Chapter 458

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She continued gently , “ The regular school curriculum isn’t a good fit for you right now . Let’s keep you enrolled and arrange for a private tutor to help you study at home . Once you’ve caught up academically , you can return to school – and staying at home will also make it easier to treat your scars . ?
Lily gasped , covering her mouth . “ Aria , can Pearl’s face really go back to how it used to be ? ”
Aria smiled gently . “ Not 100 % , but with makeup , no one will be able to tell . ”
If Pearl’s injuries had been properly treated from the start , the scarring wouldn’t be this severe . Olivia clearly withheld treatment on purpose .
Orlando and Russell were so caught up in their own affairs that not only did they fail to help Pearl , but actually ended up hurting her .
Tears streaming down her face , Pearl rushed over and threw her arms around Aría . “ Thank you , Aria , ” she choked out , her voice trembling with emotion .
Aría gently patted her back . “ Don’t be silly . We’re family . ”
Aria wasn’t in a hurry to ask Pearl about her proficiency in hypnosis . From Pearl’s perspective , anyone who taught her those self – defense skills had done
her kindness .
‘ I have no quarrel with this person , so there’s no need to make an issue of it , ‘ Aria thought .
Aría decided to wait until Pearl was settled before bringing it up .
Upstairs , Orlando stood by the window , gazing at the cityscape . A shadow of desolation clouded his eyes .
He asked , “ Russell , are we really just letting Rachel stay with Aria ? ”
Russell’s calm voice came through the earpiece . “ Rachel’s better off with Aria than with us . ”
Orlando sighed . “ It’s all my fault for being so careless . I should’ve noticed Rachel wasn’t herself sooner . For Olivia to go so far as to brutalize a child , she’s downright vicious . ”
“ I dragged her into this too , ” he said , full of guilt .
Orlando asked anxiously , “ Russell , if Olivia could do this to Rachel , and Sara was with her before . Could her disappearance be related to Olivia ? ”
“ Yeah , it could be ,” Russell replied .
The terse reply hit Orlando like a hammer . He clenched his fists / “ That bitch deserves to die ! ”
Meanwhile , in Masmubia , Russell sat in his chair , watching with icy detachment as the half – dead servant lay in the cell .
This servant had spent over a decade in the Wolfshade Syndicate – first as Olivia’s personal attendant , then eventually becoming the gang’s cook .
That was the “ truth ” Olivia gave him – the mastermind who abused Sara and handed her over to Tyree .
Later , she also abused Rachel using the same cruel methods .
Russell had harbored hatred for the Wolfshade Syndicate , plotting to destroy the Solemnity Guild and make Aria pay for everything – only to realize in the end that he was the one who deserved to go to hell .
It was him who brought Sara to the Wolfshade Syndicate . He was the one who doomed her .
It was him who pursued Olivia , making her fall for him .
Fearing her abuse of Sara would be exposed , Olivia orchestrated Sara’s disappearance , ultimately sending her to the Solemnity Guild — where she met her fate leaving no trace behind .
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‘ I’m the one responsible for all this ,’ he thought .
Russell closed his eyes , removed his earpiece , and stood up . “ Execute her , ” he ordered coldly .
The guards replied , “ Got it . ”
As Russell walked out , Olivia , standing at the door , heard a scream – her heart skipped a beat .
Olivia let out a quiet sigh and walked up to Russell . “ Russell , were you talking to Orlando just now ? ”
Russell nodded , his intimidating aura still as strong as ever . Olivia , unfazed , slipped her arm through his and said sweetly , “ Russell , Rachel may be gone , but you still have me . I’ll always be here for you . ”
Russell gently stroked her hair . “ I’ve been so busy lately and neglected you . My apologies .”
Olivia’s eyes sparkled with secret delight . With a playful pout , she said sweetly, “ I get it . My father is upset with you , and you need to win back his trust . ”
Russell said , “ I’ll go handle the casino affairs now . ”
Olivia replied , “ Alright , bye , Russell . ”
As Russell walked away , the smile melted from Olivia’s face .
The lackey leaned closer and whispered , “ Miss Remar , did he buy it ? ”
Olivia toyed with her freshly manicured nails and sneered , “ Even if he doesn’t believe me , so what ? He wouldn’t dare confront my father head – on .
“ Sara’s been gone for years , and Russell still has a bright future ahead of him . He knows whose side to take . ”
The lackey asked , “ What about that little vixen ? Should we have her earn Aria’s trust first , then … ” He made a throat – slitting gesture .
Olivia gave him a disdainful look . “ Little vixen is so frail . There’s no way she can kill Aria . You handle it personally . Little vixen must die .
“ And pin it all on Aria ! ”
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