Abel was determined to win this game.It was not just about achieving a crushing victory. He also wanted to win decisively and get everything he wanted. Luca understood that, but she could not help Percy this time. Luca knew that Abel had Pierre locked up in X City. She could easily find Abel's stronghold if she wanted to. However, she would only expose herself if she did that.Luca was relieved when she knew Abel was busy with other things at the moment. He did not have time to interfere with her affairs. She did not want to put herself in the forefront again just because of Pierre. After all, she had her motives. She wanted to spend as much time as possible with Luke and their children. Furthermore, Abel still needed Pierre to get money. He would not kill him.Also, Pierre needed to be taught a lesson. He had done so many evil things and evaded his responsibilities knowing that the Mallory family would back him up. It would be unfair if he was unpunished. Luca would ha
"Theyโre in A City, just like what Percy said. But with everything looking so good, I've been quite busy lately. There's a big project coming up at Brilliant, and I simply don't have the time to try on the wedding dresses. I can't even pick which dress to wear just by looking at the photos," Nina said in anguish. The wedding planning company had been urging her to come in and try on the dresses. The wedding dresses were expensive and not easy to move around. On top of that, the makeup was quite complicated, so she had to go to the wedding studio to try on the dresses.โDonโt you happen to have some free time today?" Luca smiled."Can you come with me?" Nina blinked her eyes. The dresses had arrived for quite some time, but she had yet to try them on. Aside from being busy, she could not find the time to go there with Percy. Nina did not want to try on the dresses alone, but she had no idea who she should look for to accompany her.Nina had the thought of having Luca accompany her
As Nina's eyes fell upon the beautiful wedding gowns and dinner dresses before her, her gaze brightened with excitement. Micheal, the world-renowned wedding dress designer, had crafted each one to be uniquely stunning. The pieces in front of her were so captivating that she could not shift her gaze away."These are truly amazing," Luca exclaimed in awe as she looked at the dresses and gowns shimmering in the soft light.Yancie noticed that Luca was wearing the latest season's Chanel dress under her coat after she took her coat off. Those who could afford to buy such dresses were usually wealthy. Then, she noticed that Luca was not wearing any jewelry. Therefore, she assumed that Luca was not married yet. Hence, she said, "Miss, feel free to look for us if you decide to get married in the future. Our company collaborates with Micheal. He specializes in wedding dress designs." Luca smiled and remained silent.She married the man she loved in the most beautiful wedding dress.She
When Luca heard Luke mention Mrs. Jackmanโs name, she knew that he had looked into her background. "What did the police say?" asked Luca. She could not help but feel a rush of heat through her body as Luke held her tightly in his arms."Itโs not a serious situation, so she won't get any severe punishment," Luke told her what the police said. Even though Luke was dissatisfied with the outcome, he had no choice but to let the police handle it since that was how the law worked."Well, this is normal.โ Luca understood the laws of A City. If she was willing to reconcile, Margaret would not face any trouble. "Margaret's husband, Lonnie, has a project that he wants to collaborate with T Corporation with. He wants us to provide the design drawings,โ Luke continued. "Did it happen?" Luca furrowed her brows as she was worried that Mrs. Jackman's situation would affect their collaboration. "No. The project manager didnโt think highly of that project. Besides, the company has been busy l
โIt looks like youโve taken a turn for the worse after her,โ said Luke. The old Gordan was not anything like this. He was always ready to risk it all, yet now he needed help.Gordan jumped and said, โThis has nothing to do with that woman!โHe paused at the thought of Vivian and ignored the strange feeling in his heart. โItโs because Iโm getting older, and they have guns. I even saw them transporting stuff inside. After some thought, itโs possible that it could be things like grenades.โLuke looked at the address on the computer screen and fell silent for quite a while.When Gordan was about to doze off, he heard Luke say, โHave Rain send people to help.โโRain? Forget it. Iโll just give you a name.โ Gordan recalled the person who helped him move last time.โWho?โโSomeone called Leroy. He helped you find Pierre last time,โ said Gordan. He practically knew every order Luke had given others.Including the fact that Leroy had dropped by Oswaldโs place before he went to help him m
โSend the children there?โ Luca was surprised as she had never heard him mention this.She looked back and forth between Luke and the computer and started to feel that the phone call last night must not be good news.โItโs just a week, and Iโve already told Mr. Griffin. Mr. Zander has other plans today, so youโre the only person I can ask,โ said Luke as he could not leave.He had so much left to do.โAlright, Iโll send the kids over when they wake up,โ Luca knew that she could not offer to take care of the children herself, so she complied with his request.โThe maids will also work there, so I can have them drive if you donโt want to,โ said Luke.โI can.โ Luca shook her head slightly. Now that Matysh had been arrested, no one would follow her on the road.Luke looked at her legs.The length of Lucaโs pants was up to her ankles, so he could not see how the wound was looking.โHowโs your ankle wound?โ he asked.Luca looked down at her feet and lifted her pants slightly. โThe b
"Itโs okay," replied Luca. Luca and the maid proceeded to serve breakfast on the table. She then took her seat where she waited for her kids to finish their morning routine.Upstairs, Aunt Neile had delivered breakfast to Lukeโs bedroom and awoken the kids. After, she reminded them that they would be going to Crawford manor today before she then made her way downstairs.โMs. Craw, the kids are packing their stuff now. Theyโll be coming down soon,โ reported Aunt Neile. The kids did not say much about their return to Crawford manor, but they made sure to pack their homework, stationery, and textbooks before heading out.Everything else they needed was already available at Crawford manor.Luke had made sure to ready the kidsโ uniforms and other essentials at Crawford manor in hopes that it would make their move easier. Therefore, the kids did not have to bring many things along with them."Okay," nodded Luca. She then picked up the newspaper while waiting for the kids to join her fo
Luca's fingers slightly curled. Wanda was currently still in the hospital. She did not tell Old Master Rayne about it.That was why he believed that Wanda was traveling.Meanwhile, Luca was worried that Old Master Rayne would sense something was wrong. She felt guilty for not accompanying him at the Rayne family house.He needed someone to keep him company now. Yet as his granddaughter, she could not even be the one to do that, and she even lied to himโฆ"What's the matter?" asled Old Master Crawford, noticing Luca fall silent. "It's nothing. It just kind of reminded me of Ms. Rayneโs illness. But I heard Dr. Park say that the breast cancer specialist has arrived in A City to consult Ms. Rayne. Her condition currently seems fit for surgery. So, theyโre planning to perform the surgery soon in the next few days. She should be able to go home immediately after the surgery,โ rambled Luca before snapping out of her thoughts.Luca had been keeping tabs on Wanda's condition, always a
โAs long as he stays out of your sight, I wonโt make a move,โ said Ray.If Gordan were not one of Lukeโs pals, he would have been long gone.Anyone who dared to mess with someone Ray cherished would not be let off easily. The only reason Gordan was still breathing was thanks to Luke.โAlright, Ray. Just let it go. Iโve moved on and started a new life. Plus, Iโm studying at Capital University. We have mutual friends, so running into him is inevitable. If that happens, weโll just be strangers. Thereโs no need to step in for me or act impulsively.โ Just as Vivian finished speaking, the doorbell rang.โIs it the clothes delivery?โ asked Ray.โNo, while you were talking with Mr. Crawford, I asked someone to buy some medicinal cream. The ones here work better than the ones in Russia. A little massage with it should help you heal faster,โ Vivian said, grabbing a mask and hat before heading to the door.โMiss, is the boss alright?โ asked one of Rayโs subordinates.โHeโs fine. Did you ge
When Ray heard that there was a 90% chance of success, he could not help but ask, โCan you walk me through your plan?โโThe prison where Kassy is being held actually has an underground passage. Iโve already spoken with the prison officials, and we can use that passage to transport her out. It connects to the sewage system, which leads directly to another detention facility. "The only catch is that this facilityโs underground pipes donโt connect to the outside world, so the remaining 10% risk lies in moving Kassy onto the main road and securing her at the new location.โThis whole operation can be done without anyone noticing, which is why Iโm confident itโll work.โ As Luke explained, he pulled out a detailed map of the sewer system. โHereโs the layout I had someone retrieve. This is the starting point, and this is the destination. If we take this route, we can move Kassy without alerting Abelโs people.โAbelโs men were keeping a constant watch outside the prison now. That was prec
Luke had no idea what kind of mindset the person who poisoned Vivian had. However, he found Gordanโs current behavior quite intriguing.โLuke, whatโs with that look?โ Gordan felt uneasy under his gaze.โYou seem pretty concerned about Vivian,โ Luke leaned back on the couch and said thoughtfully.Gordan froze for a moment before laughing it off. โWhat? No way! Why would I care about her? Come on, Luke, donโt say stuff like that. If she hears it, she might start getting ideas.โLuke could not be bothered to expose his act and got straight to the point. โWhy are you here?โโSpeaking of that, I almost got sidetracked by that woman.โ Gordan quickly pulled out his phone, grimacing. โMan, Ray really didnโt hold back. I need to get some treatment for these bruises later.โLuke took the phone and tried to unlock it. It needed a passcode. He handed it back. โUnlock it.โโAll set, boss.โ Gordan unlocked the phone and went back to pressing an ice pack against his face.Luke scanned the scr
It was the sound of a body slamming onto the ground.Gordanโs furious curses rang out. โDamn it! You're really going all out, huh? Do you think I'm scared of you?โAnother loud thud followed.Vivian frowned. What the hell were they doing? Were they really going to fight until one of them won?Both of them were skilled fighters. If they kept this up, neither would walk away unscathed.โEnough!โ shouted Vivian.The two men locked in the fight froze for a moment.โVivian, stay out of this. Iโm beating him to a pulp today,โ growled Ray, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He was not in great shape, but neither was Gordan.โRay, I donโt want to see him,โ said Vivian. She did not want Ray fighting him. It was not to protect Gordan but because she did not want Ray getting hurt.Also, she definitely did not want Gordan to see her like this. She could already picture his smug face, his sarcastic remarks and his gloating.โFine. If you donโt want to see him, Iโll just beat
After returning to the hotel from the hospital, Vivian felt much better.To her, the fact that Ray had taken her to the hospital meant there was hope for the future, which lifted her spirits. She picked up an apple from the fruit platter the hotel had provided and took a bite.โRay, this apple is really good. Want to try one?โ asked Vivian.Ray shook his head. โYou go ahead. By the way, can I take a look at the luggage you brought from Russia?โVivian nodded. โI only hung up my clothes. Everything else is still in the suitcase. You can just take the things out.โRay walked into the bedroom, pulled out her suitcase, and opened it. Inside were just books and a few other small items, nothing unusual.โYou didn't bring any food with you?โ asked Ray.โI havenโt really been in the mood, but the food here is way better than Russian food, so I didn't feel the need to bring anything.โ Vivianโs tone was lighthearted now that she was in a better mood.โThat's true.โ Ray agreed, then asked
Ray's tone turned serious. โAlright, I'll make the arrangements immediately. Dr. Craw, once the toxicology report is out, weโll still need your help.โโFor toxicology cases like this, I recommend combining both modern medicine and traditional herbal medicine. Donโt worry, if I can help, I definitely will,โ Luca assured him.โAlright, thank you.โ Ray expressed his gratitude and ended the call before updating Luke on the situation.Luke reassured him, saying, โIf Vivian was really poisoned, donโt worry. Previously, Luca discovered that her biological mother had been poisoned with a slow-acting toxin. She prescribed herbal medicine and used purely traditional herbal medicine to detoxify her. It didnโt take long for all the toxins to be expelled, and her health fully recovered. So, rest assured. If itโs something she can fix, sheโll do everything she can.โBesides, once we identify the exact problem, the doctors will be able to step in and help, right?โโYes. Thank you both in advance
Gerald walked over. โMs. Sanchez, what's wrong?โHe was eager to get back upstairs and stash his cigarettes before someone noticed and took them.Hera yanked open his bag, glanced at the cigarette brand, and scoffed. โI thought it was some expensive brand. But it's just this? And youโre acting all deferential to her over this?โGerald was rendered speechless. โI knew Ms. Craw was going out, so I asked her to bring these back for me. This is the brand Iโm used to. Maybe itโs not expensive to you, but for me, itโs what I can afford.โRealizing she had misspoken, Hera felt a bit awkward. She quickly changed the topic. โStill, is a pack of cigarettes really worth you being so grateful to Luca? How much could it have cost?โโItโs not about the money,โ replied Gerald. โIt's just a nice surprise. I never expected to get anything out of helping Ms. Craw, and this kind of unexpected gift has nothing to do with the price. Besides, I'm not being overly grateful. I'm just happy.โHe was ba
Lucaโs lips were already swollen and flushed from Luke's kisses.That deep shade of red, reflected in Lukeโs eyes, was utterly captivating. It tugged at his nerves, stirring an uncontrollable desire within him.At that moment, he had only one thought, and it was to completely lose himself in her.โฆThe two of them stepped out of the bedroom.Vivian quickly turned her back and greeted Luke when he saw him coming out, โHello, Mr. Crawford.โโVivian, donโt worry. Everything will get better,โ replied Luke.Vivian simply hummed in response.Ray gave them a grateful nod as Luke took Lucaโs hand and led her away.It was only after hearing the door close that Vivian finally turned back around.Ray glanced at her and said, โVivian, theyโre your friends. You donโt have to act this way around them. They wonโt judge you.โโI know they wonโtโฆโ Vivian let out a soft sigh. โI just feel like I look terrifying right now. I didnโt want to scare them, so I avoided facing them directly. But itโ
โI once treated someone who had been slowly poisoned over a long period of time. Their pulse was similar to Vivianโs. Given that your family has good genetics, yet Vivian is different from the rest of you, and her skin improved after leaving her original environment, all of this confirms my suspicion.โCould it be that someone in your family has been poisoning Vivian? That would explain why her skin ended up like this.โโIf she really has been poisoned, then would staying away from that environment or identifying the person responsible help her get better?โ asked Ray.Luca shook her head.โThe poison Iโve encountered before was a slow-acting toxin that kept the victimโs skin dark. I donโt know exactly what it was, but long-term exposure to any poison has an effect on the body. It's just a suspicion now. I need to consult someone I know. And honestly, I canโt be sure whatโs really causing Vivianโs condition.โIs her skin deteriorating so quickly because she was poisoned once more a