Chapter 6

Aria Bennett placed the yellow talisman gently on the desk.

"I want to change my agent," she said bluntly.

Marcus Sterling raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"

"For you, it's a small matter. For me, it's not easy." Aria met his gaze steadily. "My agent is Grant Mercer."

Marcus knew Grant well—one of the most aggressive agents in the company, especially after he propelled Nolan Reed to stardom. Getting out of his roster wouldn’t be simple.

"Fine. If this talisman works, I’ll help you switch. If not, prepare to leave the industry." He picked up the talisman and examined it.

"Deal." Aria turned to leave but suddenly paused.

She studied Marcus’s face for a few seconds. "Mr. Sterling, there’s a dark aura between your brows. Your sister might be in danger."

Marcus’s expression darkened instantly. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

He hated when people brought up his sister.

"Believe it or not." Aria pointed at the talisman on the desk. "This can help her. You’ll get a call from your family soon."

With that, she walked out, leaving Marcus scowling.

When his secretary, Caleb Monroe, entered with tea, he found Marcus staring blankly at the trash bin.

"Mr. Sterling?"

Snapping out of it, Marcus briefly recounted what had happened.

Caleb scoffed. "A girl in her early twenties thinks she can read faces? Ridiculous."

Marcus thought the same. He tossed the talisman into the bin and was about to speak when his phone rang.

"What? Elise fell down the stairs?" Marcus shot to his feet. "I’m on my way!"

Hanging up, he and Caleb exchanged stunned looks.

"That… that’s too much of a coincidence," Caleb stammered.

Marcus bent down, retrieved the talisman from the trash, and carefully slipped it into his pocket.

"I’m heading to the hospital. Look into Aria Bennett and Grant Mercer."

At the hospital, the operating room light was still on.

Mrs. Sterling wiped her red-rimmed eyes. "The doctor said it’s just a fracture, but Elise’s always been frail…"

Silently, Marcus tucked the talisman into his sister’s hospital gown pocket.

"What are you doing?" Mr. Sterling frowned.

After hearing his son’s explanation, Mr. Sterling looked skeptical. "You really believe in this?"

"It can’t hurt to try," Mrs. Sterling said, dabbing her tears.

The surgery went smoothly. When Elise woke up, she was surprised by how well she felt.

"Strange… I don’t feel cold after the surgery this time."

Mrs. Sterling brightened. "Could it be the talisman?"

After the explanation, Elise hesitantly pulled out the talisman. Soon, the familiar chill crept back.

"It really works!" She quickly put it back, and the symptoms eased immediately.

Marcus called Aria without delay.

While waiting for her, Marcus went upstairs to visit his friend Damian Cross.

When he opened the door, he saw Damian hastily shoving something into his clothes.

"What are you hiding?" Marcus asked curiously.

Damian kept his expression neutral. "Nothing. Just checking my phone."

Marcus didn’t press further and sat by the bed. "Listen, something strange happened—"

Meanwhile, Aria stood at the hospital entrance, gazing up at the white building.

"As I thought… the negative energy here is worse than I imagined."