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

said, "My father’s support for your education

me for the help

seems to suffer.” Roscoe listened without a flicker

he voiced his thoughts, "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 a haze back then, thanks to Jarrod, leaving no

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

She didn't remember him.

years had

an intern at

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

at this moment that Nicole

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

Nicole felt Roscoe's touch steering her gaze

I dressed your wounds, hoping you'd

eyes were clear and compelling, making Nicole

next words, Nicole averted

want to drag anyone else

thoughts, Nicole interjected,

for him, my

turned out well, and that would

leave it at that..." With that, Nicole suggested they keep things as they were, effectively

Nicole tried to turn her face away, Roscoe

silent, gazing at

head, halting just before his thin

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

eyes, Roscoe was still a little

now, his words somewhat unsettled

a message from Bryce, requesting her address to pick her

her location to

downstairs after

from the door, she spotted a black off- road

passenger seat, beckoning her

pulled open the door

the back,

narrowed at the sight of

is she your tutor?" Bryce merely grunted

was thick with

Raegan,