Ch. 3431..3440

Chapter 3431 Go Far Down The Path Of Self-destruction "Alright. Ouch, it hurts when you flick me, Lanie!" Tommy pouted.

"Don't cry. You were just saying you'd protect your sister, and now, you're crying? What's going on?" Lanie rubbed Tommy's forehead. "Alright, I've rubbed it. Stop crying."

"Heh, Lanie, you're the best to me!" Tommy immediately beamed with happiness.

"The whole grandma situation is over. From now on, let's just behave ourselves and wait for Daddy and Ms. Luca to come back," Lanie told his younger siblings.

Even though their parents were not around, he had taken on the responsibility of being the elder brother. Despite being the same age as Rainie, he was much more mature.

"Yes, I'll listen to Great-Grandpa and you, Lanie!" Tommy nodded eagerly.

After Jason hung up on Allison, he let out a deep sigh.

Sue walked over with a plate of fruits and placed it beside him. "What's with that look? Have some fruits."

Jason picked up a toothpick, speared a piece of fruit, and brought it to her mouth.

Sue opened her mouth and ate the fruit, then urged, "Stop just feeding me. You eat too."

"Okay." Having been by Luke's side for so many years, Jason had dealt with countless tricky situations. However, Allison's issues were the one thing that always gave him a headache.

Although a hundred thousand dollars was not a lot compared to Luke's net worth and it would make Luke appear a little stingy if news got out, it was actually plenty for someone like Allison.

The problem was that Allison was always stirring up trouble. Luke was basically punishing her with that amount.

Jason understood her temperament well. If she was given too much, she would probably create even more problems.

All in all, a hundred thousand dollars might be a little for Allison, but it was enough for her to live. "What happened?" asked Sue, noticing his downcast expression. "Did your boss scold you?"

"His mother scolded me." Jason then explained everything about Allison to her.

"What?! A hundred thousand dollars isn't enough for her?" Sue was speechless.

"We're a family of four, and even including our parents' expenses, we don't spend anywhere near a hundred thousand dollars a month. How much can she possibly need if she's just on her own?"

"Exactly! This is also the boss' way of making sure she doesn't cause any more trouble. He has given her enough to live on, and since he's busy and can't keep an eye on her, this is his way of preventing her from making more drama. But she's not satisfied." Jason was rendered speechless too.

"Well, it's enough. Anyway, this is your boss' plan. Don't overthink it and just focus on doing the tasks he gave you," Sue said optimistically.

She did not press further on what Lake was busy with and started sharing what happened at the company today. Jason listened while replying to Luke's messages.

When he heard about Karen causing a scene, his brows furrowed together. "Why do I feel like Madam Mallory is a lot like Madam Allison's?"

"Who knows... But the worst thing Madam Allison has done so far is disfigure herself and steal from her own family. She hasn't gone as far down the path of self-destruction as Madam Mallory has," replied Sue, having analyzed what both Karen and Allison had done.

The two situations were completely different in nature.

"Yes, it's much easier to just lock her up in a mental institution," Jason agreed.

Currently, it was a critical time for Luke, and this matter required Percy's involvement. Therefore, Percy could not be distracted by other trivial matters.

Locking Karen up in a mental institution would make things simpler for Percy, allowing him to focus without needing to keep an eye on Karen. This way, he could also allocate more resources and manpower to the task at hand.

"Well, I still need to inform the boss about this," added Jason, dialing Luke's number again.

When Luke learned of Karen's hostage situation with Nina, his brows furrowed together.

Fortunately, Nina was unharmed. Otherwise, he might have had to deploy more people to manage things with Percy.

It was not that he did not care about Percy's situation, but the Island of Despair's matter was the top priority at the moment.

Luke hung up the phone and received a text from Luca.

[Abel has returned to the base.] Luke's heart tightened as he replied: [Be careful.] Abel's return to the base seemed like a signal.

A signal that preparations were underway...

Luca: [He asked me to go over. I'll check out the situation on his end first.] Luke put down his phone. "Abel has returned to the base."

"The battle is about to begin." Gordan, hearing this, could not help but say something dramatic. He felt oddly pumped up.

Gale rolled his eyes at him. "What's with your teenage angst? Can you drop it already?"

"Heh, I just haven't had any action for a while, so I'm excited. Plus, after Luca's treatment, I'm almost fully recovered. Now, it's time for those losers to see the might of my sharpshooting skills," replied Gordan as he made a shooting gesture.

"You make it sound so easy, but who was the one crying for his mom during the treatment?" teased Gale.

"I don't know what you're talking about. It wasn't me," Gordan quickly denied it.

"Let's wait and see. Luca is on his way to meet Abel. We'll know soon enough if he's making a move," replied Luke. "Alright, we'll wait for Luca's news." Gordon whistled.

After Gerald informed Luca to come downstairs, she appeared soon after.

Abel was sitting on the couch, holding a cigar in one hand and embracing Hera with the other.

Hera was nestled in his arms, looking demure and full of charm. Her smile and expression were captivating, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

The men from the gulp of Despair, who were standing in the living room, saw Hera and could not help but swallow.

However, they did not dare stare for too long. They were afraid that Abel would notice and punish them for lingering Hence, the men in the living room pretended to casually glance at her while secretly admiring her beauty.

Hera was not offended by the attention.

After all, whether it was one man or many, they were all looking at her. It did not make much difference to her. However, when these men saw Luca, their expressions instantly turned serious. They lowered their heads and remained silent like kids caught doing something wrong. It was almost as though they had been subdued by Luca.

Still, why?

Clearly, Hera was far more enchanting than Luca, yet the moment she stepped into the room, these men all bowed their heads in submission.

Luca stood to the side, greeting Abel in a cool, indifferent tone. "Good evening, Mr. Abel."

While everyone else called him "boss", she alone referred to him as "Mr. Abel". Hera could not help but wonder why Luca had such a special way of addressing him, and why this moody, unpredictable man did not seem to mind. Her gaze turned to Abel at the thought of this. As expected, he was not angry.

In fact, the corners of his lips curled into a smile as though something good had just happened. "You're grinning like you just hit the jackpot. Did something good happen?" Hera asked sweetly. Abel fixed his gaze on her, then nodded. "Yes, something good did happen."

Chapter 3432 Put Ms. Sanchez's Doubts To Rest "Oh? What made you so happy? Spill the tea." Hera's curiosity grew. Whatever it was that had Abel smiling like this had to be something big.

The last time she was with him, he had closed a billion-dollar deal over the phone, but his expression had remained indifferent. It was like it was just another ordinary day at the office.

However, he was currently grinning from ear to ear. Could it be something even bigger than that?

Abel set down his unlit cigar. His fingers lightly traced along Hera's cheek before resting on her eyes.

"Your eyes... They're beautiful," murmured Abel.

It was not the first time he had complimented her eyes.

Hera had gone for the perfect foxy-type eyes, and every man she met would gush over how stunning they were.

However, Abel was different. Other men would say her eyes were beautiful and then follow it up with praise for her face, her figure... The whole package.

Yet Abel? He never mentioned anything else but just her eyes. It was as if her face and other parts of her body were not as beautiful as her eyes.

Hera was confident in her looks. Nonetheless, Abel had never once complimented her face or her figure.

Now that she thought about it, something about that felt off. It was strange in a way she could not quite put into words. Instinctively, she glanced at Luca.

Luca was standing quietly with her eyes lowered.

"What are you looking at?" Abel's sharp eyes caught the subtle movement.

Hera came back to her senses and smiled. "Nothing. It's just that you've always complimented my eyes but never anything else. Are they really that beautiful? Feels like you're not even being serious anymore."

"They're really beautiful. They remind me of someone I used to know." Abel's voice dropped into a low murmur.

Hera blinked her eyes. The blue of her contact lenses shimmered like the ocean.

Abel stared into them, completely captivated.

When Hera heard him say that, she could not help but feel an uncomfortable pang in her chest. She knew that even though the friend he was referring to had to be a woman, she had no reason to feel jealous.

Even so, a strange, tight feeling pressed against her chest. Unconsciously, Hera placed a hand over her heart. "What's wrong?" Abel immediately noticed her movement.

Hera explained, "Maybe it's the heat. I've been feeling a little off all day. Oh, right. I went out earlier. Maybe I'm just overheating from that."

"You had no reason to go out. What were you doing?" Abel felt a little nervous when he heard she was not feeling well.

"I just wanted to buy something," Hera replied casually, "And I happened to see Luca going out too, so I followed her for a bit. But then..." Hera trailed off, deliberately leaving her words hanging.

Abel's sharp eyes immediately locked onto Luca. "Where did you go?"

"I went shopping," Luca answered calmly.

"What did you buy?" Abel pressed.

"Women's essentials. I also picked up a few things for Gerald. If you don't believe me, I still have the receipt. Gerald can vouch for me too," replied Luca. Gale had been meticulous. He made sure to keep the grocery receipt that had a precise timestamp.

It left no room for doubt.

Luca pulled out the receipt, and Gerald quickly added, "Boss, I asked Ms. Craw to grab a few things for me while she was out."

However, Abel was not the type to believe words alone. He stretched out his hand. "Let me see the receipt."

Luca handed it over, and Abel's eyes scanned the timestamp. There were no obvious issues. It was from this afternoon.

Still, his gaze lingered on Luca, scrutinizing her.

Hera also glanced at the receipt. Her jaw tightened in frustration before she suddenly sneered, "Oh, really? You went shopping, huh? Then why the hell were you at the ancestral hall?"

"So, you were following me the entire time?" Luca deliberately raised her brows in a show of mild surprise. "I did stop by the ancestral hall, but it's because I heard it had just been renovated, so I went to take a look."

"Come on. You're not even from here. What business would you have at the ancestral hall?" Hera frowned. "You were obviously meeting someone."

Gerald's pulse spiked. Did Luca meet Lucius at the ancestral hall? Was she not asking to get caught by doing this? He could not help but steal a glance at her.

Still, Luca remained unbothered. "I contributed to the hall's restoration, so I was just checking on it. Is that not allowed?"

"Oh, give me a break. What did you do? Mix cement? Lay bricks?" Hera clearly did not believe it. "Babe, she's making things up. She was obviously meeting someone behind your back!"

Luca put on a faint smile and replied, "Mr. Abel knows what I used to do. He also knows whether or not I contributed to the hall. The real question is, why are you always coming after me, Ms. Sanchez?"

Luca did not want to cause trouble for Hera, but since she kept picking fights with her, she would be a fool if she let it slide now. Hera was not the only one good at redirecting the chaos.

She arched her brow and smirked. "Ms. Sanchez, is it because Lucius talked to me for two extra minutes instead of you? Are you still bitter over that?"

"You!" Hera's face was drained of color. She did not expect Luca to bring up Lucius.

A flicker of doubt crept into her mind. Did Luca really just go out shopping? Did she not sneak off to meet Lucius? "You're just talking nonsense!"

"You even asked me for Lucius' contact number before, but I told you I didn't have it. Oh, I see what's going on. You thought I was meeting Lucius, so you decided to follow me, didn't you?" Luca wanted to put an end to the trouble once and for all, so she was ruthless and showed no mercy.

"I already told you-I didn't meet up with Lucius. But if you don't believe me, Mr. Abel can investigate. He can check if Lucius even left his place this afternoon," said Luca. She knew only Hera had followed her, so there was nothing to hide.

"Fine!" Hera squeezed Abel's hand lightly. "Babe, I saw her all over Lucius before. That's why I was suspicious. You have to believe me. Just look into it, and I bet you'll find something."

Gerald's palms started sweating.

Why was she digging herself into a hole like this?

Was it possible that Luca never actually met Lucius today? Had he just been overthinking everything?

Abel narrowed his eyes, considering his next move.

Luca added, "I never intended to provoke Ms. Sanchez, but since she's so convinced I have something to hide, let's settle this once and for all. Mr. Abel, I insist you investigate. Please prove my innocence and put Ms. Sanchez's doubts to rest. I'm not lying, and I have nothing to do with Lucius."

Luca really had nothing to do with Lucius, but she did have something with Luke.

None of them knew that the man they had seen in the base before was actually Luke in disguise.

"You! Stop twisting my words! I don't have any feelings for Lucius!" Hera had initially wanted Abel to investigate, but now, with Luca turning the situation around, a wave of panic surged through her chest.

Chapter 3433 A Lamb Waiting To Be Slaughtered "Babe, don't listen to her nonsense. She's just trying to drive a wedge between us," Hera said gently, hoping to earn Abel's affection.

Abel did not take Hera's words seriously. Instead, he picked up his phone and made a few inquiries.

After checking with multiple sources to confirm where Lucius and the others had gone, the person on the other end of the line reported that Lucius had not left home in the past few days.

As Luca listened to the voice on the other end of the phone, her expression remained calm.

Gerald let out a sigh of relief but was also puzzled. He had always felt there was something going on between Lucius and Luca, yet unexpectedly, Luca's outing this time had nothing to do with Lucius.

Hera's face turned pale. So, it really was not because of him.

In that case, she...

Hera instinctively looked at Abel, only to find that he was already staring at her. Their eyes met, and Hera could not help but shudder. Abel's gaze was terrifyingly cold.

Just when she thought he was going to question her about Lucius, his next words made her breathe a sigh of relief. "Are you still feeling unwell?" asked Abel.

Hera was not actually feeling unwell anymore, but worried that Abel might press further, she nodded and said, Yes, I still feel awful."

Abel turned to Luca. "Take Ms. Sanchez to the hospital for a full-body check-up tomorrow."

Luca was startled for a moment and turned to look at them.

Hera felt that a full-body check-up was a bit excessive. She hesitated before saying in a low voice, "I think I'll be fine after some rest,"

"No. If something's wrong, I'll be worried." Abel gently traced the area under her eyes with his fingertips. "Be good and do as I say. Get a full examination so that I can be at ease."

"Alright," Hera agreed obediently, thinking that this was his way of showing he cared.

When a man gave a woman something, she should not refuse as it would only dismiss his goodwill. Therefore, Hera decided to accept his kindness.

Abel turned to Luca and asked sternly, "Did you hear me?"

"Yes, I got it," replied Luca. She glanced at Hera's happy expression but remained indifferent.

Abel arranging a full check-up for Hera probably meant he was preparing to take action. Yet Hera was still sitting there, blissfully unaware of what was coming.

Sensing Luca's gaze on her, Hera smugly shot her a look of triumph.

Luca caught her glance and secretly let out a sigh. What was there to be so proud of? She was nothing more than a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

After giving Hera a few more instructions, Abel reminded her to take good care of herself. He also promised to pick her up after the check-up and take her shopping. With that, he finally left the small villa.

The group dispersed.

Only Luca, Hera, and Gerald were left in the living room on the first floor.

Hera leisurely stood up from the couch and said to Luca, "You have to take me there for my check-up tomorrow. Make sure to arrange everything properly. I want VIP service. I don't want to be stuck waiting with the common crowd."

"Don't worry, Ms. Sanchez. I'll contact the hospital and arrange a full VIP check-up for you," replied Luca.

Hera smirked arrogantly. "It better be that way. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."

Then, she turned toward the stairs. It was as though she was showing off as she muttered to herself, "Ugh, which bag should I buy tomorrow?"

Gerald watched as Hera disappeared up the stairs, then turned to look at Luca.

Luca was on the phone, arranging the check-up with the hospital.

Once the call ended, Gerald asked, "Ms. Craw, can you really book a check-up this late at night?"

"I have a connection. I know someone at the hospital," answered Luca.

Luca had asked Johann for help. With Johann's vast network across the country, booking a medical appointment was an easy task.

"Wow, Ms. Craw, your connections are really impressive," complimented Gerald. "Don't flatter me. If you have a question, just ask." Luca did not react to his flattery.

He scratched his head. "It's not really a question, but something just feels off." "What feels off?" asked Luca.

"Well, the boss seems to treat Ms. Sanchez really well, right?" said Gerald.

She remained silent.

"But at the same time... he doesn't? He arranged the check-up for her and even promised to take her shopping afterward. That sounds nice, but if he really cared about her, wouldn't he let her stay somewhere better? This place is just a small villa, and it's filled with men. The environment is pretty average too. Why not put her in a five-star hotel instead?" Gerald mused.

Luca secretly let out a sigh. He was surprisingly perceptive.

Even someone as oblivious as Gerald could sense something was wrong. Meanwhile, Hera still thought Abel was treating her well.

"Who knows?" replied Luca. "Maybe Mr. Abel thinks this place is the safest for her."

"Safe, sure, but Ms. Sanchez isn't someone like us. Why would she even be in danger?" Gerald was still confused." A five-star hotel should be plenty safe too. This whole situation is weird."

Luca did not respond. She needed to inform Luke that Abel was running out of patience and about to make his move.

As she headed upstairs, Gerald followed her and sneakily asked, "Ms. Craw, you really didn't go out on a date today?"

"I was just handling some matters. Why would you think I was on a date?" Luca looked completely baffled. "Did you think I went on a date with Lucius too?"

"Well... you and Lucius seem to have great chemistry, so I just assumed..." Gerald trailed off, wondering if he had misread the situation.

"You assumed wrong. There's nothing like that. Don't spread rumors like that. If the wrong person hears it, I'll be the one in trouble," explained Luca before walking into her room.

As she reached the corner of the hallway, she suddenly stopped. She saw a man entering her room and hesitated for a moment.

These men would not dare make a move on her. However, someone actually dared to enter her room now...

Luca's eyes darkened. She decided to wait at the corner for the man to come out. The man was inside for only a minute before stepping out again. He came out empty-handed without taking anything.

Luca was not surprised. There was nothing valuable in that room anyway.

She waited until the man had walked some distance away before casually stepping out from the corner, pretending she had just arrived.

When the man saw her, his expression froze for a moment. A flicker of panic flashed across his eyes.

Luca remained indifferent, acting as though she had not noticed anything. She walked straight into her room.

She did not close the door immediately. Instead, she stood there and took a deep breath. There was no strange smell in the air.

That meant...

Her eyes darkened further as she pulled out her phone.

Luke had installed a monitoring system on this device when he knew she would be staying here. Luca ran a quick scan, and sure enough, the machine flashed a red light. She routinely checked it every day before chatting with Luke or the kids.

It was almost certain that Abel had instructed that man to do this. At the thought of it, Luca sent Luke a message, informing him about her taking Hera for a check-up tomorrow and the fact that her room had been bugged.

Chapter 3434 He's Insane Luca also reminded Luke to tell the kids not to contact her during this period. The device could not be removed. If it was, Abel would definitely notice.

Rather than making him suspicious or prompting him to install even better devices, it was better to just leave this one in place.

Luke quickly replied: (Got it.)

Luca put on a faint smile and began narrowing down the search, trying to figure out where that man had installed the device.

If it was just for listening, she did not care. It could stay. However, if it was a surveillance camera, she needed to be more cautious. In the end, she found the device under the bed.

She did not bother checking whether it was for listening or monitoring. After all, if it was placed there, the only possibility was that it was an audio bug.

A camera in that spot would not capture anything useful.

Anyone trained on the Island of Despair would not make such a rookie mistake.

After a quick wash-up, Luca went to bed.

The next morning, she received a message from Johann, informing her that the appointment at the hospital had been made. It was a full VIP package, and all she had to do was mention her name and someone would take Hera for the check-up.

After Luca replied to him with a word of thanks, she continued to freshen up before stepping out of her room. As she was heading downstairs, she ran into Shanks.

"Mr. Shanks?" Luca was surprised to see him at this time.

"Are you taking that woman for a check-up today?" asked Shanks.

"Yes, it was Mr. Abel's request," answered Luca, making it clear that she had no choice in the matter.

Even though she knew what Abel was planning, she had no way to refuse.

Shanks' eyes darkened. "Come with me. I need to talk to you."

"Alright." Luca nodded and followed him into the lab.

There were no surveillance cameras here, making it a good place to talk.

"Abel doesn't just want that woman's eyes. He wants her kneecaps too," said Shanks.

Luca's eyes widened in shock. "What?"

Abel must have completely lost his mind!

Bone transplants were usually done using the patient's own bones. There were hardly any cases of transplanting bones from one person to another. It was far too risky.

"I won't perform the surgery," Shanks knew there was no chance it would succeed.

Even though he might figure it out in the future, artificial bone technology was already highly advanced. There was absolutely no need for this kind of research.

"This surgery shouldn't be done. The risk of rejection is too high. Even if their blood types match, it won't change that. Mr. Shanks, you should try to talk to Mr. Abel again. Artificial kneecaps aren't bad at all," replied Luca.

The technology was already mature, and there was no reason to take such a dangerous risk.

"He won't listen," replied Shanks.

Abel was stubborn. He believed that artificial kneecaps would negatively affect Kassy's long-term health and insisted on using real ones instead.

Shanks thought the man was insane. He regretted getting involved in Abel's work now.

Even though researching was his passion and something he wanted to pursue, he had never intended for his work to be used to harm people.

Shanks did not consider himself a good person, but he was not cruel enough to destroy someone's life either. He strongly disagreed with Abel's approach and could not understand his reasoning.

"Mr. Shanks, if you can't convince him, there's no way I can," added Luca.

If Abel was determined to go through with it, there was nothing she could do to stop him. She was not about to try reasoning with him over something that was practically impossible to achieve.

Just because Abel would not dare touch Shanks, it did not mean he would not come after her.

Shanks remained silent.

Luca glanced at the time and said, "I have to take Ms. Sanchez for her check-up."

Then, she walked out of the lab.

When she got downstairs, Hera was still asleep.

Luca spotted Gerald and asked, "Do you have any instant macaroni and cheese?"

"Yeah, Ms. Craw. Are you having macaroni and cheese for breakfast? That's way too unhealthy," Gerald asked in shock.

"I don't have time to cook. Just make me some," replied Luca.

"Alright." Gerald worked quickly and soon handed her a steaming bowl of instant macaroni and cheese.

Luca ate it while it was still hot. She took a sip of water just as Hera finally made her way downstairs. She carried herself like a queen, looking down at everyone around her.

"Why are you eating instant macaroni and cheese?" Hera frowned when she saw what they were eating.

"Ms. Sanchez, we didn't prepare breakfast today," explained Gerald.

"What do you mean there's no breakfast? I'm starving! And I don't eat junk like that. Go make me something!" Hera ordered Luca in a commanding tone.

"You need to fast for your check-up," Luca reminded her. She placed the bowl in the sink and added, "Ms. Sanchez, I've already arranged everything with the hospital. Let's go."

It was only then that Hera remembered the check-up. She actually dreaded getting examined.

Hera knew her body was not in great condition. She was constantly staying up late, drinking, and smoking. There was no way her test results would look good.

The only reason she had agreed to it yesterday was because she had been swept up in Abel's sweet words. Moreover, he had promised to take her shopping for a new designer bag after the check-up. That was why she had said yes.

After waking up, Hera was not too keen on going.

"Ms. Sanchez, are you thinking of skipping the check-up?" Gerald immediately picked up on her reluctance.

"Who said that?" Hera firmly refused to admit that she did not want to go.

"Good. I was worried you might back out. After all, the boss promised you so many benefits. It'd be a real loss if you didn't go," Gerald reminded her, emphasizing the rewards she would get once the check-up was done. Luca cast Gerald an approving glance. He might not seem particularly sharp, but he knew exactly how to play on Hera's greed.

"Ms. Sanchez, are we going?" asked Luca.

"I never said I wasn't! What's the rush?" Hera pretended to be graceful as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "Go hail a cab first."

"Alright." Luca simply booked a cab through a ride-hailing app with her phone.

When the car arrived, she had Gerald bring Hera outside.

As Luca watched Hera take a few steps before dramatically opening an umbrella, she could not help but find it amusing. Was that really necessary? It was still early. The sun was not even that harsh yet.

She pulled open the back seat door. Hera bent down and got in.

Luca closed the car door, gave Gerald a slight nod, and got into the front passenger seat instead of sitting next to Hera. She then signaled the driver to start driving.

As soon as the car started moving, Hera said casually, "Ugh, I'm telling you, can't you book a premium car next time? Who knows how many people have sat in this cab? It smells disgusting!"

Luca felt embarrassed.

Was she trying to pick a fight with her or the driver?

The driver was clearly offended. "Lady, if my car stinks so bad, you're more than welcome to get out right now. And if you're looking for a luxury ride, maybe stop slumming it in that little villa and check yourself into a five star hotel. They'll hook you up with a Benz, Bentley, or Rolls-Royce, no problem."

Chapter 3435 At Least You've Got Some Sense "You!" Hera was clearly caught off guard that the driver had the nerve to talk back to her.

She yanked off her sunglasses, just about ready to snap back at him when the driver got a good look at her through the rearview mirror.

"Oh, it's you?" said the driver.

"Who the hell are you? Do I know you?" Hera's tone was arrogant as though she was naturally above him.

The driver reminded her, "Remember yesterday? You had me tail a cab and park outside some ancestral hall for half the day, and you refused to leave. I wasted a ton of gas just idling there with the A/C on because of you." Hera's face turned red, then pale. She did not expect Luca to randomly call a cab and end up with the same driver from yesterday.

Luca also found it a funny coincidence and glanced back. Hera's expression was awful.

The driver, being a straight shooter, did not hold back. "Huh. Funny how you didn't complain about my car smelling bad yesterday, but today, all of a sudden, it stinks? After I dropped you off, my next passenger actually complained that my car smelled too much like perfume. Two people in a row complained, so I even went and got it cleaned."

Hera's expression darkened even more. "What, you trying to shake me down for money now? Fine, when we get there, I'll pay you. It's just a car wash and some gas money. I can afford it!"

"Oh? So, you're not getting out of the car now?" teased the driver.

Hera frowned and reminded him, "We booked this ride through an app. You'd better watch yourself, or I'll file a complaint!"

"I booked this ride, sir. As long as you get us to our destination safely, there won't be any bad reviews." Luca reminded Hera that this ride had absolutely nothing to do with her.

"Luca, you..." Hera was furious that Luca was siding against her.

"Lady, at least you've got some sense." The driver chuckled.

The two of them completely ignored Hera, who was fuming in the back seat. The driver focused on the road while Luca casually replied to messages on her phone.

All of them were from Johann.

"Who are you texting now? Some guy?" Hera saw her expression and immediately asked.

Luca glanced back at her. "A doctor. Want to take a look, Ms. Sanchez?"

Hera knew Luca was doing it on purpose. Just as she was about to say yes, the driver casually chimed in, "Damn, you're kinda possessive. Don't tell me you actually like her?"

"Like her? No way!" Hera immediately denied it.

Luca put her phone away.

Soon, the cab pulled up to the hospital, and Luca paid through the app.

Hera scoffed, pulled out 200 dollars, and tossed the bills at the driver. "That should cover a few car washes for you."

Without waiting for a response, she pushed open the door and got out.

The driver clicked his tongue but pocketed the money without hesitation.

Luca led Hera into the hospital and gave the staff her name. The receptionist, having clearly been informed in advance, greeted her with extra enthusiasm.

"Ms. Craw, please fill out this form," the receptionist explained. "Since you don't have a prior record with us, we need to complete your file first."

"Alright." Luca handed the form to Hera. "Ms. Sanchez, fill this out."

The receptionist immediately understood that the person coming for the check-up was brought over by Luca and turned her attention to Hera, speaking to her even more warmly.

Hera, without even glancing at the form, handed over her ID. "You fill it out for me."

"Of course! Some of the questions will require your input, so I'll ask and you can just answer," the receptionist replied cheerfully.

Hera scrolled through her phone while absentmindedly responding to the questions. When the receptionist asked if she had any medical conditions, she snapped impatiently, "Isn't that what the check-up is for? If I already know whether I have any health problems, why the hell would I be here?"

The receptionist was stunned for a moment before patiently clarifying, "We're asking about any past medical history."

"I don't know! And if you keep annoying me with these questions, I'm not doing the check-up!" Hera huffed, clearly losing her patience.

The receptionist, feeling a little wronged, could only put down a note on the form. She was just following the hospital's regulations.

Left with no choice, she had to note on the form that the patient was extremely uncooperative. With that, she finished setting up Hera's file.

Then, the tests began-blood draws, scans, and more. They were all arranged smoothly.

Luca had nothing to do other than follow along.

Hera was given VIP treatment, but instead of enjoying it, she was beyond frustrated.

After seeing just how many vials of blood they had drawn from her, she finally exploded at Luca. "What the hell did you sign me up for? Why are they taking so much blood?!" demanded Hera eare Luca remained calm. "These are all tests that Mr. Abel specifically requested. Since you're doing a full-body check- up, of course, they need more blood."

Hera rolled her eyes repeatedly. She was on the verge of exploding!

Abel's request? Luca was always using Abel's name to pressure her. At the same time, a feeling of unease crept in. Just what kind of tests needed this much blood?

If this was not such a high-end and reputable hospital, she might have thought they were planning to sell her blood.

Thanks to the VIP package, the entire check-up was completed in under an hour.

As soon as Hera stepped outside, Abel's car was already parked at the curb. She shot Luca a glare before quickly storming over to the car.

Abel got out and opened the passenger door for her. Instead of getting in immediately, Hera clung to his arm and pouted. "Baby, look at my arm! It's all bruised!"

"What happened?" Abel glanced at it briefly before locking eyes with her, completely mesmerized.

"It's all her fault! She made me do all these tests, and they took so much of my blood!" Hera whined, pointing at Luca.

Luca walked over and explained to Abel, "Mr. Abel, Ms. Sanchez has completed all the required tests." "Good." Abel nodded.

Hera's eyes widened in disbelief. She yanked off her sunglasses and snapped, "Did you just say good? A bunch of those tests were meant for elderly people! She signed me up for everything! She's just wasting your money and making me suffer at the same time! Baby, you have to do something about this!"

Abel enjoyed tormenting Luca. However, between saving Kassy and punishing Luca, he would always choose the former.

Hence, he had no intention of holding Luca accountable, especially since she was just following his orders. There was really nothing to blame her for.

"Alright, don't be mad. I'll take you shopping for a new bag. If one isn't enough, we'll get two. Whatever it takes to make you happy." Hera was puzzled when she heard that. She had expected that throwing a tantrum and whining to Abel would immediately get Luca punished.

Instead of scolding Luca, he was trying to calm her down by buying her bags?

"Fine. But I want several bags. And a few new outfits too." Hera decided to milk the situation for all it was worth.

"Deal. Now, get in the car." Abel gestured for her to enter, gentlemanly shielding her head with his hand. Once she was seated, he shut the door behind her.

Chapter 3436 That's Some Serious Sales Talk After Hera got into the car, Abel turned around. His piercing blue eyes locked onto Luca.

"When will the test results be ready?" asked Abel. His primary concern was the results.

Luca replied, "It won't be that fast. She did quite a few tests, so it might take until tomorrow or the day after. But the hospital assured me that as soon as the results are in, they'll give me a detailed report right away."

Abel looked a little unhappy. "Didn't I tell you to choose the VIP package?"

"Mr. Abel, even with the VIP package, the results won't be immediate. Getting them by tomorrow is already considered fast," explained Luca.

Abel let out a cold snort.

Just then, the car window rolled down.

"Baby, I'm still upset." Hera's voice dripped with sweetness.

Abel turned around, his previously cold expression instantly replaced with warmth and tenderness. "What will make you feel better?"

Hera thought for a moment. "How about this? Let her follow me around today and carry my shopping bags. That might help."

"Alright, whatever you say." The moment Abel turned back to Luca, the look on his face became sharp and ruthless again. "Did you hear that?"

"Yes." Luca lowered her gaze. Whatever Abel told her to do, she would just go along with it. What else could she do?

As Luca stared at Hera's arrogant smirk, she asked, "Mr. Abel, where are you going shopping? I'll take a cab and meet you there."

She had no interest in sharing a car with Abel and Hera. Given their relationship, she was afraid she might witness things she would rather not see. If they got carried away in the car, it would be unbearable.

Abel did not object to her suggestion. Hera disliked Luca at the moment, and if they were in the same space, who knew what kind of drama might unfold? He hated conflicts between women, so he agreed.

"Fine, take a cab and follow us to Nova Plaza," said Abel.

"Got it." Luca nodded. Once Abel's car drove off, she hailed a cab.

After giving the driver the destination, she pulled out her phone and texted Luke about what had happened.

Luke replied as soon as she finished texting: [Be careful. Hera isn't someone to mess with.] [I know, don't worry. I'll be fine.] Luca reassured him, feeling a wave of warmth in her heart. With his care and concern, no matter what Abel planned to do to her, she felt neither fear nor loneliness.

She then chatted with the kids for a while.

She was in a cab, away from Abel's watchful eyes, so she could talk to them freely.

Luca listened to the kids, enjoying their conversation until the driver reminded her that they had arrived at Nova Plaza. Reluctantly, she ended the call. After paying the fare, she got out of the cab.

However, Abel and Hera were nowhere to be seen.

The weather was scorching hot, so Luca headed straight into the mall before calling Hera.

"What is it?" Hera's tone was far from pleasant.

Luca replied, "Ms. Sanchez, I've arrived at Nova Plaza. Where are you and Mr. Abel now?"

"We're on the seventh floor at the IV boutique. Get up here now." Hera sounded impatient.

"Okay." Luca ended the call but did not rush upstairs. Instead, she strolled leisurely toward the elevator.

Once she reached the seventh floor, she glanced at the floor directory near the elevator and easily located the LV store.

Hera was browsing the latest seasonal collection. She had just changed into a new dress when she let out a cold snort of displeasure upon seeing Luca. "Did you do that on purpose?"

Luca looked at her, confused.

"You told me you were downstairs ten minutes ago, and it took you that long just to get to the seventh floor? Were you deliberately dragging your feet?" Her tone carried a sharp, pressing edge.

Hera was wearing a limited-edition designer dress, and she felt superior because of it.

Luca was rendered speechless but explained calmly, "It's peak hours, and the elevators were packed."

"Don't think you can fool me just because he isn't here. If you really wanted to get up here, you should've squeezed in no matter what," Hera retorted, shifting her gaze back to the mirror.

The vibrant color of the exclusive dress complemented her complexion, making her skin appear even fairer and more delicate. She was very pleased with it.

Luca did not bother to explain. She had, in fact, stalled on purpose. Still, even if she had not, explaining would not have changed anything. Hera would not believe her anyway. Therefore, she saved herself the trouble and stayed silent.

Glancing around, she realized Abel was nowhere to be seen.

Was he not supposed to be here with Hera? Where had he disappeared to?

Was his so-called companionship nothing more than empty words?

Would Hera be okay with that?

Yet looking at the woman admiring herself in the mirror, she did not seem upset at all.

Luca decided it was not worth thinking about. Whether Abel was with Hera or not had nothing to do with her.

"What do you think of this dress?" Hera suddenly asked.

"It looks good," Luca replied honestly.

Hera glared at her. "Is that all you can say?"

Luca pondered for a moment, then added, "The design is innovative, and the color is vibrant. It suits you perfectly. Not only does it accentuate your figure, but it also makes your skin look fairer and more delicate. This dress might as well have been custom-made for you."

She said it effortlessly, without even thinking.

Back when she was Bianca, sales associates used to flatter her like this all the time. Even though it had been a while since she had heard such compliments, she could still recall them perfectly.

At this point, she could say them with her eyes closed.

Hera was clearly pleased by the flattery, a smile appearing on her lips. For the moment, her dissatisfaction with Luca was set aside. "Hmm, not bad. You've got a good eye."

The sales associate standing nearby listened to Luca's words and could not help but wonder if she was one of them. That was some serious sales talk.

Seeing that Hera was in a good mood, Luca figured that if she was happy, she would be less likely to give her trouble. Hence, she added, "This dress looks like it was designed just for you, Ms. Sanchez. Why not take it home?"

The sales associate widened her eyes in disbelief.

Would that actually work?

She thought Luca's words were a bit over the top.

Of course, she hoped Hera would buy the dress. After all, it would boost her sales.

Her gaze shifted to Hera, who, surprisingly, seemed to be enjoying the compliments.

If someone else had said this, Hera would have probably dismissed it as excessive flattery.

Even though Hera liked being praised, if the compliments were too exaggerated, even she would feel awkward for the person saying them. She would definitely question their sincerity.

However, the words did not feel over the top at all when Luca said them. In fact, they made perfect sense to her.

"Alright, I'll take this one." Hera decided on the spot and then turned to the sales associate. "Do you have any other new arrivals?"

Chapter 3437 He Wants Her Knees Too The sales associate nodded and said, "Yes, we do. I've already placed them in the fitting room for you. Would you like some assistance?"

Hera shook her head and pointed straight at Luca. "No, I want her to do it."

Luca shook her head helplessly. It seemed that Hera was determined to make her play the role of a sales associate today.

Luca asked, "Ms. Sanchez, where's Mr. Abel?"

"What does that have to do with you?" Hera shot her a wary look. "Where he goes isn't important. What matters is that you're spending the day shopping with me. And if I'm not happy, be prepared to face his punishment."

Then, Hera strutted toward the fitting room like a proud peacock.

Luca had no choice but to follow.

Inside the fitting room, Hera closed the door behind them and commanded, "Help me unzip the back."

"Alright." Luca lowered her gaze. Since they were both women and Hera clearly had no reservations, there was no reason for her to feel uncomfortable. She placed her hands on the zipper.

Hera reminded, "Be careful. Don't catch my hair in it."

Luca hummed in acknowledgment and carefully pulled the zipper down.

Hera smirked and said in a boastful tone, "My boyfriend loves my black hair. He even said it would look even better if I dyed it blonde, but I couldn't bear to do it."

Blonde?

Luca immediately thought of Kassy.

Kassy had wavy blonde hair and striking blue eyes. She was undeniably seductive, the kind of woman most men could not resist-except for Luke.

However, hearing Hera's words only strengthened Luca's suspicion. Abel was clearly using Hera as a stand-in for Kassy.

A hint of helplessness flashed across Luca's eyes, but she said nothing. Once the zipper was fully undone, she asked, "Ms. Sanchez, which one would you like to try on?"

"The black one," replied Hera, "He always told me that my fair skin looks best in black. This dress will definitely look stunning on me."

"Okay." Luca took the black dress off the hanger and helped her change into it.

From a purely objective standpoint, Hera had an enviable figure-curves in all the right places. She was the kind of woman who men dreamed about. She was undeniably sexy.

However, as Luca helped her into the dress, her gaze briefly swept over Hera's knees. Suddenly, Shanks' words from this morning echoed in her mind. Abel did not just want Hera's eyes, he wanted her knees too.

If Luke and his team could not take down the Island of Despair in time, Hera might suffer a fate worse than she could imagine.

That thought lingered in Luca's mind as she finished helping her change.

After zipping up the back of the dress, she said, "You're all set, Ms. Sanchez."

"Alright." Hera pinched her own waist, noticing there was still a bit of room in the dress, which was in the smallest size. "My waist is really quite slim."

Luca simply smiled and said nothing.

As Hera stepped out of the fitting room, she suddenly turned to Luca. "You look pretty built. What size do you wear?"

"I'm not sure." Luca had no interest in engaging.

She found Hera's antics exhausting. If she were to admit her size was smaller, Hera would undoubtedly be upset. Luca did not want to put herself down, so she simply played dumb.

Hera frowned. "Your waist looks thick. You sure you're not wearing a medium? Tsk, tsk, maybe your size is even bigger than that. I heard you work out too. Bet you're rocking a large with all that muscle."

Luca remained silent.

The sales associate, overhearing the conversation, discreetly glanced at Luca's figure. Despite the loose clothing, it was clear that Luca's body was well-proportioned and toned.

Her size was definitely a small.

However, the sales associate was not about to speak up. While Luca wore luxury brands, she seemed to be playing the role of an obedient subordinate to Hera.

Saying the wrong thing could offend either of them, and she was not about to take that risk.

She would not be that silly!

Instead, she shot Luca a sympathetic glance before showering Hera with exaggerated praise.

Soaking up the compliments, Hera felt even more pleased with herself. After deciding to buy the dress, she continued trying on the other limited-edition pieces.

Once she had gone through every exclusive design, she turned to the sales associate and told her to wrap everything up. Then, pulling out a black card, she said, "Charge it."

"Of course, Ms. Sanchez. Please wait a moment." The sales associate was thrilled. She had assumed Hera might buy one or two pieces. Her appearance did not exactly scream someone who could afford an entire collection.

Yet to her shock, Hera had bought every single limited-edition piece.

This was a massive sale!

Grinning from ear to ear, the sales associate took the black card and quickly packed up all the items before running off to process the transaction.

Once the payment was approved, she respectfully handed the card back. "Ms. Sanchez, these are all your purchases. Our store offers aftercare services for your garments. If you ever need any maintenance, simply bring the garments back to our boutique and we'll take care of everything for you."

"Got it." Hera snatched the black card back, then turned to Luca with an arrogant smile.

"Go on. Carry all the bags for me," Hera said to Luca in a commanding tone.

"Yes, Ms. Sanchez." Luca did not say another word and immediately picked up the shopping bags.

With the store employees sending them off with warm smiles, the two women walked out.

Hera strutted confidently into the next luxury boutique.

Luca glanced at the pile of bags in her hands. She had a feeling that Abel had clearly given Hera the black card with full permission to splurge. At this rate, she was going to end up carrying dozens of shopping bags back At the thought of this, Luca let out a quiet sigh and followed Hera inside.

As soon as they entered, the sales associate's eyes lit up at the sight of the load of luxury-brand shopping bags in Luca's hands and the women's stylish outfits.

"Welcome, ladies! What can I help you find today?" The associate's eager gaze landed directly on Luca.

It was clear that she assumed Luca was the one with purchasing power.

Hera's expression darkened at once. Annoyed, she snapped at the associate, "I'm the customer! Who are you looking at?"

The sales associate froze for a moment. Luca's outfit appeared more high-end, and with all those luxury brand shopping bags in her hands, it was natural to assume she was the one spending the money.

More than that, the associate had simply thought they were shopping together. It had not even crossed her mind that Luca was just there to carry the bags.

Quickly, she forced an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, miss. I assumed you were shopping together."

"Shopping together? Do I look like I'm that close to her? She's just here because my boyfriend told her to come and carry my bags," Hera scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain.

She was already making Luca carry her things, so how could Luca still manage to steal her spotlight?

That thought made Hera even more irritated.

"Oh, I see." The sales associate's attitude shifted in an instant. Realizing that Luca was nothing more than a glorified bag carrier, she immediately dismissed her, but she still wondered how someone like that could possibly afford haute couture.

In the blink of an eye, the elegant designer outfit Luca was wearing was reclassified in the associate's mind as a counterfeit.

Luca noticed the change in the sales associate's gaze and felt speechless.

Her clothes were custom-made pieces personally sent over by Luke!

Chapter 3438 How Dare She Talk About Luca Like That Although Luca did not know the exact value of the clothes, she was certain that anything Luke had specially sent over would not be cheap.

So, when she caught the sales associate's skeptical glance, she felt a bit helpless but did not bother to explain. The truth would speak for itself. Besides, she had no intention of justifying herself to a sales associate.

Hera, despite her love for luxury goods, did not actually know much about haute couture. So, when she noticed the sales associate still sizing up Luca, she immediately snapped, "What are you looking at?"

"N-Nothing." The sales associate quickly averted her gaze and turned her full attention to Hera, smiling brightly." Our esteemed guest, what can I help you find today?"

Hera thought for a moment before saying in a serious tone, "Show me your new handbags."

The sales associate's eyes lit up when she heard this. Anyone who could afford so much designer clothing had to have deep pockets. This meant a solid commission for her!

With that in mind, she eagerly led Hera farther into the boutique.

She offered Hera a cup of coffee and an imported fruit platter. Then, she worked with her colleagues to present the latest handbag collection.

Hera looked at several bags and loved every single one of them.

However, even though Abel had given her a black card without mentioning a spending limit, she dared not dare to swipe too much at once. Hence, she kept her excitement in check.

She had been around enough men to know they all had their own limits.

If she splurged too much at once and ran up a massive bill, Abel might not be happy. When men like him got unhappy, they always took it out on their women one way or another.

Hera was not afraid of the usual transactional nature of their relationship, but she was afraid of what he might do if he decided to be cruel. Weighing her options, she dared not to buy them all.

Surrounded by the enthusiastic sales associate, she ended up selecting two bags.

The sales associate, who had been expecting a big splurge, could not hide her disappointment. She thought Hera would buy at least a handful, but she only picked two.

That level of spending was not exactly impressive. Many of their regular clients could afford just as much.

Although the sales associate was disappointed, she did not let it show.

She remained professional, carefully wrapping up the two handbags before taking the black card and completing the transaction. She tried upselling Hera on a few of the latest seasonal pieces, but Hera declined them all.

It was not that she did not like them. She just did not dare spend too much and risk upsetting Abel.

Now, Luca had two more shopping bags in hand.

Hera exited the boutique and headed straight into a high-end beauty store.

Luca rolled her eyes but had no choice but to follow, still weighed down by shopping bags.

What she did not know was that Gordan, disguised and keeping a low profile, had been tailing them from a distance.

Seeing Luca burdened with all those bags, he frowned and snapped a photo of her from behind. He then sent it straight to Luke.

Unaware of this, Luca simply carried on. If she had known, she definitely would have stopped him.

After all, she had rarely ever carried someone else's shopping bags in her entire life. Luke had always protected her so well. She had never needed to experience anything like this.

If Luke saw her being pushed around by Hera like this, he definitely would not be happy.

Sure enough, he was not. The moment Luke saw the message from Gordan, his eyes darkened dangerously like a brewing storm. The sudden shift in his mood startled Gale.

"Boss, what's wrong?" asked Gale.

"Hera is messing with Luca," replied Luke.

Gale nodded. He understood why Luke behaved like that. He was pissed because he felt bad for Luca.

Then, he thought about that woman, Hera. Was she not just digging her own grave at this point? Messing with their boss' woman now? When the time came for them to step in, Luke definitely would not let her off easy. Some people just did not know when to stop-not until they ran themselves straight into disaster. With that thought in mind, Gale asked, "Boss, do you want me to step in and help her out?"

"No need. She can handle it." Luke's gaze was still dark and heavy. He remembered what Luca had told him and decided to trust her.

Besides, they could not alert Hera just yet.

"Got it." Gale nodded.

On the other hand, Hera finally stopped after buying a ton of makeup and skincare products. By now, Luca's arms were completely weighed down with shopping bags. If Hera kept going, she would not even have the hands to carry them all.

After wrapping up her last round of shopping, Hera looked at the mountain of bags in Luca's hands, feeling very pleased with herself. Sliding on her sunglasses, she smirked. "Let's grab a coffee."

Luca knew that was not directed at her, so she stayed silent.

She took the last set of bags from the sales associate. Her expression was calm as she followed behind Hera.

Hera picked a fancy café, then turned to glance at Luca.

Seeing her struggling with all the bags gave Hera a sense of satisfaction.

Having Luca carry her shopping made her feel so much better. It was like all the frustration she had been holding in for so long had finally been released.

"Don't say I'm too harsh on you. Come inside and have a coffee." Her tone was full of arrogance like she was doing Luca some kind of favor.

Luca's expression remained unchanged. "Thank you, Ms. Sanchez."

"Hmph. You're acting like this little bit of kindness is some huge blessing. People really need to know their place." Hera had a sharp tongue. Even though her anger had mostly faded, she did not want to let Luca have it too easy.

Luca did not care and simply followed her inside.

After all, she had been sitting the entire time Hera was shopping, using every moment to rest. Hence, she was not actually tired at all.

Hera was probably the more exhausted one. She picked a corner table and sat down.

Luca set the bags down one by one.

"Be careful! Don't mess up my stuff." Hera frowned as she watched Luca handle the bags without much care.

"Yes, Ms. Sanchez." Luca complied as she carefully placed the bags down.

Gordan followed them into the café as well. His brows furrowed even deeper when he heard what Hera said.

She really did not know her place, daring to speak to their boss' woman like that.

Gordan sent another message to Luke at the thought of it. Since he was following Luke's orders, he reported everything in real time.

As soon as Luca sat down, she instinctively glanced at Gordan's direction. Even though he was in disguise, he still looked oddly familiar.

Hera followed her gaze and noticed that she was looking at a man. She immediately knocked on the table and sneered, "I swear, can you not go a day without looking at men?"

Luca withdrew her gaze, looking at Hera in confusion. What did she even mean by that?

"All you do is stare at good-looking guys all day. You're such a disgrace to women," Hera muttered while ordering a cup of coffee. She also asked for a glass of lemon water for Luca.

Luca could not be bothered and did not care to respond.

Luca did not say anything, yet Gordan felt annoyed.

How dare Hera talk about Luca like that?

Gordan called over a waiter and whispered a few instructions.

After getting a nod of understanding, Gordan leaned back in his seat, pretending to scroll through his phone while actually eavesdropping on their conversation.

However, after her snide remark, Hera did not continue-especially since Luca was ignoring her.

It was not until two cups of coffee and a glass of lemon water arrived at their table.

Hera frowned and asked, "I only ordered one coffee. Did you make a mistake?"

Chapter 3439 Any Man Who Sees Her Will Be Attracted "This cup of coffee is from that gentleman for this lady." The waiter smiled as he explained, placing the cup in front of Luca.

Hera followed the waiter's gaze and immediately recognized the man Luca had been looking at earlier.

Her eyes darkened. She had noticed the man glancing in their direction. However, she had assumed he was looking at her.

After all, she was dressed seductively, had put on makeup, and was undeniably beautiful. Any man who saw her would be attracted. If a man's eyes lingered on her, it was not surprising at all.

Realizing that the man had been watching Luca the whole time instead of her, Hera suddenly felt annoyed.

Luca noticed her displeasure, glanced at Gordan, then smiled and said to the waiter, "Please thank the gentleman for me."

"Of course, miss. Enjoy your coffee." The waiter, sensing the tension between the two women, quickly grabbed his tray and left before Hera's sour mood could affect him too.

"Hmph, feeling proud of yourself?" asked Hera.

Luca took a sip of her coffee. It was rich and bitter, with no milk or sugar. It was just the way she liked it.

Hera leaned back and asked, "Does it taste good?"

"Not bad," replied Luca. This café was a national chain, so, of course, the quality was decent.

"You just drink whatever people give you? Be careful. It might be poisoned," scoffed Hera.

Luca almost wanted to reply that this was a café, not a bar.

However, after spending some time around Hera, she had come to understand her personality well. Instead of arguing, Luca swallowed her words.

It did not matter what she said. Hera would always find fault with her.

Luca simply took another sip of her coffee.

Hera, feeling completely ignored, grew even more irritated. She picked up her own cup, took a sip, then grimaced." Ugh, this coffee is overpriced. It tastes awful. Even the instant coffee my boyfriend brings me is better than this."

Luca wanted to laugh.

However, knowing that Hera would explode if she did, she kept quiet and continued drinking her coffee.

She had a feeling that once Hera's health report came back, things were about to get busy.

Hera seemed ready to say something else, but when she saw Luca ignoring her, she got even more frustrated. With a huff, she waved over the waiter, handed him a black card, and told him to settle the bill.

Luca knew she was in a bad mood, but she did not comment. She simply took her last sip of coffee and was about to stand up when her phone started buzzing repeatedly.

She picked it up and glanced at the screen.

It was a message from the hospital.

Some of Hera's test results had come in.

As Luca scanned through the numbers, comparing them to the normal ranges, her expression tightened.

"What are you looking at?" Hera suddenly had a bad feeling from Luca's reaction.

Luca lifted her gaze and looked at Hera.

Hera's heart tightened for a moment.

"It's nothing," replied Luca as she slipped her phone back into her pocket before standing up and gathering all the shopping bags.

Seeing them getting ready to leave, Gordan also stood up, instinctively stepping forward to help.

Noticing his movement, Luca shook her head slightly, signaling that there was no need.

Gordon froze and then withdrew his hand.

Hera took back her black card from the waiter, maintaining a deliberately graceful posture as she stood up. She had done enough shopping for the day. It was time to go home.

The two of them headed downstairs and got into a cab.

Luca placed all the bags in the back seat before settling into the front passenger seat and pulling out her phone. She wanted to take a closer look at Hera's medical report.

Several of the indicators in the report were concerning. Normally, when someone were to undergo a transplant, these were the key factors taken into consideration.

The same applied to donors. Whether donating a liver, a kidney, or any other organ, these metrics must meet the required standards. Hera's current numbers were nowhere near qualifying for donation.

Initially, Luca was not too worried. After all, when Abel made his move, Luke and his team would act as well. Hera would not be harmed.

However, once Abel realized that Hera was not a suitable donor and that her poor health could even pose a risk to Kassy, she might lose her value entirely.

A sense of unease crept over Luca as she thought about the possible consequences.

Abel had invested a great deal of resources and effort into Hera. If he was suddenly told that her condition made her unsuitable for Kassy's transplant and that forcing it could lead to infection, illness, or even a failed surgery, there was no way he would just let it slide.

Even if Hera's health could be improved, it would not happen overnight. Meanwhile, the volunteer for the clinical trial was already showing signs of recovery. Soon, he would regain normal vision.

Once that happened, it would mark the moment Abel made his move to save Kassy.

"What are you looking at?" questioned Hera.

Although she was sitting behind Luca and could not see her face, she could sense a certain seriousness in her expression.

A thought flashed through Hera's mind-her medical test results. She knew that some test results could come back quickly.

A trace of worry crept into her voice as she asked, "Did something come up in my report?"

"No." Luca decided not to tell her just yet. She needed to discuss this with Shanks first and figure out the best way to handle the situation.

"Don't try to fool me." Hera refused to believe her.

Luca turned back and gave her a calm, indifferent glance. "Why would I lie to you?"

Hera was stunned for a moment. She had to admit that Luca had a point. There was no reason for her to lie.

If there really was something wrong with her medical report, Luca should be the happiest person to hear it.

Even though she never openly showed it, Hera could feel that Luca did not like her. Likewise, she did not like Luca either.

If there really was something wrong with her medical report, Luca would definitely be gloating about it instead of acting all secretive.

At the thought of this, Hera let out a cold snort. "Hmph, you're acting all secretive. It's probably nothing good." Luca remained silent. Hera was not wrong. It really was not good news.

When they arrived back at the villa, Luca handed the shopping bags to Gerald, who was walking toward her.

"Ms. Craw, are you heading somewhere?" Gerald hurriedly took the bags from her. His hands suddenly felt heavy. Just how much had Luca bought?

"I need to find Mr. Shanks. These are Ms. Sanchez's things. Bring them inside."

Gerald immediately understood that these belonged to Hera.

Even though he was not familiar with luxury brands, he could tell from the high-end shopping bags that everything she bought must have been expensive. Carefully, he adjusted his grip, making sure to handle them with extra care.

"Where's Luca?" Hera frowned and asked as she walked over.

The moment they got out of the car, Luca grabbed all the bags and rushed inside. It was as though she had something urgent to do.

Now that Hera had entered the house, Luca was nowhere to be seen. Instead, all her purchases were in Gerald's hands.

"Oh, Ms. Craw went to see Mr. Shanks about something. Ms. Sanchez, let me carry these up for you," Gerald fawningly said.

Chapter 3440 Unsuitable For Transplantation Hera heard that Luca had returned and immediately went to find Shanks. She narrowed her eyes.

That woman went to see Shanks. Could she be talking about her?

The thought made Hera uneasy. She had a nagging feeling that something was wrong with her medical report.

However, when they left the medical center earlier, Abel asked Luca when the report would be ready, and she said it would be available tomorrow.

Hera turned to Gerald and said, "Take these back for me first."

"Alright." Gerald carried the bags as he walked away. He could not help but wonder what exactly Hera bought. These bags were really heavy!

Only after Gerald went upstairs did Hera slowly make her way up as well.

Her room was on the third floor, but she stopped when she reached the second floor. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching before heading toward the laboratory. The door was closed.

Instead of knocking, Hera pressed her ear against it, trying to eavesdrop.

However, the laboratory was specially built by people hired by Shanks. It was not only soundproof but also fireproof and waterproof, ensuring that his experiments would not be easily destroyed.

Luca stood nearby after handing her phone to Shanks.

Shanks looked at the screen, his brows furrowing together.

"Have the other reports come in?" asked Shanks.

"Not yet. Some will probably take until tomorrow. But from the results we have so far, it's clear that Hera isn't a suitable organ donor. Mr. Shanks, what should we do now?" asked Luca.

She was asking whether they should inform Abel.

Shanks handed the phone back to her and then stared at the microscope beside him. He was deep in thought.

He was not Abel, and he had no emotional attachment to Kassy.

To him, there was never a need to take organs from a living person for the transplant. If it were not for Abel's stubbornness, he would not have agreed to it in the first place.

Hera's body was indeed unsuitable for donating organs to Kassy at the moment.

"Let me think about it," replied Shanks.

Luca nodded and was about to leave when she heard him give another instruction. "There's prepared IV fluid over there. Go hang it up for the patient."

"Okay," replied Luca.

She picked up the bag of IV fluid and opened the door, only to find Hera standing right outside.

Luca looked at her in surprise.

Hera did not expect the door to suddenly open either. She had been leaning against it, relying on it for support. She nearly lost her balance when the door opened.

She grabbed the doorframe just in time to stop herself from falling.

The IV fluid in Luca's hands nearly dropped due to Hera's sudden movement. Luca quickly took a step back, securing the fluid to prevent any mishap.

If Hera had knocked it over, Shanks would definitely be furious.

When Shanks was angry, Hera's future would be nothing but darkness.

And if she could not be a donor for Kassy, Abel would make her life a living hell.

"Ms. Sanchez, what are you doing here?" Luca frowned, feeling helpless. Hera's situation was already dangerous. Could she stop making things worse?

It was one thing for Hera to ignore warnings before, but now, she was even eavesdropping and had nearly ruined the medication.

"I-I came to find you," Hera stammered.

Luca's lips curved into a half-smile. She came to find her?

"Then why didn't you knock?" asked Luca.

"I just got here and was about to knock, but you suddenly opened the door without any warning! Do you know how easily that could have hurt someone?" Hera shifted all the blame onto Luca.

"Oh? It's the first time I've seen someone knock with their ear pressed against the door." Luca exposed her without hesitation and did not bother arguing further. "What do you want?"

"I'm feeling a little unwell and want you to check on me." Hera casually made up an excuse. "It's all your fault! If you hadn't made me go through so many medical tests, I wouldn't be feeling this way."

Luca glanced back at Shanks.

He did not seem to be paying attention to their conversation. He was just staring at the microscope.

This expression of his was rare, but every time she saw it, it meant something was puzzling him.

Over the years on the Island of Despair, Luca had come to understand Shanks' habits. Whenever he was deep in thought, he liked to stare into the microscope. It was as though he was searching for answers in that tiny world.

Luca withdrew her gaze and replied, "If you're not feeling well, go back to your room and wait for me. I need to administer an IV drip to the volunteer first."

"Fine." Hera clapped her hands nonchalantly and walked toward the stairs, pretending not to care.

Luca shook her head and shut the laboratory door.

Shanks needed to be alone with his thoughts right now. This time, his thoughts involved Hera's life.

She then made her way to the patient's room. He was already out of bed and slowly moving along the wall, taking careful steps.

"Someone's here, right?" he asked.

Luca answered, "It's me. Did you hear my footsteps?"

"No, but I can vaguely make out some dark shadows," he replied.

"It's time for your IV drip." Luca was not surprised that his vision was slowly returning. She set the tray down and began preparing for the drip.

"Alright." The patient groped along the wall, trying to find his way back to the bed. The man watching over him reached out, trying to help him.

Sensing his movement, the patient said, "Sir, let me try on my own."

The man let go.

Luca watched as the patient carefully navigated his way toward her while feeling along the wall. She smiled.

Even people who could not see still had a sense of direction.

In fact, compared to sighted individuals who closed their eyes, blind people often had a stronger spatial awareness.

Besides, the patient had been here for a long time. He was already familiar with the layout. Given enough time, he could find his way back to the bed.

Luca waited patiently.

Only when the patient finally sat down did she proceed with the drip.

"Ms. Craw," the patient called her name.

"Yes?"

"You and Mr. Shanks are good people. Once I'm better, I'm totally taking you guys out for a meal. No backing out." His voice was filled with hope for the future.

Many doctors had told him his condition was permanent. Hence, when he first arrived, he had little to no expectations. Now, not only could he walk, but he could also see light again. To him, Luca and Shanks were nothing short of lifesavers.

"I'd be happy to go, but as for Mr. Shanks, you might have to persuade him yourself. He's much more interested in research and experiments than in eating out," Luca joked as she injected the fluid into the IV port and adjusted the drip speed before leaving the room.

Glancing down the hallway, she noticed that Hera had already left.

She then reentered the lab.

"Mr. Shanks, I've administered the IV drip," reported Luca.

"Okay." Shanks' voice was low and distant.

Luca could tell he was still deep in thought, so she decided to leave quietly to avoid disturbing him.

Just as her hand reached for the doorknob, Shanks suddenly spoke.

"How well do you understand Abel?"

She froze for a moment before replying, "I wouldn't say I know him well. If anyone does, it would be you, Mr. Shanks."

"That's true." Shanks nodded. His piercing blue eyes locked onto her. "But I'd like to hear your thoughts on this."

"Sure." Luca straightened up, ready to listen.