Chapter 270 Atonement

Chapter 270 Atonement

"What, we can't come here?" Lancelot raised an eyebrow, setting the LED lamp on the table. "Looks like you're bouncing back pretty well."

"Do you always have to be so extra?" Caroline puffed her cheeks and nudged Isabella again, urging her, "Ignore them, keep talking. Alaric didn't tell us anything about this!"

Kian, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but complain, "You were the one who said Cecilia hadn't woken up and didn't want to hear anything."

Caroline shot him a quick glare, and Kian just shrugged.

Seeing Cedric and Lancelot sit down on the small stools, Isabella straightened up and continued, "I don't know all the details, but when Sepia saw what was in the box, she lost it and didn't notice me slipping away." 

"From what I know, the Hunted Shadows Guild and Christopher are totally on the same page about finding 'Isis's Tear.' They share info but will kill each other's people over interests."

Cecilia frowned slightly upon hearing this.

"Based on what I know about Sepia, she shouldn't be making any moves soon. She was planning to finish this job and head back to Skylandia, and most of her crew is dead." 

"As for Christopher, I don't know his exact motives, but in these high-level circles, losing trust is a big deal. Of course, it's not his first time betraying a partner, but none of his previous partners had the reputation of the Hunted Shadows Guild."

"Anyway," Isabella took a deep breath, looking out the window with a slight smile, "he probably won't be able to make any big moves for now."

"Isn't that great?" Caroline's eyes lit up. "As long as he doesn't mess with us, we won't care about him. He's just a nutcase."

Cecilia pressed her lips together, feeling like something was unresolved but couldn't quite remember.

At this moment, Cedric suddenly asked, "Ms. Medici, do you have any other impressions about the 'Isis's Tear' you obtained?"

Cecilia was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head. "When I took it, it was indeed a glowing gem. I remember it looked very magical."

Cedric squinted, nodding thoughtfully. 

After a while, he smiled again, "Besides that, Ms. Medici, is there anything else you want to say?"

Cecilia seemed puzzled, "What?"

Alaric, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke, "We found glowing blue crystal fragments in your body, but they appeared for only a brief moment, maybe just a second or two."

Cecilia's pupils contracted, clearly stunned, her eyelashes trembling lightly.

His long, captivating eyes fixed on Cecilia, his tone flat and emotionless, "We suspect it might be a fragment of 'Isis's Tear.'"

"Alaric, what do you mean by that?" Caroline exclaimed in shock before Cecilia could respond. Lancelot, equally confused, looked at Cedric.

Cecilia lowered her head slightly, her gaze unfocused, staring at the pure white sheets with a helpless smile. 

"If I tell you what happened to me, will you believe me? If I might have deceived you, what would you think?"

She suddenly raised her head, her amber eyes meeting Alaric's gray-blue ones fearlessly, waiting for his answer.

The room fell into a brief silence, and Alaric suddenly smiled, "I believe you."

"You've always had a reason for not speaking," he said calmly. "I won't mind."

Caroline nodded repeatedly, secretly giving Alaric a thumbs-up, looking very satisfied.

Cecilia's gaze softened as she looked around the room, a warm feeling slowly rising in her heart. She said in a deep voice, "I know this might sound crazy, but I really remember my past life."

Seeing their varied expressions—some surprised, some delighted—Cecilia pressed her lips together and raised her voice slightly, her expression serious. "Actually, I'm reborn."

Meanwhile, at Russell Private Hospital.

The door to the hospital room was suddenly pushed open, and Brielle, leaning on a cane, strode in, followed by a trembling Owen.

"Julian!" Her aged voice was filled with overwhelming anger. "What have you been doing these days? Haven't you seen the news?" 

"The Russell Group's stock price is tanking, the investment projects are falling apart, and the partners are pulling out. Yet you have the leisure to sit here, smoking? You really are..."

Julian didn't turn to look at her, his thumb rubbing the cigarette, his voice eerily calm. "Grandma, isn't this what you wanted?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You told me to stay here, didn't you?" He finally turned around, his eyes deep and unreadable. "You wanted me to be a compliant puppet, and you'd handle everything else."

Brielle's face changed dramatically, her cane hitting the marble floor heavily. "That was before! I was worried you'd be bewitched by that woman Cecilia, how could I let you out!"

"But now Cecilia is..."

"Now Cecilia is missing." Julian interrupted her, a mocking smile curling his lips. "So you need me again? Think my mind is clear now?"

Brielle's face turned red, her chest heaving violently, yet she hesitated to speak.

"Grandma, I remember everything."

Julian suddenly spoke, his voice light as a sigh. "I wronged her."

Brielle froze, her brows furrowing in confusion.

He tapped his temple, his eyes swirling with deep, dark emotions, his voice so low it was almost inaudible. "How I forced her to death in my past life, and how I failed her in this life."

"And now, I finally understand where the pain comes from every time I see her." 

His finger slowly moved down, pressing on his left chest where his heart was, his voice growing louder. 

"Even though I did nothing, she was so afraid of me. I know it all now."

"Julian, you..." Brielle seemed frightened by his actions, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Grandma, do you know what's the most ridiculous thing?" He laughed softly. "I was supposed to atone in this life, but in the end, I pushed her into danger myself."

Seeing this, Brielle staggered back a step, as if seeing Julian clearly for the first time. "You..."

"I'll handle the Russell Group." Julian suddenly calmed down, his eyes clear, staring straight at her. "But not for you."

"If there's nothing else, please leave. I'll come over once I'm ready." He said coldly. "Provided you're willing to let me out."

Brielle patted her chest lightly, shook her head, and left the room without saying anything.

Owen hesitated, glanced at Julian, but didn't dare to speak, and finally followed Brielle out.

After they left, Julian looked out the window, his gaze tender to the point of being sickly. 

"Cecilia, I'll turn the entire Russell Group into the most magnificent cage to atone for you."