Chapter 6 Phantom Healer Is Already Here

A cold shiver crept down her spine as Cathy thought back to the kiss that had haunted her for half a decade.

Years ago, she'd swallowed a dangerous concoction, risking everything to fake her death and slip through the fingers of her enemies.

And to get back at Shadow Viper, she'd pressed a blood-stained kiss onto him - a man notorious for his obsession with staying spotless - just before collapsing, hoping to disgust him one final time.

Just as she planned, word of her "death" spread, and the hunters became convinced there was something twisted between her and Shadow Viper, hounding him without mercy ever since.

Meanwhile, the present was nothing but chaos. All around, people scrambled, eager to win favor.

"Mr. Curtis is here! Move, let me see!" voices shouted as the crowd pushed forward in a frenzy.

Cathy, meanwhile, turned quietly, intent on slipping away before things got out of hand.

But sometimes, the more you fear something, the more it will come to you.

Her phone buzzed unexpectedly. She answered with a wary, "Hello?"

Only silence came from the other end, prickling her skin with unease.

A split second later, her heart pounded, realization dawning as she lifted her eyes to the front of the hall.

Across the room, Kellan stood at the center, phone pressed to his ear, gaze locked on hers with chilling certainty.

His voice, low and resolute, cut through the static. "I warned you, even death wouldn't keep me from tracking you down to the ends of the earth."

A deep, gravelly edge laced his words, casual on the surface but packed with an untamed will.

Cathy's thumb hovered over the screen, ready to end the call. Somehow, Kellan seemed to sense her hesitation.

"I found out where that nurse you've been chasing is hiding," Kellan said, every word rolling out smooth as silk. "Walk away now, and I'll have the whole place locked up tight. Don't test me."

A soft click signaled he had hung up, leaving Cathy standing there, stunned and reeling.

What kind of lunatic plays games like this?

She had scoured the city for years, chasing any scrap of information about the nurse, coming up empty every single time. Now Kellan waltzed in and dangled it in front of her like bait.

Memories of Mapleley hit her in a rush - their endless sparring, the way their paths crossed in one battle after another.

Yet, whenever someone came for her life, Kellan always got there first.

Back then, surrounded by bodies and chaos, he had only shot her a cold smirk and said, "You're my opponent. If anyone's taking you out, it'll be me."

Dominating. Unapologetic. Always unpredictable.

There was no better word for Kellan than madman.

Every step Cathy took felt like a brush with danger, as if the world beneath her heels could give way at any second.

A couple of minutes slipped by before she quietly reached for a glass of champagne and tipped it back, letting the bubbles settle her nerves.

Jayden, noticing her unusual choice to drink, made his way over.

"Since when did you start drinking to forget?" he asked, narrowing his eyes while reaching to take the glass from her.

Cathy tilted her head, a faint smile playing at her lips. "What's this, Mr. Thorpe? Are you worried something might happen to me?"

Jayden kept his tone stiff. "You and I aren't done on paper, so I'd rather you didn't make a scene."

"You can relax," Cathy replied, her voice steady. "You'll never see me chasing after you again."

For a moment, Jayden caught something troubled in Cathy's expression. Whatever flicker of emotion he felt, he shoved it down.

"Drop the act, Cathy," he retorted, voice turning cold. "Trying to get my attention won't work anymore."

Without waiting for a reply, he spun on his heel and left her behind, already moving on to his next priority.

With Marissa beside him, Jayden strode up to Kellan.

"Mr. Curtis, Jayden Thorpe. I represent Sunshine Construction Group," he said, offering a respectful nod and raising his glass. "Meeting you today is a privilege."

"I heard you've been searching for skilled medical professionals," Jayden added after a brief pause, casting a quick look at Marissa. "Turns out, Marissa here graduated at the top of her med school class."

No hesitation marked his words - it was a direct pitch.

Marissa lifted her own glass, her smile graceful but confident.

"It's a pleasure, Mr. Curtis," she said. "I'm Marissa Briggs. I studied under the Phantom Healer. If there's any way I can lend my expertise, just let me know."

Their introductions faded into silence, as Kellan made no move to raise his glass in return.

Instead, something unspoken settled over the group, and Jayden felt his shoulders tense beneath the weight of it.

A beat passed before Kellan's gaze finally slid over to them.

"I wasn't aware that the Phantom Healer ever took on an apprentice," Kellan replied, his tone cool and unreadable.

Relief flooded through Jayden, and he rushed to clarify.

"You see, Mr. Curtis, since you've only just come back to Frahmont, it might be news to you," Jayden explained. "Marissa owns rare books written by the Phantom Healer. They're solid proof of their mentoring relationship."

Without missing a beat, Marissa tapped on her phone, pulling up several images for proof.

"I can show you some pictures now if you'd like."

Kellan finally gave the screen a passing glance.

Marissa kept her tone light, adding, "If you'd prefer, I can bring the entire collection to you in person another day."

Marissa's self-assurance was unshakable; she truly believed her expertise would sway Kellan without question.

Her phone flashed with images - inside those frames, the so-called legacy book appeared, stamped with the unmistakable mark of the Phantom Healer.

Not far away, Cathy's brows knitted in concern as she observed the spectacle.

Years ago, she'd thrown that manuscript together in a rush, never bothering to polish it. Losing it felt inconsequential at the time.

Now, someone was waving it around like a priceless treasure.

While she mulled over this twisted turn of fate, Kellan leaned back and crossed his legs in a display of easy confidence.

"Is that right?" Kellan remarked, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "Funny thing - I ran into the Phantom Healer myself during my days in Mapleley."

An uneasy feeling crept up on Cathy. She lifted her eyes and locked onto Kellan's.

He stayed relaxed, almost too casual, and said in a calm, lazy tone, "How about I just ask her myself?"

Kellan's words swept through the room like a spark on dry grass, instantly catching everyone's attention.

"Did you hear that? That's the Phantom Healer he's talking about! She's famous - people say she can work miracles in the operating room, and nobody's saved more lives than her."

Whispers rippled through the room, voices rising with curiosity. "Nobody really knows what the Phantom Healer looks like. Some say she's a silver-haired woman, old enough to be a grandmother."

"Do you think Marissa is really her apprentice? I wonder if it's true," another questioned, suspicion coloring their words.

The hum of speculation drained the color from Marissa's face, leaving her rooted in place and tense.

If the Phantom Healer really showed up, the truth would unravel in an instant.

Jayden, oblivious to her panic, nodded with confidence.

"If you're acquainted with the Phantom Healer, Mr. Curtis, that's fantastic news. I've always heard she's fond of wandering the world. This could be the perfect chance for her and Marissa to reconnect."

Considering her reputation for eccentricity and disappearing acts, Jayden saw no harm in the suggestion.

Marissa stood frozen, fighting to hide her fear.

Trying to sound casual, she managed to say, "Actually, Mr. Curtis, my mentor values her privacy. Maybe now isn't the best time..."

Before she could invent another excuse, Kellan lifted his hand with deliberate calm.

"Don't bother - she's already here."

The crowd instantly parted, following his gesture and clearing a path.

All eyes landed on Cathy, stunned as it became clear she was the one Kellan meant.