Free Web NovelChapter 278: Chapter 278: The Heart’s Capacity for Fear
Zion Prescott glanced with some emotion at the face of Cecilia Vaughn; he could clearly see that her sincerity towards Mimi was not a façade.
The girl’s neck and arms, every visible patch of skin, bore evident scratches; it was clear that Cecilia had gotten quite injured herself while climbing up the mountain in the rain last night to search for Mimi.
My brother has truly loved the right person.
After all, kindness, no matter who it’s towards, is an invaluable quality,
...
Just as Zion Prescott was about to speak, he noticed the Red Jade Bracelet on Cecilia’s left hand, and a hint of seriousness surfaced on his otherwise handsome, gentle face.
"Sister-in-law, could I borrow that bracelet for a moment..."
"Sure, Doctor Prescott, do you also know about jade materials?"
Cecilia readily agreed, though Zion’s expression was too peculiar, making Cecilia a bit curious, yet she quickly took off the bracelet and handed it to him.
Zion Prescott held the bracelet in his palm and gently sniffed it close to his nose.
This scent—
It was indeed as he had anticipated.
His fingers lightly exerted pressure on the bracelet, and the eyes beneath his gold-rimmed glasses became more complex in an instant.
...
Seeing his friend with this kind of expression, Adrian Law immediately had a suspicion in mind. His phoenix eyes deepened, and his thin lips pressed into a line.
"Zion, if you have something to say, just say it. Is there something wrong with this bracelet?"
Almost the next second, an image flashed in Adrian Law’s mind of Rosalind White accidentally dropping a bracelet at the welcome banquet. She had coyly told Stacy Summers to have it repaired. Was that when the woman started plotting?
Adrian Law flicked his eyelids and tapped his fingers on the table, the knuckles gradually turning a pale cyan.
Zion Prescott saw Adrian Law’s intimidating gaze and felt a jump in his heart, fearing someone might be in trouble. He turned to Cecilia, drawing a faint bitter smile on his face.
"Sister-in-law, how long have you been wearing this bracelet? The Golden Star Snow Wave pattern on it seems newly added. Although the craftsmanship is marvelous, there are still slight discrepancies at the metal and jade junction."
Cecilia furrowed her delicate brows.
"Doctor Prescott, I’ve only been wearing it for two days. Are you saying there’s something wrong with it?"
"It’s good you haven’t worn it long-term."
Hearing that Cecilia had only worn it for a short time, Zion Prescott immediately felt relieved, yet his gaze quickly shifted to a more serious tone.
"Sister-in-law, you shouldn’t wear this bracelet anymore, alright?"
Being looked at by Zion with such intensity, Cecilia, no matter how careless, could sense that the bracelet wasn’t as simple as she thought. freewebnoveℓ.com
"Doctor Prescott, is it because the bracelet has a fragrance that you say this?"
She had smelled it at first too, but the scent was neither orchid nor musk, very faint and elegant. After wearing it for two days, it seemed less noticeable.
Cecilia recalled that another bracelet carved with a phoenix above the skies, given by Rosalind White, also had it, so she hadn’t thought much of it, assuming it was to mask the metallic scent from the carving.
...
Zion Prescott nodded slightly. He gently tapped the Jade Red Bracelet on the table, his expression growing more grave.
"Indeed, this bracelet contains the scents of sweetgrass and oleander. You might have heard of oleander; as for sweetgrass, you might not be familiar with its less common name, Peilan, also called Zero-ling fragrance."
"These two herbs, in traditional Chinese medicine, were initially used to invigorate blood flow, strengthen the heart and calm the mind. But they must be used in moderation, as long-term inhalation can lead to nausea, vomiting, and damage to the stomach and internal organs. More seriously, it can cause a woman to be unable to conceive; if already pregnant, it may cause miscarriage, or even the mother’s shock and death."
Cecilia staggered back two steps, staring at the beautifully exquisite Red Jade Bracelet in Zion’s hand, unable to believe that something so beautiful could cause irreversible harm, even endanger lives.
"How... how could this be..."
Cecilia’s bright starry eyes flashed with pain; she staggered and nearly couldn’t stand steadily, until Adrian Law moved first to gather her into his arms. frёewebnoѵēl.com
The human heart can indeed be terrifying to this extent.
...
"Cecilia, are you alright?"
The man quickly embraced Cecilia, his large hand grasping her hand, his phoenix eyes filled with unconcealed worry.
Cecilia’s pupils slightly dilated, leaning weakly against Adrian Law, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.
"Adrian, I really didn’t think there would be a problem with the bracelet... because when Rosalind White let me choose one, the one she had also had the exact same fragrance."
"Short-term, limited use is harmless, even beneficial for calming the mind; only prolonged exposure harms the spleen."
"By the way, sister-in-law, you said it was Rosalind White who gave it to you?"
Upon hearing this, Zion Prescott’s eyelid twitched, and he curled his lips with amused interest.
"Brother, so this bracelet was from your little childhood friend for sister-in-law, huh? Wow, this is something."
Never one to shy away from a spectacle, Zion Prescott knew how significant the "Daughter of Destiny" prophecy regarding Rosalind White was for the Law Family.
There would definitely be a good show to watch!
...
Watching Zion still find time to stir feelings between him and Cecilia, Adrian Law’s voice came out cold and firm.
"She is not my childhood friend; don’t randomly connect us. Rosalind White is merely regarded as a lifesaver by the Law Family, they choose to keep her, which has nothing to do with me."
If others choose to think that way, so be it...
He gazed steadily at Cecilia, his phoenix eyes unwavering and resolute; no matter what, he never wanted his young wife to misunderstand him.
"..."
Shaking his head in speechless wonder, Zion Prescott remarked, "Hey, didn’t she save your life once? How can you act so detached every time Miss White is mentioned?"
That’s something Zion always found puzzling. Unfortunately, Adrian Law never spoke about the fire incident, and despite being a good brother, Zion never asked about the painful loss of Adrian’s mother.
Zion Prescott had met Rosalind White several times before, his impression was of a gentle and composed lady.
But now, seeing Cecilia’s bracelet revealed her malicious nature, Zion couldn’t help but admire Adrian’s ability to perceive people’s true character.
...
"If it were just soaked in fragrance, there’d be no need to re-carve the design. Zion and I will examine the bracelet’s components again; I fear this matter is far from simple."
Adrian Law’s brows and eyes carried a hint of rage; he exchanged a look with Zion Prescott, then solemnly steadied his hands on Cecilia’s shoulders.
"Cecilia, wait for us for a bit."
"Alright."
Watching Adrian Law and Zion Prescott leave, Cecilia’s lips closed tight, feeling despondent.
She glanced at the sunny sky outside, but her heart was cloaked in darkness.
What would the final evaluation reveal?
