As Leon and Isaac heard about the mysterious mechanism that Mr. Mullen Sr. had just mentioned, their eyes widened in hesitation.Isaac chimed in. "The contraptions on the other side of that archway...""Listen up boys," Mr. Mullen Sr. warned, "as long as you don't act like wild monkeys, those contraptions won't even know you're there. So, after you tuck Mrs. Kooper in for a little nap, you'd better not go snooping around out of curiosity."Leon and Isaac eagerly nodded their heads in agreement and took Kisa toward the right archway.Kisa pretended to resist. "What are you doing? Where are you taking me? Let go of me... Let go! Ahh! There is a ghost inside. I won't go in... I don't want to go in, ahhh!" Kisa shrieked and struggled vehemently at the entrance of the right archway. The basement was deep, and the ceiling was tall. Kisa's scream echoed in the grand hall and the echoes were even more haunting.The women were on edge, picking up anything of value as they prepared to make
Leon looked at his sly smirk at the corner of his lips and then at Kisa. With a curious expression, he asked, "Bro, are you trying to get this crazy woman to test those contraptions?""Hey, bro, I have to ask, aren't you curious about this place?" Isaac asked with a look on his face that showed he understood Leon very well.Leon scratched his head. "I'm curious, after all, this place is so big, and the construction's so strange. Dad's been hiding this place for six years, so there must be some secret. It's just not good to let this crazy woman test the contraptions. What if something really happens? How will we explain it to Dad? And Mr. Kooper from Calthon is not someone to mess with.""What are you afraid of? She's a nutcase. We'll just say she broke free from her restraint and then ran around, triggering the contraptions. Besides, she's probably had sudden fits of madness like this before. Mr. Kooper must be aware of her condition. So, if she triggers the contraptions while in a
Kisa's eyes lit up at the thought. She ran wild in the garden like a madwoman. "Ahh... Something is after me! Go away... Help me! Help me!" she shrieked, pushing Leon and Isaac as she ran past them. At times, she would run to the large tree and hug it, crying and laughing in turns.She tilted her head, speaking to the tree, as if it was a person, "How pitiful! Are you hung to your death? What are you doing up there? Come down. Let's play together," she called out, gesturing toward Leon and Isaac. "And bring them with us. They can play, too."Leon and Isaac exchanged a look, the chill on their spines only getting stronger in the already cold surroundings.'Forget curiosity, staying alive is the priority!' Leon barked at Isaac. "Let's just get the crazy woman into the first room and get out of here. I'm outta here!" With that, Leon started making his way to the hall.Isaac, seeing Leon leave, knew they could not linger any longer with Kisa becoming increasingly demented. He quickly g
Kisa was stiff as a board, her heart skipping a beat. With a determined gleam in her eye, she continued to pound away at the door. "Let me out of here! Come on, open the door already!""Save your breath. You're not getting out of here."A voice echoed from behind her, one that was hauntingly familiar. It was a woman's voice, sounding just like Sara. Kisa's heart skipped a beat, and she cautiously turned around to see who it was.As she faced the screen, she saw the outline of a slender figure. Kisa's back was pressed tightly against the door, and her eyes were fixed on the shadow, trying to act as if she had gone crazy, faking a scare. "Ghost... You're terrifying! Don't come any closer!"The shadow twitched, and then a woman slowly emerged from behind the screen. Kisa's heart was pounding like a drum, but she still managed to keep up the charade, pretending to be scared out of her mind. But as the woman stepped into view, Kisa realized it was Sara.Kisa remembered Sara as a woman
"The man responsible for putting you behind bars and causing the fire that injured you and claimed your child's life is Gilbert," Sara whispered in Kisa's ear, her voice filled with hatred. It appeared that even though she went into hiding all those years ago, she had always kept a watchful eye on her."He wants you dead, and he won't stop until he sees it through. He's tampered with your food, trying to drive you mad, and he wants to burn you alive once again."Sara continued to repeat these words, trying to instill a deep-seated hatred in Kisa.To give a convincing performance, Kisa purposely put on a dazed and sluggish demeanor and recited along with her."Gilbert is my enemy. He wants me dead. He wants to burn me. Gilbert is my enemy."Satisfied with Kisa's reaction, Sara nodded with a vicious glint in her eye."The man who will come to see you later is Gilbert. He wants to burn you, just like he did in the prison. So, you must strike back. Make him pay for what he's done to
Kisa felt a burning pain next to her fingers, but she did not dare to move. Sara would know that she was only pretending to be hypnotized. The sparks and flames became more and more intense, and they were about to spread to her body. Anxiety filled Kisa's heart.'Oh God. What should I do?' she thought.'If I move out of the way right now, Sara will definitely be able to tell that I was faking it, and then I'll never be able to get out of this basement. This is her and Mr. Mullen Sr.'s territory, after all. Then again, I'll have to get up and roll on the ground if I catch on fire. What should I do? What should I do?'Kisa could faintly feel the fire catching onto the corner of her clothes, emitting a terrible smell.'My whole body will be on fire at this rate.'She was about to jump up from the couch when suddenly, a bucket of cold water poured all over her.The water extinguished the fire in an instant.Sara stood aside with the bucket in her hand and sneered, "Although you are
Kelvin was shocked when he heard that there was a basement."Yes, Dr. Hoover. The basement is the most special thing about this so-called 'restricted area'," said the bodyguard.All of a sudden, Kelvin became curious. He looked around the restricted area and asked, "Where's the entrance? Where's the entrance to the basement?""Follow me, Dr. Hoover," the bodyguard replied as he started to lead Kelvin into the garden.Kelvin stared at him for a few seconds and followed him suspiciously. 'Ms. Mullen is still counting on me to heal her leg, so they probably won't do anything to me, right?' Kelvin became a little more courageous when he thought of that.Not long after, the two arrived at a white door that was 3 feet tall. The door was ajar, but the bodyguard did not go in. Instead, he turned to Kelvin and said, "Dr. Hoover, the basement is right through here."Although a tiny beam of light shone through the gaps, Kelvin was scared to enter.'Who knows what's down there?' he thought
Kelvin did not have time to take in the beautiful scenery before him. He still had not found out what the Mullen family was doing in the basement.'I have to see how Kisa's doing,' he thought.Under the dazzling light, Kelvin saw an exquisite spiral staircase behind the door. He tried to be courageous and walked down the stairs one step at a time. It was not until he heard voices coming from below that he relaxed a bit. 'Thank god there are people down here.'"Why isn't Dr. Hoover here yet? We can't all possibly just wait for him here, right?"After getting the gems, Carrie wanted to leave the basement as soon as possible. However, it was already dark out when she reached the entrance, and there was not a single light source on the large plot of land. Carrie got scared at the thought of having to find her way back on her own, so she decided to stay.But Mr. Mullen Sr. did not allow them to roam around or leave the room.'It's starting to get boring down here,' she thought.It di
In a small town in the South, a gentle breeze caressed the cheeks of passersby, creating a pleasant and serene atmosphere. This town, known for its tourism, was adorned with flowers even in its narrow alleys. The surrounding houses were all quaint inns, exuding a poetic and picturesque charm.Beneath an arching bridge, Kisa set up an easel to display and sell her paintings. She had always loved painting since childhood. Although she had not achieved great success in this field, her vivid and evocative paintings were very popular with tourists. She would sell most of her paintings every day.On weekends, Blake would join her at the stall, but today was Wednesday, and she was alone. After arranging her paintings, she had barely sat down when people began to gather around. Some admired her art, while others immediately offered to buy. Her paintings were reasonably priced, which attracted many customers."Miss, I'd like that painting of the snow-covered rose garden at night.""Alright,
In the backyard, Kohen looked at his older brother's calm expression, a hint of worry in his voice. "Bro, are you alright?""I'm fine," Hayes said, adjusting the blanket on his lap. "Tomorrow, take me to meet those medical geniuses you found.""Oh, sure..." Kohen nodded in agreement, but after a moment, he could not help but ask, "Bro, what did that woman say to you that made you change your mind so suddenly?"Hayes gazed at the stars in the sky, his voice cool and distant. "She told me she's doing well, very happy. Then she pointed out how pitiful and miserable I am right now. She asked me if I don't feel envious, knowing how well she is doing compared to me."Kohen grimaced, realizing that the woman had provoked his brother into action.Hayes lowered his eyes, a faint smile on his face. "That's right. How could I not be envious? So, I want to heal my legs, live a good life, and show her that I can do better than her."Kohen felt a pang of sympathy for his brother. From Hayes's
Mentioning Hayes, Eylul's expression became complex. "Hayes is reclusive and doesn't like to see people. Only a single old servant has been taking care of him all these years. I only met him once, back when I married Kohen."Mia's heart ached, recalling the enigmatic yet deeply emotional man. She could not help but feel a lump in her throat. "How's his health?" Mia asked.Eylul replied, "His health is fine, but his legs have remained the same. Kohen has found top orthopedic experts for him and even sought out Kelvin Hoover from Calthon, but he refuses treatment. For so many years, he hasn't even stepped outside the backyard.""You mean he's been living in the backyard all this time?" Jensen asked gravely.Eylul nodded. "Yes, Kohen wanted him to live in the main house, but he refused. He only likes staying in the backyard. Moreover, the room he stays in used to be..." Eylul glanced at Mia. She had heard that Mia used to live in that room.With a complicated expression, Mia pursed h
"Let's forget everything that just happened,' Mia said.Jensen looked up at her. In the moonlight, his eyes were deep and complex, profound and unfathomable.Mia tried to muster a smile. "You don't have to feel burdened. In a way, I forced you. And you must have always disliked me. Actually, I didn't come to you for money; I just wanted to see you. Now that I have, I should go. Jensen, from now on... take care."With that, she walked away, fearing that if she lingered any longer, she would not be able to leave. But after only a few steps, she was embraced from behind.Jensen's voice was low and hoarse. "Stay with me."Mia trembled at his words. Jensen continued. "But I still have so many things to do and someone in my heart I can't let go of. I don't know... when I will be able to give you a satisfactory answer. If you don't want to stay with me without any promises or guarantees, you can—""I'm willing," Mia blurted out, "as long as I can be with you, I don't care about anything
Mia's face changed instantly. " You... you know I like Jensen, why would you...""Heh, if you like Jensen, shouldn't you be willing to do anything for him? If you can't even do this, how can you claim to love him?""I won't do it! Doing this would be betraying Jensen. I would risk my life for him, but I can't do this."Adrien stared at her flushed face and gently chuckled, his words loaded with meaning. "Aren't you feeling all hot and bothered yet?"Mia frowned. Her body was indeed getting hotter and more agitated. 'Why would Adrien ask this? Could it be the drink...?'As the thought crossed her mind, her heart sank. Seeing Adrien's cold expression and the man's playful smile, Mia turned and ran. But before she could take more than a few steps, she was dragged back. Weakened by the drink, her desperate struggles were futile. As the man pressed her down, playing with her like a toy, she closed her eyes in despair. She thought she could never face Jensen again. With a bitter laugh,
Adrien Tanner, Jensen's father, stood before Mia with a warm smile. "My son is truly awkward when it comes to matters of the heart. He's even willing to refuse such a beautiful young woman like you."Mia stared at him, her tears suddenly streaming down her face. "I only wanted to see him, even if it was to face rejection. Wouldn't it better to say it clearly to my face?""Yes, it would." Adrien agreed. "But standing here stubbornly won't help, because he left on a business trip a couple of days ago."Mia's heart ached even more, realizing that Jensen had avoided using the front door just to evade her.Adrien continued. "I have a way to make him come to you willingly, but it depends on whether you're willing to cooperate."Mia nodded. "What do I have to do?"Adrien motioned to his bodyguard, who handed him a glass of wine. "Drink this," he said.Mia furrowed her brow, hesitant.Adrien gently patted her shoulder, like a father would."Don't be afraid. I won't harm you. From the
Filled with guilt, Mia stepped forward, but Kohen suddenly pulled out a handgun and aimed it at her."Get out!"Jensen pulled Mia back. He looked at the cold man before him. It was this man who had taken him in years ago. At that time, Kohen was young, a carefree and privileged young man. Now, he seemed to have grown up all at once, his eyes colder and more distant.Jensen said with a troubled expression, "If you ever need me in the future, don't hesitate to find me."Kohen sneered coldly; pain etched in his brow. He mocked himself. "I never should have taken you in back then. In the end, it was I who harmed my own brother."Jensen pursed his lips, not knowing what to say, only feeling an unbearable pain in his heart. It was the first time he felt he owed someone. That sense of indebtedness suffocated him."Get out, and don't let me see you two ever again."On that night, Jensen and Mia left the McCray family. As a result of Hayes's ordeal, the McCray family underwent tremendous
"What on earth happened?"Jensen did not speak. Mia choked out. "The collaboration between the Burton family and the McCray family was a trap. We were ambushed by the Burton family, and Hayes... he was hit by a car trying to save us.""Damn it!" Kohen cursed under his breath, abruptly pulling a knife from a nearby bodyguard and pointing it at them. "What are your lives worth? Why would my brother save you? Why?"Mia bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. 'It's my fault. I wanted to save Jensen, but I should have gone alone. I shouldn't have dragged Hayes into this. He seemed cold-blooded and heartless, and I never thought that he would risk his life for me. Why was he so good to me?'"Kohen..."Suddenly, a weak cry rang out. Hayes had awakened.Kohen hurriedly moved closer, gripping Hayes's hand. "Bro!"Hayes's face was deathly pale. He did not look at Kohen, but instead turned his gaze to Mia. His eyes were calm. He saw Mia's red-rimmed eyes and the tears lingering there,
Hayes was sent flying by the car, his body crashing into a wall before bouncing back.Mia's entire body felt ice-cold as she trembled, yelling, "Hayes!""Kill them all!" A hoarse, aged voice suddenly rang out from the entrance. It was Curtis. He looked at Kendall's lifeless body on the ground, his eyes filled with rage, shouting, "Run them over! I want them to join my grandson in death!""Ah!" Jensen roared, disregarding the guards' swinging knives, and like a madman, charged at Curtis. Curtis's face changed, desperately pulling a nearby guard in front of him as a shield. But it was useless. Jensen, like a crazed beast, attacked anyone in his path. Soon, his knife was held against Curtis's throat.Curtis trembled all over. "Wh-What do you want?"Jensen, covered in blood with splatters on his face, looked like a demon that had emerged from a battleground. He grabbed Curtis and held him hostage in front of him. "Let us go!""Don't even think about it!" Curtis retorted angrily. "You