The weather became cooler, but the sun was shining brightly. Bianca brought Old Master Rayne to the back garden. There was a pond in the back garden, in which the water lilies were in full bloom. The slender flower stalks were like the necks of graceful swans, supporting the big flower petals. Old Master Rayne seemed to be in good spirits, though he continued to struggle to speak. "B… Bianca… why isn't… Luke… here…" Bianca stopped pushing the wheelchair. She went in front of her grandfather and crouched down. "Grandpa, Luke has been busy recently with several major projects that need his approval, and so he moved to the company for the time being. He'll be back when he finishes his work." Bianca knew that her grandfather's mind was still sharp even though he could not speak properly. That was why she lied to him. She knew that he would be worried if he found out that Bianca and Luke were not on speaking terms. Old Master Rayne nodded stiffly. "Mm… I… I'm feeling a lot… be
Luke went into the guest room. He saw his clothes, used and brand-new, arranged neatly in the closet. His shoes were placed on the shoe rack, and his toiletries in a bag. He could not help but grimace. Not only did his wife not speak to him, but she also moved his belongings into another room. How dare she! … Bianca went around the city, busy surveying for a suitable location for her company. Now that she had decided to embark on this journey, she realized that starting a business was not as easy as she thought, even after being CEO of T Corporation for two years. After all, T Corporation was a corporation with established business and management practices. Even though the workload was heavy, Bianca found it manageable. On the other hand, starting a new company meant that she had to start from scratch, whether it be about financial and human resources or other aspects. She did not want to involve T Corporation in her new company. If she did that, it would be no differen
The security guards of the bridal boutique rushed up with their batons when they saw someone trying to cause trouble. However, they were no match for those gangsters with weapons. Soon, the security guards were all sprawled on the floor, wailing in pain and clutching their injuries. Jason protected Sue in his arms and glared at his ex-wife. "What do you want, Bailey?" Bailey sat on the couch and looked at the "loving" couple with a sinister gaze. One of them was her ex-husband, while the other was the "mistress" whom she envied. Her brown eyes were shooting countless invisible icicles at them! She had the urge to burn down the bridal boutique. As for the woman who stole her husband, she wanted to chop her into tiny bits! "Why, my dear ex-husband, are you angry that I've interrupted your photo session with that mistress of yours? Do you remember that our son is still heavily sick? Not only did she bear two of your b*stard children, but now you want to marry her. Where do
Bianca had just come out of the shopping mall and was about to go into her car when she received a call from Luke. "It's the 15th today. Let's go back to Crawford Manor and have dinner. Where are you now? I'll go and pick you up." Considering their current standoff, Bianca wanted to hang up immediately. However, she thought of her three children. She bit her lip and replied coldly, "You don't have to pick me up. I can drive there myself. I'm a little busy now. See you later." She hung up before the other party could reply. In T Corporation, Luke's eyebrows twitched as he stared at his phone. Then, he sighed. The woman was becoming more and more brazen. He knew that Bianca was in the midst of starting her own company, and he had the intention of helping her. Bianca might have experience with managing a company, but she did not have the experience of starting one. He expected that she would come and ask him for help. However, the woman never once asked him for advice, n
Maxine turned away from Bianca and looked at Allison once more. She pointed at the two exquisite gift boxes on the coffee table and said, "I bought these presents for you and Grandpa, Aunt Allison. I hope you'll like them." The sweet smile on Maxine's delicate face made Allison smile. "You didn't have to bring any presents, Maxine. The climate in A City is very different from the capital. Are you used to it?" Maxine stuck out her tongue and began to unwrap the gift box. "I'm used to it. I can adapt to different environments easily. I've even gone on an expedition to the North Pole with my friends. I'm fine here." Bianca glanced at Maxine again. She did not expect that the young woman who seemed frail and delicate dared to explore the North Pole. Allison exclaimed in surprise, "As expected of a girl who grew up overseas. Your courage and constitution are exceptional. What… did you bring?" Maxine smiled sweetly and carefully detached the ribbon. The first box contained a ca
Allison could feel anger rising when her son had embarrassed her in front of a guest. She was about to open her mouth when Maxine gently tugged her elbow and smiled sweetly at Luke. "If that's the rules of T Corporation, then I shouldn't ask for special treatment. I'll apply to the company and go through the interview process. If I succeed, I'll do my internship at T Corporation. If I fail, I won't give you any trouble." "Mm." Luke looked at Maxine with some surprise. He did not expect her to say that. He had no recollection of that cousin at all. He did not care about her supposedly influential background either. In fact, he was not fond of any of his mother's relatives. They had never helped Allison when she needed them the most. After he took over T Corporation and brought the company to prosperity, Allison's relatives started sucking up to him. He hated materialistic and opportunistic people like those. Maxine's heart started beating faster when she saw Luke looking at
Bianca's vision was becoming blurry. She tried to curl up as much as possible, but her lower abdomen still hurt. The pain was becoming more and more intense. Her tears were threatening to fall. Bianca felt that she was becoming more and more affectatious. She used to grit her teeth and bear with it even when she was at her lowest point. Ever since Luke returned, her tears fell a lot more easily. She would find herself crying every few days. Her womb used to be a lot healthier. She had never experienced period pains. She attributed the decline in her health to her depression in response to Luke's disappearance while she was pregnant with Tommy. She could not snap out of her despair, and she lost a lot of blood when she delivered the baby. Ever since then, her health declined, and her period pains would cause her much agony. Even so, Bianca did not regret giving birth to that precocious child. The child brought hope to her life. He was the proof that Luke and Bianca had o
Luke reached behind him and felt his back. Those scratch marks were rapidly swelling up. 'How vicious!' He gasped softly and looked at Bianca in his arms with a cold and profound gaze. 'Does she have cat claws for hands? They’re so sharp, and she doesn't hold back!' He decided that he would cut her fingernails soon. He would not give her any "tools of punishment" because he would be the only one to suffer! Luke gazed into Bianca's eyes, and his voice was as gentle as spring water. "Does it make you feel any better? If you're still angry, you can scratch, claw, and pinch me however you want. I'll do anything for you if it makes you happy…" He laid sideways and bared his chest at her. Then, he placed her little claws on his flat stomach. Of course, Bianca saw her "handiwork" when the man showed her those bloody gashes on his back… She turned away guiltily. She did not mean to use so much strength. After all, the man deserved it for deceiving her! "What should I do s
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