His Lucky Charm

"Everyone, form a line. No pushing.

iddle-aged woman asked

replied solemnly, "That's j

w, and with it, her ability to make money. Making

rich woman had crashed

as completely drained, she'd have to snea

ed a sol

s. Then bite him, cover up the mark with some h

the thought aside and turned

s the fir

, the same one who'd helped Mr. Turner find his missing daughter

iritual readings. She knew how

vy, my grandson's applying to college this year

randma, you know my grades. This is poin

"What do you know, kid? This isn't mumbo

And I'm paying for it myself. Your d

in his pocket, standing in front

ally. "Please excuse him

s fine. He's young. Th

barely looked older than him. His

t of paper. "Okay, write a word

thods you used in a reading, the more c

ivination wa

ted with curiosity. They'd never seen this kind of

d scribbled the word "Grace" on the pap

re top of your class, right? You should

inally let out the bre

If I can't get into college, who can? Grandma, you really spent

ear and snapped,

r yelped, quickly falling silent as he r

eepish smile. "Miss Ivy, wha

almly, "It hold

th elegance and promise. It's often associated with a bright, prosperous future. For a student like your gran

ot be good for much else, but he

e, grinning. "Well, I can't a

ookers

for a reading or just to

hush now." Then she turned back. "W

ce. 'Grace' is typically linked with harmony and love. It co

ha

's ear again. "You little rascal!

-?! How did she know? Not ev

ly! My ear! That

an barely handle algebra, but you've got

e you yelling at me

d to Ivy and pleaded, "Miss I

wat him. "What do you know about re

e young ones figure it out themselves. If you

name probably had something similar to "Grace" in it. Still, sh

ngs and cut straight to the point. "Miss Ivy, tell me

our grandson has a strong fo

rom relief. "Thank God. And thank

he boy home, still muttering

cene closely. Sensing an opportunity, he stepped forward

l get into college too

ll, it was the same word. If she gave him the same reading, he'd c

ace, smiling faintly. "Are you sure you wa

"Of course I am. Hurry. O

, "As you wish-pay

e table and scoffed, "You're not going to f

a gift for academics. You've always ranked at the bottom of you

discuss other people, it's all good news. But when it come

person wrote it straight and balanced. Yours is twisted, off-center-almost like

hing on, responded

er looked

d. "Exactly. It turns i

So what does that

ur entire path. I can see it in your face. You lost your dad when you were three, your mom

aker kids, even stealing from your neighbors. You've drifted through life, never r

cked. "Stop... I would

dead-end jobs-hauling bricks, tightening screws,

y how it all e

im. He stared at Ivy, desperate. "Is there anything I ca

he bad things you've done have chipped away at your luck. Turn it aroun

rd and whispered, "

off i

st told him the truth and pointed him toward something b

art over. From now on, he'd be Wade Fo

ead a few more fortunes before

nging around were

uckled. "Even his peanuts and sunflower seeds taste bett

tomorrow, Master

"Don't worry-I'll be

See you

tidied up his stall and wandered off

ll drifting through the street a

y, pickled eggs, roasted veggies, an

ay today, Master. Business has picked up a lot since you started setti

and sturdy hands. A good man, through and through.

pack up and head home right away. Something's no

ously asked, "Master, wha

hurry and check the pond near your house!" Ivy contin

Master. I'm

ely and ran off without

turkey legs. Aunt Margaret wandered over and peeked in. "

ad an emergency. If you like to buy something, wei

out vegetables and adding seasoning. "Master, I'll help y

works hard and holds everything together, but her hus

on to a slab of ribs, she finally under

nimated, continued spilling t

eat gambler, always glued to the poker tables. Never lift

ing, nasty woman. Always picking on Jude, never

d behind her house, a neglected are

is spot flashed through her mind. Jude had al

bedient child. What would d

e and called Simon. "Hello? Wher

I know where that girl ran off to? Don'

p. "Simon, stop playing cards and go check th

? She never listens to me.

ost again! Jude, you jinx-you've ruined my luck! Just

d finish, Jude

le and stormed out. "Oh, now you've got guts?

anicked, accidentally bumped into

do you think you are, runni

her usual sneering. "Jude, look at the time. Should

at, you're ignoring me now? Lost all respect, have you? Who are you her

itated. She finally snapped, "I'm loo

else would she be? She's at ho

ght with Jude. "Then wh

ne of your business. Get back to

furious, Jude

lutching her hip. "Oh Lord. She hit me. Did you see that? Attac

theatrics and ran str

's eyes

he'd never stood up to her befor

d to her feet and chased after

eams had alread

stirring up trouble,"

se two ages ago," another added.

ee what the old witc

ond, Lovett was flailing in the w

ude shouted, diving i

breath, "Damn it. Why'd

, what if both Jude and the kid went

e her abandon the idea. She stoo

ighbors jumped into action.

oul-smelling water. Soaked and shivering, Jude didn't c

to tears and threw her arms around her

heart s

. Why were you even there?" she aske

she wanted to show me somethi

face twist

She's nothing

ars. "Lies. The girl's making up stories already? Jude

by the hair and slapped her hard across the face. "You

no such

mily end up with a banshee like you? Loo

Smack

more

kes me a shrew, I'll wea

hy howled, "She's trying

epped in. Everyone there had, at one point or anoth

hair and screaming, "What's the point of having a girl? Girls are usel

over. "Jude. What the hell ar

on's arrival. "See, Simon? Look what your wife

He raised his hand to strike Ju

. "We're done, Jude

Dorothy, stepped right up to Simon,

vett. And o

, you cra

he people holding him bac

de. I swear, I'l

ed down. Borrowing a phon

ied to hurt my daughter, and my husband has a

, and said, "Jude, we are family." Jude held Lovett tightly and said coldly, "From now on, we are not family, but mortal enemies." Dorothy's eyes widened, muttering to herself, "This is

she finished speaking, Jude walked over and said, Master, thanks for your reminder, otherwise Lovett... Ivy patted her shoulder and comforted her, "Don't cry, it's all over." Jude wiped her tears, wanted to say that she

, "Thank you, Master. I'll take care

o her, "Children are easily shocked when they fall into water. Put this un

ightly, made a deep bow, and said, "M

thousand, and after donating half, she was left with two thousand five hundred. After deducting miscellaneous expenses, she still had twenty thousa

e of unease washed over her, and she contemplated slipping away. She was mistaken; tomorrow

really diffic

sly, "CEO Shaw, wh

he bodyguards from all directions, Ivy's heart gave a lurch. This doesn't bode well. What do they want? Revenge? Ivy sized up her own skinny arms and legs, then looked at the h

tantly changing. Ethan as

d, "I was just wondering...

p breath, "I do

, "Oh, it's nothing. I'm going to sleep now." Ivy was ready to escape. But Ethan subconsciously grabbed her wrist. He usually detested women's proximity, but in this

come with me. Grandfa

only through biting. Unfortunately, as soon as they got into the car, Ethan let go of her hand and stayed far from her, with enough room in the middle for another person. Ivy glanced at the

blinding her. However, Ivy found it strange, why wasn't there any golden glow of merit on him? Logically speaking, a person who is reincarnated as a powerful figure mu

's appearance-his chiseled feature

tably, reminded of the other day when Iv

d soon they arrived at t

take your position

she was taken aback to see two

ster and Miss Ivy!" the

shed. Was this how

ed back. "It's a tradition my grandpa

. "Miss Ivy, if this welcome isn't to y

her head. "No, i

ng the plush red carpet into a lavish

rgaret rose t

at. "Mrs. Wiseborn, please pour some t

ect? It's been tough fo

e his wife. We've clearly failed in our upbri

"I've been well, thank

warmly. "No need for form

pa. Ivy, we had no idea you'd be visitin

we'd have had Et

r mentor had only mentioned her fiancé on his death

over a tray of snacks. "Ivy, have a bite to t

tea Mrs. Wiseborn

like she'd imagined-so warm and we

orange and handed i

chips. "Here, I know yo

young lady Ethan has brought home. It's been ages si

s flush, mortified

Ivy, hav

ry this

fuss over her, while Ethan sat of

d his orange, finding i

s, beamed at Ivy. "Your m

s widened

her prankster mentor would do.

out you. He's just too damn proud to admit

Fetch the black box fr

ing it to Ivy before stepping back with Wiseborn and t

's signature work, full of chaotic scribbles and eccentric energ

n. "What kind o

e murmured. "My guess?

f energy into it. The parchment shimmered, lifted off her p

rris, or rather, a mag

s jaw d

mbered how much it had taken Ethan to break the curse on Margaret. The man had been coughing up blood for hours. When Margaret f

said, "In that case, betro

agreed on

like the Shen-no, the Farr

to speak: "My dear apprentice, if you

ely reached for Ivy, both of t

y. "And so is Joel. If anyone dares to

his son. Etha

mumbled, "My

d. "Out of all the things to say..

"You asked me t

efuse the tension. "I appre

't skip meals. Don't stay up late. Don'

inked quickly, pretending som

e, it snapped back to full clar

ld her this

time, try again. You know what I mean-don't play dumb! Master loves you, okay? Muah!"

her face with both h

r a moment, then sighed in unison. Th

w, pretending he'd seen an

hat moment. "Dinner's ready. M

er hands together.

le, beaming. "Come on, dear.

t bothering to argue. The warm

e across the table. Margaret nodded slightl

whispering, "Don't ju

himself, and said, "Ivy, do yo

I was abandoned by my parents when I was born. I grew up under t

was too awkward, making the

My mentor often wasn't around. I had to go out on my own to handle various situati

d, imagining how tough Ivy's life ha

y's plate, saying, "Eat more, don

uth full, mumble

why she didn't have any. Her mentor had patted her head and said, "You can try to fi

it family. That day, she overheard her father saying, "L

parents had abandoned her long ago, and their connection was severed.

garet gently nudged Ethan to go

ut awkward in relationships. Margaret thought she needed to create a

humbs-up, fully support

, and before they left, she reminded them, "Ethan, th

exchanged an a

her's words, took the initiativ

've never seen such

ations, with a history of over 500 years. It's been renovated ten times, the roads are

hind, yawning

ked you to show the house, you were supposed to highl

ying, "This house is well-designed, the lay

father and grandmother really like you. If yo

hand, "No, no, it's to

d red as he proces

g in silence, neither

than, I'm exhausted. Can

"Ivy, didn't you

d confuse

two deep bite marks on his neck, n

ecalling the incident. She felt

that she bit him very hard, drawing b

"That day was a misunderstanding,

his luxurious watch catching the light, "Do

takable I-own-three-

yes. Ugh, rich guys and their ne

She couldn't afford to be

, she walke

back, wariness flashing in his e

oose and tilted her head toward

she bit him, it didn't seem to matter. Honestly, she was coming out ahead. She figu

a perfect view of her pale neck... and her fi

ace," he muttered. "We're

an we get this over with? I've got a p

er gaze. "I don

ted. Of course not.

"Okay, then wh

s name. Ethan felt a weird flutter in his ch

I don't know yet. Let

long as it doesn't involve murder, exp

ve to regret

leave. "Alright. I'm go

followed her back towa

came from a clust

. "Seriously? Are the

Margaret and George crouched

: "

n: "

d couple had taken up

. "The master and mistress were admiring the roses. They thought it would be nice to

with a charming smile. "That's right! The moon's glowing, the fl

eplied, feeling awkward a

erving tea, offering snacks, fluffing pillows. Ivy, d

ret droppe

hould take Ivy to get

ma, I've got meetin

hing's already arranged. Tomorrow's a p

re young. Don't you think t

hirty! Blink, and you'll be an old man. Y

eir great-grandkid is

g. "Sorry-this is jus

rend Ethan Wells setting you two up, you'd pr

ask. He was twenty-six, but apparently a

, you know my health isn't what it used to be. Who knows how many more

y's perfectly fine. Why are you ma

ee. "Tomorrow morning, you're both heading straight to th

-

argaret hovered, cheerfully dabbing makeup o

atures," Margaret gushed. "You and Ethan are going to have the

arm, sure, but their constant chatter

ed proudly, putting down

atural glow. Margaret had chosen a classic white dress with a modern twist, and her

er, his eyes widened just sl

u think of your wife's look? Not ba

his throat.

him. "Let's get this over with. I promised the vendo

driver's seat. "Got

-

ouse, they followed the steps-fil

little... big smiles.

"Congratulations! Wishing you both a lifeti

n stared down at the marriage certif

s mar

ent. Never thought about marriage,

here th

s was just one of those strange turns life took-an une

idn't have a real emotional foundation, but he could at leas

the office," he sai

t Market Row," Ivy replied, caref

a sleek black card and handed it to he

d when a loud crack of thu

o

Great. Her streak of bad

"That came out of nowher

e. "Maybe the heavens ar

! Bo

ke the universe

ay. I'm not in this for money-I'm doing this to help people. It

g. That card probably had no lim

ongingly wistful expre

quickly. "Positive. I l

d. He didn't quite understand her spiritua

r door, he added, "

d him off. "It's cl

ee her arrive in a luxury car and start asking questions.

s phone. "Let's exchange numbers. Text me when you'

"Want to sca

d. "Sure, I'

turned to leave, tossing a casual, "

ofile picture was a lineup of quirky litt

st Hunter, Energy Healer

ugh. Then he saved her

rv