In Shanks'' words, the only person on the entire Ind of Despair with this talent was Luca.


    Luca was the most helpful to Shanks.


    However, she had more important things to attend to, so she could not stay by Shanks'' side to help.


    Luca had already recovered and was standing upright. Abel reminded her, "You, stop ying tricks


    behind my back. This time, you''ll help Mr. Shanks find the herbs he needs.


    "Also, don''t you like being with Luke? I''ll make it happen for you. Don''t say I''m not doing right by you."


    A hint of malice tugged at the corner of his mouth.


    He always had a feeling that Luca was slipping out of his control. If this continued, he would not be able


    to keep her in his control.


    He had to do something.


    Luca had a bad feeling, but she did not have the courage to ask him what he wanted to do at the


    moment.


    If Abel could not resist throwing another punch at her, she would be the one to suffer. Luke would be


    distressed if he knew about it.


    Now, they both needed to stay calm and collected. They could not let certain things cloud their


    judgment.


    Luca warned herself not to be too curious about Abel''s affairs.


    Luke''s men would know what he wanted to do.


    Luca nodded and replied, "Yes, I''ll find a way to get those herbs."


    "Go on, then. Be a good little canary. But remember, while you''re trapped in Luke''s cage, don''t forget


    where your real cage is." Abel looked at Luca with disgust.


    If it were not for the inappropriate asion today, he would surely have punched her again without


    hesitation.


    After receiving his permission to leave, Luca turned around and left.


    She held her head high as though nothing had happened just now.


    Abel watched her leave from behind and snorted coldly. "I held back a little."


    "Not everyone can withstand your strength." Shanks narrowed his eyes. He was not a smoker, and the


    air in this ce felt particrly stagnant to him.


    He wanted to go out and talk to those medicine farmers and merchants. He wanted to understand their


    secret stashes.


    "Why are you protecting Ivana like this?" asked Abel. It was a question he had wanted to ask earlier.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    After all, he did not want Luca to know that Shanks could potentially be her support.


    Shanks shot him a cold nce and asked, "Am I?"


    "Don''t deny it. I''ve been watching. You''re always speaking up for that woman. What''s going on? Have


    you taken a liking to her? If you really have, I can help you out,” asked Abel.


    Abel''s idea of helping was to send Luca to his room.


    Shanks understood his implication, nced at him coldly, and replied, "I''m not interested in her. If it


    weren''t because she understands medicine, I wouldn''t even spare her a nce."


    Abel immediately nodded. "Alright, you''re cruel, but you''re still different with her. But she''s just a


    woman. You don''t need to be so concerned.


    "Rest assured, once these matters are settled, I''ll find you all sorts of beautiful women. I''ll help you get


    whoever you like. How about that?"


    "Not interested," replied Shanks. He immediately walked out.


    Abel wiped the smile off his face. His friendliness toward Shanks was solely because it benefited him


    and brought profits for the Ind of Despair.


    Nothing more...


    The two of them left the smoking area. Gale listened to the sound of their departing footsteps, nced


    at the surveince, and shook his head helplessly.


    Did their boss know how much his wife had to endure?


    Luca had to endure more than an ordinary person could bear just to be with him.


    However, she hade this far.


    Gale could not help but admire Luca. It was evident how much effort she had put in to avoid bing


    a burden to Luke.


    He touched his abdomen. Although he did not feel the impact, Abel had put everything into the punch


    earlier...


    Yet Luca had borne it as if nothing had happened. She even left without changing her expression. If he


    had not been secretly monitoring them, he would have thought nothing had happened.


    At the thought of this, Gale shook his head again and continued to track Abel and Shanks with the


    surveince.


    At that moment, Luca also emerged and returned to her seat in Watson''s area.


    Warren called out softly, "Dr. Craw..."


    "It''s nothing. How long until it starts?" asked Luca. Her expression was still indifferent.


    Luke heard her voice. His eyes turned to her. A mix of concern, worry, and curiosity was evident in


    them as their gazes met in a tangled web of emotions.


    "Dr. Craw, the lecture will start in ten minutes." Evan felt as though Luke was looking at Luca through


    him and wished he could vacate his seat. It was inappropriate for him, the third wheel, to sit here.


    However, neither Luke nor Luca showed any intention of switching seats. He could only reluctantly


    remain seated and respond to Luca''s inquiry.


    "Alright. Thank you, Mr. Turner." Luca smiled faintly as she expressed her gratitude.


    "It’s nothing." Evan felt ufortable under Luke''s prating gaze.


    He wanted to leave or swap his seat with Warren, the driver...


    The person at the side, who had been conversing with Evan, curiously asked, "Mr. Turner, is she a


    research professor from yourpany?"


    He assumed Luca was a research professor. Otherwise, Evan would not have addressed her as Dr.


    Craw.


    As soon as the man asked the question, his gazended on Luca.


    However, the idea of such a young woman being a research professor seemed absurd to him. He


    might have believed she was a researcher, but a professor?


    Suddenly, he recalled the medication previously released by Watson. It seemed like the research


    professor was a woman...


    He was the owner of a pharmaceuticalpany and was not familiar with the names of these research


    professors. He had not remembered the woman''s name and only vaguely recalled that it was a female


    professor who had conducted the research...


    He did not find it particrly strange that it was a female research professor at that moment. After all,


    many women were involved in this industry nowadays, but they were usually of a certain age when


    they achieved sess.


    The man was surprised to learn that Luca was actually so young.


    "Yes, she''s a research professor at ourpany," Evan quickly exined.


    "She’s Dr. Luca Craw, who developed the first project for thepany and sessfullyunched it into


    the market. Based on the current data, the drug has shown promising results."


    "It''s truly remarkable. Such a young research professor, and a woman at that. Mr. Turner, you''ve hit the


    jackpot," said the man.


    "It''s Watson who hit the jackpot." Evan did not feel he had done anything special.


    The decision to hire Luca was not his. It was Luke''s decision.


    "That''s right. Watson is incredible. Thepany has only been established for such a short time and


    already has a drug on the market that has been proven to be effective. It''s being embraced by doctors


    and patients alike. It''s truly impressive..."


    The man eximed again. If it were not for Luke supporting Watson, he might have extended an offer


    to Luca himself.