Eden walked so fast that Joy and Ewan struggled to keep up with her.After a while, Joy stopped and grabbed Ewan's arm. "Maybe we should stop following her. She probably doesn't want us around right now.""Damn it!" Ewan kicked a rock on the path and vented, "The chief is a good person. Why does the Hunt family dislike her so much?"The news of Eden and Jasmine's relationship had spread throughout the school.Ewan had done some digging and discovered that Eden's mother had essentially abandoned her to her grandmother for many years, only taking her back into the Hunt family to marry her off to Alain in Jasmine's place, all for the supposed glory of the Hunts. Jasmine had never wanted this arrangement, but it was twisted to make it seem like Eden stole her fiancé. Ewan felt a lot of sympathy for Eden.Joy nodded with a sympathetic smile. "She deserves better. She doesn't need the Hunts to like her."She looked at Eden's slim figure, standing alone, with compassion.Ewan looked up
Estburg Central Hospital.Eden pushed open the door to a VIP ward, followed by Alain, Horace, and Caelus.Cielo and Simon had been waiting for quite some time.Upon seeing Eden enter, Cielo quickly greeted her. "Ms. Griffith."Cielo was momentarily surprised to see Alain behind her. "Mr. Ward?"Although he had seen Alain before, he couldn't fathom why Alain was here now.Alain's engagement had stirred up a commotion in Rielton recently. As one of the prominent families there, Cielo couldn't have missed the news.He had heard that Alain was engaged to a lady from the Hunt family. So why was he with Ms. Griffith? What was their relationship?"Hello, Mr. Navarro," Alain nodded politely at Cielo.Cielo returned the nod. "Hello."With little interaction between their families, their greeting was purely out of courtesy.Cielo then shifted his attention from Alain to Eden. "Thank you for coming, Ms. Griffith."Eden gave Cielo a nod before walking over to Simon. She took out a pack
Eden remained silent throughout, her mood so sour that Horace and Caelus were visibly uneasy.Horace leaned closer to Alain and whispered, "Did you upset her, Alain? She looks so intimidating right now, I'm afraid to even speak."Alain glanced at him sharply. "Then be quiet!"Even Alain refrained from speaking aloud. He was genuinely concerned she might lash out unexpectedly. He had experienced her strength firsthand before."Didn't you say she was supposed to start your treatment tonight?" Horace whispered again.Alain clenched his jaw and glanced at Eden. "We can wait."As soon as Eden placed her beer bottle on the table, she turned to Alain and Horace with a nonchalant expression. "Got a pen and paper?"Alain remained silent and looked at Caelus.Understanding his cue, Caelus nodded. "I'll fetch it from the waiter."Returning swiftly, Caelus handed Eden the pen and paper.Eden began writing a lengthy list of medicinal ingredients, then handed it back to Caelus.Perusing t
Eden spent four hours in the kitchen, and all Alain and the others could hear from outside were loud clatters and bangs. They couldn't help but wonder what she was up to.Alain remained calm, his head bowed as he scrolled through his phone, seemingly unperturbed by the noise.Meanwhile, Horace and Caelus were restless.Horace glanced at his watch, leaning back on the sofa teasingly. "Is she remodeling your kitchen in there?"Knowing Eden's penchant for intensity, Horace couldn't help but speculate. Despite her youthful appearance, her strength was undeniable, making Horace realize he wouldn't stand a chance against her in a fight.Alain lifted his head briefly toward the kitchen, biting his lip with a distant expression.After a moment, he returned to his phone, speaking calmly, "Let her."His tone was composed.If dismantling his kitchen helped her cope with her mood, he was willing to permit it. There were plenty of other rooms if she needed more space.Horace grinned mischi
Alain narrowed his eyes, his hands in his pockets, his expression dark and his eyes cold. "Horace."His voice was so cold that it sent chills down one’s spine.Horace could feel the freezing atmosphere created by Alain’s words.He hummed in acknowledgment, waiting for Alain's orders."Send out a message through the Dark Web," Alain said, lighting his cigarette with a serious look on his face.Horace hadn't seen Alain act like this in a long time.He nodded. "Understood. I'll make sure that whoever wants to make a move against Eden will have to get through me first."They might be able to hide the fact that Alain had been saved from most people, but they couldn’t hide it from those in Rielton.Not to mention that they had already spread the news about his survival.By now, the people in Rielton would be investigating who had saved him.They probably couldn't hide it even if they wanted to. They needed to arrange for more people to protect Eden.Bang! Bang! Bang!As the two o
Eden put another tablet in front of Horace and said with a smile, "This saves lives. 100,000. Want it?"Horace was drawn back by her voice. He tried to force a smile. "You're showing your favoritism a little too much, aren't you? It's free for Alain, but you want me to pay for it?""Expensive?" Eden smiled somewhat wickedly, narrowing her eyes and massaging her forehead.Others couldn't buy it even if they were willing to pay a billion.However, there was only one chance. If he didn't want it, then the deal was off.Horace, still feeling irritated, took out his mobile. "It's not. Give me your account number. I'll transfer the amount to you."Even if Eden wanted a million, Horace would pay. 100,000 was nothing.Eden would never produce something useless.Not to mention that this could save lives. He had to buy it.But…He was so annoyed!Why must he pay when Alain didn't have to pay a single cent?They weren't married yet, and they were already scheming behind his back.It
Alain vomited quite a lot of blood, but the color was lighter this time. There was a hint of red mixed into the blackness.The blood he had thrown up last time was pitch black.Alain finally stopped after a long while.Eden glanced at Caelus and said, "Pour the liquid I've been brewing in the kitchen into a bathtub. Make more until there's enough to fill the tub. Use medium heat and fill the tub once every fifteen minutes."Caelus, completely convinced of Eden's ability, followed her commands without hesitation.Horace looked at the weakened Alain and asked worriedly, "That's a lot of blood. Is he going to die from that?"Eden raised her eyes and placed her hand on Alain's wrist to check his pulse, then said, "He's vomiting the toxin inside him. It won't have much effect in the beginning, but as the toxin is removed from his body, his blood will become clearer. It's normal for him to experience symptoms such as weakness and dizziness. Some nutritious food will help.""That won't
Initially, Eden hadn't planned to prepare the infused bath for Alain to neutralize the toxin in him. It was something extra she was doing for him.Alain's internal organs had suffered varying degrees of injury due to being poisoned for half a year. Although she had managed to heal part of it and he was slowly recovering, his injuries had become permanent. Full recovery was no longer possible.All Alain could be now was the scion of the Ward family, living in wealth and nothing more.The infusion bath had the effect of significantly transforming one's body, forging and tempering Alain's flesh and bones to make them even stronger.As for removing the toxin, Eden had made that up on the spot. She didn't want Alain to feel indebted to her. She knew her boundaries very well.Alain was someone Jerred had entrusted his life to, so she had to help him. Not to mention, Alain had been helping her since her arrival in Estburg. She had to help him, even for that reason alone.Alain stood t
Eden had never seen this scarlet rock before. It looked like it had been scorched red by fire, but it felt cold to the touch.She was immediately drawn to it, even though she didn’t think much of it as she picked it up.At first, she thought it might be something unpleasant. But as soon as she touched the rock, a surge of limitless energy flowed into her body, making her realize that her power had reached a new level.Alain finally snapped back to reality, pulling Eden into his arms and patting her head. His voice was rough as he said, “Can you please avoid doing things that make me worry like this?”Eden was taken aback. She had only picked up a rock. What was he so worried about?Then she realized that Alain and Horace had probably seen the mist enter her body.“Alright. I’ll let you know what I’m doing next time.”Only then did Alain seem to relax.He looked at the rock in Eden’s hand and said, “This is called a Styx Rock. An old man gave it to me a few years ago after I sav
The last time Horace was kidnapped, Eden did everything she could to save him.Caelus had been with her for a long time and followed her every command. She wouldn’t just let him die.The two of them had just left the entrance when Horace came rushing over.“I heard Eden is awake. Let me see her!”Horace had been outside organizing the search for the murderer. When he heard Eden was awake, he left everything and came straight over.He treated Eden like a younger sister, so of course, he wanted to visit her now that she was awake.“Yes, I’m awake,” Eden said with a gentle glance at Horace. Then, she gave a slow, meaningful smile as she curled her lips. “I’m going to save Caelus. Come with me.”Horace suddenly shuddered.She turned to Alain. “What’s with her? Why did she smile so frighteningly?”Alain didn’t respond and got into the car.Horace followed them without delay.Caelus had been in the ice coffin for three days, and his body was already starting to deteriorate.Eden
Eden had just walked out of the room when Sinead arrived.“You’re finally awake. I’ve been so worried about you,” Sinead said, taking Eden’s hand. She then checked Eden’s forehead and pinched her face. Once she was sure Eden didn’t have a fever, she finally relaxed.“I’m really sorry for making you worry,” Eden said, her usual shyness showing.“No need to apologize,” Sinead replied. “If it weren’t for you trying to save us, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt so badly. I’ve been feeling guilty about it, so don’t say anything that’ll make me feel worse, okay?”Sinead glanced around at the nurses in the villa, knowing Alain had recruited them recently. “I know these nurses have been carefully selected, but they can’t compare to me taking care of you myself. Why don’t you come back with me? I’ll look after you personally and make sure you get all the nourishment you need.”“Alright,” Eden agreed immediately.Alain, who was behind Eden, could only watch silently.It seemed he had definite
“I… I wouldn’t dare,” the young nurse said, taking a few steps back, visibly trembling.Eden looked up at her. It was clear that the nurse was frightened, though she was trying to hide it.“What’s your name?” Eden asked as she ate the oats, which tasted fresh and just right.“My… My name is Gem. Gem Scarlet,” the nurse replied, her eyes fixed on the floor, avoiding Eden’s gaze.“How old are you?” Eden inquired. Though she was only slightly older than Gem, she exuded a calm, dependable demeanor.“Eighteen,” Gem answered quietly.Eden stroked her chin, observing Gem. “Do you stutter?”“Huh?” Gem looked up in surprise. “No.”Eden continued eating. “Are you afraid of me?”Gem seemed too stunned to stutter anymore and nodded instinctively. “Yes.”But she quickly corrected herself. “No… I… I’m not afraid of you…”Gem’s eyes filled with tears, and she struggled to hold them back.She bit her lip and, with her head lowered, explained, “It’s… It’s Mr. Brooks. He said you have a bad
Even though Hades was known as the king of all Banevermins, it wasn’t always active. Once the person implanted with Hades had consumed enough blood, Hades would fall into a deep slumber.He had just committed several murders, which meant that Hades had been fully fed and wouldn’t be triggered again anytime soon.Eden figured the reason for his sudden activity was that he was searching for a safer place to hide.“The Johnsons?” Liam repeated thoughtfully. “Since Alain is investigating them, and so are you, did they really do something they’re trying to keep hidden from outsiders?”Eden considered this and then decided to share the truth with Liam. “Have you ever heard of the Shamblers?”“Shamblers? One of the kids at the Agency was reading a horror novel a few days ago, and I overheard them mention it…” Liam said, pausing as he stood up suddenly. “Wait, are you saying the things in those novels are real?”Eden thought about it and nodded slightly. “Not entirely, but it’s not too f
Liam was genuinely impressed with Eden’s progress.If his own children had achieved as much, he’d be able to die happy.Eden, however, had a headache.She already knew about it.When Alain told Horace, she was in the same room and overheard it. She was unsure whether to tell Alain or not, wondering if he could accept the world she was part of.The world where the war would take place.After thinking it over, she finally said, “I’ll take it.”“Alright, I’ll send the reply.”Just before hanging up, Liam remembered something. “You’re in Estburg finishing your senior year, right? Almost ready to graduate?”“Yeah.”“With how smart you are, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble getting into a good university. Have you thought about studying in Rielton? We could grab coffee when we’re both free.”Eden replied indifferently, “The Agency must have a lot of free time these days, huh?”“Well, not exactly. I’m working on something pretty complicated and staying busy, but I’m making time to c
Eden massaged her head, glancing at all the nurses surrounding her.They watched her anxiously, afraid they might upset her.“All of you can leave. I don’t need everyone here,” she said, irritated by the crowd.As soon as the nurses heard her, they began to cry. “Did we do something wrong? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Please don’t fire us!”"That's right. Mr. Ward warned us that if we make you unhappy, he’ll kill us.”“We don’t want to die; please let us stay.”Eden froze, then muttered under her breath, “Darn it.”Was Alain out of his mind?Since when did he become so ruthless?Eden lowered her gaze, feeling the tension rise in the room. She glanced at the nurses, who were now kneeling in front of her, sobbing.Frustrated by the crowd, she said, “Just go. Alain won’t kill you.”Turning to Sulien, she instructed, “Pay them five times their salary and send them away.”Sulien, once obedient only to Alain, now followed Eden’s lead. Without hesitation, he paid the nurses as she as
Alain rarely mobilized his organization, and it was even more unusual for him to take a personal interest in anything. But Sinead knew it was serious if he had to step in himself.She remembered the call she had received from the Gardner family earlier, and a sense of unease settled over her.Could the person Alain and Horace were talking about be connected to that?If so, Rielton would become a living hell.The moment Sinead realized this, she quickly pulled out her phone and dialed a number as she walked outside. "I need your help."Three days later, at Pear Garden.Eden woke up shortly after Alain had left.As she opened her eyes, a young woman stood in front of her, staring at her.After a moment, the young woman excitedly exclaimed, "Ms. Griffith is awake, Dr. Sulien. Look!"She had barely finished speaking when dozens of people rushed into the room. Eden instantly frowned.She had only been unconscious for a little while. What... happened?Where did all these people co
Alain arrived just after the rest of the Ward family had left."Why are you here? Is Eden awake?" Sinead asked. She wanted to stay in Pear Garden to take care of Alain and Eden, but with the Ward family pressuring her for answers, she returned to the family residence to handle them first.They had just left when Alain arrived, and she thought Eden might have already woken up."She's still unconscious," Alain replied, unbuttoning the top button of his blazer as he sat down. "I’m here to see grandpa, and then I’ll head to the company."Sinead nodded. "He just woke up. Your uncles were here, arguing with me. He thinks it’s too noisy and doesn’t want anyone disturbing him, so don’t go in for now.""Got it," Alain said, lighting a cigarette. "Can you go stay with Ed in Pear Garden?""Alright."Sinead didn’t say much, grabbed her purse, and left.She had just reached the entrance when Horace rushed in. Without even greeting her, he hurried to Alain."Alain, he’s shown up again."Ho