Chapter 202


    The projects Alicia lived in were located in a remote area that was surrounded by old and cheap


    housing.


    It was a two-story building that looked simr to an attic.


    Alicia''s home, located on the first floor, only had a hall and a single bedroom. The kitchen, located


    within the living room, caused the entire ce to appear dark and messy.


    With no lights on, Jonathan felt that the inside was colder than the outside the moment he entered. In


    fact, he even detected a musty smell in the air.


    Alicia then led him to the bedroom where he was caught by surprise—Alicia''s sister was fair-skinned.


    She looked around twenty-five and was gorgeous.


    Nheless, it was clear that her condition was dire.


    Lying in bed with her eyes shut, she was covered byyers of thick nkets. She subsequently opened


    her eyes upon hearing Alicia gently calling out to her.


    Only then did Jonathan notice that her eyes were striking blue.


    Alicia''s sister tried to sit up, but it was clearly aborious task for her.


    Alicia, despite her best efforts, wasn''t strong enough to help.


    Jonathan quickly remarked, “That''s okay. You don''t have to sit up.”


    Nevertheless, when Alicia''s sister insisted, Jonathan proceeded to help her up.


    Looking at him, she murmured weakly, “Mister, thank you for your generosity toward Alicia.”


    Jonathan replied with a smile, “It''s no big deal. Besides, Alicia is really adorable.”


    The sister continued, “I''m Lucille. May I know how to address you?”


    “I''m Jonathan. Jonathan Lawson.”


    “Thank you for taking the trouble toe all the way here.”


    Smiling faintly, Jonathan replied, “It''s no trouble at all.” After a brief pause, he continued, “Ms. Lucille,


    your condition seems to be serious. Why don''t I send you to the hospital?”


    After coughing slightly, Lucille waved her hand and mustered all her strength to reply, “It''s fine, Mr.


    Lawson. I appreciate the kind thought. However, I''ve no illusions about my condition. It''s a disease that


    runs in the family, where none of us can live past thirty.”


    Jonathan was surprised to hear that it was a hereditary disease.


    Lucille continued, “We are part of the Dougal family and our elders have always said that our blood


    contains the bloodline of vampires. As humans, we''re incapable of bearing the weight of the bloodline,


    hence none of us ever lived past thirty.” She paused and broke into a faint smile before continuing,


    “Having said that, it doesn''t matter anymore for I am thest of our family. Once I''m gone, my family''s


    line will end with me.”


    Jonathan couldn''t help but ask, “What about Alicia?”


    “I adopted her. She''s not a member of the Dougals.”


    Upon a sudden realization, Jonathan remarked, “I understand what you want now. You''re hoping that I


    can take Alicia in once you''re gone, is that right?”


    Lucille nodded. “Considering how young she is, I can''t bear to leave her alone.”


    A wry smile descended on Jonathan''s face. “I''m afraid I won''t be able to keep Alicia by my side, as I


    don''t even have a permanent ce of my own. However, I can ce her with a friend of mine.”


    Lucille''s eyes lit up in delight, but she quickly grew concerned. “Is your friend reliable?”


    “I wouldn''t do so otherwise.”


    “In that case, thank you.”


    “Don''t mention it. Considering how much you care for Alicia''s future despite being on your deathbed,


    this is the least I can do to help.”


    “Mr. Lawson, I don''t know how I can ever repay your kindness.”


    “Just focus on taking care of yourself. Stop overthinking for the time being.”


    Nevertheless, the trembling Lucille pulled something that looked like an ancient ck pendant out of


    her nket. “Mr. Lawson, this is a family heirloom of the Dougal family—the Lunar Pendant. Since it''s a


    treasure that has been handed down for generations, there might be something special about it that I''m


    just not aware of. Hence, please take this as a token of my gratitude.”


    Jonathan didn''t look at it, for he couldn''t ept the Lunar Pendant regardless of precious it was.


    Instead, he replied, “Ms. Lucille, you should give it to Alicia. At the very least, she would have


    something to remember you by. Anyway, don''t worry about her. I''ll definitely make the appropriate


    arrangements to ensure she has afortable life.”


    However, Lucille shook her head repeatedly. “No, no, no!” She protested in a breathless voice.


    “Previously, there were many powerful warriors who tried to seize it from us. The Lunar Pendant is


    precisely the reason why our family has fallen into such dire circumstances. I can tell that you''re


    someone with high levels of cultivation. Thus, it might be of use to you. No matter what, the pendant


    shouldn''t be in Alicia''s hands. If you really feel that it is a burden, you can choose to dispose of it.”


    Jolted slightly by her words, Jonathan extended his hand to ept the Lunar Pendant.


    An ted glint subsequently shed across Lucille''s eyes.


    The moment the Lunar Pendant touched his hand, Jonathan felt an icy sensation channel rapidly


    through his body before rushing to fill his brain.


    The refreshing feeling brought a sense of peace into his mind.


    What a treasure this is!


    Although Jonathan had no idea what it could be used for, he was certain he was holding onto


    something special. “All right then, I''ll ept it,” he finally agreed.


    Lucille let out a long sigh before shing a sudden smile, one that was beautiful yet deste at the


    same time.


    She remarked, “I can rest in peace now.”


    No sooner had she spoken than her head drooped to the side after she breathed herst.


    She was still at the peak of her youth, but her life had alreadye to an end.


    In that instant, the stunned Jonathan suddenly realized how fragile life was.


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    Alicia, in tears over Lucille''s death, held thetter''s hand and called out to her repeatedly.


    That very night, Jonathan sent Lucille''s corpse to one of Lostaria''s funeral homes.


    When Catherine called him upon returning, he told her that he was busy and they needn''t be worried.


    Catherine, who had faith in Jonathan, didn''t feel the need to inquire any further as she ended the call.


    Meanwhile, it wasn''t a smooth process to get Lucille''s body cremated. After all, Jonathan was a


    Chanaean, whereas Lucille was still a youngdy.


    At five in the morning, a group of police officers arrived to question him as part of their investigations.


    Their intentions outraged Jonathan. Where were you when she was alive? Instead of providing any


    help back then, you nowe here pretending to be on the side of justice?


    The police ignored Jonathan''s indignance, for they just couldn''t tolerate a Chanaean ring his temper


    at them.


    In the end, he had to reveal his identity as a member of Divine Realm.


    To his surprise, the revtion served its purpose well, as the officers'' attitude improved significantly.


    Given that nothing was suspicious about the case, especially after verifying Lucille''s disease as


    hereditary, the police officer even expressed his gratitude to Jonathan for thetter''s kind act.


    It was then that Jonathan informed the officer regarding his promise to Lucille about caring for Alicia.


    After all, he had hoped to bring Alicia back to Chanaea with him.


    The officer''s original intention was to send Alicia to the orphanage. Nevertheless, upon hearing that


    Jonathan was willing to take her in, hemented, “Mr. Lawson, raising a child is a huge undertaking.


    I hope that you have given it due consideration.”


    Jonathan answered, “I understand. I''ll carry out my responsibility to the best of my abilities.”


    “Since this is Ms. Lucille''sst wish, I''ll help you get the paperwork done. However, the formalities of


    settling Alicia down in Chanaea might be a littleplicated.”


    “I''ll take care of it.”


    Initially, Jonathan could have given Alicia some money and sent her to a reputable orphanage.


    Nheless, epting the Lunar Pendant from Lucille made him feel guilty to choose that option.


    The next afternoon, Lucille was finally buried.


    That same evening, Jonathan took Alicia back to the hotel.


    The little girl regarded Catherine warily when they first met.


    Jonathan introduced them. “Alicia, this is Ms. Catherine.”


    Alicia greeted her in Ustranasian, “Ms. Catherine.”


    Catherine gave Alicia an emotionless nce before looking at Jonathan curiously.


    Thetter instructed Alicia, “Stay here for a moment, as Catherine and I need to speak in private.”


    After Alicia nodded, Jonathan went to the next room with Catherine in tow.


    After hearing Jonathan rte everything, she asked, “What are you—”


    “I hope that you can take her back home and raise her. She can also keep Grandpapany there.


    Once she''s older, I''ll send her back here to Lostaria for her studies. So, what do you think?”


    “I''m okay with it!”


    “Thank you.”


    “You''re wee.” Her expression was just as cold as before. However, she wasn''t being unfriendly on


    purpose. That was just her inherent nature.


    After that, Jonathan had to exin Catherine''s character to Alicia. Even though he failed to reassure


    Alicia, that was the best he could do.


    That night, Alicia slept on the couch. He didn''t let her sleep with him and Catherine, for they essentially


    barely knew each other still.


    Conversely, he didn''t send her to sleep in a different room, as doing so would be too cruel for someone


    who had just lost her sister. In the end, the couch seemed to be the bestpromise.


    Naturally, the couch within the presidential suite was luxurious. Hence, it was by no means a


    mistreatment of Alicia in any way.


    The next morning, Jonathan brought Alicia along for breakfast. After getting her to acknowledge Simon


    and the others as her godfathers, he got Elijah to take her shopping for clothes.


    This was his way of showing his concern for her. Given that those men weren''t ordinary folk,


    acknowledging them as her godfathers would do her a lot of good.


    After breakfast, Jonathan sent Alicia back to the room before he unveiled the Lunar Pendant in front of


    everyone.


    “Alicia''s sister gave this to me. Simon, why don''t you examine it?” Although he recognized how


    precious the Lunar Pendant was as a treasure, Jonathan would never hide anything from his friends.


    After receiving the pendant and holding it in his hand, Simon''s expression turned grim. A short while


    later, he handed it to Lesley who was sitting next to him.


    “What''s wrong, Simon?” Jonathan asked.


    Simon replied, “I can''t really tell what the pendant can do, but it''s undeniably a rare treasure. After the


    good deed that you have done, obtaining this pendant is well-deserved. Since fate has brought it to


    you, you had better take good care of it. Perhaps it will be useful one day.”


    Lesley, too, found the Lunar Pendant to be strangely mysterious. Nodding in agreement, he passed it


    on to Elijah, who naturally couldn''t provide more color on the object.


    In the end, he returned it to Jonathan who hung it around his neck.


    As for what their n was going forward, they had yet toe to a decision. Since they weren''t in a


    hurry, they continued to stay where they were.


    Subsequently, when Jonathan ordered Elijah to take Alicia shopping for clothes, Lesley expressed his


    interest in joining them.


    He said, “Don''t forget that I''m Alicia''s godfather too!”