Chapter 141
Odalys asked coldly, “What exactly are you trying to say? Sophia and I are both signed under the Bennett Group. She’s swimming in resources, while I’m stuck playing minor roles and running errands for others. Is that what you call family?
“I’ve been signed with the Bennett Group and haven’t seen a single paycheck. Is that what family means?
“For Sophia’s sake, you don’t even care about right or wrong, and you immediately slander me. And now you’re talking about being family? What does family even mean?”
Her questions left Atlas silent. He could feel a discomfort settling in.
Atlas had always thought of them as family, that they shouldn’t be splitting things up like this. But looking back, he realized he had never actually paid her, no salary and no resources. She had been working for free all along.
‘But that was to be expected. We’re family. Why should she care so much about that?’ Atlas thought to himself.
“You just want money, don’t you?” Atlas said, trying to sound confident. “When we get back, I’ll have Henry send you your wages.”
Odalys listened to him, then turned and walked toward him. Atlas watched, excited, as she pulled something out.
To his surprise, she paused for half a second before swinging her empty hand in front of him, then slapped him hard across the face.
“Ouch!” Stellan grunted, unable to look at the slap mark now burning across Atlas’ face.
It wasn’t right to hit someone, but for some reason, when Odalys slapped him, Stellan couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Stellan remained silent, feeling like something was wrong with his thinking.
“Forget the wages. Let’s just call the wage my compensation for you due to this slap. When you get back, ask Mr. Bennett to buy you some ice for your face,” Odalys said coldly.
Atlas was furious, his face turning red.
Odalys warned him sharply. “And by the way, Sophia came to find Rafael tonight because of you, didn’t she? How else would she have turned around and accused me of sending her, after she got caught?
“My hands are going to start itching every day. And if you keep slandering me like this, I can’t guarantee I won’t keep slapping your face every time.”
Odalys didn’t want to cause trouble, but she would not let anyone falsely accuse her.
“You…” Atlas was stunned. He stared at Odalys, then glanced over at Sophia.
“What are you talking about? Sophia wouldn’t come to meet Rafael at night. Why would she do that?” Atlas’ heart sank. ‘If that’s true, then Sophia is really a lost cause. Is she so desperate for attention that she wants to try something with an old bachelor?’ Atlas thought.
Earlier, Atlas had seen Sophia hugging Finnian, and he had managed to ignore it. But he couldn’t tolerate her with Rafael.
“If you don’t believe me, ask Kenny. We were out for a walk last night and saw her sneak into the room. If we hadn’t stopped her, she would have been in his room by now,” Odalys said with a low laugh.
Her words hit Atlas like a bomb. He turned around in disbelief, looking from Sophia to Rafael, and quietly asked, ” What were you doing there last night?”
“Atlas, I…” Sophia stuttered, her lips trembling, unsure of how to explain herself.
Sophia suspected that her undergarments had been tampered with, so she came to ask if it was Rafael. But there were four women on the variety show, and she couldn’t explain why only her underwear had been touched.
And if Rafael pushed her too far and talked about what happened in the room that day, she’d be ruined. Sophia was in a panic.
It felt like all her plans were falling apart.
“I-I…” Sophia tried to speak, but suddenly she was lost for words.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she glared at Odalys, then stomped her foot and shouted. “Odalys, why are you targeting me?”
After shouting, she spun around and ran off, making her way back. Seeing this, Atlas quickly hurried to follow her. “Ms. Stone,” Francis called out as he approached.
When his tall figure appeared in front of her, it was striking for a moment. After all, with his background in modeling, Francis’ height was definitely an advantage.
“What’s the matter?” Odalys raised an eyebrow. She didn’t have much of an opinion about Francis. He always seemed to be looking for quick gains.
“I just wanted to explain. What happened earlier wasn’t related to Group A. It was all Sophia’s drama. Not everyone in Group A is targeting you,” Francis said in a hushed voice. He looked at Odalys with a scrutinizing gaze.
Francis felt like he couldn’t quite figure out this woman. She seemed to have an effortless air about her as if nothing really mattered. She didn’t care about maintaining any kind of image or persona like the others.
While everyone else came to the variety show trying to keep up appearances, Odalys was the only one who didn’t bother.
“Got it,” Odalys responded quietly, her tone even. She didn’t say anything else but turned and started walking toward the door. Freya and Selah quickly moved to her side and pulled her out.
“Do you think she’s actually interested in Rafael?” Selah asked, clearly worried.
Rafael was creepy, and he probably hadn’t bathed in days. They could smell a foul odor even from a distance.
“Who knows?” Odalys replied indifferently.
As the group began to disperse, Rafael seemed a bit agitated. He called out. “What’s going on here? You came here for a variety show, and now you’ve made my wife leave. What’s wrong with you all?”
Kenny noticed, signaling his assistant with a glance to step in and calm things down. Everyone else slowly began to leave, and the cameraman moved the camera away. [Oh my God, now I’m really curious. What’s Sophia up to sneaking in at night? Is it a date, or is there something more to it?]
[I admire Odalys so much. Her skills are incredible. She doesn’t let anyone walk all over her. That’s how women should be. When you’re tough, people don’t dare mess with you.]
[The Bennett family members all seem crazy, honestly. They’re so unpredictable. I really don’t like them.]
Later that night, the news about Sophia meeting an old bachelor went viral again with hashtags: [Shocked! Sophia secretly meets an old bachelor at night], [What’s so great about an old bachelor?], and [Sophia practically threw herself at an old man].
There were also hashtags related to Odalys: [Be like Odalys, be strong, and that’s your foundation], and Don’t prove yourself when slandered. Just knock them down and walk away.
These hashtags took over the trending topics once more, and the gossip within the industry was in full swing. After all, the Bennett Group was already under pressure, and Sophia’s reputation had been in the gutter for a long time. Those who had been suppressed by the Bennett family in the past wasted no time in piling on and tearing Sophia down.
Sophia, however, had no idea about the storm brewing online. She was running back home, straight to her room, locking herself inside. No matter how hard Atlas knocked on the door, she refused to open it.
“Sophia, open the door,” Atlas called from outside, worry in his voice.
He never expected Odalys to publicly embarrass Sophia, let alone slap him twice in front of everyone. If Atlas hadn’t shown up when he did, he wasn’t sure what would have happened to Sophia.
“Atlas…” There was a bitter chuckle from within the room. Sophia let the emotion build before finally opening the door. She stood in the doorway with her hair disheveled, her head lowered, and her eyes red as she turned her face away.
A tear rolled down her cheek, and Sophia forced a hollow smile. “Am I a terrible person? Otherwise, why would she hate me so much?”
Chapter 142
Sophia’s voice grew shakier and more sorrowful as she spoke, her words trembling with emotion. “Odalys, in front of everyone, made them think I spent the night with Rafael? She wants to ruin me.
“If she really wanted me dead, she could’ve just said it. Why does she have to destroy my reputation like this? Now, the whole internet probably knows about this. Forget about marrying into a rich family, I doubt even any man would want me now.”
“Silly girl,” Atlas spoke softly but firmly, his voice filled with sympathy. “She’s just jealous of you. Don’t let her get to you. When I get the chance, I’ll make sure she pays for this.” He gently pulled her into his arms, holding her close.
Sophia nestled against his chest, her fingers tracing gentle circles on his shirt as she sighed softly. “Atlas, you’re the best.”
But Atlas, still puzzled, couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you go to Rafael’s house tonight?”
He knew Sophia had high standards and would never be interested in Rafael. He couldn’t believe she would spend the night with him. But she’d gone there alone, and that bothered Atlas.
Sophia hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. She turned toward the room, walking ahead.
When she noticed Atlas hadn’t followed, she quickly tugged him inside. Once inside, she grabbed her underwear from the side and handed it to him.
Atlas froze, instinctively stepping back a bit, his face
flushing, his heart racing, and his eyes avoiding hers. “Why… Why are you giving me this?” Atlas asked, his throat dry and his words strained.
Sophia’s smile curved upward as she took a step closer to him. She pushed the clothes into his hands and whispered, ” Atlas, take a look at this.”
“Huh?” Atlas was caught off guard.
He looked down at the clothing she had handed him, then unfolded it. His eyes narrowed as he noticed some strange marks on it, marks that weren’t there before.
Sophia lowered her voice to a near whisper. “Someone tampered with my underwear. There are fingerprints and other scents on it. I think Odalys, using her excuse to go out, must have gone to see Rafael.
“Yesterday, when I came over, Rafael made advances toward me. Odalys must have been jealous and sent him after me, hoping to take advantage of me. But since he couldn’t get to me directly, he messed with my clothes while we were sleeping.
“I went over just now to confront him, but as soon as I arrived, Odalys brought people with her. Isn’t that a bit too much of a coincidence?”
Sophia’s voice was laced with intrigue as if she were weaving a web of mystery for Atlas to unravel.
“Are you sure it was Odalys?” Atlas asked, his tone full of anger, though his mind was slightly uneasy.
Something about Odalys seemed different today. It was hard to shake the feeling that she wasn’t lying.
And, truth be told, Odalys hit Atlas several times. Atlas wasn’t sure how much more he could handle. If it continued, he might not even make it through the variety show filming alive.
“Who else could have such strong animosity toward me? I forced her into marriage with a dying man. She’s bitter, and now she wants to take me down before she dies,” Sophia said through clenched teeth, her anger burning.
Atlas fell silent. He gripped the underwear tightly in his hands, his anger seething beneath the surface.
“Alright,” he finally said, his voice low but determined. “I’ll find a way to get you an explanation.” With that, Atlas stormed out of the room, holding onto the clothes in his hand.
However, they were taken by surprise when they walked into the room. The hidden camera, which only turned off when they were sleeping or changing, was still running. The live stream had caught everything.
The viewers, many of whom were Sophia’s fans, were shocked. Some had already stopped following her, while others still believed in her character.
[What does it mean that she handed Atlas her underwear? What is she trying to say with this?]
[Why do I feel like she’s been trying to hook Atlas in? Those two definitely seem to have something going on.]
[What does she mean by forcing her to marry a dying man? Odalys is married to a man who’s about to die? What a huge secret!]
[Did I misunderstand? Was Sophia originally supposed to get married, but the man was dying, so she forced Odalys to marry him instead?]
[This is getting intense. Odalys marrying for Sophia? Does that even line up with the law? If Odalys really was forced to get married, then Sophia deserves everything that’s coming to her. She is such a bitch.]
At first, the live stream didn’t have many viewers, and most of the people who didn’t like Sophia were about to log off. But unexpectedly, they were drawn back in by this explosive topic.
Some even started searching frantically to find out who this dying person was, the one whom Odalys married. In an instant, the entire Crownridge was buzzing.
The media and paparazzi immediately sprang into action, determined to get their hands on the latest gossip, eager to find out if Odalys was really married and who she had married in place of Sophia.
Meanwhile, Odalys had no idea that Sophia had just exposed her marriage on the live stream.
After leaving Rafael’s house, Odalys walked outside, taking a small detour. She stopped near the yard, where the lights flickered on. The night breeze blew through, causing the light to sway.
In the yard, there was a rocking chair where an old man named Brandon sat. He was wearing a suit, gently fanning himself with a hand fan, softly humming a tune.
“Wow, this house is pretty unique,” Freya said, sounding surprised.
Freya stepped forward, peering into the yard. She noticed Brandon sitting and humming a song.
Rubbing her hands together nervously, she politely knocked on the door and asked, “Hello, may I come in and take a look around your yard?”
As soon as Freya spoke, Brandon’s song abruptly stopped. “Odalys, aren’t you scared of being out here this late?” Selah, who was more timid, tugged at Odalys’ sleeve, her voice filled with concern.
Odalys glanced at Selah, who was shying away, and quickly pulled her forward. “What’s there to be scared of? We’re just here to learn about the local culture, right?” she said with a smile, trying to ease the tension.
Just as Odalys finished speaking, Brandon suddenly opened his eyes. The emaciated figure sat up from the rocking chair. His sharp eyes cut through the darkness and fixed on Odalys. He slowly stood up, his movements deliberate but slow.
“Guests? Then come on in,” Brandon’s voice was hoarse and ancient, sending a chill down the spine.
Freya, clearly startled, watched Brandon turn and walk toward the house. She quickly looked back at Odalys and nodded, signaling that she was going in first. Freya took a step forward and entered the house.
Stellan and the others followed closely behind.
“This village hasn’t had visitors in ages. We don’t usually see outsiders,” Brandon said, as he moved forward, pulling a few small chairs with him.
He handed the chairs to Odalys and the others, and they sat down on the plastic chairs.
Brandon continued fanning himself. Though he was scrawny, his movements were swift, suggesting that his health was still in decent shape.
“Really?” Freya asked, her curiosity piqued. “This house looks so old. Was it passed down through your family?”
There were very few houses like this left these days. It looked carefully arranged, and Freya felt like there was a deep history behind it, though she didn’t know too well.
“This house has been here for several hundred years,” Brandon replied slowly.
Odalys remained silent, her gaze sweeping across the yard. She noticed that the clothes that had been hanging earlier were now gone.
Chapter 143
After a long pause, Odalys finally shifted her gaze away. “I happened to pass by earlier and saw all those freshly dyed fabrics hanging in your courtyard. They look like they’re from a family tradition, and the dyeing is exceptional,” Odalys suddenly spoke up.
Brandon paused, his gaze becoming deeper as he stared at her.
Odalys didn’t flinch under his intense gaze. She calmly held his stare, her eyes revealing many emotions that he couldn’t quite understand.
“Yes, these fabrics are rare treasures, ones that used to be reserved only for the royal family,” Brandon replied nonchalantly, and his tone betrayed his pride and sense of accomplishment.
When the subject of fabric came up, his eyes seemed to light up.
“Really? Could we see them? Or maybe… do you make clothes here?” Freya asked eagerly.
All of Freya’s clothes were custom-made, with someone responsible for ensuring the quality. The brand didn’t matter to her. She only cared about the quality. Freya thought the fabric that was only available to royalty had to be top-tier.
“I’m too old to work now,” Brandon said, shaking his head as he watched their growing interest.
He looked frail despite his outward appearance of vitality, and though his steps were quick, he seemed to tire easily.
Freya lowered her voice. “Why don’t you teach the younger generation? You could open a shop in one of the big cities and pass down this craft. Let others see your work.
Otherwise, if these crafts are forgotten or lost, it would be a real shame.”
Brandon’s eyes grew distant as he heard her words. He stared at them, but his gaze seemed to drift past them, as though lost in thought.
“Pass it on…” he whispered under his breath.
Odalys didn’t speak, simply standing quietly, her eyes narrowing slightly as she observed Brandon.
His hands were shaking. He gripped the armrest of the lounge chair tightly as if he wanted to rise but couldn’t. Odalys understood immediately.
“Why?” Odalys murmured softly.
Everyone around her froze, instantly quieting. They all turned toward Odalys as she stepped forward, crouching beside Brandon and focusing on his hands.
[The camera’s broken.]
[What’s going on? Why did it cut out so suddenly? We can’t see the live stream anymore.]
[Oh no, that courtyard has to have some story to it. Why did it stop filming once they went inside? Could it be something we’re not supposed to see?]
[What’s happening? Can someone from the production team explain? I was just getting into it. Are we done for today? It’s only 8 PM.]
The viewers were left confused. As soon as they entered the courtyard, the livestream flickered several times and then went completely black.
Not long after, the production team seemed to notice something was wrong.
The cameraman stared in disbelief at the camera he was holding, realizing the screen had gone black. He quickly put it down to check, but it was still dark.
“Kenny, this is so strange. Why can’t we get it to work?” the cameraman muttered to himself.
At that moment, Stellan walked over to them.
“Kenny, how about we wrap up the live stream for today? It’d be a good opportunity to relax,” Stellan said thoughtfully, glancing at the team.
Kenny looked at the broken camera, then at the exhausted crew. He knew they hadn’t had much rest lately.
“Alright, we can continue tomorrow. Let’s head over to Group A and check on them,” Kenny replied, not pressing the issue further.
After all, with the equipment broken, there wasn’t much they could do. Streaming with a phone just wasn’t realistic. Kenny waved his hand and signaled for the production team to pack up.
The group arrived in full force, and as they left, it was just as dramatic. The large courtyard was now left empty, save for a few members of Group B.
After the production team walked away, Stellan stepped forward and closed the gate to the courtyard before turning to walk toward them.
“What?” Brandon was still lying there, confused as to why Odalys had suddenly asked him that question.
‘What exactly is she trying to say?’ A flash of sharpness crossed his eyes, but there was also a trace of confusion, mostly suspicion.
Odalys crouched beside him and gently lifted his wrist. She glanced at it and said, “Your tendon has been damaged. That’s why you can’t use your hand properly. Even sitting up was a struggle for you.”
“Why haven’t you sought treatment?” Odalys lowered her voice, speaking calmly.
Freya and Selah were both stunned, and even Stellan froze in place.
They hadn’t expected Odalys to spot Brandon’s tendon injury so quickly. In reality, very few people ever had their tendons deliberately damaged.
“Who are you?” Brandon immediately became wary, his eyes flashing with a dangerous look as he stared at Odalys.
Odalys saw the wariness in his gaze, and the smile on her lips deepened.
When she mentioned his injury, she had only intended to test Brandon’s reaction. Based on how he responded, it was clear this injury was no accident. It had been intentionally inflicted.
Moreover, his reaction told her that he was no ordinary hermit who lived alone in a remote area. He had probably returned to his old home only after some kind of incident, perhaps to escape danger.
Odalys lowered her voice. “I’m part of the production team for the variety show. I was invited here. It just so happens that I know a bit about medicine, and I noticed you’ve been immobile, so I thought your hand might be injured.
“It seems I was right. Your tendon must have been broken for a while, and you’ve never had it treated, which is why you can’t use it properly.”
Brandon looked somewhat surprised. “You know medicine?” he asked, clearly taken aback.
Unless someone was an experienced doctor, it was nearly impossible to detect an injury like that just by looking. But Odalys appeared to be no older than twenty.
“Yes, my master is a practitioner of traditional medicine. I’ve been learning under him since I was little,” Odalys said softly.
She then politely extended her hand toward him, offering.” Would you mind if I checked your injury? Maybe I can help you heal it.”
Hearing her offer, Brandon let out a self-deprecating laugh.” I’m almost 80 years old. At my age, it doesn’t matter whether I get treated or not,” he said, shrugging casually.
His gaze turned intense as he looked at Odalys and added, ” Besides, you’re so young. Even if you’ve learned some medicine, it’s probably just superficial knowledge.”
Before he could finish, Freya immediately became displeased. She was Odalys’ biggest fan and was fiercely protective of her. She couldn’t stand anyone saying a bad word about Odalys.
Freya lowered her voice, saying, “Actually, age and talent have nothing to do with each other. You know about geniuses, right? They start excelling at a young age. And her skills? They’re top-notch.
“Why not let her take a look? If she’s really as skilled as she seems, you won’t lose anything. Plus, she’s kind-hearted and just wants to help you. We all know that true healers are compassionate. Don’t let her youth make you turn her away.”
Freya was smart, and her words were persuasive. After finishing, she added a playful tone. “Come on. Let her check. Don’t hurt her feelings.”
Brandon didn’t want to comply, but Freya’s words seemed to put him on the spot. After a brief moment of hesitation, he finally relented.
“Alright, take a look then,” he said, extending his hand toward her.
Chapter 144
Odalys placed her fingers gently on his wrist to check, then slowly slid them over, examining his hand. After a moment, she spoke. “This injury… It’s probably been around ten years.”
“Your finger was broken once, and since it wasn’t treated, it healed improperly,” Odalys said quietly.
She lightly tapped the finger that had once been broken,
and the elderly man tensed up. His usually calm and indifferent expression shifted slightly, revealing a flicker of something else in his eyes.
“It’s getting late. I should sleep now,” Brandon said, retracting his hand. “If you’re done, please leave.”
Odalys smiled faintly, then turned to leave. But as she was about to step away, she seemed to remember something. She glanced back at him thoughtfully, then said, “If you want your finger fixed, I can reset it for you. After breaking your fingers again and reconnecting them, they will heal, though slower than it would for a younger person.”
“Your tendon can still be reattached,” she added, then turned and walked away.
Brandon sat there, stunned by her words, watching her leave with the others. His eyes became distant and deep, lost in thought.
As the gate to the courtyard closed, Odalys’ voice reached him once more. “I’m staying at the production team’s house at the edge of the village. I’m Odalys Stone. I’ll be here for five more days. So, if you want to treat your hand, come find me.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the gate slowly closed, blocking her from view. Brandon remained seated, staring after her. A strange emotion seemed to rise in his eyes as he whispered, “Who exactly is she?”
“Is it a coincidence, or…” he murmured to himself.
He remembered her saying that her method could heal his injury and that she knew exactly what had happened to him. His fingers trembled slightly.
Her words about leaving in five days echoed in his ears, and suddenly, Brandon struggled to sit up from the lounge chair, his steps unsteady.
It seemed as though he wanted to follow her, but after taking a few steps, he stopped and glanced back thoughtfully at the room.
Standing there in the dark, he remained frozen, staring into the pitch-black night. His expression shifted from excitement to despair and then settled into a vacant, emotionless stare. He stood like that until his figure dissolved into the night.
Meanwhile, Freya jogged ahead before turning around to walk backward, glancing at Odalys.
“I heard the production team’s equipment suddenly broke down. I wonder if we’ll be able to continue the live broadcast tomorrow. If the machines are down, we’ll probably have to leave early and won’t stay here for the full five days,” Freya said in a low voice.
Odalys chuckled softly. “The machines aren’t broken. They’ll probably be fine by tomorrow.”
“Really? You can tell that just by looking?” Freya’s eyes lit up. She looked at Odalys with admiration, almost rushing to give Odalys a hug.
Odalys smiled without responding. In reality, when everyone first entered the courtyard, she had already drawn a talisman and discreetly placed it on the camera’s screen.
Unnoticed, the screen went black, and the live broadcast viewers couldn’t see or hear anything. When the production team returned to check, they wouldn’t find any issues with the equipment.
An hour later, the talisman would vanish on its own. So, there was no way they would find any malfunction with the machines. Odalys had made sure no one could learn what had really happened inside the courtyard.
If Brandon really was connected to the Stewart family, and he was the one collaborating on custom clothing for them, there were definitely secrets that needed to stay hidden, secrets that no one else should uncover.
With this thought, Odalys smiled faintly. “Are you tired?”
“Oh, I’m really exhausted. My back is killing me. I just want to lie down now.” Selah complained, rubbing her back. Stellan gave Odalys a thoughtful look but said nothing. “Alright, let’s head back to rest. We’ll try to wake up early tomorrow,” Odalys said quietly. The group walked briskly back, humming a tune from time to time.
When they returned to their quarters, they sensed a tense atmosphere coming from Group A. Finnian and Francis sat by the door, not saying a word.
Atlas leaned against the wall, scanning the room, and
Sophia was the only one missing.
“What are you staring at?” Atlas snapped, his eyes locking
onto Odalys as he felt their gaze on him.
He was arrogant and easily offended, unable to handle feeling wronged. Today, Odalys slapped him twice and then completely ignored him, which made him feel suffocated.
He just couldn’t figure out why she had changed like this. Odalys used to be nothing like this.
“You’re so full of yourself.” Freya retorted, unable to hold back from firing back at Atlas.
Freya grabbed Odalys and began walking back toward the room. As they entered, the door slammed shut with a loud bang, causing Atlas to tremble with rage, his hands shaking in anger.
Atlas clenched his teeth and muttered to himself, “They must be doing this on purpose, right? Group B is trying to push us down. We have to beat them tomorrow.”
However, Francis and Finnian didn’t respond to him. They just stood silently, looking out at the night. Then, without a word, they turned and headed toward the room.
“Hey! Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re just going to watch as Group B steps all over us?” Atlas growled, his frustration mounting.
He had expected them to stand by him, but instead, they turned their backs and walked away.
Atlas quickly followed them, but Francis spun around, giving him a dismissive look. “Mr. Bennett, the way you talk, it sounds like you’re trying to rally a bunch of people to your side.
“Instead of preaching to us, why don’t you go talk to Sophia? Maybe you should tell her to stop causing trouble and stop dragging us down.
“We’ve been getting so much criticism because of her. If she ends up getting us all in trouble, we’re all going down with her.
“Self-awareness is important. Group B handles its own business without bothering us. What right do you have to accuse them of doing this on purpose?
“We could’ve worked hard together and beaten them, but what have you done? What has Sopnia done? All you’ve done is blame others, but what have you actually done?” “And let’s not forget, you two were the ones who caused that mess. Since you’re so fond of making trouble, I really don’t want to be associated with you.” Francis spoke coldly, his voice full of disdain.
Francis had never liked Atlas, not understanding why Atlas was so blind to what was happening.
“You…” Atlas was at a loss for words, his face burning with embarrassment. He stood there, grinding his teeth in frustration, barely holding himself back from lashing out. Finnian spoke quietly, his tone decisive. “Francis is right. I feel the same way. If Sophia hadn’t tampered with my coffee, making me feverish and delirious, I wouldn’t have been tricked into causing that mess.
“Luckily, nothing happened to Group B. If something had gone wrong, I would’ve been the one responsible. They’re being generous by not holding me accountable. If you think Sophia is in the right, then we won’t be associating with either of you.”
Finnian immediately distanced himself from Atlas and even tried to find a way to make things right with Odalys. But he felt powerless, his heart heavy with guilt and frustration.
“Have you all been enchanted by Odalys or something?” Atlas couldn’t believe it. The words spilled out before he could stop them.
Chapter 145
As soon as Atlas said it, he regretted it.
Finnian let out a short laugh, standing there and staring coldly at Atlas. “I think Sophia would be the one more skilled at enchanting someone. If you’re not afraid, you could let her enchant you. Maybe you’ll enjoy her affection a little more then.”
Enraged, Atlas lunged forward and threw a punch. “Dammit,” Atlas muttered, knocking Finnian to the ground.
But Finnian wasn’t one to back down. He flipped over and pinned Atlas to the ground, throwing a punch.
Blood seeped from Finnian’s injured hand, dripping onto Atlas’ face. The sight of it startled Atlas, and he grunted, too shocked to strike back, taking Finnian’s punch head-on. “Enough!” Francis shouted. “If you two want to fight, take it outside. I’m trying to sleep here.”
Francis was getting irritated. He had wanted to gain more fans, but now he was stuck with a bunch of troublemakers. As an international model, Francis wasn’t used to this kind of chaos, and he regretted showing up at all. He felt like this was going to be a stain on his career, one he couldn’t wash away.
“Finnian, just wait,” Atlas grunted, pushing him off.
Francis lay back in bed, and the hidden cameras in the room suddenly shut off.
[What the hell, they’re fighting? This is crazy.]
[Am I the only one who thinks Atlas has completely lost it?]
[Did anyone else catch that? Finnian just admitted that Sophia drugged him. The fever he had before? That was her doing, too. Damn, Sophia’s scary.]
[Wait. Francis is kind of cool. He didn’t let them sway him, and he didn’t throw Group B under the bus either. He’s got his head on straight. A rational man is way cooler.]
[Is Atlas out of his mind? It feels like he will pick a fight with everyone whom he doesn’t like.]
Bored late-night viewers, watching the livestream, began joking around and discussing what was happening.
After the fight, the audience was amused, especially by the exchange between Finnian and Francis, which made it even clearer that Sophia wasn’t the universally loved figure she had tried to appear as.
Even Finnian and Francis seemed to want to distance themselves from her.
It was obvious now that Sophia’s carefully crafted image had completely shattered.
[Ah, now I really want to know who Sophia was supposed to marry.]
[Who’s the rich, dying person they mentioned? Someone needs to dig this up. Anyone with connections who can find out? Please share some info.]
[Anyone who could marry Sophia is probably from a wealthy family. Sophia didn’t want to, so she forced Odalys to marry in her place. Someone! Track down this rich, dying guy.]
With the live stream cut off, those who liked staying up late started to gossip.
They thought back to the earlier parts of the stream and began piecing things together, searching the internet for any clues, but they couldn’t find anything concrete.
Thunder rumbled through the night, followed by flashes of lightning.
The mountain night was cold, and Odalys lay on her side, listening to the constant tapping of rain against the window. She thought about Brandon, lost in contemplation
Just then, a noise came from outside the door. It wasn’t a knock, but it sounded as though someone was out there.
Selah and Freya, exhausted from the day, had fallen asleep right away. The rain made the night extra peaceful, and they didn’t wake up from the noise outside.
Odalys, however, was a light sleeper. She sat up quickly, alert to the sound.
Grabbing an umbrella, she went outside and saw a figure standing there. His frail form looked even more weathered in the rain. He wasn’t holding an umbrella but instead wore a wide-brimmed hat, rainwater soaking him through and casting his shadow in a shroud.
“What’s the matter?” Odalys asked softly.
Brandon stumbled toward her, standing in front of her and glancing around nervously.
“Don’t worry,” Odalys whispered, “aside from us, everyone else is asleep, and there are no cameras.”
When Odalys returned, she had already suspected Brandon would come looking for her. She had used a talisman to block out all the surveillance and hidden cameras around them.
Brandon didn’t expect her to say that. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.
“Do you really know medicine?” he asked in a lowered voice. Odalys nodded slightly, her eyes thoughtful as she looked at him. “Of course.”
“Ms. Stone, would you be willing to help me check on my son?” Brandon’s voice trembled, and for the first time, his usually calm eyes showed a hint of panic.
His eyes were red, and his voice cracked as he said, “My son is not going to make it.”
Hearing this, Odalys didn’t say anything more. She simply lifted her foot and started walking toward his house. Noticing Brandon stood frozen in place, she looked back over her shoulder, holding her umbrella. “Aren’t you coming?”
“I’m coming,” Brandon said, his voice filled with confusion. He quickly hurried to follow her.
The two of them made their way back to the house. The man pushed the door open first, stumbling forward as he walked quickly. His feet splashed in the rainwater, and his clothes got wet, but he didn’t seem to care.
He hurried inside and switched on the lights.
The dim light in the room revealed a faint fragrance that lingered in the air, likely an attempt to mask the smell of medicine. But with prolonged use of drugs, the smell was so strong it couldn’t be covered up.
Odalys closed the umbrella and stepped inside, following him. She noticed the living room was simple yet tasteful. The vases, chairs, and hanging decorations were all antiques.
Brandon walked through to a side bedroom and stopped at the bedside.
“My son has been sick for a long time. He’s been taking medicine, but it hasn’t helped. Today, he started running a high fever that won’t go away, and he’s been rambling tonight. I’m afraid he’s beyond help,” Brandon’s voice cracked.
Standing beside the bed, his hand was tightly gripped the support rail.
Odalys stepped forward and stood by the bed, eyeing the emaciated middle-aged man lying there, who was clearly suffering from pain. She reached out and took his wrist, her fingers lightly pressing against it.
“He is poisoned so badly? Why didn’t you take him for treatment?” Odalys asked, slightly surprised.
Brandon looked at her with confusion, his lips trembling as he said in disbelief, “What poison? Isn’t he just weak…” “Weak? This is a chronic poison.” Odalys’ voice sharpened.” This poison has been lingering in his body for a long time. It only now fully exploded, overwhelming his body and causing this persistent fever.”
Brandon staggered back a few steps, his face pale. With a thud, he collapsed onto the floor.
“Not weakness? Poison? How could he be poisoned?” he murmured to himself in a daze.
Odalys turned her gaze to the medicine tray on the side, picked it up, and sniffed it lightly before handing it to him.” Here, this is the poison.”
“This medicine is a trigger. It continuously activates the poison inside his body, slowly building up over time until it eventually erupts,” she explained.
She added, “At first, this chronic poison doesn’t show any significant symptoms. In the beginning, he might have had dizziness, blurry vision, and constant nausea.
“If he went to the hospital, no one would be able to detect anything wrong, so they would likely diagnose him as just being weak. A doctor might even say it was the pigments from dyed fabrics that affected his health.”
Chapter 146
Every word from Odalys was crystal clear in Brandon’s ears.
He suddenly looked up, disbelief written across his face as he muttered, “Isn’t that…”
Odalys explained, “What? It’s obvious that the poison’s been in his system for a long time. It just hasn’t triggered yet, so no one noticed. Initially, this medicine must have helped his body.
“Before, when he took it, he would feel better, but over time, it only weakened him more. Eventually, his body couldn’t take it anymore, and he ended up bedridden for good.
“You can keep changing the formula, but all that does is keep triggering the poison in different ways. It’s just a new method of poisoning.”
As Odalys spoke, she gave Brandon a penetrating look. You should be thinking about who gave you the first prescription.
“After you changed the formula, who gave you that one? Why has he been taking it for all these years and getting worse, almost dying?”
“All the doctors have said there’s something wrong with his body. Have you ever questioned it before you changed the formula, right?” Odalys gently reminded him.
Brandon began to tremble. He hadn’t expected Odalys to guess all of this. No one else knew.
“How did you know?” he asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
Odalys simply waved her hand, standing tall as she looked down on Brandon with a knowing smile. “Because I practice traditional medicine.”
“I’m a healer. I understand medicine. One look and I could tell what was wrong. Do I need to explain more?” she said softly, her voice tinged with a quiet laugh.
Brandon quickly stood up. He walked toward Odalys, standing in front of her, looking a bit lost like a child. He nervously fiddled with his hands and stared down at the bed.
“Is there anything that can be done now? Can you save my son? If you can, I’ll do whatever you ask.” His voice broke as he spoke.
He fought back the grief building inside him. Right now, he didn’t care about anything else. Even if he was being used, as long as it meant saving his son, he would do anything. “Yes,” Odalys answered softly.
Brandon’s heart leaped with hope, and he couldn’t believe his ears. He looked up at her and asked, “What did you say?” “I can save him,” Odalys repeated in a calm voice.
Brandon froze in place, watching as Odalys took a silver needle from her bag and placed it directly on his son’s forehead. In one swift motion, she jabbed the needle in.
He tried to step forward to stop her, but then his son’s body suddenly jerked a few times.
With a cough, bloodshot from his son’s mouth, splattering onto the bed. Odalys quickly pulled the needle out and gently pressed her fingertips against his son’s chest, tapping it a few times.
Her movements were so fast that Brandon was left dazed. Before he could even comprehend what was happening, Odalys had already retracted her hand.
“He just expelled the blood that was blocking his heart. He should wake up soon. By morning, go into the mountains and gather some herbs. Make a decoction for him to drink, and his fever will break.” Odalys instructed.
She pulled out a piece of paper and wrote out a prescription, handing it to him.
Brandon took the prescription, glanced at it, and nodded. “I have these herbs.”
“My son has been ill for years. I keep a stock of many remedies,” Brandon explained as he walked over to a nearby cabinet. Inside, the shelves were neatly arranged with various herbs and medicines.
He grabbed the herbs according to the prescription and immediately went to prepare the decoction. Odalys didn’t leave. She simply sat down and waited.
Before long, Brandon had finished brewing the herbs.
Without hesitation, he gave the decoction to his son. Within minutes, the fever began to subside.
“He really did break the fever?” Brandon was shocked, with disbelief on his face.
He reached out and gently touched his son’s forehead. His son, who had been unconscious for so long, suddenly grabbed his wrist and softly called out, “Dad…”
“He’s awake? He’s really awake?” Brandon whispered in disbelief, his voice full of wonder and joy.
But he was too weak. After saying a few words, he fell back into unconsciousness. Brandon confirmed that his son was still breathing and that his fever had subsided before he turned to walk toward Odalys.
Brandon stood in front of her and suddenly knelt down. “Ms. Stone, please save my son. I swear, if you can save him, I will repay you for the rest of my life,” he said, bowing deeply in front of her.
Odalys sat still, extending her hand to support Brandon’s body and gently forcing him to rise.
Brandon was taken aback, looking at her as she effortlessly helped him stand. It was clear she had a background in martial arts.
Odalys spoke. “His poison has already spread too deeply. He needs to rest, and I’ll prescribe medicine for him. You will brew the medicine for him and let him drink it. Every day, I will come and give him acupuncture.
“But each time, it will be more painful for him. Clearing the poison from his body is impossible. It’s already spread to his heart and lungs, but I can keep him alive for another ten years.”
Brandon’s eyes nearly sparkled with hope. “Ten years is more than enough,” he said, tears streaming down his face.
He nodded repeatedly. The thought that his son could live for another decade, no longer bedridden like a living corpse, was better than anything he could hope for.
“Okay, here’s the prescription,” Odalys said as she slowly stood up.
As she did, it seemed like something occurred to her, and she thoughtfully reminded him. “If you don’t want him to die, keep tonight’s visit between us. Don’t let anyone else know, especially the one who gave you the previous prescription. “Since he altered the formula and you didn’t notice, it’s obvious he had an agenda. He wanted your son to die.”
“If others find out you’re no longer using that prescription, it will be harmful to both you and your son,” Odalys spoke softly but with authority.
Brandon’s eyes widened, and he was fully awake now. “Yes, I’ll still brew the medicine, and the leftovers will be disposed of in the usual place,” he whispered.
Odalys didn’t say anything further and turned to leave. Brandon watched her go, a little surprised. She hadn’t asked for anything and hadn’t asked any questions. It looked like she had simply come to treat his son.
He had thought she had an ulterior motive when she spoke earlier, but now, she seemed to have wanted nothing in return.
His mind was in turmoil, but with all his life experience he had, he kept his emotions in check.
Although he had doubts, he didn’t show them. Instead, he walked to his son’s bedside and looked down at his pale face. Finally, he turned his gaze back to the direction Odalys had left.
By midnight, Odalys returned to her room and lay down. She slept soundly, and by dawn, the sounds of birds chirping outside roused her. Her eyes snapped open in an instant.
Freya, still half-asleep, rolled over and snaked her arms around Odalys’ waist. Her legs tangled around Odalys’, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“Hey, what are you touching?” Odalys didn’t turn around, simply reaching behind her to poke Freya.
Freya, still deep in sleep, instinctively grabbed at Odalys, and only when she heard Odalys’ voice did she freeze, her eyes wide open in disbelief. She followed her own hands down to where they were.
Chapter 147
Freya saw her hand move under Odalys’ clothes and press against her chest.
“Ah, sorry, I’m so sorry!” Freya quickly withdrew her hand, startled, and sat up in a panic.
Selah was woken up by the noise and scrambled to sit up.
“What’s going on? What happened?” Selah immediately leaned over to see.
Freya held up her rebellious hand, glancing at Odalys before turning her face away, her cheeks flushed. Her eyes flickered as she said, “I… I touched Odalys’ chest.”
“What?” Selah was stunned. She looked from Freya’s hand to Odalys’ chest, swallowing nervously.
“Odalys, you are so thin, but why is your chest so big?” Freya said as she crawled closer to Odalys.
Odalys, clearly annoyed, grabbed the blanket and tossed it at Freya’s face, covering her entirely. Then she rolled off the bed and stretched.
“It’s seven o’clock. I’m going to wash up,” Odalys said as she grabbed her toothbrush and headed for the door.
Selah flopped back down onto the bed. It was a bit hard, but she slept pretty well last night.
“She doesn’t even hesitate to get out of bed? She just wakes up and heads straight to wash her face?” Selah said in disbelief.
Selah always had to lie in bed for a while after waking up before she could manage to get up. Sometimes, she even ended up lying there for the whole morning, or even the whole day.
“I need to wash up too, or Odalys will leave me behind!” Freya said, jumping out of bed in a hurry.
She grabbed her toothbrush and ran out the door, looking like she might be abandoned by Odalys any second.
Selah, seeing this, immediately gave up on her idea of staying in bed and scrambled up to follow.
After they all finished washing up, Stellan came out of his room. He was dressed in a simple gray tracksuit, low-key yet still handsome.
“Stellan, you’re up too?” Selah asked, finishing brushing her teeth and turning to see him. Stellan nodded and went to wash up.
The members of Group A were sitting outside the door, their eyes bloodshot, seemingly preparing for something. After Odalys finished washing up, she went back to her room to change into a pair of work pants and Martin boots. She wore a black long-sleeve top, and her hair was tied up in a messy bun.
“My hair’s not tied properly,” Freya said anxiously when she saw Odalys.
She rushed over to Odalys and asked, “Odalys, can you help me tie it?”
Without saying a word, Odalys tucked in the loose strands of Freya’s hair and quickly tied it up. Freya shook her head and found that her hair was tied securely.
“Hey, how come it won’t come undone?” Freya asked in surprise.
Freya had trouble tying her own hair into a bun that would stay in place, especially when running.
“Don’t worry about how it looks. If you’re not picky, it’ll stay put, Odalys said as she slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out the door. Selah, seeing this, quickly put on her sun protection gear and followed.
Outside, Stellan was getting things ready.
“Did you bring the rope?” Odalys asked quietly.
Stellan checked and said, “Got it.”
“Good, I brought a dagger,” Odalys said.
Selah, noticing the bucket nearby, asked, “Should we take the bucket?”
“No need, we’re not going down to the river today,” Odalys answered.
Freya, now dressed in loose-fitting pants and a gray fitted T-shirt, wore arm sleeves as she walked out the door. “Is there anything else we’re missing?”
“Nothing, let’s go,” Odalys said.
As they started to leave, they noticed that the members of Group A had immediately stood up as well.
Odalys took a different path, veering around the edge of the village and heading down a narrow trail toward the opposite side of the forest. It was a trail they hadn’t walked before, one that appeared rarely used by anyone.
“Why are they heading this way?” Sophia’s face darkened, her mind unsettled.
But Finnian and Francis didn’t wait for her. They quickened their pace, following the direction Odalys had gone. Atlas also moved quickly, not noticing that Sophia had been left behind.
Sophia stood there, stamping her foot in frustration.
The others moved quickly, almost as if they were worried Odalys might leave them behind.
“Why is no one waiting for me?” Sophia asked, her voice tinged with frustration as her eyes filled with tears. She hurried to catch up with them, but no one slowed down to wait.
Sophia had always been treated like a princess, doted on and pampered. It was the first time she’d ever been neglected, and it left an unpleasant feeling in her chest.
She jogged a few steps but tripped over some weeds and fell to the ground. Her palms scraped against the rough earth, leaving her with a few cuts.
Looking up with tear-filled eyes, she saw the others walking even faster as if they hadn’t noticed her fall. No one bothered to check if she was okay.
“You guys…” Sophia muttered in shock.
They urged her on. “Hurry up! Catch up!” And without waiting, they took off running, moving with urgency.
The production crew, seeing this, followed suit, running ahead without sparing Sophia a second thought. She was left in a daze, her heart racing as she scrambled to her feet and began running after them.
“What’s going on? Why are they all running so fast?” Sophia was startled,
She instinctively grabbed the cameraman’s arm. The cameraman, startled by her sudden grip, gasped for air. “I heard there’s a snake in the area… and not just any snake, a giant python. You need to hurry up and leave, or it’ll be dangerous.
Sophia’s expression instantly darkened.
“Who said there’s a giant python here?” she asked, clearly skeptical.
After all, the forest might be remote, but it wasn’t far from the village. The locals often walked in and out, and she couldn’t believe there could be a giant python lurking around.
“Odalys mentioned some obvious signs of giant pythons nearby. They could be in the area right now. You really should leave, or if the python shows up, we’re all done for,” the cameraman replied, quickly hoisting the camera and running off.
Sophia stood frozen in place, still processing the information. Her cameraman was now behind her, growing increasingly impatient.
“Ms. Bennett, aren’t you going to leave?” The cameraman’s tone had become sharp. He was clearly frustrated, wanting to run away, but still having to follow Sophia and film.
And now that Sophia had fallen behind, he was anxious to get away, but he couldn’t leave her behind either.
Sophia huffed, clearly unconvinced. “Do you really believe what Odalys said? She’s just nobody. If she knew anything, she wouldn’t be stuck in this mess in the entertainment industry.”
Sophia tried to sound indifferent, but deep down, she was starting to feel uneasy. After all, this was the forest. If there really was a snake, it could be incredibly dangerous.
Despite her thoughts, she slowed her pace, trying to calm herself, and glanced around at the scenery, muttering under her breath. “Huh, look! Eggs! Looks like my luck’s pretty good today.”
Sophia jogged up ahead, her eyes catching sight of some white eggs hidden among the weeds. They were a bit smaller than chicken eggs, elongated in shape.
Carefully, she reached out and picked up the eggs one by one, placing them into her backpack.
“See? My luck is on fire today! I even found eggs. These might even be wild chicken eggs,” Sophia said, winking playfully at the camera.
Chapter 148
The cameraman’s face changed as he lowered his voice and asked, “Ms. Bennett, are you sure these are chicken eggs?”
“Yes, they are, and they might even be from a wild chicken or a bird. It’s been a good haul today,” Sophia said, standing up and walking forward.
The cameraman stared thoughtfully at the spot where she had just been. A sense of unease began to creep over him.
At that moment, he couldn’t ignore it any longer. Grabbing the equipment, he ran ahead, no longer filming Sophia, but instead, sprinting with urgency. Sophia was completely confused.
“Hey! Why are you running so fast? Wait for me!” Sophia shouted, panic in her voice.
She quickly started running to catch up, but the cameraman, in an attempt to keep filming her, flipped the camera around. Even as he ran, the lens stayed fixed on Sophia.
As she sprinted, her frantic pace was captured in real-time. [What is she doing? Everyone else is walking past without picking up any eggs, but she has to pick them up?]
[I zoomed in, and this isn’t any bird egg or chicken egg. It looks like snake eggs.]
[She’s a menace. Everyone else is running, and she’s just pretending. Now she’s picking up snake eggs to harm people?]
[The cameraman’s running so fast. It’s so funny.]
[Shh, do you think the eggs she just picked up are really snake eggs?]
Viewers were left in stunned silence. Everyone else was running for their lives, but Sophia had stopped, and now even the cameraman was sprinting away. It was like all eyes were on her.
This was the first time since Sophia joined the variety show that she’d garnered everyone’s full attention.
The crowd was hooked, glued to the screen, as if they might burn a hole right through it with their gaze.
Sophia, however, had no idea what was going on.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that something ominous was behind her. Turning around, she saw nothing but empty space.
For a brief moment, unease gripped her.
The image of the eggs kept flashing in her mind. She whispered to herself, “A bird egg shouldn’t be on the ground. But if it’s not a chicken egg… then what is it?”
At that moment, her sense of worry deepened.
Sophia became more and more anxious, her steps
quickening as she ran after the cameraman. The faster she chased, the quicker the cameraman ran as if he were afraid Sophia would catch up. But Sophia, somehow finding strength, relentlessly pursued him.
“God, stop chasing me!” The cameraman shouted, his voice tinged with fear.
That egg had been large and elongated, and he had a sinking feeling that it was a snake egg. The fact that Odalys and the others had run off so quickly only added to his worry. They had mentioned that there could be a giant python nearby.
“Ms. Stone,” the cameraman gasped, as he came to a realization. His only hope now was to lose Sophia and catch up to the rest of the group ahead.
But Sophia wasn’t about to let him go. She stayed hot on his heels, forcing the cameraman to panic. He quickly swung around, grabbed the camera, and took a shortcut, following the navigation to get back to the front group.
Though the variety show participants weren’t allowed to access the internet, the production team had satellite signals, allowing them to track the live stream. The cameraman’s camera was connected to the satellite, boosting the broadcast quality.
Ahead, Odalys was walking briskly, with Freya catching up, panting and saying, “That scared me. Thankfully, we haven’t found anything yet.”
“Odalys, are you sure there’s a giant python around here?” Freya asked, looking uncertain.
Odalys paused, scanning the area carefully before replying, ” We should be safe here.”
“Thank goodness,” Selah muttered, relieved. She didn’t care about her image anymore and plopped down on the grass. Freya and Stellan took a break nearby, while Odalys, still full of energy, showed no sign of fatigue after the run. She sighed, and it was a quiet exhale of relief.
“Don’t worry,” Odalys said softly, “All Pythons live for decades and tend to stay in remote areas where humans rarely tread. All living things have spirits, and the older the animal, the less likely it is to bother people.
“We just have to avoid provoking it, and it won’t come after us.”
Selah, intrigued, listened intently. “Odalys, do you really believe that everything has a spirit?” she asked, a little excited.
Odalys chuckled softly and replied, “Of course. In fact, humans and animals are very much alike. They both have good and evil within them. Animals are no different.”
“It’s just like magic,” she continued. “Those who truly have magical abilities rarely show it to others. It’s only the fake ones who go around boasting about it.”
Odalys glanced around at the surroundings before continuing in a lower voice, “This place is close to the mountains and water, with a good environment and clean air. Naturally, animals prefer living in such areas.
“The locals understand the rules. They don’t provoke the animals, and the animals don’t attack. Even though we’re near a village, the giant pythons still live here peacefully, without disturbing the humans.”
As Odalys finished speaking, the faint sound of Sophia’s voice reached them from behind. “Ah, wait for me!” Sophia’s voice shrieked
The cameraman came rushing into the scene, carrying the camera. He dashed into the crowd, relieved to see everyone resting, and whispered, “I can’t keep up with her. She’s too much to handle
Everyone immediately understood he was talking about Sophia
“Why isn’t anyone waiting for me?” Sophia said, her eyes red, running up to them. She stood there, looking pitiful, and everyone fell silent.
The production team members all turned their heads away, avoiding looking at her. Atlas’ lips moved slightly. For some reason, after being hit by Finnian last night, Atlas had been feeling off all day.
“Don’t say anything.” Odalys suddenly ordered in a sharp tone. Her expression turned serious as she stood up and took a couple of steps forward.
Everyone held their breath, focusing all their attention on her.
“What’s going on?” Stellan asked in a hushed voice, getting to his feet.
Odalys’ face grew darker. Her eyes narrowed, and she coldly stared at Sophia, asking, “What were you doing back there?”
“He didn’t do anything!” Sophia stammered, feeling the heat of Odalys’ glare.
Tears of frustration welled up in Sophia’s eyes. She bit her lip in defiance and gave a bitter laugh, saying, “Odalys, what gives you the right to yell at me?”
“We all signed contracts to be here on this variety show. Just because you think you’re so tough doesn’t mean you can yell at me whenever you feel like it. Who do you think you are?” Sophia shouted in a fit of rage.
The more Sophia shouted, the colder Odalys’ gaze became. As their eyes locked, Sophia inexplicably felt a sense of panic.
“I’ll ask you one more time,” Odalys growled, her voice icy. What did you do back there?”
Sophia recoiled, stepping backward until she found herself backed up against a tree.
Odalys lowered her voice. “I told you earlier, there are giant pythons here. It’s dangerous. No one should be doing anything. We need to get out of here quickly. Everything was fine earlier, and there were no signs of snakes moving around. It was safe.
“But now, the giant python is here. Didn’t you hear it? What exactly did you do back there? Answer me!”
Sophia jumped at Odalys’ angry tone. “I didn’t do anything.
Even if the giant python is coming, what does it have to do with me?”
Chapter 149
“This path was your choice, and everyone followed you. Now that the giant snake has appeared, it’s because of you. If anything happens, it’s your fault. And now you’re trying to shift the blame onto me?” Sophia turned her head away in disgust.
The cameraman noticed the tension and quickly stepped forward, about to speak up.
“Ah, a snake!” Someone screamed in terror. Immediately, everyone started running in a panic, heading away from the danger.
Odalys turned to look and saw the massive python, almost rising up, towering at around 6.5 feet tall, its head hanging in the air, watching them with an intimidating gaze.
“That’s really a giant python… It’s huge,” Atlas whispered under his breath.
Freya, noticing the situation, immediately rushed forward and grabbed Odalys’ arm, pulling her away from Sophia. Odalys, run!” she urged.
“Run,” Odalys echoed. Everyone turned and sprinted off in a hurry.
Sophia stood frozen, watching the others run away. With a hint of mockery, she said, “You guys are so scared. Who are you going to blame? A bunch of cowards!”
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a chill crawl down her spine.
Looking down, she noticed the shadow on the ground. Something was moving behind her, something large and ominous, its eyes now staring down at her from above. Sophia immediately took a few steps back.
“Ah!” She spun around to find the snake raising its head, its eyes locked onto hers.
She couldn’t believe there was such a huge snake in the world. Its body was as thick as her legs, and its head was larger than her face, menacingly glaring at her.
“Ah, don’t scare me! I didn’t do anything!” Sophia immediately raised her hands in surrender.
She turned her head and looked behind her, realizing that everyone had completely disappeared.
‘They didn’t even wait for me… when danger struck, they all abandoned me,’ Sophia thought bitterly.
Tears of frustration immediately filled her eyes. Her feelings of helplessness and anger were more pronounced than ever.
“Don’t come any closer,” she whispered to herself, taking slow steps backward. But the python followed her every move.
Tears streamed down her face, and she dared not even breathe too loudly. She spun around and ran, but after only a few steps, the giant python darted toward her at lightning speed.
“Ah!” She felt as though she had been kicked in the back.
The snake’s tail came crashing toward her, slamming into her body and sending her flying. Sophia screamed in terror as her body was sent flying several feet, landing hard on the ground.
“Ah!” She cried out in pain. The giant python continued to slither toward her, its massive body creating a sense of overwhelming pressure, as though it could swallow her whole in an instant.
“It’s not me. It’s Odalys! She’s the one who wanted to come here! Go after her, and go eat her! Don’t come near me!” Sophia’s voice was hoarse and panicked.
She quickly raised her hand, pointing in the direction where Odalys had fled.
Upon hearing her words, the snake seemed to speed up, charging toward her. Its tail whipped around and struck at her again, sending Sophia flying in the direction she had pointed toward.
“Ah, help me!” Sophia screamed in agony.
The snake’s tail slammed into her again, and she was violently thrown backward.
With a loud thud, Sophia crashed to the ground, knocking over nearby saplings as she tumbled.
Atlas, who had just stopped running, heard the scream and turned around. He saw Sophia hurled toward him, landing just at his feet. Blood was seeping from the corner of her mouth.
“Atlas, help me!” Sophia cried out desperately, reaching for his foot.
Atlas was momentarily startled, but he quickly bent down to help her, asking, “What happened?”
“It’s Odalys! She must have known about the giant python and brought us to this dangerous place… She wants to kill us. She is so wicked!” Sophia spat out the words, still trying to hold onto her composure.
Odalys, who had stopped to watch the scene unfold, let out a cold laugh. “Is it me who’s trying to harm you, or did you do this to yourself?
“Why do you think the giant python appeared and didn’t you harm any of us, but is relentlessly pursuing you? It’s because you carry the scent it wants.
“Did you destroy its snake nest, or did you steal its eggs? It doesn’t matter which one it is. If you don’t want to die, I suggest you return whatever you took. Otherwise, you’re as good as dead,” Odalys said coldly.
Odalys knew Sophia too well. Not only was Sophia incapable of distinguishing right from wrong, but she also loved to shift the blame.
Now that Sophia was pinning everything on Odalys, the only explanation was that Sophia must have done something wrong.
“Snake eggs? You… you’re lying! I didn’t do anything!” Sophia immediately denied it.
Even if Sophia had taken them, she couldn’t let anyone know. As long as she didn’t admit it, it wasn’t true. If the others found out she had stolen the snake’s eggs, they’d think badly of her.
“Fine, if you say you didn’t, then just make sure you don’t regret it when you die,” Odalys replied, showing no sympathy. Sophia needed to learn a lesson.
At that moment, the cameraman held his breath.
“Sophia did steal the snake eggs. She thought they were wild chicken or bird eggs. I tried to tell her to return them, but she put them in her bag,” the cameraman quickly revealed.
Sophia’s face turned red with anger, and she stomped her foot. She shot the cameraman a glare, eyes brimming with fury.
“You’re lying! I didn’t do anything.” Sophia bit her lip.
Sophia was beginning to panic. She clutched her backpack tightly, feeling the weight of the bag behind her. It felt even more sinister now.
What if those eggs hatch into baby snakes right now? Does that mean my whole backpack will be filled with them?” Sophia thought, nearly paralyzed with fear. Her legs felt like they were about to give out.
She had already been thrown twice by the python, and her body was aching terribly. Now, it felt as though the pain was doubling.
“Sophia, are you trying to get us all killed?” Finnian suddenly stepped forward. Finnian’s eyes were as cold as ice as he stood there, glaring at her.
“Isn’t what you did to me enough? Now, with all these people here, what’s in your backpack? Why won’t you return it to the python?” he demanded.
“If you don’t admit it, you’d better split off from us and stop following us,” Finnian added.
Freya stepped forward, her voice firm. “When you weren’t following us earlier, the giant python didn’t chase us. It only followed you. You still won’t admit to stealing its things?”
Before Freya could say more, Odalys interrupted her. “Stop wasting time with her. If she won’t admit it, then let her go and face her own death.
“We’re not obligated to walk you to your death. Do you think you’ll just get injured? A python like that, once it bites you, will swallow you whole.”
“It already hurt you earlier, didn’t it? It didn’t eat you because it gave you a chance. If you keep hesitating, how you die is no longer our concern.” Odalys coldly reminded her.
Sophia collapsed to the ground in fear. Her mind was consumed by the image of the giant python’s head hanging in the air, staring down at her.
“I… I…” Tears streamed down Sophia’s face as she
stammered, terrified.
She hadn’t expected things to get this bad. Earlier, when she was giving directions, the python hadn’t taken the bait.
“Group B, follow me,” Odalys said, already done talking with Sophia, now more concerned about their own safety.
Odalys was skilled, but she didn’t want to take on the giant python. Besides, she wasn’t the type to be overconfident. In these mountains, no one could overpower the beasts that roamed freely.
“Let’s go.” Stellan quickly nodded. He led Freya and Selah, following Odalys as they left, moving away from Sophia.
♡
Chapter 150
“Odalys, you can’t just leave me like this! You led us this way, and now I’m stuck with snake eggs because of you. This is all your fault!” Sophia screamed in agony.
Odalys didn’t even bother to look back. She casually raised her foot, turned around, and walked away.
With a careless wave of her hand, Odalys said, “You’re so used to setting people up. You’re that awful, so just go ahead and die. Don’t ever call my name again. I can’t stand you.”
Sophia froze in disbelief. She had thought Odalys would definitely help her, but instead, Odalys just turned her back and walked off.
No one else could handle the giant python. Odalys was probably the only one who stood a chance.
‘If Odalys really doesn’t help me, then I’m…’ Sophia thought frantically.
“Sophia, what are you doing? It’s bad enough you’ve stolen something, but now you’re trying to hurt her too? Just take the eggs out already!” Atlas said, his disappointment clear in his voice as he looked at her.
Sophia, panic-stricken, hurriedly took off her backpack. They’re all in here,” she said, her hands trembling as she opened the bag.
But to her horror, she noticed that everyone had quickly backed away. She was scared out of her wits.
The giant python had somehow suspended itself in midair, its cold eyes fixed on her.
“Ah!” Sophia let out a horrified scream, hurling the bag toward the snake in a panic.
The crowd murmured”
[Ugh, that scared the life out of me.]
[It’s huge! I’ve never seen a python this big.]
[Odalys is so selfish. Sophia’s life is on the line, and she just walks away? She has no sense of teamwork.]
Sophia’s fans immediately started defending her.
[Why don’t you go help if you care so much about her? It’s her fault this happened, and she won’t even admit to stealing. You’re playing the saint now? Then you can just go die for Sophia.]
[Looks like Sophia’s dirty after all, stealing snake eggs and still denying it. She should just get out of the entertainment industry.]
The viewers kept their eyes glued to the screen, watching as the giant python slithered toward Sophia. She had thrown the bag at it, and it used its long tail to catch it midair.
Everyone instinctively took a step back, keeping their distance from Sophia.
“Roar!” The python let out a terrifying roar. Then, a cold gust of wind swept through the area, and the python darted toward Sophia, its massive body slamming into her.
“Ah, help! Help!” Sophia screamed, pinned to the ground. She felt as though every bone in her body was being crushed under the weight of the snake. She couldn’t move. Blood poured from her mouth.
The others stepped back in alarm, watching in shock as the python crushed Sophia beneath it.
When the python finally slithered off her, it swung its tail violently, striking her.
“Ah!” Sophia cried out as the tail hit her, and her body was driven into the ground, feeling as though she was being buried alive. The pain was unbearable.
Sophia’s vision went dark, and she lost consciousness. “Damn… Did Sophia just get killed?” Finnian stared at the scene, shocked beyond belief.
Odalys hadn’t walked away far, watching coldly from a distance.
If she had wanted to save Sophia, she could’ve done it earlier when she was in danger. But Odalys hadn’t acted.
Because Odalys hated Sophia. Whether in the past or now, Sophia deserved to die.
Sophia was selfish and always scheming, even framing
Odalys for things she didn’t do.
“She won’t die, but the python’s venom will leave its mark. She’ll be in for a rough time,” Odalys said coldly.
A snake wouldn’t typically attack unless provoked, especially one as old as this giant. But if someone angered it, there was no telling what might happen.
Sophia might have avoided the python’s wrath if she had handed over the eggs from the start. But she stubbornly refused to admit it, even tossing the snake eggs away just moments ago.
“My God, the ground’s been crushed into the earth! How heavy must this python be?” Freya stared at the ground, noticing a deep trench where the giant python had slithered away.
Selah held her breath, her legs shaking so badly she could barely stand. She grabbed Stellan’s arm for support. “Sophia!” Atlas rushed forward and pulled Sophia out of the hole.
Her skin was pale, almost blue. Atlas was frantic, supporting her as he whispered, “Please don’t scare me. You must be fine.”
He turned to Odalys, furious, and shouted, “What are you standing there for? Don’t you know medicine? Come over here and help her!”
Odalys, unfazed by his outburst, chuckled softly. She crossed her arms over her chest, staring at him coldly as their gazes locked.
With a chilling tone, Odalys said, “Do you know why she was thrown into that hole just now? She must have been trying to have the python attack me. Even at the most dangerous moment, she wanted to push the danger onto me.
“Sophia has always tried to harm me, whether it was back in the film crew or now,” she continued.
“It’s not just something I made up. It’s the truth. Today, everyone saw it with their own eyes. I asked her to return the stolen goods, and she still insisted that it was my path that was the problem.
“Whether the path was a problem, everyone knows the answer. The danger today was brought upon by her own actions.
“Atlas, you’re shameless. What gives you the right to blame me? Just because I know medicine, I’m supposed to save her? What if she led the python to me? If I died, who would speak up for me?”
Atlas’ face darkened. He knew Odalys was right, but he didn’t want to admit it.
“Since the python is gone, let’s keep looking for supplies. We still haven’t gotten the food,” Odalys said coldly.
She wasn’t an angel. She didn’t have time to waste on Sophia. Everyone fell silent when they saw Odalys ignore Sophia. Even Kenny didn’t dare step in to mediate. After all, Sophia was entirely to blame for what had happened. When Sophia had stubbornly refused to admit her fault earlier, everyone felt a deep sense of resentment.
“Let’s go,” Freya said, pulling Odalys by the arm as she turned to go.
Freya had only taken a few steps before an idea hit her. She quickly turned back around. “Atlas, if you’re unsure about anything, just ask the people around you. Let them explain who was right and who was wrong in all this.”
“Don’t try to blame Odalys for everything. She’s not obligated to take the fall for you. By the way, I had someone investigate the issues with you guys back when you were in the film crew.” Freya’s voice turned cold.
“You, and Sophia, have both tried to set Odalys up
countless times. If you want proof, I’ll hand it over after the variety show ends,” she added.
Freya had always chosen her friends based on gut feelings, and from the moment she met Odalys, Freya knew she liked her and was willing to stand up for her.
“You…” Atlas trembled in anger. His mind was in turmoil. How could Freya be siding with Odalys now too? It wasn’t just Odalys scolding him. Now Freya was turning against him as well.
‘Could it really be my fault? Where did I go wrong? Odalys knows medicine, so why didn’t she help?’ Atlas wondered, confusion swirling in his mind.
“Now that the python is gone, I’m going to look for food,” Francis, who had been quietly watching the scene unfold, spoke up. He instinctively kept his distance from both Atlas and Sophia.
Finnian, noticing this, raised his hand and said, “I’ll go with you.
As the two of them were about to leave, Atlas felt even more enraged. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His disappointment was palpable as he looked at them both, muttering, “Odalys belongs to Group B…”
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