Chapter 65

Winnie met Drake’s piercing gaze with an expression that was a curious mix of confusion and amusement as she examined the unusual mark on her skin.

“What’s this mark?” Drake inquired, his voice carrying the sharp edge of authority.

“Oh, this…” Winnie steadied herself, her face returning to its usual composure. She locked eyes with Drake confidently and said, “It’s a protective charm, for safety.”

Winnie’s voice didn’t waver, nor did she intend to divulge the matter of her supposed fiancé.

Drake just watched her, his eyes shimmering as if reflecting the shining lake, enigmatic.

“Is that so.” he replied, his voice deep and resonant like a cello, carrying a hint of intrigue.

Fearing further questions, Winnie quickly changed the subject, asking how Drake had come to know that mysterious woman.

“I met her when she was presenting as a guest lecturer at the EU Supernatural Department.” Drake casually mentioned.

Winnie flickered her eyes with curiosity, ready to voice more questions, but Drake continued without pause, “As for why we became acquainted, that involves personal matters I cannot. disclose.”

Winnie pressed her lips together, feeling as if her words had been blocked.

Nonetheless, she had gained some information.

EU Supernatural Department… She repeated the name silently in her mind.

Yet, something felt oddly misplaced. Her master had never mentioned being a lecturer for the Supernatural Department…

But no matter, it was a clue nonetheless. When she thought about it, today had been quite fruitful. She found the Rowan Wood left by her master, gleaned a clue about her master’s whereabouts, and… acquired a fiancé.

Winnie drifted her eyes back to Drake.

The man before her was still enveloped in a gold aura, his handsome features illuminated by the light as if haloed in sanctity, the kind of divine beauty often raved about online.

Yet, beneath this heavenly glow, his expression was one of aloof coldness, creating a barrier of distance.

But if her master had entrusted the precious Rowan Wood to Drake and placed the Peach Blossom Mark on him, it signified that Drake was no ordinary man.

She even had a premonition that by staying close to Drake, she would eventually find her master.

12:41 As for the fiancé detail, Winnie decided to put that aside for now Everything would wait until she found her master.

After thanking Drake, Winnle left the Patterson family’s villa with that Ghost Baby and the .Rowan Wood in hand.

Drake stood on the second floor, watching her depart with a cool detachment in his deep eyes.

He glanced at the mark in his palm, recalling Winnie’s explanation, his expression unreadable, save for the slight curl of his lips that hinted at mockery.

“A protective charm?” He scolled to himself that she was clearly lying.

Winnie was unaware that her lie had been seen through by Drake. She hurried back to the Bryant family’s manor, holding the Ghost Baby in one hand and tightly gripping the Rowan Wood in the other Inside the manor, the household had been stirred by the earlier explosion and were concerned at finding Winnie’s room empty. Just as worry began to mount, Winnie came rushing back, still wearing her home slippers.

“Winnie, where have you been? We heard such a loud noise from your room, everyone was worried sick, then you were gone?” Leonie advanced towards her, anxious and caring, her gaze sweeping over Winnie before settling on the items in her hand with an inscrutable expression.

“You picked up a stick?” asked Leonie.

Winnie didn’t take offense at the mention of a stick, knowing that to outsiders it would look no different from any ordinary piece of wood.

“I was experimenting,with an air cannon in my room, and it accidentally backfired,” she explained with ease.

Janet who happened to be home that day stepped forward with concern. “Why are you doing experiments in your room? It’s too dangerous. Are you hurt?

Winnie shook her head and added, “I’ll be more careful next time.”

Janet smiled at her, but Hobson, ever the grump, couldn’t resist chiming in. “You’re doing experiments at home? Don’t you realize how dangerous that is? What if you blew something up? There are other people living here, you know.”

Hobson had been more restrained since the last incident, but finding a fault with Winnie. especially with Clifford and Horace absent, he didn’t hold back.

Winnie was about to respond when Springer leaped to her defense, “It was minor incident. Winnie knows what she’s doing. She won’t blow up your stuff.”

Springer’s protectiveness was blatantly obvious, which only served to infuriate Hobson further.

Ever since the accident, Springer had been like a changed person, following Winnie around. He 2/4 :4 had even neglected to pick up Amber from the hospital, and yesterday’s indifference towards Amber left her upset.

At the thought of Amber’s distressed face, Hobson darkened his mood.. He snapped, “Does what you said make a difference? Can you guarantee for her?”

Turning directly to Winnie, Hobson added, “Now that you’re back in the Bryant family, you can’t just do as you please without considering others.”

His implication was clear that he was accusing her of being selfish and lacking manners Springer bristled, ready to argue, but Winnie raised a hand, stopping him with the charred. branch. She looked at Hobson calmly and replied, “You’re right. With so many living here. I can’t just silence someone for being too noisy.”

Her tone was calm, void of any malice, yet it was enough to darken Hobson’ssion. “Who are you calling noisy?!”

Springer was never one to shy away from a good stir. With a mischievous grin, he egged them on, “Hey, if the shoe fits, wear it!”

Hobson turned a shade darker in his expression with annoyance as he stepped forward, looking ready to throw down.

Leonie, sensing the rising tension, quickly intervened, “Come on, we’re all family here. There’s no need for harsh words. Hobson, let’s drop it, okay?”

Janet, too, reeled her son back in. “And you, stop fanning the flames.”

With two elders standing close by, Hobson couldn’t escalate things. He huffed indignantly and turned to leave, but Winnie stopped him in his tracks.

“If I can prove that this won’t affect anyone in this house, would you dare to take a bet with me?” she challenged.

Hobson paused, turning to look at Winnie with undisguised contempt.

“How do you plan to prove it?” he sneered.

Winnie replied confidently, “If you’re brave enough to take the bet, I’ll show you.”

Hobson laughed mockingly, “Alright, what’s the wager?”

Winnie’s eyes, clear and sharp, swept over him as she smiled faintly, “If I win, I want a week of silence from you.”

Unable to help himself, Springer burst into laughter, while Hobson’s face flushed with anger. He felt Winnie was indirectly telling him to shut his noisy trap.

“Fine, I’ll take that bet! But I’m the judge of whether there’s been any disturbance. If you lose, you’re forbidden from doing anything I disapprove of in this house.”

Hobson thought he had the upper hand since he would be the one to decide what counted as a 3/4 :241 disturbance.

After all, the villa might have good soundproofing, but it wasn’t completely silent. If there was any noise, he’d have Winnie cornered Winnie, without even batting an eyelid, agreed, “Deal.”

“And how do you propose to prove it?” Hobson asked, still skeptical.

Winnie finally looked him straight in the eye, her voice calm and serene, “You’ll see tonight.” With that, she didn’t linger. She grabbed her Ghost Baby and Rowan Wood.

Hobson watched her retreating figure and couldn’t shake off an eerie feeling for some reasons.

What could happen tonight?