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.

not daring to look at

support for

don't owe me for the help you've

me lately seems to suffer.” Roscoe listened without a flicker of emotion across

"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

of fifteen, one of many in a crowd where her father had taken her

She didn't remember him.

had

an intern at the

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

only at this moment that Nicole grasped the

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

Roscoe's touch steering her gaze back

your wounds, hoping you'd

and compelling, making Nicole find

next words,

want to drag anyone else

voice his thoughts, Nicole interjected, "Roscoe,

for him,

well, and that

that..." With that, Nicole suggested

turn her

remained silent, gazing at

his head, halting just before his thin lips

Roscoe vowed, "Nicole, once I surpass that man,

her eyes, Roscoe was still a little

now, his words somewhat

from Bryce, requesting her address to pick her

sent her location

her way downstairs after learning Bryce’s

door, she spotted a black off- road

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

the door

the back, her presence almost tangible

eyes narrowed at the

is she

was thick

dislike toward Raegan, and Raegan disliked