<h4>Chapter 172: The Spy</h4>


    "Don’t worry about it. Just take care of your hand and make sure not to irritate the wound," E said calmly, her eyes flickering with a hint of pity.


    E didn’t want to be too harsh, despite herck of fondness for Rachel. In truth, she had to admire the extent to which Rachel went to y her role.


    "Thank you, E!" Rachel said, forcing a smile through her tears. Amelia, standing nearby, couldn’t help but sneer. "E, don’t be too soft-hearted. Be careful not to mistake a wolf for amb."


    Rachel flinched slightly, pausing where the light was dim, obscuring her expression.


    E smiled faintly. "I understand the lesson. Mypassion is for people. If someone doesn’t consider themselves human, they’re free to try their luck with me."


    Eric’s eyes shed with a hint of menace. "You’re my woman. Anyone who tries to harm you is taking on me as well."


    He wrapped his arm around E’s waist and led her out of the cabin.


    Amelia scoffed and shot Rachel a disdainful nce. The type of woman Rachel represented—a maniptive, self-pitying "white lotus"—was Amelia’s least favorite. These were the types who would go to any lengths to trap others, yet always yed the victim.


    Rachel bit her lip, slowly retreating back into the cabin.


    Amelia, on the other hand, went up to the third deck, where she sat alone, staring into the soft darkness of the night. Her heart was heavy with mncholy.


    Richard might appear carefree, but deep down, he was sensitive and easily swayed by sympathy.


    Today it was Rachel, but what if it had been another woman targeting her? Would Richard have misunderstood her, just as he almost did with E?


    This thought left Amelia feeling particrly agitated.


    Someone approached quietly, sitting beside her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.


    "What’s wrong? Are you upset?" Richard’s bright smile came into view, but Amelia turned away, clearly still brooding.


    "I know... I have a soft spot. After all, she’s just a young girl," Richard admitted.


    "Richard, if it were someone targeting me—a woman who seemed genuine and decent—wouldn’t you be just as likely to doubt me and believe her instead? Trust is the most important thing in a rtionship. Look at Eric; he never doubted E. He trusts her and believes in her ability to handle any situation," Amelia said coolly, pulling away from his touch, only for him to gently ce his hand back on her waist.


    "You’re right. I was wrong. From now on, no matter the situation or who’s involved, I’ll trust you and not anyone else. How’s that?" Richard said with a charming smile.


    His almond-shaped eyes, filled with affection, reflected the silver glow of the river, making them look especially captivating.


    Despite his words, Amelia kept her face stern, still unwilling to speak to him.


    Richard chuckled softly and pulled her closer, pressing a passionate kiss onto her lips, letting the warmth between them dissolve the tension.


    Meanwhile, on the deck below, E breathed in the cool night air, feeling a sense of peace and satisfaction.


    With Brianna now in prison, she would gain her freedom in six months, but what awaited her was an evenrger trap.


    The thought made E feel invigorated, every pore in her body seemingly opening up with renewed energy.


    Though there were asional nuisances like Leah and Rachel, those were concerns for the future. Right now, her focus was on Robert and Brianna.


    "So, feeling good after ying a few monsters?" Eric asked with a mischievous smile, his eyes and lips carrying that same devilish charm.


    E shot Eric a sharp look. "What do you mean by ’ying monsters’? Are you saying Rachel isn’t even human in your eyes? I just taught Rachel a good lesson!"


    Ericughed even harder, holding his stomach as it started to ache. "Alright, alright, I know how capable you are! But seriously, how did youe up with the idea to record everything?"


    E huffed. "The moment Rachel showed up and started acting all sweet, offering to peel an apple for me, I knew she was up to something. To prevent you from feeling sorry for her and losing sight of what’s right when you see an injured ’beauty,’ I decided to record the whole thing."


    She had indeed been worried that Eric might not believe her in the heat of the moment. After all, Rachel was incredibly convincing in her act.


    Plus, she wanted to make sure Rachel got what wasing to her. E hadn’t even dealt with the incident at school, and now Rachel was trying to nder her again here. If Rachel thought E was a pushover, she was sorely mistaken—E had to show her ws and leave some marks on that "perfect" facade.


    Eric’s yful smile faded, reced by a serious expression as he tightened his hold on her waist. "No matter what happens, the only person I’ll ever believe in is you."


    E looked up, meeting his determined gaze, and felt a surge of emotion welling up inside her. Her eyes stung slightly, and she quickly buried her face in his chest, hugging him tightly.


    At that moment, E felt truly fortunate—grateful that Eric wasn’t as easily swayed as someone like Richard.


    The night breeze was cool, and the night itself was gentle, with small, scattered lights reflected off the river, creating a shimmering, intimate atmosphere.


    Meanwhile, Rachel returned to her room, her face twisted in dark resentment as she made a phone call.


    She had been secretly in love with Eric for a very long time. It all began when she was thirteen, during a chance meeting at Richard’s house, where she firstid eyes on Eric. Since then, her heart had been set on him, rooting and growing over the years.


    Now, she was finally of age, but to her dismay, she discovered that Eric already had a girlfriend.


    "Sister Leah, it’s me," Rachel spoke softly into the phone. "Thank you for the clothes you sent me. I’ll bring them back with me in a few days."


    Leah chuckled on the other end. "No need, Rachel. Keep those dresses—I have plenty and can’t wear them all. How’s everything going? Are you having fun?"


    "It’s okay, but... my n failed. Both my cousin and Eric hate me now," Rachel said, her voice tinged with dejection.


    Leah’s tone remained as warm as ever. "Don’t worry. This time you failed, but next time, be more cautious. If you don’t fight for a man, he won’t just fall into yourp, especially someone as exceptional as Eric."


    "Yes, I understand. I’ll be more careful, and I’ll report back if anything happens."


    "Are E and Eric really dating?" Leah’s voice grew colder, losing its previous warmth.


    "It looks that way. Eric seems to care a lot about that little brat. They seem really close," Rachel confirmed.


    "Alright then, rest up, and keep me posted," Leah said before hanging up. The smile immediately vanished from her face. "What an idiot, she can’t even handle a simple task!"


    Leah had initially reached out to Rachel through a chat app, sending her gifts and even arranging her transfer to the new school. Her n was to use Rachel as a tool to monitor E, but Rachel’s first attempt had ended in failure.


    However, Rachel could still serve as a useful spy, even if Leah didn’t expect much more from her. But the confirmation that E and Eric were indeed together, coupled with Rachel’s failed provocation, left Leah feeling even more frustrated.