Chapter 229

Lucy White pushed open the door to the wooden cabin.

Grace White sat on the couch, cradling her pale son Noah in her arms. When she saw her daughter enter, a flicker of pain crossed her eyes. "Lucy, come check on Noah."

Lucy hurried forward, her fingertips brushing against her brother's icy forehead. Her heart sank.

"Sis..." Noah managed a weak smile. "I'm fine..."

"Don't talk." Lucy cut him off, swiftly retrieving cinnabar ink and talisman paper from her bag.

Rachel Johnson wrung her hands anxiously nearby. "He suddenly fainted earlier—scared us half to death."

Pressing her lips together, Lucy's brush moved with practiced precision. As the talisman completed, a golden light flashed.

"Keep this close." She tucked the charm into Noah's collar.

His breathing gradually steadied as he drifted into deep sleep.

"Those people outside..." Lucy suddenly looked up.

Grace met her daughter's gaze. "I called them."

She pulled a silver emblem from her bag. "After you mentioned the Goulds might hire assassins, I reached out to an old friend."

Lucy took the emblem, its surface engraved with a soaring eagle—the insignia of the international mercenary group "Silver Wings."

Rachel slammed her palm on the table. "The Goulds have gone too far! Targeting a child!"

"Don't worry, Aunt Rachel." Lucy's smile turned icy. "They'll pay for this."

She produced three ancient ritual blade coins, rubbing them between her palms. These were artifacts she'd been cultivating with her cursed dagger, originally meant for later use...

"Mom, I'm visiting the Gould family cemetery tomorrow."

Grace nodded in understanding. "Be careful."

Just then, raised voices carried from outside.

"Sir, you can't go in—"

"I'll wait right here!"

Lucy massaged her temples—she'd almost forgotten about her persistent shadow.

Opening the door, she found Julian Chase squared off against a black-clad mercenary. Spotting her, his expression instantly softened. "Miss White."

Michael Johnson stood glowering nearby like a bristling cat.

"Mom, Aunt Rachel, this is Julian Chase." Lucy made brief introductions.

Julian bowed courteously. "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. White."

Rachel studied the handsome young man, then glanced at her sulking son with a silent sigh.

"Noah needs rest. Let's head back," Grace said.

Michael immediately stepped forward. "I'll carry him to the car."

Throughout the drive home, Julian's vehicle trailed behind them. At the apartment complex, he rolled down his window. "Need any help?"

Before Lucy could decline, Michael had already charged into the elevator with Noah in his arms.

"Thanks, but we're fine," she said politely.

Undeterred, Julian exited his car. "Let me see you upstairs."

Inside the elevator, Michael stared fixedly at the ascending floor numbers, jaw clenched audibly.

"Tea?" Lucy offered absently after entering the apartment.

"The honor would be mine," Julian smiled.

Michael nearly dropped Noah.

Once her brother was settled, Lucy stood on the balcony, her gaze fixed coldly on the distant Gould Corporation headquarters.

Her phone vibrated with a message from an unknown number:

«Package ready. Green light whenever.»

She deleted it, her expression neutral as she turned around.

In the living room, the two men were engaged in "friendly" conversation, tension crackling between them.

Rachel whispered to Grace, "That Chase boy seems decent."

Grace smiled without comment.

When Lucy entered, both men abruptly stopped bickering.

"Thank you both for today." She poured tea. "But I have matters to attend to..."

The unspoken dismissal was clear.

Julian rose gracefully. "Another time, then."

Michael lingered until his mother's sharp glare dragged him out.

Alone at last, Lucy took out her compass and ritual coins, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"Gould family... your reckoning has come."