Sue shook her head indignantly. "Not good. Ever since that incident, we've received far fewer orders. Some clients would rather pay the penalty for breach of contract than let us do the design for them." Bianca was not too flustered, knowing what those people were thinking. "How does it compare to the previous month?" "It's at least a forty-percent decrease. We're not a big company, and there are several designers without any work on hand. Even St. Heckler Hotel is already looking for another company," Sue reported. St. Heckler Hotel was a three-star hotel construction project in A City. It took Bianca a lot of effort to convince them, but Riley's incident happened right before they were about to sign the contract. She was not at liberty to continue negotiations, so she delegated the task to Sue and Nina. "Have they signed the contract with the other design company?" Bianca asked. "No, they're still negotiating. I've heard that the company is charging a high price, which is
"Yes, I've met her before. I always remember the beautiful women I meet. Your company really has a lot of beautiful women. Ms. Langdon is one, Ms. Rayne is too." Mr. Steven's eyes on his corpulent face narrowed into slits as he ogled brazenly at the two women in front of him. Bianca and Nina exchanged glances. Both of them thought that Mr. Steven's perverse gaze was quite disgusting. Bianca tried to hold back her disgust as she smiled and said, "Please have a seat, Mr. Steven." Mr. Steven's beautiful secretary pulled a chair, then removed his coat with her delicate fingers and hung it on the rack. "Please sit, Mr. Steven," she said coyly. "Yes, yes." Mr. Steven copped a feel as he sat down on the chair. The secretary smiled and said nothing. She sat down next to him. Nina could not help but wonder how that perverted man managed to get to where he was. She smiled brilliantly, hiding the disgust in her heart, and poured some tea for the man. "Please have some tea, Mr. Steve
Mr. Steven took a step forward in front of Bianca, sniffed the air in front of her, hugged her waist brazenly, and smiled. "Yes, we can talk about the price. After all, your company seems quite capable. So how much will it be, Ms. Rayne?" Bianca turned her head away in disgust when she saw his oily, sausage-like lips leaning close to her face. She discreetly distanced herself and said, "We can talk about it, Mr. Steven. How about if we sit down and talk?" "Alright, alright, alright. Sit on my lap and we'll talk." Mr. Steven prepared to sit down while hugging her. Nina stepped in between the two. Mr. Steven let go of Bianca and hugged Nina instead. He did not mind that. After all, both of them were beautiful. He smiled at Nina and said, "Would you rather sit on my lap, Ms. Langdon?" After many drinks, all Mr. Steven wanted was to cop a feel. Nina was appalled, but she would rather Mr. Steven take advantage of her than her good friend. "How about if we give you a five percent
Percy's dark eyes dripped with spite. He stared intently at Steven's fat hand that was on Nina's waist. ‘How dare this pig lay his hands on my woman? Is he tired of living?’ Percy asked Bianca, "Is Luke aware that this is how you have business meetings?" Bianca’s scalp felt numb. If Luke found out, she would never hear the end of it. Just as she was about to explain further, Nina got closer to Steven and said in a chilly tone, "We're just talking about work and didn't do anything else. What's wrong? Does it feel dirty? To a dirty man, everything looks dirty." Steven hugged her and said triumphantly, "Yeah! Who are you? You barged into our private room, how rude!" One could seemingly smell gunpowder in the air, and Bianca was caught in the middle. She tried her best to diffuse the situation. "This is Ms. Langdon's—" "Nina, come home with me now." Percy clenched his fist, walked over, and grabbed Nina's hand. "Hmph..." Nina snorted and was taken away by
Percy's body temperature turned warmer as he pulled off his tie impatiently. The smile on Nina's mouth carried a touch of mockery. She was well aware of what was coming next. She stood up and took off her coat with one hand. "I reek, I'll go wash up first." She was still sober. As the most special character around him, she was well aware of his likes and dislikes. Percy hated women who smelled like alcohol. She planned to take a quick shower before they got down to business. Percy gave her a push and she landed on the sofa. "No need, I want you right now!" After an hour, Nina was exhausted and lay on the sofa. She watched him dress himself up and leave. She slowly let out a sigh when she heard the sound of his car driving away. In Percy's heart, she was nothing more than a tool. Her status was lower than that of bottle girls in the nightclubs. Bottle girls could choose which customers they wanted to accompany. They had money in their pockets and were
After Percy left with Nina, Bianca had to spend some time reassuring Steven and promising that she would arrange for another meet-up soon enough. Steven was dissatisfied but did not say much. Bianca knew he was upset and bought two bottles of fine wine at the hotel. When she sent him off, she handed him the wine and the other's mood seemed to ease a little. She was relieved when she watched him leave with his secretary. Bianca was not confident that she could secure this partnership. Bianca massaged her face, which had been cramping from smiling all night. She sighed helplessly. She called for an Uber because she did not want to drive after drinking. When she got home, she walked into the living room and found that Luke was not working in the study as he usually was. He was sitting on the sofa waiting for her. "Luke?" Bianca called out to him softly. The moment she saw the man waiting for her in the living room, her foul mood was gone. She did not
Half an hour later, Luke presumed Bianca was asleep when he heard her breathing slow down. He picked up the phone on the bedside table and sent a message to Jason. [I want everything you can find on the CEO of the developer for St. Heckler on my table tomorrow morning.] Jason was coaxing the twins to sleep. After he received Luke's text, he immediately replied: [Okay, Mr. Crawford.] Kari was awakened by the notification. She opened her eyes in a daze and muttered, "Dad." Jason put his phone away. He was a workaholic. Even if he was asleep, his phone would never be on silent mode. That was so that he could attend to Luke’s requests at the first instant. He apologized. "I'm sorry, baby. Did it wake you up?" Kari glanced at her sister who was sleeping next to her and found that Teri was still asleep. She shook her head and said, "No, Dad." "Baby, go back to sleep." Jason tucked her in, then gently rubbed her belly and soothed her. Kari smiled sweetly and
Bianca's eyes widened as her spoon fell on the table. The red tablecloth was covered with cream. Luke went slow, unlike his past enthusiastic self, and licked the cream from the corners of her mouth little by little. Bianca could not breathe. His slow-paced kisses were heavenly. Her heartbeat sped up and eventually lost its rhythm. She felt like she was in the clouds. She could feel her body, but it felt like nothing else was in her mind as she indulged in his graceful warmth. One of their phones rang, disturbing their kiss. Luke slowly moved away. He held her face in his hands, rubbing it gently with his fingers. Their love was in the air. Bianca gasped lightly. After her cheeks were rubbed by him, they turned even redder. She was swept off her feet by him. Luke looked at her affectionately but did not say anything. He answered the phone. Jason said, "Mr. Crawford, he’s at Club Gravity." "Okay, we’ll be over." Luke ended the call, to
The men in the room were wincing in pain, but when they heard Gerald’s words, they were so furious they almost wanted to lash out at him. However, all their strength had been sapped by the excruciating pain, so they could only groan helplessly.As Shanks made his way upstairs, he paused halfway up the staircase and asked, “Is Luca cooking?”Gerald glanced at the kitchen and replied, “Yes, Mr. Shanks. It’s their fault. Ms. Craw was delayed in making dinner because of them.”Shanks' expression remained unchanged as he simply said, “Let me know when it's ready.”“Yes,” answered Gerald.After Shanks went upstairs, Gerald hesitated for a moment but decided to help the men to their feet, placing them one by one on the couch or chairs. As they slouched, groaning in pain, Gerald shook his head. “Do you guys now understand what happens when you mess with the wrong woman, especially Ms. Craw?”One of the men winced and asked, “Why did she have to be so brutal when throwing down?”“She
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