The Hidden Corpse and the Ghost's Truth

pte

se

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