Queenie shook her head, pulled out a tissue, and gently wiped away the tears on Luca's face. "When I first saw the news about you and Luke, I really thought he betrayed his marriage. "I got so upset my blood pressure skyrocketed. But Luke told me about your situation that day, so my health has been good for the past few days. However, to find out more about your situation, I agreed to pretend to be unwell and stayed in the hospital."Bianca, you're too naive. You've endured so much alone without telling us. We could protect you. Why did you have to face all this on your own?" Luca sniffed. Her eyes had dried from wiping tears, and she was left with a bitter feeling in her heart."Mom, I didn't have a choice. The Island of Despair is an organization with many killers and advanced weapons. I didn't want to involve my loved ones before I had it all figured out," explained Luca. Her voice was nasal and heavy due to her crying earlier.After that, she glanced back at Luke. Even tho
"Your Aunt Wanda knows about this too. It's just that doing this means deceiving you. Thatโs why I stepped in and didnโt let Aunt Wanda do it." Queenie nodded. After they discussed it, they felt that Queenieโs situation here could be more critical, so they decided to let her handle this matter.Luca glanced at Queenie, then turned to look at Luke. She hardly needed to ask the question in her mind. There was no doubt that Luke planned everything.Otherwise, Queenie and Wanda would never do such a thing.Receiving Luca's gaze, Luke explained helplessly, "We wanted to know what you're going through. When would you be willing to talk if we didn't do it this way?"Lucaโs eyes sparkled with a touch of shimmering light. They were right. If they had not done this, she would not have chosen to confess these things now. Guilt weighed on Luca's heart for hiding it from them for so long."Bianca, please don't blame Luke. He's the last person whoโd want to lie to you. Just watching you end
"I believe you have the capability. It's just hard for me to think about the hardships you've endured." Wanda wiped away the tears that could not be held back.These tears carried not only empathy but also a sense of relief and joy. Fortunately, after everything Luca had gone through, she managed to return to their side.Even though the crisis had not been resolved yet, at least they now knew why Luca had refused to acknowledge them.Wanda believed that Luke had the ability to protect Luca. That was why she believed that once Luke figured out the situation, he could help resolve it."It's okay. It's all in the past. You must take good care of yourself. When we bring Nyla back, you'll have to help me out and teach her some handmade crafts,โ said Luca with a smile on her face.Despite being a girl, Nyla, influenced by the environment of the Island of Despair, was not as soft as Rainie. She was not interested in such things.She was interested in various firearms and weapons at a
"It was the kids...?" Luca was surprised, not expecting that it was actually the kids who discovered it first."Will they be mad at me?" Luca could not help but ask. She had lied to them, after all.As an adult and their mother, she had always taught them not to lie, not to deceive, and to be honest and kind.However, she had deceived the children from the very beginning."No, don't think about that. Since finding out your true identity, they've been worried about you, especially Rainie. Sheโs worried that you might be facing some difficulties. Sheโs also afraid that you would suddenly leave again," answered Luke.Suddenly, Luca remembered the night when the rumors first came out, Rainie was very worried. She was afraid that she would not be able to see Luca the next day if she fell asleep...Her heart softened at the thought of the kids worrying about her, and it subtly ached."I think we shouldn't tell them about having another sister for now. Children shouldn't bear too much.
Luca smiled. Everyone said that Lanie resembled Luke the most. Whether it was in appearance, personality, or intelligence, he asked this question in such a warm moment. She could not easily deceive him.However, of course, she could not answer directly either. It was to avoid causing the children worry."Don't worry, whatever organization it is, Daddy and I can handle it. No need to worry. This situation is just temporary. We'll get it sorted out real quick. I hate that it's causing you trouble, and you're not able to call me โMommyโ for the time being. But no matter what you call me, I'm still your mother, okay?" said Luca as she patted Tommy's head.Lanie nodded. He was smart enough to understand that Luca did not want them to worry. That was why she did not go into details. Thus, he did not press on with further questions.They were still young, and they could not share the burden of adults, so they could only listen to them. Lanie believed that his parents would definitely
Since Lanie was going to participate in the math competition, Tommy should too.Tommy nodded and said, โYes, Ms. Luca. I want to compete too, but the teacher said Iโd have to wait until next week because my competition date is different from Lanieโs.โโOkay.โ Luca nodded.They did not have to worry much as parents because the kids were smart.โLanie and Tommy are so smart.โ Rainie could not help but sigh as she was not as skilled in mathematics as her brothers. Although her grades were not bad, the math competition was too advanced for her. Her teachers were aware of that, so they did not ask her to participate in math competitions. Instead, she joined other types of competitions, including dance.Tommy shook his head and genuinely praised Rainie, โYouโre the smart one, Rainie. Youโve joined so many competitions. Lanie and I donโt have nearly as many awards as you.โโYou always know what to say. I still have some snacks from yesterday that I havenโt finished yet. Iโll give them
A hundred turtles!Suddenly, in Tommyโs mind appeared an image of Luke handing Tommy a stack of paper and a pen. He was asking him to draw a hundred turtles. He quickly shook his head and said, โI donโt want to draw a hundred turtles. Itโs not fun!โEveryone around him laughed at his words.โThatโs why you canโt be so playful. Uncle Louis is an elder, and heโs Daddyโs younger brother, so we have to respect him.โ Rainie educated her brother again. She found that she enjoyed doing so as she felt like she could better fulfill her role as a sister that way.Tommy could not help but mutter, โThen, how come you and Lanie could bully Uncle Louis this morning?โโHow is that bullying? I just woke him up,โ Rainie emphasized as she glanced at Lanie.โWellโฆโ Tommy seemed to be deep in thought as his gaze fell upon Luca.โYou have to respect your uncle,โ Luca echoed, reaffirming what Rainie said.Rainie smiled widely at Lucaโs words and patted Tommyโs head as she said, โYou may not listen
Louis was surprised when he heard this. He shook his head repeatedly and said, "No, Brother. This is your apartment, how could I...""This is a property developed by T Corporation. I bought a unit. It was actually meant for you from the start. But Grandpa arranged a villa next door for you after that. So, the apartment was temporarily left in my hands," explained Luke. "If you're down with it, just take it. If not, consider it a gift for Thea. Once she's 18, I'll hand the property to her."Louis was greatly shocked.Houses and properties were never a big deal for the Crawford family as everyone owned several of them.Even Susan, with a few villas and apartments under her name, had not moved into any of them. She used them for investment or rental purposes instead.Louis was an exception, having sold all his properties to fund his business for the company. Otherwise, he would not be in such a mess now."Even if it's for Thea, thatโs future business.." Louis initially wanted to
โAs long as he stays out of your sight, I wonโt make a move,โ said Ray.If Gordan were not one of Lukeโs pals, he would have been long gone.Anyone who dared to mess with someone Ray cherished would not be let off easily. The only reason Gordan was still breathing was thanks to Luke.โAlright, Ray. Just let it go. Iโve moved on and started a new life. Plus, Iโm studying at Capital University. We have mutual friends, so running into him is inevitable. If that happens, weโll just be strangers. Thereโs no need to step in for me or act impulsively.โ Just as Vivian finished speaking, the doorbell rang.โIs it the clothes delivery?โ asked Ray.โNo, while you were talking with Mr. Crawford, I asked someone to buy some medicinal cream. The ones here work better than the ones in Russia. A little massage with it should help you heal faster,โ Vivian said, grabbing a mask and hat before heading to the door.โMiss, is the boss alright?โ asked one of Rayโs subordinates.โHeโs fine. Did you ge
When Ray heard that there was a 90% chance of success, he could not help but ask, โCan you walk me through your plan?โโThe prison where Kassy is being held actually has an underground passage. Iโve already spoken with the prison officials, and we can use that passage to transport her out. It connects to the sewage system, which leads directly to another detention facility. "The only catch is that this facilityโs underground pipes donโt connect to the outside world, so the remaining 10% risk lies in moving Kassy onto the main road and securing her at the new location.โThis whole operation can be done without anyone noticing, which is why Iโm confident itโll work.โ As Luke explained, he pulled out a detailed map of the sewer system. โHereโs the layout I had someone retrieve. This is the starting point, and this is the destination. If we take this route, we can move Kassy without alerting Abelโs people.โAbelโs men were keeping a constant watch outside the prison now. That was prec
Luke had no idea what kind of mindset the person who poisoned Vivian had. However, he found Gordanโs current behavior quite intriguing.โLuke, whatโs with that look?โ Gordan felt uneasy under his gaze.โYou seem pretty concerned about Vivian,โ Luke leaned back on the couch and said thoughtfully.Gordan froze for a moment before laughing it off. โWhat? No way! Why would I care about her? Come on, Luke, donโt say stuff like that. If she hears it, she might start getting ideas.โLuke could not be bothered to expose his act and got straight to the point. โWhy are you here?โโSpeaking of that, I almost got sidetracked by that woman.โ Gordan quickly pulled out his phone, grimacing. โMan, Ray really didnโt hold back. I need to get some treatment for these bruises later.โLuke took the phone and tried to unlock it. It needed a passcode. He handed it back. โUnlock it.โโAll set, boss.โ Gordan unlocked the phone and went back to pressing an ice pack against his face.Luke scanned the scr
It was the sound of a body slamming onto the ground.Gordanโs furious curses rang out. โDamn it! You're really going all out, huh? Do you think I'm scared of you?โAnother loud thud followed.Vivian frowned. What the hell were they doing? Were they really going to fight until one of them won?Both of them were skilled fighters. If they kept this up, neither would walk away unscathed.โEnough!โ shouted Vivian.The two men locked in the fight froze for a moment.โVivian, stay out of this. Iโm beating him to a pulp today,โ growled Ray, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He was not in great shape, but neither was Gordan.โRay, I donโt want to see him,โ said Vivian. She did not want Ray fighting him. It was not to protect Gordan but because she did not want Ray getting hurt.Also, she definitely did not want Gordan to see her like this. She could already picture his smug face, his sarcastic remarks and his gloating.โFine. If you donโt want to see him, Iโll just beat
After returning to the hotel from the hospital, Vivian felt much better.To her, the fact that Ray had taken her to the hospital meant there was hope for the future, which lifted her spirits. She picked up an apple from the fruit platter the hotel had provided and took a bite.โRay, this apple is really good. Want to try one?โ asked Vivian.Ray shook his head. โYou go ahead. By the way, can I take a look at the luggage you brought from Russia?โVivian nodded. โI only hung up my clothes. Everything else is still in the suitcase. You can just take the things out.โRay walked into the bedroom, pulled out her suitcase, and opened it. Inside were just books and a few other small items, nothing unusual.โYou didn't bring any food with you?โ asked Ray.โI havenโt really been in the mood, but the food here is way better than Russian food, so I didn't feel the need to bring anything.โ Vivianโs tone was lighthearted now that she was in a better mood.โThat's true.โ Ray agreed, then asked
Ray's tone turned serious. โAlright, I'll make the arrangements immediately. Dr. Craw, once the toxicology report is out, weโll still need your help.โโFor toxicology cases like this, I recommend combining both modern medicine and traditional herbal medicine. Donโt worry, if I can help, I definitely will,โ Luca assured him.โAlright, thank you.โ Ray expressed his gratitude and ended the call before updating Luke on the situation.Luke reassured him, saying, โIf Vivian was really poisoned, donโt worry. Previously, Luca discovered that her biological mother had been poisoned with a slow-acting toxin. She prescribed herbal medicine and used purely traditional herbal medicine to detoxify her. It didnโt take long for all the toxins to be expelled, and her health fully recovered. So, rest assured. If itโs something she can fix, sheโll do everything she can.โBesides, once we identify the exact problem, the doctors will be able to step in and help, right?โโYes. Thank you both in advance
Gerald walked over. โMs. Sanchez, what's wrong?โHe was eager to get back upstairs and stash his cigarettes before someone noticed and took them.Hera yanked open his bag, glanced at the cigarette brand, and scoffed. โI thought it was some expensive brand. But it's just this? And youโre acting all deferential to her over this?โGerald was rendered speechless. โI knew Ms. Craw was going out, so I asked her to bring these back for me. This is the brand Iโm used to. Maybe itโs not expensive to you, but for me, itโs what I can afford.โRealizing she had misspoken, Hera felt a bit awkward. She quickly changed the topic. โStill, is a pack of cigarettes really worth you being so grateful to Luca? How much could it have cost?โโItโs not about the money,โ replied Gerald. โIt's just a nice surprise. I never expected to get anything out of helping Ms. Craw, and this kind of unexpected gift has nothing to do with the price. Besides, I'm not being overly grateful. I'm just happy.โHe was ba
Lucaโs lips were already swollen and flushed from Luke's kisses.That deep shade of red, reflected in Lukeโs eyes, was utterly captivating. It tugged at his nerves, stirring an uncontrollable desire within him.At that moment, he had only one thought, and it was to completely lose himself in her.โฆThe two of them stepped out of the bedroom.Vivian quickly turned her back and greeted Luke when he saw him coming out, โHello, Mr. Crawford.โโVivian, donโt worry. Everything will get better,โ replied Luke.Vivian simply hummed in response.Ray gave them a grateful nod as Luke took Lucaโs hand and led her away.It was only after hearing the door close that Vivian finally turned back around.Ray glanced at her and said, โVivian, theyโre your friends. You donโt have to act this way around them. They wonโt judge you.โโI know they wonโtโฆโ Vivian let out a soft sigh. โI just feel like I look terrifying right now. I didnโt want to scare them, so I avoided facing them directly. But itโ
โI once treated someone who had been slowly poisoned over a long period of time. Their pulse was similar to Vivianโs. Given that your family has good genetics, yet Vivian is different from the rest of you, and her skin improved after leaving her original environment, all of this confirms my suspicion.โCould it be that someone in your family has been poisoning Vivian? That would explain why her skin ended up like this.โโIf she really has been poisoned, then would staying away from that environment or identifying the person responsible help her get better?โ asked Ray.Luca shook her head.โThe poison Iโve encountered before was a slow-acting toxin that kept the victimโs skin dark. I donโt know exactly what it was, but long-term exposure to any poison has an effect on the body. It's just a suspicion now. I need to consult someone I know. And honestly, I canโt be sure whatโs really causing Vivianโs condition.โIs her skin deteriorating so quickly because she was poisoned once more a