"Okay, I'll give him a chance to wait for your return if he doesn't continue to hurt Chester. It's getting late, and I need to rest, Mom," said Liora.Caroline acknowledged that, and Liora hung up.After Liora ended the call, Isaac couldn't help but ask, "Who is Uncle Kenny, Lia?"Liora replied, "He was Mom's closest male friend, but he passed away.""Passed away? Was it due to an illness?" asked Isaac."No, nothing like that. Be good and go do what you should. You're still a child. Don't ask so many questions." Liora couldn't be bothered to explain further to Isaac. She was about to walk to Chester's room while she was speaking.Isaac hastily grabbed her arm. "Lia, I thought you wanted me to work with you?"Liora turned. "Yes.""If you're keeping everything from me, why do you want me to work with you then? You always treat me like a child and won't tell me anything. You, Axel, and Ty moved away when you were young. I've been kept safe and sheltered at home until I turned 14.
Isaac sniggered. "Why do you display so many white lilies at the entrance of your shop?"Liora said, "I didn't do it for the living but for the spirits."Isaac's eyes widened in shock. "Spirits?""Yes. Otherwise, why would I stop Axel and Ty from coming here? I was worried about bringing them bad luck," Liora said while she picked up a wiping cloth. Isaac pointed at himself. "So you agreed to let me come because I have good luck?""You don't have good luck, but they won't dare to do anything to you out of fear for your physique. Besides, I made you a charm this morning so you won't get bad luck."Isaac kept quiet for a while, thinking. Then, he sat upright. "That's not right, Lia. Who's going to manage the business when we go to school?"Liora took a glance at him in contempt. "People will come to seek employment eventually. Why are you in such a hurry? Besides, my funeral home is open for business when I like. After all, I'm not catering to humans.""Why bother restocking t
Liora vaguely sensed the harshness of Tyler's words after hearing his indifferent response. Their family, except Tyler, regarded Siobhan as one of them over the years. She scratched her head in agitation. "Alright, I understand. I'll call Aunt Yulia now!"She hung up and dialed Yuliana's number. Soon, Yuliana picked up. "Hello, Lia."Liora said, "Aunt Yulia, is Shiv with you and Uncle Zeke?""Shiv? No. Did something happen?" Yuliana was stunned. "We can't reach Shiv as she didn't take her phone with her." Liora did not mention the incident with Tyler. They had differing perspectives, and she did not want Tyler to be blamed without understanding the situation first.Yuliana said, "Shiv is not with me. I'll call Zeke and ask him. Stay calm…"Liora could not stay calm, but she could hear that Yuliana was anxious, too. After ending the call, Liora arrived at the hospital entrance. She calmed herself with great effort and thought about places Siobhan could be. Then, she ha
Axel did as he was told. He passed the phone to Liora after dialing Tyler's number. "Ty," said Liora. Tyler remained indifferent as before. "What is it? What else do you want to ask me?"Liora said, "I would like to ask if you remember when you saw Shiv.""About 11:00 a.m. or so, why?" Tyler asked.Liora swallowed her saliva. "Think about it closely. Was there anything different about Shiv?"Tyler kept quiet briefly. "She seemed a lot colder in her speech, even throwing in some sharp remarks."An absurd idea came to Liora's mind. However, she would continue to clarify before drawing any conclusions until it was confirmed!Liora turned to Axel. "What time did you get home, Axel?""About 12:00 p.m., then I saw Shiv running out of the house," said Axel. Liora clutched the phone tightly. "It might be possible that the two of you saw Shiv but not Shiv!"Tyler and Axel voiced their puzzlement in unison upon hearing that. "What?" "What do you mean?"Liora said, "Ty, are y
Axel nodded as Liora handed a charm to Siobhan. "Take this, Shiv. I'm stepping out for a bit."Siobhan vaguely sensed something in Liora's words. "Sure, go ahead."Liora and Axel left the room. While descending the stairs, Liora dialed Isaac's number.Isaac finally answered after a long delay. "Hello, Lia."Relieved to hear his calm voice, Liora asked, "Isaac, did you go home with Chester?""Yes, we've just made it downstairs," Isaac replied."Just made it downstairs? It's already 5:30 p.m.!" Liora checked the time on her phone."It's not my fault, Lia. There was a delay at the hospital," Isaac explained."Quickly head upstairs and keep the call connected. Keep an eye on Chester!" Liora instructed."Okay," Isaac complied, stuffing the phone into his pocket before pushing Chester's wheelchair into the elevator.As the elevator door closed, the signal was disrupted.Seeing the call disconnected, Liora cursed Isaac under her breath for his forgetfulness!She got into the car w
Noticing the eerie silence, Liora asked, "What's up? Why the radio silence?""It should be all good now, Lia. That uneasy vibe has dissipated," Isaac replied, his voice tinged with lingering apprehension.Liora mused, "I reckon the spirit got a knock from you and will lie low for the night. I'll be there shortly.""Alright."-In less than 30 minutes, Liora and Axel pulled up to Chester's neighborhood.As they ascended the stairs, Isaac awaited them at the door.Standing at the door, Liora immediately took note of the minimalistic setup inside Chester's home.Axel was taken aback and remarked, "Apart from a chair and a table, this living room's sparser than a desert."Liora echoed his astonishment. "You're spot on. I've never seen such pristine orderliness."They exchanged hushed words as they entered.Meanwhile, Chester had already been settled into bed with Isaac's assistance, with dinner arrangements underway via a call to a bodyguard.By the time Liora and Axel entered
Liora clenched her fists tightly. "Even if he meant to protect me, I can't support it. But we hold Uncle Kenny in high regard. I can't bring myself to condemn him either."Isaac grasped the situation. "So, if Uncle Kenny insists on harming Chester because of his obsession, you'll prioritize the greater good over him, right?""If we can talk it out, violence isn't necessary. That's what Uncle Ben taught me. Uncle Kenny harbors more resentment than other spirits due to his violent death. It's not that he wants to, but he can't control his urges," explained Liora.Chester, Isaac, and Axel exchanged confused glances, and Liora struggled to clarify for them.It was said that there was no guarantee of being in good spirits after death, regardless of one's life.It sounded absurd, but the world was full of such absurdities.Isaac asked, "What should we do next then? He has refused to reveal himself to you all this time.""This is indeed tricky. If he doesn't want to reveal himself, sea
Isaac gave in.Isaac: [Okay, when do we start?]Liora: [No rush. I'll text you one day ahead. You can get it ready first.]Isaac: [Okay.]After texting Isaac, Liora slipped her phone into her pocket and left the room. She hadn't crossed paths with Siobhan since returning and wasn't sure if she was feeling any better.As she stepped out, she unexpectedly collided with Tyler."You're back," he remarked.Liora nodded. "Did you hear about what went down today?""What happened?" Tyler was out of the loop.As such, Liora filled him in on Siobhan's possession.Tyler's expression darkened. "So, it wasn't Siobhan who visited me earlier. So, Uncle Kenny's spirit took over her body without her knowing?""Exactly," Liora confirmed. "We were all deceived."Tyler leaned against the wall. "And you…""Are you wondering what our next move should be?" Liora said. "Don't ask me. We'll figure it out as we go.""I wasn't going to ask about that," Tyler clarified. "We're not experts in your fi
Reese winced in pain. "Alright, ma'am. I guess I can read your mind? Be gentle!"Liora relaxed her grip at last. "Right, when are we going to that place you mentioned previously?""There's no rush. Your body isn't up for constant actions now. What if you get hurt by those harmful spirits again? I've already committed myself to you out of guilt. If it happens again, I won't have anything else to offer."Liora chuckled. "You make it sound like I'm desperate for your compensation.""What's wrong with that? I'm a strong, handsome man, and everyone loves me!" said Reese, displeased.Liora was astounded by his narcissism.She took a deep breath and said, "Reese.""Hmm?"Liora said, "In truth, I'm not the best choice to be your partner because of my profession. Those spirits may bother me from time to time. I'm the complete opposite of Isaac because of my negative physique.""What happens when you have a negative physique?""Spirits will be drawn to bother me and might cause me a lo
Reese and Isaac couldn't perceive the spirit, but they witnessed a dark mist dissipating before them.Isaac asked in astonishment, "What's happening, Lia?"Liora turned and answered, "The female spirit didn't want to move on, so her soul has been dissolved.""Dissolved? Do you mean her soul has been destroyed?" asked Reese. Liora nodded and looked around. "Uncle Kenny, please help me find the six spirits."Kenny took on the task and brought those fearful spirits in just a few minutes. Liora asked, "Do you want to choose the same option as her or come with me to Cross Chapel?""Cross Chapel!""We would have left long ago if we weren't trapped here by her threats!""She wouldn't let us go even in death. Aren't our lives worth anything?"After Fiery Red was gone, these spirits began to complain in anger.Liora was infuriated by their complaints. "How dare you criticize her! She may be responsible for your deaths, but what about you then? Do you think you bear no responsibil
"That's easy for you to say! Those who caused my death may have become spirits, but I still want to stop them from moving on!" Fiery Red barked. Liora frowned. "So, you're implying that those six students caused your death?""Why would I kill them otherwise?"Liora said, "It's time to let them go now that they've faced your revenge. Keeping them trapped is like trapping yourself. Why bother?""Allowing them to move on is letting them off too lightly!" Fiery Red roared. Liora said, "Your obsession is too strong and is keeping you trapped here. You're constantly hurting yourself with painful memories. If you move on properly, it will be a kind of liberation from your past.""Don't preach to me! I'll make it simple for you. It's either you die or my soul gets destroyed!" Fiery Red snapped. She was about to attack Liora just as she finished her sentence. Liora was planning to call out to Isaac when a figure suddenly showed up. Kenny rushed over and blasted away Fiery Red."Y
Tyler did not comment further upon hearing Liora's reply. In the evening, Isaac returned home from school to find Liora already there. He hurried over, brimming with excitement. "You're back, Lia! How are you feeling? Have you recovered from your injuries?"Isaac's smile stretched from ear to ear.Liora glanced at Isaac meaningfully and said, "Please do me a favor tonight, Isaac."Isaac nodded repeatedly. "Sure, are we heading to the campus?"Liora looked at Isaac in astonishment. "Are you not scared anymore?"The smile on Isaac's face faded slowly. "Spirits are scary, but I don't want to see you bullied by them again, Lia. I wanted to destroy those spirits on the same day after seeing you suffer. However, they told me to respect your decision, so I didn't do that."Liora caressed Isaac's head affectionately. "You've grown, Isaac. You know how to look out for me now."Isaac took Liora's hand and held her hand tightly in his own. "Lia, I've always cared about you. Next time you
Reese said, "Yes, you have been in love with her for 15 years and have invested a lot of time for her. However, haven't you noticed that Lia is a very rational person? As soon as she figures things out, she can move on immediately."Chester's breathing became irregular. He took two deep breaths shakily while staring at Reese. "Yes, she is more sensitive and rational than anyone else."Reese said, "I'm going to give you another analogy. If Lia chooses to be with me, what are you going to do?""Nothing. I said before that I'd respect Lia's choice no matter what. Similarly, you don't have to worry about anything else. I won't harbor any resentment because of love," Chester replied. Reese said, "In other words, you'll continue to be friends with Lia even if we end up together, is that right?"Chester frowned. "Lia and I are friends. If we can't be together, our relationship will remain the same as before. You like Lia, but you can't stop me from being friends with her, Reese."Reese
Reese raised his right arm and said, "My entire right arm was covered in blood at the time. I watched the removal of rotten flesh from your back with my own eyes. I couldn't sleep peacefully for days.""That's easy! Just get the doctor to prescribe sleeping pills to you. You will be able to sleep better, right?" Liora said while giggling. Reese crouched down next to the bed, smiling. "Lia, are you mad at me?"Liora was confused. "Mad at you? For what?"Reese scratched his nose. "If I didn't take you there, you wouldn't have gotten injured."Liora took a glance at him, astounded. "This has nothing to do with you taking me there. It's the ignorant spirits. I'll deal with them all once I recover!""You still want to go back there?" Reese exclaimed. "Yes, of course! Hades will be delighted if I can send the seven spirits to him," Liora said. Reese looked at the joyous smile on Liora's face, feeling guilty. "I was hoping that you'd scold me instead of talking to me so casually."
Reese sent away Tyler and the other, surging them to get some rest while he remained seated, his gaze fixed on Liora.She slept peacefully, her chest rising and falling slowly with each breath. Meanwhile, a nurse approached. Reese noticed her and hastily stood up. "Hello, nurse."The nurse asked, "How can I help you?"Reese said, "May I inquire when Liora can be transferred out of the ICU?"The nurse said, "I'm not too sure about that. It depends on the healing of her wounds and vital signs. She has the most extensive wound that I've ever seen on a girl. She might end up with scars…"The nurse opened the door and walked inside upon saying that. Reese was overwhelmed by a sense of guilt as he thought of the debt he owed to Liora. He knew he could never fully repay it in this lifetime.-Three days later, Liora was transferred out of the ICU.After learning about the incident, Caroline and Evan rushed to the hospital. They were heartbroken to see Liora lying prone on the be
Fear and worry flooded Reese's mind, making it impossible for him to sleep. He opened his eyes and looked at the sky through the skylight. Reese could not help Liora in her profession, so he wondered if he could help out in her safety. He thought about it before he grabbed his phone to text Tyler. Reese: [Can you tell me where Ms. Yelena is staying?]Soon, Tyler texted Yelena's hotel and room number. Reese: [Thank you, my friend.]Tyler sneered.Tyler: [I haven't settled the score with you over Lia's predicament.]Reese: [I'll accept any punishment you deem necessary. It was my mistake, and I'll take responsibility for it.]There was no reply from Tyler afterward.Reese did not send another text, so he started the car and drove to the hotel. -Half an hour later, Reese arrived at the door of Yelena's room. He pondered briefly before knocking on the door. Soon, he heard a response. "Coming."Yelena opened the door and was surprised to find Reese. "Are you the lad fro
Liora opened her palm. The outline of the charm was vague, but she could feel its intense energy. She took a deep breath and stood up. After sensing her movement, the spirits glanced at her. Liora turned to look at them and felt the same feeling that stopped her from leaving again!Suppressing the fear, Liora braced herself to walk out of the door.The closer she got to the door, the more intense the gloomy presence became—she felt as if her soul was being crushed. "Don't be scared, Lia!""Try to walk out, Lia! They won't hurt you!""Lia! Axel, Ty, Mr. Gates, and I are waiting for you!"Αfter hearing their voices, Liora shed tears. She gnashed her teeth and continued to stride toward the door, which seemed so close yet remained out of reach. She took a deep breath, raised her hand with the charm, and attempted to walk closer. This time, the spirits all turned to look at her. They rushed forward in unison when they sensed Liora was about to touch the door. Sensing t