Luca's story was rather long. She would not be able to finish it even if she stayed all day. The kids listened carefully and sat around her on the carpet like she was a kindergarten teacher playing games with children.When the butler walked in with some juice and snacks, a look of disbelief flashed across his face.Tommy, who was always the most active, was sitting there quietly. He did not cry nor make a fuss. He looked obedient and even...focused.The only thing that he could focus on was cartoons but he was so focused on listening to Luca telling a story at that moment.The butler admired her in his heart.Luca noticed the butler walk in with something in his hands so she stopped telling the story and smiled at him.Tommy was fascinated with the story and was curious when she stopped all of a sudden. "Ms. Luca, what happened next?""Ms. Craw, Young Masters and Young Lady, the chef prepared some juice and snacks. Come and have some." The butler walked over to them with a tr
When Luke's phone rang, he was looking at a man who was talking while pinching his throat.The phone vibrated. He stood up and walked to the balcony to answer it. "Hello.""Young Master Luke, when will you be back?" The butler's voice entered his ears.Luke glanced at the situation in the living room and said, "Don't wait for me to have lunch. I have something to do today.""Is that so? Ms. Craw is here. Are you sure you can't come back?" the butler asked."Luca?" Luke frowned and lowered his voice. "Why is she in Crawford Manor?"Based on what he knew about Luca's temperament, she would not visit at random."Old Master Crawford invited her. He thinks that Ms. Craw has helped a lot, so he specially invited her to be a guest," the butler replied. Even though he was not with Luke in person, judging from the change in his voice and tone, he seemed very unhappy that Luca was visiting the Crawford family."I can't go back until this afternoon. Please help me entertain her while I’m
The butler heard her acerbic choice of words and thought that it was not how someone from the Crawford family should act. He sighed in his heart when he thought of the late Zachary Crawford. The two most important women in his life seemed noble and dignified, but in fact, the two did not have the best characters.Their guest was still around. Although she had already gone upstairs, Susan should not have said these words.The butler spoke up for Luca, "Ma'am, you can't say that. She and the children are fated, and Ms. Craw was invited by Old Master Crawford, so please don't say such things."Susan picked up a piece of watermelon with a fork and gave the butler a disdainful look. "Why can’t I say that? What's wrong with telling the truth? She can't hear me anyway. Tell me what I said that was wrong. Correct me if you can."The butler did not dare to say anything. He quietly tidied the things on the table.If Old Master Crawford had heard what she said, she would have been scolded. H
Luca coaxed Rainie to sleep, and after a while, she noticed that Rainie's breathing had become even.Rainie had fallen asleep.Luca moved back slightly, and Rainie did not react. Seeing this, she got out of bed.She had lived in the manor, so she knew about the daily schedule.Luke was not at home and she knew that Old Master Crawford had the habit of taking naps too. It was the children’s time to nap so the butler and maids would not come upstairs as they did not want to disturb them. It was the best time for her to explore Luke's study.Luca gently opened the bedroom door. She looked back the moment she opened the door and found that Rainie was still asleep.Luke's study was in front. As long as she walked in without being noticed, her plan would succeed because she knew the password to the safe. She did not need to waste a lot of time deciphering it.Luca gently closed Rainie's bedroom door and walked toward Luke's study."Ms. Craw?" When she arrived at the door of the study
“You!” Susan widened her eyes as she looked at her from behind. She refused to believe that Luca was still unwilling to cooperate with her even after what she had said to her.She did not admit her intention when she was trying to trick Luca into talking to her throughout the conversation. Susan gnashed her teeth angrily as she looked at how invulnerable Luca was. She even told Luca that Bianca was dead only to make her willing to cooperate with her…Luca had no idea what was good for her!A thought came across Susan's mind as she watched Luca walk into Rainie's bedroom. She should take advantage of her if she could not make Luca an ally.She had a plan in her mind at once. Luca had no idea what Susan was up to. She walked into the bedroom carefully, afraid of waking Rainie up. She lay down on the bed. Rainie huddled up and clung to her tightly when she felt Luca’s warm body.Luca put her arms around the child and fell deep asleep.On the other hand.Mr. Griffin reported t
These were the only things that she could help him with and do for him. Rainie stared at her for a while before she slowly said, “Ms. Luca, Mommy told us the same thing you just told us.”“Yes, I remember Mommy saying that before.” Tommy nodded and turned to look at Luca.He liked her so much because she was similar to their mother in many ways.She was gentle and virtuous. Sometimes, even what she said was exactly like what Bianca had previously said to them. Luca was startled for a moment. She did not expect the kids to remember what she had said to them before.Luca still remembered why she said that back then. Everyone in T Corporation was fully committed to carrying out the new project at that time. As the boss, Luke had to guide the whole company's progress. Sometimes, he would have to work overtime until three or four in the morning when he was busy.However, he would always get off work on time as to not worry her and the kids. He would walk straight into the study a
When the kids insisted on listening to that story, he went online to search on it but he could not find any information about the story she told them.Left with no other choice, Luke went to buy different kinds of storybooks to let the kids read them themselves. "I came up with the story," Luca answered. As the children's mother, she knew what kind of story the kids would love to hear even though three years had passed. That was why they loved her story very much.“You came up with the story?” Luke looked at her. Luca had immensely surprised him at this moment.The kids liked to cling to her. Her culinary skills were as good as Bianca’s, and she was even good at making up stories of her own…Luke thought of Bianca, and it set his nerves on edge. “Well…” Luca nodded. She stood up and said, “Mr. Crawford, I’d like to leave first if there’s nothing else.” Susan leaned against the wall outside the study while listening to the noises inside. Still, she did not hear anything.Su
Susan dared not speak after being scolded.Luca was looking down. Her heart was in a mess with roiling waves when she heard Mrs. Nancy say Luke had specifically ordered her to prepare this. It was just a minor injury…Old Master Crawford went along with what Mrs. Nancy said and said caringly, "Ms. Craw, why didn't you tell us that you're injured? I'm sorry to have troubled you to come back and forth. You had to take care of the children too.” “It’s just a minor injury. It’s not a big deal.” Luca shook her head gently and took a sip of the stew. She savored the rich taste of the stew. There was more than just ginger and turmeric in the stew. There were also herbs that were good for health. Luca scooped a spoonful and smelled it. She was sure that tonic had been added to the stew.Young people like her were fine with drinking such nutritious stew. Elderly folk like Old Master Crawford should only take tonics at appropriate times to nourish their bodies. Taking tonics too ofte
“No.” Shanks’ tone was cold and firm with no trace of hesitation.Abel still looked doubtful.Shanks added, “Would you like to see her medical report?”Abel was startled for a moment. How did Shanks know he had been thinking about that report?Now that Shanks brought it up, the idea lost its appeal.Abel shook his head. “Even if you showed it to me, I wouldn’t understand it. Shanks, Kassy’s life is in your hands. If you can give her a second chance, I’ll provide as much research funding as you need."Shanks remained silent. He could save Kassy. In fact, his research had always been for Kassy.However, he did not expect Abel to be so ruthless as to insist on using a living person as a donor for Kassy. That was something he could not accept.Kassy’s condition could be treated with organs from a brain-dead patient. Why destroy a perfectly healthy life?Shanks was not acting out of mercy. He simply refused to go against his medical ethics.He was not someone who had to save lives
“You don’t need to remind me. I was going to check anyway.” Abel shot Luca a chilling look.She took a step back and stayed silent.Abel turned to the pale-faced Hera and said, “If you’ve got low blood sugar, get up and eat something.”“I’ll eat now,” Hera replied, sitting up.Luca handed her the takeout.Abel glanced at the food and then frowned at Luca. “Why didn’t you make breakfast this morning?”“I was busy,” Luca explained with a calm indifference, her expression unwavering. She showed no fear, even under Abel’s questioning.Hera suddenly found herself admiring Luca. Everyone feared this man, yet Luca remained composed even when facing potential punishment. Not just anyone could pull that off.At the thought of this, Hera opened the takeout and kept quiet.Abel narrowed his eyes, glancing between Hera and Luca. His gaze was not exactly gentle as he muttered, “Stop eating this junk. It’s bad for you.”“I know, babe. Just this once. After this, I’ll have what Luca cooks f
Hera panicked the moment she heard that. “I trust her!”Luca and Shanks were both watching her.Hera repeated herself, saying, “I trust her, okay? What kind of treatment does she need? I’ll cooperate with anything. But what about Abel…”“I’ll tell him it’s just to help improve your overall health,” replied Shanks. Then, he turned around, opened the medicine cabinet, and started preparing the prescription.Hera let out a sigh of relief. As long as Abel did not find out about her health condition, that was all that mattered.If he knew she was unwell, he would send her back to A City. Without free medical help and no way to make extra money, she would be in serious trouble.“Thank you,” said Hera.“Wait outside,” instructed Shanks.“Okay.” Hera carefully stepped out.Luca, however, remained where she was, waiting.While preparing the medicine, Shanks asked, “Do you know which acupoints to target for her?”“Yes,” Luca replied confidently. As long as she checked Hera’s pulse, sh
“There are a lot of issues.” Luca did not hide anything and handed Hera the phone.Hera looked at it and frowned.“I can't understand any of this.” Hera felt dizzy just looking at the text, let alone the long list of medical terms. It was giving her a headache.“Look at these summaries and indicators. Compare the values on top with the normal values at the bottom, and you'll see what I mean,” explained Luca.Hera did not trust her. Therefore, Luca decided to let her see for herself. Seeing it with her own eyes would prevent any doubts later.Luca pointed out how to read the test results, and after a moment, Hera managed to understand the report. Her face turned pale. “How can there be so many problems?”She looked at Luca and questioned, “Did you fake this?”“I don’t have the power to make the medical center fake anything. Besides, the report has the medical center’s official stamp. If you don’t believe me, you can go directly to the medical center and ask for the official cop
“I heard from the boss that he's coming because of Vivian.” Gale paused for a moment before adding, “But never mind, you don't seem interested in her affairs anyway. I'm just letting you know he's on his way.”Gordan frowned. Ray was coming for Vivian?What could that ugly woman possibly need?“What do you mean by that?” asked Gordan.Gale smirked. “If you and Ray meet, that’s bound to end in a fight. And since you can't win against him, you might want to mentally prepare yourself, or better yet, find somewhere else to stay. It’d be safer that way.”Gordan's expression darkened. “If you have nothing nice to say, just zip it.”Gale grinned, clearly pleased with himself like he had just hit a sore spot.Gordan exhaled sharply. “Of all times, why is he coming to A City now? He’s just making things worse.”“It can't be helped. Vivian's situation is urgent.” Gale covered his mouth mockingly after he said that. “Oh, right. I forgot you don’t like hearing about her.”Ray wanted to br
Luke sat in the villa, staring at Luca’s message.He was worried.For a moment, he considered calling her, but then he remembered that there were surveillance cameras everywhere on her side. He dismissed the idea immediately.Her safety came first.Luke reminded her: [Take care of yourself. Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything. Just focus on keeping yourself safe.] The worry in his heart refused to subside, but at this moment, there was no better solution.“Boss, you’re worried about your wife, huh? If you really can’t stand it, we can sneak you in again during the next shift change, just like last time,” said Gale.It had been his idea last time.Now, the real Lucius was still locked up in the basement of the villa.It had been nearly a month. Luke had forced him to take the antidote Luca had recreated. The man was still alive, proving the antidote worked perfectly.“That plan is too risky.” Luke put his phone away. His gaze was dark and thoughtful.“Risky, sure. But at lea
Luca had not expected Abel and Shanks’ relationship to be like this.It seemed Abel still did not trust Shanks.Shanks continued, “Abel isn’t someone who trusts people easily. He doesn’t trust anyone. You think he’s devoted to Kassy now, right? That’s just his obsession. He's allowing Kassy to receive my treatment, but if it were him… No matter if he were blind or crippled, his safety would always come first. If he were seriously injured, maybe he’d accept treatment, but he definitely wouldn’t do it right away.”Luca stayed silent. Shanks really understood Abel well.Abel did not trust anyone—not even Kassy.Calling him paranoid would not be an exaggeration.Luca felt like they were getting off-topic, but she had never seen this side of Shanks before.In her mind, he was always buried in his work at the lab, only leaving for meals and sleep. Other than that, he was practically never outside.The lab was like his home…“Are you troubled by Hera’s situation?” Luca asked directly
Hera was startled by Luca's words.The refusal that had been on the tip of her tongue suddenly got stuck in her throat.“I…” Hera hesitated, feeling conflicted. Leaving Abel might not be such a bad idea. At least she would not have to live in constant fear.She was finally realizing how unpredictable his moods were. At first, she thought it did not matter as she could still look at other men. She just had to ensure there was no physical contact. In reality, even if she so much as glanced at someone, Abel's expression would darken with anger.It was frustrating. Now, the only person she was allowed to look at was Gerald. Still, what was the point of just looking at Gerald?At that thought, she lifted her gaze to Luca.Luca added, “I’ll give you five minutes. If you refuse treatment after that, I’ll take the medicine back to Mr. Shanks and won’t try to convince you again.”Hera's heart tightened. She did not even need five minutes. She had made her decision within 30 seconds.“I’
“If Abel finds out that Hera's body isn't suitable for organ donation to Kassy, what do you think he'll do?” asked Shanks.He already knew the answer, but he still wanted to hear Luca’s thoughts.“He has invested a lot of time and money in Hera. If he gets nothing out of it, he won’t let her off easily,” Luca said bluntly.Luca and Shanks were on the same page.They did not have a good relationship with Hera, but they had no intention of ruining her either.Hera’s personality was unpleasant, but that was not enough for them to hate her so much that they wanted to see her suffer.“What methods do you think he’ll use?” Shanks asked again.Luca was silent for a long moment.Shanks already knew the answer, yet he still wanted her to say it out loud.After thinking it over, she finally said, “There are plenty of ways he could go about it, but no matter what he chooses, Hera’s fate is sealed. She’s as good as dead…”She lowered her gaze, her tone firm and certain.Shanks nodded.