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.

turned her face away, not

support for

for

see, anyone entangled with me lately seems to suffer.” Roscoe listened without

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

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

was an intern at

you love that man?” Her

this

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

in a reverie, Nicole felt Roscoe's touch steering her gaze

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

and compelling, making Nicole find it

words, Nicole averted her

didn't want to drag anyone else into her

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

hold no love for him, my bond

turned out well, and that would please

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

turn her

gazing

just before his thin lips

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

eyes, Roscoe was

words

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

her location to

made her way downstairs after learning Bryce’s

few paces from the door, she

the passenger seat, beckoning her over with

pulled open the door

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

eyes narrowed at

turned to Bryce, questioning sharply, "Bryce, is she

air was thick with

dislike toward Raegan,