class society.

She opened her mouth to speak but didn't know how to explain why she was there. She wondered if she could say that she wanted to meet with Heidi because she suspected that she was her biological daughter.

At the same time, a woman in the bungalow, with delicate makeup and a glass of red wine in her hand, directed her attention toward the door. The moment she saw Nicole's face, her expression darkened.

She gestured to a bodyguard, then whispered something in his ear.

A moment later, the bodyguard showed up before Nicole.

"Excuse me, miss. Please leave if you don't have an invitation. Otherwise, we'll be forced to take action against you."

The bodyguard in front of her was intimidating and fierce.

Pursing her lips, Nicole pondered for a moment. Then, she mustered up her courage and said, "I'd like to meet with Mrs. Boyd. I just need a few minutes."

"Miss, I wasn't negotiating with you. It was an order!"

"I saw on Boyd Corporation's official website that they are looking for their—"

Before she could finish her sentence, the bodyguard grabbed her by her arms, wanting to drag her out of the place.

Shock flashed across Nicole's face. As much as she wanted to free herself, she couldn't overpower the bodyguard.

Just as she was about to be thrown out, a frosty voice commanded, "Let go of her."

Nicole was surprised to hear that. Then, she glanced toward the source of that voice.

The man, dressed in a smart suit, stood with one hand in his pocket and a deep gaze. Everything about him, from his facial features to his aura, was cold.

It turned out to be Aaron.

Reminded that it was he who had saved her from that situation last night, Nicole held her breath. She couldn't believe he had helped her again that day.

When the bodyguard noticed Aaron, he also appeared shocked. He released Nicole obediently.

"M-Mr. Compton…"

However, Aaron's eyes remained fixed on Nicole. "Do you wish to join the banquet?"

Aware that he was speaking directly to her, Nicole nodded.

"Come here, then," prompted Aaron in a deep, hoarse voice.

For some reason, a chill ran down Nicole's spine. She then walked toward him. Once she got to Aaron's side, the bodyguards scurried away.

In a dull voice, Aaron asked, "Do you remember me?"

"You're Mr. Compton," Nicole answered while gathering her thoughts.

"Have you forgotten what I said to you last night, then?" he asked.

Nicole's heart fluttered. Instinctively, she glanced toward him. When their eyes met, she blurted, "Mr. Compton, why are you helping me? We've never met, and we don't know one another."

"Was that why you didn't contact me? Right now, I'm the only one who can bring you into the venue."

The corners of Aaron's lips curled into a playful smirk. Instead of answering Nicole's question, he walked toward his car.

"The banquet hasn't begun yet. Come with me."

Nicole studied him from behind. Understanding that she had no other way out, she had no choice but to follow Aaron.

It wasn't until she was sat down by a makeup artist that she understood what Aaron was trying to do.

She pouted. In an emotionless voice, she asked, "Do I look really lame?"

Aaron, seated on the couch and reading the newspaper, lifted his gaze and looked toward her when he heard that question.

He observed Nicole's eyes through her reflection in the mirror. If she truly were the daughter of the Boyds, she'd naturally have decent facial features.

Nicole had a small face, a tall nose, and red lips—features that could captivate others with her natural beauty, even without much makeup.

That said, Aaron was used to grand events like these, so he thought it would be good for Nicole to get another makeover.

He lowered his head again. He asked the makeup artist, "Have you understood what I've just told you?"

The makeup artist answered cautiously, "Don't worry, Mr. Compton!"

Half an hour later, Nicole had her makeup and hair redone. Her long, dark hair was curled before being put up again, revealing her flawless neckline.

Even Nicole spaced out a little when she looked at herself in the mirror. It wasn't because she was stunned by her own beauty, but it was because her appearance reminded her of Heidi.

Even though she had only briefly looked at Heidi last night, she could already remember what the latter looked like.

At this moment, Aaron was playing with a lighter in his hand. Even though he craved for a smoke, he held himself back.

"Mr. Compton, what do you think?"

The makeup artist spun the chair around so that Nicole faced Aaron.

When he looked up, his eyes revealed a flicker of emotion. He thought that they truly did look alike.

Chapter 5

When Aaron saw Nicole at the hospital last night, he stepped forward to intercept, even though he never stuck his nose into other people's business.

He had even struck up a conversation with her.

Suddenly, he got to his feet and instructed, "Change into a different dress. It doesn't have to be too showy."

…

Treated like a puppet, Nicole was dressed in a delicate, classy gown. When she awkwardly walked out, she looked like an entirely different person.

When Aaron looked at her again, it was the fairness of her skin that caught his eye. Yet, she had a pitiful look in her eyes.

Aaron gulped. Suppressing the wave that just ripped through his heart, he said, "The banquet should be starting."

Nicole was just about to walk over to him when she lost her balance and fell forward, all because of her tall heels.

She was five foot five and typically wore flats at the hospital. She had never worn heels so high.

Her pupils constricted. Just as she thought she would faceplant on the floor, she found herself in Aaron's arms.

Her heart pounded as she struggled to get out of his arms immediately. Awkwardly, she said, "That wasn't intentional."

Aaron noticed how she had quickly stepped back from him and intentionally kept her distance from him. For once, he wasn't disgusted.

He usually didn't like being in contact with women. However, it seemed that he was fine with the woman before him.

He said, "Don't worry about it. It's no big deal."

When Nicole continued walking, she did so carefully. Even so, she couldn't help but continue to feel skeptical. "Mr. Compton, you wouldn't help me out for no reason."

Aaron abruptly stopped in his tracks and asked, "Are you suspicious of my intentions?"

Without waiting for Nicole's response, he continued, "I did have something I need your help with, but it's no rush."

All eyes were on Nicole when she arrived at the banquet with Aaron. Whispers from around the room could be heard.

"Why did Mr. Compton come to the banquet with a woman? Can the Boyd family's daughter take it?"

"Why does this woman look so familiar?"

Nicole stood there with a prim posture. Although she was usually unemotional, she couldn't help but feel nervous as she clasped her hands together. She wondered what she should say to Heidi if she met her.

The chatter at the banquet grew louder. The fact that Nicole and Aaron were standing together became the immediate talk of the town.

Heidi didn't look their way until she was informed of Aaron's arrival. But when she spotted the woman standing next to Aaron, her hand trembled. She walked over to the pair with a glass of wine in her hand.

Nicole forced herself to maintain a composed expression as she slowly shifted her gaze to Heidi.

With a twinkle in her eye, Heidi asked, "Mr. Compton, who is this woman next to you?"

Aaron indifferently said, "This is Nicole Lawrence."

However, Heidi couldn't control her emotions. She felt that looking at Nicole was like seeing a younger version of herself.

"M-Ms. Lawrence, who are your parents?" Heidi asked emotionally.

Nicole already had tears in her eyes, too. She answered, "I am an orphan."

Some distance away, Monica Boyd held back the fear rising within her. She hadn't expected Nicole to be so crafty as to get acquainted with Aaron just to attend the event.

If Nicole were acknowledged as the Boyd family's daughter, her position in the family would be threatened.

In that case, her marriage agreement with Aaron would fall apart.

Clenching her hands in tight fists, Monica took a deep breath. She walked forward and greeted, "Hi, Mom. Hi, Aaron."

When she looked at Nicole, she pretended to gasp in shock. "Aren't you the doctor who swapped Dad's medication? What are you doing here?"

She intentionally raised her voice so everyone at the banquet could hear her clearly.

Kenneth Boyd had almost died at the hospital because his medication was swapped. The incident caused a huge stir in the business world, so much so that the hospital suspended the doctor involved out of fear and planned to punish her.

As it turned out, the woman before their eyes at that moment was the said doctor!

All of a sudden, there was a stir at the banquet. Someone remarked, "As a doctor, how could she have such bad morals?

"How dare you swap Mr. Boyd's medication! Don't you feel ashamed to be here?"

Heidi froze. When she first found out about Nicole being an orphan, she considered having a DNA test done.

If she could find her daughter, whom she had lost over 20 years ago, she could finally feel at peace. But was this woman actually the person who caused harm to her husband?

Her daughter shouldn't be someone that cruel.

As the sounds of criticisms and insults grew louder, Aaron remained silent. He was curious to see how Nicole would handle the situation.

Then, Nicole lifted her eyes. Her gaze was frigid, and the veins on her hands bulged out.

"What happened to Mr. Boyd is still uncertain. I will prove my innocence. Miss, making such horrid speculations doesn't speak much about your character, does it?"

The moment she said that, the guests gasped in shock. "Excuse me, don't you know who Ms. Boyd is? She is the Boyds' most precious daughter. How could you criticize her like this?"

Monica was well-loved by everyone around her ever since she was young. At the same time, there were always those around her who would always curry favor with her.

At that moment, she feigned innocence. "That wasn't a false accusation. My father is now unconscious in the hospital. The hospital is accountable to our family, and you've already been suspended. So, are you saying that I accused you unjustly?

"Why are you dressed like this when you are a doctor from the hospital? You even put on makeup that resembles my mother's. Were you trying to con us out of our riches?"

Monica opted to be proactive. Since Heidi was already wavering, she would shut Nicole up from the very beginning!

She said to a bodyguard, "A scheming woman with a bad rep doesn't deserve to attend our family's banquet. Chase her out."

Nicole's heart raced. She defended herself, "I'm here today to give Mrs. Boyd my word that I did not swap Mr. Boyd's medication."

Monica deliberately stepped forward to grab Nicole by her wrists. "My mother has been searching for her daughter all these years, and there have been countless people who tried to fake their way into our family.

"Your methods are too fake and shoddy, Nicole."

When she said this, she gripped Nicole's wrists so tightly that they throbbed.

A gleam flickered through Nicole's eyes when she saw the bodyguard stepping forward without hesitation. She wondered if she was about to be chased out of the venue in front of everyone else.

As she struggled to free herself from Monica's grasp, she said, "Ms. Boyd, you've misunderstood—"

Monica abruptly screamed. She had timed herself to fall back at this moment, so that it would look like Nicole had pushed her to the ground. Her face turned pale immediately.

Miserably, she asked, "Dr. Lawrence, are you mad and ashamed because I exposed your lies?"

She managed to draw Heidi's attention successfully. Heidi looked at her and asked, "Are you okay, Monica?"

Monica sniffed. "I'm fine, Mom. It didn't hurt."

Nevertheless, an answer like this would only make Heidi's heart ache even further. Her expression turned frosty as she commanded, "Send her out. This isn't a place where she can kick up a fuss as she wishes!"

The bodyguard had taken hold of Nicole and was about to chase her out.

Biting her lip, Nicole looked aggrieved. She found the courage to struggle and free herself. While she struggled, the part of her dress around her shoulder was pulled down forcefully.

Just then, Heidi managed to get a glimpse of the birthmark on Nicole's shoulder. When she spotted it, she yelled, "Hold it right there!"

The bodyguard shuddered upon hearing that and immediately released Nicole.

Nicole panted as she straightened her dress as quickly as she could.

Heidi couldn't hold herself back any longer. She hurried toward Nicole to have a closer look at the birthmark on her arm.

Chapter 6

The birthmark was almost etched in Heidi's mind. It was also the most defining detail she had remembered in her search for her daughter all these years.

Yet, more than 20 years had passed in the blink of an eye. This was Heidi's very first time getting a clear view of the birthmark on Nicole's arm. It wasn't just a mark that could be wiped off.

As pissed as Heidi was, she couldn't hide the glint of hope in her eyes.

Forcing herself to keep a calm voice, Heidi asked, "M-Ms. Lawrence, could we get a DNA test done?"

Nicole's eyes turned red the instant she heard Heidi's question.

She nodded. "Sure."

After plucking a few strands of her hair, she straightened her outfit. Now that the misunderstanding had become so serious, she wanted to prove her innocence. As a result, she was no longer in the mood to stay.

"Mrs. Boyd, I shall take my leave now," Nicole mumbled.

Then, without looking at anyone else, she turned around to leave. She did not even hesitate when she walked past Aaron.

Nevertheless, Aaron glanced at Monica, who was standing by the side. No matter how well she acted, he noticed the smug smirk that flashed across her face.

He nodded. "Mrs. Boyd, since I was the one who brought her here, I shall be taking my leave too."

Surprised, Heidi looked at him. She fell into deep thought when she realized that Aaron was the one who had brought Nicole there that day.

She was reminded of the marriage agreement that had been made with the Compton family since her daughter was young.

If Nicole were truly her long-lost daughter, Monica wouldn't be the one to fulfill the marriage agreement with the Comptons.

"Mr. Compton, thank you for bringing her here today."

Aaron hummed an acknowledgement before turning around and leaving.

After leaving the banquet venue, he couldn't see Nicole anywhere. He pressed his lips together, thinking about how quickly she had run off.

"Keep an eye on Monica. Ensure that the DNA test results are accurate."

The moment Aaron said that, his assistant, Lance Finch, understood his intentions. He immediately nodded and acknowledged, "Will do, Mr. Compton!"

Meanwhile, a dazed Nicole flagged a cab and returned to the makeup studio. The makeup artist was shocked to see her again.

Nevertheless, no one dared to take things lightly when Nicole was a patron whom Aaron brought.

"Ms. Lawrence, is there something wrong with the makeup?"

As Nicole walked into the changing room, she softly asked, "Are my clothes still in there?"

"Yeah."

After Nicole entered the changing room and changed out of her evening gown, she returned the night's outfit to the makeup artist.

"Ms. Lawrence, Mr. Compton has paid for this evening gown—"

"This isn't mine. Please return it to Mr. Compton on my behalf. Also, this is to cover the cost of washing the dress."

Nicole retrieved a few banknotes from her bag and presented them to the makeup artist. She figured that cleaning an expensive evening gown like this was costly.

Even though she felt the pinch, she placed the money on the table without hesitation before leaving.

Knowing that she didn't have much money left after leaving the makeup studio, she booked a ride on a motorbike to get to the hospital.

When she was almost at the door to the hospital director's office, Nigel happened to emerge from within.

His face fell when his eyes met Nicole's as though he had just met with the plague.

"Why, it's you again! Didn't I tell you not to come to the hospital again? What are you doing here?"

Nigel's cheeks puffed up with anger. "Nicole, was I too nice to you yesterday? Did you think that what I said was a joke?"

With a dull yet calm expression, Nicole responded, "I'd like to request the usage details of the medication. Even though the surveillance camera wasn't working at that time, every medication's use should be thoroughly recorded, including the time it was prescribed and dispensed."

Nigel got hot under the collar. "Nicole, stop resisting! The hospital can't afford to keep someone like you. Can't you just go out the same doors you came in?"

"Dr. Greer, what's wrong with wanting to prove my innocence? Why is the hospital being so unprincipled?"

Right after Nicole said that, the medical director, Robert Cohen, shouted sternly, "That's nonsense!"

He walked out of his office with an icy expression, his eyes fixed on Nicole.

"You want to be treated fairly? Just think about who it was you wronged. Mr. Boyd almost died because of you. How are you going to argue yourself out of that?

"Right now, you have to resign from the hospital so we do not upset the Boyds!"

Those words sent a shudder down Nicole's entire body.

She curled her lips into a sarcastic smirk. As it turned out, they were afraid of upsetting the Boyds and affecting the hospital's development. It explained why they had chosen to sacrifice her.

Throughout her years of working at the hospital, she was named the most outstanding doctor multiple times. She was responsible, worked shifts, stuck to her assigned posts, and maintained a decent relationship with her colleagues.

Despite all that, this was ultimately how things ended up for her.

"In that case, I'll take the legal route to prove my innocence!"

Upon saying that, Nicole spun around and left without even looking back.

Robert and Nigel gave each other a look. Robert scoffed. "The legal route? You should be glad that the Boyds aren't taking you to court!"

When Nicole was about to leave the hospital, she bumped into someone familiar. Maintaining a cold expression, she planned to ignore him completely.

However, Jacob found himself mesmerized by Nicole. He even narrowed his eyes to get a better look at her.

It was indeed Nicole! He wondered when she had gotten so beautiful.

Looking smug, Jacob was now dressed in an Armani suit that highlighted his wealth as a scion.

"What's going on, Nicole? Now that you're no longer working at the hospital, are you planning to switch to a career that lets you earn a living with your looks?"

That comment instantly infuriated Nicole. She lifted her eyes and glared at him mockingly.

"What I do has nothing to do with you."

Jacob's expression darkened. Gritting his teeth, he replied, "Nicole, is it so difficult for you to just apologize to me? Or have you not understood your predicament yet?"

Nicole coldly said, "It's still not your place to interfere."

Much to her surprise, Jacob strode up to her and grabbed her chin. Tilting her face up, he studied her pretty face up close.

Deep down, he tutted and thought that if she had dressed up like this before, he probably wouldn't have grown tired of her so quickly.

At the very least, he could continue putting on his act for a few more years.

Jacob frigidly suggested, "Nicole, apologize to me and I'll help you resolve your issue with the hospital. How about that?"

Nicole's chin hurt from the way Jacob was pinching her. She stepped back to try and free herself, only to see a man walking in their direction.

"Mr. Escobar, the contract is ready—"

Nicole peered at the man. Just one look at him made her freeze.

Disgust flashed across her eyes. Forcefully, she freed herself from Jacob's grasp. Staring at him through reddened eyes, she asked, "Jacob, how low can you go to actually do something like this just to force me to apologize to you?"

Jacob was taken aback to hear that from her. Immediately after that, he growled, "Nicole, how dare you speak to me like that!"

"Quit yapping here. Can't you just stay away from me?" After saying that, Nicole tried to walk away.

Nevertheless, Jacob snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her into his arms. Lowering his head, he leaned into her until his lips almost touched hers.

"Nicole, did I say that you could leave?"

Suddenly, a click sounded and a light flashed. Aaron clicked his tongue and sarcastically remarked, "Mr. Escobar, are you forcing yourself on a woman weaker than you?"

Chapter 7

When Jacob heard Aaron's voice, an upset look flashed across his face. The look in his eyes revealed his impatience.

Nicole seized the opportunity to free herself from Jacob's hold and took a number of steps back. It wasn't until Aaron extended his arm to gently stop her from backing away that she looked up and met his eyes, which held a candid gaze.

Jacob looked in Aaron's direction, feeling displeased. When he saw Aaron, his expression changed.

During their previous encounter at the hospital, he hadn't recognized Aaron.

It was only when he saw the news report that he learned that Aaron was a scion of the Compton family. He was a mysterious figure who rarely appeared in public.

However, after inheriting the family's assets in recent years, his family's business expanded to over a hundred outlets. His capabilities were not to be underestimated.

Even now, the Escobar family could not rival the Compton family.

Jacob couldn't look away after he noticed where Aaron's hand was. He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized further.

"Nicole, are you still refusing to admit that you cheated on me? You claim you don't fancy the rich, but you offered yourself to them behind my back?

"Did you think that you'll be able to get yourself involved with people like the Comptons?"

The harshness of Jacob's words pierced through Nicole's heart.

Her heart went cold. She couldn't believe she had once been so blind as to fall for someone like Jacob. She thought that his words and actions were absolutely revolting!

Aaron spoke up in a calm voice. "Mr. Escobar, you are such an expert at insulting your ex-girlfriend. It seems like you really couldn't care less about the relationship you once shared."

Jacob sniggered. The gloominess on his face was apparent.

He walked toward them. Now that he had a chance to speak with Aaron, naturally, he wouldn't miss it.

"Mr. Compton, as you know, people in our circles are just in it for fun. How could we possibly marry and start a family with someone outside them?

"Although, as Nicole's ex, I should advise you that she is a blockhead. She's no fun at all, Mr. Compton. You'll be wasting your time if you play with her.

"She's an extremely virtuous woman who is against sex before marriage."

Jacob spoke condescendingly and showed absolutely no respect for Nicole.

Nicole's eyes welled up with tears. Her patience had run out.

Suddenly, she raised her hand and smacked Jacob right in the face when he least expected it. His face was turned to the side, and he could feel the heat on his cheek.

He bit down on his lip immediately and gulped. When he looked at Nicole, he did so with a dark gaze.

"Nicole, was I too easy on you? Between you and me, you are not to make a scene before me!"

Just as Jacob raised his hand to grab Nicole, Aaron interfered by grabbing his wrist instead. At that moment, both men stood off against one another in silence.

Even though Jacob wasn't going to argue against Aaron in public, as a scion of the Escobar family, he did not wish to be defeated by Aaron.

Nonetheless, no matter how hard he tried, Aaron did not budge.

When Nicole instinctively glanced at Aaron, she noticed the defined muscles in his strong arms, giving him a cool, masculine presence.

Eventually, Jacob, whose cheeks flushed red, threw in the towel.

Aaron asked, "Mr. Escobar, how could you try to hit a woman? Aren't you ashamed?"

It was peak hour at the hospital right then. The appearance of this trio was outright attention-grabbing.

Almost all those who walked past would either stop or turn back repeatedly to look at them. The sounds of the chatters almost intensified with time.

"I never thought that I'd still be able to see two men fight over a woman in real life. That woman is so lucky to have two handsome men pining over her!"

"The woman is really gorgeous, too. Otherwise, why would the men fight over her?"

"I want to see who she chooses in the end!"

Nicole balled her hands into fists immediately when she heard those remarks. Her head was in a mess.

People would misunderstand her even further if she remained here. Moreover, she didn't wish to continue arguing with Jacob either.

Taking a deep breath, she looked straight at Aaron and said, "Mr. Compton, let's go."

Jacob fumed when he heard that. "Nicole, you're not even going to pretend anymore?"

Nicole was incredibly fed up. She snapped, "Jacob, we no longer have anything to do with one another. What right do you have to question me?"

The look in her eyes was overly calm, so much so that Jacob couldn't bear to look at her. He furrowed his brows. Things weren't turning out the way he expected.

He and Nicole were together for three years. Nicole was someone with a submissive character who had always put him first.

He wondered how Nicole could make such a clean break now that they had broken up. He expected her to struggle to adjust to life without him. Then, she should be coming back to him in tears, asking to get back together.

The atmosphere around them turned extremely heavy.

Aaron shoved Jacob's hand aside. Unexpectedly, Jacob lost his balance and staggered backward.

Then, Aaron glanced briefly at Nicole and said, "Whatever you say."

Compared to how he spoke to Jacob, his attitude was completely different when he spoke to Nicole. Jacob could even see a tinge of tenderness in Aaron's eyes.

He clenched his fists tightly. He was determined not to let Aaron take any interest in Nicole!

Nicole left the hospital with Aaron without looking back. It was only after she exited the place that she seemed to have had all her energy sucked out of her.

Even her voice sounded weak. "Thank you for today, Mr. Compton."

Narrowing his eyes, Aaron asked, "Shouldn't you be looking the other person in the eyes when you're thanking them?"

Nicole inexplicably felt her cheeks flush red.

She didn't want to allow her mind to wander. Aaron was someone way above her station. So, she thought that he shouldn't be interacting with her in any way.

Especially after her experience with Jacob, Nicole learned that two people with such a wide gap in their statuses could never be each other's true loves.

As such, regardless of whether Aaron was interested in her or if he had other motives of his own, she did not want to get involved with him.

Keeping her eyes down, Nicole said, "Mr. Compton, we are entirely different people. I appreciate you stepping in to help me these few times, but I don't think you'd have so much time to interfere with someone else's matters.

"There's nothing much I can repay you with, Mr. Compton. I guess all I have left is my professional skills. If you ever feel unwell in the future, feel free to come to me any time."

At other times, they would just be strangers to one another.

Aaron raised a brow. Was she just so keen on keeping her distance from him?

That being said, Aaron wasn't affected much by her remarks. After all, he only stepped in to help her so that he could avoid some future troubles for himself.

His gaze shifted back to indifference. "Okay. But don't forget that you owe me a favor."

By the time Nicole processed his words, he was already gone. She stood alone, still in the same spot as when he'd left.

Nicole did not remain there for long. She turned and left the hospital. After finding a law firm with a decent reputation, she made an appointment to meet with an attorney.

When she was led into their lounge, she played the voice recording from her phone.

The sound of Robert's warnings and insults toward her echoed through the lounge. The attorney frowned slightly upon hearing the recording.

"Ms. Lawrence, is that the voice of Silverwood Hospital's medical director in the recording?"