The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1995

Wolf walked into the center of the formation according to Wynter's instructions. Then, upon Wynter's command, he lifted his foot and stomped down violently. The entire formation emitted a dazzling red light, after which it dimmed completely.

The instant the formation was destroyed, Isidore's eyes snapped open somewhere far away.

He was in disbelief. "This is…"

All the natural luck surrounding him instantly dissipated and started drifting in the Rolland family's direction.

Isidore lifted his head. "Who ruined my great plan?"

The black-robed figure, who was outside, hurriedly entered the room upon hearing him. "What happened, my lord?"

Isidore frowned. "Someone destroyed the luck-stealing formation I set up in the Rolland family residence."

The figure lowered his voice and asked, "Would you like me to send someone to investigate it? Your plan… There shouldn't be many who know of it, my lord."

Isidore's gaze sharpened. He'd laid down the framework for his plan involving the Rolland family many years ago. It was precisely because he'd valued Orinda's unwillingness to resign herself to her circumstances that he agreed to help her. In exchange, he requested the Rolland family's natural luck.

Orinda didn't understand things involving natural luck and fortune. It didn't affect her, anyway, so she agreed to his terms unthinkingly.

Isidore frowned heavily, explaining, "Not just anyone is capable of destroying that formation. Most importantly, nobody knows the layout I used to set up the formation in the Rolland family residence."

The black-robed figure turned to the side. "Then, shall I personally go and investigate the situation now?"

Isidore waved a dismissive hand. "Since that person is capable of destroying the formation, then naturally, they won't have left any traces behind."

He then looked down at the artifact in his hand. "It's about time for you to take effect."

As soon as those words left his mouth, the artifact floated into the air.

Isidore recited, "Majesty of heaven and earth, boundless energy of all life. Behold my endless power, borne through extensive and tireless cultivation."

As he voiced the incantation, the artifact glowed and turned into the visualization of a memory. The scene it depicted was the exact moment Wynter destroyed the formation.

Isidore said coldly, "Enemies really do inevitably clash. Once I fully master this artifact, I'll personally pay you all a visit."

Immediately afterward, the visualized scene disappeared, and the artifact returned to Isidore's hands.

Seeing this, the black-robed figure began, "They've ruined many of our plans, my lord. Should we…"

He trailed off and made a slicing gesture across his neck.

Isidore stowed the artifact away before standing. "You're no match for them. It's not the time for us to deal with them just yet, anyway. Once I've absorbed the country's fortune stored within the Drakevein Pendant and completely mastered this artifact, it'll be time for them to die."

The figure nodded vigorously at this. "I pray you'll be able to accomplish those tasks as soon as possible, my lord. At that point, Cascadia's fortune will be ours for the taking!"

Isidore turned away before saying, "Continue standing watch. It wasn't easy finding a place capable of shielding our presence. If I use it well, I'll be able to speed up the process of absorption."

The black-robed figure hummed in acknowledgement, then went back outside the cave to continue standing watch.

…

Meanwhile, Wynter, still in the storeroom, suddenly felt a familiar sensation. She lifted her head but saw nothing.

"What's wrong?" Dalton asked softly, looking at her.

Wynter looked away. "For a single moment just now, I felt a familiar sensation in the air. I don't know if I was imagining things."

Dalton's expression darkened. He looked up as well, his gaze unreadable.

Wynter stretched lazily. "Forget it. Maybe I'm just tired. Let's head back and have a good rest. We still need to visit Aidan tomorrow."

Dalton replied gently, "Alright. Let's head back, then."

When they descended to the first floor, they saw Jerald standing in the doorway.

He bowed his head, placed his hand on his chest, and said sincerely, "Thank you very much, Ms. Quinnell. If not for you, my mother would have continued to remain under Orinda's control, unable to reincarnate."

Wynter lowered her gaze. "Please raise your head first. Since I promised to help you, I'll naturally spare no effort to do so."

Jerald nodded and straightened. "I've had people rearrange all the furniture in my room. The bed has been moved, and the landscape painting above it has also been removed."

Wynter raised her eyes slightly, looking at Jerald. "I've already taken care of the biggest underlying danger just now. As for the house's geomantic layout, just follow my instructions, and the Rolland family will return to its previous state."

Jerald inclined his head once more. "Thank you very much, Ms. Quinnell. If not for you, I'm afraid the Rolland family would have fallen at Orinda's hands."

Wynter lifted her chin slightly. "These are all just trivial matters. How do you intend to deal with Orinda?"

Jerald frowned and gritted his teeth. "She… I don't want to let her off. I want to kill her with my own hands to avenge my mother.

"However, I've kept the words you said to me before leaving the basement close to my heart. I've already called the police and intend to let her be judged by the law."

Wynter said nonchalantly, "The decision is yours to make, Mr. Rolland. We'll be taking our leave first."

Jerald took a few steps forward at that. "About the fees for this, Ms. Quinnell… How much do you want? I'll pay you however much you want."

Wolf perked up upon hearing this and hurriedly presented his bank account number. "Here's my bank account number. I have Venmo, too, if you'd like."

Jerald paused, stunned by Wolf's enthusiasm. "Well… In that case, is it alright for me to transfer the money to this bank account, Ms. Quinnell?"

Wynter chuckled at Wolf's actions. "That's fine as well. Just transfer the money to his account."

She then led Dalton away first.

Jerald asked hurriedly, "How much should I transfer over?"

Wolf replied in Wynter's stead, "The more, the better. It'd be best if you were to transfer as much as your limit allows."

Jerald nodded and keyed in Wolf's bank account number. After several separate transfers, he reached his transfer limit and handed his phone to Wolf. "I've reached the transfer limit."

After glancing at the screen, Wolf stowed the slip with his bank account number on it away. "I'll be going, then. Bye bye."

He then trotted eagerly toward the car parked at the entrance.

Wynter asked lazily, "Has the little money grubber returned? It looks like he transferred enough money to hit his transfer limit. You two wouldn't have taken so long otherwise."

Wolf mumbled an acknowledgement, keeping his head lowered. He promptly decided to employ selective hearing and changed the topic. "I took some time because I went to wash my hands just now. We can go back now!"

Wynter simply smiled fondly in response.

…

Meanwhile, Riley was clinging to Aidan's arm in the Patsy residence.

After Hildred started driving, Aidan took out his phone and dialed a number.

"What's the matter this late at night, Mr. Patsy?" the person on the other end of the line asked in halting Cascadian.

Aidan lowered his voice and replied, "I'm calling about something very important. We still haven't received the last shipment of goods."

The other person raised their voice a little. "What? Did something happen?"

Aidan elaborated slowly, "I don't know. I sent people out to search, but they didn't find any trace of the goods. How about we deliver the first few batches of goods first?"

The other person cursed, "Fuck! We'll proceed according to your suggestion. Send those batches over first."

Aidan continued, "Delivering the goods isn't a problem. However, regarding what you promised me…"

The other person replied in a gentler tone, "Don't worry. I've already taken care of you and your wife's immigration documents. A bank card has also been prepared. The amount it contains is enough to last you several lifetimes."

Aidan finally relaxed at that. "That's good. We'll be able to ship the goods the day after tomorrow at the earliest. Just be ready to receive the goods by then."

After hanging up, he looked out the window. He knew that if his involvement in this operation were to be discovered, he would definitely be thoroughly investigated. However, as long as he delivered the goods and flew overseas with Riley, the Cascadian government wouldn't be able to hold him accountable.

He was very cautious. Even though the foreign forces wanted to send him money for doing so much for them, he refused to accept it. After all, he would also be suspected if someone were to investigate his accounts and find the abnormal amount of money.

…

Meanwhile, Wynter had returned to her room. She was sitting in front of her laptop and typing on the keyboard.

She investigated Aidan through both official and non-official channels, but turned up nothing. She'd even checked his bank statements. If not for the fact she'd been tipped off about him, she would have thought he was a good person.

She stroked her chin in thought. Aidan was using his position to conduct smuggling operations, but she couldn't find a single clue pointing back to him. His record was too clean.

The fact that his record was so spotless proved that he was incredibly good at hiding his tracks. It was likely that, besides Aidan himself and his trusted confidants, not even Riley knew what he was up to.

Dalton glanced over at her, his eyes dark and brooding. "You should rest for a while first. You shouldn't ignore the radiation exposure from a laptop."

"Okay." Wynter reached out and closed the lid of the laptop, then sat next to Dalton. "I think that, no matter how we look into Aidan, we won't find anything amiss. His records are too deliberately clean."

Dalton's eyes seemed to gleam with laughter. "It's precisely because his record is so spotless that he's suspicious."

Wynter reached for one of the washed fruits on the table. "I know, but we'll need proof in order to convict him. Otherwise, we won't be able to tie him to the crime with our word alone."

Dalton still had laughter in his eyes. He sat casually, twirling her hair between his fingers. "We'll pincer him from two sides, then. You've already sent people to keep an eye on the port, so we can catch him in the act. All you have to do is visit the Patsy residence and investigate them on the sly tomorrow."

Then, he added, "The most dangerous place is also the safest one. There'll definitely be some clues about him in his house."

Wynter followed his train of thought and elaborated, "So you say, but when I visit his house tomorrow, Riley will probably be shadowing me the entire time. Aidan is very likely to be there as well."

Dalton's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Are you telling me you can't think of a solution to that? How unlike you."

Wynter turned to look at him. "Hey, of course I have a solution. Still, I'm afraid it's not very feasible to get them both away at the same time."

That made Dalton's fingers twitch. "Aidan… It's still very simple to lure him away. We can use information on that shipment of cultural relics to do so. He's surely anxious to have them delivered."

Then, he leaned close to her ear and added, "Wolf and I will be outside. Don't worry."

Wynter practically melted at the feeling of his warm breath against her ear.