Ethan Brooks was said to lack the wood element in his birth chart when he was born. So the patriarch of the Mu family, with a grand flourish, wrote down six "木" characters in one go. And thus, the name Ethan Brooks was given. According to the patriarch, if you’re missing wood, isn’t it simple? However many "木" you need, I’ll give you that many!

But unexpectedly, even with so many "木" added, Ethan Brooks still could not escape the fate of dying young.

“木, 林, 森.” The woman was stunned again, struggling a bit to pronounce these three characters. Then she gently brushed the hair from Ethan Brooks’s forehead and said, “Alright. Ethan Brooks, this will be your name from now on. From today, it will be just you and me, depending on each other for survival.”

With this sentence, Ethan Brooks’s new identity was set.

————————————————————————————————————

Meanwhile, in Fallen City

Two days had passed since the assassination attempt. During these two days, the city lord Robert Parker had been busy arranging defenses to prevent another assassination.

Now, the city lord Robert Parker strode toward the rear courtyard of the city lord’s mansion, where there were two separate residences.

One belonged to his eternal love, his late first wife. After her death, he never allowed anyone to enter that place, and it became a forbidden area in Fallen City. Except for his sister-in-law Grace Bennett, even his eldest son Samuel Parker had not set foot there again.

The other residence was newly built and was where his second wife, William Bennett, lived.

William, I hope Samuel Parker’s situation has nothing to do with you. Standing before the residence, the city lord thought to himself, somewhat self-deceptively, feeling as if he was avoiding reality.

He passed through the front hall and entered William Bennett’s boudoir.

“William!” The city lord Robert Parker pushed open the door, trying to soften his voice.

“City lord?” From behind the bed curtains, a mature and alluring woman slowly sat up. She was a captivating beauty, her brown hair coiled up, and her brown eyes exuded a seductive charm. She wore a black dress reminiscent of a traditional Chinese qipao, her long, fair legs revealed through the slit, and in her hand she held a white short-handled feather fan. With a gentle wave, she perfectly combined nobility and allure—a mature woman’s charm that young girls could never imitate.

“City lord, why didn’t you let me know you were coming, so I could prepare myself?” William Bennett sat up on the bed, speaking coquettishly.

“How is the child?” The city lord softened his tone.

“He just fell asleep.” William Bennett moved aside, revealing a rather adorable little boy.

“Whew.” The city lord let out a gentle breath. “Where’s Lang’er?”

“Lang’er is practicing martial arts with the city’s general.” William Bennett replied.

“Good.” The city lord responded, making it hard to guess what he was thinking.

William Bennett, this woman was originally the wife of the famous Fallen City general Demon Tiger. She and Demon Tiger had a son early on, the very Lang’er the city lord referred to, whose full name was Buster Wolf. But Demon Tiger died young, leaving William Bennett a widow.

Years later, after the city lord Robert Parker’s first wife passed away, William Bennett—perhaps truly a scheming woman—took her chance.

Seizing on their shared misfortune, and with her own allure, she smoothly became the city lord’s second wife.

After the incident with Ethan Brooks, Grace Bennett was the first to suspect this woman—a cunning, ruthless schemer.

“By the way, William.” The city lord looked up and said, “From today on, you and the children should try not to leave Fallen City.”

“Has something happened, city lord?” William Bennett asked softly.

“Samuel Parker was assassinated.” The city lord sighed, secretly observing William Bennett’s reaction. But her response was perfectly normal.

“Someone attempted an assassination in Fallen City?” William Bennett looked as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, it’s a long story.” The city lord Robert Parker said, “You and Lang’er should avoid being near Charles Parker from now on.”

“City lord, are you suspecting me?” William Bennett said aggrievedly.

“No, I’m not suspecting you.” The city lord sighed, “It’s Grace Bennett. You know her temper. She made it clear that if you show up near Samuel Parker, she won’t let you off.”

“Are we, in Fallen City, really afraid of just one woman?” William Bennett said.

“Sigh.” A complicated look flashed in the city lord Robert Parker’s eyes. “In any case, just don’t leave Fallen City for now. We’ll talk about everything else after I’ve resolved this matter.”

“Yes.” William Bennett replied softly.

The city lord Robert Parker forced a smile that looked worse than crying, then turned and left.

The words Grace Bennett said before leaving kept echoing in the city lord Robert Parker’s mind.

The matter of Sen’er’s assassination will not be let go just like this! That’s what Grace Bennett said at the time. With that sister-in-law’s personality… what comes next, the city lord Robert Parker didn’t dare to imagine…