She slept well the entire night.Early the next morning, Bianca was the first to wake up.Even though the apartment was located in the most bustling part of the city center, the windows of the apartment were able to provide excellent soundproofing when they were closed–Regardless of how busy or noisy it was outside.In the morning, the apartment was quiet.Bianca went to see the two children first. Rainie was sucking on her finger and sleeping soundly.Lanie had kicked the blanket off the bed but was also sleeping soundly. Bianca covered him with the blanket again.As for a certain man sleeping on the sofa in the living room, the blanket had fallen onto the ground for a long time.Bianca could not help but think that since she occupied the man of the house’s big bed and caused him to sleep on the sofa, it was okay to help him with his blanket.She walked over, picked up the blanket on the ground, and covered the man gently.Luke lay on the sofa with his brows furrowed as he sl
"Who is it?" Bianca's subconscious reaction was to be flustered as if she was fantasizing about some unspeakable images and was caught. She blushed as her heartbeat quickened.When she opened the bathroom door, it was Luke who was standing outside.Bianca stepped away and said, "I'll go out to let you wash up."Luke walked into the bathroom and said to her without looking back when she went out, "Steam a shirt and find another pair of pants for me. Thank you.""Okay." She nodded and agreed, then closed the bathroom door.She was not used to his sudden politeness.A stark white men's shirt was hung on the hanger in the living room. Bianca found the steamer, looked at the operating function, and skillfully steamed his shirt.After steaming the shirt, Bianca went to find a pair of men's trousers.Luke's dressing room was large and almost as big as the two-bedroom and one-living room place she rented. All of his pants were steamed and in two neat rows with hundreds of them in vario
"I, I don’t know how to..."Bianca fumbled around the belt and tried to pinch the metal buckle on the belt.She wanted to carefully study how the metal buckle worked, but...When she faced such a male body, Bianca could not help but think of the ferocious big rat under the man's night robe last night. The heat from her cheeks was about to boil her face off.Her dry lips said she did not know how to before she gave up.She went into the kitchen to hide.As she stood in the kitchen, her back pressed against the cool wall of the kitchen as if this would relieve the warmth on her face.Bianca was angry with herself for not being strong enough. Even if a man was handsome, she should be immune to his looks by now, so how come every time she saw Luke's body, her face still blushed and her heartbeat still quickened? She thought perhaps that she was bewitched....Luke buckled his belt himself. Instead of being angry, he was quite happy.Did that mean that Bianca had never helped a ma
"What are parent-child matching shoes?" Rainie asked the salesgirl sweetly."Wait a minute, I'll show them to the little cutie."The beautiful young salesgirl disappeared. When she came back, she had four boxes of shoes in her hands.In order to sell the shoes, the salesgirl worked hard to promote them.They were four pairs of identical white sneakers. They were simple, clean, wide, and had a red brand logo behind the shoes.The young salesgirl placed them on the floor for the kids and the adults. "This pair is for your daddy, this pair is for your mommy, and this is yours, while this pair is for your brother. The whole family will be wearing matching shoes. Look how nice it is.”Rainie understood what the young salesgirl meant. She turned around to look at Aunt Bea and her brother. She muttered quietly, "A pair for Daddy, a pair for me, a pair for Aunt Bea, and a pair for Lanie.”"If we walk on the street this way, others will know that we’re a family, right?" Blanche asked bla
Xavier did not reject his mother.He really did need a chance to resolve the conflict with his dad.Compared with his father, Xavier thought that he needed to be the bigger person and step down.The truth was that his father had never gotten angry with him as an unfilial son for long. Every time it happened, he was only angry on the surface, but in less than ten minutes, he would soften up.His promise to accompany his parents to watch a play or movie happened more than five years ago when he was in prison.At that time, when his parents visited him at the prison, he was always brought out by the prison guards while dressed in his prison clothes and in handcuffs.After sitting down, Xavier saw that his parents looked as if they had aged a decade. He stammered and opened his mouth, but no words came out.He never spoke much with his parents.At that time, he heard his mother cry across the thick glass. She said, “Son, don't be sad while you’re inside… In the future, be a better
Bianca awkwardly led the way.Not every shop sold good burritos. To be on the safe side, Bianca asked Luke to drive them to her old rented place.After returning to the country, Bianca had stayed there. She was very familiar with the shops nearby and knew which shops had delicious food.The black Range Rover parked domineeringly on the side of the road, causing the surrounding residents to look at the people in the car.They saw the father with the straight back and the fair-skinned, lovely pair of twin babies who looked adorable from all angles.It was lunch hour, so the burrito shop was full.The owner yelled, "Number 23’s burrito is done!”A high school student in school uniform came to the cashier, handed the owner a round card that wrote ‘No. 23’, and took his burrito away.The lady owner saw the family of four entering the door and her eyes lit up.It was not because she had more customers, but because the four of them were too attractive and looked like celebrities.‘P
Xavier turned his head and said to the lady next to him, "Mom, the play is about to begin. Let's not talk anymore because it might affect other people’s watching experience.”Xavier's voice was cold and without many undulations.No matter who he was talking to or what he was doing, the man spoke in that cold tone and his voice was easy to identify.The main reason why Bianca could remember Xavier's voice was because he was a horrible person who took advantage of others and had done despicable things.That was why she remembered his voice.She remembered every word that Xavier had threatened her with.Suddenly hearing Xavier's voice in the theater and seeing his expressionless profile caused Bianca’s good mood to turn sour quickly."Isn't this just the start? Who would I affect?" Mrs. Tanner's voice was deliberately lowered, but she still could not help her surging mood as she nagged, "Don't think I don’t know that you’ll send someone to send your dad and me back without giving u
Daniel had already walked out and was waiting outside.Xavier walked out of the third row and went to the aisle. He stood in the aisle that had a clear view of the fourth row. He looked at them again.At that moment, almost everyone in the audience had left.On the stage where the play showed, the props crew started moving the props backstage.In the fourth row, there were two people kissing each other and making out heavily. The man’s big hand went under the woman’s shirt in public. They wondered how lewd they were when they were in their own privacy.Mrs. Tanner did not see what the two people looked like. She walked out and urged, saying, "Let’s go. Your dad is waiting for us outside."Xavier frowned and continued looking at the two kissing in the distance in the fourth row.However, when Xavier saw that the two of them were wearing couple shoes, Xavier stopped frowning and left the theater with his mother.Daniel stood outside and saw his wife and son coming out. He did not
When Gerald heard this, his face fell. “Huh? Ms. Craw, you're not cooking anymore?”Luca said nothing. Luke had already left with the others. She turned her gaze back before walking inside.Gerald realized that Luca had only been cooking breakfast because of Lucius. The thought puzzled him. Had they taken a liking to each other from the very start? That did not seem right.In this fast-paced modern world, even if they had, using something as old-fashioned as cooking to win someone over did not add up.Still, the timing was too coincidental to ignore. Luca started cooking for everyone when Lucius arrived, and she stopped as soon as he left. That realization gave Gerald an eerie feeling.Thinking they might have known each other back on the island, it all suddenly made sense. Of course! They must have met before. How else could this all line up so perfectly?With that thought, Gerald quickly caught up with Luca. “Ms. Craw, my cooking is terrible. Why don’t you keep doing it?”
Kassy’s eye donor was Hera, the one Abel had brought over.Even though Hera’s eyes resembled Kassy’s, they did not meet the criteria for a transplant. However, Hera’s blood type matched Kassy’s exactly.Hence, Abel decided to use Hera’s eyes. His belief was that her eyes were specifically meant for Kassy.Shanks knew he would not be able to change Abel’s mind, so he did not try. Abel’s stubbornness was something even Kassy herself could not sway.Luca remained silent for a while, not saying anything further. She understood that using a cadaver was the best option as it would not harm anyone.However, the eyes Abel wanted for Kassy were not from a cadaver. He intended to take them from Hera.Luca certainly would not participate in such a surgery. It was too cruel.“What are you thinking?” Shanks suddenly asked.Luca shook her head. “I’m just thinking about the volunteer’s situation.”“You’re wondering if this solution will be marketed, aren’t you?” Shanks suddenly asked.L
“I’m still a bit worried. Let me take a look in your room and change the dressing while I’m at it.” Luca knew Luke would not want her to worry. Therefore, she needed to see for herself that everything was fine before she could feel at ease.“Alright.” Luke knew she was worried about him, so the two of them headed into the room.He took off his shirt, revealing the bandage wrapped around his torso.Luca could not help but chuckle at the sight. The wrapping was done by Gerald, and it was hilariously sloppy. It was haphazardly bound—overly tight in some places and entirely uneven. It looked like it was just meant to cover the wounds, with no thought for neatness.“Stop laughing.” Luke was clearly rendered speechless by Gerald’s lackluster bandaging skills as well.If it were not for the fact that it was difficult to bandage himself, he would never have let Gerald do it.“With it wrapped like this, how are you supposed to sleep at night?” Luca asked as she began unwrapping the ba
Abel chuckled. His voice was low and gravelly.“Hera, let’s agree on something. Don’t use threats of leaving to manipulate me anymore, or I won’t be happy,” said Abel in a low voice.What might have sounded like a plea or a compromise came across to Hera as a veiled threat.The cool sensation of his fingers brushed against her eyelids, and she could not help but shiver. His touch felt as cold as death itself. She could not feel a trace of warmth.Her hands clenched tightly together. The tension in her grip was the only thing keeping her from trembling further.“Alright,” Hera murmured obediently.Abel withdrew his hand. Hera opened her eyes. A strange unease stirred within her. For reasons she could not quite explain, Abel’s behavior filled her with an unsettling dread…“Will you stay at the hospital with me tonight?” Hera could not help but crave some semblance of comfort.Abel frowned slightly. “Stay here with you? And what about Luca?”“You could just send her home. I onl
Luca's expression was serious, and Hera realized she was not just trying to scare her. Ignoring her warnings had already caused her to suffer once.Unwillingly, Hera sipped on the cereal. Her resentment was evident in every movement.Luca noticed it was not difficult for her to handle. She quietly sat down and ate her own bowl of cereal.Hera did not have much of an appetite.Hera took a couple of bites before growing bored. She glanced at Luca and asked, “How did you end up working for Abel?”Luca did not respond. She calmly blew on her cereal and ate in silence, showing no intention of engaging in conversation.“I’m talking to you. Are you deaf?” snapped Hera.Luca lifted her gaze briefly and replied, “You should finish your cereal before it gets cold.”“I’m not even hungry.” Hera really had no appetite and was not planning to eat the cereal.“It’s still better if you eat something. Otherwise, when hunger strikes later, don’t expect me to help you,” said Luca, “I’m only he
Luke had never taken the medicine that could speed up healing, so his recovery was nowhere near as fast as the others from the Island of Despair.Luca did not respond to Gerald’s comment. Her gaze fixed on him with intensity.“No stitches,” said Luke, “I trust you.”Luca bit her lower lip.“But if you don’t stitch it, it might tear open,” insisted Gerald, staring at Luke’s wounds.Luke glanced at his injuries and shrugged, seemingly unconcerned, as though the wounds had nothing to do with Luca.“Stitches will leave scars.”“Are you afraid of scars? What kind of man doesn’t have a few scars on him? Scars are a symbol of manhood,” teased Gerald with a playful tone, “Scars show you’re reliable, that you can protect a woman.”Luke gave him a look as though he were an idiot, then his gaze shifted to Luca. “I don’t want too many scars. I’m worried my future wife might dislike them.”Luca’s heart sank at his words, but his lighthearted remark eased her sadness. Despite the severity
Luca could not help but tremble with heartache. She fought hard to resist the urge to rush forward.Everyone in the room had survived brutal training to make it out of the Island of Despair, and they could not help but shudder when they saw the scene. The sound of the whip felt like it was landing on their own bodies.Gerald closed his eyes, unable to watch any longer. It was too cruel for him to watch.The ten lashes felt like an eternity, stretching on for what seemed like a century.Luca looked at the drenched clothes on Luke. His eyes were red, and his shirt was so soaked that you could wring out the blood from it. Her hands were clenched so tightly into fists that the veins were bulging.Abel tossed the whip aside, looking at Luke’s disheveled state with satisfaction. He enjoyed the thrill of this bloody scene.He turned to Luca, noticing her reddened eyes, and smiled even more devilishly. “Hera is in the hospital now. You’ll go take care of her for the next few da
Luca instantly understood the situation. It was about Hera.Hera was someone Abel valued, possibly as a future corneal donor for Kassy. While Abel might not love Hera now, he certainly took her health seriously.In a calm tone, Luca explained, “She was hospitalized due to inflammation that caused a fever.”Abel furiously flung his half-smoked cigar at her. The glowing embers singed her clothes, leaving a small burn mark.She instinctively stepped aside.Abel roared, “What kind of care is this?! I told you to look after her! Is this how you handle things?”Luca was perplexed. When did he ever tell her to look after Hera?Besides, she did take care of her.”When Ms. Sanchez fainted last night, she already had a low-grade fever. I diagnosed her condition as inflammation and prescribed anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing medication. I also emphasized that she needed to take oral anti-inflammatory drugs. She didn’t trust me and threw out Mr. Shanks’ medication, which led to her con
Luca placed her hand on Hera’s other wrist, checking her pulse. “Her condition is worsening. The inflammation in her body has intensified.“I prescribed her medication. Those are Mr. Shanks’ formulations, and they're highly effective for reducing inflammation. It shouldn’t be getting worse.” Gerald pursed his lips before finally speaking up. “Luca, when I was cleaning yesterday, I saw that Ms. Sanchez had thrown all the medication you prescribed into the trash. She didn’t take any of it.”Luca was speechless.She had been questioning whether the medicine was ineffective or if she had made an error in diagnosis. It turned out that it was Hera herself who had sabotaged her treatment.“What should we do now?” asked Gerald.“There’s no other option. She needs to go to a hospital,” Luca decided firmly. “Her condition is serious, and since she doesn’t trust my treatment, the hospital is her best choice.”“Can’t you help her just this once?” pleaded Gerald, “I mean, she looks really b