CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER 7: DEMON-QUELLING RHAPSODY

"Casper! North!"

--

The intense murderous aura instantly filled the entire room.

Casper North’s body stiffened, and he turned around with a cheeky, ingratiating smile.

A short man dashed into the room, pushing a suitcase towards Raina North.

"Mommy, here you go. Till we meet again in the human world, long live the green hills and flowing waters."

Raina North: "..."

One week later, at the Hawthorne Family in Southgate

The scorching sun baked the earth.

Raina North looked at the luxurious mansion that occupied half a mountain, her temples throbbing.

Just a while ago, she had duped the Hawthorne Family out of goods worth four billion, and now both the Hawthorne Family and The Dark Tower were chasing her across the globe. She never thought she’d be walking into the lion’s den voluntarily in the end.

And today, she was visiting the Hawthorne Family as Elias Hawthorne’s fiancée.

Thinking about how she came to have this identity, Raina North’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Is it Miss North?"

Raina North nodded, looking at the chubby middle-aged woman before her, "And you are...?"

The middle-aged woman had a kindly and cheery face and immediately smiled brightly, "Miss North can just call me Aunt Rivers. The old madam heard about your visit today and specially asked me to wait at the door."

Raina North had just stepped into the living room with Aunt Rivers when she bumped into a young man.

Aunt Rivers respectfully greeted the newcomer, "Second Young Master."

Second Young Master?

Jasper Hawthorne, the second young master of the Hawthorne Family?

In the information about the brat, he was known as Southgate’s notorious playboy. Compared to his low-profile brother, he fit the image of a wealthy second-generation more accurately.

Jasper Hawthorne had obviously just woken up, and as Raina North scrutinized him, Jasper also noticed her presence.

"Aunt Rivers, is this your relative from the countryside?"

"Second Young Master, this is Miss North," Aunt Rivers replied.

Jasper stopped mid-yawn, "She’s the woman my brother wants to marry? Why so tacky!"

Tacky?

Raina North looked down at her outfit for the day. Well, it was indeed a bit shabby.

After all, she came to meet The Hell King Hawthorne and had to "dress carefully" for the occasion.

In the blink of an eye, Jasper had already moved closer to her.

"Long black hair, thick bangs, big black frames... Tsk tsk, who still buttons their shirt up to the neck these days?" Jasper scrutinized her repeatedly with increasing disdain. It was simply an assault on his eyes, "My brother isn’t blind, how did he take a liking to such an ugly woman?"

Raina North squinted her eyes, ugly and tacky, Jasper Hawthorne had quite a sharp tongue.

Raina had the urge to teach him some manners, but considering her purpose today, she had to suppress her anger.

Just then, a maid hurriedly approached.

"Why are you rushing so urgently?"

"It’s the young master. The young master threw a tantrum upon hearing that the new Young Madam was visiting today. Not only did he chase away the new piano teacher, but he also demanded to go out and find his mom. No one can stop him. I’m just about to fetch the old madam," the maid said anxiously.

Jasper immediately went pale when he heard this: "What?! Baby has gone berserk! If Baby goes berserk, why are you fetching grandma? Get my brother!"

The maid wore a troubled expression: "The First Young Master isn’t home..."

"Oh no, oh no, no one can control this little ancestor now..." Jasper looked utterly dismayed.

A group of people rushed off quickly, leaving Raina North alone in the living room.

Raina North looked around the empty surroundings, rubbed her nose, and thought about calling them back but decided against it.

Judging by what the young maid said, it seemed like this was her fault?

But the young master...

Is he the glittering little prince of the Hawthorne Family?

They say his birth mother is unknown, and he suddenly appeared at the Hawthorne Family five years ago.

Due to an accident Elias Hawthorne had years ago, which left his legs paralyzed and unable to father children, this child, though with an unknown birth mother, was possibly Elias Hawthorne’s only son, earning him great affection at the Hawthorne Family.

Now it seems it’s not just affection, he’s practically worshipped, no wonder Claire North forced her to marry in her stead.

And used that incident to threaten her!

Raina thought for a moment and decided to follow along and take a look.

Everyone in the Hawthorne Family was busy pacifying the little tyrant, and Raina smoothly made her way to the second floor.

From a distance, she could see the mess in the room and a group of maids and bodyguards surrounding a small figure.

Raina’s gaze rested on the lonely, stubborn small figure.

It was him!

The little boy she had saved abroad.

Raina was surprised, but not entirely so.

She also realized why she woke up on The Hell King Hawthorne’s turf.

Raina was brought back to her senses by the little boy’s piercing scream.

"Ah!!! Liar, liar, daddy is a liar, and you all are liars..."

Baby Hawthorne’s face was flushed red with anger, smashing and throwing things around the room, tears welled up in his reddened eyes, stubbornly refusing to fall.

Liars, they were all liars.

Daddy had promised that within a week he’d bring mommy back.

Yet now he was marrying a stepmother behind his back.

Liars!

All of them were liars.

He was like a little warrior, stubbornly fighting against the world, not giving anyone a chance to come near.

The more frantic he was, the more it showed his inner panic and fear.

Raina seemed to hear the deep internal wail of pain and her heart inexplicably clenched.

If her child was still around, he would be about this age, perhaps also searching for mommy...

"Second Young Master, what should we do? The doctor said the young master must maintain calm emotions, big mood swings could lead to an incident."

Jasper also anxiously scratched his head: "You ask me, who am I supposed to ask?"

"The First Young Master isn’t home, the young master is in such a state no one can calm him down."

"Oh heavens, anyone please calm this little ancestor down soon..."

...

Just when everyone was panicking and at a loss, a delightful piano sound rang out.

"Who the hell is playing the piano at a time like this, I..." Jasper was about to curse out loud but was stopped.

"Second Young Master, look quickly."

Jasper instantly looked in the direction the bodyguard pointed, and saw that the little one, who was about to break down in the eye of the storm, suddenly quieted down.

The adorable figure stood frozen in place, eyes sparkling bright, clapping his hands and feet along with the rhythm.

Jasper was so surprised he could fit an egg in his mouth: "Is the little ancestor... listening to music?"

And he seemed quite happy about it.

Everyone couldn’t help but listen closely.

The notes were like the first rains of spring, dropping softly on parched hearts, bringing everything back to life, filled with vibrant hope and endless blue skies.

All inner restlessness, anxiety disappeared without a trace.

One’s heart felt as if it had been cleansed, incredibly refreshed.

"That’s... Master Rise’s ’Daylight and Hope’!" someone exclaimed in the crowd.

"I’ve heard it’s a lullaby created by international piano master Rise for her two children, filled with her maternal gentleness. The young master loves listening to this piece the most."

"This isn’t a lullaby, it’s clearly a soothing melody," Jasper commented, recalling Master Rise, which made his teeth ache a bit.