Chapter 86

Beverley slept soundly until the afternoon, and Randy, unable to wait any longer, gently roused her from her rest.

"How are you feeling? Here, have some water," Randy said, concern etched on his face as he handed her a glass of water, still tinged with a few drops of his fresh blood—a potent remedy for revitalizing the body, a rare and coveted elixir.

"I'm fine," Beverley replied, her voice slightly groggy.

At first, Beverley felt disoriented, struggling to recognize both her surroundings and the person before her. But soon, clarity returned, and her senses sharpened. Her vision became clearer, and she didn't experience the usual weakness that often accompanied waking.

"Randy?" she said, after finishing the glass of water and tentatively addressing the person before her.

"What's wrong?" Randy asked, noting the look of confusion on her face.

"Nothing," Beverley quickly dismissed, attributing her initial disorientation to the lingering effects of sleep.

"How long did I sleep?" she inquired.

"Not too long. It's just a little past two," Randy answered.

"So, I've been asleep for almost four hours," Beverley noted, rubbing her hair, pulling off the covers, and getting out of bed. Though she had been changed into pajamas, the disorientation had prevented her from noticing any unusual details.

After standing, Beverley seemed momentarily unsure of what to do next. Randy, sensing her hesitation, reminded her, "Didn't I give you the seeds?"

"Right, the seeds!" Beverley's eyes lit up as she remembered and hurried to the front. Seeing the seeds in the ceramic pot had already sprouted, she let out a sigh of relief.

"The vitality is really strong," she observed.

"Yeah, once they bloom, we can share some with others in the town," Randy said, walking over and affectionately placing his arm around her shoulder. Beverley, though slightly surprised, did not resist his gesture.

"But I don't think anyone would accept my gift."

"That's because they don't understand you. You have a strong sense of justice, and you deserve to be admired by everyone," Randy assured her.

Beverley smiled faintly, feeling that admiration was a distant concept she could scarcely grasp.

"Beverley, there's a problem in the town right now. There are people with sinister intentions, using creepy tales as a cover, targeting defenseless children," Randy said, his voice growing more serious.

Beverley's expression darkened. She harbored a strong aversion to those who harmed children, whether they were monsters or people.

"Just the day before yesterday, another little girl went missing in West City. The police haven't found any clues yet. If you notice anything unusual in town, be very cautious," Randy continued.

Beverley's frown deepened as she thought of unusual people, her mind drifting to John, the supermarket owner. John, seemingly amiable and generous with candies and toys for local children, had always made Beverley uncomfortable, despite his outwardly kind demeanor and the generous salary he offered.

Yes, she remembered feeling uneasy around John. Though he had never acted inappropriately towards her, there had been a troubling incident a few years ago…

Beverley's memories felt fragmented. She recalled taking a child to the supermarket, and by the end of the day, the child had been injured. John had apologized profusely, claiming he hadn't taken proper care and had accidentally hurt the child. Since then, the child's behavior had changed drastically.

But why was it so difficult to recall the child's appearance clearly?

"If you encounter these unusual individuals, be extremely cautious. If necessary, consider resigning," Randy advised.

"What?" Beverley was momentarily stunned before continuing, "Never mind. Mr. John pays me well, and I'll make sure to carry self-defense equipment when I go out."

"Oh, I was just making a suggestion. If the salary is really high, maybe I could also take the job?" Randy proposed.

"No," Beverley quickly refused. Her subconscious warned her that if Randy took the job, trouble was likely to follow.

"What's wrong? I just want a part-time job. I'm only asking for your help."

Beverley remained reluctant but eventually gave in. "You can call me when you go. It's too informal to just make a phone call."

"Alright, I understand," Randy replied.

He then patted Beverley reassuringly on the back and ruffled her hair. Beverley, influenced by his repeated assurances, showed no signs of resistance. She had become responsive to repeated actions, as Randy had observed.

For instance, Randy had repeatedly told her that the water in the ceramic pot should be changed daily and applied to the body for health benefits. After just a few repetitions, Beverley had accepted it as routine.

Randy had also suggested that the house should have slippers for him, which Beverley agreed to provide and help him put on.

Not pushing any further, Randy decided to leave after a while.

"Emma? Bee?" he called softly to himself as he got into the car and drove towards the upper city.

...

In the upper city, Emma rode a scooter along the main street, trailed by Bee, her voluptuous blonde nanny.

"Your father is starting to suspect you, little punk," Bee said, her tone laced with a hint of menace.

Emma ignored her, her focus unwavering.

"Although your performance was impressive, you didn't complete the whole act. There will always be something that stands out. Yesterday, I saw him flipping through photos. Your gaze at the medal was too obvious."

Emma halted, turned around, and faced Bee, who, despite her refined charm and seemingly amiable demeanor, had a sinister side that was only revealed in private.

Emma had quickly sensed something off about Bee from the start. Her secretive behavior and strange book had become leverage for Emma.

Unexpectedly, Bee had discovered Emma's hidden medal and investigated Milo's death. Now, their mutual secrets bound them together.

Bee had agreed to keep Emma's secrets in exchange for Emma turning a blind eye to her rituals. Emma, proud and defiant, had long sought external help but had not found the right moment—until now.

With Randy's arrival imminent and his potential involvement in Milo's death, Emma was determined to expose Bee's scheming. Randy, with his cunning mind, could be the key to unraveling Bee's devious plans.