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.

her face away, not

support for your

don't owe me for the help

me lately seems to suffer.”

encounter at the hospital's safe corridor, but her mind was a haze back then, thanks to Jarrod,

a young teen of fifteen, one of many in a crowd where her father had taken her to aid

She didn't remember him.

had

an intern

"Nicole, do you love

was only at this moment that Nicole

monster who refused to let her parents go

Nicole felt Roscoe's touch steering her gaze back to

dressed your wounds, hoping you'd understand my intentions,” he

were clear and compelling, making Nicole

his next words, Nicole averted

didn't want to drag anyone

thoughts, Nicole interjected, "Roscoe, to

for him, my bond with him

and that would please my

that, Nicole suggested they keep things as they were, effectively rejecting

Nicole tried to turn her face away, Roscoe

gazing at her

halting just

whisper, Roscoe vowed, "Nicole, once I

In her eyes, Roscoe was

his words

message from

sent her location to

way downstairs

few paces from the door, she spotted a black off-

seat, beckoning her over with a curled

pulled open the door and climbed

her surprise, Eloise was seated in the back, her presence almost

at

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

was thick with

dislike toward Raegan, and Raegan