Chapter 248
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Before she left the village , the house had been full of herbs . They were gone when she returned two and a half years later .
Aria walked into a room , held the edges of a cabinet , and pulled .
The cabinet was moved aside . She tore off the moldy wall coverings .
A hole in the wall came into view , and there were three medical books and a precious herb in an airtight container .
“ Remember this spot , lass . After l – am gone , these three books will be yours . As for this herb , it is good for your health . Eat it . ” An old voice echoed in Aria’s
ears .
Aria had mud all over her clothes in her first meeting with the herbalist . He called her a dirty kitten . Angered , she responded , “ Old man . ”
The herbalist didn’t get mad at Aria but burst out laughing . He gave her a piece of bread and said , “ My treat .”
“ I’ll pay you back ! ” Aria said . She took the bread and darted away with the herbs the herbalist needed in her mind .
Later , she dug up those herbs in the mountains and took them to the herbalist for money .
However , she got a good lecture from him . He told her to learn to read and promised to teach her something about herbs .
Like Betty , the herbalist had taught Aria how to make a living .
There were many times when Aria had suppressed the impulse to kill Dominic and his family because of Betty and the herbalist .
The herbalist was more impatient than Aria . He intended to poison the Colton couple after Aria had a narrow escape from a fire at home .
However , Aria said , “ Old man , nobody will pay for my herbs if you go to jail . Nobody will help me with the scar on my back . ”
Hearing this , the herbalist laughed loudly . Those old memories brought a faint smile to Aria’s face .
Aria took the books and the precious herb and put them in her basket . She froze in place and forgot to move the cabinet back when she caught sight of
something .
There was a small medical kit in the crack of the cabinet .
She took a step back , crouched down , and reached for the kit .
The kit was opened , and the medical tools inside were in good order . The kit belonged to the herbalist .
Why was it there ? How long had it been there ? Did the herbalist leave of his own free will ? Was he forced to leave ?
Aria felt a pang of regret . The truth might be out now if she had come to get the books and the herb two years earlier .
With a heavy heart , she moved the cabinet to its old place and left the house .
Her phone vibrated , and there came a call from Derek . She answered the call .
“ Aria , I lost my job ! ” Derek wailed . Outside the airport , he looked up at the sky and shed tears .
He got an offer from a startup and went to work that day .
He had rented an apartment in Kanit City . Unfortunately , he was told on his first day at work that he didn’t get recruited at all .
The young woman working in the HR department tactfully hinted that his spot had been taken by an acquaintance .
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Instantly , he thought of Lennox . His guess was soon confirmed .
His complaint ended with 16 thousand dollars from Aria . Then , Aria said , “ I am busy . I have to go now .”
Derek sniffed . “ Aria , can I stay in your place as before ? ”
Aria replied , “ I’m not home . Go find Caleb . ”
“ When will you go home ? I’ll wait for you at Owen’s . ”
After a few seconds of silence , Aria said , “ Owen is not home either . ”
“ What ? ” Derek gasped with surprise . “ You two … ”
“ Bye . ” Aria hung up the phone .
Derek wondered , “ Why are both Owen and Aria away from their homes ? Are they on a date ? ”
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