The Queen pointed straight at Anh ?ào’s face, her voice ringing out cold and razor–sharp:

  – “Girls who are respected by men must have virtue, integrity, kindness, and know how to value themselves. But creatures like you and My — using your bodies to lure men — how could you ever understand loyalty? Once the truth comes out, they’ll only look down on you.”

  A doll on the sofa suddenly jumped up, clapping excitedly, its childlike voice sweet yet dripping with mockery:

  – “The Queen is absolutely right! A girl who throws herself at men would never know what loyalty means! If she can give herself to one man so easily, then giving herself to another is no problem at all!”

  The little boy doll beside it nodded, speaking with admiration:

  – “Only women who know how to maintain boundaries, who don’t willingly stain themselves, deserve real trust and genuine respect.”

  Anh ?ào’s face turned pale, as if the words had hit her in the very soul. She tried to hide her panic, her voice trembling:

  – “What do you know about anything?”

  The Queen let out a laugh — sweet, mocking, painfully elegant:

  – “Why wouldn’t I know? Humans are blind. They only open their eyes after suffering consequences. But I… I can see everything — space, time, all of it.”

  Then she flicked her wrist. Instantly, all the dolls pulled hard on the puppet strings.

  Anh ?ào’s body jerked violently, stretched in pain. The strings screeched, and her wooden joints cracked as if they were about to tear apart.

  She screamed:

  – “Let me go! You won’t scare me, you hear me?!”

  Outside the room, her screams echoed through the house.

  Anh Ph??ng jolted upright.

  – “That’s my sister!”

  She, Mary, and Join ran straight to Anh ?ào’s bedroom door. Join tried to break it open, pounding and shouting:

  – “Anh ?ào! Are you okay?! What’s going on in there?!”

  C?u D?ng and the others rushed over as well.

  He barked:

  – “Too late — she locked the door! We’ll have to break it down!”

  BANG!

  The door burst open, slamming against the wall. Everyone froze. Anh ?ào was rolling on the floor, wrapped tightly in layers of colorful yarn.

  Mrs. Nga screamed:

  – “Oh my God! My knitting yarn!”

  Mr. Tài flipped on the lights. The whole room lit up. C?u D?ng ran forward, lifting his daughter up:

  – “What happened? Why are you wrapped up like this?”

  Mary and Join hurried to help unravel the tangled yarn from around her body.

  Anh ?ào broke down crying, struggling to speak:

  – “I… I turned into a wooden puppet… the dolls… they controlled my body under the Queen’s orders!”

  C?u D?ng frowned, confused:

  – “Your arms and legs look normal. What do you mean ‘wooden puppet’? And who is this Queen?”

  Anh ?ào glanced around wildly, voice shaking:

  – “They were all on the ceiling! The dolls! I threw them away — I threw them away, I swear!”

  She suddenly turned toward the corner, pointing with trembling fingers:

  – “The Queen… she was inside that mirror!”

  Everyone followed her gaze.

  But there was only an old wardrobe.

  Mr. Tài blinked in confusion:

  – “What mirror? The only mirror is in the bathroom, Anh ?ào.”

  Anh ?ào froze.

  The room was completely normal — No mirror.

  No dolls. No trace of the nightmare she had just endured.

  Her knees gave out, and she sank to the floor.

  Tears streamed down her face, her hands still trembling uncontrollably, as if the horror hadn’t released her yet.

  In the grand hall of the Bình Chánh headquarters, the Demon King Satan sat solemnly upon his ebony throne. Beside him were Master V?nh and the old Grand Madam Advisor. Lined up behind them were dozens of elite agents, all focused intently on the long-running show titled “Law of Karma.”

  Satan nodded, his fiery eyes filled with satisfaction.

  – “Excellent work, my children. But go easy on them. They still need enough sanity left to prepare for the wedding I’m very much looking forward to.”

  The Grand Madam Advisor sipped her green bean sweet soup and bowed respectfully:

  – “I have already instructed them carefully, My Lord. Please rest assured.”

  Master V?nh chuckled softly, scooping another spoonful of the chilled dessert:

  – “I reminded my junior disciple as well. It’s just… My’s spirit is too fragile.”

  Satan burst into laughter, his voice booming like thunder:

  – “Those drowning in sin collapse even from the slightest scare. When I drag them to Hell later, I wonder how many days they’ll last.”

  One of the agents behind him folded his hands and spoke calmly:

  – “The wicked always fear death. Without the cycle of birth and death, this world would’ve fallen into chaos long ago.”

  ---

  On the rooftop of the Gothic mansion, the atmosphere was thick with tension — pure, heavy drama.

  Trúc Di?n looked into the Tranquil Moon Mirror (T?nh Nguy?t B?ch Kính), his lips curving:

  – “This is nothing yet… it’s only the beginning.”

  Trang, holding the Velkhanis Diamond Mirror in her hands, replied with glowing eyes:

  – “Father told us to leave them enough strength for the wedding. I’ll stop here.”

  Erion slid his fingers along the surface of the Black Crystal Mirror, his smile as cold as winter frost:

  – “Then I’ll finish the rest for you.”

  Inside the room below, Anh ?ào was overwhelmed with terror, desperately trying to explain while no one believed her:

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  – “I’m telling the truth! There was a huge mirror where the wardrobe is! Inside it was a woman — with horns and a crown! The dolls called her the Queen!”

  C?u D?ng sighed heavily and shook his head:

  – “We’ll call Dr. Tùng tomorrow morning. You need to calm down.”

  Anh ?ào burst into tears, her voice trembling:

  – “I’m telling you the truth! And what about our mansion? It’s frozen solid outside!”

  Everyone stiffened as the memory hit them.

  C?u D?ng’s family mansion had been frozen in the middle of Saigon, with the sky above shifting colors unnaturally.

  Join — being a wizard — felt the dark energy clearly. He exchanged a glance with Mary and Anh Ph??ng:

  – “Then it’s confirmed. The frozen mansion is the answer. Supernatural forces are 100% real. They attacked me, Anh Ph??ng, and Mary earlier. But… I think they were warning me about something. They had no intention of killing us.”

  Mary nodded:

  – “I sensed the same thing. If they wanted to hurt us, it would’ve been effortless. One gesture would’ve been enough. There’d be no need for something this elaborate.”

  Mr. Tài shuddered, his voice hoarse:

  – “Then who exactly are these supernatural forces, and where are they? Why target only D?ng’s family?”

  C?u D?ng stammered, desperately denying:

  – “How would I know?! I don’t even understand what’s happening!”

  Professor Charles gave him a sideways glance, his tone cold as steel:

  – “They didn’t mistake you. Their judgment was precise. Perhaps in the past, your family did something… that provoked them.”

  C?u D?ng immediately protested, voice cracking:

  – “Professor, that’s unfair! My family has always lived honorably. We’ve never harmed anyone. Someone must be jealous of our success or happiness — they’re trying to sabotage us!”

  Charles looked him straight in the eye, each word hitting like a blade of ice:

  – “Everyone believes time will blur the past, making the present too hazy to see the truth. But Heaven and Hell see all. Nothing stays hidden forever.”

  Inside the small room, Anh Th? was fast asleep on the bed. Beside her, M? Linh sat quietly, watching over her daughter — who was in the early, fragile stages of pregnancy. Seeing Anh Th?’s pale, exhausted face made her heart ache.

  She gently brushed her daughter’s hair, whispering with a trembling voice:

  – “You’re only two months pregnant and already this weak… Hang in there, my child. I’m counting the days until I can hold my grandchild in my arms.”

  Suddenly, M? Linh froze. A strange glimmer of light flickered from Anh Th?’s abdomen, making her flinch in alarm. She blinked several times — and then stiffened in shock.

  Within that faint glow, she saw the shadow of a small centipede curled tightly inside her daughter’s womb.

  Horrified, she rubbed her eyes again and again, but the image refused to fade. At that very moment, the window across from the bed creaked open. A cold wind seeped in, carrying a damp, bone-chilling mist that made her shiver.

  When she looked up, she saw a woman in a white áo dài, stained with mud, wearing a conical hat. Her long black hair fluttered wildly in the draft. Her voice echoed through the room — cold, distorted, as if rising from the depths of the underworld:

  – “Sister… I’m showing you what your grandchild looks like. Weren’t you eager to see it?”

  M? Linh went completely still, goosebumps crawling across her skin, breath catching in her throat.

  – “H?nh… You and your husband died already. Why haven’t you reincarnated? Why do you linger here — haunting my family?”

  The woman stepped out from the shadows — Mrs. H?nh. She removed her conical hat, revealing half of her face crushed and burned, her eyes brimming with hatred.

  – “My husband and I must stay… to protect our daughter. You and your family wanted her dead. And my husband said your family’s downfall is already near. We have to witness everything you built collapse… only then can we rest and reincarnate.”

  She smiled triumphantly, though her eyes hid a deep sorrow.

  – “If your family hadn’t been so greedy, we all could’ve lived happily. But now… it’s far too late. Once he has taken action, no one can save you.”

  M? Linh’s breathing turned rapid, her voice trembling:

  – “Who… Who are you talking about? Who is targeting my family?”

  Mrs. H?nh’s expression went cold again, her voice echoing with eerie heaviness:

  – “The Demon King — the dark sovereign who enforces karmic judgment.”

  Cold sweat drenched M? Linh, her body trembling.

  – “Why doesn’t he just kill us quickly…?”

  Putting her hat back on, Mrs. H?nh gently traced the scarred half of her face, her voice soft like drifting wind:

  – “In this world, death is the kindest release. He doesn’t want you dead… but unable to live, unable to die — that is his rule. Take good care of your grandchild. After all… your grandchild is also ours.”

  A swirl of white smoke enveloped her figure, dissolving into the freezing wind blowing through the open window.

  M? Linh’s hands shook violently as she stared at Anh Th?’s belly — the shadow of the tiny curled centipede had vanished without a trace.

  M? Linh carefully stepped off the bed, making sure not to wake Anh Th?, who was still fast asleep. She gently opened the door and walked into the living room — only to find Hi?u standing there, holding a handful of yarn threads that had been shredded into pieces.

  She frowned in surprise.

  – “Why aren’t you asleep at this hour? If you’re planning to clean, you can leave it for tomorrow morning.”

  Hi?u glanced toward the room where Anh ?ào sat in a daze, his voice tinged with worry:

  – “Auntie… The yarn wrapped itself around her. She said she was turning into a wooden puppet… then a Queen appeared in the mirror, along with dolls that had been thrown away before. Everyone thinks we’re being attacked by something supernatural.”

  M? Linh swallowed hard. A cold wave crawled across her skin — because she herself had just seen the apparition of her sister-in-law, the woman she and C?u D?ng had killed twenty-five years ago.

  But in front of the teenage boy, she forced herself to stay composed:

  – “Everyone must be under too much stress… Let me go check.”

  She quickly entered the room where everyone had gathered. The air inside felt thick, and the atmosphere was tense.

  The moment he saw his wife, C?u D?ng spoke up:

  – “Why did you come out? Shouldn’t you be in the room taking care of Th??”

  M? Linh tried to steady her voice, though her face was as pale as wax. Professor Charles shot her a sharp glance — he immediately sensed something off, but he chose to remain silent for now, wanting to see what else this family was hiding… and how far they would take their performance.

  He turned to Join, his voice calm and firm:

  – “It’s almost morning. You two should get some rest. There’s still work to do tomorrow.”

  Join and Mary, having calmed down, nodded:

  – “We’ll go to sleep then. Good night, Professor. Good night, everyone.”

  Mr. Tài checked his watch and added:

  – “Yes, let the kids rest. Tomorrow they still have to help with D?ng’s wedding preparations.”

  After everyone returned to their rooms, only C?u D?ng’s family remained. In the silence of the room, Anh ?ào sat blankly on the bed, eyes hollow as if she had just escaped a nightmare.

  M? Linh glanced at Anh Ph??ng, lowering her voice, stern but urgent:

  – “Check if they’re all in their rooms. Lock the door… our family needs to talk.”

  Once the door was shut tight, she sat down beside Anh ?ào, her voice trembling with barely contained fear:

  – “Hi?u told me you turned into a wooden puppet, with dolls around you, and a Queen appearing in the mirror. Tell me clearly — what did you see?”

  Before Anh ?ào could answer, Anh Ph??ng spoke, her tone serious:

  – “There really was a demon passing through this room earlier. The energy waves were extremely strong.”

  C?u D?ng, who had no idea his youngest daughter was a trainee witch, put his hands on his hips and snapped:

  – “Not you too. Don’t mention demons… your mother and I get chills just hearing it.”

  M? Linh forced herself to stay calm, her voice soft but pressing on every word:

  – “Tell me, what exactly did you see?”

  Tears streamed down Anh ?ào’s cheeks. Her hands were ice-cold, and her voice trembled:

  – “The Queen… she revealed everything about my past. She said she’s lived with me for twenty years…”

  Her throat tightened, every word scraping painfully out:

  – “That Queen… was Sister Trang. It was her!”

  C?u D?ng, M? Linh, and Anh Ph??ng all widened their eyes in disbelief.

  C?u D?ng scowled:

  – “Impossible! She was just a poor orphan. How could she be anything like what you’re describing?”

  M? Linh leaned forward, her tone sharp:

  – “Then what did that figure actually look like?”

  Anh ?ào shuddered as she described it:

  – “A dark silhouette sitting on a throne… long hair flying in the wind. On her head were majestic horns… and a glowing crown. She looked regal… noble… I could feel a royal aura from her.”

  M? Linh shook her head firmly:

  – “Then it wasn’t her. That Trang girl is small, frail-looking, dressed like a beggar. Her hair is short like a boy’s. A worthless stray we took in — how could she have royal blood?”

  Both C?u D?ng and Anh Ph??ng nodded in agreement.

  C?u D?ng spoke slowly:

  – “I believe there’s a supernatural force at work, but maybe they know about Trang… so they’re using her story to scare us.”

  Anh Ph??ng frowned:

  – “If that force knows about her, then it’s not simple. She’s still living in that rental slum, right?”

  C?u D?ng smirked and shook his head:

  – “She got kicked out. Heard she followed that old scrap collector back to his hometown. One less thorn we’ve had to endure for twenty years.”

  Then he shot a sharp look at his wife:

  – “And you — why have you looked nervous all night? If something happened, say it right now.”

  M? Linh inhaled deeply, her voice thin and shaky:

  – “Earlier… I saw H?nh. She said once he takes action, no one can save us.”

  Both C?u D?ng and Anh Ph??ng exclaimed at once:

  – “Who? Who acted?”

  Her answer came out like a cold whisper:

  – “She said… it was the Demon King — the god of darkness who enforces karma.”

  Anh Ph??ng paled instantly, stepping backward in horror:

  – “The… Demon King Satan… No way!”

  At that moment, a violent gust of icy wind blasted into the room. The curtains whipped chaotically. The wooden wardrobe in the corner shook hard — then vanished into a cloud of smoke.

  In its place, a massive mirror materialized, spilling out rolling black smoke like a raging sea. Crimson sparks crackled in the air.

  From deep within the mirror, a towering figure emerged — imposing, broad-shouldered, cloaked in an elegant aristocratic coat.

  On his head were spiraling horns glowing with red fire, and on his forehead shimmered a mesmerizing five-colored crown.

  A deep, resonant voice boomed like an echo from the abyss:

  – “You are perceptive… but I’m far from finished. I want every sinner here to drown in fear — every minute, every second.”

  He raised a hand, pointing directly at Anh ?ào and Anh Ph??ng:

  – “What you’ve done to my daughter, I will return to you a hundred thousand times over. You killed a kind couple… and stole the entire inheritance meant for her. Don’t think I am unaware.”

  His amber eyes flared, sweeping across the room as flames roared beneath his feet.

  – “And you two…” he growled — “You daughters who knew exactly what your parents did — yet covered it up for over twenty years… enjoying the noble life that belonged to someone else!”

  The entire family froze. Their bodies refused to move. The oppressive force of the Demon King Satan flooded the room, so heavy no one dared breathe.

  Just outside the door, Professor Charles, Join, and Mary stood silently — they had arrived long enough to hear everything.

  Their faces hardened.

  The horrifying truth had finally begun to surface...