"Listen carefully, I'm not going to repeat myself. I'm not going back to work at T Corporation, and I'm not moving back home. You'd better give up on that idea,” repeated Louis.Susan, trembling with anger, replied, "Louis, have you considered that I'm your mother? I'm not young anymore. What if something happens to me in the villa and you're not around—"Louis interrupted her, "You're my mother, so of course, I won't ignore you. As long as you stop frantically trying to find me like before, I'll unblock your phone number. Besides, there's a live-in maid at home. If one isn't enough, I'll hire two more to take care of you. "If anything happens, the maids will inform me immediately,” explained Louis. He never intended to leave Susan alone in the villa.Susan was not young anymore. He would feel more at ease with two more maids looking after her. Plus, his company was doing well, so hiring a couple more maids was no big deal."Fine, if you're not coming back, then don't ever come
As they talked about what Old Master Crawford did, Louis could not help but feel resigned.However, the old master's intentions were good. He just could not bear to see Louis be looked down on by the others, so it was not really his fault. Since Old Master Crawford was the one behind this whole thing, Louis could not say much about it.Louis let out a light sigh.Luke said, "Grandpa is tired of Mother's nagging. If you talk to her, she won't bother Grandpa anymore."Susan's request was simple. She wanted Louis to move back. Whether he moved back or not did not matter much. As long as they had a conversation, Susan would stop returning to Crawford Manor to bother Old Master Crawford and force him to intervene.Louis understood. Even though it was Old Master Crawford's mistake, only he could resolve it at this point. It would be good for Susan to know that he had no intention of selling his company. That way, she would not hold onto such thoughts.After all, he had invested a l
Luke nodded and asked, "How much did they offer?""It's quite a sum. Helping with the kidnapping nets one million while escorting the person onto the plane fetches two million," answered Gordan. He felt a bit regretful thinking about not being able to earn this money himself. "I'm missing out on two million dollars in income.""Are you in need of that two million dollars?" Gale could not help but tease him when he saw the expression on Gordan’s face. "You’re hurting because of women, not money.""You're the one who’s hurting because of women." Gordan rolled his eyes. He accidentally had an embarrassing moment yesterday, and today, Gale could not stop bringing it up.It seemed he should be more cautious about choosing drinking companions next time. Drinking with a stranger was better than drinking with Gale, the unreliable friend.Percy did not tease Gordan but instead asked about the reward offered by the Abaza family, "Is this price reasonable?""It's in US dollars," Gordan adde
Tommy rolled his eyes, unfazed by Simon's words. "If my dad finds out you bullied my sister, he'll beat you up.""Mr. Crawford wouldn't do that." Simon knew what kind of person Luke was. He might spank Lanie and Tommy, but he would never hit him.However, if this escalated, his dad would definitely punish him.Simon looked at the little girl next to Rainie and said, "Teri, I'll give you some candy if you switch seats with me, okay?""No way." Teri shook her head. "You're just going to bully Rainie. I'm not switching seats with you!""You little brat!" Simon was frustrated. He had not tugged on Rainie's hair in a long time, and he could not help himself today.After all, Rainie was such a cute little girl, and he just wanted her to notice him more. That was why he could not help himself...Who knew he would end up annoying Rainie?Lanie looked at Simon with a serious expression on his face. "Are we still playing or not?""Of course, we're playing! Just watch me beat you!" Simon
Due to the surveillance camera at the entrance of the community, it would be difficult for the driver to stop inside, so Vivian got off near the entrance. She glanced at the community gate, which was not far away, then checked the time. It was already past 11. She quickly sent a message to Luca to let her know that she had safely returned home and she did not need to worry.After a while, Luca replied with a simple: [Okay.]As Vivian tucked away her phone and prepared to head toward the entrance, she noticed someone standing not too far from the streetlights. Her heart instantly went on high alert as she glanced at the person.Vivian knew she was pretty safe because of her appearance, but some men were just unpredictable. Moreover, she was worried that the person might try to rob her. The surroundings were eerily quiet, and the closer she got to the person, the faster her heart pounded.Was that person intentionally standing there?What was he doing standing there?Vivian was n
The following day, Gale, Rain, and Gordan showed up together at Luke's villa. When Luca came downstairs and saw them, she was startled for a moment. Then, she immediately realized the situation. She smiled and greeted them, "Good morning, Mr. Norton, Mr. Gale, and Ms. Rain.""Good morning, Dr. Craw," they replied in unison.Since Aunt Neile was there, they could not address her as Bianca."Are you all here to discuss matters with Mr. Crawford?" asked Luca."Yes, we need to talk to Luke," replied Gordan, speaking for the group.Luca pondered for a moment and said, "We're having tacos for lunch today. Why don't you stay and join us?"The three of them knew Luca's home-cooked meals were delicious, but they hesitated and shook their heads at the thought of Luke.Gale said, "Dr. Craw, we'll leave after discussing things with the boss. You don't need to worry about us.""If the discussion takes a long time, you should stay for lunch. It's decided," Luca insisted. After all, Aunt Ne
"Thank you so much, Aunt Neile. I'll be in the study for a while. Could you please call me at 11:00 am?" Luca was worried about getting too absorbed in her research and forgetting the time.They were planning to have tacos for lunch. The preparation required her attention. She needed an extra hour to get everything ready."Sure, I got it." Aunt Neile nodded. Then, she heard Luca add, "Oh, by the way, I ordered some groceries online and left the home phone number. Could you please keep an eye on the phone later? They can't deliver to our house, so I'll need you to fetch them.""No problem, I'll take care of it," replied Aunt Neile as she placed the plates on a tray.Other than a bit of leftovers left on Luke's plate, there was hardly anything left on the other three plates. It was evident that Luca's toasts were delicious and exactly to their liking.After Luca came upstairs, she passed by Luke's bedroom, which he used as an office. The door was closed. Knowing their conversation
"Got it," Amur replied expressionlessly. He did not see any difficulty in Abel's request.If Abel wanted to eliminate the people from the Island of Despair, Amur would have to execute it immediately. These targets, even though they appeared to be from the Island of Despair, actually had no connection to it. Their fate was not in his hands.This included the third person, whose fate also was not in his hands. That person's fate was mainly in Abel's hands.If the mission failed, Amur would die too.Amur had always known the brutality of the Island of Despair, so he never thought he could survive by working for Abel. While working for him, he only focused on doing his job and protecting Luca as best as he could.Abel turned around to look at him. The cigar in his hand had burned out, and he flicked it away before stroking his chin and asking, "Will you go easy on Gerald Muller?""Who's Gerald Muller?" asked Amur, not recognizing the name."He's the one you're supposed to assist,"
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
Luke stayed silent, letting the chilled beer cool him down, washing away some of the lingering heat.Gerald glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before leaning in and speaking softly to Luke. “Actually, I’ve seen it.”“Seen what?” Luke could not be bothered.Lowering his voice even further, Gerald whispered just loud enough for the two of them to hear, “I’ve seen you going into Ms. Craw’s room quite often.”Luke’s expression sharpened instantly. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.He had been so cautious. How had Gerald noticed? Was he bluffing?Luke narrowed his eyes and said nothing.His aura grew colder by the second.Gerald, sensing the rising tension, shrank back slightly and quickly added, “Relax, I’m not going to tell anyone. If I wanted to report you, I would’ve done it already.”Luke’s expression eased slightly.Gerald continued to reassure him, “I’m not one to meddle. Look, I haven’t said a word about you, and I even stood up for you during that whole thing