Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Robert and Yvonne looked at each other, confused by Chris’s strange accent.
“My butler means that I dreamed of a god, though that might just be his own interpretation,” the old man smiled again. “I know Clusian culture well and understand that people here like to call such mysterious beings ‘elves.”
“I dreamed of a magic-wielding elf,” he explained, “who told me that my sins were heavy and I was deeply cursed. I need to do one good deed every day. Only after doing a thousand good deeds can I find the girl I love.”
Chris nodded excitedly. “That’s right. Today, Mr. Arden is about to do his thousandth good deed.”
Nina stared at the sky, silently wishing she could shut him up.
Robert and Yvonne exchanged a glance and shook their heads. “We don’t need any help. Thank you for your kindness.”
They started to leave with Nina.
The old man immediately looked at Chris, who nodded in response.
The old man then cleared his throat and said, “Wait. Aren’t you looking for a house?”
Robert and Yvonne stopped in their tracks and turned back again, surprised.
“I told you, the elf has magic and tells me every day who needs help,” the old man said. “I was actually waiting here for you today. If you don’t believe me, I can even tell you this girl’s name.”
He put his hands behind his back and confidently asked, “Your name is Nina Edwards, right?”
Robert and Yvonne instinctively moved to shield Nina behind them.
“Don’t be afraid. I mean no harm. I just sincerely want you to help me finish this last good deed,” the old man pleaded. “If you don’t help me, I will die.”
Robert and Yvonne exchanged another look, their expressions full of mixed feelings.
Behind them, Nina gave Chris a hand signal, urging him to hurry up and stop wasting time. It was so hot, and she didn’t want her parents to get heatstroke.
Chris smiled faintly, then leaned in to whisper something into the old man’s ear.
The old man seemed to think for a moment, then gave a solemn nod. “Alright. Put the house under the girl’s name.”
“Got it,” said one of the notary officers, immediately pulling out a blank deed and stamping it on the spot with a portable printer.
“This isn’t right!” Robert and Yvonne were starting to suspect this was some new kind of scam, and they quickly stepped forward to stop it.
But just then, the old man’s eyes suddenly widened. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining the white robe red. Chris shouted dramatically, “Mr. Arden! What’s happening?”
The old man looked weakly and hopefully at Robert, Yvonne, and Nina. With a trembling voice, he said, “Please… help me…
“Dad, Mom, this man looks so pitiful. Can we help him?” Nina stepped out from behind her parents, her face full of
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Chapter 12
sympathy.
But Robert and Yvonne just sighed. “Nina, you’re still young. You don’t see how complicated the world is. Things that sound too good to be true usually aren’t real.”
Right then, the old man spat out another mouthful of blood. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground.
Robert and Yvonne panicked. “Call a doctor, quick!”
“Mr. Arden, please hang in there!” Chris cried, catching the old man. He turned to the notaries. “Hurry! If you don’t finish, he’s going to die!”
The notary didn’t waste a second and slammed the stamp down onto the deed.
“Give it to me!” Chris grabbed the deed, pulled out a set of keys from his pocket, and shoved everything into Robert and Yvonne’s hands. “Here. It’s all yours.”
And at that moment, the old man opened his eyes.
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