Chapter 227: Chapter 267: Help

On the other end, his friend reacted almost instantly. The mission was marked as complete, and a five-star rating followed soon after, Luke had specifically requested it.

When Lana saw the confirmation, she smiled faintly, slipped her phone away, and turned toward Luke.

“So,” she asked casually, “what are you planning to do now?”

Luke glanced at his phone one last time, then pressed the power button and tucked it away.

He looked at Lana and smiled, a calm resolve settling over his expression.

“I’ll go to a hotel,” he replied. “From there, I’ll plan my next steps.”

Lana nodded, not pushing the matter further. She turned to the driver and requested one of the safest and best hotels nearby.

Once they arrived, Lana opened the car door and guided Luke out.

The hotel lobby smelled faintly of polished wood and clean linen, warm lights reflecting softly off the marble floor.

After ensuring he was safely settled into a room, she turned to leave.

Just before stepping out, she paused, handed Luke her number, and looked at him seriously.

“If you ever run into trouble,” she said, “call me. I’ll come help you. No charge.”

Hearing that, Luke released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Relief washed over him, and he nodded firmly. “Thank you.”

After Lana left, Luke stood still for a moment, staring at her retreating figure with a longing expression.

Slowly, he clenched his fist, steadying himself, and turned back.

Soon, he returned to the hotel room.

The silence inside felt heavy as he took in his surroundings, the spacious bed, the clean bathroom, the soft lighting.

’I can’t stay here for long,’ he thought quietly.

After all, his money was running out.

Compared to what he had presented till now… he wasn’t rich.

His parents barely gave him any money, and as a result, he had almost nothing to his name.

Now that he was staying inside one of the safest and most luxurious hotels, he could feel the pressure tightening around his chest.

There were high chances that he wouldn’t be able to stay here for long, and that thought alone made his palms damp with cold sweat.

As these thoughts spiraled, his mind drifted back to everything that had happened before.

Every bit of money he once had, even the amount he had secretly stolen, had already been transferred out of his account.

He had sent it to his best friend online, clinging to the hope that the friend could hire someone to help him.

After securing that help, he was left with no more than a thousand dollars.

’A thousand dollars… that’s all,’ he thought bitterly.

For a fourteen-year-old boy, the weight of such responsibility was crushing.

His chest felt tight, his breathing uneven, as he lay back on the bed.

The mattress was soft, yet it offered no comfort. He closed his eyes, but worry seeped through the darkness, crawling under his skin and refusing to let him rest.

Meanwhile, far away from him, Lana and Mr. Crow were sitting side by side.

The gentle hum of movement surrounded them, and after a brief silence, Mr. Crow tilted his head toward Lana.

“Why did you let that boy stay there?” his voice carried curiosity and concern. “You know he’s in desperate need of help.”

A faint smile curved on Lana’s lips, calm and unhurried. “He will receive help. Why should I worry?”

Mr. Crow frowned, feathers ruffling slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing in confusion. Lana’s tone remained steady as she continued,

“I’ll arrange money for him and make sure he stays safe. I’ll also lead him to Monk Anaro, so he’ll have a secure place to stay. As for Mr. and Mrs. Everhart…” her eyes darkened briefly, “…I’ll deal with them.”

She paused, then added softly, “But neither they nor Luke will ever know that I was the one behind it.”

Mr. Crow stared at her as though he were looking at a stranger. “Why would you do all this?”

His voice dropped. “I thought you were the kind who wouldn’t bother helping a young boy. Yet here you are, listing everything you plan to do for him. Why not tell Luke the truth?”

Lana’s smile deepened, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “There are many reasons. One of them is that I don’t want Luke to feel completely safe.”

She leaned back slightly, her gaze distant.

“He needs to stay paranoid. He needs to remain on guard. Even if I protect him, there are dangers I can’t predict. Only someone who stays alert can truly save themselves.”

Mr. Crow nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes.

Lana’s voice softened further.

“And I don’t want him to depend on me. It’s strange, but in my previous life, I saw too many people who were helped by someone older and ended up growing attached. Sometimes it turned into grooming, sometimes into unhealthy dependence. I don’t want that.”

She exhaled quietly.

“I’ll help him anonymously. That way, at most, he’ll respect the person who helped him. He won’t feel gratitude that turns into pressure. He won’t owe me anything.”

Hearing this, Mr. Crow felt a pang of pity. He looked at her gently. “Why does it feel like you know all this too well?”

Lana turned her face away. ’I don’t want to talk about it,’ her thoughts murmured.

Her past was something she still couldn’t face without pain tightening her throat. Sometimes, she wondered why she had made those mistakes at all.

Taking a deep breath, she forced a cheerful smile.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about. The past doesn’t matter now.”

Her eyes sparkled faintly. “I’m living in the present, and my future is going to be amazing. I’ll crush every enemy that stands in my way.”

This time, her smile was genuine. For the first time, Lana truly felt it.

She was finally reaching somewhere. Without Lucian’s influence, relying solely on her own strength, she was moving forward. As long as she continued to succeed, her path was clear.

’This life is so much better,’ she thought.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep