THE ORPHAN GIRL IS THE MARTIAL ARTS QUEEN의 모든 챕터: 챕터 31 - 챕터 40

Elaine’s hand froze on the doorknob with the phone still pressed to her ear. Ray’s words still replaying in her mind; her mother was dead. She stood there several seconds with the completed antidote clutched in her other hand. She was hoping with all her heart that Ray would say it was a prank and that she was fine. She grabbed her keys and drove as fast as she could to the old house. Mrs Barnes’ smile and happy face was all she was seeing .The Barnes estate was quiet, the usual warmth of the house replaced by a heavy, suffocating silence. Ray, Juliana, and Mr. Barnes sat gathered in the hall. They looked sad and Juliana had dried tears on her cheeks. Mr. Harrison stood near the window. He booked the next available flight when he heard the news to support his bosom friend. Ray rose the moment he saw her, pulling her into a tight hug. Elaine struggled free and with the vial still gripped tight in her fist, she looked at him with teary eyes. “I have it,” she said, voice had changed

Eight months had passed since the burial, and a full year since Kael had vanished without a single word. Elaine had settled back into her normal life, running her shop, checking in on her father. But underneath all of it, she was still worried.She'd caught Felix red handed the night of the funeral, had all but confirmed with her own eyes exactly who'd been responsible for her mother's death, and yet an entire year had passed without a single move from him. Neither Felix nor Juliana had made any obvious attempt against her since the warehouse. That silence made her uneasy. It felt like the calm before the storm.Mr. Barnes had returned to work barely a month after burying his wife, ignoring every objection his children raised. He insisted the company needed him and he needed the distraction more than he needed rest. His vulnerability in the months since had made him an easy target, and Felix had being playing the devoted, supportive younger brother, visiting often, offering help with

Elaine made her way to the orphanage that weekend, the familiar iron gates coming into view. She found Sister Ann already waiting near the entrance with a wide smile stretched across her face."Elaine!" Sister Ann waved eagerly, closing the distance between them and pulling her into a tight hug. "It's been a long, long time, dear. How have you been?""But Sister Ann, we spoke on the phone just last week." Elaine laughed, looping her arm through Sister Ann's as they started walking together. The enthusiasm of Sister Ann was never exaggerated to her. She'd spent more of her income on this place over the years than she'd ever spent on herself, funding a new building, better facilities. Nobody beyond Sister Ann and Mother Superior knew the identity of their mysterious benefactor, her."Well, that was last week." Sister Ann squeezed her arm affectionately. "I've missed you regardless. And you're looking more gorgeous than ever these days. Don't tell me there's someone in the picture now."

Elaine woke that morning with a persistent unease. Something big was coming. She could feel it but she just couldn't explain the feeling.The plan with Ray was already in motion. That morning, at Barnes Enterprises, Ray sat across from Felix in his office, pen in hand, signing a contract Felix had brought in himself. He had carefully altered it overnight to funnel a portion of Felix's remaining assets through a structure Ray and Elaine controlled entirely. Felix was so pleased with himself and he was so certain he'd finally maneuvered his nephew into getting such a big benefit.Everything looked ordinary on the surface.Ray and Elaine had decided together it was time their father finally saw Felix for exactly who he was. Since Mr. Barnes wouldn't believe his younger brother would do something so cruel, they had to make Felix confess with his own mouth in front of Mr. Barnes.That evening, Juliana made one final, reckless attempt of her own. She waited outside Elaine's shop until closi

Mr. Barnes wept bitterly, his shoulders shaking with grief. Felix still kept denying every word until the maid, hands trembling, pulled out her phone and played a recording she’d secretly made weeks ago; a recording of Felix’s own voice giving her explicit instructions on how much of the compound to slip into Mrs. Barnes’s tea each afternoon. She’d known, deep down, that a day like this might come, and she’d made certain she wouldn’t be the only one left to carry the blame when the time came.Felix’s face went through several transformations in rapid succession. He finally laughed out loud, cleaning the tears from his cheeks. Every last trace of the devoted, doting uncle vanished entirely and it was replaced by his true self.“Yes, I did it.” He let out a hysterical laugh, spreading his arms wide as though presenting himself for judgment. He no longer looked like someone who feared. “So what? You’ve had it all since we were children, Richard. Everything. And what did I get?”He turned