Gerald recalled the number he was assigned in the organization. He reminisced about how thrilled he was when he first received it. Joining the Island of Despair made him feel respectable and prestigious. After all, it brought in a handsome income. Yet, Gerald only felt regret now."091," uttered Gerald."Mm." Shanks picked up his phone and dialed another number. "You threw 091 to me. How can I possibly rescue someone alone?""You have the capability to save him," Abel's voice came from the other end of the phone. "But if you don't want to, that's fine too. He's just trash anyway. He's incapable of doing anything right. If you don't want to save him, let him breathe his last and dispose of him.""Easy for you to say." Shanks looked at Gerald coldly and said to Abel, "Send two men up."Abel replied, "Alright. I didn't expect you to still have the intention to save him.""So, are we saving him or not?" Shanks’ tone was impatient. Abel was truly incomprehensible. First, Abel wa
"Disinfect his wounds. He has a fracture. Be careful," Shanks handed the disinfectant to Oscar and Russ. "Try to disinfect his wounds as thoroughly as possible.""Mr. Shanks..." Russ refused to do such a thing."Do it. You have no choice." Shanks' expression was frosty. It was a silent warning that brooked no refusal from them.Russ cursed those two who had hurt Gerald. Now, they had to clean up the mess for them. He wondered what their boss was thinking, keeping this man in the team. Clearly, he was useless. It would have been better to throw him out onto the streets and let him die. Why bother saving him?The two men reluctantly took the iodine and cotton swabs. They helped to disinfect Gerald's wounds. They also followed Shanks' instructions and tried to be as gentle as possible during the disinfection process.However, Gerald still screamed in pain as though he was being slaughtered.Russ looked disgusted. Soon, they finished disinfecting Gerald’s wounds.Gerald had no
After Shanks finished his words, he turned around and went upstairs.The man beside Abel observed Shanks' attitude toward Abel and could not help but feel a bit indignant on Abel's behalf. Thus, he said, "Boss, why does Mr. Shanks always seem to overlook you?"Abel glanced at the man beside him and rolled his eyes at him. "If you were as capable as Shanks, you could talk to me like that too."The man immediately lowered his head and expressed his loyalty, "I may not be as capable as Mr. Shanks is, but I'll always be loyal to you.""Oh? Then you'd better practice what you preach. Book a flight to A City for tomorrow morning," ordered Abel. Even though the distance between X City and A City was not far, flying was the safest option for Abel.He did not intend to let anyone drive him there. The journey by road was too long, and it would be too easy for someone to ambush him along the way. There were probably many people who wanted to kill him, but most of them did not know his tr
Luca had long gotten accustomed to Luke's cold attitude toward others. She glanced at the time and suggested, "It's already noon. Why don't we grab lunch before heading back?""Sounds good. Let's go to the restaurant we went to yesterday. Since it's not the weekend and the event is over, there shouldn't be as many people. We can get a table without reservations," replied Luke. He remembered that Luca enjoyed the food there.Luca probably wanted to savor that taste again. However, she would have to wait until their next visit to X City."Do we really need to go back there? Let's save the trouble. There's a restaurant upstairs in this hotel. We can have a meal there and then head home." Luca shook her head as she thought it was unnecessary to backtrack.She knew Luke suggested going to that restaurant because she enjoyed the food there, but for her, it did not matter where they ate. As long as she was with Luke, she felt content.Luke understood her thoughts and did not insist. It w
"Alright," Aunt Neile replied as she carried two suitcases and headed upstairs.Luca glanced at Luke and asked, "Are you going back to the office now?"So much had happened these past few days, and Luke had not had much time to deal with T Corporation's documents. Although he had not mentioned it, she could guess that he must have accumulated a lot of paperwork by now."No, I'll stay upstairs to deal with some documents," replied Luke. He stroked Luca's head and added, "You've been riding in the car for so long. You must be tired. Get some rest. The kids will surely be all over you when they come back later.""Alright." Luca smiled. After such a long journey by car, she was indeed tired.For some reason, unlike before when she would inevitably doze off during long bus rides, she did not feel sleepy at all on the way back today. Perhaps it was because she knew that Abel would be coming to A City, which made her nervous...That was the only reason Luca could think of. She could n
However, Amur could not catch evidence of Luca lying to him. "Got it. If anything happens, I'll tell you.”"You need to protect yourself, Amur. We'll be free soon," replied Luca.Amur was taken aback for a moment.Freedom? He knew how to read and write the word, but he had never dared to dream about it.Perhaps he once used to dream about it.When they were still on the Island of Despair, Luca told him what freedom was, and he had dreamed about it then. Standing in the outside world meant freedom.However, as days passed with the brutal training on the Island of Despair, he realized that even when he was out there, he was not free at all.Despite having control over much of his time, he was still bound by the commands of the Island of Despair. He also had to regularly return to the base for the antidote. Without the antidote, he might have more freedom, but it would come at the cost of his life.Amur never doubted that he could sacrifice his life for a moment of freedom.
Luca nodded in understanding and came downstairs with him.Nina was not there.She could not help but ask curiously, "Aunt Neile, is Nina not coming back for dinner tonight?"Aunt Neile replied as she served the dishes, "Mrs. Mallory just called me. She said that she received an unexpected guest at the company, so she won't be coming back for dinner. She told us not to wait for her."Luca did not think much about it, but Luke said, "Percy is back.""Huh? Mr. Mallory is back?" Luca was surprised. "How do you know?""I guessed. You'll see later. Nina probably will come back tonight to pack her things and move out," replied Luke.It was more like a calculated guess rather than information leaked by Percy himself.However, Percy had made it clear that he wanted to surprise Nina, so he asked Luke not to tell Luca to avoid any accidental slip-ups.Therefore, Luke knew when Percy would return, but Nina did not.Luca did not know either because Luke had agreed to keep it a secret as
"Alright, I'll send it to you shortly," Luca said cheerfully. After Nina and Percy finished their soup, Luca accompanied Nina to the guest room to pack up."I'll do it. There isn't much anyway," said Nina as she packed the skincare products on the dressing table.These skincare products were all bought recently. She had not used many of them yet. She was not one to waste, so she packed all the skincare products into her bag."Let me get you a bag, then. You didn't bring anything. It's not convenient to bring your clothes out without a bag," suggested Luca as she walked out of the guest room. She found a large bag in the living room on the second floor.Nina had brought over a few pieces of clothing for work, so she needed a bag to pack them in.Luca walked back into the guest room and handed the bag to Nina.Nina did not have much stuff. It did not take long before she finished packing."Mr. Percy is chatting with Mr. Crawford," Luca reminded her."Yeah, they probably have work
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