"Call us if you need anything," Raymond called over his shoulder as he quickly slipped out the door, not waiting for Brandon to respond.Watching them disappear one by one, Brandon appeared speechless."Those three must have lost their minds," he thought. But he was too tired and drained to dwell on it. With a sigh, he headed back to his room and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep almost immediately.Meanwhile, Oliver and Alex packed up their belongings as quickly as they could and left the house in a hurry. Raymond, however, was delayed by a call from his agent. By the time he finished and got his suitcase ready, he found himself heading out into the hallway alone.There, he ran into Olivia, who was humming a tune, clearly in high spirits. When she spotted him by himself, her eyes lit up with a gleam of opportunity."Ray, why are you packing a suitcase?" she asked sweetly, her smile as bright as ever.In the past, Raymond would have found her smile charming and cute, but now,
That day, as Lindsay was about to head out and was in the middle of changing her shoes, she heard a knock at the door. She paused and opened the door to find an elderly man in a tailored suit with a gentle expression, accompanied by another man in a long, flowing coat, his hair silver but his face surprisingly youthful.Lindsay recognized them from her childhood. "Hello, sirs!"She made a welcoming gesture. "Please, come in and have a seat."These two gentlemen were Moses’ seniors.The older man in the tailored suit, Xander Walton, gave a warm smile. "So, you still remember us."The silver-haired man, Cosmo Eversley, nodded with a friendly grin. "Linds."After they sat down, Lindsay made two cups of tea and set them before the guests. "Is there something I can help you with?" she asked.It had been many years since she had seen either of them, and they had no regular contact. Their sudden visit surely meant something important.Cosmo took out a seal and handed it to Lindsay. "This is
He continued, "Is there anything you want to ask us?"Lindsay did have questions. Looking directly at the two of them, she asked, "Do either of you know how my mentor passed away?"Xander replied, "Before adopting you, Moses took a trip to the Southeast region. He returned with severe injuries. When we asked him about it, he never revealed who was responsible. The injuries themselves took a toll on his lifespan."In the last year of his life, he performed a divination. We don’t know what he discovered, but he used a secret technique that came at the cost of his remaining lifespan.“That’s when he faced backlash from the universe. His body aged rapidly, and he fell gravely ill soon after."Lindsay was stunned. "Do you know what kind of secret technique it was?"Before Moses’ passing, Lindsay had been studying in New Horizon. When she heard he had taken a sudden turn for the worse, she rushed back, only to find him frail, as if he had burned through the last of his life force. It hadn’
Lindsay cried for what felt like an eternity before she finally stood up and washed her face, trying to regain her composure. As she walked into the living room, she reached for a small stuffed toy that seemed casually placed on a shelf. She unzipped the back of the toy and pulled out an ancient-looking key.This key had been given to her by Moses before he passed away, with a simple instruction: that one day, she would find a use for it. She now realized that, along with the seal, this was the other item needed to access what her mentor had stored away.The Divination Association had a special storage vault designed to keep mystic artifacts, antiques, and other valuable items for divination masters, as well as the wealthy and powerful. Each storage unit required a unique method to unlock. Anyone attempting to force or bypass the lock would face severe backlash from the ancient protective wards surrounding the vault. It was considered the safest storage facility in the country—but
After Melvin left, Elric sent a message on his phone. Then, he and Lindsay started discussing the script, and he even asked for some advice on acting techniques. About ten minutes later, Elric’s assistant jogged in and handed him a bag. Elric thanked him and took out a box of chilled eye masks, offering it to Lindsay.“I noticed your eyes are a bit swollen, so I asked my assistant to get you some anti-swelling eye masks,” he explained.Lindsay was rather surprised and stared at the box he handed over. She hadn't expected Elric to be so attentive and considerate. She accepted it with a smile. “Thank you, I really do need this.” She had cried quite a lot earlier, and now her eyes were indeed feeling swollen. She couldn’t deny it felt nice to be cared for in this way. After all, even when Justin had been her boyfriend, he had never been this thoughtful.Elric smiled. “You don’t have to be so formal with me.” Then, cautiously, he asked, “Did something happen? Is there anything you
Lindsay pretended not to notice and continued her usual routine. That day, after filming, Elric received a call from his agent. After listening, he was shocked. "Alright, I'll be right over."Then, he saw Lindsay coming out after changing clothes, and an idea crossed his mind."Linds, could you do me a favor?" he asked.“What kind of favor?” Lindsay replied.Elric answered honestly, “My brother’s childhood friend, Ryan, who is also an executive at our company, was in a car accident and is in the hospital right now. He’s been having a streak of bad luck lately, and I feel something is off. I was hoping you could come to the hospital with me to see if there’s anything wrong with him.”Lindsay smiled and said, “Of course, no problem.”So, the two of them took a car to the hospital.It was a high-end private hospital with strict security and excellent privacy. Wearing masks, they got out of the car and walked to the hospital room without any trouble from paparazzi or onlookers.As they a
Elric said, "I'm worried you might have encountered something… evil."Ryan responded with a wry smile, "So, that's the issue."It dawned on him then that Lindsay wasn't just Elric's secret crush; she was also a skilled mystic. He had been having a streak of bad luck recently, but he hadn’t thought it was due to anything malicious. Still, he wanted to give Elric the benefit of the doubt. Besides, since Lindsay was already here, it wouldn’t be polite to refuse.He chuckled and said, "Seems like all my kindness to you hasn’t been in vain. You’re really looking out for me."Turning to Lindsay, he added, "Well then, could I trouble you, Miss Summer, to take a look at me? I feel perfectly fine myself, but Elric's concern might have gotten the best of him."Lindsay observed a layer of dark energy coiling around Ryan, and his brow appeared distinctly darkened.“Your self-assessment seems less accurate than Elric’s,” she replied plainly. “You’re under a heavy cloud of bad luck right now. If it
It wasn't just Ryan who suspected there was an issue with the IV; both Howard and Edgar were thinking the same. So, when Ryan began to recover, they didn’t rush to call for a doctor.Lindsay explained, “The IV isn’t the problem, but at the same time, it is.”Ryan looked confused. “What do you mean?”Lindsay replied, “The medication in the IV itself is fine, but with your bad luck peaking today, even after taking an allergic test, you could suddenly develop a random allergic reaction. And not just any reaction—a severe one that could lead directly to death. So, in this situation, you can only chalk it up to bad luck.”Ryan felt a chill run down his spine. Was his luck so terrible that it could even trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction? Still confused, he asked, “Can you tell why I've been so unlucky lately?”He couldn’t think of anyone he might have offended recently, and there was no family drama like a hidden heir fighting for inheritance. Who would want to harm him?Lindsay
In the vibrant district of the historic town, the streets were lined with vintage boutiques and various artisan stalls. Lindsay's group visited the town’s administration office and rented a temporary booth.Alex and Justin eagerly borrowed a table and chairs, setting up the booth. Following Lindsay's instructions, they also bought a piece of white fabric and worked together to create a simple sign. The production team provided markers and other supplies.Lindsay glanced over at Benedict and said, "Benedict, I’ll let you handle writing the banner."She was eager to observe his writing and the energy he gave off while doing it.Benedict sighed inwardly—this girl was constantly trying to test him. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. "Alright, I’ll write it."He grabbed a marker, uncapped it, and wrote in bold letters across the white fabric: “Fortune Telling, Divination, and Tarot Readings.”Lindsay watched him closely, noticing the fluidity of his movements as he wrote, his posture exud
Justin added, "My mom’s been trying to get me to help Olivia and distance myself from Lindsay. She’s also said plenty of nasty things about Lindsay. This time, not only did I ignore her, but I even pushed back. It probably pissed her off, and now she’s taking it out on Lindsay."Alex, clearly upset, said, "You should talk to her and tell her to stop fixating on Lindsay. Lindsay hasn’t done anything to provoke her. It’s ridiculous."He was frustrated that Justin’s mom had been stirring up trouble, making Grace even more difficult to deal with.Justin nodded. "Alright, after the show is over, I’ll have a talk with her."He also felt his mom was acting out of line. Back when he liked Lindsay, her disapproval at least made sense. But now that Lindsay had kicked him to the curb, his mom’s continued obsession was baffling.Although they were speaking softly, Lindsay and Benedict, walking ahead, heard every word.Lindsay found the situation with Abby baffling as well. A woman who fawned over
After Lindsay left, the other guests quickly followed, leaving only Alex standing there awkwardly. He spoke briefly to the production staff, and they soon shifted the cameras away from that area. Alex then walked over to Grace, saying, "Mom, since Lindsay won’t lend it, let’s just drop it."Grace shot him a cold glare, her expression dark. "How can you be so heartless? The one lying in bed is your fourth brother. Are you hanging around Lindsay all the time just to learn how to be cold and ruthless?"Unable to contain her frustration toward Lindsay, Grace directed it at Alex instead.Alex sighed in exasperation. "Even if we need help, it has to be something she’s willing to do! We’ve wronged Lindsay enough as it is, so why do you keep trying to guilt-trip her? Brandon’s situation isn’t Lindsay’s fault. Why don’t you go find Olivia? She’s the one who caused all this, maybe she can fix it. After all, whoever’s behind her is no easy target."Right now, all Alex felt toward Lindsay was gui
Grace held back her anger and said, "It'll only take a few minutes. I have something important to discuss with you."Lindsay sat back down in her seat. "Fine, go ahead."The livestream was on, and Lindsay was fully aware of it—she was doing this on purpose.Grace was about to speak when her assistant whispered something in her ear. Her expression changed, and she subtly shifted her body to turn away from the camera.Then she looked at Lindsay. "Can we talk outside?"In her rush to find Lindsay, she had almost forgotten that this was a live-streamed variety show. She didn’t want to be on camera, much less discuss such personal matters in front of an audience.Lindsay, however, refused. "If it's important, say it here. If not, then don’t say anything."Grace’s expression darkened. "It’s because it’s important that we need to talk privately."She emphasized, "It’s not appropriate in front of the camera."Lindsay just smiled. "Unless it's something shady, what’s wrong with saying it on cam
Lindsay thought about it for a while and figured that if Grace was coming to find her, it was probably for Brandon. The only thing she could want would be the artifact in her possession.Alex saw her reply and couldn’t help but smile wryly. His sister was indeed sharp and saw right through it.He sent a voice message, repeating what the head of the Divination Association had told them. "Mom just wants to borrow the artifact from you to suppress Brandon’s condition."Lindsay replied, "Tell her not to waste her energy."Seeing that message, Alex knew right away that she wouldn’t lend it out. It didn’t surprise him—his sister could be ruthless when she wanted to be."We can’t convince her otherwise, not even Dad can stop her... sigh," Alex added. When their mom’s temper flared, she wouldn’t listen to anyone.Lindsay didn’t seem to care. "Then let her come. I’m not going to do her any favors."Alex recalled the conversation between their parents at the hospital and decided to warn her, "M
Recently, Grace had been spending more time with Abby, often meeting up for outings. Over time, Richard noticed that Grace's anger towards their biological daughter had deepened. Abby had always disliked Lindsay and showed more favoritism towards Olivia. She must have been stirring up trouble and egging Grace on whenever they met. With time, Grace was bound to be influenced.Grace, clearly annoyed, said, "You even want to control who I make friends with? Aren't you going too far? What's wrong with me getting along with Mrs. Ford and spending more time with her?"Richard felt cornered. "I just think there's something off about her. Her intentions in getting close to you don't seem good. That's why I'm trying to give you a heads-up."Grace didn't believe him at all. "I think you're overthinking it. We’ve always had a decent relationship. We’re just closer now, that’s all.""What do you men know about women’s matters? Don't interfere." She now had plenty to talk about with Abby. Jenny wa
Richard glanced at Grace with clear disapproval. “This whole mess was caused by Olivia and Brandon. What does any of it have to do with Lindsay?”He could tell that recent events, and the embarrassment caused by their sons, had left his wife feeling bitter. It seemed she had begun to project that frustration onto Lindsay, despite the situation having little to do with her.Grace crossed her arms defensively. “If it wasn’t for her ongoing fight with Olivia, Brandon wouldn’t have gotten involved. He’s her brother. Doesn’t she owe him some consideration now that he’s in this condition?”Richard frowned. “What exactly are you trying to say?”Valarie, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her displeasure clear. “I see it differently. It’s Olivia and your son who started the trouble, and all Lindsay did was defend herself. Are you really looking to embarrass yourselves even more?”Grace shifted uncomfortably, feeling the sting of her mother-in-law’s words. “I’m just thinking abou
Given the Harper family's persistence, there was no way the Divination Association could avoid a thorough investigation. Seeing that Randolph wouldn’t back down, the official left, courteously escorted out by Randolph, who, for the moment, had ceased his protests.Valarie carefully placed the multicolored stone inside a small protective pouch before securing it around Brandon's neck. Though he felt a slight relief after putting it on, the bad luck continued. As the official had warned, his misfortune was too severe for one artifact to fully contain.Randolph tried every connection he had, attempting to borrow a second artifact, but came up empty-handed. Time slipped by, and evening approached before they could find any further solutions.By the time Richard and Grace arrived at the hospital, they were met with the weary faces of their parents. Feeling guilty for everything his father had gone through, Richard bowed his head. "Dad, Mom, I'm so sorry you had to go through this today."
Hearing their words, the hope that had briefly flickered in Brandon’s eyes quickly faded, leaving him more devastated than before. "Grandfather, I know I was wrong," he muttered, finally realizing the truth. His foster sister had been nothing but trouble—far from trustworthy, she had been a constant source of harm. Meanwhile, his real sister, though harsh and distant, had proven to be far more reliable. Regret gnawed at him deeply.Randolph sighed, his voice heavy with disappointment. “Knowing you’re wrong doesn’t change anything. It’s too late now.”Turning back to the two mystics, Randolph asked, “If you can’t break the curse directly, could you at least help suppress his misfortune? Maybe with a protective charm or some kind of mystical object?”Despite his frustration with his grandson’s foolishness, he couldn’t just leave him to suffer.Both mystics exchanged uneasy glances. “We don’t have the ability to suppress his bad luck with charms.”“For something like that, you’d need t