Ghost Exorciser: The Oust Fake Heiress Strikes-Chapter 211: Gambling
At that moment, Lana froze, along with everyone else. The air inside the temple seemed to thicken, heavy with incense and disbelief.
No one could quite process the revelation that Kevin was a monk’s son. The shock rippled through the crowd like a sudden chill, numbing limbs and tightening throats.
Kevin himself was trembling. Just moments ago, pain had clawed through every nerve in his body, sharp and suffocating, but now it receded as though an invisible hand had wiped it away.
’It’s gone...?’ The relief startled him. Without hesitation, he sprang to his feet and staggered back, creating distance as instinct screamed at him to flee. His eyes burned with fury as he glared at Lana.
"What are you doing?!"
Lana did not even spare him a glance. Instead, she turned calmly toward Monk Anaro, her brows knitting together as confusion flickered across her face. "Is he really your son?"
The question hung in the air. Monk Anaro remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line. That silence rang louder than any answer.
In that instant, Lana sensed it... a ploy. The faint shift in the atmosphere, the wrongness crawling up her spine.
Without hesitation, she lifted her hand. At the tip of her finger, a faint yellow glow bloomed once more, soft yet terrifying, humming with restrained power.
Kevin’s breath hitched. Fear slammed into him so violently that his knees nearly buckled. He stumbled backward, shouting,
"What are you doing?! My father is Monk Anaro! If you dare hurt me, he won’t stay silent!"
His voice echoed, desperate and shrill.
Monk Anaro watched him, this son who stood puffed up like a self-proclaimed king, and something twisted painfully in his chest. His heart ached, heavy and exhausted.
’If only you truly weren’t my son...’ The truth was cruel. This boy was never his flesh and blood.
"Enough..." Monk Anaro’s voice came out weak, almost brittle. "Lana, stop."
The glow vanished instantly. Lana turned toward Monk Anaro, worry flashing across her face. "What’s going on?"
Monk Anaro looked past her, his gaze sweeping over the restless crowd pressing in at the doorway. In a calm, measured tone, he spoke, "All of you should leave first."
Lana nodded. She moved without hesitation and walked to the door. The crowd tried to surge forward, curiosity burning in their eyes, but Lana raised her index finger.
The faint yellow glow reappeared, no brighter than before, yet it was enough. Every single person stepped back.
They had seen it. They had seen Kevin, arrogant and loud, nearly beg for mercy. None of them wished to learn what it felt like to stand against Lana. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
The door closed with a dull thud, sealing the silence inside.
Lana turned back, her expression grim. "Now, can you tell me what’s going on?"
Monk Anaro looked at Kevin and spoke coldly, "Kneel."
In an instant, Kevin dropped to his knees. There was no hesitation. No defiance. If this had been earlier, when he and Monk Anaro were alone, he would have argued, even refused.
But Lana’s presence was different. Terrifying. He did not want to stand on the wrong side of her.
Monk Anaro turned to Lana and let out a weary sigh. "I shouldn’t have involved you in this matter."
Lana waved her hand dismissively and sat down on a nearby chair, the wood cold beneath her palm. "Just tell me what’s going on."
Monk Anaro sighed again, deeper this time, as if releasing years of burden. "Kevin is my adopted son."
Lana nodded. From what she knew, Monk Anaro had never married or had children of his own. The conclusion was obvious.
"He has a gambling addiction," Monk Anaro continued, his voice steady but heavy. "He’s been gambling for a long time. Those thugs you saw... they came because of his debts. They ruined the temple because of him."
Kevin opened his mouth, ready to argue, but Monk Anaro shot him a sharp look. The words died in his throat.
Lana was no fool. She understood immediately and chose not to press further. Instead, she looked at Monk Anaro. "Is there anything I can help with?"
Monk Anaro forced a smile. "There’s no need. You’ve already heard more than enough. You should leave now."
Lana paused. Her gaze shifted from Monk Anaro to Kevin, still kneeling, shoulders trembling. Then she spoke calmly, "Throw him out."
Monk Anaro agreed without hesitation. He looked at Kevin. "Leave."
Kevin felt as though he had been pardoned from execution. He scrambled to his feet and fled, not daring to look back. He did not want to remain in Lana’s presence for even a second longer.
The fear still lingered in his bones. When that yellow energy had circulated through his body, it felt as if his soul itself was being peeled apart, tortured inch by inch.
For a moment, he had truly believed his soul would be crushed into nothingness.
Once he was gone, Lana took out a stack of talismans and handed them to Monk Anaro.
The moment Monk Anaro saw them, he frowned and did not reach out. "There’s no need for these."
Lana placed them gently on the bed anyway. Her gaze was serious, unwavering.
"I won’t say you saved me completely or that you were always perfect to me. But one thing is certain: you were sincere. You helped me when I was at my lowest. I won’t forget that. This is what I owe."
She stood up, her presence firm and resolute. "If the gambling amount is too much, I’ll pay it on your behalf. This isn’t a request. I’m informing you."
With that, she turned and walked away without waiting for his reply. Monk Anaro knew it was useless to stop her. This girl, cheerful on the surface, was stubborn to the core.
Midway through her steps, Lana paused. "You should have more pity on yourself," she said calmly. "Don’t keep raising such an ungrateful brat."
Monk Anaro remained silent for a moment before replying quietly, "Some situations... I can’t avoid them."
Lana smiled faintly. "If you can’t do it, then I’ll do it for you."
She did not wait for his response. She walked out, her footsteps steady and unhesitating.
’Parents always have kind hearts,’ she thought. ’But some children don’t deserve to be children.’
