Love Unbreakable

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

Clad in disposable plastic gloves, Roscoe applied an ointment that brought a cooling relief and numbed the pain.

The sensation was so comforting 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 glance.

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.

away, not

for your education

don't owe me for

seems to suffer.” Roscoe listened without a flicker of

encounter at the hospital's safe corridor, but her mind was a haze back then, thanks to Jarrod, leaving no space

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

She didn't remember him.

had passed

Roscoe was an intern

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

It was only at this moment that

untainted Jarrod, not the monster who refused to let her parents go

felt Roscoe's touch steering her gaze back to

hoping you'd understand my intentions,”

and compelling, making Nicole find it hard to stand his

next words, Nicole

drag anyone else into

could voice his thoughts, Nicole interjected, "Roscoe, to me, you're

I hold no love for him,

turned out well, and

With that, Nicole suggested they keep things as

turn her face away, Roscoe

remained silent, gazing

Roscoe bowed his head, halting just before his thin lips met

"Nicole, once I surpass

In her eyes,

now, his words somewhat unsettled

message from Bryce, requesting her

her location

downstairs after

paces from the door, she spotted a

beckoning her over

the door and

the back, her

at the

Bryce, questioning sharply, "Bryce, is she your tutor?"

was thick

toward Raegan, and