Chapter 7

Heather arrived outside the Caldwell residence with several bags. After pushing open the gate to the residence courtyard, she was about to head inside when she heard a piercing cat cry. Heather looked over and found a newborn kitten caught on a tree branch, staring at her pitifully. "Don't worry. I'm coming," she said before setting her things down and hurrying over to rescue it. The thick, overgrown branches completely hid her from view. Micah strode out of the Caldwell residence and got into the Maybach parked by the road at the same time. He leaned back in his seat and looked a little tired. "Would you like to head to Hillside Villa to get some rest, Mr. Truman? We can continue our search for the miracle doctor's descendant tomorrow." Micah nodded. "Drive." The luxury car pulled away past Heather. At that exact moment, the rear window slowly rolled up. The man inside the car and the woman outside looked at each other at the same time, only to be cut off by the window being fully raised. Heather averted her gaze from the luxury car. For some reason, it felt a little familiar. However, she didn't dwell on it. "Go find your mom now," she said as she gently set the kitten down. Then, she picked up the gifts she had brought for Sirius and walked toward the Caldwell residence. As soon as she stepped inside, her uncle, Eurus, and his wife, Bella, greeted her with pretentious smiles. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Bella held her hand and cried poor. "Heather, our family's beauty salon has been a little tight on funds lately. Could you talk to Devon and ask him to support us a bit more?" "You want him to support you?" Heather's expression hardened. Ever since her parents died in the shipwreck, her grandfather had passed away from grief soon after. Eurus had not only taken over the Caldwell family's apothecaries but had also used his position as their guardian to forcibly seize their parents' shares and assets. Had Lauren not stood up for them, she and Sirius would've been abandoned. To make matters worse, Eurus had a gambling addiction. He had gambled away the apothecaries that had once spread throughout Metrovale, leaving only a small clinic standing. "That's right!" Eurus didn't notice the change in her expression and continued spinning his sob story. "It's all our fault for being useless and failing to protect your grandfather's legacy. Now, there's only this small clinic left. Heather, you must protect your grandfather's life's work!" There it was again. In her previous life, they had used this exact excuse to force her to beg Devon for money. Heather still remembered how Eurus had squandered the Caldwells' assets and refused to buy medicine for Sirius. Consequently, Sirius had been rushed into the ICU. Heather had stood outside the operating room and called Devon, begging him to save Sirius for the sake of their marriage. Devon had spat out, "Trade your kidney for your brother's life." After donating her kidney, her own life had come to an end as well. Before she died, she had learned the truth from Esme. After marrying her and becoming the CEO of Harlan Corporation, Devon had immediately started taking revenge on her. He had secretly suppressed the Caldwell family. Coupled with Eurus' incompetence and gambling addiction, the Caldwell family's business had collapsed in no time. By the time Eurus had forced her to beg Devon for investment, Devon had proposed an exchange and forced her, step by step, into the abyss. To this day, she vividly remembered every humiliating plea she had made in her previous life and the contemptuous look in Devon's eyes. It was all thanks to her uncle and aunt. Heather subtly withdrew her hand and responded apathetically, "You're the ones who inherited Grandpa's legacy. That means it's your responsibility to protect it." Bella immediately changed her tune when she heard that. "What do you mean by that? Are you going to cut us off now that you've married into wealth? "Don't forget how much money we spent taking care of your sickly brother. Do you even have a conscience, you ungrateful brat?" Heather's expression hardened when she mentioned Sirius. "If it weren't for you, Sirius wouldn't have fallen ill at all. You're the ones who ruined him. So, it's only fair for you to take responsibility!" Bella was stunned by her intimidating presence. Heather had always been a pushover. Why'd she become so forceful today? Eurus hurriedly intervened, "You're right, we're responsible for Sirius' illness. It's just that his condition needs a lot of expensive medication, and we've really been short on cash lately." In short, he still wanted money. Heather shot him a cold look. "Devon and I are about to get a divorce. I can't be your cash cow anymore. Since you think my brother is such a burden, I'll take him with me today." "No, you can't!" As soon as her words fell, the blood drained from Eurus' face. He immediately sang a different tune. "What burden? We're family. No matter how much the medical bills cost, I'll take good care of Sirius! "Besides, he's still a minor. Wouldn't he just be a burden to you? Since you two haven't seen each other in ages, you should go check on him." Heather frowned slightly. For some reason, something felt off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. The small attic on the third floor was her brother's room. She gently pushed the door open and found a thin teenage boy seated on the bed. His complexion was pallid, yet it couldn't hide his good looks. There was still a hint of youthful spirit between his brows. His large, expressive eyes shone like stars, but his gaze was hollow as he stared out the window. Heather's chest tightened. After the shipwreck, Eurus had taken Sirius to identify their parents' bodies, but he had forgotten him in the cold morgue. Overwhelmed by grief, chilled to the bone, and frightened, Sirius had lost his sight from that day on and had never recovered. The boy who had once been bright and cheerful had been trapped in that room ever since, unable to walk out. In her previous life, she had been tormented by Devon and never had the opportunity to treat Sirius' eyes. Later, when she had been hospitalized with a terminal illness, Sirius had gone to confront Devon, only to be beaten by his bodyguards and thrown out on the street. Then, a large truck had come barreling toward him. Sirius hadn't been able to see, and his body had been too weak for him to get out of the way… Heather closed her eyes and pulled herself out of those blood-soaked memories. This debt must be paid in blood. "You're here, Heather!" Sirius turned his head toward the door as soon as he heard the slightest sound. Heather swallowed the lump in her throat and forced a smile. "You're amazing, Siri. You could tell it was me just from my voice?" "I didn't recognize your voice. I recognized your scent." He smiled proudly and lifted the sachet. "Your sachet is one of a kind." Heather lowered her gaze to look at the sachet at her waist. Carolyn had taught her how to recognize different herbs when she was young, and she had gotten into the habit of making sachets for the whole family. Sirius' sachet smelled of mint, while hers carried the faint fragrance of orchids. "What are you, a bloodhound?" Heather booped his nose before pulling him into a hug. He was far too thin. In her previous life, she had been busy playing the dutiful wife at the Harlan residence. Several times when Sirius had wanted to see her, she hadn't gone back. Heather poured her heart out to Devon, who couldn't care less, while neglecting the family who genuinely loved her. She had been unbearably foolish. Since she had been given a second chance at life, she would make things right. "I promise I'll protect you properly this time, Siri!" she vowed to herself. "What's wrong, Heather?" he fretted, sensing something was off about her. "It's nothing." Heather let go of him and changed the subject. "Have they been treating you well lately?" Noticing his pallid complexion, her brows knitted together, and she took his wrist to check his pulse. "Yeah, they have. It's just that my medicine probably costs Uncle Eurus a lot." Sirius appeared troubled when he mentioned that. "If it weren't for them, you wouldn't be sick at all. Besides, they're spending the money our parents left us. So, you don't have to feel bad for them!" Heather hurriedly corrected his thoughts. In her previous life, this was exactly how Eurus and Bella had brainwashed and manipulated her. "Alright," he responded softly. He couldn't wrap his head around it yet, but he trusted Heather wholeheartedly. Heather held his wrist and said, "Don't worry. I'll get settled and come pick you up to live with me soon!" "Huh?" Sirius was puzzled. "Aren't you living with Devon?" "He doesn't deserve to be your brother-in-law! It's a long story. I'll explain later. For now, all you have to do is focus on getting better and taking your medication." Heather tucked his hand back under the blanket. Doubt filled her clear eyes. How odd. Why was his pulse still weak and unstable regardless of how much medication he took? She couldn't identify the cause of his illness either. Bella grumbled outside the door, "Since that little bitch is going to divorce Devon, she's useless now. Why the hell are you still keeping that sickly kid around?" "What do you know? When the Harlans fell into decline, Heather brought them back to life with a single formula and transformed them into a prominent family in Metrovale. Her mother is Carolyn Lovegood, the miracle doctor! "I bet that little bitch still has a lot of valuable formulas in her hands. So long as we keep Sirius here, we have leverage over Heather; she'll have no choice but to hand those formulas over!" "You're right. Maybe that bitch even knows about the Nine-Turn Needle Technique!" Bella's eyes lit up, but she soon complained, "Still, do you really have to spend that much money on medicine for that sickly kid?" "That's not medicine, you fool!"