“Coming, coming—what’s the rush?” Madeline called, hurrying over to help.Stanley followed right behind.After a flurry of trips back and forth, they finally managed to cram all the things Neil and Madeline had prepared into the car. When everything was done, Joseph washed his hands and stepped out.“Uncle, Auntie—big brother, sis-in-law. It’s nearly four. We should get going,” he said.“Alright. In that case, we won’t keep you,” Madeline replied, reluctant to see them go.“Joseph, drive slow, you hear? No need to rush—you’ve got time,” Stanley added.“Brother-in-law, Mason, we’ll come to Nova City in a while,” Neil said, clapping Joseph on the shoulder. “We’ll look you up, take you out to eat. And of course, we’ll treat Mr. Dristan too.”“Sounds good,” Joseph said.After a few more pleasantries, he climbed into the car and pulled away.“We’re on vacation anyway—why couldn’t they stay a few more days?” Madeline murmured, watching the car shrink into the distance.“Don’t assume. They m

Before long, Mason Alvarez had all but dragged Joseph into the villa.Once inside, she shut the door behind them with a decisive click.“Professor Alvarez, could you not be so impatient?”“We messed around half the night. You’re not planning to take a break? Are you trying to kill yourself?”Joseph sounded exasperated.“What’s running through that head of yours?”“I just want you to see whether my figure has improved.”Mason shot him a glare.“Just look?”“Of course. What else did you think I meant?”As she spoke, she shrugged off the outer shirt she’d been wearing. Underneath was a fitted T-shirt that clung to her like a second skin. With the overshirt gone, the lines of her body were on full display—the tee was so tight it carved out every curve.Just a glance was enough to set the blood racing.“Well? Doesn’t it look better than before? Aren’t the proportions nicer?”She turned a slow circle in front of him, as if preening.“You hauled me in here just to look at this? Don’t you hav

“Rest, of course we’ll rest. But who says we can’t… do other things while we rest?”Mason’s meaning was unmistakable as her soft hands began to wander over Joseph.The moment he felt her touch, Joseph’s pulse rocketed.“Professor Alvarez, you—”He faltered, unsure how to proceed.“Your little sweetheart is back tomorrow. Then you won’t be mine anymore. It’s our last night—I’m not letting you slip away.”There was stubbornness in her voice.“It’s not like you can’t come over.”“And do what? At night you’ll be doting on her, not me.”“After this, chances for us to be like this will be few and far between.”She sighed, a little helpless.“That’s not how it’ll be.”“From now on, I’ll leave my door unlocked at night. If you miss me, you can sneak in.”Her fingers traced the hard plane of his chest, her voice a sultry purr.“You’re my woman too. I wouldn’t neglect you.”“That’s what you say. Just don’t let that little minx turn your head.”“Oh, right—by noon tomorrow I’m heading home.”“Why

“I’ve recently sounded out Professor Sanchez and several members of the university leadership about appointing someone to serve as dean of Nova University’s Sixth Affiliated Hospital, and I’ve secured their backing.”“If we ultimately win the Havencrest Medical Center site, there’s a strong chance you’ll need to take the helm as dean of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital.”Geoffrey Harris’s tone was grave.Joseph froze at that. Becoming dean of Nova University’s Sixth Affiliated Hospital was a notion that had never once crossed his mind.“Principal, I don’t have administrative experience, and I’m far too young. People won’t accept me.”“I think the dean’s position should go to someone else. Personally, I’d rather stay focused on teaching.”Joseph responded at once.“As dean, your primary responsibilities would still be teaching at the university, along with some clinical work at the hospital.”“Even as the dean of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, you are fundamentally a member of Nova Univer

“Too far? How is it too far? She’s a lowly servant. Her wages come from our future son-in-law. How much she gets is up to us.”Maria Long was impervious, unyielding.“I mean you’ve hurt her badly. What if something happens?”Stephen Cooper still had his scruples.“What are you afraid of? She’s not going to die. You’ve spent your whole life timid and small—no wonder you never accomplish anything.”Counting the money, Maria shot Stephen a withering look.“Weren’t you taking two thousand? Since when is that ‘two thousand’?”Stephen eyed the bills in her hand.“What does a little country wretch need with so much money? Four thousand dollars—that’s two rounds of beauty treatments for me.”“Money spent on me is better than money wasted on her.”Maria smiled coldly, satisfied with herself.“Uh…”Stephen fell silent.“She says she’s Charles Martin’s cousin. If that’s true, isn’t this a bit much?”He tried again.“What’s ‘much’ about it? Every day with you—it’s this is bad, that is worse. What