Ch. 3371..3380

Chapter 3371 He's Certain He Can Help Her Restore Them Shanks furrowed his brows. He knew Abel would snap, but he did not expect him to go this far He grabbed Luca and pulled her behind him. "Abel, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Luca touched her quickly swelling face. A flash of hatred crossed her mind, but she was also worried about Luke. If Luke found out that Abel hurt her, he would definitely lose it. She had to keep everything under control for the sake of her child.

With that thought, Luca took a step back, exposing half of her swollen face to look at Abel.

Abel was furious at the sight. "She's useless, and that's why the experiment is going so slowly. What's wrong with me giving her a slap?

Shanks' face turned livid at his crazy words. "This experiment is mine. If you have an issue with it, take it up with me. There's no reason to take it out on her. I'll do what you want and Increase the dosage. But if this volunteer dies, you'll have a hell of a time finding another one for the clinical trials. Abel, is this really how you want to handle it? Is this going to help Kassy?"

His words hit Abel like a bucket of gasoline being poured over him. It only fueled his anger. He wanted to smash something, but he could not touch anything on the table because it all had to do with Kassy's life!

"Shanks, you're really something!" Abel pointed a finger at Shanks and scolded him. "I've given you so much money and so many resources. Now, when I ask you to speed up the clinical trials, you have a problem with it. Fine, are you really going to protect this woman to the end?"

Shanks eyes flashed with impatience. This had nothing to do with Luca.

The experiment was going smoothly, but clinical trials required small adjustments to the doses to get the best results. Abel, however, lacked the patience for that. Shanks was starting to regret agreeing to help him save Kassy.

Someone like Abel should never be allowed near the ones he loved. His unpredictable nature was too dangerous.

If Shanks were not so invested in the research, he would never have thought about helping Kassy in the first place.

"This is about the clinical trial. Are you sure you want me to increase the dosage, not caring about the volunteer's life, just to get accurate data?" Shanks asked in a grim tone. "And let me remind you, if we do that, there's a high chance we won't get the right data. If this volunteer dies, it'll be nearly impossible to find another one.

"If that happens, I'll have no choice but to experiment on Kassy. This will be my first time doing an eye transplant, and there's no successful case of this treatment anywhere in the world. If you can handle those risks, I'll increase the dosage by several times in tonight's injection."

Abel's eyes widened with fury. He could not handle that kind of outcome. Shanks' words hit him hard, almost choking him with the reality of things.

At the thought of Kassy, Abel felt defeated for a moment before storming out and slamming the door behind him.

Luca did not know why, but she felt a sense of relief.

Shanks turned to look at her.

One side of her face was badly swollen, and the sight was painfully obvious.

"He slapped you. Why didn't you move?" asked Shanks.

Luca replied helplessly, "I didn't expect him to make a move."

Luca really had not thought he would go that far. She assumed that if Abel was angry, he would throw something instead.

"He needed to vent his anger. The things in this room are all tied to Kassy's life. He's too afraid to break anything, and he can't touch me, so, of course, he'd end up hitting you," said Shanks.

Luca pursed her lips.

She had always been at the bottom rank on the Island of Despair even though she knew medicine and pharmaceuticals. It was not as glamorous as Gerald might have thought.

She was Luke's wife. Abel only saw her as a pawn, something to be discarded eventually. Hence, her time on the Island of Despair was not easy.

Moreover, the organization already had Shanks, someone Abel could not touch. He would never allow anyone else to be untouchable.

Luca rubbed her face, feeling a sharp pain.

"Is your ear okay?" Shanks opened the fridge and pulled out an ice pack.

Luce shook her head. "My brain went blank at first, but my ear is fine. I don't hear any ringing now. My teeth are fine too. It's just that my face is swollen."

Shanks handed her the ice pack. "Put this on."

Luca took it, feeling the cold bite spread from her hand through her whole body. The lab was already colder than other places, but she felt even more chilly now.

She felt a surge of frustration and suddenly remembered how Luke had carefully taken care of her. If only there were no Island of Despair. Then, she could have stayed by his side and safely given birth to Nyla back then. They would have witnessed the birth of a new life together.

He would care for her every day, and they would be in love. Her appearance would not have changed because of everything.

Luca's eyes reddened at the thought of this.

"Why are your eyes red?" Shanks slightly furrowed his brows.

Luca shook her head and explained. "The ice pack is really cold."

"Bear with it," replied Shanks. There was no clean towel here, so she would have to endure it. "Okay." Luca thought to herself that none of this would have happened if the organization did not exist.

Luca had always felt a regret in her heart. She and Luke had four children, but none of them were born under the protection of both parents.

If Luke had not gotten involved with the Island of Despair, danger would not have come for them. Tommy and Nyla could have been bom and grown up with the love and protection of their parents.

It was so unfortunate...

Luca thought of Luke again, then she suddenly turned to Shanks. "Mr. Shanks, do you have any medication for swelling?"

Shanks frowned. "This kind of injury will heal in a few days. If you're in pain, I can give you some painkillers."

Luca shook her head. "It'll affect my appearance too much. I want something to reduce the swelling."

"It'll make you sleepy and lose your appetite. Are you sure?" asked Shanks. "I need an assistant in top form to work with me. If you can't handle it, I won't be able to protect you in front of Abel next time."

"I'm sure," answered Luca. "I need medication for swelling."

Although his medicine had side effects, it worked well, and that was its advantage.

What worried Luca now was that if Luke saw her swollen face, he might clash with Abel.

Therefore, any reduction in swelling would help.

Shanks opened a secure cabinet containing medicine, took out the anti-swelling oral medication, and handed it to her. "Take it."

Luca was not one to be fussy. She took it and swallowed it straight away, though it was a bit uncomfortable without any water.

Shanks asked again, "Do you need painkillers?"

"Yes," Luca answered without hesitation.

Shanks handed her the painkillers.

After taking the medicine, they both returned to their tasks.

After leaving the lab, Abel rushed to the room where the volunteer was. He saw that the volunteer's eye had ruptured, causing blindness, and he could not help but think of Kassy.

Her legs were broken and she was blind. Worse of all, she was imprisoned.

Those beautiful eyes of hers... He was certain he could help her restore them!

With that thought in mind, Abel left.

The volunteer felt an eerie chill. Even though he could not see, he knew someone had entered. Only after hearing the person leave did he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Chapter 3372 They're Both Using Each Other The volunteer was attended to in shifts, and he asked the person in the current shift, "Did that person leave?"

"Yes." The man attending him let out a sigh of relief.

He had been so nervous when Abel was here that he could barely breathe.

"Who was that person?" the volunteer asked curiously. He could not see, but he could still sense the heavy, oppressive aura. It was as though the person might take his life at any moment.

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't know. Just focus on your recovery," replied the man.

The volunteer heaved a sigh and gently turned around. Lying here, he had no idea when it would end. However, ever since the nerves had started reacting, he felt that his legs were getting better day by day.

After a while, Luca entered, carrying a tray of dry needling tools. She glanced at the attendant, noticing that it was another man today.

Luca asked, "Did the boss come by earlier?"

"Yes." The man nodded.

Luca's heart skipped a beat. She looked at the volunteer, who appeared unharmed on the bed. She knew that Abel had been temporarily convinced by Shanks' words. However, she also knew that it would not last.

Abel had no patience. Once it was exhausted, the volunteer would be in danger.

Abel might act impulsively, so while the immediate crisis seemed solved, it was not fully resolved.

Luca felt anxious. However, with her own safely uncertain, how could she protect the volunteer? Hopefully, Abel would have more patience as the matter involved Kassy.

The man pointed at her face. "Did the boss slap you?"

"Yes." Luca did not hide it. She set the tray aside and told the volunteer, "Lie down. I'll start the dry needling now."

"Okay, thank you." After spending some time together, the volunteer had become familiar with Luca. As he lay down, he casually asked, "Did your boss slap you?"

"It's nothing," replied Luca. She picked up the needles and swiftly inserted them, hoping the nerve function would improve quickly.

The volunteer asked again, "You're a good woman. Why did your boss punish you?"

Luca did not respond. How could she explain all this? Should she tell him it was because Abel was not happy with the progress of the experiment?

When the volunteer did not get a response, he realized the dry needling session was still ongoing and decided not to press the matter further.

He assumed Luca simply did not want to talk.

After pricking all the needles in the main acupoints, Luca connected the machine to stimulate the needles with electrical currents, maximizing the effect.

"This will take half an hour." Luca pressed the timer.

"Half an hour?" The volunteer was surprised. Normally, the needles were removed in just ten minutes. He was shocked to hear it would take half an hour this time.

"I'm adjusting the treatment plan," explained Luca. This was a solution she had discussed with Shanks.

The dosage of the medicine would be gradually increased, and the dry needling time could be extended too.

"Oh, okay." The volunteer hoped he would recover soon.

Once he could walk again, his eyes would be treated as well.

Luca left the room and went to the bathroom, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Despite the ice pack and the swelling medication she had taken, her face was still noticeably swollen.

Abel had slapped her with great force, and if it had been anyone else, their ear might have rupturednoveldrama Luca felt frustrated. She splashed cold water on her face, and right as she left the bathroom, she froze in her tracks. In front of her stood Hera, and her brows instinctively furrowed together.

What was she doing here?

Luca's confused gaze shifted to Gerald.

He hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Here had not spoken yet, so he dared not to say anything.

In the short time of about half an hour, he had witnessed Hera's temper. She was a spoiled young lady. If she did not want him to speak or if he said something out of turn, she would scold him.

Even though she had a bad temper, she was not the type to hit people. Even so, crossing her would lead to trouble. She was the boss woman, after all. If she was not happy, that likely meant the boss would not be either.

Who are you?" asked Hera. Even though the woman in front of her had half of her face swollen, a sense of unease still rose in her heart Despite the swelling on half her face, Luca's other features were still sharp and beautiful, better than many others. It was not the kind of look you would see with plastic surgery.

Anyone would appreciate this woman's natural beauty.

Hera felt a sense of unease.

"Luca," Luca replied nonchalantly. She could not help but wonder why Hera was here.

Hera turned her gaze to Gerald.

"This is Ms. Craw, one of the people working on the experiment here," answered Gerald. At the same time, he glanced at Luca's swollen face, guessing it was from Abel's slap. He kindly added, "Ms. Craw, this is Ms. Sanchez, the boss' companion."

"Oh..." When Hera saw Luca, she immediately realized that the words Gerald had spoken earlier were nothing more than flattery aimed at her. Her expression immediately darkened.* Companion? I'm clearly the boss' girlfriend."

"Right, I'm sorry. I misspoke. She's the boss' girlfriend, our lady boss." Cerald put on a fawning expression on his face.

Hera frowned in displeasure, then turned her attention back to Luca, sizing her up. She quickly realized she was not as beautiful as this woman. Her competitive nature made her extremely uncomfortable right now.

Hera let out a mocking laugh, her tone laced with ill intent. "Could it be that you didn't do your job properly and got slapped by my boyfriend?

"See? I told you, you people should do your jobs properly. Look at you. You didn't take things seriously, and now, you've been slapped.

"My boyfriend usually has a good temper. It's all because of people like you that he's been so stressed. If you all just let him relax a little, we'd be on holiday in a nice villa by now. Honestly, if you don't have the skills to make the boss happy, then at least work hard, do your best, and make sure your boss is satisfied. Got it?"

Luca could not help but remember how Hera used to bully her back in school. She did not expect her to still be like this now.

A sudden smile appeared on Luca's face. Hera was only speaking so arrogantly because she relied on Abel's favoritism. However, what would she do if she knew the one Abel truly favored was not her?

Hera's anger flared when she saw the smile on Luca's face. She assumed the smile was mocking. Flustered, she snapped, "You bitch, what are you smiling at?! Don't make me take action. I'm good at slapping people, and my boyfriend won't let you off either."

Luca nodded, wiping the smile off her face.

"What exactly were you smiling at just now?" Hera pressed on, her questioning becoming more aggressive now that Luca had stopped smiling.

Luca had no intention of telling her about Kassy's situation. If Hera found out and started causing trouble with Abel, it would only backfire on her. Moreover, Luca did not think Hera was in a pure relationship with Abel.

They were both using each other.

Hera was using Abel for material gain while Abel relied on her to ease his loneliness.

Chapter 3373 For Luca, And For Their Child "It's nothing. I just think you and our boss make a perfect match." Luca decided not to say anything more. She was unwilling to risk causing trouble for herself.

Hera felt that there was something mocking in her tone. It was meant to be a compliment, yet it felt like mockery, leaving her with the sense that something was off.

Hera let out a cold snort. "Of course, we're a perfect match. No need for you to say it."

Even though she knew there was an undertone of sarcasm, she still acknowledged it. She sized Luca up with a look of disdain. "You're a doctor, right?"

Luca shook her head. "Not exactly."

Gerald explained, "Ms. Sanchez, she's skilled in medicine, but she wouldn't call herself a doctor."

Hera shot him an annoyed glance and then tumed back to Luca. "It's fine as long as you know medicine. I'm not feeling well. Come help me with some treatment."

Gerald had no choice but to awkwardly suggest, "Ms. Sanchez, if you're not feeling unwell, perhaps I could ask Mr. Shanks to check on you?"

"Have a man treat me? No way. My dear would get jealous. I want her to do it." Hera pointed at Luca. "Let's go."

"Sorry, I'm busy," Luca headed back to the lab without any expression on her face.

Hera's eyes widened in disbelief. She could not believe she had been rejected!

"How dare you refuse me?"

"Ms. Sanchez, her job isn't to treat people. She's here for the experiment," explained Gerald. He admired Luca's courage. She rejected the boss' girlfriend after being slapped. Was she not afraid of getting beaten again?

"I don't care what her job is. I want her to listen to me!" Hera insisted, stepping forward to follow Luca Gerald, seeing that she was about to barge into the lab, quickly stopped her, "Ms. Sanchez, please don't go in there."

"What? Is there somewhere I'm not allowed to go? She can go in, so why can't I?" Hera shot him a glare, already acting like she owned the place.

Gerald tried to explain, "This is the lab, and everything inside is important. If something gets ruined, the boss will be upset. You might be the boss' girlfriend, but some rules still apply. We, the staff, aren't even allowed in..."

Hera raised her hand and slapped him across the face. "It's your problem you can't go in. I'm the boss' girlfriend! What's off-limits to me? Get out of my way!"

Gerald winced in pain. Even though her slap was light, he dared not stop her. He quietly stepped aside.

Hera stared at him in disbelief. Did he really just back off without a word?

Was he not going to stop her?

Even though Hera was spoiled, she was well aware of where she stood with Abel.

She could call herself his girlfriend in front of his staff, but deep down, she knew she was nothing. She was nothing more than a business transaction. Abel only wanted her body and had no true affection for her...

Still, after being humiliated by Luca, she was determined to press forward.

Luca did not take Hera seriously, so Hera went straight to Abel to complain. Hera believed that, no matter what, she was more important than a woman like Luca.

However, the outcome was not what she expected.

She returned to her bedroom, tearfully recounting to Abel how Luca had disrespected her. Not only had Luca refused to help treat her, but Luca had also shown her attitude. Abel's expression darkened as he listened.

She only saw the look on Abel's face when she stopped crying. She felt secretly pleased. So, Abel really did care about her, after all.

The next second, she found herself yanked by the hair.

Hera screamed.

"What the hell made you bother Luca?" questioned Abel.

"I didn't... I was just feeling unwell.." Hera was panicked. She was confused about what was happening.

Abel stomped out his cigar in frustration, then gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Let me say this one last time aside from those two in the lab, anyone else here is fair game for you to boss around. Do you understand?"

Hera felt a wave of regret. What Gerald had said was true, and now, she was deeply sorry for her actions.

She could feel Abel's gaze piercing through her, as though he would tear her into pieces and devour her. She immediately begged for mercy, "Sorry, I was wrong. I won't ever bother the people from the lab again. I promise."

Abel's anger still smoldered inside him, but he could not bring himself to physically lash out at Hera, not when her eyes reminded him so much of Kassy's.

Instead, he tore her clothes to pieces, using another way to release his anger.

Outside, Gerald stood listening. When the frightened screams turned into low hums of satisfaction, he quickly left to avoid being accused of eavesdropping.

Later that night, Luca dragged her exhausted body back to her room.

When she opened the door, she was startled to see Luke sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for her. She quickly shut the door and locked it behind her.

"What happened to your face?" Luke's voice was filled with concern as soon as he saw the swollen half of her face.

Luca walked over and hugged him, finding comfort only in the security of his embrace. It was the only place where she could empty all her exhaustion and frustration.

"Abel slapped me," said Luca. She told him everything that happened in the lab today.

Luke slowly clenched his fist, his body stiffening. Luca noticed his tension and quickly held his hand. "I know you're angry, but now is not the time to act."

Luke loosened his fist and intertwined his hand with hers.

"Luke, now is not the time..." Luca said in a soft voice. "Think about our child. We can't act impulsively."

"It's my fault for not protecting you." Luke's voice was full of guilt.

Luca shook her head. "It's not your fault. I saw this coming. I could've avoided it, but I was thinking about the patient's situation, so I didn't react quickly enough. You can't be angry. You have to stay calm for me and for our child."

She gently comforted him, slowly easing the knot of frustration in his heart.

For Luca and for their child, Luke could not afford to be angry...

"I'll remember this. When the time cornes, I'll make sure he pays for it." Luke gently cupped her face, his gaze falling on the swollen area. He dared not to touch it, afraid it would hurt her. "Does it hurt a lot?"

Luca shook her head. "It doesn't hurt, not at all. I've taken some swelling-reducing and pain- relieving medicine, so I don't feel much right now."

She added, "As long as you're here, I don't feel any pain."

"It's my fault. I should've protected you better." Luke's heart tightened with guilt. He had gone to such lengths, even changing his appearance, all to protect Luca. Despite his efforts, she still ended up hurt.

"It's not your fault, really." Luca quickly reassured him. "If it weren't for my focus on the patient, I wouldn't have taken that slap. Whether you were there or not, I was bound to take it. Just remember this, and we'll make him pay for it later."

As she spoke, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him gently.

Normally, she would not want to kiss a stranger's face. However, at this moment, she had to because she knew it was the only way to calm the anger in Luke's heart.

Chapter 3374 Sell Herself For Money *Alright, I'm really tired. How about we rest for a bit?" After kissing him, Luca snuggled against his waist and playfully whined. "The medication I took has some strong side effects. I've been feeling drowsy for hours. Can we sleep now?"

A flash of concern appeared in Luke's deep eyes. His voice was hoarse as he replied, "Okay."

After lying down, Luca suddenly remembered Hera. She asked, "Have you met Hera?"

*Hera? That woman?" Luke pulled her closer into his embrace.

"Yeah." Luca could tell from his tone that he did not remember who Hera was, so she explained, "Hera was a classmate of ours in high school, the popular girl. She was interested in you back then. We even ran into her once when we were abroad."

Her memory was sharp, and she remembered clearly all the details about people and events that did not seem important.

Luke only caught one detail-she was a former classmate.

"I don't remember," replied Luke.

Luca continued, "Back then, Hera had a crush on you, but... I didn't expect her to be willing to sell herself for money now."

"Oh." Luke was not interested in this irrelevant woman.

Luca turned toward him, meeting his gaze. By now, he had taken off his deep blue contact lenses, and his dark pupils were as deep as a chasm.

*Luke, I'm not surprised that Abel has women," added Luca. "But when he brought Hera to the base, I started feeling uneasy.*

Luke frowned.

*This isn't like him. While this base isn't like the old ones on the island, you and I have observed it for a while now. There aren't really any shady weapons here. Even if the cops show up, there won't be much danger.

'But he's the type of person who wouldn't bring women from the outside to the base. Don't you think bringing Hera here must serve some kind of purpose?"

What bothered Luca the most was this.

Luke suddenly began to think, and a thought appeared in his mind. "This Hera... I don't really remember her." Luca nodded. She understood.

Luke had been groomed as an heir since he was young, so he probably did not remember many of his high school classmates. Plus, he did not attend that school for long.

"I do find her familiar, though," continued Luke. "But the familiarity isn't because she's a former high school classmate. It's because..."

He paused for a moment, then added, "I think her eyes look like Kassy's."

Kassy was his enemy, so he had a very clear memory of her face. Even after all these years with no contact with Kassy, he still remembered her well.

Luca was shocked. "Isn't Kassy a foreigner?"

*Yes, she is. But their eyes really are quite similar," replied Luke. "The only difference is the color of their irises."

*Right. Hera was already beautiful in high school, but her eyes looked different back then. It seems she had surgery to make them look different. That could be why her eyes look so much like Kassy's. Maybe that's why Abel is with her. But something about this doesn't sit right with me..." The more they discussed it, the more unsettling it became.

Luke suddenly asked, "Where do you plan to find a donor for the volunteer's eyes?"

"Mr. Shanks' plan is to transplant from someone who just died. Of course, the channels aren't legal, but with enough money, you can buy anything," answered Luca. Then, she suddenly thought of something.

"You're not suspecting...

Luke lightly brushed his hand over her back. "I hope not. But whether it's true or not, there's nothing you can do about it. Do you think if you told Hera to run because it's dangerous, she'd actually listen and leave?"

"No..." Luca knew Hera's nature. She was only close to Abel for the money.

She would even offer up her body for money. If Luca told her that Abel had brought her here because of her eyes, Hera would not believe it and would probably tell Abel.

In the end, Luca would still be the unlucky one.

"We can't change anything for now," Luke continued to comfort her. "Besides, if she doesn't believe you, nothing you say will matter. And from what you're saying, the eye transplant for the volunteer is still a long way off. Maybe by then, Abel would've taken Hera away. Maybe we're just overthinking it.

*Even if he plans to operate on Kassy, I'll have already taken action by then, so Hera should be safe."

"I hope so." Luca thought his analysis made sense, and her unease gradually faded. However, the side effects of the medication started to take effect.

Drowsiness swept over her. She gradually fell asleep.

The night deepened, and the small villa was quiet again.

Most of the people inside had fallen asleep.

However, some were still restless. After tossing and turning, one of them got up.

Hera looked at Abel, who was already fast asleep, then quietly got out of bed and left the bedroom. She felt physically exhausted and, for some reason, deeply wronged.

Hera was upset.

Abel did not stand up for her regarding that woman named Luca and even punished her in that way today. Hera did not mind the punishment itself, but she felt wronged. It made her heart ache.

The negative emotions grew, and even when it was in the middle of the night, she still could not fall asleep.

She went downstairs to the second floor.

"Who's there?" A voice suddenly sounded from the darkness.

Hera jumped in surprise.

The lights were turned on, and a man, recognizing her as the boss' woman, let out a sigh of relief. "Ms. Sanchez, why are you wandering around this late at this hour?"

Hera patted her chest, surprised to find someone patrolling at this hour.

*You have patrols at night?" asked Hera.

"Yes." The man nodded. His gaze was on her.

She was wearing a rather revealing nightgown. Her graceful figure was fully exposed, and the man's gaze became even more heated.

Hera did not expect there to be anyone patrolling at this late hour, so she had not put on a jacket before coming out. She did not feel shy about the man's stare. Instead, she stood confidently and let him look.

She loved being admired by men like this. It made her feel accomplished.

With Abel around, these men could only look at her, but they could not do anything. Being stared at did not harm her at all.

"It's just a small villa. Why are you patrolling so late? Is there something valuable here?" Hera asked teasingly." You almost scared me to death."

The man felt his mouth go dry. With her standing there so openly, allowing him to look his fill, there was no way he could control himself. A woman this beautiful, with such a sexy figure...

Their boss was really lucky!

*Ms. Sanchez, you should avoid wandering around at night. We patrol every night, so it might startle you," replied the man, not answering her question about what was in the villa. Instead, he reminded her not to roam about carelessly.

"Alright," Hera replied impatiently, feeling a heat in her body from the man's gaze. She then asked, "Do you know where Lucius' room is?"

Chapter 3375 Hera Betraying Him The man remained cautious. When he heard Hera was looking for Luke's room, he immediately asked, "What do you need with Lucius?"

Hera felt like her intentions had been seen through, and a sense of unease washed over her.

However, when she thought about her status and position, she confidently replied, "Your boss said that Lucius is to serve me from now on. I'm hungry now, so I need him to go get me some late-night snacks. What's the matter? Is that not allowed?"

The man remained silent, thinking that Hera could just order delivery.

Why go to another man's room in the middle of the night?

He thought about a possible reason and could not help feeling a little jealous, thinking that he was definitely more handsome than Luke. His feelings of imbalance grew. Why go to Lucius and not him?

Hera, noticing his hesitation, snapped, "What are you zoning out for? Are you going to go for him?"

If it had been any other task, the man would have been happy to step in.

Still, something like getting late-night snacks? He would rather leave that to Luke. So, he answered, "Ms. Sanchez, Lucius' room is the first one on the left on the second floor."

"Okay, got it. You can go now," Hera replied with a sweet smile before heading upstairs.

The man rubbed his nose, watching her graceful figure as she left. If only he could spend a night with Hera, he would be the happiest man alive.

Hera came to the second floor.

*First room on the left," muttered Hera as she gently pushed the door open.

The room was dark, and as she fumbled along the wall to turn on the lights, she was shocked to find the bed empty. There was no one there.

Hera was stunned for a moment.

What was going on? Where was he?

Hera left the room. Unable to find Lucius, she felt a little lost.

Reluctantly, she returned to her room. When she opened the door, the lights that had been off flicked on.

Abel was sitting on the couch, his expression dark with anger. "Where did you go?"

Hera jumped in surprise.

"Why are you awake?" After Hera regained her composure, she walked over to sit on the couch with a seductive air.

As she recalled what had happened earlier that afternoon, she could not help but feel a little scared, but she still mustered the courage to try and please him.

Abel's voice was cold and ominous as he repeated, "Where did you go?"

Hera smiled. Her delicate hands rested on his chest as she traced circles with her fingers. She said in an overly sweet tone, "I spent hours with you this afternoon without eating anything, so I went downstairs to find something to eat. But there was nothing, I don't even know the address of this place, so I couldn't order delivery. Darling, I'm so hungry."

"Hungry?" Abel reached out and lifted her chin. The soft touch stirred an urge to destroy her.

"Yes, I'm really hungry." Hera tried her best to look pitiful. However, in reality, she often skipped dinner and was used to it.

Abel immediately pulled up her nightgown.

Hera gasped, feeling a sense of hopelessness.

She thought things had calmed down, but it seemed there was more to come.

If it had been Lucius, she would have gladly accepted. However, it was Abel, and all she felt was fear and reluctance. It was terrifying...

Hera could not enjoy it, but she had to go along with it. It was not until more than an hour later that she finally drifted into a deep sleep.

A flash of violence crossed Abel's eyes as he gently stroked the woman's face.

Hera mumbled in her sleep and turned over.

Abel let out a cold snort. Hungry?

She really knew how to fool him.

Abel was not stupid. He knew Hera was careful about maintaining her figure and could go an entire day eating very little. A person who ate so little could not possibly be truly hungry.

Whatever her reasons, seeing her walk around in such a revealing nightgown made him suspicious of her intentions.

Abel would never allow Hera to betray him in a place like this.

He gently traced his fingers over her eyes. Those eyes belonged to the woman he loved most. Therefore, he would not allow those eyes to see the bodies of other men on the Island of Despair.

*Kassy, I'll save you soon. Just wait for me," Abel whispered softly in Russian.

In her sleep, Hera furrowed her brows, sensing something unsettling. Still, she did not open her eyes.

When Luca woke up the following day, Luke was already up.

She stretched and grabbed her phone to check her face.

Thanks to Shanks' medicine, the swelling on her face had gone down significantly, and now, there was just a faint mark left.

Luca could not help but marvel again at Shanks' amazing medicine.

If only Nina had this kind of medicine when she was slapped, things would have been different.

As Luca thought about it, she checked Nina's social media and saw she was still in the Maldives. Luca silently vowed that once they dealt with the Island of Despair, she and Luke would go on a vacation.

She would wash away the frustrations and grievances of this time and embrace a new life.

After preparing breakfast, Luca sent one serving to Abel while the others gathered around the table to eat.

One of the men spoke up. "Did you guys hear? Ms. Sanchez was wandering around on the first floor last night. I almost thought a thief had broken in and was about to sound the alarm."

"What was she doing wandering around at night?" asked Gerald.

The man recalled seeing Hera's graceful figure the night before and could not help but savor the memory. He then looked at Luke. "She said she was hungry and went to find Lucius to buy her some late-night snacks."

Everyone looked at Luke.

Luca also turned to Luke, surprised to hear that Hera had gone to find him.

He was wearing a mask, and he was not exactly handsome among these people. So, how could he attract Hera's attention?

Could it be the workings of fate?

It was just like how she changed her face, yet Luke was still subconsciously drawn near to her.

Could it be that Hera had always admired Luke, so even though he had a new face now, she still could not help but be drawn to the aura he exuded?

The man looked at him with envy. There was a smile on his face that carried a hint of crude teasing. "Lucius, did Ms. Sanchez come looking for you afterward?"

"No," answered Luke.

"What? How could that be?" The man did not believe it, suspecting Luke was lying.

When a woman as alluring as that entered a man's room in the middle of the night, something was bound to happen.

Since she was their boss' woman, even if something did happen, it could not be spoken about. With that thought, the man nodded knowingly, no longer dwelling on whether Luke was lying.

Gerald glanced at Luke and then at Luca. A hint of hesitation flashed across his eyes. It seemed like he had learned something he should not know.

Still, this was a tricky situation. Should he say something or not?

After some consideration, Gerald decided to keep quiet, fearing that speaking up might bring trouble.

The topic ended in Luke's silence.

Seizing the opportunity, Luca playfully teased him, "Looks like someone still has an interest in you."

"That's nonsense." Luke's expression darkened. He did not expect Hera to come looking for him in the middle of the night. He had been with Luca the entire night, so Hera could not have found him.

If Hera asked, he had a reasonable excuse to explain why he was not in his room. However, for some reason, he felt inexplicably uneasy.

Chapter 3376 It Nearly Took Her Life "I know you're not interested in her, but still, we should be cautious," Luca joked, trying to lighten the mood. She was actually worried that Hera's feelings for Luke might interfere with their plans.

Luca looked at him with concern. "You weren't in your room last night. If she really went to your room, she must've noticed your absence. How will you explain that?"

*There are plenty of reasons I could give." Luke already had an explanation in mind.

However, if Hera really had feelings for him and stayed here, it would definitely cause him some trouble.

*Just be careful." Luca felt helpless. Abel's sudden appearance had already messed up a lot of their plans. There was no way for her to leave this little villa now.

With Abel bringing Hera here and her developing feelings for Luke, it was bound to cause more trouble for him later.

Luca felt frustrated.

She had enough trouble on her own. She did not want Luke to get caught up in trouble too. She had never intended for him to be involved in the first place.

"Don't worry. I told you I'd protect you, and I will," replied Luke.

Luca felt a mix of gratitude and concern inside her. It was a complicated feeling. She glanced at the time and said, "I need to go give the volunteer the injection now. Hera might cause trouble for you later, so be careful."

She turned around and went upstairs after saying that.

When Hera woke up, it was already past 10:00 pm.

Abel had already gotten up, and when she sat up, she saw that he was not in the room. She let out a sigh of relief. Abel's violent treatment of her was terrifying.

She glanced at the marks on her body. There were purple and blue bruises, which did not look good at all. Thinking about how he had treated her the night before, she could not help but shiver.

It was terrifying.

It nearly took her life.

Hera changed her clothes and covered up the marks on her body before heading downstairs. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Gerald approached her. "Good morning, Ms. Sanchez."

A hint of disgust flashed across Hera's eyes when she saw Gerald. She lazily said, "Morning. Where's your boss?"

*Boss had breakfast and left this morning. He must have some matters to attend to. Ms. Sanchez, would you like some breakfast?" asked Gerald.

"Yes, I'm starving," replied Hera. Her hunger yesterday had been fake, but after the exhaustion she went through, she was now genuinely famished.

Gerald led her to the dining area and brought her breakfast.

Hera looked at the meal and frowned. "What kind of breakfast is this? Can I even eat it?"

"It's edible, and it actually tastes pretty good," replied Gerald. Luca was the one who prepared breakfast and the taste was excellent. "Don't worry. I knew you'd wake up a bit late, so I kept the pasta and sauce separately so that the pasta wouldn't get soggy."

Luca had started making breakfast for everyone, and the quality of their meals had improved dramatically.

They all loved Luca's cooking.

They did not have any particular preferences when it came to food. Whatever Luca made, they ate. Everything tasted great to them.

Hera was suspicious, but she picked up her cutlery and tried a bite of the pasta.

The taste was indeed good. She huffed in a slightly arrogant manner. "Not bad. Where did you buy this?"

"It's made by Ms. Craw," Gerald replied with a smile.

Hera froze for a moment. It was made by that woman, Luca?

She almost put her cutlery down, not wanting to eat. However, her taste buds had already been awakened, and her body was protesting, crying out for food.

Even though she wanted to deny it, she could not argue that the breakfast was delicious.

Hera had no choice but to keep eating. After all, compared to her inner resistance, she could not stand the thought of staying hungry.

She had no idea when Abel would be back, so she needed to get energy from food to prepare for whatever might come.

Gerald smiled happily as he watched Hera eat her breakfast, secretly praising Luca's cooking skills. Even people who disliked her could not resist the temptation of her food. Her culinary skills were indeed extraordinary.

Hera did not exactly eat elegantly. She seemed to be captivated by the delicious food.

By the time Gerald came back to his senses, Hera had finished her meal.

She wiped her mouth with a napkin and said, "This breakfast was awful. From now on, send someone out to buy me breakfast every morning."

Gerald stared at the empty plate, speechless.

Awful?

Then why did she finish it all?

This woman was something else.

Gerald grumbled to himself but did not say anything out loud. Instead, he just nodded. "Alright, Ms. Sanchez." Hera stood up, trying to act casual. She asked, "By the way, where's Lucius?"

"He's at the training ground," answered Gerald, pointing the way. "Just go out, take a right at the small garden, and there's a training ground. When they don't have shifts, they like to hang out there and work out."

*Alright." Hera smiled, her heart racing a little as she imagined what she might see. After all, when men worked out, they tended to take off their shirts to let the sweat flow. In that case, she could see Lucius' strong, muscular body!

With that thought in mind, Hera could not help but walk faster.

Gerald watched Hera's departing figure and shook his head helplessly. If their boss saw her being swept up in the excitement of love, he would probably lose his temper. The thought made Gerald shiver. He was silently relieved that Hera was not interested in him.

If she had set her sights on him, rejecting such a beautiful woman would be really tough.

Hera, unaware of what Gerald was thinking, quickly made her way to the training ground, which was a separate room. Before she even entered, she could already hear the sounds of training. It seemed like it was not just Lucius in there.

She stepped in quickly and immediately spotted the man she was looking for among the few guys working out.

He was punching the air.

He had not taken off his shirt, so she could not see his well-built body. Hera felt a bit disappointed but could not help but watch him as he worked up a sweat. She was utterly mesmerized.

The other men had already noticed Hera's arrival.

Seeing her focus solely on Luke, the earlier topic of conversation was instantly brought back up.

Several of the men were frustrated, feeling that they were stronger or better than Luke in some way. Why could Hera not see them?

They doubled their efforts.

One even walked over to Luke. "Lucius, how about a little competition?"

"Sure." Luke did not mind showing them up.

Hera stepped forward and said, "Stop. Don't bother."

Luke frowned. His attention had been on his punches this whole time. He had his back to the door and did not know she had arrived.

When did she come in?

He felt a wave of disgust and took a step back.

Hera did not think much of it, assuming he was just stepping back to avoid his sweat from getting on her.

She tilted her head to look up at Luke, who was a head taller than her. "I need your help with something. Come with me."

Chapter 3377 Composed Even When A Beautiful Woman Throws Herself At Him A flash of disgust flickered in Luke's eyes. He was completely fed up with Hera's relentless pestering.

"If you have something to say, just say it here." Unlike other men, he did not address her politely as 'Ms. Sanchez'.

His tone was so indifferent, and he did not even bother to call her by name.

Hera's smile did not falter. She thought he was only acting this distance because there were so many people around, and he could not openly show his affection for her.

Hera replied in a soft voice, "It's something important, and they won't be able to help. Come with me."

Luke frowned and remained motionless.

People around them grew envious.

Even if Luke did not actually have a romantic interest in her, just helping Hera would be enough to earn points in their boss' eyes. Their jealousy turned into playful teasing.

"The boss' girlfriend's asking for help. Just go already. What's with the cold act? It's no fun," teased one of them. Others chimed in, "Yeah, seriously. Just go. Who are you trying to impress with that attitude?"

Luke's sharp gaze swept across the crowd. Instantly, those snickering shut their mouths. No one dared to say another word.

Hera slightly furrowed her brows when she saw his reaction. Why did this all feel so familiar?

He could effortlessly silence a crowd with just a glance.

Her thoughts drifted back to her teenage years. He seemed just like that man who had a domineering presence.

Previously, if a group of troublemakers caused chaos at the school gate, all it took was Luke stepping forward. His sheer presence was enough to intimidate anyone, no matter how many there were.

Hera's expression softened. It was as though she was transported back to high school, looking at the boy she was once in love with.

*Enough already. I really do have something important to discuss. Besides, didn't your boss tell you to listen to me? What's with this attitude now?" Hera frowned.

Luke realized that if he stayed here any longer, the situation would only escalate. Reluctantly, he followed Hera. She led him to a quiet corner of the garden.

There was no one else around. It was the perfect spot for a private conversation.

Hera turned to him. Her eyes were full of longing as she gazed at him intensely. "I really do need to talk to you." Luke's voice remained cold. "Then say what you need to say."

"There's no one here. Can't you be a little nicer to me?" Hera looked at him knowingly like she was telling him to cut the act and she knew how he felt.

Luke stared at her, baffled. Whether it was back then or now, when had he ever been nice to her?

*If you're done, I need to get back to training," replied Luke.

Hera bit her lip, then suddenly grabbed his arm.

Luke flinched as though he had been touched by something filthy. He quickly jerked his arm away and frowned in disgust. "What are you doing?"

"Why did you pull away from me?" Hera's heart stung with hurt. His rejection had wounded her deeply.

"You're the boss' woman." Luke used it as an explanation for his aversion.

"So what if I'm his woman? That doesn't mean we can't be friends, does it?" Hera was irritated. She regretted telling Gerald yesterday that she was Abel's girlfriend. She assumed Luke was keeping his distance because of that.

After all, Abel was terrifying when angry.

Although Hera did not fully understand what kind of organization it was, she had a rough idea. Everyone seemed to fear Abel, which was enough to convince her that he was truly dangerous. She was afraid of him too, after all.

However, when it came down to fear or money, the temptation of wealth won out.

*Sorry, I don't make friends. If that's what you're after, there's no need. If we're done here, I'm going back to training," replied Luke. Sure enough, Hera was interested in him, just as Luca had predicted.

In a place full of better-looking men, why had Hera latched onto him?

*Are you really this heartless?" Hera could not explain it, but being rejected by a man who did not like her felt strangely painful.

It was not like Luke was anything special to look at.

So why did it hurt so much?

Hera closed the distance between them again, persistent. "Honestly, I don't just want to be friends. You're very attractive to me, and you're exactly my type. How about this? You can come keep me company when Abel isn't around. How does that sound?"

She raised her hand and traced small circles on his chest. Hera was well aware that this move usually worked on men. She had used it enough times to know that no man could resist it.

Hera assumed that he would agree. He would not have to pay a cent and would gain a beautiful companion to satisfy his needs. What man would refuse that?

Hera lifted her hand and lightly traced his Adam's apple with her fingertip.

Luke's disgust deepened. He frowned and pushed her hand away. "Do you not understand plain English? I'm not interested in you. And..."

He paused for a moment, deciding it was better to be as blunt as possible. That way, she would not come looking for trouble again.

His gaze turned icy as he said, "With or without the boss in the picture, I wouldn't touch you. Stop deluding yourself. There are plenty of other men here. If the boss can't satisfy you and you need to act out, go find someone else. Leave me alone.

*Otherwise, even if I get punished, I'll make sure the boss knows what you've been up to."

Then, he turned around and walked away.

Hera stood there, feeling humiliated. She could not understand it. She prided herself on her charm, yet here was a man who had outright rejected her. He reminded her so much of her first love.

That boy had rejected her then.

Now, this man was doing the same.

Hera, humiliated and furious, shouted, "Stop!"

Luke had not planned to pay her any attention, but her next words made him pause.

"I know you weren't in your room last night. It wasn't even your turn to patrol. So where would a normal person go in the middle of the night? If I tell Abel about this, what do you think he'll say?" threatened Hera.

A flash of cold fury flashed across Luke's eyes.

So, women really did understand each other.

Hera had carried out exactly what Luca had warned him about.

Luke turned around. His expression was cold and arrogant as he stared at the woman before him. She was so determined to destroy him simply because she could not have him. "Go ahead and say whatever you want. I don't care."

Hera's face turned red with rage, and she nearly choked on her breath. "Aren't you afraid?"

*If the boss finds out that you opened my door in the middle of the night, what do you think he'll say? Hera, if anyone should be scared, it's you. I wasn't in my room because I stepped out to use the restroom. But you, dressed in your nightdress, barged into a man's room at that hour. What's the matter? The boss can't satisfy you, so you had to sneak into other men's rooms at night?"

Then, Luke turned and walked toward the training grounds.

Hera stomped her foot in frustration. She spotted a tree near her and kicked it hard. The leaves rustled and fell to the ground as she shouted furiously, "Argh! He makes me so mad!"

Not far away, Gerald crouched in the corner, having overheard the entire conversation. He could not help but admire Luke.

Even with a beautiful woman practically throwing herself at him, he remained composed.

If it were any other man, they would have forgotten all about the boss and the rules. He would have taken her up on the offer without a second thought!

Chapter 3378 This Guy's The Real Deal Not only did Luke not give in, but he wasn't intimidated by Hera's threats either. Instead, he turned the tables and intimidated her right back.

Gerald could not help but feel a sense of admiration for Luke.

If it had been him in that situation, he would not have had the guts to refuse Hera outright. Even if he did not want to comply, who would dare offend the boss' future wife?

Even though her position was not set in stone, for now, Hera's status remained unshakable.

Yet Luke did not try to curry favor with her. Faced with threats and temptation, he stood his ground, even flipping the situation to intimidate her instead.

Gerald quietly gave a thumbs-up.

*This guy's the real deal," he muttered to himself.

After venting her frustration on the tree, Hera stormed back. Her eyes were red and swollen.

When she came to the second floor, she caught sight of Luca stepping out of the lab with a tray in hand. She quickly approached.

*Stop right there!" Hera snapped sharply.

Luca frowned as irritation bubbled up inside her. Why was Hera here again....

"I'm not feeling well. Where's your doctor?" Hera's initial intent had been to cause trouble, but remembering Abel's warning yesterday, she ultimately chickened out.

Luca gestured toward the lab behind her. "In there."

Hera reached for the door, ready to push it open.

Luca offered a calm reminder, "Knock first. Wait for Mr. Shanks' permission before entering and try to stand by the door when you speak. The equipment inside is critical. If anything gets damaged..."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hera's temper flared. She was convinced that Luca was subtly mocking her. Did she mean that she was not important enough to be trusted around the lab's valuable equipment?

Even though Luca had meant no harm, Hera twisted the words into an insult.

Hera immediately felt as if her most vulnerable spot had been hit.

She had cried to Abel about Luca's behavior, but not only did he fail to defend her, he even warned her not to cause trouble with anyone in the lab.

Luca, sensing Hera's rising hostility, stopped talking. Her expression turned colder. "Do whatever you want." Her warning had been sincere.

Shanks was fiercely protective of his lab.

After all, everything in the lab was incredibly important to him, even something as small as a test tube. After all, its medical value could not be easily measured with numbers.

Those who understood this would not casually wander around the lab, fearing they might accidentally damage something and disrupt the experiment.

Without another word, Luca turned around and headed toward the volunteer's quarters.

Hera narrowed her eyes at Luca's retreating figure. A wave of annoyance filled her heart.

*Seductress!" Hera spat under her breath. The moment she saw Luca, she noticed the swelling on her face had almost completely faded. Her delicate and beautiful features were restored.

At the same time, her stunning beauty made it hard for men to look away.

However, just like two kings could not rule the same kingdom, women could not tolerate having someone more beautiful than them in the same space.

Hera's competitive nature would not allow any woman to outshine her, especially not in a place where she thought she should reign supreme. A quiet hatred brewed inside her. She wished she could deal with Luca once and for all.

She turned around, intending to barge into the lab.

As her hand reached the doorknob, she recalled Luca's earlier warning and reluctantly knocked instead.

*Come in," a man's voice called from inside.

Hera's gaze hardened. She thought Luca might be in the middle of an experiment, but it seemed like she was just in there with a doctor.

A man and a woman alone together... If nothing happened between them, she would question the man's sanity. Hera pushed open the door and walked toward the man. "Are you the doctor? I'm not feeling well. I need you to..."

"Get out!" Shanks' expression darkened when he saw her barge right in.

Hera froze for a moment, unsure if she had heard him right. "What did you say?"

"Get out!" Shanks' gaze sharpened.

Hera felt a jolt of fear. She instinctively stepped toward the door, but something held her back.

Why was she afraid?

She was Abel's partner!

She was not here to cause trouble. She only wanted a doctor's help.

Why should she leave?

*I'm not feeling well. I need you to examine me." Hera stood her ground, refusing to leave.

Shanks' eyes narrowed like a hawk's, sharp and calculating. Hera felt as though she were being torn apart, and her body could not help but tremble. The feeling only fueled her anger even more.

How dare this man speak to her like that? Did he not know who she was?

"I'm busy. Get out." Shanks was usually indifferent toward others, but he had never been as fierce as he was now. His response was a clear sign he was beyond annoyed. He was furious now that his limit had been crossed. However, Hera did not pick up on this and tried to argue, "What's your problem? Do you know who my boyfriend is? He's your boss! You're just a lowly employee. Show some respect, or I'll make sure he fires you." Shanks' eyes turned even colder. He could not fathom how Abel ended up with such a shallow woman.

Why even bring her to the base?

Normally, Shanks did not care about Abel's life. As long as it did not interfere with his research, he would not bother to interfere.

However, this woman was different. She did not just break into his lab. Now, she was arguing with him too.

Shanks, someone who usually could not care less about anything, felt irritated for the first time. It was also his first time feeling an intense dislike for a woman. As this thought crossed his mind, he picked up a scalpel from the table.

Hera jumped back in shock. "What are you doing? I'm your boss' woman. If you dare to do anything to me, he'll never let you get away with it! I'm not joking..."

Hera watched in fear as Shanks advanced toward her with a scalpel in hand. Her body trembled, paralyzed with fear. For some reason, her legs felt like they were glued to the floor. She could not move.

At that moment, Gerald appeared at the door to the lab and saw the scene unfolding. He could not help but be startled for a moment. "Ms. Sanchez, what's going on?"

Tears filled Hera's wide eyes as she turned slowly to Gerald, her voice pleading for help. "This man... He's trying to kill me. Please help me."

Gerald stood frozen, glancing briefly at her.

She was not tied up...

*Ms. Sanchez, you really should leave. Mr. Shanks doesn't like people barging into his lab," Gerald dared not to enter. Was she too scared to run?

Why was she just standing there, frozen?

Hera, shaken by his words, finally found the strength in her legs to move. She stumbled toward the door.

With a few quick steps, she was out of the lab.

However, her breath came in short, ragged gasps as though she had just escaped a near-death experience...

Gerald looked back at Shanks, who was still making his way toward her, and swallowed hard. He tried to explain," Mr. Shanks, Ms. Sanchez just arrived yesterday. She doesn't know the rules here. Please don't hold it against her."

Shanks remained silent. Still holding the scalpel, he walked toward the door.

Hera shuddered with fear.

This was too much.

Gerald continued to plead, "I assure you, Ms. Sanchez won't act so recklessly again. Please, just forgive her this once."

Shanks did not respond, simply closing the door behind him.

With a loud bang, the tension in Hera's body finally eased.

Chapter 3379 Stay Right Here And Wait For Me Sensing the looming danger fading away, Hera furiously demanded, "What is wrong with that man?"

Gerald let out a sigh of relief. He had been truly worried that Shanks might take a few swipes at Hera.

It was common knowledge that medical professionals could be terrifyingly skilled. They could cut with precision, avoiding vital organs, leaving you in excruciating pain but far from death.

Cerald had witnessed Luca's expertise in this field and knew Shanks likely had the same skills. That was why he would not dare provoke him.

If Hera ended up hurt and miserable, Abel would hold them accountable for failing to protect her. Shanks, however, would walk away unscathed. The blame would fall squarely on them.

"Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Shanks doesn't like people entering his lab without permission. Everything in there is extremely valuable to him." Even though Gerald did not understand why, it was what the others told him, and he dutifully passed on the message.

"I knocked, and he told me to come in." The expression on Hera's face was icy cold.

"It's not the same. When he said 'come in, he just meant you could open the door, not actually step inside," clarified Gerald. Inside the lab was one big shot, and outside was another.

Clearly, the big shot outside was harder to deal with, and unfortunately, she was his responsibility.

Cerald felt a headache coming on.

"What's with all the rules? Isn't he just working for Abel like the rest of us? Weirdo," Hera muttered coldly. As she was about to leave, she noticed Luca stepping out of another room.

Her eyes darkened as she recalled Luca's earlier warming, which she had brushed off at the time.

"Stop right there," Hera commanded sharply.

Gerald's heart skipped a beat. He secretly cursed his bad luck. 'Oh no, she's about to cause trouble again!' Luca stopped, her gaze icy and indifferent as she looked over. "What now? Getting kicked out by Mr. Shanks wasn't enough for you? What else do you want?"

Gerald's heart skipped again.

He could not afford to offend either of these women.

Hera's face turned ugly. "You must be feeling pretty smug right now, huh? Let's see if you dare step out of this lab. If you do, I'll find a way to deal with you!"

Then, she turned around and stormed off.

Luca muttered under her breath, "Ridiculous. I wasn't the one who kicked you out. If you've got guts, take it up with the person who did."

Hera hesitated for a moment, considering turning back to defend her dignity, but then she heard Luca say, "Mr. Shanks can cut precisely to avoid vital organs, and so can I. Best not to mess with me, or you might not even know how you die."

Hera stumbled, her eyes reddening with anger. She had the overwhelming urge to slap Luca across the face!

However, Gerald had warned her. Everyone in the lab had been trained before.

Unless Abel avenged her, no one else would dare confront Luce. She had no way to vent her frustration. Feeling utterly wronged, Hera left in tears of frustration.

Luca simply pushed the lab door open and went inside.

Hera stood there listening for a while but heard nothing from inside. She could not help but ask Gerald, "She didn't even knock! How could she just walk right in?"

Gerald felt exasperated, suddenly realizing that a pretty face did not necessarily mean a sharp mind.

"Ms. Sanchez, she's part of the lab staff. Of course, she can come and go freely. Besides, she knows exactly what everything in the lab is and how to use it. Even if she fiddles around, she won't break anything." Gerald reminded her gently.

Hera let out a cold snort. "So what if she works in the lab? Doesn't she..."

Her words faltered and trailed off. She left the rest unspoken.

It finally dawned on her that lab personnel did not need to knock because they were Shanks' colleagues or subordinates.

"Where's your boss? When will he be back?" asked Hera as she made her way downstairs, abruptly changing the subject.

The humiliation she had endured today would not go unaddressed. She was determined to tell Abel everything and demand justice.

If she could not take it out on the lab staff, she would find another target-the man called Lucius.

How dare he have the audacity to reject her?

Hera swore to herself she would make him regret it.

"How would I know?" Gerald replied helplessly. "Our boss' whereabouts aren't something low -level people like me are privy to."

"Fine, I'll wait." Hera seated herself on the living room couch. As men passed by, several pairs of eyes landed on her. Their gazes were blatant. Some were brazen, some admiring, and others lecherous.

Still, Hera did not mind.

A woman as beautiful as her was meant to be admired.

In her eyes, any man who did not appreciate her beauty was either useless or trash. Luke walked into the living room and immediately noticed Hera sitting there, exuding an air of arrogance like a queen enjoying her court. She seemed to relish the attention even the indecent stares from some men. Instead of feeling offended, she looked smug.

Luke's gaze lingered on her for half a second before moving away.

Hera was nothing like Luca. If those men dared to stare at Luca with such eyes, she would likely have already dealt with them. In this base, fighting was permitted as long as Abel's interests were not harmed.

However, life and death were up to fate. Losing could mean paying with your life.

Hera noticed the disdain in Luke's eyes. His icy blue gaze stayed on her for only a fleeting moment, and it stung her pride.

"Stop right there." Hera rose to her feet.

Luke acted as though he had not heard her and continued heading upstairs.

"Lucius, I told you to stop! Are you deaf?" Hera stepped forward and blocked his path.

"Do you need something?" Luke's tone was cold, laced with impatience.

At that moment, Hera felt as though the man standing before her was not Lucius but Luke.

Their tone of voice was so similar. It stirred a twinge of jealousy within her.

"I'm your master now. What kind of attitude is that?" Hera tilted her head arrogantly, only to catch the mockery in his eyes.

She frowned. What was that supposed to mean?

Did he not see her as his superior?

Hera put her hands on her hips, looking imperious. "I don't like the way you're looking at me.

I'm ordering you to change it immediately."

Luke's gaze shifted instantly.

Now, he was looking at her like she was an idiot.

Hera was furious.

Gerald hurried in, only to see the two of thern locked in a standoff on the staircase. He could not help but wipe the cold sweat from his brow.

How did they manage to clash again in just a few minutes?

Gerald secretly muttered to himself that Lucius really did not know how to play along. Nobody was asking him to get into a relationship with Hera. He just had to entertain her a little. How hard could that be?

"Ms. Sanchez, the boss is back," Gerald quickly informed her, thinking he was saving Luke from trouble.

Hera's eyes lit up with joy at the mention of Abel's return. For the first time, she realized that she was nothing in this villa without Abel. It made her crave his presence even more.

Now that he was back, she felt she had her pillar of support again.

With newfound confidence, she glared at Luke and declared, "I'm telling you, you're dead for treating me like this! I won't let you off! Stay right here and wait for me!"

Chapter 3380 Gerald Helping Him Lie Luke stood still, waiting as Hera had instructed.

Hera, on the other hand, walked toward the door with a look of eager anticipation on her face.

Cerald stepped forward. "Are you crazy? She told you to wait, and you're just standing there? Hurry up and go upstairs."

"Isn't she trying to cause trouble? Do you think I can just walk away from that?" Luke suddenly asked.

Cerald was rendered speechless. What Luke said made sense, so he patted his shoulder. "I heard everything Hera said to you in the garden. Pal, I respect you for being a man, but this time, you're on your own."

Luke remained expressionless. His gaze was fixed on Hera, who was now smiling brightly as she linked arms with Abel. Even so, his face betrayed no emotion.

Hera noticed that Luke, just as she had instructed, was standing there without moving. Her irritation flared up.

If he was too stubborn to bow his head and beg for mercy, then she would not hold back! "Darling, I've been so upset today without you around." Hera suddenly began to cry.

A hint of impatience flashed across Abel's eyes. A crying woman could sometimes be charming. However, when a man was already tired, she should know to stop.

Clearly, Hera did not understand how weary he was.

Listening to her sobs, Abel found himself growing fonder of Kassy, the woman who would never cry over trivial matters. Kassy was the one who held a place in his heart, the one woman who would stand beside him without acting like this.

Even though Abel was irritated, he played along with Hera. "What happened? Who's been bothering you?"

"Him!" Hera pointed at Luke. "While you were gone, he tried to take advantage of me!*

Before Luke could respond, Gerald took a couple of steps away, quickly distancing himself from the situation. At the same time, he was secretly marveling at how good Hera was at lying with a straight face.

Who would try to take advantage of her...

What a bold lie.

Abel narrowed his eyes and looked toward Luke.

"You?"

"I didn't." Luke remained calm, showing no signs of panic.

Hera wiped her tears. "You're lying. You tried to take advantage of me!"

"What exactly did I do to take advantage of you?" asked Luke.

"In the..." Hera paused for a moment, then continued, "In the bedroom! This morning at around eight o'clock, you went into my room and tried to take advantage of me."

She was not sure when Abel left, so she made sure to make the time later.

"Really?" Luke pointed at the living room's surveillance cameras. "There are cameras here, Ms. Sanchez. You might want to think twice before making baseless accusations."

Abel turned his gaze toward Hera.

Her face turned pale when she heard Luke's words. "I woke up before 6:00 am and have been on the first floor ever since. The cameras can show my movements. This is the first time I've gone upstairs. How could I have gone to the third floor to harass you?"

As Gerald listened to him, he could not help but silently give a thumbs up.

That was impressive.

Even in front of someone as intimidating as the boss, Luke managed to quickly defend himself and clear his name.

"I... I must have remembered it wrong!" Hera looked at Abel with a pitiful expression," Darling, I was just so scared I got confused. It was him in the garden, around 10:00 am." Luke turned to look at Abel.

If Abel sided with Hera, there was nothing he could do.

The garden had too many blind spots in its surveillance.

When Hera confessed her feelings to him there, she had been standing in one of those blind spots.

Abel's expression darkened. "Are you done making a scene? You got the time and location all wrong. How am I supposed to believe you?"

Hera opened her mouth but could not find the words. Lucius was not from the laboratory, yet Abel would not help her. Was she truly the one with the lowest status in this villa?

She could not offend anyone, and no one would stand up for her when she was wronged.

At that moment, Hera felt a deep sense of despair.

"I'm not making a scene. He's the one who..."

"Ms. Sanchez, are you going to mention how I wasn't in my room last night?" Luke said coolly, his tone calm but piercing. As a man, he could understand Abel's thoughts.

Even though Abel's heart belonged to Kassy, he would not tolerate a on him while he was with her.

han trying cheat Hera's face was drained of color. She did not expect Lucius to bring that up.

Abel narrowed his eyes. His piercing blue gaze was full of danger as he questioned Hera on what was going on.

Hera shook her head. "I didn't."

"You comered me in the garden today and said you'd use this to threaten me. You were forcing me to be with you" Luke did not like discussing such things. However, Hera's actions had been so annoying that he did not mind dealing with her.

Gerald, who was listening from the side, was equally stunned.

Abel roared, "What the fuck is going on?"

"I was just starving last night and wanted him to buy me a late-night snack, so I went to find him. But when I got there, he wasn't on patrol, and his room was empty." Hera shivered, feeling wronged as she spoke.

Abel turned to look at Luke.

"I wasn't in my room. But Ms. Sanchez, to use this kind of thing to threaten me into becorning your man... It makes me question whether you really wanted me to buy you a snack when you knocked on my door," Luke asked indifferently.

Hera raised her voice. "Of course, I did!"

Luke gave a mocking smirk.

Hera asked, "Then where did you go that night? There are cameras everywhere here. You can't lie about it."

Gerald felt that Luke was about to be comered, and after thinking for a moment, he stepped forward and said, "Mr. Abel, Ms. Sanchez, Lucius was in my room last night."

"In your room?" Before Abel could react, Hera shrieked, "Don't lie for him! Do you know the consequences of lying to us?"

Cerald trembled slightly. He knew all too well what those consequences could be.

Still, he did not want Luke to be punished.

He took a deep breath and explained, "The thing is, I was asking Lucius to teach me some boxing techniques. It got late, and he ended up resting in my room. There are two beds in my room, and we each took one. There was plenty of space, so he didn't return to his own room."

Luke was surprised that Gerald was actually helping him lie.

Did he know something he was not letting on?

A glimmer of curiosity flickered in Luke's deep gaze.

It seemed like it would be worth probing Gerald for more information later.

After hearing this explanation, Abel's expression darkened further. He locked his gaze onto Hera, his eyes filled with a cold intensity. "So, you really went to knock on his door because you were hungry?"

"Darling, listen to me. It's not what you think "What were you wearing yesterday when you went to knock on a man's door? And now, you're using this to threaten him? Hera, have you forgotten what I told you yesterday?" Abel's tone grew more menacing as he pressed on. Hera regretted it immediately.

She regretted letting her frustration cloud her judgment and rashly involving Luke in her attempt to get back at him.

"It's not what you think! Let me explain." Hera did not expect Luke to be so ruthless. He had openly exposed her attempt to use him to threaten him despite knowing he could face punishment. "It's all this man's fault for tempting me. I didn't do anything!"

Gerald could not help but shudder.

Luke lowered his gaze, appearing calm and submissive. "Boss, I've kept my distance from Ms. Sanchez, and I haven't crossed any boundaries."