Siobhan smiled gently. "You're smart."After inhaling deeply, Liora declared, "Alright, got it. I'll try to talk to him tomorrow!""I'll help you analyze it again by then.""Okay."-The next morning, Liora slept in late before finally waking up. She checked her phone, noting the absence of any calls from her bodyguards, then sluggishly rose from bed to freshen up. By the time she finished, it was already 11:00 a.m.Preparing to head to Chester, she changed into suitable attire and descended the stairs, only to encounter Tyler returning home.Rushing over, she asked, "Tyler, why are you back? Didn't you go to work?"Tyler's gaze turned icy. "Come to the living room. I need to talk to you."With a sense of unease, Liora followed Tyler to the living room.Once seated, Tyler took a sip from the bottle of mineral water on the table. "How many days have you missed class?"Confused, Liora asked, "Is that what this is about?""If not?" Tyler countered.Relaxing against the sofa,
Chester chuckled.Chester: [Okay, go ahead. I'll answer your questions.]Liora: [I've got a general understanding of your family's condition. Do you want to work at my family's company after graduation?]Chester's smile ebbed away the moment he read that text.Chester: [Lia, is this your idea or your family members' idea?]Liora: [Of course, it's mine! Isn't it meddlesome for you to find a job?]Chester: [I remember I've explained to you the reason why I chose this job. Lia, please respect me. Yes, I'm poor, but I'm not a disabled person. It's a pretty good choice to work at your family's company. I also need to thank you for being so considerate. But I won't go. I'll only say no regardless of when it is.]Chester's answer filled Liora with great joy. Chester had not changed. He was still the same person. But Liora still tried to persuade Chester.Liora: [You're stubborn. People have been racking their brains to work at MK, but you don't want to go even if you have the chan
"Wait," Liora interrupted. "I'm asking you about the price of the wooden sword instead of its origin.""If I didn't introduce it well, would you believe the price I'm going to tell you?""I can tell that. I'm not blind," Liora said."But I still have to explain it well. You need to give me the chance to speak since you called me, right?"Liora gave in. "Fine. I'm listening.""I'm sure you know about thousand-year-old mahogany, right? Plus, it's from 100 years ago instead of recent years. My ancestors were masters in the North. It's been passed down from generation to generation, but it stopped with me. It's also why I had considered it long before I sold this wooden sword."It's priced at around 400,000 dollars. After bargaining with the buyer for a long time, I finally decided on this price. I think you're somehow capable since you got the wooden sword now..."The seller was babbling, but Liora was no longer in the mood to listen.'400,000 dollars!'Chester spent 400,000 doll
"We just landed and are headed home. Lia, can you head home first?" Caroline's voice was soft."Did you rush back from your trip?" Liora was taken aback. "How long until you're here?""Another half hour. Please, come home. I need to talk to you about something.""Sure, I'll head home now."-Caroline and Evan stepped out of the car as Liora arrived home.At the sight of them, Liora joyfully rushed over. "Dad, Mom!"Caroline and Evan turned at Liora's voice, but before they could see her, she had already thrown herself into their arms.Smiling, Caroline patted Liora's back. "You're getting clingy again."Evan ruffled Liora's hair. "How's university life treating you?"Liora looked up at them. "The campus is okay, just a bit boring."As they chatted, Liora held their hands and said, "Come on, let's go inside and talk."The three of them entered the house, slipped on their slippers, and settled in the living room.Caroline gently held Liora's hand. "Lia, Axel has informed me
When Evan finished changing, Caroline arranged for some gifts to be prepared, and the three of them headed to Chester's house.Upon their arrival, the bodyguard opened the door for them.Liora ushered her parents inside.Caroline and Evan were taken aback by the condition of Chester's house but kept their thoughts to themselves as they followed Liora into Chester's bedroom.Chester, engrossed in his phone, looked up abruptly when they entered. After a moment, he pushed aside the blanket and attempted to get out of bed.Caroline intervened quickly, saying, "You don't have to get out of bed. Just stay put. You need to be careful with your injury."Chester looked at them apologetically. "I'm sorry, Sir, Madam. Please forgive my impudence.""Don't worry about it," Liora reassured him. "My parents aren't bothered by such things."Chester smiled gratefully and shook his head."I heard about you from Lia's brothers," Caroline began. "It's because of Lia that we're here. We brought so
However, Kennt mercilessly crushed Chester once again upon his return home, leaving him in need of a lengthy rest.Caroline understood Liora's reluctance to address her question. It became apparent that there were many things she was unaware of.Consequently, she gradually ceased her efforts to assist Kenny.While one's emotions might not dissipate with time, they could be pushed aside if one made a mistake.After a short stay, Evan drove Caroline and Liora home.As they sat in the car, Liora turned to Caroline and asked, "Mom, are you still intent on convincing me?"After a moment of silence, Caroline replied, "Lia, I realize it's no longer appropriate for me to persuade you. And Chester is innocent. But my desire remains unchanged. You must allow me to meet Kenny if you have contact with him.""No problem," Liora assured. "I'll locate him and arrange a meeting for you soon."Caroline nodded sadly and gazed out the window. 'Kenny…'Caroline knew Kenny had never been one to bu
"How could you compare yourself with Lia?" Evan shot Isaac a cold glare.Isaac muttered something and pouted.Then, he let go of Caroline. He wanted to bend over to pick up his phone, but his phone rang.When he saw the ID, he immediately picked it up. "Hello? How's it going? Did you see Lia?" His words made Caroline and Evan stare at him."Is your sister coming? We've been waiting in the corridor for a long time but haven't seen her.""That can't be!" Isaac immediately glanced at the time. "She should be there by now!""No, she's not. There are three of us waiting here. But none of us have seen her."Isaac's expression changed. "Let me call her. I'll text you guys later!"He hurriedly hung up.Caroline looked at him in confusion and asked, "Isaac, who did you ask to wait for Lia?" "A few thugs," Isaac casually answered while looking for Liora's number.Evan's face sank, and he roared, "What the hell are you doing, Isaac?!" He frightened Isaac, and the latter almost dro
Evan appeared visibly distraught. "Axel, call Ty. Ask him to send people to Chester's neighborhood immediately. We need to find Lia! Axel, access the surveillance footage!"Axel nodded and swiftly penetrated the firewall to retrieve the surveillance footage. He also enlisted Siobhan's help in contacting Tyler.Upon reviewing the surveillance footage, it became apparent that three men wearing caps and masks had abducted Liora in the corridor.They then carried the unconscious Liora into a car, obscuring its license plate.Isaac scrutinized the footage and declared, "No, I did not hire these individuals!"All eyes turned abruptly to Isaac."Why are you so certain?" Axel asked."The men I hired are three robust individuals. Lia can hold her own in a fight. I doubt Uncle Kenny would be unable to discern if the individuals I hired were slender.""Look here," Siobhan interjected, pointing at the laptop screen. "If they were Isaac's men, they wouldn't have discarded Lia's phone in a c
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