Chapter 183


    Roscoe Roscoe grasped Nicole''s ankle gently, yet his touch was steady and did not interfere with his


    task.


    d in disposable stic gloves, Roscoe applied an ointment that brought a cooling relief and numbed


    the pain.


    The sensation was soforting that Nicole found her toes involuntarily curling, her pulse thudding


    audibly in her ears.


    Roscoe''s expression remained detached throughout the procedure.


    Once he finished with the ointment, he discarded his gloves in the trash bin, along with the porridge


    Jarrod had brought, without a second nce.


    He exited briefly, returning with a thermos in hand, and proceeded to elevate the bed.


    "Nicole, would you prefer to feed yourself, or shall I assist?" he inquired, his politeness unwavering.


    Nicole, still somewhat dazed from the treatment, only registered his question when he repeated it.


    She reached out slowly.


    "I can manage on my own.” As her fingers brushed against his, Roscoe insisted, “Stay still.


    I''ll handle this.” Roscoe set up a small table, expertly transferred the porridge into a bowl, and fetched a


    spoon.


    Nicole couldn''t help but notice the pristine beauty of his hands, his nails short and clean, his veins


    subtly pronounced against his clenched fists, signaling strength.


    Her cheeks flushed with heat.


    This wasn''t the first time he had tended to her wounds.


    As Roscoe handed her the spoon, Nicole''s hunger surged, especially for the shrimp-corn porridge, her


    favored dish.


    She began to eat with an earnest appetite.


    After the meal, Roscoe cleaned up the table and returned the bed to its original position.


    “You should rest now, Nicole.


    I''ll be here to look after you,” he offered.


    But Nicole''s head shook in denial.


    "No, Roscoe." Roscoe''s gaze was intense as he watched her silently.


    Nicole turned her face away, not daring to look at him.


    She said, "My father’s support for your education was one thing.


    You don''t owe me for the help you''ve given.


    You see, anyone entangled with metely seems to suffer.” Roscoe listened without a flicker of emotion


    across his face.


    When Nicole paused, he voiced his thoughts, "Nicole, I was disheartened when you didn''t recognize


    me before.” Nicole recalled their encounter at the hospital''s safe corridor, but her mind was a haze


    back then, thanks to Jarrod, leaving no space for Roscoe''s image.


    Thest she’d seen Roscoe, he was a young teen of fifteen, one of many in a crowd where her father


    had taken her to aid the underprivileged, and Roscoe hardly stood out.


    She didn''t remember him.


    Six years had passed by.


    Now, Roscoe was an intern at the hospital.


    Gazing down at her, Roscoe probed, "Nicole, do you love that man?” Her response came swift and


    sure.


    “No.” It was only at this moment that Nicole grasped the truth.


    Her affections had clung to an untainted Jarrod, not the monster who refused to let her parents go


    without a second thought.


    Caught in a reverie, Nicole felt Roscoe''s touch steering her gaze back to him.


    Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Nicole, I dressed your wounds, hoping you''d understand my intentions,” he murmured.


    Roscoe''s eyes were clear andpelling, making Nicole find it hard to stand his gaze.


    Sensing his next words, Nicole averted her eyes.


    She didn''t want to drag anyone else into her turmoil.


    Thus, before Roscoe could voice his thoughts, Nicole interjected, "Roscoe, to me, you''re like a little


    brother.


    Though I hold no love for him, my bond with him isplex.


    You''ve turned out well, and that would please my father.


    Let''s leave it at that..." With that, Nicole suggested they keep things as they were, effectively rejecting


    him.


    Just as Nicole tried to turn her face away, Roscoe grabbed her arm gently.


    He remained silent, gazing at her briefly.


    Suddenly, Roscoe bowed his head, halting just before his thin lips met Nicole''s.


    With a soft grin and a whisper, Roscoe vowed, "Nicole, once I surpass that man, you will be mine.” Left


    alone, Nicole''s mind reeled.


    What the hell? In her eyes, Roscoe was still a little boy.


    But now, his words somewhat unsettled her.


    On a Friday morning, Raegan got a message from Bryce, requesting her address to pick her up.


    She sent her location to him.


    She made her way downstairs after learning Bryce’s arrival.


    A few paces from the door, she spotted a ck off- road vehicle.


    Bryce lounged in the passenger seat, beckoning her over with a curled finger.


    Raegan pulled open the door and climbed aboard.


    To her surprise, Eloise was seated in the back, her presence almost tangible with hostility.


    Eloise’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Raegan.


    She turned to Bryce, questioning sharply, "Bryce, is she your tutor?" Bryce merely grunted in response.


    The air was thick with tension.


    Eloise harbored dislike toward Raegan, and Raegan disliked Eloise''s presence.


    Raegan took a seat, pressing herself against the door, creating as much distance as possible from


    Eloise.


    Eloise’s gazended on Raegan’s modest backpack and her lips twisted into a sardonic smile.


    “Are you going to have a trip like this?” she taunted.


    Raegan simply nodded.


    Eloise’sughter rang out, tinged with malice.


    Anticipation for the weekend''s adventure began to bubble within Eloise.


    As the vehicle pulled away, Raegan''s eyes drifted to the front row, where Mitchel took the wheel.


    Mitchel had swapped his usual suit for a casual navy windbreaker and sunsses, his new attire


    lending him an air of rugged charm.


    Taking in Bryce''s and Eloise''s outfits, a realization dawned on Raegan.


    They were headed for a mountain trek.


    Yet, Bryce had kept this from her, no doubt to throw her off bnce.


    Determined to make the best of the situation, Raegan decided against overthinking.


    She rested her head against the window, feigning sleep.


    The journey was long, and perhaps thanks to Mitchel''s skilled driving, Eloise drifted into sleep, her


    head resting against the window.


    As for Raegan, she remained awake with her eyes closed, acutely aware of Eloise''s head now resting


    against her shoulder.


    To avoid any awkward eye contact with Mitchel, Raegan continued to feign sleep, resisting the urge to


    shove Eloise away.


    After a while, the car''s consistent motion made Raegan feel inclined to nap.


    She mused on how Mitchel''s driving had changed since Eloise entered the picture, his earlier haste


    reced by a considerate pace.


    Upon arriving, Raegan stirred from her light doze.


    Unlike Eloise, who was deeply asleep, head on Raegan''sp, arms encircling her waist.


    Raegan nudged Eloise, who remained unresponsive.


    Suddenly, the back door swung open.


    Mitchel loomed into view, tapping Eloise''s back to wake her up.


    But Eloise, disoriented from her abrupt awakening,shed out with a p across Raegan''s face.