NOVPUBChapter 1240: 558 Midnight_1 Chapter 1240: 558 Midnight_1 After dinner at the Groove’s house, Aubree Groove said goodbye to Granny Groove, and accompanied Sanny Groove to Magior.
Sanny Groove now eats dinner at the Groove’s house, then goes to Magior to stay with Titi Groove and Hellena Groove.
Sanny Groove had suggested bringing them to the Groove’s house, but they didn’t want to.
Sanny Groove was worried about them, so despite the heavy load of schoolwork, she shuttled between two places.
Fortunately, she had become accustomed to this, since her days of film-making were much more tiring and laborious.
“Returning to high school, it feels like I’m dreaming.
Students know that I’m your senior and they treat me really nice.
...
It seems like I’m sharing your popularity,” she said.
Sanny, no, she should be called Alaric Moore, because the real Sanny Groove didn’t die.
She is just a wisp of a departed spirit occupying Sanny Groove’s body.
Perhaps the present life is too comfortable and happy, which often gives her an unrealistic feeling as if she is dreaming.
She often reminds herself that she is not Sanny Groove, she is Alaric Moore.
Everything that belongs to her now should have belonged to Sanny Groove.
If this is a gift from God, because she died unjustly, then she gladly accepts it.
It was the most distinctive and unexpected gift.
Even if one day she leaves, she would have no regrets in this life.
Ever since Aubree Groove learned the news about her senior sister, she kept silent.
Upon hearing her thoughts, she said, “Don’t think too much.
Enjoy every single moment now.
If you feel guilt-free, there is nothing to fear.”
Alaric Moore was stunned.
Smiling, she said, “Every time I listen to you, I feel enlightened, as though a bucket of water was poured on my head.”
It is better to enjoy every minute now than to worry about things that are unknown.
Worrying about the future is self-inflicted harm.
In short, fate has its own purpose.
Titi Groove and Hellena Groove both hugged Aubree Groove happily when they saw her, unable to let go.
“Aubree, this is the first time you have not celebrated the New Year with us.
Without you, the New Year doesn’t mean anything.” Hellena Groove pouted, sounding somewhat resentful.
“There, there.
Aubree just returned home; let her rest.
You two should go and do your homework.”
Alaric Moore has found the knack of handling these kids.
Both of them obediently returned to their room to do their homework.
“Aubree,” the naughty Liev ran to Aubree Groove and showed her a paper lantern, “I made this myself, I want to give it to Aubree.”
The paper lantern was shaped like a butterfly.
At first glance, it seemed rough, but if you look closely, the details were very delicate.
It had a drawing of two small figures holding hands, which were full of charm.
Although the lines were simple, anyone could tell at a glance that they were Aubree Groove and Liev.
Aubree Groove smiled and ruffled Liev’s hair, “Liev is really clever.
Aubree really likes it.”
Milana Alvarez came out from the kitchen with two cups of tea and said, “This is Liev’s homework.
The teacher said to give it to the most important person to him, and without hesitation, he said he wants to give it to you.”
Liev had a sweet smile on his face.
He rested his head on Aubree Groove’s lap, looking like an obedient little kitten.
A year later, Liev was six years old.
She grew taller and her eyes looked like crescent moons when she smiled.
Alaric Moore looked at Liev, then at Milana Alvarez.
She didn’t know about Liev’s background but felt that Liev was increasingly resembling Ivory Iver.
Could this be an example of being influenced by one’s surroundings?
“Aubree,” Hellena Groove came out with a test paper, “this test requires a parent’s signature.”
Aubree Groove picked up the test paper and took a look.
It was a mathematics test, and the grade section had a big, eye-catching red mark: 100.
The paper was neat and clean, the handwriting was pretty and delicate, completely unlike the handwriting of a ten-year-old girl.
Alaric Moore laughed, “Hellena Groove is really smart, she even scored full marks.
Aubree is proud of you.”
These kids, Aubree Groove had taught them really well.
Hellena Groove just smiled and handed a pen to Aubree Groove.
“Aubree, I didn’t embarrass you, did I?”
Aubree Groove flipped over the test paper and saw a signature in the corner, in the style of a dragon and phoenix dance.
Alaric Moore glanced at it absent-mindedly, but all of a sudden, she froze.
She snatched the test paper from Aubree Groove’s hand and stared intently at the signature.
Aubree Groove squinted her eyes and whispered, “What’s wrong?”
Hellena Groove explained, “There will be the marker’s signature on every test paper.
This Christopher Harris is our class’s math teacher.
He doesn’t teach very well.
I don’t understand how our school would hire such a person, he must have connections !.”
Aubree Groove glanced at her and Hellena Groove promptly shut up.
She almost forgot, Aubree doesn’t like it when she speaks ill of others behind their backs.
“Aubree, why are you so worked up?
Do you know Mr.
Harris?” The perceptive Hellena Groove noticed something was off about Alaric Moore.
Alaric Moore cracked a smile, albeit a somewhat pale one.
“I don’t know him.
I just feel like I’ve heard his name somewhere.”
She handed the test paper back to Aubree.
Aubree lifted her pen and added her name next to Christopher’s, before passing the paper on to Hellena.
“Oh, right, there’s a parent-teacher meeting next week.
I don’t know if Aubree, I mean, our second sister, can make it?
Maybe you should go, granny.”
Hellena blinked, eyes briefly resting on Alaric’s face.
Without thinking, Alaric responded, “Sure, I can go.”
“Great!
I’ll let you know when it’s time.” Hellena said with a playful smile, her footsteps echoing as she ran off.
Soon after, Titi emerged with his own test paper, ready for Aubree to sign.
While signing, Aubree asked, “What’s your teacher Mr.
Harris, like?”
Titi thought for a moment before replying, “He’s alright I guess, but he doesn’t seem as good as the last teacher.
Kind of has the vibe of a student who skated by.
Mr.
Harris isn’t the best in terms of capability, but he’s got a nice temper, and he’s quite handsome, so no one in the class dislikes him.”
Titi left with his signed test paper.
Alaric gave a bitter smile, “I thought I’d moved on, but it seems just a similar signature could still throw me off balance.”
Silently patting her back, Aubree knew her silent companionship was the best consolation she could offer.
——
A cargo ship sailed across the infinite ocean.
Upon nightfall, the sea mirrored the stars above, casting a dancing shimmer across the undulating waters.
Within the first hold of the ship, a small mountain of cargo lay scattered.
Nestled within, a woman peeked at the distant horizon through a fist-sized window.
The woman, Isabella Foster, was pale and weary as she lay beneath a somewhat threadbare blanket, worn and musty.
The moldy scent assaulted her senses, setting her temples throbbing.
A shadow fell across her and something dropped into her lap.
Virginia Frost looked down to see bread and milk.
She looked up at the woman before her, her voice weak, “How much longer until we reach shore?”
If circumstances continued like this, she was afraid of collapsing before they even arrived in Pethkids.
Kelly Martinez knelt down, shredded open the bag of bread and pushed it into her hand, “How the mighty has fallen, huh, Madam Frost.
It truly gives pause.”
Weakened by physiological torture, Virginia Frost had lost the strength to argue with Kelly’s mockery, “I just want some hot water.”
“Madam, we’re on the run, not in your lovely villa — having something to eat is already quite fortunate,” Martinez reminded her.
Virginia Frost looked at the unappetizing bread in her hand, closed her eyes, and forced a bite into her mouth.
Kelly snorted in cold amusement before turning to leave.
Virginia fell into a fitful sleep, feeling as though she was a lonely boat bobbing in the sea.
Her body seemed to sway along with the beat of the waves.
Unsettling images flashed through her dreams.
There were demons chasing after her, she ran and ran but could not escape.
Suddenly, a hand reached out from the ground, grabbing her ankle and causing her to trip and fall.
When she looked back, the demon had pounced on her.
Its gruesome face then transformed into Aurora’s.
Virginia screamed, jolting awake from her dream.
The ship swayed, the pounding rain lashing against the windows.
A tempest had been stirred up over the pitch-black ocean as uneasiness gnawed at her consciousness.
“Having a nightmare?”
Virginia abruptly turned her head to see Kelly sat atop a pile of tall cargo.
Her leg hung in mid-air, giving off an oppressive air of superiority.
The enormous hold was barely lit by a flickering bulb, casting eerie, ghost-like shadows.
A chill ran down Virginia’s spine at the sight, a cold sensation gripping her heart.
“Madam, you have so many lives on your hands.
Those souls will haunt your dreams.
Have you seen Aurora?”
“Shut up!” Virginia snapped, her voice edgy with desperation.
Amused, Kelly broke into a silent laugh in the darkness.
