Echoes of a Forgotten Life

Chapter 5: The World-Class Unsolved Mystery

Evelyn Blackwell was uninterested and did not reply.

Just as she exited f*******:, Grace Parker’s call came in.

" Evelyn, did you see? This is serious!"

Evelyn Blackwell pressed the speakerphone button and stood up to tidy the bookshelf. "What’s the problem?"

"Of course there’s a problem!" Grace Parker was anxious. "Don't say you’ve offended the Monroe family; even if you offend The Quinn family, you’ll be blacklisted in the modeling industry!"

"That’s good news." Evelyn Blackwell smiled faintly. "I was planning to quit the industry."

Grace Parker was stunned: "Quit? Are you crazy?"

Evelyn Blackwell's looks and figure were indeed exceptional, and the modeling industry didn’t require acting skills like the entertainment industry did.

Moreover, she had heard from the older folks in the company that Evelyn Blackwell had worked hard to break into the modeling world. How could she just quit?

Evelyn Blackwell countered with a question: "Grace, have you considered changing jobs?"

A month ago, after Isabella Reed returned to the country, the Huangchi Entertainment Company cut off resources for the other soul to show loyalty and handed her over to Grace Parker, a newcomer who was marginalized by the company.

The reason the other soul chose to leave her body was that she had been driven to the brink, with nowhere else to turn.

But for her, as long as she didn’t die, she could carve out a path.

Grace Parker was taken aback: "Evelyn…"

Evelyn Blackwell continued: "Why not stay with me?"

Grace Parker's eyes welled up with tears: "But you’re quitting; how can I follow you?"

Working people were the most unfortunate.

"Quitting doesn’t mean I won’t be doing anything. I just don’t want to be too exposed. I have other goals," Evelyn Blackwell said with a light smile. "I need people—lots of them."

Grace Parker instinctively asked, "What goals?"

Evelyn Blackwell: "First, let’s establish a small goal---100 million US dollars."

Grace Parker: "?"

She concluded that Evelyn Blackwell had gone mad.

After the call ended, Evelyn Blackwell pulled out a book.

The pages were yellowed and aged, but it had been well-preserved by its owner.

She opened it just as there was a knock at the door.

Evelyn Blackwell snapped back to reality and went to open the door.

"Uncle."

"Since you’re back, all your bad habits need to be changed," David Hart walked in, eyeing her up and down. "If I catch you going back to find Henry Monroe, I’ll break your legs."

Evelyn Blackwell was very obedient: "No problem, Uncle."

She responded so quickly that it made David Hart hesitate: "Is your mental state... not quite right?"

The current Evelyn Blackwell gave him a strange feeling.

She appeared calm and steady, but beneath that calmness, there was a turbulent storm brewing, threatening to shatter everything.

A tranquil ferocity, extremely contradictory.

Evelyn Blackwell smiled slightly: "I’m fine."

In a lawful society, she could keep herself stable and wouldn’t kill recklessly.

"I heard from Jason that the school recently hired a psychologist from Silverwick to help relieve student pressure," David Hart hesitated before speaking. "How about... you go see them?"

Evelyn Blackwell smiled again: "Sure, thank you, Uncle."

"You used to read this book every day, and it’s practically worn out," David Hart noticed the open pages and sighed.

[In the year 1723 of Aurora, an unknown force invaded, resulting in the death of Princess Jing'an by dismemberment. Emperor Yongshun hanged himself to protect the people, and Princess Yongle committed suicide in Yongle Palace, leading to the downfall of the Ning Dynasty, known as the "Battle of Ten Thousand Armies."]

This humiliating war caused Aurora to fall behind the entire world for over a century.

Even today, including the World Strategic Research Institute, no one could identify the enemy that invaded Aurora three hundred years ago.

It had become a world-class unsolved mystery.

David Hart shook his head, sighed, and then looked at the seven-stringed instrument: "When will you play a piece on this? Can you play the guqin?"

Evelyn Blackwell thought for a moment: "When killing."

David Hart: "?"

He could see that she was indeed unwell and severely deranged.

Killing through music? She had watched too many martial arts novels.

David Hart pressed his temples: "You should go see the psychologist at the school tomorrow. I’ll help you make an appointment. If the situation is bad, we’ll get you hospitalized."

Evelyn Blackwell remained compliant: "I’ll listen to my uncle."

"Your aunt..." David Hart hesitated but eventually walked out.

Remembering the previous warmth, he felt a pang in his heart.

How had this family turned into what it was now?

He dared not hope for the past to return, only wishing that his niece's life could get back on track, so he could also account for his brother.

The next day, at 8 AM, Riverport First Hospital.

"Has Damien woken up yet?" Henry Monroe stood outside the ICU, his expression grim.

"Not yet." The secretary kept his head down. "Miss... Miss Blackwell was quite heavy-handed; she..."

Two days had passed since the incident, and he still couldn’t imagine how Evelyn Blackwell, with her slender frame, could unleash such powerful force to incapacitate Damien Quinn, who had trained in boxing since childhood.

"Henry, that girl named Blackwell is too much," Catherine Quinn wiped her tears. "I know you dote on her, but look at what she’s done! Let me remind you, Miss Reed has returned."

"Don’t worry, Aunt Catherine." When Isabella Reed was mentioned, Henry Monroe's demeanor softened. "I will handle this matter well."

"That's all I need to hear." Catherine Quinn implied, "Henry, some women like to play hard to get; you mustn’t fall for it. I hope you can settle this before Damien wakes up; otherwise…"

If The Quinn family took action, Evelyn Blackwell would be in serious trouble.

Henry Monroe replied indifferently: "I understand, Aunt Catherine."

"Aunt Catherine, Henry." A gentle voice interrupted.

Henry Monroe turned around, his frown finally easing, and he smiled: "What brings you here at this time?"

"You haven’t been eating well these past few days; I’m worried you’ll have stomach pain," Isabella Reed handed him a thermos. "No matter how busy things get, you need to take care of yourself."

"Thank you for your trouble." Henry Monroe's gaze softened. "Your hands should be used for painting, not cooking."

"Is Damien still not awake?" Isabella Reed's brow was furrowed with worry. "How could he be so badly injured?"

Catherine Quinn sighed: "With you here to visit him, he’ll surely recover faster."

Isabella Reed nodded.

After spending some time with him, she stood up to leave.

Henry Monroe said: "I’ll see you off."

"No need." Isabella Reed smiled. "You take care of your matters; I’m heading to the studio."

Henry Monroe instructed the secretary: "Send Miss Reed back."

The secretary complied, driving Isabella Reed to the studio.

At the intersection ahead, the traffic light turned red, and the car was blocked at the entrance of Riverport No. 1 High School.

The secretary caught sight of someone in the rearview mirror and frowned suddenly.

Evelyn Blackwell was walking towards the car.

"Miss Blackwell, wait!" The secretary rolled down the window, looking at her with a stern gaze, laced with sarcasm. "The person in the car isn’t the sir. What do you want with Miss Reed? Shouldn't you accumulate some virtue?"

Everyone who encountered Evelyn after breaking the cycle: Evelyn Blackwell has gone mad.

Evelyn: (smiling) Indeed.

Who wouldn’t go crazy after being trapped in the same day for 999 years!