Chapter 852

Vera's room suffered severe fire damage; many furnishings were scorched and blackened. While the villa's first floor had been cleaned, the second floor remained untouched. In the charred wardrobe, they discovered a pile of burned clothes and an antique painting. Patricia was astonished to find the clothes completely incinerated, yet the antique remained vibrant and intact. "This thing is truly cursed, isn't it?" she exclaimed. Her earlier doubts about the painting's malevolence were now replaced by shock.

"Hand everything to me," Skylar instructed.

Patricia nodded readily. "Alright." She mused, "There's no point in keeping such negative items."

Skylar surveyed the villa. "Even repaired, Vera's family can't live here. Sell it."

Patricia was stunned. "The negative items are gone. Why can't they live here? What about the Grimwood Residence?"

"The Grimwood Residence is fine. But if Vera's family remains here, it will catch fire again," Skylar stated gravely.

Patricia sighed with relief. "Okay, I'll inform them."

Skylar handled the items, preparing talismans and burning them together. Patricia watched, utterly stunned, as the previously unscathed artifact turned to ash the moment Skylar touched it with a talisman. The display solidified Patricia's belief in Skylar's abilities. No wonder Alexander trusted and admired her so highly.

Meanwhile, Vera fumed in the family group chat, witnessing Patricia's praise of Skylar. Denton and the others, however, breathed collective sighs of relief. Once Patricia confirmed everything was resolved, a heavy weight she'd carried for days lifted. The sensation was strangely profound.

"Vera, our family has paid dearly for this. Your parents, Aunt Hayden, Uncle Marlon, Hector, and even your grandfather—all affected. Fortunately, no lives were lost. Skylar said that had we waited another month, our family would have been doomed. Looking back, it's chilling," Patricia lamented in the group chat, voicing her relief. Vera's expression remained grim; she bit her lip.

Chapter 852

Skylar possessed undeniable skill.

The following day, Skylar updated Alexander on the Ruell family situation. Hearing the resolution, he smiled in relief. "That's good news," he said.

After speaking with Alexander, Skylar prepared to resume work when Caleb approached, radiating an almost secretive energy. "Skylar, you're my idol! No one compares. Even Hector, who barely spoke to me in school, apologized today. It's incredible! He actually admitted he was wrong."

Skylar smiled. "How is he recovering?"

"He'll likely lose some feeling in his right hand. He mentioned needing treatment abroad for a while, but it shouldn't be too serious. Since he doesn't play piano or violin, the impact is minimal," Caleb replied. Boys tended to be more pragmatic; once something happened, they focused on the future and taking action.