As the three of them left the class, Amalia, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, clenched her fists in fury.
"How could this be? Why wasn't I chosen for the competition?" she hissed under her breath. Her nails dug deep into her palms until tiny drops of blood appeared. The hatred in her eyes could burn through walls.
In the cafeteria, Aria, Sophia, and Mercy sat in a quiet corner, eating their meals peacefully.
"Have you seen Henry?" Aria asked softly, her tone calm yet curious.
Sophia, who was busy chewing her rice, shook her head. After swallowing, she asked, "Why are you looking for him?"
"I just wonder if he knows he's been selected for the competition," Aria said, her voice gentle.
"You can send him a message," Sophia suggested casually.
Mercy, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up. "I saw him go into the principal's office earlier."
Aria and Sophia exchanged glances, understanding immediately. They both nodded and continued eating.
Aria glanced at Mercy and tilted her head slightly. "Mercy… why do you always wear those big glasses?" she asked, pointing at the thick, old-fashioned frames on her face.
"I—I just want to wear them," Mercy stammered nervously.
Aria's eyes softened. She could sense something wasn't right. "You can tell us, Mercy. We're friends now, and friends don't keep secrets," she said with a reassuring smile.
Sophia nodded quickly. "Yes, you can trust us."
Mercy's lips trembled. For a moment, she hesitated—then, with shaking hands, she removed her glasses.
Both Aria and Sophia gasped in shock. There were bruises all over her face—some old, some fresh—but despite the marks, her features were striking. Her big, watery eyes still glowed like hidden gems beneath the pain.
Mercy quickly put her glasses back on, tears threatening to fall. "Ava and I… we're cousins," she whispered.
Her words left Aria and Sophia speechless.
"My parents and I lived in the countryside," Mercy continued in a trembling voice. "After they died, my uncle—Ava's father—asked me to live with them. I didn't have a choice. My uncle treated me kindly; he said I looked just like my mother, his sister. But Ava… she hated me for it."
Mercy's voice cracked. "One day, she called her friends. They beat me up. Ava used a sharp blade and… disfigured my face. I wanted to tell my uncle, but she threatened to make my life a living hell. So I wear these glasses—to hide everything."
Tears rolled down her cheeks like broken pearls.
Sophia clenched her fists and cursed under her breath. "Let's teach that witch a lesson! She's cruel!"
Aria shook her head calmly. "No."
She opened her bag and brought out two small bottles. Sophia looked at her, confused, while Mercy blinked in surprise.
Aria placed the bottles on the table. "This pink one contains a pill. The other has oil," she explained gently.
Sophia frowned. "And what are they for?"
"The pill is called Healing Pill. It repairs any internal wound," Aria said softly. "And this oil—it's a Scar Removal Oil. Use them together. Your scars will fade, inside and out."
Mercy froze, her mouth opening slightly.
Meanwhile, in a large, dimly lit office, Eric entered, bowing slightly. "Boss, the E Organization will be completely wiped out by tomorrow. The news will be broadcast in the afternoon."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, the smoke from his cigarette curling lazily in the air. "Hmm," he hummed in acknowledgment.
Eric hesitated, then added, "I couldn't find much about Miss Aria. Only that she grew up with her grandmother. Her grandmother was once a well-known traditional Chinese doctor, but after her daughter's death, she abandoned medicine."
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "Traditional Chinese doctor…" He chuckled darkly. "So, I wasn't mistaken after all."
Eric's spine stiffened. "Boss, do you… suspect that Miss Aria is the mysterious healer?"
Adrian's lips curved into a dangerous smile. "I don't suspect—I know."
Eric swallowed hard. "Then perhaps you should ask her directly. She might even tell you why she wanted to destroy the organization."
Adrian shook his head slowly. "No. She'll tell me when she's ready. She hides her identity too well—even you couldn't find out."
Eric lowered his gaze respectfully.
"Destroy the organization before the end of today," Adrian ordered coldly. "They dared to harm my woman."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly. Eric felt a shiver run down his spine. "Yes, Boss," he said, quickly leaving.
Back in the cafeteria, Sophia and Mercy stared at Aria in awe. Aria blinked innocently, not understanding why they looked so emotional.
Suddenly, Mercy burst into tears. "Tha…nk yo…u, Aria," she whispered through trembling lips.
Aria was stunned but quickly pulled out a tissue, gently wiping her tears. "It's okay," she whispered softly. "You're safe now."
Mercy cried harder, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
As they walked back to class, Sophia kept pestering her with questions. "Aria! Where did you even get those pills and oil? I heard Healing Pills cost a fortune! Tell me!"
Aria sighed tiredly and walked faster.
Sophia rushed in beside her, still talking, when Henry walked into the class. His expression was dark and unreadable. He sat down quietly, closing his eyes as if lost in thought.
Aria glanced at him briefly. "You don't want to join the competition?" she asked calmly.
Henry opened his eyes and met her gaze. Slowly, he nodded, the dark look on his face softening into something gentle—almost childlike.
Sophia was stunned. She leaned toward Mercy and whispered, "Did you see that? In front of Aria, he's like a little kid!"
Mercy nodded, trying not to laugh. The two giggled quietly.
Aria looked at them, shaking her head helplessly, then turned back to Henry. "Why not?"
Henry exhaled softly. "I just don't want to," he replied.
Aria tilted her head. "Do you even know who your teammates are?" she asked teasingly. "It's you, me, Sophia, and Mercy. You don't want to be on our team?"
Her tone made it clear that if he refused, she'd find someone else.
Henry hadn't known who was on his team. He had rushed to the principal's office earlier after hearing the news.
But now that he knew Aria was part of the group, a faint smile spread across his face. "I'll go to the competition—with you," he said, his voice low and warm, his smile making him even more handsome.