Chapter 2 Benefactor?

Lorna didn't give a damn about Clara leaving.

She got up, slung her small bag over her shoulder, and headed to the still-open rotisserie, grabbing two roast chickens.

The street was almost empty now, with just a few bars open in the distance.

Lorna found a quiet corner and pulled out the shiny wooden plaque Ivan had polished.

Ignoring Ivan, who was eyeing the roast chicken like it was gold, she lit a high-quality incense stick and offered a prayer.

Ivan sniffed the incense, still fixated on the chicken.

Lorna, with a helpless smile, unwrapped the packaging. "Go ahead, dig in."

Ivan took a big whiff, looking satisfied, and started munching while muttering, "Dear Lorna, we need to get to the Allard Mansion. It's late, how long are you planning to stall?"

"Ivan, is there really no way to break off the engagement? Do I really have to get married?" Lorna asked, desperate for a way out. "I'd even trade my luck for it!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Ivan, startled, floated over and gave Lorna a knock from a distance.

"You were never meant for wealth, and your good luck is there to protect you. Besides, no amount of good luck can beat fate!"

Lorna glared at Ivan. "So why did you make the fate contract back then?"

Ivan, feeling guilty, avoided her gaze. "I had a damaged soul back then. I only saw his money and got sidetracked, not realizing he was a walking disaster."

"Ivan, oh Ivan..." Lorna was about to complain when he interrupted her. "Wait, Clara is coming. I'll go back first."

Ivan dove into the wooden plaque, and Lorna stuffed it into her bag. After all, seeing a wooden plaque at night would bring bad luck to ordinary people.

"You're still here!" Just as she finished packing, a loud voice came from behind Lorna.

Clara approached, frowning at Lorna. "Where's the protective talisman? How do you resolve my death calamity? Are you sure one talisman can solve it?"

She had felt uneasy while driving home and decided to turn back one more time.

"Here you go; six thousand dollars, no bargaining." Lorna smiled at her major client and handed over her bank account number.

"Six thousand dollars! You're really doubling the price? You're robbing me!" Clara was furious.

"Then forget it, goodbye." Lorna calmly put the bank account number back into her bag.

Clara's eyes widened. She took deep breaths repeatedly, reminding herself not to fall for this scam and not to be a sucker!

Ten minutes later, Clara placed the triangular protective talisman in the inner pocket near her heart and drove home with peace of mind.

She wanted to see if anything would happen to her and how this six-thousand-dollar talisman would work.

She drove cautiously, watching out for other vehicles. Until she got home, Clara was safe and sound.

"Turns out I was scammed!" Clara threw a fit in her room.

Just as she was about to call a friend to confront Lorna, her phone rang in her pocket. On the other end, someone said, "Clara! I just saw Marshall at the Moonlit Club! Come quickly!"

Clara's eyes lit up at the mention of Marshall Banks. She hurriedly touched up her lipstick and dashed down the stairs, driving off in a rush.

Near the bar district, Lorna, with Ivan, was leisurely walking toward the Allard Mansion as indicated by the star chart.

"Lorna, I can smell your fiancé. He's here!" Ivan looked excitedly toward the bar district.

"Ivan!" Lorna called out and glanced helplessly at the wooden plaque bouncing in her bag.

"Lorna, the husband I picked for you is very handsome, but he seems to be in danger now. Are you sure you don't want to save him?" Ivan chattered excitedly in the bag.

Lorna stopped and rolled her eyes. "He's been fine for years, and now that I'm here, he's suddenly in danger? So fragile?"

Ivan was used to Lorna's acid-tongued remarks and mumbled timidly, "But there's still the fate contract!"

"Ugh, so annoying!" Lorna lifted her leg and reluctantly walked toward the bar.

Money aside, if he died, it would jeopardize her own life, Lorna thought.

In the bar's private room, Bernard was twirling a glass of wine between his fingers, leaning lazily on the sofa. His eyebrows were sharp, his facial features clean and crisp, with a high nose bridge, and when he lowered his eyes, his thick and long eyelashes were revealed. The mole at the corner of his eye added a touch of allure.

At this moment, he was swirling the wine glass, frowning slightly, lost in thought. The few people in the private room were all close friends of Bernard.

"Bernard, I heard you're getting hitched? And to a girl you've never even met?" Oliver Warrenn grinned, stirring the pot.

Bernard raised an eyebrow and took a frustrated sip of his drink. "I have no idea what my grandfather's thinking. No way I'm agreeing to this!"

Alton Bridges laughed heartily. "Bernard, you should at least check her out. She might be your type!"

Simon Banks, fiddling with a dice, chimed in, "Yeah, Bernard, she might just be your type."

Jake Sherman teased, "Besides, your grandpa's stubborn as a mule. Think he'll let you off the hook?"

Bernard ignored them and kept drinking.

Just as they were ribbing Bernard, the door to the private room burst open, and in walked a young witch with a bun.

It was Lorna, who had just tracked down Bernard.

The room fell silent, and the open door let in the colorful lights from the hall outside, casting a dim glow.

Lorna scanned the room and quickly zeroed in on Bernard, who was sizing her up from the left.

Bernard squinted, his usually neat hair now slightly disheveled. Stray strands fell over his forehead, partially obscuring his gaze.

Dressed in a black shirt with a few dark gold buttons, combined with his casual sitting posture, his aura was fully unleashed.

No doubt, this was the future husband Ivan had been so excited about.

"Are you Bernard Allard?" Lorna walked toward him impatiently.

It was late, and Lorna was getting sleepy and a bit irritable.

Bernard looked up, his noble demeanor exuding an air of authority.

He looked at the raggedly dressed Lorna with interest and smirked, "What's the matter?"

"Go home! You need to be home before midnight tonight," Lorna said. She had found her target, and it was already past ten o'clock.

Bernard stared at Lorna, displeased. "Who are you? Why should I listen to you?"

The people around were stunned!

That was Bernard, known for his ruthless methods. Even their grandfathers wouldn't dare talk to him like that!

And this little con artist was ordering Bernard around?

Indeed, with her robe and an old star chart in her hand, she looked like a bona fide charlatan to them!

Lorna frowned at him and spoke coldly, "You don't have to go home, but if you want me to save you once, it'll cost you $150,000!"

Bernard suddenly laughed and said, "Alright, let's see if you get the chance to earn that money."

The atmosphere in the room became awkward. Jake couldn't stand it and interjected, "Little con artist, you haven't even said who you are."

Lorna looked at the few of them. Although their fortunes weren't as strong as Bernard's, they clearly had accumulated some luck.

Especially the silent one next to them.

Lorna took out a business card and handed it to Simon, who was playing with his phone.

"Hmm?" Simon responded.

"Let me introduce myself. I specialize in divination, fortune-telling, and exorcism. In short, I'm good at everything. Here's my card. I think you might need it!" Lorna smiled brightly at her potential client.

Simon looked at her with amusement. "What do you mean I might need it?"

"I see that you have a good face, honest and upright, but there's an ominous aura around your brows. Judging by its intensity, you might face disaster within three days!" Lorna's eyes sparkled as she examined Simon's face.

Before Simon could respond, the others burst into laughter.

Alton put down his wine glass and looked at Lorna with a sneer. "Your business sounds quite interesting."

Lorna wasn't annoyed and handed out a few more business cards. "Take these. Contact me if you need anything." The card had nothing but a simple string of numbers.

Bernard, watching the spectacle, chimed in, "So, according to you, how should he resolve it?"

"Sir, why don't you draw a tarot card?" Lorna took out a deck of tarot cards from her bag, which had a spatial charm attached, and placed it in front of Simon.

Simon laughed playfully and casually drew a tarot card.

Lorna picked it up and showed a hint of interest.

"The Wheel of Fortune. Sir, you're in luck. Drawing this card means you'll meet a benefactor within three days who can save your life!" said Lorna.

Simon laughed and leaned on Alton, saying, "So you're saying you're my benefactor? Haha, can't you come up with a better scam?"

Lorna squinted and replied, "That's exactly what I mean. Thirty thousand dollars for a fate reading. The divination and face reading are on the house."

Simon laughed heartily. It was the first time he had encountered something so amusing.