Cecily replied quickly."Alright, I believe you. Handle your business well, and I won't disturb you. Also, remember to miss me. I'm already missing you (heart). Good night."Austin chuckled softly, typing back, "Good night."Setting down his phone, he leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head.Just a few texts had eased his tension. With Cecily's comfort and encouragement, even the biggest problems seem smaller.Austin yawned as he stood up, ready to head to the bathroom for a shower before bed.But as he stood, a cool breeze suddenly blew into the room.It was already autumn, and the wind at this time of night carried a chill.Austin turned to close the window, but as he approached it, he heard a sharp whistling sound.His expression tightened, and in an instant, his scalp tingled with a strong sense of impending danger.Almost instinctively, he moved to the side, pressing against the wall by the window.At the same moment, a gleaming arrow whizzed past him like a lig
The night was cool as water. The moon was mostly hidden behind clouds.Through the bamboo grove, Austin could just make out the overhanging rock in the distance.But what was on it, Austin couldn't see clearly."Are you still there?" Austin muttered to himself, his expression complicated.Charon could have easily killed him with that arrow, but she had sent a message instead. This displayed her supreme confidence in her assassination skills.The message on the note essentially said that even if the rear cliff was guarded, Charon could still kill him. The only difference would be the increased difficulty.It was as if she was saying that only a heavily fortified target was worthy of her top-tier assassin skills.That arrow just now was pure luck.But Austin felt no relief, only a strong sense of defeat.He hated feeling this way, which is why he had opened the window.As soon as he spoke, he heard it again.Whoosh!A faint whistling sound in the darkness.Austin felt someth
Austin's pupils gradually contracted before returning to normal. His right hand was secretly clenched into a fist before relaxing again.He asked, "How's my dad's investigation into Grandma?"Ezra shook his head. "Not clear yet, but based on some initial information from contacts back home, it seems this may not be related to Mrs. Campbell Senior.""Not related?" Austin asked, surprised.Ezra explained, "Mrs. Campbell Senior recently moved into a church, reciting prayers and living a vegetarian lifestyle to calm her mind. She hasn't been in contact with anyone, and her closest associates didn't join her in the church. It's as if she's completely isolated from the world.”Austin rubbed his nose, his expression deepening. "If it's not her, then who could be guiding this assassination?""The Emersons? The Redmont family? Or perhaps some other enemies you might have?" Ezra suggested tentatively.Austin shook his head. "The Emersons are too foolish to pull this off, and the Redmont f
"It's not Charon!" Wolf said in a low voice.Austin and Ezra's expressions tightened immediately. They didn't linger and promptly left the bedroom.Austin's room faced the cliff, making it the best position for an assassin standing on the rock outcrop.Once they settled in the living room, Wolf turned and left, taking the bodyguard team to the back mountain cliff.Austin and Ezra exchanged looks."Mr. Lockwood, would the average assassin think of that rock outcrop?" Austin asked, frowning."In one week, we've had 18 assassination attempts, and not one happened from that rock outcrop," Ezra said, shaking his head, a peculiar glint of pride in his eyes.Even if a regular assassin thought of it, they wouldn't have the guts to slide down from the mountain to that rock."Austin was silent.Indeed, the rock outcrop directly faced his bedroom, making it the optimal spot for an assassination. But the outcrop was over 30 feet from the ground below and also over 30 feet from the top.I
"She's here!"Austin spoke in a low voice, releasing Ezra, "Mr. Lockwood, go to your room, shut the door, and don't come out. She's here for me, she won't harm you without reason."That night's urgent message had given him some insight into Charon's character.This woman was incredibly arrogant!As long as Ezra stayed in his room, Charon wouldn't lay a finger on him."Sir, I..." Ezra's face tightened, about to protest."I'm your master. Go back to your room!" Austin's stern command forced Ezra to swallow his words.He shot a glance at Ezra retreating to his room before gathering his thoughts, narrowing his eyes, and focusing on the courtyard outside the main hall.The arrow had come through the front door, so the shooter should be in that direction.Was this a diversion?The courtyard was dimly lit, making it hard to see beyond it.Even the security devices that Wolf and the bodyguard team had set up in the courtyard hadn't given any warning.Outside, the gunfire was relent
"I'm sorry, Mr. Campbell. Your mother has late-stage liver cancer, and …"When Austin Campbell saw the doctor in front of him shaking his head, he felt dizzy, and his eyes reddened at once.Ever since he was a child, all he and his mother had were each other. To raise him and fund his education, she'd worked so hard that her health suffered. Before she even got to enjoy a better life, she had fallen severely ill."Doctor, please save my mother. I'm begging you, please. Is there really no way to save her?" Austin pleaded hoarsely. He was choking up.The doctor hesitated briefly before replying, "There's one last option—a liver transplant. We do have a suitable match here at the hospital …"Pausing, he studied Austin. Having treated Austin's mother for some time now, he was aware of Austin's financial situation.In the end, the doctor decided to continue saying, "But … the surgery won't be cheap. At the very least, it'll cost 200 thousand."200 thousand?Austin's eyes lit up. He
Urma was not done with her tirade yet."Look at you now. Nancy gave us the money because she loves us, but you're shameless enough to ask for it back! Why are you such a leech? Well, Harvey's about to get married. We're giving him the 200 thousand as a down payment on a house for him and his future wife. You won't be getting a single penny from me!"The call was cut off.Austin froze in shock. Did Urma not understand a word he said?"Austin! Have you gone mad?" Nancy grabbed Austin by the collar frenziedly. "How could you do that? Is it so wrong of me to give money to my parents?"Feeling defeated, Austin stared at Nancy with reddened eyes and asked, "Is my mother's life worth less than a down payment for your brother's new house to all of you?""You're full of bullshit!"Nancy released Austin and began to throw everything in the living room she could get her hands on.In mere seconds, the living room was a mess.Sitting on the couch, Nancy whimpered, "Austin, you heartless ma
As the car cruised down the streets, Austin remained in shock. It all seemed like a dream.He and the old man, Ezra Lockwood, went up to the ICU ward at Legacy Hospital.It was not until Austin saw his mother, Dahlia Emerson, that he fully registered what was happening. Dahlia had just come out of the operating theater.Joy, gratitude, and other overwhelming emotions washed over Austin."I'm happy to report that the liver transplant surgery was a success, Mr. Lockwood," a doctor came over and said respectfully.Austin was stunned. The doctor, Isaac Navarro, was Dahlia's attending physician. He was one of Legacy Hospital's most well-known doctors and also an expert in the medical field.Isaac was the one who suggested performing the liver transplant surgery to save Dahlia.It went without saying that such an esteemed doctor would have no qualms treating even the most powerful beings as his equals. Despite that, he was showing such courtesy toward Ezra."Thank you, Dr. Navarro,"