Even Zhao Pingsheng couldn’t help but gasp in shock after hearing this.

It was so strange, so terrifying, that it was no wonder John had said the Xibolo family was cursed.

Butler Wilson sighed. “When the master was alive, we’ve sought help everywhere to break the curse. We even invited MI6 to investigate, to see if someone was secretly targeting our family. The family servants have been interrogated many times, and detectives were hired to look into every family member’s death. But no matter how much effort we put in, the outcome was always the same.”

John stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Knowing all this, do you still dare to take on this case?”

Wang Laoshi felt a wave of unease.

Though he didn’t believe in curses, the Xibolo family’s situation was just too bizarre—completely defying logic.

Lowering his voice, he said to Gu Xicao, “Boss, while this job might pay well, it’s too dangerous. Maybe we should forget about it.”

Eliza, having overheard Wang Laoshi’s words, bit her lip and looked at Gu Xicao with a mix of reluctance and determination. But instead of pleading, she simply said, “If you’re really afraid, I can understand.”

Gu Xicao tapped her fingers lightly on the table, thought for a moment, and then picked up a family portrait from the table. “This photo—is it the family portrait of your grandfather and his children?”

The black-and-white photo showed what appeared to be a castle in England as the background. An elderly man with white hair sat on a chair, surrounded by his children.

The old man wore a large ring on his thumb.

The ring had a silvery sheen and an odd design that seemed quite mismatched for an English duke.

“Yes, it is. Why?” Eliza asked in confusion.

Gu Xicao replied, “If I’m not mistaken, that ring was obtained from India, correct?”

Eliza froze for a moment, her expression pensive. Butler Wilson stepped in to answer, “Miss Gu, you’re correct. Duke William traveled to India in his early years and worked there for a time. He brought back many antiques and treasures, the most notable of which was this ring. It’s said to be a divine ring from a local Indian tribe, one that would bless its wearer’s descendants with eternal wealth and prosperity.”

Eliza’s mind raced. Her face turned pale as she stammered, “Could it be… that the curse is tied to this ring?”

Wang Laoshi slapped his thigh. “Ah, I get it! Your grandfather must have done something bad in India, and the Indians cursed your family with this ring to bring you all misfortune!”

Gu Xicao rubbed her forehead and gave Wang Laoshi an exasperated glance. He really had a way with words.

Surprisingly, Eliza didn’t get angry. Instead, she admitted honestly, “I can’t deny that my grandfather went to India to make his fortune. Back then, that was the goal of every Englishman who went there. But my grandfather was kind by nature. Even if he was greedy, he wouldn’t have done anything excessively immoral. In fact, he donated to several Indian schools and maintained fairly good relationships with the locals. No one had any reason to take revenge on him like this!”

“If it’s not that, then what is it?” Wang Laoshi muttered, genuinely starting to believe that Eliza’s grandfather might have brought this upon himself.

India was a strange place, after all. Who could say there weren’t supernatural forces at play?

Gu Xicao leaned back against the sofa chair. “If you stop fixating on curses or enemies and consider other possibilities, this matter might have been resolved a long time ago.”

Zhao Pingsheng immediately sensed there was more to her words. “Miss Gu, are you saying this was done by someone intentionally?”

“Exactly,” Gu Xicao replied. “And the motive was to kill off every member of Eliza’s family, so they could inherit the Xibolo family’s fortune.”

She continued, “Mr. Zhao, Miss Eliza, both of you are seasoned players in the arena of fame and fortune. I don’t think I need to spell it out for you.”

Both Zhao Pingsheng and Eliza instinctively turned their gazes toward John.

John laughed bitterly, folding his arms and gesturing toward Gu Xicao with a dramatic sweep of his hand. “You can’t seriously believe this crazy woman, can you? Sure, if Eliza were to die, I’d inherit the entire Xibolo estate. But think about it—when this whole mess started, I wasn’t even born! How could I have orchestrated this? Besides, so many people have died over the years, and MI6 along with countless detectives have investigated thoroughly. If I’d done anything, would I really have been able to keep it hidden from all of them?”

Eliza and Butler Wilson exchanged thoughtful glances.

Even Wang Laoshi had to admit that while John was detestable, his argument wasn’t without merit.

Gu Xicao said calmly, “You might not have done it personally, but I never said you did. If your grandfather began setting this up decades ago, wouldn’t you be the one benefiting now?”

A flicker of panic crossed John’s eyes.

Still, he forced himself to maintain composure, sneering as he retorted, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. My grandfather and Duke William were close friends. Eliza’s mother was my grandfather’s daughter—my aunt. How could my family possibly harm the Xibolo family?”

“That ring,” Gu Xicao said, pointing at the photo. “If someone tampered with the ring, it would be enough to destroy an entire family.”

Zhao Pingsheng hesitated. “You’re saying… the ring is poisoned?”

Even as he voiced it, the idea sounded absurd. What kind of poison could persist for decades? Wait…

“It’s radiation,” Gu Xicao revealed matter-of-factly, lifting the veil on the mystery. “The ring is made of radioactive material. You’re all aware of the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings in Japan. Many residents who survived the nuclear explosions later suffered from cancer, leukemia, and other illnesses caused by radiation. Countless people died prematurely. If even those with limited exposure suffered so much, imagine wearing radioactive material as a ring every day. Not only would it harm the wearer, but everyone around them would be affected too.”

Radiation?!

While people of that era didn’t fully understand the dangers of radiation, they knew enough to fear it.

Eliza’s mind buzzed. “If that’s the case, it explains why my father was the last to be affected. When my grandfather was alive, my father loved traveling and was often away from home. So, he survived the longest, right?”

Gu Xicao nodded slightly. “That ring is the true culprit. It’s a good thing you didn’t bring it with you to Hong Kong this time. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken this case.”

Eliza turned pale, her breathing unsteady.

Butler Wilson hurried to her side to pat her back, but Eliza waved him off. “Uncle Wilson, call the experts immediately. Have them take the ring for testing, and send everyone in the castle for medical examinations.”

“Understood!” Wilson, realizing the gravity of the situation, exchanged a glance with Zhao Pingsheng before hurrying off.

“Eliza, are you feeling okay?” Zhao Pingsheng approached her, placing a hand on the drawer beside her as he expressed concern.

Eliza glanced at his hand, took a deep breath, and nodded faintly. “I’m fine.”

She had experienced the departure of too many family members. Her heart had long grown strong. She turned to look at Gu Xicao and asked, “Miss Gu, even if the ring is made of radioactive material, what does it have to do with John? Besides, my mother is John’s aunt!”

“Miss Eliza, do you think ordinary Indians could easily obtain radioactive materials?”

Gu Xicao crossed her hands. “Only someone extraordinary could acquire something like this. Other than John’s grandfather, no one else had the capability or any vested interest in doing this. If not them, then who else could it be? As for your mother… let me be blunt. Among wealthy families like yours, it’s not uncommon for people to kill siblings, even parents, for inheritance. A mere daughter is utterly insignificant compared to billions of pounds of family wealth.”

“Fuck! You’re slandering me!”

John, enraged, pointed a finger at Gu Xicao and walked toward her step by step. “You better take back what you said.”

Gu Xicao leaned back slightly. “And if I don’t, what then?”

“Then don’t blame me. This is all your fault!”

John swiftly pulled a gun from his suit pocket. His movements were so fast that before Wang Laoshi could react, the barrel was already aimed at Gu Xicao.

“Don’t move!”

Eliza, even quicker than John, suddenly held a gun in her trembling hand. Her body shook, but her gaze was filled with rage and hatred. “So it really was your family that did this?!”

John was shocked and furious. Since when had Eliza gotten her hands on a gun?

Eliza pulled the trigger back slightly and screamed at John, “Was it Grandfather?! Did he do it?!”

“Eliza, there’s a reason for all this! I didn’t know anything before…”

Faced with the gun, John grew timid. His hands holding his gun slowly lowered. Seeing this, Gu Xicao grabbed the chair she had been sitting on and swung it at John’s wrist.

The gun immediately fell to the floor. In pain, John reacted quickly and lunged for the gun. But Wang Laoshi dove headfirst, landing on top of the gun and snatching it up, turning it back on John.

Caught between a wolf in front and a tiger behind, John froze completely.

An hour later, a call came in from London. The ring had indeed been tested and found to contain extremely high levels of thorium-232. Even brief contact with the material could cause discomfort, and long-term exposure would lead to irreparable harm to the body.

“So it really was them?” Eliza, pale-faced, collapsed into a chair after hearing the message Wilson relayed. “Why? Why did it have to come to this?”

“Miss Eliza, my condolences.” Gu Xicao handed her a handkerchief.

Eliza looked up at her. Even in her pale fragility, she exuded a beauty of resilience, like a flower blooming alone on the edge of a cliff.

Eliza accepted the handkerchief, dabbed at her tears, and took a few deep breaths to compose herself. “Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I probably would’ve died not knowing the truth.”

“You’re too kind, Miss Eliza. It’s getting late. I think we should be on our way now,” Gu Xicao said as she checked her watch. By this time, Lin Yuan’s school would be letting out.

“Please wait a moment,” Eliza said.

She retrieved an envelope from Butler Wilson and handed it to Gu Xicao.

Curious, Wang Laoshi asked, “What’s this?”

“This is a small token of my gratitude,” Eliza replied. “Miss Gu mentioned that Mr. Zhao has already paid you, and you wouldn’t accept any more money. So, I’m giving this villa to you instead. Don’t worry, we’ve never lived in it.”

Gu Xicao suddenly felt as though the envelope in her hand weighed a thousand pounds. “This is far too valuable. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to accept.”

“Please take it, Miss Gu,” Zhao Pingsheng said. “Eliza isn’t the type to like owing favors. Accepting the villa will put her at ease.”

“Yes, please accept it,” Eliza added sincerely. “Compared to the help you’ve given our family, this villa is nothing. And after I settle some matters back home, I plan to return to Hong Kong to live. When that time comes, I may have to trouble you again.”

Since they had put it this way, Gu Xicao felt it would be impolite to refuse further.