Chapter 248
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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Chapter 248
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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