I already knew that Grandpa Shaw’s memory decline was due to a severe shock, not Alzheimer's disease.Although his condition was irreversible, it was manageable. Luke had already arranged for Dr. Thompson to give Grandpa Shaw a comprehensive examination. After compiling all the test results, Dr. Thompson was now developing a treatment plan for Grandpa Shaw.My gaze was determined. "Grandpa will get better."At that moment, Annette brought over freshly made desserts and placed them in front of Penelope and Jon. "Eat while they're hot. See if you like them."“Your cooking always suits my taste. You've spoiled my palate," Penny said.Annette’s culinary skills were excellent. The rice pudding was sprinkled with raisins, looking especially tempting.She noticed me, and I greeted her."Next time you come here, Ms. Middleton, I'll make some for you too.""Thank you, Annette."Like Marianne, Annette was warm and loving towards the younger generation but knew her boundaries. Afraid of
I couldn’t say no to Wendy. "Alright, I'll go to the comic convention with you!""I'll pick you up at 5 PM today. Be a good girl and wait for me at home, okay?""Got it!"I smiled helplessly and hung up the phone.Wendy loves anime and has collected many anime figurines. She's a regular at comic conventions both domestically and abroad. I've been to two with her but couldn't adapt to the atmosphere.Wendy noticed my discomfort and hadn't invited me for a long time.This time she invited me, it was probably because she was thinking about finding a suitable match for me again.If finding the right person was that easy, Wendy wouldn't still be looking for the ideal man to marry.There was still some time before 5 PM, so I continued to flip through the book Luke had returned last time, jotting down things I didn't understand in my notebook, planning to ask him for explanations when I get to work....At 5 PM, Wendy arrived at my home on time. She tossed me two shopping bags, "Swe
As Wendy applied the blush, she pressed it firmly against my cheeks, her irritation evident in her voice. Her emotional reaction made me doubt the existence of this secret admirer. Could there really be someone crushing on me?Still skeptical, I probed further, having no interest in romance at the moment. "Wendy, will he be at the cosplay event?""You want to meet him? I can call him right now," Wendy exclaimed, reaching for her bag."Stop teasing, Wendy!" I pleaded, grabbing her hand to prevent her from grabbing her phone."He would be heartbroken if he knew how you're reacting," Wendy dramatically clutched her chest."We're not a good match," I protested."How can you know that without even meeting him?" Wendy tilted my chin up, examining my makeup. "Give him a chance. Give yourself a chance.""It's not easy to move on from heartbreak. Maybe someday I'll be ready for a new relationship, but not right now."Luke's face suddenly flashed in my mind, causing me to falter. Afraid
No-Face's voice had a deep and raspy quality, sending a shiver down my spine and leaving a tingling sensation in its wake.I thanked him, expressing my gratitude."Sweetie, why are you being so formal? Cosplay enthusiasts are usually easygoing. You don't need to keep thanking and apologizing," Wendy said, linking her arm with mine. She turned to No-Face with an invitation, "Are you here alone? You're welcome to join us.""Sure," No-Face agreed.Wendy's friendly approach proved to be a good decision. No-Face's tall, broad figure acted as a protective wall, shielding us from the bustling crowd and helping us navigate through the sea of people.Wendy looked pleased with herself.I gently nudged her waist, and she giggled, poking me back.Being ticklish, I squirmed and accidentally bumped into No-Face.He looked down at me, and I was about to apologize again when he said, "We're friends now. You don't need to be so formal with me."I smiled at him, unaware of the fleeting look of
"Bro, which one are we supposed to kidnap?" asked the man holding me as he shoved me into the car.Wendy, a fitness enthusiast, was in much better shape than me. She managed to brace her foot against the car and use the leverage to slam her captor into a nearby vehicle."Feisty bitch!" the man growled through gritted teeth, clearly in pain from the impact. He retaliated by gripping Wendy's throat.Watching Wendy's face contort in pain through the car window, I felt like an ant on a hot pan. Desperate to help, I headbutted the man next to me, trying to break free."Settle down, you!" he snarled, yanking my hair and shoving me back into the seat. The pain in my scalp made me break out in a cold sweat. Before I could recover, Wendy was roughly pushed into the car beside me."Bro, if we take both, it's double the pay. We've hit the jackpot!" exclaimed the heavyset man restraining me, his voice brimming with excitement."Idiot! They only asked for one. What if the client finds out and
"Hurry up and gag her!"The skinny man hesitated, unsure if my words would sway him. Eventually, he let go of Wendy to assist his partner with the tape.Seizing the opportunity, Wendy pushed the man away and reached for the car door, desperately attempting to escape.Reacting swiftly, the skinny man grabbed Wendy's shoulder just as her hand touched the handle and slapped her across the face with force."You bastard!" Wendy snarled.As the heiress of Johnsonville's wealthiest family, Wendy was accustomed to respect and deference. She had never been treated so roughly before.Enraged, she raised her hand to retaliate.However, the man, much stronger than her, seized her collar and prepared to strike again."Stop it!" I shouted.The sound of the slap resonated within me, filling me with a combination of heartache and anger. As the skinny man moved to hit Wendy again, I instinctively slapped him twice in rapid succession."How dare you hit my brother!" the heavyset man yelled, dr
With our hands and feet bound, maintaining balance was challenging. We squirmed on the ground like caterpillars, relying on each other as we struggled to sit up.This simple action drained our energy. We rested for a while, backs pressed together, attempting to untie each other's wrists.Our arms were tied behind our backs, making it impossible to see the knots. We had to rely solely on touch.Closing our eyes heightened our sense of touch.Every slight movement sent a shooting pain through our wrists, but I gritted my teeth and endured it.After several failed attempts, our fingertips finally touched. I could feel Wendy's fingers trembling slightly.Knowing her wrists were as injured as mine, I reassuringly grasped her hand.Encouraged, she continued her efforts.The pain caused beads of cold sweat to form on our foreheads, trickling down our cheeks and dripping onto my body.The sweat stung my eyes. I tried to raise my shoulder to wipe my face, but even this simple action wa
Just as we were about to continue walking in despair, hoping for better luck, a car pulled up next to us.Luke emerged from the back seat. His impeccable suit contrasted sharply with our disheveled appearance.In one swift motion, Luke stood in front of me, examining me from head to toe. "Are you hurt?" His voice sounded urgent, lacking its usual calm. His grip on my shoulders was so tight that I instinctively flinched.Wendy whistled. "Well, well, Luke. You're biased, but I'm still here, mind you!"Wendy's words seemed to awaken Luke from his thoughts. He quickly masked his anxiety, although his eyes remained fixed on me as if afraid I would disappear if he blinked.His intense gaze made me uneasy, and I couldn't meet his eyes. "Mr. Walker... what are you doing here?""I've been looking for you." Luke's Adam's apple moved as he nervously put his slightly trembling hands into his pockets.Then, he noticed the rope marks on my wrists, and his pupils constricted. He grabbed my arm