"It's not that…" Bianca's denial was weak. "I know that even if someone catches us in the act, you have the clout to suppress the news. I'm just a little tired after a full day of work, and I just want to go back to my room and rest." Luke's gaze on her was profound. He leaned close to her, deliberately lowered his voice, and spoke each syllable clearly. "I'm not going to suppress the news if the scandal breaks out. When I saw the news this morning that you are his legally wedded wife, I was so jealous that I was losing my mind. Now that you've appeared on the news with him, do you still mind that you'll have a scandal with me?" Bianca was worried that the children might hear. She might be surprised, but she kept her voice low, "That was just an accident. There's nothing to be jealous of. Don't be childish." She knew that Xavier bore no love for him, and he only forced her into a marriage out of malice. Even if he had a shred of affection for him, there was nothing to be proud of
Jason was suddenly silent. While Bianca took out the plates and cutlery from the cupboard, she asked, "Is everything OK, Mr. Doyle? Can you hear me?" One minute passed, then two minutes… Jason did not make a sound… The other colleagues had all woken up. Several people were doing chores in the courtyard. Joe was watering the plants and was rambling on, "I saw from the weather report that it'll be turning cold from Wednesday on. These pots need to be brought indoors. Is anyone willing to take two? Otherwise, I'll be bringing them all into my room." It was noisy outside. Bianca could not hear any sound from the other end of the phone. On the third minute, Bianca decided that she would end the call. Perhaps the reception was bad, or perhaps Jason was busy with work. Suddenly, Jason spoke. He sounded especially clear. "I'm sorry, Ms. Rayne. The reception was bad earlier," Jason explained. "It's fine. I thought that was the case. I was about to hang up." Bianca handed the p
Bianca put the keys away, changed into slippers, tiptoed into the bedroom, and found two blankets. She draped one over Lanie's body and the other over Rainie, who was sleeping soundly on Daddy's tummy… Bianca was about to walk away when the man on the couch suddenly opened his bloodshot eyes. His eyes looked tired under the angular brow ridge. Blood vessels could be seen at the corners of his eyes. On other days, she would tell her not to work so hard and rest more, out of concern as his employee or as the father of her children. However, Bianca was speechless. Every word that Jason said over the phone lingered in Bianca's mind. "Boss received a dinner invitation after he got back yesterday. He left the two children in the apartment, and no one was around to take care of them… "Boss drank a little too much last night, and we haven't managed to contact him at the hotel…" Luke was wholly unqualified as a single parent. After Luke woke up, Rainie also woke up. After Ra
Bianca was flustered when Luke suddenly mentioned that they were going to do a DNA test. What if Luke was mistaken? What if Lanie and Rainie were not her children? Suddenly, Bianca's heart was overcome by worry and apprehension. Her desire to be the children's mother was too strong, which was why she was afraid of losing it all. Even if the probability that she would lose the children might be 0.01%, the pain felt as though she had a knife stuck to her throat. Bianca did not ask Luke the exact time they should go to do the DNA test. She wanted to run away. After deciding on the DNA test, they did not have any other topics of conversation and looked at each other silently. They were alone in a room, which made it easy for the atmosphere to become intimate. "I'll go and contact the colleagues in the small town." Bianca found an excuse to move to the living room. However, her delicate wrist was immediately grabbed by the man's strong hand. He pulled her back, and she s
After the waiters served all the dishes, they left the private restaurant room. The restaurant's service was personalized. The owner did not believe that the customer was always right, and it was up to her if she wanted to serve those that came through the doors. Her customers were either regulars or those whose personalities and mannerisms were to the owner's satisfaction. Of course, they had to be able to afford the food there too. Anyone rude or boorish would not be able to taste the spectacular food of that restaurant. Shakira Neile, the owner, had a temperamental character. She had offended many people in her career, especially the nouveau riche who had money but no manners. She could afford to offend those people. Her husband and son were influential VIPs. Bianca took a few bites and turned to feed Rainie, who was clinging onto her and causing her heart to melt out of tenderness. Even if Rainie threw a tantrum and did not want to eat the delicious food served on the tab
Luke looked at Bianca and tried to discern her feelings. When Luke was a child, he did not have his father and mother by his side. However, he knew that his mother was the one who sent him to an orphanage. In those few years living in the orphanage, his mother had visited him a few times. Back then, he had several questions. 'Who is my father? 'Why does my father never come to see me? 'Does my father want me?' Luke knew how it felt to be abandoned, and that was why he wanted to shower all his love and care on Bianca. However, he knew that he could never match the love and care given by one's parents. Bianca had never met her mother. Like Rainie sitting next to her and Lanie sitting opposite her, they had always eagerly hoped that their mother would appear in their lives and love them. Unfortunately, Bianca's mother never appeared, even until the day she became a mother herself… Lanie was sitting next to his father and eating his meal like a gentleman. At that mome
Assaulted by the cold wind, Marie felt that her face was becoming stiff and her limbs were becoming icicles. She turned around and saw the RV parked in the distance. After that morning, she was familiar with the RV driver. She brought the coat with her, went to the RV, and asked the driver to open the door. She could not stand the cold anymore. The driver recognized Marie. He thought that she was Leia's new assistant or something. He opened the door to the trailer. Marie sat inside, rubbing her fingers, trying to warm herself up. Meanwhile, at the shoot, Leia was not concentrating. The director was nationally renowned, and his movies were widely acclaimed. He was a regular at award ceremonies. Countless actresses wanted to star in his movies but there were not many that could impress him. The director put Leia Norman in the starring role out of desperation. One of his biggest funders had withdrawn their financial support, and production of the movie was stalled. Just wh
That was the first time Bianca was called "Mommy." For the typical person, that word was as normal as it could get. In fact, those were usually the first words of a newborn baby. However, to Bianca, those words were an unfamiliar luxury. It was unfamiliar to her because ever since she knew how to speak, she had no one to call "Mommy." In her twenty-four years of her life, she did not have the opportunity to call anyone that name. She was pregnant at eighteen years old but was separated from her children at nineteen. In the period she was studying overseas, she encountered many young mothers. Some of them were single, and some of them were clinging on to their equally young husbands' arms. However, they had their young children next to them, calling them "Mommy" in a different language. Whenever Bianca saw that as she wandered on the streets, she would think of her children. She wondered if they have the chance to call someone their "Mommy" like the other children. Perhaps
Lucius was different.He did not care about getting close to anyone, whether man or woman. Even when Hera’s attempts to seduce him were blatantly obvious, he still remained unmoved and even showed signs of rejection.Gerald could not help but marvel at Luca’s sharp observations and incisive remarks. He could not help but clap his hands lightly, genuinely impressed.“Lucius truly is exceptional,” said Gerald.Luca came downstairs.When she took the last step off the stairs, the men in the living room immediately fell silent.They held their breath as they watched the woman in front of them. Her hair was straight, not like their boss' companion.The men's gazes grew intense.Luca’s expression darkened.Gerald stood beside her and said, “See, I told you—you’re like a piece of meat dropped into a pack of wolves. Be careful.”One of the men heard Gerald and asked unhappily, “Hey, kid, what are you saying? What wolves? We’re gentlemen. We’d never dream of doing anything inappropr
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