Judith's face drained of color.

How on earth could Percival know about this?

She had confided this secret to no one in the Brooks family, not even her own flesh and blood.

She had taken the solitary trip to Emerald Mountain to ensure there were no loose ends.

But why?

Why did Percival know?

Judith's expression flickered with panic before she fought to regain composure, irritation lacing her voice. "What are you blabbering about? When have I ever brought a hitman there? Vivienne knows the truth. She saved me. I was the one being hunted!"

Percival chuckled, a knowing smirk on his face. "You seem to be unaware that my teacher founded the very organization of hitmen you sought out. What a coincidence, isn't it?"

"What?" Judith was utterly stunned, disbelief etched on her face.

They were Karen's people?

No wonder they turned on her!

She vividly recalled hiring the organization and them assigning a hitman to accompany her. All had been well until they reached Emerald Monastery. The hitman leader's face turned ashen when she mentioned Karen's name. They even double-checked with her, asking if her target was indeed Karen's child.

She had confirmed it without hesitation.

And that was when they turned on her.

Unknown to them, Judith was skilled in fighting arts, a secret she had kept hidden for decades. Cornered, she had no choice but to fight for her life.

she fled in

terrain of Emerald Mountain was treacherous, and despite her efforts to elude them, she

she claimed to possess something left behind by

Karen, for the mere mention of

it over, but she had nothing, especially after her frantic escape had left her without even

then that

collapsed. Recognizing Vivienne's extraordinary abilities, Judith clung to her for safety and begged to be escorted home. Despite her cold exterior, Vivienne's warmth shined through as

up with them again, Vivienne

she knew was that the chase persisted until they reached the boundaries of Havenwood, at

why at the time, but it all

had been Karen's sanctuary and Vivienne's home.

to recognize Karen's daughter

parted his lips to speak. "What's more coincidental is that these hitmen approached Vivienne before she came to the capital and informed her

and family of the person who hired them to kill Vivienne; they

scrolled through to reveal a hand-drawn, remarkably

silent as everyone absorbed

gazed at Judith in disbelief. "Mom? Is this true? How could you do

in the Brooks family, especially now with Scott at the helm. They usually kept quiet on

to be helpful to Vivienne within their means out of

had initially mistaken Arabella for Karen's child and had urged the family to treat her well. Once Vivienne returned, the children took an

affairs, such as acknowledging Calista as one of their own, they had objected, but Judith and Scott were adamant. There was little

they had planned to discuss the matter with their mother if Vivienne faced any mistreatment upon Calista's return. But they could have never imagined that their mother would go so far as to

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