Luke extended his hand to the driver. "Let me use your phone." The back of his hand was grazed. The skin and flesh were visible, and it was covered in sticky red and white liquid. It looked quite horrifying. The driver handed the phone to him while frowning. "Mr. Crawford, do you think you should attend to the wound on your hand…" Luke wagged his hand at him and dialed a phone number. "It's me, Bea…" The man's icy voice instantly became warm and gentle. Bianca told him all about Old Master Rayne, and Luke's expression became solemn like never before. "Don't worry, wait for me at home. I'll go back this instant." … As Luke drove at full speed, he thought about how to capture Robert and, at the same time, wondered how he could bring Bianca out of Russia safely. The Russian government had found and destroyed the League of Shadows's headquarters, but Robert, the mastermind behind the organization had escaped. As long as Robert roamed free, he would pose a threat to Luke and
Luke knew that Robert was a cunning and dangerous individual who had always been careful to leave no traces. Otherwise, why would the Russian government not have evidence of his crimes for so many years? Moreover, Ray and Percy had not managed to stop him, which was further proof of his insidiousness. It would be risky for Bianca and Luke to leave Moscow now, but Old Master Rayne might not be able to wait. They had to return to A City as soon as possible. If Luke had to choose between staying and leaving, he would not hesitate to choose the latter. "I'll have to bring Bianca back to A City tonight no matter what, Ray. According to my estimates, Robert should be most likely in…" Luke discussed discreetly with Ray. He closed his eyes, hoping that his information would be helpful to Ray and Percy in capturing Robert. … Meanwhile, in a secret room in Robert's mansion. The atmosphere was fraught with hostility. A tall and muscular man with graying hair, dressed in an extra
Robert looked at his subordinates sprawled all over the ground. They were shot in the heart and died instantly. A devilishly handsome man stood not far away from him, smiling brazenly. His gaze was sharp as a knife as they stared at him as though he was prey. Soon, Robert came to his senses. He knew that the man in front of him was Percy Mallory, the underworld crime lord of A City. However, they never had any interactions with each other because their territories were so far apart. Why was Percy in Moscow pointing a gun at his head? Robert smiled superficially and said arrogantly, "So it's you, Mr. Mallory. How unexpected. I don't remember having any grudges between us, so I don't understand why you're pointing a gun to my head." Percy was not surprised that Robert recognized him. "I don't need a reason for you to die!" Percy said coldly as he continued to point the gun at Robert's head. Robert laughed out loud. "So many people want me dead. Do you think you can do i
Paramount Hospital, A City. When Bianca and Luke rushed over, the red light outside the operating room was still on. Wanda Rayne sat on the bench in the corridor like a stiff puppet and stared blankly at the red light. Her sickly face appeared paler, and her expression was filled with numbness as well as sorrow. "Aunt Wanda..." Bianca quietly walked to Wanda. She suppressed her grief, squatted next to Wanda, and held her cold hand. "How’s Grandpa now? How did it happen? How did he fall?" Wanda's pale and tired face worried her. The last time Bianca saw her was two weeks ago. Aunt Wanda, who was once as full of life like a peony in full bloom, now looked shriveled and skinny. Her alluring beauty had dissipated.If the woman in front of her did not share the same face as Aunt Wanda’s, Bianca would never have thought that they were the same person. However, Wanda did not seem to hear her. She did not respond and continued staring blankly at the operatin
Bianca was riddled with guilt and blamed herself for what was happening while Wanda refused to accept it. Wanda, who had always been calm and restrained, suddenly covered her eyes and burst into tears. "God, are you trying to kill everyone in the Rayne family? Why are you making all of us sick? My brother passed away from cancer, I have cancer, and now even my dad has brain tumors. Why are you doing this to our family?!" Bianca felt like she had lost all her strength. Wanda's ramblings made her heart sink as if someone had stabbed through her heart with a chisel. It hurt so much that she felt like she was about to go mad. All she could do was hug Wanda, who was on the verge of collapse. She kept comforting her, saying, "Aunt Wanda, everything will be fine. Trust me, okay? No matter what, I’ll always be by your side..." Luke was the first to come back to his senses. He furrowed his brows and asked Johann in a serious tone, "Based on Old Master Rayne’s current si
By the time Bianca came out of the ICU, it was almost noon. Bianca glanced at Wanda who was still waiting on the bench and a pang of sadness hit her. She said in a low voice, "Aunt Wanda, you need to take care of yourself. Please go home and get some rest. I’ll be here to watch over Grandpa. When you come back, please bring some of his necessities with you." Wanda got up from the bench and shook her head. "Bea, you came to the hospital as soon as you got off the plane. You must be very tired after the long journey. I’m alright. You and Luke should go home first. I’m sure Lanie and Rainie must miss both of you very much." Bianca insisted, "No, Aunt Wanda. I can't go back now. I won't be able to have peace of mind until Grandpa wakes up." Wanda looked at Luke for help. Luke glanced at Bianca's somewhat wrinkled clothes and said tactfully, "It’s pointless for so many of us to stay here considering that Grandpa hasn't woken up yet. We should head home first to ease
Wanda was touched when she saw how Luke defended Bianca. Bianca had chosen the right man to spend her life with. She found a good man who loved her and protected her. Under his protection, no matter how arrogant and defiant Allison was, she would not be able to harm Bianca. Old Master Crawford looked around and realized that Tommy was not with them. His questioning eyes fell on Bianca as he said, "By the way, where’s my dear Tommy? Why isn’t he here? You didn't lose Tommy, did you?" Tommy was only a little over two years old. He was Old Master Crawford’s pride and joy. Although he was naughty, his cheeky appearance often made Old Master Crawford laugh. Old Master Crawford liked him even more than the twins. Bianca said, "Grandpa, my parents missed Tommy, so I sent him to the Norman residence to spend some time with them. I’ll bring him over in two days." "Bring him here as soon as possible! Tommy’s surname is Crawford, he has no business staying in the Norman r
After more than two years of absence, Blanche had grown a lot taller. Perhaps because he was a boy, he was half a head taller than his twin sister. His face was still handsome and eye-catching. His slightly curly natural hair made him look like a prince who came out of a fairy tale. No one would be able to look away after catching a glance at him. However, Lanie was staring at Luke with a complicated expression. He seemed excited, confused, and annoyed at the same time. Luke was not sure how to react but found it funny. He beckoned to Blanche in a fatherly tone, saying, "Come here, don't you remember me?" Blanche hesitated for a quarter of an hour before walking slowly to Luke's side. He said in a neutral tone, "Dad." He was mad at Luke—mad that he had disappeared for so long; mad that his disappearance had made his mother’s life so hard; mad that everyone else had their parents by their side but he and his sister suddenly came from a single-parent family.
Lucius was different.He did not care about getting close to anyone, whether man or woman. Even when Hera’s attempts to seduce him were blatantly obvious, he still remained unmoved and even showed signs of rejection.Gerald could not help but marvel at Luca’s sharp observations and incisive remarks. He could not help but clap his hands lightly, genuinely impressed.“Lucius truly is exceptional,” said Gerald.Luca came downstairs.When she took the last step off the stairs, the men in the living room immediately fell silent.They held their breath as they watched the woman in front of them. Her hair was straight, not like their boss' companion.The men's gazes grew intense.Luca’s expression darkened.Gerald stood beside her and said, “See, I told you—you’re like a piece of meat dropped into a pack of wolves. Be careful.”One of the men heard Gerald and asked unhappily, “Hey, kid, what are you saying? What wolves? We’re gentlemen. We’d never dream of doing anything inappropr
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