Ultimate Soldier

Chapter 06

At the dining table, Gerald, Lucy, and Harry gathered. The atmosphere in the room seemed warm. The sound of spoons tapping against plates could be heard, breaking the silence.

"Lucy is definitely the best at cooking," Harry said, showing a thumbs up covered in oil from the spicy sauce.

His words were undoubtedly true, considering he had helped himself to seconds. Hearing that compliment, Lucy couldn't help but smile. Gerald, after taking a sip of water, also smiled.

"Do you like the spicy chicken skin?" Lucy asked.

"Um, this is the most delicious menu. Better than the last time I ate it."

"Gerald made that."

"Really?"

Harry's eyes widened after learning that Gerald had also cooked. Earlier, when he arrived home, his eyes were immediately presented with tempting food on the table. Lucy invited him to eat. Because he was hungry, he immediately devoured it and forgot to ask who had cooked. He thought Lucy had made everything.

"Hahaha. No doubt about it. Lucy is good at cooking, and so is Gerald. You two really inherited Anetha's talent for cooking."

Anetha was Lucy and Gerald's mother. When she was young, she had won a national cooking competition held by a number of famous chefs in the country. But since marrying Mark, she decided to focus on being a housewife and taking care of her children.

"Anyway, how was your school today, Gerald?"

Gerald paused for a moment, then looked at Lucy. If he knew the real incident, it would definitely make Harry worried. Lucy shook her head slightly, as if understanding that look.

"Um, everything is fine. My classmates are very kind to me."

Harry then smiled in relief hearing that.

After the plates were left with food stains, Lucy took the initiative to move them to the kitchen set and wash them. When the table was clean, Gerald took out his phone from his pants pocket and looked at Harry.

"Can you give me your phone, Harry?"

Harry widened his eyes slightly, showing wrinkles on his forehead. He was quite curious why Gerald suddenly asked for his phone. Even so, he still gave it.

A few moments after Gerald seemed focused on his phone screen and Harry's phone, a bank notification on Harry's phone broke the silence, making Harry surprised instantly.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked. Curiosity triggered his desire to immediately see the phone screen.

"Lucy told me that once a month you have to check your heart condition with a doctor," Gerald said while giving the phone to Harry. "So, I sent you money so you can continue to check your condition without having to think about money problems."

While listening to Gerald's explanation, Harry looked at his phone screen, which was still in the bank application menu. His eyes widened instantly when he saw the nominal amount of money that Gerald had sent.

"A hundred thousand dollars? Gerald, are you kidding? This is too much."

Gerald just smiled seeing Harry's expression. Behind him, Lucy paused her hands which were scrubbing dirty dishes, before finally smiling as well.

"No... no, Gerald. I can't accept it. This is too much. I-I'll return it."

His hands trembled slightly as his eyes began to search for the transfer menu on the phone screen. But suddenly Gerald touched his hand warmly and said, "There's no need."

Harry spontaneously lifted his face. His mind was still trying to understand the situation.

"Harry, I'm not short on money. I'll be sad if you return it," Gerald continued.

Harry was silent for a moment, staring deeply into Gerald's eyes. His gaze seemed to say, "What has Gerald experienced abroad, so that he looks so mature?"

"O-okay." Harry paused while sighing. "But don't blame me if I return it when I see you in trouble."

"Yeah. You've been taking care of Lucy all this time. You deserve it."

That touching atmosphere then broke, creating warmth of affection in the not-so-large dining room.

...

The next morning, Lucy seemed busy preparing breakfast. When Harry and Gerald sat at the dining table, she was already hurrying in her school uniform.

"Aren't you having breakfast? Why are you in such a hurry?" Harry asked.

Lucy replied hastily. "There are some tasks that I have to finish."

Seeing his sister hurrying, raised a question in Gerald's mind. Not only today, but yesterday and the day before, Lucy went to school early. What exactly did she have to finish this early?

"I'm going first, okay."

Without waiting for an answer from the two men there, Lucy immediately left the dining room.

Gerald then turned his attention to Harry. "Do you think I should buy a motorcycle?"

"Um, good idea. The money you gave last night was a lot. I'll take you to my friend's showroom later."

"No. I gave that money for you to use for yourself. Just give me your friend's phone number, I'll contact him later."

Harry sighed, not knowing what to say. In fact, he didn't want Gerald to do this for him at all.

Turning to Lucy. She walked quickly along the sidewalk. However, in the middle of the journey, someone suddenly came from the side and kicked her, causing her to fall.

"Hey, watch out. You're blocking my way."

Lucy hadn't turned to the person who bumped into her. However, a feeling of fear immediately spread throughout her body when she heard the girl's voice near her. To confirm her feelings, she raised her face hesitantly.

"Huh?" Lucy whispered, stunned. Her gaze was full of worry.

Although the girl near her covered her face with a mask and wore a hat, she recognized her very well from her gaze and hair color. Who else but Emma?

"Why are you so scared?" Emma asked, crossing her arms in her signature pose.

"E-Emma? W-what are you doing?"

"Emma?" Emma then looked left and right, acting as if she was looking for someone. "Who are you calling Emma? I don't know her."

Lucy gritted her teeth in despair. She was sure it was Emma. She wondered, what else she would experience after this.

"Since you bumped into me, you have to come with me."

"W-where?"

While waiting for an answer from Emma, she suddenly saw three girls who were also wearing masks and black hats approaching her.

"Keep me company at karaoke."

Lucy was stunned after hearing that. She could immediately guess what would happen next.

A few moments later, Emma and her friends, who were still wearing masks and hats, were seen coming out of the karaoke room. A fat man in his forties shook his head, wondering about the girls.

"So noisy. Their voices could be heard from outside. I wonder what they did inside," the man muttered.

The man then opened the door to the karaoke room, intending to clean it. But suddenly he was stunned when he saw there was still a girl there.

"You?"

Yes, it was Lucy. She seemed to be lying on the floor with rumpled and dirty clothes. Her face was full of wounds, her hair was messy."

When she saw someone entering the room, she immediately got up with difficulty.

"A-are you okay?" The man's face looked worried.

Lucy nodded slowly with a pathetic expression. She kept moving her hand, which felt sore, putting her books that were scattered on the floor into her bag.

"Do you need help? Where are your parents? Do you want me to call 911?"

Lucy didn't answer. She stood firm, then walked limping out of the room.

...

At school, Gerald waited for Lucy as usual at the gate. However, when there were no more students passing by, he began to worry. Lucy should know that he would wait here every time after school. But after he looked at his phone, he didn't see any incoming messages.

[Are you home yet?]

Gerald sent a message, which Lucy received immediately. Not even a minute after the message was received, the status under Lucy's profile showed that Lucy was typing.

[I'm sorry, Gerald. I went home early because I suddenly had a fever.]

[Should I buy medicine at the pharmacy?]

Gerald replied to the message, but suddenly the message status only showed one checkmark, indicating that Lucy was no longer online.

Gerald was very worried and hurried home. After arriving home, he quickly headed to Lucy's room and knocked on the door. But after he knocked several times, there was no response.

"Lucy? Are you inside? I'm coming in, okay."

Gerald pulled the door handle, but it was locked.

"Sorry Gerald. It seems my fever is quite bad. I'm afraid you'll get infected."

Gerald narrowed his eyes, feeling that Lucy's voice sounded hoarse. He actually trusted Lucy, but his instincts that had been honed in battle would never lie.

"I brought you medicine."

"Just put it in front of the door. I'll take it. You can go."

Gerald then obeyed Lucy's words. He placed the small paper bag containing medicine on the floor, then took a few steps to hide behind the wall.

When the sound of the doorknob was heard, Gerald's gaze was fixed on Lucy's hand, which protruded slightly from the door frame. He saw a slight bruise on the back of Lucy's hand, making his suspicions stronger. His expression instantly turned cold.

After Lucy closed the door again, Gerald took a step to the front door. His eyes glanced slightly at Lucy's white shoes. On one of the shoes, Gerald saw a speck of blood. His forehead instantly creased, an aura of hatred emanating from his body.