“Gale's handling it. Don’t worry,” said Luke.Luca rubbed her eyes and replied, “I'm going to have to take another leave this morning. Good thing you're the boss. If it were someone else, I'd probably be fired by now.”Luke's gaze deepened. “I'll have Rain and the others keep an eye on things.”“That's fine, but try not to let them blow their cover. I might get hit once or twice today, but it's all part of proving my innocence. Don't worry, Abel won’t go too hard on me,” Luca assumed.Luke instantly regretted his decision when he heard this.Perhaps it would have been better to hold off a little longer. Regardless of the situation, he would still be worried. Now that things were set in motion, there was no turning back.“Take care of yourself.” He planted a kiss on her forehead.Luca smiled, trying to reassure him. “Don’t worry, I'll be fine.”She got out of bed, quickly washed up, and left without eating breakfast.Aunt Neile noticed her rushing out and could not help but a
Everyone’s eyes were glued to the screen. They were too afraid to even blink, worried that they would miss who started the fire. The surveillance footage was playing at double speed. After a while, a figure appeared on the screen.Everyone turned to look at Kyle.Abel narrowed his eyes and stared at him. Kyle rubbed his eyes and realized that the person in the video really was him. He immediately protested, “It’s not me! That can’t be me in there!”Abel pointed at the screen and asked, “Are you sure that’s not you?”“Boss, why would I start a fire? I’ve got no beef with you guys!” Kyle responded in a panic.“Where were you at three in the morning?” Abel asked again. He initially suspected that Luca might have hired someone to set the fire. After all, no one else on the Island of Despair would have had the motive. For someone who was not particularly skilled like Kyle, he would be in deep trouble even if he managed to destroy the base in A City without getting caught. H
Once someone messed with Shanks' research, it did not matter who they were, he would not show any mercy. Luca knew this all too well, so when Shanks said they could not let Kyle off the hook, she did not look surprised. She just kept sorting through the data.Abel could tell Shanks was really mad. After all, days of research had just gone up in smoke, and anyone would be furious in his shoes. Plus, Shanks had endured several tough days in the mountains of X City just to gather those herbs.“I'm not letting him off, but we still need to investigate this thoroughly,” added Abel.“Even if there’s no solid evidence, you’d still beat someone half to death. Abel, this is my research, and it’s what you want. You need to get to the bottom of this. If this isn’t handled properly, I’m not going to continue with the research,” replied Shanks. He could not stand people who casually ruined others' work.“Alright, alright, don’t worry. When the time comes to take action, I won’t hesitate.
After Luca left the hotel, she let out a sigh of relief.She glanced at the car parked across the street, knowing that Luke’s men were definitely watching her from inside.Luca sent a message to Luke, letting him know she was fine and briefly explaining to him what had just happened. She then drove over to Watson.She had only taken the morning off, so she still had to work in the afternoon.Luca was not about to miss work over something so minor. When she got back to the company, it was already the afternoon shift. She headed straight to the lab and started working on experiments with her team.Just before it was time to clock out, Luca stood up and suddenly felt dizzy. She quickly grabbed the table to steady herself.Rhett noticed this and quickly asked, “Dr. Craw, are you feeling unwell?”“I’m feeling a bit dizzy.” Luca felt her vision darken for a moment, but after a while, the feeling passed. “I’m fine now.”“If you’re not feeling well, I can take you to the hospital,” off
Luke remained silent.Luca thought to herself that since it was not a drunk driving or a hit-and-run case, the police would not be able to do much. At most, they would just hold her fully responsible. However, getting hit like this out of the blue… She could not let this slide easily.Luca was not short on money. She just wanted Karen to get the punishment she deserved.“I should’ve let Warren drive,” Luca muttered under her breath. Someone like Warren would have noticed if a car was tailing them.She had been too careless.With Matysh in jail and Karen and Pierre tied up with their own issues, she thought she was safe. She never expected Karen to go this far.“It’s fine. Percy said they’re sending her to a mental institution this time.” Luke gently stroked her head.Luca opened her eyes but felt dizzy, so she quickly shut them again. “Are they really going to send her to a mental institution?” asked Luca.“Yes,” answered Luke.“He's okay with that?” Luca was still skeptic
“Alright.” Luke heard Luca’s request and turned on the TV, but he quickly lowered the volume, finding it too loud. He knew she just wanted some background noise, not something too distracting.Luke continued feeding her the oatmeal. After finishing one bowl, Luca could not eat anymore, so she rested for a bit. Then, Luke gave her the medication Johann had prescribed. Since she was lying down, she ate everything slowly.After taking the medicine, Luca yawned. Even though Johann had not prescribed any sleeping pills, the IV and medication had a calming effect.“If you’re sleepy, go ahead and rest,” suggested Luke.Luca frowned slightly. “But I want to take a bath.”"How about I help you freshen up a bit?" offered Luke, knowing she was not in any condition to take a full bath.“I’d really prefer a proper wash. I was sorting documents this morning, and a lot of people were smoking around me. I feel like the smell has clung to my clothes,” replied Luca as she heaved a sigh. The
Luke nodded to the doctor, indicating his agreement. The doctor returned to his office and prescribed medication for Luca.Ten minutes later, a nurse walked in with the medicine. After watching Luca take it, she advised, “You should rest now. If you feel uncomfortable, just press the call button.”“Okay, thank you.” Luca closed her eyes. Luke gently pulled the blanket over her.After a moment, Luca opened her eyes and said, “Luke, how about you stay with me while I sleep?”"I'm worried I might squish you," replied Luke. Even though the bed in the VIP ward was wider than a standard hospital bed, it was still a single bed. It was not that two people could not fit on it, but he wanted her to rest well.Luca said, “I’ve been having bad dreams. If you stay beside me, I think I’ll sleep better.”“Alright.” Luke agreed and got into bed from the other side.Once he settled in, Luca turned to her side. After getting used to the dizziness, she hugged Luke. He smelled different today
Luca thought that after the traffic police left, nothing else would happen for the rest of the day. That was until Old Master Mallory showed up.Luca watched as the old master, supported by his butler, walked into the ward. She felt a wave of relief that Luke was still here.When Luke saw Old Master Mallory, he frowned slightly. He stood up and asked, “Old Master Mallory, what brings you here?”“I came to check on Ms. Craw,” replied Old Master Mallory, glancing over at Luca, who was lying in bed. “Is she feeling better?” The usually stern old man now had a gentle smile on his face.Luca did not find it particularly kind. Some people are good at pretending, and those who did not know better might think it was genuine. However, someone like Luca, who had undergone professional training, could easily see through the old master’s act.Karen had messed up, and now, the old man was here to apologize on her behalf. Still, it was not necessary.Karen was not drunk driving, nor di
“As long as he stays out of your sight, I won’t make a move,” said Ray.If Gordan were not one of Luke’s 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.“Alright, Ray. Just let it go. I’ve moved on and started a new life. Plus, I’m studying at Capital University. We have mutual friends, so running into him is inevitable. If that happens, we’ll just be strangers. There’s no need to step in for me or act impulsively.” Just as Vivian finished speaking, the doorbell rang.“Is it the clothes delivery?” asked Ray.“No, 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,” Vivian said, grabbing a mask and hat before heading to the door.“Miss, is the boss alright?” asked one of Ray’s subordinates.“He’s fine. Did you ge
When Ray heard that there was a 90% chance of success, he could not help but ask, “Can you walk me through your plan?”“The prison where Kassy is being held actually has an underground passage. I’ve 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 facility’s underground pipes don’t 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.“This whole operation can be done without anyone noticing, which is why I’m confident it’ll work.” As Luke explained, he pulled out a detailed map of the sewer system. “Here’s 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 Abel’s people.”Abel’s 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 Gordan’s current behavior quite intriguing.“Luke, what’s with that look?” Gordan felt uneasy under his gaze.“You seem pretty concerned about Vivian,” Luke leaned back on the couch and said thoughtfully.Gordan froze for a moment before laughing it off. “What? No way! Why would I care about her? Come on, Luke, don’t say stuff like that. If she hears it, she might start getting ideas.”Luke could not be bothered to expose his act and got straight to the point. “Why are you here?”“Speaking of that, I almost got sidetracked by that woman.” Gordan quickly pulled out his phone, grimacing. “Man, Ray really didn’t hold back. I need to get some treatment for these bruises later.”Luke took the phone and tried to unlock it. It needed a passcode. He handed it back. “Unlock it.”“All set, boss.” 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.Gordan’s furious curses rang out. “Damn it! You're really going all out, huh? Do you think I'm scared of you?”Another 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.“Enough!” shouted Vivian.The two men locked in the fight froze for a moment.“Vivian, stay out of this. I’m beating him to a pulp today,” growled Ray, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He was not in great shape, but neither was Gordan.“Ray, I don’t want to see him,” 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.“Fine. If you don’t want to see him, I’ll 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.“Ray, this apple is really good. Want to try one?” asked Vivian.Ray shook his head. “You go ahead. By the way, can I take a look at the luggage you brought from Russia?”Vivian nodded. “I only hung up my clothes. Everything else is still in the suitcase. You can just take the things out.”Ray walked into the bedroom, pulled out her suitcase, and opened it. Inside were just books and a few other small items, nothing unusual.“You didn't bring any food with you?” asked Ray.“I haven’t 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.” Vivian’s tone was lighthearted now that she was in a better mood.“That's true.” Ray agreed, then asked
Ray's tone turned serious. “Alright, I'll make the arrangements immediately. Dr. Craw, once the toxicology report is out, we’ll still need your help.”“For toxicology cases like this, I recommend combining both modern medicine and traditional herbal medicine. Don’t worry, if I can help, I definitely will,” Luca assured him.“Alright, thank you.” Ray expressed his gratitude and ended the call before updating Luke on the situation.Luke reassured him, saying, “If Vivian was really poisoned, don’t 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 didn’t take long for all the toxins to be expelled, and her health fully recovered. So, rest assured. If it’s something she can fix, she’ll do everything she can.“Besides, once we identify the exact problem, the doctors will be able to step in and help, right?”“Yes. Thank you both in advance
Gerald walked over. “Ms. Sanchez, what's wrong?”He 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. “I thought it was some expensive brand. But it's just this? And you’re acting all deferential to her over this?”Gerald was rendered speechless. “I knew Ms. Craw was going out, so I asked her to bring these back for me. This is the brand I’m used to. Maybe it’s not expensive to you, but for me, it’s what I can afford.”Realizing she had misspoken, Hera felt a bit awkward. She quickly changed the topic. “Still, is a pack of cigarettes really worth you being so grateful to Luca? How much could it have cost?”“It’s not about the money,” replied Gerald. “It'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.”He was ba
Luca’s lips were already swollen and flushed from Luke's kisses.That deep shade of red, reflected in Luke’s 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.…The two of them stepped out of the bedroom.Vivian quickly turned her back and greeted Luke when he saw him coming out, “Hello, Mr. Crawford.”“Vivian, don’t worry. Everything will get better,” replied Luke.Vivian simply hummed in response.Ray gave them a grateful nod as Luke took Luca’s 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, “Vivian, they’re your friends. You don’t have to act this way around them. They won’t judge you.”“I know they won’t…” Vivian let out a soft sigh. “I just feel like I look terrifying right now. I didn’t want to scare them, so I avoided facing them directly. But it’
“I once treated someone who had been slowly poisoned over a long period of time. Their pulse was similar to Vivian’s. 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.“Could it be that someone in your family has been poisoning Vivian? That would explain why her skin ended up like this.”“If she really has been poisoned, then would staying away from that environment or identifying the person responsible help her get better?” asked Ray.Luca shook her head.“The poison I’ve encountered before was a slow-acting toxin that kept the victim’s skin dark. I don’t 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 can’t be sure what’s really causing Vivian’s condition.“Is her skin deteriorating so quickly because she was poisoned once more a