Ghost Exorciser: The Oust Fake Heiress Strikes-Chapter 178: Cold Lana

Lana could only sit down once; the moment she settled into the chair, Lucian remained silent, almost too silent.

His lack of mention about the silver cat loosened the tension in her shoulders. Perhaps he wasn’t going to corner her today. Perhaps she could breathe.

She finished her breakfast slowly, savoring the warmth of the porridge spreading through her stomach, calming her nerves. Only after she swallowed her last sip of milk did Lucian finally speak.

His voice was smooth, unhurried, but carried a weight that made the air feel heavier.

"There are certain people who are trying to stir up trouble in this world."

Lana froze, the spoon still in her hand. ’Trouble? Who? What now?’

She looked at him with raised brows. "What do you mean?"

Lucian leaned back slightly, his gaze steady. "Your previous family is trying to locate your biological family here."

The words hit her like a splash of cold water.

Her eyes narrowed. For a moment she stared at the table, then let out a soft, humorless chuckle.

"They truly know how to trouble me," she murmured. "I haven’t even thought about retaliating, yet they’re already restless."

She still hasn’t forgotten the stunt they had pulled off at the bank.

Lucian watched her quietly, then asked in a calm tone:

"Do you need my help?"

Lana lifted her gaze to his. The morning light streamed through the tall windows, outlining Lucian’s figure with a golden halo.

He looked composed, patient, and dangerous in the quietest way.

She shook her head gracefully, her elegance sliding back into place like a well-practiced mask. A mischievous glint sparked in her eyes.

"Sometimes," she said, "revenge is best executed by the one who suffered the most rather than by someone else’s hand."

In her previous life, it was Lucian who had helped her, but in this life... she was capable enough to take revenge on the Almond family!

She just needed time to grow.

Lucian paused. For a second, she saw something unreadable flicker in his eyes: approval? respect? concern? But then he simply nodded.

"If that is what you want, then I’ll honor it."

Lana drummed her fingers against the table gently before asking, "Did they contact my biological family already?"

Lucian shook his head. "I intercepted it."

Lana blinked, her gaze softening for a second. She truly looked at him then, no masks, no walls.

Her voice dropped to a gentler tone. "Then I am... grateful. One day, I’ll thank you properly and repay this favor."

Truly... other people’s white moonlight gives them a cold shoulder while hers opens an umbrella if rain is going to pour.

Lucian didn’t comment. Instead, he asked carefully, "Do you want your biological family to find you?"

Lana returned the coolness of his gaze. "No. Not now."

Her previous life had already told her how troublesome they were!

"For now, I want to avoid every trap or attack the Almond family has tried to orchestrate."

Lucian nodded quietly.

Lana exhaled softly, then looked at him with a small smile. "Thank you."

He waved his hand casually. "It’s not a big matter."

But her next words made his eyes sharpen.

"I know there have been... assassination attempts, and you have taken care of it."

The room grew quiet.

Lucian’s gaze narrowed. "How did you know?"

Lana only smiled faintly, the smile of someone who had walked through fire before learning to breathe.

’If I were foolish enough to believe the Almonds would simply let me go, I would have never survived my previous life. If I were truly naïve, I wouldn’t have begged them to let me stay in their house in my last life.’

She spoke calmly.

"If I died under their roof, everyone would know they killed me. Even if murder is common in this world, there’s still a difference between being the murderer and being the suspect."

Her voice was steady, but her hands tightened slightly under the table.

"They wouldn’t kill me in Monk Anrao’s temple. Doing so would offend a monk connected with celestial masters. They’re not stupid enough for that."

She continued, her tone colder.

"But once I left the temple, I knew they would try. The only reason I encountered nothing... is because you took care of it."

Lucian stared at her, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. ’How much did this girl go through to learn to think like this?’

After a moment, he answered truthfully.

"There was only one attempt. Ordered directly by the head of the Almond family."

Lana let out a soft scoff.

"That old fogey never liked me. I was never his daughter. Now that he knows the truth, he wants to settle every grudge he ever had with me."

Lucian hesitated, then asked, "How did you live in the Almond family before?"

Lana’s expression stiffened. She laughed softly.

"Why are you asking? Your investigation must have shown everything."

Lucian shook his head slowly.

"Not everything. Spying on a wealthy family is difficult. Their walls are thick. Their secrets thicker. Even with my people inside, your childhood was unclear."

He leaned closer slightly. "If you’re comfortable... is there anything you wish to share?"

Lana stared at him, eyes sharp. "Why are you curious about my past?"

Lucian did not look away.

"Because when I saw you suffering... truly suffering, during your breakthrough... I wondered what kind of life forces someone to clench their fists and endure pain silently, without a scream, without a break."

Lana looked down briefly, then inhaled slowly.

"There wasn’t anything good worth mentioning."

Memories flickered in her mind, cold and colorless.

"When I was young, I wanted my parents’ attention. They were always away. My brothers didn’t care about me at all."

She shrugged slightly.

"So I worked. I became someone they needed. Someone they relied on. Eventually, they accepted me... not because they loved me, but because I made myself indispensable."

Her smile turned razor-sharp.

"I managed to survive in the Almond family. Even stole Brenda’s opportunities right from under her nose. Just like she says... I am a villain."

Lucian’s eyes softened, but his voice dropped in seriousness.

"You are not a villain. What villain goes through abuse and remains silent even when others call her a villain?"