Chapter 247

"What kind of attitude is this?" Conrad Vale's face darkened like storm clouds.

His knuckles turned white from clenching his fists. If not for his girlfriend Yvette Knox's desperate pleas, he would never have dragged Aria Bennett into this mess.

Elder Knox forced an awkward smile, trying to mediate: "Mr. Vale, please don't be angry. We just thought Master Aria seemed rather young—"

"And what of it?" Conrad cut her off with a sneer. "She saved my brother's life."

On the hospital bed, Eric Knox suddenly convulsed violently, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

"Ah! It hurts!" he howled in agony, his stomach grotesquely swelling as if something writhed beneath his skin.

Aria watched coldly before retrieving a specially crafted incense stick from her bag. The moment it ignited, Eric's screams ceased abruptly.

"What did you do to my grandson?" Elder Knox panicked, rushing to the bedside.

"Just verification," Aria replied icily. "He's been afflicted with a Southern love hex."

The Knox family's faces paled instantly. Mrs. Knox shrieked, "Nonsense! Hexes in this day and age?"

"Shut up!" Eric suddenly roared, his face ashen. "She's right... That bitch did curse me..."

Trembling, he gripped the sheets, venom flashing in his eyes. "She swore I'd rot from within and die in agony..."

Aria's gaze frosted over. "You raped that Miao girl and left her corpse in the wilderness."

The room plunged into dead silence.

Conrad recoiled, releasing Yvette's hand as he stared in disbelief at the young man who once called him "brother-in-law."

"That's not true!" Eric suddenly knelt on the bed, tears and snot streaming down his face. "She seduced me! She—"

"Enough!" Aria snapped sharply. "Karma always collects its dues."

She turned to leave but was blocked by Yvette.

"Master Aria, please save him..." Yvette wept pitifully. "We'll pay any price..."

Aria's eyes turned blade-sharp. "Some paths, once taken, can't be undone."

Shoving Yvette aside, she strode toward the door without looking back. Behind her, Eric's hysterical screams erupted: "What kind of master refuses to save a life?"

Conrad hurried after Aria, bowing deeply. "My apologies for wasting your time."

Aria paused mid-step. "Mr. Vale, a word of advice—stay far away from this family."

As she left, Eric's agonized wails echoed down the hallway—a chilling mirror of the Miao girl's dying cries.