Julie noticed that Bianca was watching Luke make his speech. She leaned over and asked, "What are you watching, Bianca?" When she saw the handsome and gentlemanly Luke on the screen, her face lit up with admiration. "Wow, it's Luke Crawford, the rising star of A City! He's so handsome! That man is my idol. He has developed T Corporation from the ground up. That's a miraculous feat! My dream is to work in T Corporation as a regular wage-earner! Do you want to work at T Corporation too, Bianca? We should do our best in this test, get our architect certification, and apply to T Corporation! How about that?" Bianca could not stand Julie's chatter. She seemed like a lady when she kept her mouth shut, but once she started speaking, she was like a twittering sparrow. "Madam is already…" Sean wanted to explain on Bianca's behalf, but Bianca shot a glance at him. "I hope that we'll pass with flying colors," Bianca said. Julie nodded. She wanted to continue watching her idol on Bia
Bianca did not expect that Bella's seat was number 17. That instantly put her in a bad mood. It was already an uncanny coincidence that they were assigned to the same classroom, but consecutive seats too? She cursed her luck! The test was starting soon, and she did not have the time to be bothered about Bella. Bianca shot a glance at Julie, who was sitting diagonally opposite her. The young woman seemed to have noticed that, and she pumped her fist at Bianca as a show of encouragement. Bianca felt relieved when she saw that warm smile. Ring… The bell rang, and the invigilators gave out the test papers and answer sheets. Bianca wrote down her name on the answer sheet, then started to fill in her candidate number with a #2 pencil. After filling in her information, she checked it one more time before quickly browsing the contents of the test paper. She gained a brief understanding of the questions and started to answer them with a black ballpoint pen. It was an Enginee
Right after Bella finished speaking, the classroom instantly erupted in surprised exclamations! The architect certification test was a national test, and the consequences for cheating were harsh. Not only would the results of this test be annulled, but the candidate could not take any more technical certification tests for the next two years! In serious cases, the perpetrator would be criminally viable! The invigilators opened their eyes wide as they looked at Bianca! The other candidates also looked at Bianca differently. They did not expect that the beautiful and gentle pregnant woman would be cheating! The invigilator walked up next to Bianca and looked at Bella sternly. "What happened?" Bella pointed a finger at Bella and said maliciously, "Sir, I noticed that when she was tidying her answer sheets, a ball of paper fell out and landed under her chair. She must be cheating!" Then, her finger pointed to a spot below Bianca's chair. Everyone followed her finger and s
The man's voice on the other end of the phone was too attractive. Julie could not contain her happiness. She could feel her ovaries exploding. She thought that Bianca's husband must have been a perverted middle-aged man, but she had guessed wrong. The man's voice sounded even better than a certain prime-time news anchor she was obsessed with. Someone with such an attractive voice could not have been a middle-aged, potbellied tycoon. She tried to sound as calm as possible. "Nice to meet you. My name is Julie Anderson. I became friends with Bianca before the test. It's like this: Someone framed Bianca for cheating, and the invigilators brought her to the office for an investigation. She gave me your phone number to ask you for help, and that's why I gave you a call…" "Understood. I will show you my gratitude later!" After a pause of a few seconds, the phone call was abruptly cut off. "Um…" Julie wanted to continue hearing the man speak but did not expect that he instantly hun
The investigation in the office lasted until nighttime. However, the invigilators' attitude toward Bianca had improved a lot. Now, Julie was willing to be a witness for Bianca's innocence, and that had made Bianca feel less helpless. However, Bella remained insistent. "I don't care what she says, she has indeed cheated. I saw with my eyes that the ball of paper fell from her hands!" "I did not cheat, Sir." Right after Bianca finished speaking, Julie nodded. "I can testify for Bianca, Sir. She is telling the truth. I saw Bianca put her notes in her handbag. Bella saw that things were not going her way. She instantly shouted, "Sir, I believe that they are complicit with each other. They must be friends that have known each other for a long time, so she's willing to give a false statement to help Bianca!" Julie spoke to the invigilator in a serious tone. "No, Ms. Rayne and I knew each other earlier today, and we have never met before. I volunteer to speak out for her because
The atmosphere instantly became tense. Bella felt her life flashing before her eyes the instant she saw Luke appear. However, there was no turning back for her. She braced herself and said, "Mr. Crawford, I really saw Bianca cheating. I was sitting behind her, and I saw everything…" "Is that so?" His icy gaze fell on Bella's face. Bella was stricken by panic when she saw that bloodshot gaze. Bella thought that Mr. Crawford had given up on Bianca after the humiliation she put him through at the engagement ceremony! After that, Mr. Crawford was rumored to be dating Leia Norman, and they were even one step away from being engaged… That was why Bella thought that Bianca had left A City. She had never seen Bianca appear next to Mr. Crawford for a long time… The woman next to Mr. Crawford during that period had always been Mavis. She had even seen her boss going out to dinner with Mavis on several separate occasions. That was why she thought that Mavis had replaced Bianca as
Late at night. Bianca was dreaming of being framed for cheating on the test. In the dream, Bella was pointing condescendingly at herself and shouting at her that she was a shameless cheater! The crowd around her were looking at her impassively. Some of them were even laughing and insulting her together with Bella! No one believed that she was innocent! "No, I'm not…" Bianca was flustered. She tried to explain to the people around her, but no one believed her. "Bianca, you cheater, you've ruined your future. Don't ever think of becoming an architect ever again. I say, people like you don't deserve to live!" Bella in the dream was laughing maliciously. Suddenly, she opened her bloody mouth and morphed into a fanged beast. It pounced toward Bianca and reached for her neck. "No! I didn't cheat! Why doesn't anyone believe me?" Bianca screamed in panic and suddenly opened her eyes. The scenes in the nightmare were still fresh in her mind. Her heart was thumping wildly, an
Luke and the others drove their cars to Misty Mountain. Misty Mountain boasted fantastic scenery. The mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, as though it was part of a fantasy dreamscape. Every year, it attracted tourists from many countries. Surrounded by several mountain peaks was a waterfall with a lake at the bottom. The water was clear and reflected the blueness of the sky, which was why it was called Azure Waterfall. The group of people went to the Cottage in the Clouds, a popular lodge located next to Azure Waterfall. It was built entirely with logs, though the interior was spacious and comfortable. The owner of the lodge was a young couple. They seemed to be loving toward each other. The male was tall and gentlemanly, while the female was beautiful and diligent. They were dressed in unique ethnic wear. They received Luke, Bianca, and the others with warm smiles. Even though they could see that the guests were dressed in luxurious clothes, they di
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