Caroline said, "Yes. Axel, remember to take your medicine. I'll take care of Lia, alright?"Axel nodded. "Okay, Mommy. Liora is the priority now."Tyler took a sip of milk. "Mommy, will you take her to the hospital again if she doesn't get better?"Caroline nodded. "I'll take Lia to the hospital again if her fever doesn't go down by this afternoon."-Caroline grew anxious and asked Kenny to take Liora to the hospital. It was 1:00 p.m., and Liora's fever was still high, reaching 40°C.Eira suggested, "I'll go with you, Carol. It's better to have more help."Caroline looked at the kids. "I can't leave Ty and Axel alone at home."Eira said, "Neil is on his way.""Did you tell him?" Caroline asked.Eira confirmed, "Yes, I told him about Lia's condition.""Alright. Kenny, you drive." Caroline handed Kenny the car key.-Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the hospital. The doctor prescribed medicine and intravenous fluids for Liora. Caroline requested a room for her.After
"It's a long story!" Caroline told Eira, "You should head home first. I'll go with Kenny."Eira replied, "Sure, go quickly!"-Caroline purchased two boxes of milk, a few delicacies, and two bottles of liquor from the convenience store on the way to the graveyard. When they arrived, Caroline noticed a faint light seeping through the window gaps of a cottage.Kenny carried Liora out of the car and shivered at the sight of the desolate environment and the rows of tombstones on the hill."Where's the old man, G?" Kenny looked around cautiously.Caroline held the gifts and said, "Come with me."They walked to the cottage's door, and Caroline called out, "Benjamin, are you home?"Benjamin's voice came from inside, "The door's not locked, come in."Caroline opened the door with her shoulder and noticed Benjamin sitting alone at the dining table, though it was set for four.The cottage was unusually cold despite the heater being on.Caroline paused and said, "Benjamin, we won't dis
Caroline rushed over and gently placed Liora against her."Open her mouth so she can have the holy water," Benjamin instructed.Caroline followed his instructions, and Benjamin poured the holy water into Liora's mouth.Liora's eyes snapped open as she choked on the water.Startled, she spat out the water upon seeing Benjamin, then screamed and sought refuge in Caroline's arms."Mommy! Hold me!" Liora cried out.Caroline felt relieved at Liora's behavior, hugged her, and gave Benjamin an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Benjamin. She is...""It's okay," Benjamin replied, standing up while holding the bowl. He glanced at the dumbfounded Kenny in puzzlement.Catching Benjamin's gaze, Kenny turned to him in a daze."Am I... possessed by unknown entities too?" Kenny's face turned deathly pale."No, but avoid using a car or driving this year and stay away from bodies of water as much as possible," Benjamin advised."Huh?" Kenny was bewildered.Caroline cleared her throat. "Don't ask,
Liora whispered softly, "I'm scared of the old man's eyes, Mommy..."Caroline gently patted her back. "Lia, remember, not everyone is perfect. There are many unfortunate people with disabilities in this world, right?"Liora leaned on Caroline's chest and replied, "Yeah. I'm sure they wish they could be just like everyone else."Caroline nodded. "That's right. So, do you think the old man might feel sad about how you treated him earlier? We should always try to understand how others feel, my dear, and put ourselves in their shoes, right?"Liora looked down, feeling regretful. "I was wrong, Mommy. I promise not to do it again."Caroline smiled warmly. "I know you're a kind girl, Lia."-The next day, Caroline was abruptly awakened by her ringing phone as she slept with Liora. She grabbed the phone and answered it groggily."Carol!" Paige shouted loudly.Caroline was startled. "Paige, your volume is way too loud!"Annoyed, Paige said, "Do you know what time it is? Are you still
Caroline shook her head. "He just wants to sleep in when he doesn't have to work.""Alright then. Let's go now." Paige put her arm around Caroline's.Caroline glanced around. "Where's Evan?"Paige explained, "Alex said he's got work, so he'll join us later.""Got it. I'll go check with Eira," Caroline said and headed to the kitchen.After their quick chat, she told the kids, "Time to go!"Kenny, who had been standing barefoot upstairs, quickly changed and came downstairs after Caroline left. He bumped into Eira as she exited the kitchen.Kenny asked, "Are they gone? Are you sure they've left?"Eira looked puzzled. "Why are you so nervous? Are you planning something without Carol knowing?"Kenny mumbled, "I'm not her boyfriend, but there are things I'd rather keep from her."Eira narrowed her eyes. "You seem off, Kenny.""Don't ask too many questions. You're just a kid. I'm going out, bye! I'll bring food for you later." Kenny patted Eira's head absentmindedly.Eira said, "I
"You're claiming that she had an affair with Scott? Let me clarify. Caroline turned down Scott's offer of financial support at the time. Do you think they were together all the time? Scott was focused on his education and career while he was around. He would visit Caroline occasionally and bring her food."It's common knowledge that Caroline is proud and prefers to endure difficulties rather than accept sponsorship. Unlike you, a heiress, Caroline is not. She dated Evan before because of her gambling father and hospitalized mother. I can't understand people like you, accusing her based on trivial rumors. Do you think you have the right to do that?"Kenny stood up and stated, "This discussion ends here. I must have been blind to have fallen for you. It's over, you idiot!"Yuliana's expression was unpleasant after being berated.'Is Caroline really like this? I find it hard to believe. If she truly valued her pride, why did she get involved with Evan in those years? Was it due to fin
The voice-to-text translation was finished once Yuliana shared her location. Neil quickly scanned the text, and the words 'Mr. Hendrix' finally caught his attention.In Daniella's voice recording, she mentioned seeking Mr. Hendrix's help in dealing with Caroline and Evan a few times.'Who is Mr. Hendrix? When did Daniella meet him? Is there some grudge between him, Caroline, and Evan?' he wondered.Neil saved the voice recording in a folder and secured it with a password. Then, he grabbed his phone and headed out to meet Yuliana.-Twenty minutes later, Neil reached Yuliana's location. He found Yuliana standing alone by the street, engrossed in her phone. He got out of the car and asked, "Where are your friends?"Yuliana immediately found an excuse. "I told them to go ahead without me."Neil didn't press further but led Yuliana to the car, and they set off to the ice cream parlor.The ice cream parlor was bustling with customers despite the chilly early spring weather.Aft
Yuliana asked, "Why choose me instead of hiring a professional investigator?"Neil grinned, replying, "You're a seasoned journalist, right? Plus, this is crucial, and I trust no one else with it."Yuliana was amazed. 'He doesn't trust anyone, but he trusts me? It seems that Neil doesn't only care about Caroline but cares about me too!'Touched, Yuliana pledged, "I'll help you, Neil, because of your trust!"-At noon, Caroline and the group arrived at the Hot Spring Resort.Seeing the empty parking lot, Caroline voiced her concern, "It should be busy now, right?"Paige chuckled. "You should talk to my boss about this."Caroline understood. "Did he book the whole place?"Paige nodded vigorously. "Yes, to ensure last time's incident doesn't repeat."Caroline felt grateful for Evan's effort to protect the kids.The hotel manager, Charon Reddick, assisted them with their luggage.After entering, Charon checked them into a spacious three-room suite. Charon asked, "Ms. Shenton,
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