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04-65 Unuchers

Her pupils dted then contracted sharply as her heart hammered against her ribs. ‘I couldn’t have heard that right. Could I? Olivia is the Phantom Healer? The legendary Phantom Healer?‘

The pieces clicked into ce with staggering force. ‘No wonder she was able to save me. The realization struck her like a lightning bolt. ‘I should have realized it sooner. Who else in the entire world possesses medical skills that profound except the Phantom Healer?‘

Nina edged closer to Olivia, her voice hushed with awe. “Olivia, is it true? You’re really the Phantom Healer?”

“Yes,” Olivia admitted freely, without pretense. “Though ‘Phantom Healer‘ is just a title others use. I prefer ‘Phantom Chief.”

She then gestured toward Grace inside the kitchen. “But the true heart of the Phantom Healer is in there. With that, she walked inside to help, leaving a stunned Nina behind.

Nina stood alone in the courtyard, her mind reeling. ‘Just how many extraordinary people am I living under the same roof with?‘

Arge bowl of steaming chicken and ravioli was ced on the table. Olivia ate a small portion, feeling the warmth spread through her. Sean promptly devoured everyst spoonful remaining in the pot.

Grace watched them eat with relish, a profoundly kind and contented smile on her face. ‘This is what I’ve held on for all these years,‘ she thought. ‘Seeing them like this, well–fed and content, is my greatest joy.’

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Grace said, entering the room and bringing out a sheet of paper filled with Olivia’s information. “The SAT prep course is arranged. You can start tomorrow.

“But this SAT prep course is a bit unusual–they’re administering a mock exam on the very first day to assess everyone’s level,” Grace continued.

“Don’t be nervous. Just do your best. We’re notpeting with anyone; we’ll bridge whatever gaps you have. There are still several months before the SAT, so there’s plenty of time to prepare.”

She had called in a favor with Troy to secure this spot. It was an elite SAT boot camp run by the Hirica Central High School, designed for students who had already aced the test but were aiming for perfect scores.

Make no mistake, every student in that program was a top–tier overachiever. It was essentially a ruthless feeder program for Kingtonelle University.

The instructors were all Kingtonelle professors, and the practice tests were literally those used by the university’s admissions board. Grace’s biggest worry was that Olivia would be in way over her head.

Olivia’s formal education had stopped after middle school. The gap between her and those academic sharks was astronomical. Grace feared she would be eaten alive.

“If it’s too much, dear, juste home. Don’t force yourself. There will always be a roof over your head and food on the table for you here,” Grace said, smoothing Olivia’s hair.

“I’m going,” Olivia said with a softugh. “How can I let you take care of us forever? Especially Sean–that

bottomless pit.

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Sean shot her a mock–offended look and promptly scraped his bowl clean, as if to prove her point.

“I don’t make much, but it’s enough to get by,” Grace said with a smile. “But you can’t stay in Hirica forever. You need to see the world that lies beyond this town.”

“So, Grace, Nina asked, curious, “if you could go anywhere, where would it bei?/i” fnfe1f ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find1Novel/fnfe1f

Olivia, too, was curious about Grace’s deepest wish.

“Kingtonelle, Grace said, her gaze growing distant and dreamy. “The capital. I’ve neverid eyes on it, not once in my entire life.”

To every Clusian, Kingtonelle was more than just the capital; it was the promise of arger life. For Grace, it represented that promise fulfilled–the hope that the children could have the future she herself had only dreamed of.

“Alright then, Kingtonelle it is,” Olivia said, her eyes drifting shut for a moment as if visualizing it. “I’m bored out of my mind in Hirica anyway. It might be fun to shake things up a bit.”

Sean bounced to his feet, his eyes wide with excitement.

“I will take you there,” Olivia said, rolling her eyes at his antics but unable to suppress a smile. “So easily excited.” Then she turned to Nina. “What about you? Are you in?”

bAD /b