Chapter 148

The Vale family living room was eerily silent.

Elder Vale stood at the head of the room, leaning on his cane, his stern gaze sweeping over everyone present. No one dared to speak, though confusion flickered in their eyes.

Aria Bennett hurried to Roman Vale’s bedside, her heart sinking.

"He’s in bad shape," she murmured to Damian Cross. "The protective charm I gave him last night is gone."

Damian’s expression darkened. He turned to the Vales. "Did anyone see a yellow talisman?"

A little girl with a ponytail timidly raised her hand. "I—I saw the housekeeper burning something in the kitchen this morning..."

Aria’s pupils contracted. "Just as I thought."

Elder Vale immediately ordered, "Restrain her!" He then turned to Aria. "Miss Bennett, what should we do now?"

"Meow!" Onyx suddenly poked his head out of Aria’s bag, baring his teeth at Roman.

Aria lifted Roman’s eyelid and paled. "It’s a hex."

She quickly scribbled a list: "Vermilion cinnabar, rooster blood, willow branches..."

Without hesitation, Roman’s uncle rushed out to gather the items.

Aria took out her talisman brush and swiftly drew intricate symbols on yellow paper. Within half an hour, all the materials were ready.

She poured the dark red mixture into a porcelain bowl, lit the talisman, and dropped it in. As she stirred with the willow branch, the liquid thickened.

"Hold him down," Aria said, unsheathing the Wraith Dagger.

The moment the blade nicked Roman’s fingertip, a wisp of black energy seeped into his body. Aria chanted an incantation, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

"It’s out!" With a faint sound, a greenish worm-like creature plopped into the bowl.

The Vales gasped.

"A love hex," Aria said, wiping her brow. "And the most vicious kind."

Elder Vale’s face turned ashen. "That girl from the Blackwell family?"

"Exactly," Aria confirmed. "The hex bears her karmic thread."

Damian smirked coldly. "The Blackwells have grown bold lately."

In a few words, he exposed the Blackwells’ scheme to siphon luck from others, making the Vales’ expressions grow increasingly grim.

"Why did she activate the hex so suddenly today?" Roman’s father clenched his fists.

Aria glanced out the window, her gaze sharp. "Because... she’s here."

Before the words fully left her lips, commotion erupted downstairs.