Chapter 1 The Unexpected Intruder

Winter had arrived at Woodspine Heights, and the cold night wind cut like a blade against one's cheeks. On a narrow path, a young girl wearing a thin, beige linen robe walked into a dilapidated inn on the city's outskirts while carrying a square suitcase. After a day and night of traveling, Wendy Clark finally returned from 600 miles away in the countryside. Despite the winding journey, her fair little face still radiated delicate and pure beauty. Originally, she should've arrived home in the afternoon. However, because her family organized a birthday party to celebrate her stepsister's twentieth birthday at home, her father arranged for her to stay in this remote inn temporarily, fearing that she would embarrass their entire family. Twenty years ago, her mother passed away due to excessive bleeding during childbirth, and from the moment she was born, she was abandoned and sent to live with her grandmother in the countryside. If it weren't for the Clarks' hard-earned connection with the Willoughbys and their plan to arrange her marriage with the scion of the Willoughby Family, it was unlikely her father would even remember he still had a daughter who was thousands of miles away. Word is that the Willoughby Family's scion is terminally ill and doesn't have many years left to live. At that, Wendy smirked cynically. Well, aren't they just turning me into a widow by marrying me off at a time like this… The inn had seen better days; even the door creaked when it was pushed open. The moment Wendy switched the lights on, a plump rat leisurely scurried past her. The young girl remained calm and composed, setting down her luggage before going to freshen up. Once she tidied herself, she took a medical book out of her suitcase and began reading while sitting on the bed. Lost in her reading, she suddenly heard a rustling sound from outside the door, but she paid little attention to it, assuming it was the same chubby rat from earlier. Lo and behold, the already unreliable door slammed open with a bang the next second, and a tall, slender man in a black trench coat staggered in, clutching his chest. Wendy immediately threw on her clothes and got off the bed, concealing a silver needle in her right palm as she cautiously approached the man lying unconscious at the entrance. A pool of fresh blood had already formed beneath him. Wendy assumed he was no good man. Well, anyone would think so when a heavily injured stranger barged in unexpectedly into one's space in the dead of night, but at the thought of her grandmother's words about the compassion of a healer, she ultimately decided to save the man after a moment's hesitation. It was a little tough, but she eventually managed to drag him onto the bed. Using the silver needle to stop the bleeding and swiftly bandaging the wounds, this kind of injury posed no challenge to her. Within half an hour, the man's breathing became stable. Wendy breathed a sigh of relief at that, and her gaze fell on the man's face. Even in his unconscious state, his pale complexion still failed to conceal his exquisitely beautiful features. In a daze, the man's eyelashes trembled slightly, and a faint herbal fragrance wafted into his nose, making his tightly furrowed brows finally relax. The last thing he remembered before losing consciousness was a glimpse of a girl with braided hair, her features indistinct. … The next day, as the morning light filled the empty and desolate inn, Patrick Willoughby opened his eyes. Apart from the worn-out furnishings, there was no one in sight. He glanced toward the wound on his chest. It had indeed been bandaged, and from the way it was dressed, it was evident the young woman from the night before was competent. There was still a faint medicinal scent emanating from the gauze covering his chest. Turns out last night wasn't a dream. A lady had indeed saved me. However, when he looked around, the girl was nowhere to be found. Patrick got out of bed, and as he did so, his attention was drawn to an acupuncture doll at his feet. Did she leave this behind? While he was lost in thought, the dilapidated door pushed open, and a man dressed in black approached Patrick worriedly. "Apologies for my late arrival, Mr. Willoughby! The people who attacked you last night have all been apprehended!" However, it was as though Patrick didn't hear him at all. His attention was still on the acupuncture doll in his hand. When he sniffed it, he could smell the faint identical herbal smell. The lady from last night must've left this behind. "Find out the name of the woman who stayed in this room last night." Patrick's gaze grew deep and determined. "Do it now." "Yes, sir!" Ray obliged and immediately went to the front desk, asking the innkeeper for the surveillance footage. Oddly enough, all the surveillance footage from last night until this morning had been completely erased. Furthermore, inns like these weren't legitimate and did not require any official IDs for check-in, so not a single clue could be found. Patrick furrowed his brows slightly upon learning of the result, and a hint of disappointment flashed across his eyes. He couldn't understand why, but the stranger from last night reminded him of a certain little girl from his past. I have to find her no matter what! Wendy left the inn bright and early, and at this point, she had walked several miles with her suitcase until she finally caught up with the bus heading into the city. After taking her seat, she double-checked that the surveillance had been completely erased before putting her tablet away with an eased mind. She had made a decision when she set out from the inn. The man from last night is evidently no average Joe when he could be hunted down in such wilderness. Grandma also often reminded me when she was still alive that I should never be too conspicuous and must be cautious at all times. Hence, I should stay far away from people like him. She didn't want any trouble either when she had something pressing awaiting her in Woodspine Heights. Moreover, there was a major event awaiting her at the Clark Residence.