Love Crumbled, But Her Brilliance Shone

s Cathy thought back to the kiss tha

ction, risking everything to fake her death

s onto him - a man notorious for his obsession with staying spotle

nters became convinced there was something twisted between

ng but chaos. All around, people

e see!" voices shouted as the cr

tly, intent on slipping away

you fear something, the

pectedly. She answere

the other end, pricklin

ded, realization dawning as she lift

enter, phone pressed to his ear, gaze

tic. "I warned you, even death wouldn't keep me

words, casual on the surface b

n, ready to end the call. Somehow, K

llan said, every word rolling out smooth as silk. "Walk away now

hung up, leaving Cathy standi

unatic plays g

rmation about the nurse, coming up empty every single time. N

their endless sparring, the way their p

me for her life, Kellan

only shot her a cold smirk and said, "You're my

ologetic. Always

ter word for Kel

with danger, as if the world beneath h

ly reached for a glass of champagne and tipped

unusual choice to dri

orget?" he asked, narrowing his eyes wh

g at her lips. "What's this, Mr. Thorpe? Ar

and I aren't done on paper, so I'

her voice steady. "You'll never

bled in Cathy's expression. Whatever flick

, voice turning cold. "Trying to g

on his heel and left her behind, al

de him, Jayden st

ruction Group," he said, offering a respectful nod and

ayden added after a brief pause, casting a quick look at Marissa. "T

ed his words - it

n glass, her smile gr

Briggs. I studied under the Phantom Healer. If there

silence, as Kellan made no move

er the group, and Jayden felt his shou

Kellan's gaze final

r ever took on an apprentice," Kellan

ugh Jayden, and he

ght be news to you," Jayden explained. "Marissa owns rare books written b

a tapped on her phone, pulling

some pictures no

ave the screen a

f you'd prefer, I can bring the entire

ble; she truly believed her expertis

es, the so-called legacy book appeared, stamped w

s knitted in concern as sh

ther in a rush, never bothering to polish it

ing it around like a

of fate, Kellan leaned back and crossed

laying at his lips. "Funny thing - I ran into the

on Cathy. She lifted her ey

al, and said in a calm, lazy tone,

om like a spark on dry grass, insta

about! She's famous - people say she can work miracles in t

"Nobody really knows what the Phantom Healer looks like. Some s

ntice? I wonder if it's true," another qu

e color from Marissa's face, leav

ly showed up, the truth wo

to her panic, nodd

antastic news. I've always heard she's fond of wandering the world.

ntricity and disappearing acts, Jay

ozen, fighting t

"Actually, Mr. Curtis, my mentor values he

her excuse, Kellan lifted hi

r - she's al

ted, following his gest

tunned as it became clear s