Naomi calmly remarked, "Ms. Shenton, I'm just assessing the situation objectively."Caroline, visibly mad, retorted, "It also depends on the person! Don't you think I know what kind of person Kenny is?"Naomi fell silent and stared at Caroline.Caroline realized her anger had flared up too quickly, especially after the silence settled in the room."I apologize, Naomi. I appreciate your analysis, but today is overwhelming for me. However, Kenny isn't like that, and I hope you can trust him as much as I do."Naomi nodded. "I understand, Ms. Shenton. I'll do my best to connect with him."Caroline nodded in return. "You can head home now.""Alright."As Naomi left the office, Caroline massaged her temples, feeling drained.-It was midnight, and Caroline had fallen asleep on the desk.Suddenly, a tall figure appeared at the office entrance. He quietly entered and noticed a small blanket on the sofa. Casually, he unfolded it and then approached Caroline, gently covering her.His
Draco took the report, turned to the last page, and frowned upon reading, "The alleged father is excluded as the biological father of the tested child.""How is this possible?" he exclaimed.The doctor also found it strange because Evan and Tyler looked very similar, yet they didn't share a father-son relationship. Nevertheless, he couldn't find any error in his test results. He had double-checked and was the first to receive the report.The doctor said hesitantly, "It's possible that they simply resemble each other—""Say no more. Bodyguard!" Draco interrupted angrily.The bodyguard by the door entered promptly.Draco gritted his teeth and ordered, "Send the children home!"Bernard asked, "You're quite fond of these two children, sir. Won't you let them stay a bit longer?""For what? Do I appear to be the type who raises someone else's children without reason?" Draco shouted.Bernard nodded and said, "You're right, sir. We'll send them away immediately.""Yes, sir!" the body
Draco had informed Casey that Evan's son had spent the previous night there, so the blood must belong to Axel.Casey walked toward the bathroom, and Axel panicked when he heard his footsteps. He didn't want anyone to discover his nosebleed, especially his busy father. He didn't want Evan to worry about him.Casey arrived at the bathroom entrance, where he noticed the bloody water in the basin and the blood on Axel's pale face.Axel was startled and stepped back, covering his nose when he saw Casey. He tried to stay calm and asked, "Who are you?"Casey blinked, and the coldness in his eyes disappeared. He now looked concerned and asked, "You're Evan's son, right? What happened to you?"Axel stared at Casey, unable to comprehend how his earlier intense gaze had faded so rapidly.Axel fibbed, "I tripped and hit my nose.""Should we get a doctor to check it?" Casey asked."No," Axel declined, pretending as if nothing was amiss. He proceeded to rinse his nose again.Casey briefly e
The deputy factory manager, Caleb Depp, had sustained injuries while dispersing the workers. He sat up in bed and greeted, "Ms. Shenton, you're here."Caleb's wife stood and offered her seat. "Please, have a seat, Ms. Shenton."Caroline smiled and signaled her bodyguard to place the gift basket down. Then, she sat and said, "Even though the police have already taken a statement, I'd like to inquire about some details."Caleb nodded. "I understand. Our mismanagement resulted in your financial loss.""Money is a minor concern. What matters is that we are all safe," Caroline replied with a faint smile.Caleb added, "You care deeply about everyone, Ms. Shenton. Honestly, I'm puzzled about the fire's cause. It originated in the warehouse, where the fabric was stored. But we inspected it diligently daily and noticed no fire hazards."Caroline nodded. "Hmm. The detective mentioned the same and hasn't ruled out deliberate arson."Caleb emphasized, "Absolutely! The warehouse is secured,
Paige grinned. "Sure! If you don't like 'Pug,' I'll just call you 'Puggy' instead. Do you fancy that?"Alex's lips twitched as he responded, "Alright then, 'Pug' it is. But now, what's on your mind?"Paige replied, "I need your help to analyze something. My brain's not cooperating.""Can you get me a drink?" Alex asked."Absolutely! However, I'm a bit cash-strapped from throwing Carol's birthday party, so don't choose an expensive spot!"Alex chuckled. "I will definitely choose an expensive spot to match the nickname you've given me then.""Fuck you!"-Caroline and Naomi were searching for a clothing factory to fulfill their order quickly.However, none of the five factories they visited could accommodate their request, as they were all booked months in advance.Naomi suggested, "There are two more options. Should we check those out?"Caroline replied, "Which ones are those?""MK's clothing factory and—""Nope, if the others are busy, I doubt MK will have any room for us.
Alex received a call from Reuben late at night, informing him about Evan's decision. After the call, he headed to the bar and spotted Paige in the VIP booth.As he approached, Paige wasted no time in berating him. "Pug, what's wrong with you?"Alex smiled, removed his jacket, and quipped, "Are you mad because I kept you waiting for 30 minutes?"Paige glared at him. "I can't stand people who aren't on time!""Alright, calm down. I'll buy you drinks tonight, okay?" Alex offered."Sure!" Paige's mood shifted, and she giggled, accepting the offer.Alex steered the conversation back to business. "Let's get back to the point. What do you need from me?"Pouring a drink, Paige said, "I assume you've heard about the incident at Carol's factory. Something doesn't add up. Excluding Kenny—""Hold on! What do you mean, 'excluding Kenny'?" Alex interrupted.Paige blinked innocently. "Kenny's out of the country, and he owes Carol a favor, so he wouldn't do anything to harm her."Alex scoffe
Alex shifted the conversation's focus. "I need to ask you something.""What's up?" Paige inquired.Alex got to the point. "Is Caroline looking to partner with a clothing factory?"Paige replied, "It's pretty obvious. She needs to complete her order soon!""Could you help me set up a meeting with her?" Alex asked.Paige eyed him suspiciously. "Just get to it!""I'd like to offer my factory for her use temporarily.""Why didn't you say so sooner? I'll arrange the meeting tomorrow!" Paige exclaimed.-At 8:00 p.m., Caroline woke up to find Neil speaking quietly on the phone.Neil was momentarily surprised to see Caroline awake. He said quietly to the phone, "Mommy's here. I'll let you talk to her."Neil placed the phone next to Caroline's ear. "It's the kids."Caroline was surprised. "Hello?""Mommy!" Liora's joyful voice came through. "Tyler and I are home. When are you coming back?"Caroline coughed and perked up. "You're home? When did you get back?""We've been home sin
The next day, after giving the children a ride, Caroline received a call from Paige. The latter told her that Alex wanted to meet and discuss the clothing factory.Caroline agreed to meet him downstairs ten minutes later.-Once Caroline reached the company, she had a quick meeting with the sales department. Then, she invited Naomi to join her for coffee.At the cafe, they spotted Paige and Alex waiting for them.When they saw Naomi, they exchanged glances. Alex approached Paige and whispered, "It's okay to be doubtful, but let's not make it obvious. We won't be able to gauge her if she becomes suspicious."Paige gnashed her teeth and put on a smile. "Do I look that dumb?"Alex seemed surprised. "You seem to know yourself well!"Paige was taken aback. She wanted to teach this stern man a lesson.However, when she noticed Caroline and Naomi right before them, she discreetly pinched Alex's thigh under the table and greeted Caroline with a smile, "Caroline, I ordered an Americano
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