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 daring to look at

father’s support for your education

me for the

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

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

of many in a crowd where her father had taken her to aid the underprivileged, and Roscoe hardly

She didn't remember him.

had passed

was an

you love that man?” Her

at this

untainted Jarrod, not the monster who refused to let her parents go without a second

Nicole felt Roscoe's touch

your wounds, hoping you'd

clear and compelling, making Nicole find it hard to

words, Nicole

drag anyone else into her

voice his thoughts, Nicole interjected, "Roscoe, to me,

him,

and that

that, Nicole suggested they keep things as

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

silent, gazing at

Roscoe bowed his head, halting just

whisper, Roscoe vowed, "Nicole, once I surpass that man, you will be mine.” Left alone,

her eyes,

his words somewhat

Friday morning, Raegan got a message from Bryce, requesting her address

her location

made her way downstairs after learning Bryce’s

door, she

in the passenger seat, beckoning her over with a curled

the door and climbed

the

at

"Bryce, is she your tutor?"

was thick

Raegan, and