At the dining table, Leia looked at Luke, completely fascinated. She did not notice the coldness in his eyes. She said while acting shy, "That's not hard to believe. No woman can escape your charm. You're a smart man, and you should know how I feel about you. It was deep and sincere love at first sight." Luke concealed the sarcasm in his eyes, and he said in a neutral tone, "Thank you, Ms. Norman. I’m not worthy of your love." He looked at his watch and found that it was close to 8 p.m. He knew that Bianca would be anxiously waiting for him. Luke said, "Ms. Norman, are you done with your dinner? I have something else that I need to attend to. See you next time."Leia was unwilling, but she nodded when she noticed Luke's coldness. "Well, if you have something to attend to, please feel free to head back. I’ll see you soon." She knew that she had to be patient in her quest to claim Luke’s heart. She should not rush him. Otherwise, all her previous efforts would h
Bianca's phone slid from her hand to the ground and made a loud sound. In the chat group, Nina kept texting Bianca. [Are you okay, Bea? What's going on? Are you fighting with the boss again?] The chat notifications were getting to Luke, and so he turned off Bianca’s phone. "Let go of me." Bianca was pressed against the wall by Luke. Bianca tried her best to wriggle her way out while being mindful of the baby in her womb. Luke felt a little frustrated seeing her wriggling like a disobedient rabbit in his arms. He pressed down on her shoulders and lifted her chin. "Throwing a tantrum again, hm?" Bianca kicked him and glanced at him. "You’re late. How was your romantic date with Leia?" Luke choked when he heard Bianca's words. He carried her and strode towards the bedroom. Luke's arms held not only his wife but also their third child. He jokingly said, "If it feels good to date other women, I won't be rushing home to be with you now. Stop thro
Bianca looked at Luke's "hungry" expression and felt scared. She wanted to say “no” but she noticed that Luke looked pitiful. That was the uniquely pitiful look of a man. "We haven't made love for three months, Bea. The doctor said that we can do it after three months. I promise I’ll be careful." To others, he was a forbidding Cold-Faced Devil. To her, he was like a hungry little puppy. Bianca was amused by the stark contrast. Bianca thought about how Luke had been taking cold showers for the past few months, and she finally agreed. She slowly hugged his neck and said in a low voice, "Okay..." Luke nibbled her earlobes and mumbled, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you and our child..." Luke was a complete gentleman. Bianca felt his eagerness and tenderness, along with his compassion toward her. She felt like she was swimming in the clouds. Late at night. The moonlight outside the window gently shone into the bathroom. Those intimate times did
When Allison looked at Leia's look of disbelief, she realized that Leia had no idea about Bianca's pregnancy.Allison wanted to slap herself! 'Why do I have such a big mouth?'What if the unborn child causes a rift between Leia and Luke?'Allison leaned on the couch, took Leia's little hand, and coaxed her by saying, "The baby's existence is purely unexpected. None of us thought that Bianca could be so brazen to get herself pregnant before her marriage. But don't you worry, the Crawford family's rich and powerful. We can raise a few more children, not to mention just one more. The caretakers and I will take care of them at home so they won't bother you two."Allison devalued Bianca so much that she completely forgot the fact that she got pregnant before marriage too and forced herself into the position using her child.Old Master Crawford coughed heavily at the words coming out of Allison's mouth.Allison immediately hushed up, while Leia, still in shock, did not notice the small
It was the weekend. When Bianca was heading out, the two little ones were pestering her to go together.Worried about her grandfather, she did not have the extra time and patience to coax them, so she could only bring the kids with her.When the car drove to the shopping mall near Centercourt Mall in A City, sitting in a child car seat at the back, Rainie suddenly said to Bianca, "Mommy, my tummy feels a little upset. I want to go to the bathroom..."Last night, she did not listen to her mother's advice and ate a few more pieces of cantaloupe, resulting in a minor stomach ache.Seeing her daughter's cute face crumpled up in discomfort, Bianca asked Zander, the driver, to park in a nearby parking lot and let him and Lanie wait in the car while she accompanied Rainie to the restroom in the shopping mall.Ten minutes later, Rainie emerged from the restroom.Bianca held Rainie's hand and waited for the green light at the crosswalk, unaware that danger was just around the corner!Lei
At the hospital.They were racing against time, and Bianca's life was slipping away.The smell of disinfectant filled their noses, adding more unease to the cold air.Suddenly, the door of the operating room opened.Zander and the twins rushed to the doctor in a white coat and anxiously asked about Bianca's condition.Lanie even tensed his little body, almost holding his breath as he waited for the doctor's answer.The middle-aged doctor removed his mask and said solemnly, "Who's the family member of the patient? The patient's in a critical condition and needs immediate surgery. We also need her family's signature before that!""Doctor, the patient is my employer. I'm sorry, but I don't have the right to sign for her. Lanie and Rainie are too young to take charge, and Mr. Crawford is on his way over right now. Could you please operate on Mrs. Crawford first and have it signed when Mr. Crawford arrives?" Zander was worried, but he was not Bianca's direct family member and could n
Luke smelled blood mingled with disinfectant.The man's tall and imposing body was momentarily stunned and weak.He sat in front of Bianca's hospital bed, his long fingers stroking her blood-stained hair with a distinct tremble.As his fingers moved down, Luke touched Bianca's little face that had little warmth. Because her face was so pale, it made her long lashes look darker and defined.'Abortion, curettage, amputation...'The doctor's words rang in his ears again. Luke clenched his hands and seemed to see the bloody scene of Bianca being hit by a car.The woman he loved most was a treasure he protected in his palm. He was usually afraid to touch a single strand of hair, yet she was now on the verge of death as she lay on the hospital bed, like a withering flower, about to disappear from the world.The figure on the hospital bed was thin and delicate, looking particularly pitiful. Luke gently held Bianca's hand. Due to excessive blood loss, her fingers were soft but extrem
The hospital director was scared into a cold sweat by the furious Luke and repeatedly replied, "Yes. Yes, Mr. Crawford, don't worry about that. I'll do my best to save your wife's life!""I don't want such an ambiguous answer. You shouldn't just try your best, but you have to save her!" The chill in Luke's terrifying eyes almost turned to ice.The hospital director was so shocked he could not speak. Even his teeth were chattering. "Yes, Mr... Mr. Crawford..."Luke's grip loosened a little.Right after he let go, the hospital director hid into the emergency room as if he was running for his life.The Cold-Faced Devil was scary whenever he lost his temper, and he had what it took to walk the talk.To him, the doctors were insignificant.The operating room lights came on again.Looking at the lights, Luke lost all his strength.The man's tall and imposing body leaned limply against the operating room's closed door.His white shirt also seemed to be stained with Bianca's blood, s
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