Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 396

Chapter 396 Unstoppable Resolve

“I am not hungry. You eat.”

Tammy took him at his word and went back to devouring the food.

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Nearby, a group of customers couldn’t resist sneaking a photo together, whispering to their friends. “They look like characters straight out of a novel! That height difference and contrast is so cute!”

“It’s a shame we can’t understand what they’re saying. It sounds like a foreign language.”

“Haha, even though that handsome guy looks annoyed, he’s actually quite sweet! Look, he’s even handing her a napkin!”

Lucas froze as he reached for a napkin.

He was caught in a moment of indecision–to give it or not? Ultimately, he couldn’t stand the sight of the grease nearly dripping from her chin and handed it over.

“Wipe your face.”

“Thank you, Dr. Lucas!”

He lowered his voice to a stern whisper. “Tomorrow, you go back to the harbor and stay with the men from the island. Do you hear me? Stop following me. I have actual business to attend to.”

“What business?”

“None of your concern.”

“But I promised Tati I would protect you…”

“I am perfectly safe!” Lucas’s voice rose an octave. “This is Hindersville, not the waters around your island. You can’t carry guns here, and there are police patrolling twenty–four hours a day. People here are civilized and polite; they don’t just start fights for no reason. Do you understand?”

Tammy set down her skewer, looking flustered and lost. “You…”

“I don’t need protection. I don’t need anyone’s protection. Is that clear?”

Tammy slowly bowed her head. Her fists clenched and then relaxed, her expression sagging with disappointment. “I understand.”

“Good. Finish your dinner and get some rest. Tomorrow, you stay with your own people. By the way, Tatiana will be arriving here in a few days.”

Tammy’s focus shifted instantly, her voice frantic. “Tati is coming? Why? She’s not well–she can’t handle a long voyage! She’ll be so sick!”

Lucas thought to himself: It’s nice to know she didn’t care nearly this much when I was vomiting my lungs out on that ship.

In Tammy’s heart, Tatiana’s well–being occupied a status above everyone else—including Lucas, and

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Chapter 396 Unstoppable Resolve

including herself.

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“She can’t push herself like that! She shouldn’t come!” Tammy was so distressed she couldn’t even look at the barbecue anymore.

Lucas let out a sigh. “If she has decided to come, who do you think could possibly stop

Tammy fell silent.

her?”

It was true. Who could stop her? Even if everyone on Steele Island gathered together, they couldn’t sway her resolve.

“Just be ready to meet her. Besides, her coming here might be a good thing. The neurology department here is world–renowned. Perhaps with advanced equipment, they can find a permanent solution for her headaches.”

“You can save her, right, Dr. Lucas?”

“It’s not a matter of ‘can.‘ Only if she lives, do I live.”

That had been the condition of his agreement with Jasper. Jasper’s favors were never easily repaid.

“Dr. Lucas, you’re so kind,” Tammy said, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I like you because you have such a good heart. You saved Jasper, you save everyone on the island, and you even set that old lady’s broken leg. You’re truly a wonderful person!”

For the first time, Lucas looked away, feeling a flicker of uncharacteristic discomfort.

Everyone on Steele Island, Alita included, believed he was a saintly doctor who had been captured but chose to treat his captors as friends. In their eyes, he was a hero. But he knew the truth: he was a fraud, an unethical physician who had accepted a fortune to turn a blind eye to the truth.

How could he be a “good person“? Meeting Tammy’s pure, adoring gaze, he found himself unable to look her in the eye.

Eventually, Tammy finished her meal. The bill came to over a thousand. Seeing how striking they both were, the owner gave them a discount and chuckled.

“Young man, your girlfriend has quite the appetite! I’ve never seen a girl eat that much. They say a big appetite brings big fortune–you’re a lucky man!”

Lucas’s expression turned wooden. “She’s not my girlfriend. She’s my sister.”

“Oh? Your skin tones are… quite different.”

“Half–siblings.“,

“Ah, I see…”

Lucas grabbed Tammy and hurried away before he could embarrass himself further.

Meanwhile, out on the rolling waves, Tatiana stood on the deck. She stared into the dark sea, her face a mask of solemnity as the cold wind whipped around her.

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Chapter 396 Unstoppable Resolve

“Mommy.” Ann’s voice drifted from behind her.

She turned. “Ann? Why are you awake?”

Ann walked over and buried her face in her mother’s waist, hugging her tight. “Mommy, you have something on your mind.”

Tatiana stroked the little girl’s hair. “Don’t worry about me.”

“Mommy, does your head still hurt?”

“Not anymore.”

Fmished

It was a lie. Her symptoms had never truly improved. Every night, she was jolted awake by a pain so sharp it felt like an axe was being driven into her skull. Even the painkillers were losing their effectiveness. But she would never tell Ann.

“Mommy, don’t lie to me!”

“Of course not. Come, let’s go back to bed.”

She exerted a fair amount of effort to carry Ann back into the cabin. Hubert was still snoring in the other bed. She tucked Hubert in and then looked at Ann. “Go to sleep.”

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Even in Darkness, She Chose to Rise