The Bancrofts of Sunrise Cove

Sweat dripped down her face.

"Ugh, it's so hot..."

Eudora Cook woke up from her sleep, feeling uncomfortable.

Groggily, she reached for the air conditioner remote and pressed a few buttons, but the air conditioner didn't respond.

Eudora Cook then realized that there must be a power outage!

This was an old neighborhood with poor ventilation and aging electrical wiring, making power outages a common occurrence. Every time the power went out, the room felt like a steamer.

Feeling frustrated, Eudora Cook got out of bed. The room was pitch black, with only a faint light coming through the window, illuminating the mottled walls.

While complaining about how she needed to work hard to afford a better place, she fanned herself with her hand, put on her slippers, and squinted as she made her way to the balcony. Then, with a swift motion, she pulled open the curtains.

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared behind the curtain, standing directly in front of Eudora Cook like a ghost.

"Ahh—!" Eudora Cook's eyes widened instantly, all traces of sleep vanishing!

Just as she let out a scream, a hand reeking of blood clamped over her mouth, and a low, hoarse voice growled in her ear:

"Don't make a sound!"

Eudora Cook was petrified, unable to move. The man behind her was losing his patience and urged her in a low tone: "Hurry up!"

Eudora Cook nodded, not daring to defy the criminal. She was afraid of angering him, but even though her mind was clear, her feet felt glued to the floor, unable to take a step.

Seeing this, the man cursed under his breath and scooped her up like a chicken, tucking her under his arm. In the next second, he threw her roughly onto the bed.

The bed was hard, and Eudora Cook felt like her ribs might break.

"What are you—"

Before she could finish, her words were swallowed back into her throat.

Now, Eudora Cook was truly terrified. This was her first kiss!

Thinking of this, she could no longer pretend to be calm. Her fists pounded relentlessly on the man's chest, her heart screaming at him to get away.

The man, seeing her struggle, clamped down on her wrists with his strong grip.

"I said, don't move, or else, you'll bear the consequences!"

Consequences?

Eudora Cook didn't care about any consequences.

Her first kiss had been stolen, and that was the worst consequence she could imagine.

So, she struggled even more fiercely.

Outside, the sound of footsteps could be heard. The man, with his keen senses, identified five people. With his injured abdomen, if they found him now, not only would he be in mortal danger, but his comrades' lives would also be at risk.

For the greater good, he could only apologize to this girl.

However, Eudora Cook did not notice the deepening intensity in the man's eyes, nor did she hear the approaching footsteps. She continued to struggle without pause.

The man, seeing her in pain, covered her mouth and rasped, "I will take responsibility for you."

At that moment, the people outside reached the door. Hearing the intimate sounds from inside, they hesitated and decided to search elsewhere.

The man's tense nerves relaxed. Half-lidded, he gazed at Eudora Cook's hair spread across the pillow, a sudden tenderness rising in his chest. He had never experienced such a life before!

Eudora Cook knew that struggling was futile. She cried bitterly, her tears soaking the pillow.

The moonlight outside outlined the man's back. Through her tear-blurred vision, Eudora Cook could only see his chiseled face and tightly pursed lips.

Just as she was getting used to the darkness and about to see his face clearly, the man suddenly struck, and Eudora Cook fell into a daze.

He bent down, tenderly kissing away the tears from her eyes, then hung something around her neck, his voice deep and resolute.

"One day, I will marry you."