"You owe this to Janelle."
Tears welled up uncontrollably. I bit my lip, and blood trickled down.
He didn’t know that this game was meant to save his life. But now, the reasons no longer matter. If my witchcraft still existed, perhaps I could bring back my people. But after sacrificing my blood to nourish the bracelet, I was now as powerless as anyone else.
With trembling hands, I removed the wooden hairpin from my head and spoke in a quivering voice. “Fine, I’ll participate, but the game should start in half an hour, okay?”
Without waiting for Adam’s response, I turned and fled the yacht.
On the deck, I cut my fingertips, hoping the blood would awaken the spirits of my ancestors. This was my final chance. But as the blood flowed, the wooden hairpin never reacted.
When I returned to the yacht, my dress was stained with blood. Adam’s smile faded as he looked at me.
“How are you injured?”
I looked up blankly. “I’m injured. Can the game be called off?”
The people around me sneered and scoffed.
“Are you scared? Trying to make Adam feel guilty by hurting yourself?”
“The Saint resorting to such a trick? If you can’t handle it, just say so. Either way, they’re just ashes. You won’t be able to bring them back. Let your brothers have them.”
Adam’s voice turned cold. “Shut up!”
His silence was all the answer I needed.
I suddenly laughed, the sound hollow and cold. “Let’s begin.”
One hundred questions had been carefully chosen by Adam, and the final five were selected. The host grinned and raised an eyebrow.
“The first question is: What color is Miss Burt wearing today?”
The audience gasped in surprise.
“The first question is that big? Who suggested this? Does anyone actually know?”
“Adam selects Miss Burt’s clothes himself. What do you think?”
Janelle blushed, hiding in Adam’s arms and playfully hitting his chest.
The host continued, introducing the stakes for the first round.
“The ashes of twenty Mystic Guild elders are far more potent than those of ordinary members. They can be used for wound treatment or even facial masks. Don’t miss your chance to get them!”
The elders of the Mystic Guild had unique physiques, and only I, as the saint, knew this.
I recalled what had happened half a month ago when Adam had taken me to see a psychologist under the pretext of insomnia. I had no memory of what happened after that.
A sharp pain struck my heart, and I pinched my thigh to stop myself from breaking down.
“Adam, did you hypnotize me?”
The man didn’t even look at me as he whispered something to Janelle, causing her to laugh softly.
“Red! It’s red!”
Someone in the crowd slammed the table and stood up, cursing.
Panic surged through me. “White! I bet on white.”
Janelle wore a white dress, and red underwear would leave her exposed.
My desperate words caused a stir.
“Caitlin really knows? No way?”
“Look at the cold sweat on her face—she’s probably just guessing!”
The host smiled and asked, “Any other answers?”
In the dead silence of the hall, I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. The host’s eyes settled on my face.
“Miss Nolan, I’m sorry, the answer is red.”
The man in the crowd cheered, his voice full of satisfaction.
The people around him eagerly pressed him for answers.
“You knew all this? Have you seen it?”
“The clothes Adam bought for Miss Burt are all from my brand. I personally delivered them, so how could I not know?”
“You’re incredible! I’ll definitely win the next round!”
