Chapter 414: Chapter 414

"Miss, you dropped your wallet!"

As Anna Thornton stepped out of the elevator, she heard someone calling her from behind.

But she pretended not to notice!

Marvin Hawthorne, holding the wallet he just found, looked at Anna Thornton’s back and, after a brief hesitation, decided to chase after her.

"Miss, did you drop your wallet?"

Only after he caught up did Anna Thornton turn around as if she just realized, taking off her sunglasses.

To avoid any mistake, Marvin Hawthorne specially opened the wallet to confirm.

The wallet contained Anna Thornton’s ID card and photos.

When he saw the photo, Marvin Hawthorne showed no unusual expression and returned the wallet to her.

Anna accepted the wallet back, a grateful smile on her lips.

Given Marvin Hawthorne’s age and character, it’s normal that he didn’t recognize Anna Thornton from the entertainment world.

However, the photo Anna kept in the wallet was deliberately chosen—one of her with her dad from the past.

Marvin Hawthorne’s calm demeanor didn’t recognize her or even Dad Thornton?

Initially, Anna Thornton hoped she could, through him, understand what connection the twenty-year-old feud had with the Thornton family.

Judging from this, Marvin Hawthorne had no intersection with her father.

Nevertheless, Anna Thornton did manage to uncover something.

She learned from familiar media sources that twenty or thirty years ago, Marvin Hawthorne was a well-known playboy in Aethelgard, surrounded by women not less than Mason Hawthorne.

Even after marriage, he didn’t hold back or control himself.

He seemed to have truly changed after an unfortunate accident while on a cruise. He was rescued by fellow passengers and spent over half a year in a coma in the hospital, reportedly nearly not waking up.

Since then, there were no more tales of Marvin in Aethelgard.

Many speculate that it was his wife’s attentive care during his vegetative state that led him to reform.

But those who know the real situation understand that over the years, their marriage was merely respectful, not reform. Instead, Marvin’s spirit had died, unable to indulge anymore.

As for what caused his spirit to die?

Anna Thornton had a hunch it was related to that trip at sea.

"To thank you for finding my wallet, how about I treat you to a coffee?" Anna Thornton offered proactively.

To her surprise, Marvin Hawthorne refused without a thought: "No need! I have things to do!"

Alright, from her validation, Marvin was truly no longer indulging.

A fairy offered him coffee, and he refused?!

Marvin Hawthorne seemed quite anxious, returning the wallet to Anna Thornton and hurrying to the elevator.

Anna Thornton purposely paused at the elevator entrance, glancing at the floor he headed to.

Turns out he was searching for a spirit medium?

Ever since the haunting at the Hawthorne house that night, Marvin became particularly interested in consulting spirits.

He watched Miles Hawthorne fail to perform rituals at home, so he visited various experts.

"Mr. Hawthorne, I see a frown on your face, your complexion poor, surely you’ve had lingering emotional knots for years, am I right?"

Marvin Hawthorne was rather cautious, having likely met many experts lately, knowing they commonly start with such remarks for anyone.

So he didn’t nod, neither confirming nor denying their accuracy.

But who knew the next moment, the expert could accurately say: "Twenty-three years is hard! Mr. Hawthorne, forgive me, but this is no mere emotional knot, but karma!"

Hearing this, Marvin Hawthorne’s eyes changed, his face turning pale.

"Master, to be frank, my family has been disturbed lately." Content orıginally comes from Nove1Fire.net

"Is it an evil spirit at play? You seek me out to expel it?"

"No! I merely wish... to see her again!"

A moment later, Marvin Hawthorne looked nervously at the solemn master across from him.

A man already graying at the temples, with rough hands rubbing his suit trousers, showing a hint of unease.

However, the master opened his eyes, shaking his head: "Mr. Hawthorne, I’m afraid I cannot fulfill your request."

"Why?" Marvin Hawthorne felt even more uneasy upon hearing this, "Doesn’t she wish to see me?"

"If a spirit roams the mortal realm for over twenty years without entering reincarnation, it’s due to heavy obsessions. Most clients who come to consult spirits are yearning for deceased family members, succeeding only when there’s mutual affection. Moreover, your karmic burden is too heavy, making you unsuitable for communication with the Spirit Realm."

"I understand, Mercy must still refuse to forgive me!"

A faint bitter smile appeared on Marvin Hawthorne’s lips; he really should have realized long ago.

How could Mercy possibly forgive him?

All these years, she hadn’t even entered his dreams.

Ultimately, it was nothing more than his delusion.

"Mr. Hawthorne, since I cannot fulfill your wish, I dare not accept this payment either."

The master, surprisingly honest, returned the deposit Marvin Hawthorne paid, since the spirit couldn’t be summoned.

But Marvin pushed it back.

"Master, I have another request, to ask you to conduct a ritual."

Mercy wouldn’t forgive him, but Marvin Hawthorne couldn’t bear to see her wandering as a lonely spirit.

He wanted to help Mercy find peace and enter reincarnation soon.

Little did he know, this request still made the master shake his head: "Mr. Hawthorne, this person you inquire about is probably someone you hold dearly. Rituals for peace, scripture recitations, and prayers have never been lacking, but heavy grievances are challenging to soothe!"

True enough, Marvin Hawthorne had even gone to Aethelgard’s most renowned temple, personally inviting esteemed monks to offer prayers for Mercy.

After all, the incident over twenty years ago... was too tragic.

Because of it, Marvin Hawthorne had nightmares for three full years.

"Master, may I ask, if the bloodthirsty aura is too intense and the spirit’s grievances hard to dispel, how should it be resolved?"

"Mr. Hawthorne, please give me your birth details, so I can calculate."

Marvin wrote down both his and Mercy’s birth details on paper, watching the master silently calculating before finally saying four words to him: "Life for life!"

After meeting with the spirit medium, Marvin Hawthorne appeared somewhat dazed.

The air conditioning around the large mall was in full effect, yet he still broke into a cold sweat, his shirt back entirely soaked.

Anna Thornton finished her coffee, coincidentally bumping into him again.

This time, Marvin didn’t even notice Anna Thornton. He brushed past her shoulder, absentmindedly muttering "sorry", and quickly walked away on slightly unsteady feet.

Anna Thornton shrugged at his departing figure, initially thinking there might not be much to gain from today.

Unexpectedly, before she could leave the mall much further, she suddenly heard a loud ’bang’.

Someone had a car accident!

Anna Thornton rushed over and saw Marvin Hawthorne slumped in the driver’s seat.

His temple, nose, and eyes were all smeared with blood, and he had already lost consciousness.

Anna Thornton jumped with fright!

Did Conrad Sterling already make a move?