**Devo Manor.**
"That's impossible! I don't believe it!"
The plump woman had just consumed the so-called "magic potion," and it was beginning to take effect. Her body weakened, and she could no longer stand steadily. She collapsed onto the floor, screaming in terror.
"Heh, you believe it now."
Caroline chuckled and repeated the very words the plump woman had once spoken arrogantly when she was triumphant:
"When you transferred all your assets to me and drank the 'magic potion' yourself, no matter what you say, deep down, you believed it. That's why the ritual has already begun to take effect."
"No! I don't believe it!"
The plump woman, as if transforming into Caroline herself, kept screaming in denial.
"Jasfi, what are you doing?! Are you really going to abandon our hundreds of years of marriage for this little slut?!"
In her mind, everything that was happening could only mean one thing—Luke had been seduced by Caroline, that little vixen. He had fallen for her and betrayed their relationship.
"You still don't understand, do you? There is no Jasfi."
Luke stepped beside the plump woman, looking down at her with a smirk.
"And you are not Cecily. That was just a legendary tale from long ago. You took it too seriously… you got so caught up in superstition that you lost your mind."
Jasfi and Cecily were the names of a pair of Black sorcerers who were once burned to death by the former owner of this manor.
When the Devo couple purchased the manor, they found some old documents in the attic ruins, among which were sorcery notes left behind by the Black sorcerers.
As devout believers, the Devos had always been fascinated by mystical elements. And as they grew older, their desire for immortality intensified.
When they realized that God was not responding to them and that their bodies continued to wither, they turned their focus to the sorcery of the Black sorcerer couple.
After meticulous study, they discovered that this sorcery was actually a powerful soul-transference ritual—one that could allow a person to be reborn in a new body.
Overjoyed, they devoted themselves entirely to deciphering it. However, as time went on, they became more and more obsessed, to the point where they truly believed that they *were* the reincarnations of the Black sorcerers.
As for the ones who had been burned at the stake? They were convinced that those were merely the original owner's children, whose souls had been swapped and taken over.
Their belief shaped their behavior. The more they believed, the more they began acting like the Black sorcerer couple.
They even developed a deep sense of kinship with Black culture and history.
Determined to restart the soul-transference ritual, they began isolating themselves from the outside world.
They dismissed all their servants, making sure no outsiders could interfere with their plans.
Their first target was their real estate attorney, Luke Coleman.
They performed the ritual on him with complete confidence.
But what they didn't know was that Luke had never actually been possessed.
Clever as he was, he had already discovered their secret and decided to play along.
Using his knowledge of the Devos and his quick thinking, Luke successfully deceived Mrs. Devo, though he did have to pay a price—he had to charm and seduce her.
But with millions in assets on the line…
It was worth it.
As for Mr. Devo? The poor man had suffered a stroke and was completely paralyzed after drinking a potion the couple had concocted based on the Black sorcerers' formula. He could not speak, nor could he move.
Yet Mrs. Devo, fooled by Luke, continued to feed her husband the potion, ensuring that he remained paralyzed while slowly deteriorating.
She was waiting for him to "die of illness" so she could begin her own soul-transference ritual.
Despite her husband's supposed "success," Mrs. Devo remained cautious. She insisted that Luke find the perfect host for her—a young woman who met her specific requirements.
Luke, on the other hand, was equally careful. He had to ensure that the person he chose wouldn't bring him trouble and that he could still claim his reward.
They needed a beautiful and kind caregiver.
She had to believe in mystical forces.
Mrs. Devo needed her to trust in the ritual.
Luke needed her to be convincing, courageous, and a good actress.
When Luke first encountered Caroline at the New York University Medical Center, he immediately knew she was the one.
He started investigating her, reaching out, and testing her reactions.
At first, Caroline hesitated. But after learning about the Devos' twisted scheme and considering how much money she needed to pursue her dream, she made her choice.
In the end, they reached an agreement.
They pretended to be strangers, making contact through newspaper ads and phone calls.
Then, step by step, they worked together to manipulate Mrs. Devo, leading her from skepticism to full belief—all while letting her think she was the one in control.
Caroline, having studied psychology and possessing a natural talent for deception, played her role flawlessly.
With Luke's secret support, there were no flaws in their act.
Mrs. Devo was completely convinced.
Finally, she signed the legal documents bequeathing her assets and fantasized about inhabiting Caroline's young body—believing she could continue her wealthy life as before.
Even after their success, Caroline and Luke remained patient. They continued playing along with Mrs. Devo's act.
Then, the moment she revealed her true intentions—
They struck back.
That way, even if their plan was exposed, they would have no legal or moral liability.
After all—
Mrs. Devo had made all the choices herself.
She was the one who brewed the potion.
She was the one who drank it.
And technically, she hadn't died—she had only suffered a stroke from grief after losing her beloved husband.
No one would care about an old woman who lived in isolation, paralyzed for the rest of her days.
Caroline and Luke split the Devo fortune between them.
Luke walked away with a fortune in cash and antiques, saving himself decades of hard work.
Caroline obtained the manor and enough funds to make her dream a reality.
In another year or so, when Mrs. Devo inevitably passed away from her condition, the truth would be buried with her.
No one would ever know.
Adam had pieced together the story but chose to act as if he didn't.
Caroline was his friend, and what she had done was, in a way, just.
Why would he side with a villain against his righteous friend?
That didn't mean he approved of her methods, though.
It was far too risky.
No plan was ever foolproof, and judging by Caroline's reaction when she saw him, it was clear that things had *not* gone smoothly.
After all, Caroline was just an ordinary person.
No matter how much she knew about Mrs. Devo's plan, when a gun was pointed at her, how could she *not* be afraid?
"So, what's next? Are you planning to stay here?"
Adam pushed aside his thoughts and asked with a smile.
"Yeah."
Caroline glanced at Adam, a trace of hesitation in her eyes.
But she quickly steadied herself.
"This is my dream. I'm going to work hard to make it come true."
"I wish you success," Adam said sincerely.
"Come visit sometime. Phoebe and the others miss you."
"I will."
Caroline smiled.
She and Adam locked eyes, silently understanding each other.
Then, with Caroline leading the way, they went to her room.
After all, the stress had been overwhelming for her.
And what she needed wasn't just *emotional* comfort.
She wasn't one to rely on God.
She believed in science.
And Adam—
Adam was the embodiment of science.
*(End of Chapter)*