Chapter 151
“They can leave, but you’re leaving too? Sophia is part of our team!” Atlas said in despair. Even if they weren’t trained in medicine, at least they could stay and help take care of Sophia.
Francis turned with a sarcastic smile, looking at Atlas as he spoke. “If you want to starve, that’s your choice. We don’t want to starve here.
“You think Sophia’s some kind of treasure? That’s got nothing to do with us. If you want, you can hold on to her all you want. But don’t drag us into it.”
“You’re an idiot, but we’re not. We know exactly what Sophia’s done. She can’t manipulate Odalys with guilt, and you don’t try to do it with me. I grew up abroad. I’m not buying into this.” Francis shot back coldly.
Finnian didn’t say anything; he just followed Francis, walking away briskly.
The cameraman hurriedly picked up his gear and ran to catch up, leaving one of the crew behind, zooming in on Atlas and Sophia with the camera.
“Since she’s injured, you should take her back to rest,” Kenny said, rubbing his temples.
Kenny had just taken a fall and was still a little shaken. His gaze at Atlas was different now.
“Kenny…” Atlas wanted to say something more.
Kenny waved his hand and said, “Just take her back to rest.”
He was feeling dizzy and just wanted to get Sophia back safely. He was too worried about what might happen if she pushed herself. Right now, all he cared about was staying alive.
“Ah! No! Don’t!” Suddenly, Sophia screamed in pain.
She was curled up in Atlas’ arms, her voice a wail of agony, before she suddenly shot up, vomiting a mouthful of blood. It felt like her entire body was falling apart.
“Sophia!” Atlas said, full of concern.
He quickly reached out to support her. Sophia looked around frantically, and when she saw that the giant python was gone, tears started falling from her eyes. She looked at Atlas helplessly.
“Atlas, I really didn’t know it was Python eggs. Why is Odalys blaming me like this? Does she want everyone to misunderstand me?” Sophia said in a trembling voice, her sobs barely audible.
The cameraman looked up at the sky, ignoring Sophia.
“Good girl, don’t cry. It’s all Odalys’ fault. She could have saved you, but she just watched as that giant python pressed down on you, crawling all over you. Are you hurt?” Atlas asked, his concern deepening.
Sophia could only feel a deep, aching pain throughout her body, making her feel like she was falling apart.
Her chest was tight, her body ached everywhere, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly where it hurt.
“My chest hurts, and my leg bones hurt too. It’s a dull pain,” she whispered, her voice faint. It was as if the pain was everywhere, but she couldn’t explain exactly where it was coming from.
Or maybe it was just that her whole body hurt like her bones weren’t broken, but they were cracked.
“It’s alright. As long as you can still feel pain, it means your injuries aren’t too bad,” Atlas said quietly as he helped her up.
Her arms, legs, and palms were scraped up. Atlas furrowed his brow. “Where did these injuries come from?”
“Atlas, I’m fine.” Sophia quickly withdrew her hand, trying to hide her discomfort.
But she deliberately placed her injured hand in front of the camera, so everyone could see the real extent of her wounds.
“Alright, I’ll help you back to rest.” Atlas saw what she was doing and moved to support her.
Sophia pretended to be strong, forcing a weak smile. She shook her head and said, “No need. I’m just sore all over, but I can still walk. Let’s hurry up and catch up to them. We need to find food.”
“I haven’t helped search for food in two days, and I’m really hungry now… I want to eat meat,” she said softly, almost like a child asking for something.
Atlas couldn’t stop her. He helped her along as they followed Finnian, noticing her strange gait, but he didn’t think much of it. But after walking a few steps, Sophia suddenly felt dampness in her pants.
“Did I just… leak urine?” Sophia’s face paled as she realized what was happening.
Atlas noticed she was tense up, and with concern in his voice, he asked, “Are you feeling okay? Is something wrong?”
“No, no, I’m fine.” Sophia quickly shook her head, trying to reassure him.
‘Isn’t leaking urine something that only happens after giving birth? The python had been crawling all over me just now. Could it be that the weight of the python misaligned my pelvis?’ Sophia thought.
She felt her face flush with embarrassment, but she dared not say anything.
Her fist clenched tightly as she glanced in the direction where Odalys and the others had gone.
Unfortunately, they had already walked too far ahead, and she couldn’t see them at all.
[These two must be a little crazy, right? No wonder they stuck together, birds of a feather, after all.]
[Francis and Finnian want to ditch the team… hurry up and run. You two are the only normal ones in the group.]
[I’m studying medicine. I know Sophia must have been injured by the pressure. That python seemed to do it on purpose…]
[Odalys always says that everything has a spirit. And she knows magic. She must have realized that the python wasn’t ordinary. It must have been sentient.]
[I’m a little worried about Sophia. Odalys is so cold-hearted. She actually watched and did nothing. What if Sophia really dies?]
[Since when does Odalys have an obligation to save Sophia? If you care so much, why don’t you do something?]
The fans quickly began arguing, growing louder and more intense. The debate exploded on social media, quickly trending on every platform. Since the start of the show, it had been in the headlines without dropping off.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the drama, watching the spectacle unfold, eager to see these people fail.
*****
In the VIP ward, Hannah, who had been overexcited earlier and had hurt her back, had just come out of surgery. Watching the live broadcast, she felt her vision blur and almost fainted again.
Hannah was frantic. “How could this happen? Where did Sophia get the drugs from? Did she drug Finnian?
“Silly girl. Even if she drugged him, she should’ve done it off-camera. Why would she do it in front of the cameras?”
Sophia doing this on a live broadcast meant that everyone knew about it now. Her reputation was likely to take a severe hit.
Hannah was livid, but with her back still recovering from surgery, she could do nothing but lie in bed, unable to move, staring at the screen with all her might.
Henry remained silent, sitting there, seemingly lost in thought.
Hannah, still furious, cursed under her breath. “Henry, can’t you do something to bring Sophia back? If she keeps being targeted like this on the variety show, she’ll be ruined. Odalys just watched her suffer, doing nothing.”
“If that giant python had really eaten Sophia, I’d make sure Odalys pays for it.” The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and Hannah almost wished she could’ve killed Odalys right then and there.
If Odalys were gone, none of this would’ve happened. In stark contrast to Hannah’s outrage, Henry looked troubled. His voice was low as he spoke. “Mom… the East District land from the Lark family… Orson told me he’s already transferred it to Odalys. This means that the land Odalys holds can decide the fate of the Bennett family.”
“Also, to celebrate Percival’s wedding, the Lark family is giving her tens of millions of dollars in gifts…”
The entire room was stunned into silence. Hannah was taken aback, and even Caspian, who was lying in the bed next to her, was shocked.
Caspian, still disbelieving, moved slightly and muttered, “
Henry… What did you just say?”
Chapter 152
Henry felt a knot in his stomach. “The Stewart family cares about Odalys more than we thought. And from what Orson said, if Percival dies, Odalys’ life won’t be all that bad.
“If she ends up pregnant with Percival’s child right now, it’s possible she could take over the entire Stewart family. We used to think that if Sophia married into the family and Percival died, things would go terribly for her.
“But it looks like we were wrong. Now, it’s different. She might actually end up with the entire Stewart family, and even the Lark family is now trying to get on her good side.” They hadn’t expected such a great turn of events to fall into Odalys’ lap.
“How is this possible? Why her?” Hannah was so angry that she nearly twisted her back again. Lying there, unable to move, a flash of fury crossed her eyes.
“When Odalys got married, she insisted on cutting ties with us. Did she know in advance that just getting pregnant would fix everything?” Hannah asked, disbelief heavy in her voice.
‘If Odalys didn’t know this in advance, how could she be so sure about cutting ties with the Bennett family?’ Hannah thought to herself.
“So, what do we do now?” Hannah’s voice was tinged with confusion.
Henry leaned back, rubbing his temples in frustration. “Now that Sophia’s reputation is tarnished, she won’t be able to make it in the entertainment industry. We’ll see if we can figure out a way to have her replace Odalys in the Stewart family.”
Henry laid out his plan. “After all, it was supposed to be Sophia marrying Percival, not Odalys. If the Stewart family finds out the truth, they might just kick Odalys out.
“As long as the Bennett family doesn’t acknowledge Odalys, the Stewart family might let things slide for Grandpa’s sake. Then, while Percival is still alive, we can get Sophia pregnant.
“They said Percival wouldn’t last more than a month, and ten days have already passed… We need to prepare. I’m not familiar with pregnancy supplements or anything, so Mom, can you handle it and get some for her?”
Hannah listened, glancing at Caspian.
“Henry, what if the Stewart family…” Caspian’s voice quivered in worry.
Caspian had been severely injured and even attacked by a dog, but the police hadn’t done anything about it. He’d tried to find out who was behind it, but couldn’t find a lead. He had a feeling it might have been someone from either the Lark or Stewart families.
In fact, Caspian hadn’t offended either family. He couldn’t shake his worries as he brought it up.
“When I was attacked, they warned me that if I ever laid a hand on Odalys again, they’d take my life. I suspect that, aside from the Lark family, the Stewart family is the only one willing to stand up for her,” Caspian said quietly. Henry gave a bitter laugh.
“Do you really think the Stewart family would stand up for Odalys? Once we take back the emerald pendant she’s holding, she’ll be useless to us,” Henry said, a little too confidently.
After speaking, Henry turned to look at the screen beside him. “This giant python seems like something Sophia brought upon herself, but what if it’s actually Odalys’ plot? What if she’s trying to publicly harm Sophia so she can take her place?”
“This would mean she wants the Bennett family as her backer. Without them, she’s nothing in the Stewart family. In those high-society families, anyone without backing has no standing. I’m sure Odalys has weighed this all out,” Henry added.
In his mind, Odalys was nobody. If Odalys got rid of Sophia, she could finally become the Bennett family’s daughter.
“Is it really like that? If so, Odalys can’t be allowed to live.
She must die. Otherwise, even if Sophia gets pregnant, Odalys could still pull some trickery,” Hannah said softly, her voice low but firm.
Caspian didn’t dare to interrupt.
He had over three hundred stitches in his body, and every part of him was still healing. The slightest movement would pull at his wounds, causing him pain so intense that it kept him awake at night.
He didn’t want to get involved in these matters anymore, especially since he feared that if it was really someone from the Stewart family behind this, the consequences could be disastrous.
“Do you think Atlas will manage to get the emerald pendant? Odalys has been keeping a close eye on him. Now that Finnian and Sophia have fallen out, Finnian might not help us anymore,” Hannah said, her voice laced with worry. Without the emerald pendant, things weren’t going well for Hannah at all. She felt like everything was falling apart. First, her leg had been broken, then her face had been scarred when a phone exploded. During her hospital stay, she’d somehow managed to break her back. It was as if unbelievable misfortunes were piling up on her.
“Mom, Oliver’s here.” Henry suddenly stood up with a jolt. Caspian was stunned.
“Didn’t Oliver say he wouldn’t come even if we begged him?” Caspian asked, puzzled.
The fact that Oliver was eager to come see them made them feel uneasy as if it wasn’t a good sign. Hannah, too, felt a little uncertain.
“Maybe he was moved by us. After all, I’ve been asking people to plead with him. And I promised him that if he could help us, I’d give him 1.5 million dollars,” Henry said softly.
Although 1.5 million dollars was quite a lot, if Oliver could turn the Bennett family’s luck around, it might be worth it.
No sooner had Henry spoken, the door was pushed open, and Oliver appeared in the room once more.
“Oliver, you’re here?” Hannah was caught off guard when she saw him. A strange sense of panic swept over her. She tried to sit up but couldn’t manage it.
Oliver glanced around the room and said, “The hospital atmosphere is too heavy. It’s not conducive to your recovery. You probably shouldn’t stay here any longer. “But we’re all injured. What do we do if we leave the hospital? What if our condition worsens?” Hannah panicked.
Oliver replied, “At first, it was the emerald pendant that protected you, keeping you safe. Now that your bad luck has arrived, even staying in the hospital won’t guarantee your safety.
“And the girl who gave you the emerald pendant could bring good fortune to the Bennett family. I don’t understand why you didn’t keep her.”
Even the Bennett family became subtly uncomfortable. Hannah immediately retorted. “Oliver, are you sure she brings good fortune to the Bennett family? When she was with us before, everything went wrong. After she left, we started to make a fortune.
“Now that she’s back, we’re facing trouble again. Things were never peaceful when she was around.
Hannah believed that everything bad that had happened to the Bennett family was Odalys’ fault.
Oliver responded, “Is it possible that the Bennett family was always unlucky? She was by your side before, and maybe when bad things happened to you, she shielded you from the worst, so you only experienced minor setbacks?
“I’ve been doing divination for forty years, and I’ve never been wrong. This girl has incredibly good luck, and she’s destined for wealth. Wherever she is, there will be prosperity.”
Oliver looked at Hannah, then at Henry, and finally at
Caspian. “It’s a pity, though. It seems like none of you have good luck. You clearly don’t belong together,” Oliver said, shaking his head.
He closed his eyes, thought for a moment, and softly added, “She is destined for a life of wealth, while you are on a downward path. You’re simply not meant to be a family.”
“Since you won’t let her into your home, she’ll have no connection to the Bennett family. It’s true. You were meant to be one family, but you’ve driven away your fortune,” Oliver said, offering a knowing smile.
♡
Chapter 153
On the surface, Hannah appeared calm, but inside, she couldn’t help but look down on Oliver.
‘Oliver is definitely just trying to fool me, Hannah thought, but she didn’t dare speak up, afraid of offending him.
“Oliver, are you here to help us today?” Hannah cleared her throat and asked.
Oliver stood there, took a sip of water from Henry, and then, holding himself with a certain arrogance, glanced at them.” I’m sure you’ve all noticed your luck has been pretty bad lately.
“I can help you, but there’s a condition that the emerald pendant your daughter has. It’s mine, in exchange for my help.”
The members of the Bennett family flinched when they heard him ask for the emerald pendant. It was clear they were reluctant.
“As long as you give me that emerald pendant, I will protect the Bennett family. I guarantee that in the next year, nothing bad will happen to you. All your misfortunes will disappear. What do you think?” Oliver said with confident assurance.
They were tempted. Forget a year, even just a month of good fortune would be enough to get the Bennett Group back on track.
“What? You don’t trust me?” Oliver said, his expression darkening.
Oliver had a high standing among the wealthy families in Crownridge. People usually came to him for help, but this time, he was the one offering it. Yet, the Bennett family still hesitated. They were ungrateful.
“Oliver, it’s not that we don’t trust you. That emerald pendant belongs to my daughter. If she finds out we gave it to you, and she gets angry…” Hannah said, her voice trailing off as she thought it over.
Oliver waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about that.
I’ll handle it. She will listen to you.”
“Thank you, Oliver,” Hannah quickly said, eager to wrap it up.
Henry opened his mouth to say something, but Hannah gave him a pointed look, silencing him.
Oliver left as quickly as he came.
Once he was gone, Henry couldn’t hold back anymore. Mom, do you really believe him?”
Hannah narrowed her eyes, revealing the plan she had been keeping to herself. “It doesn’t matter if I believe him or not. What matters is that he’s after Odalys’s emerald pendant. “The pendant was taken from her, and now I’m gravely injured, on the verge of death. I want to see if this emerald pendant really has some kind of magic. For now, we’ll keep Oliver in check and use the pendant to bait him into working for us.
“When Odalys comes back, we’ll have some people guard her and take it from her, along with kidnapping her. Since we can’t find her master, taking her will work just as well. “If the Stewart family cares about her, then taking her will make the Stewart family work for us. With her in our hands, we won’t need Oliver’s help anymore.”
Both Henry and Caspian were taken aback. They hadn’t expected Hannah, though she hadn’t been involved in the company for years, to still be so sharp.
“Alright, we’ll do as you say, Mom.” Henry nodded.
He quickly got to work, making calls to make sure everything was arranged. The variety show would be wrapping up in a few days, and Henry needed to set everything up just in case.
Outside the door, a nurse walked by, pausing for a moment as she overheard the conversation.
When Henry opened the door, she hurried away, carrying a tray, her eyes focused on the floor as she walked toward the other end of the hall.
*****
At the foot of the mountain, deep in the woods, Odalys was unaffected by the giant python’s appearance.
Leading Freya and the others further into the forest, she said nothing.
“It’s too quiet. I’m starting to get scared,” Selah said, rubbing her wrists nervously.
Stellan was also on edge, and everyone’s nerves were frayed. The earlier encounter with the giant python had left everyone feeling unsettled, and no one dared make a sound. “The giant python’s appearance scared off all the smaller animals nearby. Hunting will be a breeze now. They’ll be hiding in the corners or deep in the brush, waiting for things to calm down,” Odalys murmured.
Freya quickly tugged at Odalys’s sleeve.
“Odalys, do you think the giant python might suddenly appear and ambush us?” Selah swallowed nervously, lowering her voice as she asked.
Odalys glanced at her and let out a soft, low laugh. “No, it won’t. Although snakes are cold-blooded and lack empathy, they don’t just attack for no reason. That giant python was only after Sophia. It won’t harm anyone else. That shows it’s getting old.”
“Many older animals become more spiritual. They don’t kill easily. Otherwise, the giant python would have swallowed Sophia in one bite earlier,” Odalys explained in a quiet voice. As they reflected on her words, they were surprised to realize that the giant python had indeed only targeted Sophia and hadn’t killed her. There had been people nearby, but it hadn’t harmed anyone else.
“You didn’t make a move earlier because you knew the giant python wouldn’t easily hurt anyone?” Freya asked, picking up on Odalys’s explanation.
After all, the cameraman was right behind them, with the camera rolling, and Freya didn’t want the viewers to misinterpret Odalys’s actions. She hoped Odalys would clarify to avoid any misunderstandings.
“You could say that, but there’s another important point,” Odalys replied, pausing for a moment.
Everyone held their breath, instinctively turning their attention to Odalys. The cameraman behind them, along with the two other crew members, also perked up, eager to hear what she had to say. After all, the situation had been too bizarre to ignore.
Odalys began speaking again. “You are the company you keep. For such old creatures, if they are truly enlightened and understand human nature, the thing they dislike most is coming into contact with anything that brings them bad luck.
“Think about it. We haven’t really made things difficult for Sophia, have we? When we didn’t provoke her and kept a safe distance, she kept making trouble on her own, starting chaos and causing a series of blunders.”
“The key is, she always ends up hurt,” Odalys continued, and immediately, everyone recalled past incidents.
She continued, “For example, when we were on the deserted island, she tried to rush ahead and steal the spotlight, only to get scratched by thorns. Then she provoked a wild boar to attack me and got herself injured in the process.
“Later, she tried to manipulate Lucian into killing me, and it was all caught on camera. Then, the night the tide was rising, Kenny had already warned her to come, but she refused, and almost got swept away by the water, getting stuck in a tree.’
Everyone could instantly picture the scenes in their minds.
Odalys continued, “And this time, she tried to take the spotlight again. I texted her, warning her about the danger ahead, but she ignored it and ended up in a car accident, almost been a fatal situation.
“After we got here, she went ahead and provoked Rafael, got herself into a mess, and then tried to shift the blame onto me. Today, she stole the snake eggs but wouldn’t admit it, insisting that I led her the wrong way.
“Now she’s being chased by a snake. If it weren’t for her bad luck, that snake might’ve swallowed her whole.”
“None of this happened because anyone competed with her or misled her. She’s the one who always tries to steal the spotlight, and every time, she ends up in trouble.” Odalys spoke in a low tone.
Selah nodded slightly and murmured, “I didn’t even realize it until Odalys pointed it out. It really does seem like that. She always tries to take the lead, but things always go wrong for her. The frequency of it is pretty high.”
Chapter 154
The cameraman was excited, constantly pushing the camera closer. As they watched the group discussing, the crew couldn’t hide their excitement, rubbing their hands together. This topic had the potential to go viral.
“That’s true. She’s always digging her own grave, but somehow, it all comes back to bite her,” Stellan chimed in. Freya, hearing Odalys’ explanation, took in a sharp breath and said, “How could she be that unlucky? It’s always she who ends up in trouble.”
Odalys smiled deeper, her voice softening as she said, “So, the giant python not eating her isn’t a matter of luck. It’s because she’s just too unlucky.
“They say everything has a spirit, right? The giant python has lived for so long, it knows she’s unlucky, and just doesn’t care to eat her.”
“After she returned the snake eggs, the giant python only gave her a small punishment. It didn’t even bother to hurt her, just avoided her.” Odalys explained.
The group slowly realized what she meant.
“If the giant python hadn’t realized how unlucky she was and had eaten her before, what would have happened?” Selah threw out another question. She was curious, her eyes practically sparkling as she looked at Odalys.
Odalys was young, but she seemed to understand everything.
Odalys began. “It would have been bad luck. The giant python didn’t want to get close to her, and that’s part of the reason. Think about it. Hasn’t anyone close to her had bad luck? Like Atlas and Finnian?”
“Both of them got too close to her, and everything went wrong for them. But Francis kept his distance and hasn’t had any trouble since joining the group, right?” Odalys added.
“That’s true,” Selah let out a soft exhale.
[Odalys is right. It will be bad luck to be near Sophia.]
[Ah? Finnian had better stay away from Sophia as much as possible.]
[Odalys makes a lot of sense. I think I get it now. Everything has a spirit, even animals.]
[My grandmother used to say animals have a kind of spirit. If they like someone, that person’s character is probably pretty good.]
[Oh my god, Odalys knows so much. Is there anything she doesn’t understand?]
[I don’t even want to watch anything with Sophia in it anymore. I’m afraid of catching bad luck.]
The fans and viewers in the livestream were buzzing with excitement. Some even went back and edited together videos of the times Sophia had gotten into trouble.
It became clear that Odalys’ words were spot on. No one had bothered Sophia, yet she was always the one in trouble. Even those around Sophia didn’t have a good ending.
Not just the people on the variety show, but even the recent downfall of the Bennett Group was something everyone had heard about. And even those not involved in high society were aware of it. People began to avoid the Bennett Group at all costs.
After Odalys finished her explanation, she turned, but then stopped in her tracks.
“What’s wrong?” Freya asked, startled when she saw Odalys freeze. She hurried over but was stopped by Odalys’ hand.
“I think I stepped on something,” Odalys whispered.
Everyone’s attention shifted to Odalys as they looked down, spotting several pheasants huddled on the ground, looking as if they’d been startled.
“Ah, pheasants,” Selah said, a little surprised. She pushed aside the grass and saw dozens of pheasants crouching in the dirt, clearly frightened. Even when people got closer, they didn’t move.
“Our lunch might just be taken care of,” Freya said, swallowing nervously.
But Odalys picked out one that seemed to have been injured. She murmured, “This one’s fine. It’s probably not going to last long, considering it’s been kicked. Let the others go.”
“Alright.” Stellan nodded in agreement.
One pheasant was enough to feed them for an entire day. They weren’t greedy.
The group continued walking forward. Along the way, they noticed various animals lying in the grass, likely all startled by something. They probably feared the giant python might return and were hiding in the underbrush.
They picked out the injured ones, the ones that wouldn’t survive much longer, and let the rest go.
Before long, Stellan’s hands were full, one pheasant in his left hand, a rabbit in his right.
Freya had a wild goose draped over her shoulder, and Selah’ s hands were loaded with mushrooms.
“Odalys, is that enough?” Selah asked softly, feeling the weight in her hands. “We won’t be able to eat all this in two days.”
They had gathered so many ingredients. They hadn’t even had to look for them. Everything just seemed to present itself.
But Odalys stood still, her brow furrowing. She turned to glance at them and said, “You all should head back first.” “What about you?” they asked in unison.
Odalys paused for a moment, then, as though hearing something in the distance, she looked off thoughtfully.
“The giant python is back. It’s nearby. I’ll go find it. You all head back.” Her voice was calm as she glanced at the cameraman and added, “You should leave too.”
None of them dared to argue. The mention of the giant python sent a shiver down their spines, and everyone was suddenly on edge.
Selah reached out and grabbed Odalys by the arm, her face shifting with worry. She quickly shook her head. “Odalys, we’ll go together.”
“It’s fine. It won’t harm anyone. You all go ahead. I’ll meet it and be back shortly. I promise I won’t let myself get hurt.” Odalys assured them, but they still insisted on staying with her.
She remained silent for a moment, her gaze lingering on them, then said, “If I don’t go now, I’m afraid it might come looking for me later tonight.”
“To avoid it appearing at night, you should head back first,” Odalys explained.
Stellan gripped the pheasant and rabbit tightly, his voice low as he spoke, “What if I go with you? I’m a man, I’m stronger, and I can run faster.”
“No need.” Odalys quickly shook her head, refusing.
Seeing her determination, the others had no choice but to grit their teeth and turn back.
Their footsteps were hurried, and even the cameramen were moving fast. Even though they knew the giant python wouldn’t harm them, they couldn’t shake their nerves. They worried that, just like Sophia, they might be sent flying by its tail at any second.
Once they had left, Odalys turned around.
A giant python dropped from the sky, its thick, long body unfurling in mid-air. It was massive, standing at least 6.5 feet tall when it reared up. It hovered in the air, staring down at Odalys, who stood calmly with her hands behind her back.
The knife she held was tucked inside her sleeve, concealed.
“You were looking for me?” Odalys tilted her head, meeting its gaze.
The giant python swayed briefly before it spun around and, with a flick of its tail, grabbed her. It swung her up into the air and dashed toward the nearby cliff.
Odalys gripped her knife tightly. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the python’s silhouette streak past her. Before long, they arrived at the edge of a cliff.
There, lying on the ground, was another snake.
The snake was pierced through the center by a crude wooden stick, almost like a rough arrow. It was clearly near death, its body barely twitching as it lay motionless.
The giant python gently lowered Odalys to the ground. It coiled itself up into a spiral, raising its head to her level. “You want me to save it?” Odalys squinted, thoughtfully locking eyes with the giant python.
Upon hearing her words, the giant python eagerly nodded, flicking its tongue in the air.
Odalys smiled at it, then, in a low voice, asked, “Was that noise outside the yard last night made by you? Were you spying on me while I was treating someone?”
Chapter 155
At that moment, Odalys felt as though something was watching her from behind. However, she needed acupuncture for Brandon’s son, and she had no time to turn around.
But after she finished with the acupuncture, the sensation faded. At first, Odalys thought it was just her imagination. To her surprise, it wasn’t.
The giant python hissed, nodding its head toward the ground in her direction. Odalys watched as it lowered its posture. She held her breath.
“I’ll take a look at it first. But this wooden stick is lodged in its body. I can’t guarantee I can fix it, and I’ve never treated a snake before,” Odalys said softly.
The giant python listened carefully and quickly moved aside.
Odalys stepped forward and looked at the snake. It was as thick as her arm and clearly had lived for at least twenty years.
“What is this?” Odalys was slightly taken aback. When she touched the wooden stick, she recognized the smell. It was strangely familiar.
“This scent… Is this from the Stewart family’s corpse clothing?” Odalys’ eyes lit up.
She remembered smelling this when she first arrived in the village. It had been present when she entered, but later it disappeared, and she had assumed it was just a problem with her sense of smell.
Unexpectedly, she now smelled it on the wooden stick.
“I may need to pull the stick out, and then I can stop the bleeding. But I can’t guarantee it will survive. Can you trust me?” Odalys asked in a low voice.
The giant python swam over and squatted down, nodding its head.
Odalys placed her hand on the snake’s abdomen and, with a strong pull, removed the wooden stick. Blood splattered everywhere.
She quickly reached into her bag, pulled out a hemostatic powder, and sprinkled it on the wound. Then, she drew a talisman and placed it on the spot. The blood stopped instantly the moment the talisman touched the wound.
The snake, which had previously been lifeless, suddenly moved slightly.
“Keep it still and don’t let it move. Whether it survives depends on its luck,” Odalys said quietly.
Clearly, she was nervous. Her fingers were trembling. She worried that if the snake died when she pulled out the stick, the giant python might hold a grudge against her.
It had been watching her all night, and it had clearly noticed that she understood medicine.
Even if Sophia hadn’t stolen its eggs, it likely would have come after Odalys today.
The giant python continued hissing but kept its distance from her. Odalys picked up the wooden stick and saw that there was a word carved on it.
She lightly traced the word with her fingertip, feeling a faint warmth. A chill passed through her eyes.
“I’ll take this stick with me. If you need anything, you can come find me,” Odalys said, packing the stick away and turning to leave.
She walked quickly, her steps swift as if the wind were beneath her feet. She was bold, but she still had some fear of the giant python.
As she hurried back, she heard a sound behind her. She turned around in surprise and saw the giant python chasing
after her. Odalys’ heart leaped into her throat.
‘It’s not going to die now, is it? This is not my problem,’ Odalys wondered.
She was about to turn around and run when she saw the
giant python rush forward, blocking her path. Odalys barely managed to stop in time, almost crashing into it.
When she finally came to a halt, she saw the giant python flick its tail, sending something flying toward her.
Its tail swayed confidently in the air for a moment before a few wild animals were tossed in front of her. They were clearly injured from the pressure, not dead from the bites. “Is this for me?” Odalys said with a wry smile.
The giant python didn’t respond. It simply turned and disappeared from her sight.
Odalys picked up the five wild animals and headed back. By the time she reached the village, it was nearly noon.
As she passed Brandon’s house, she noticed the door was slightly ajar. Brandon was standing in front of it, his hands clasped behind his back. When he saw Odalys, he suddenly pushed the door open.
Odalys met his gaze. He gave her a slight nod.
“Got it,” she said quietly, without turning back, and left without speaking to him further. She didn’t want anyone to see her interacting with him.
After all, Brandon had had his tendons cut, and his son had nearly died from poisoning. It was clear that both events had been deliberate.
They had been forced to retreat into the mountains, afraid to even go to a hospital. It was obvious someone was watching them, but Odalys couldn’t understand why those people only watched them and hadn’t killed them.
She wasn’t sure, but she had a strong feeling it was connected to the incident with the Stewart family.
She kept her distance from Brandon, staying low-key. She wasn’t going to make a public connection with him. The brief nod when their eyes met, she understood it meant that his son’s condition had improved.
Only then did Odalys feel her heart slowly settle.
“Hey, Odalys is back!” Selah had been standing outside, waiting. When Selah saw Odalys, she rushed over excitedly. Freya and Stellan, hearing her, quickly ran out as well. Odalys was holding the wild animals, and her clothes were a little dirty.
“You went hunting? You scared me badly! No wonder you’ve been gone so long,” Freya said, almost on the verge of tears.
If Odalys hadn’t come back soon, Freya probably would have dragged Stellan out to look for her.
“I went a bit farther than expected, and got delayed on the way back,” Odalys murmured with a smile. She handed the wild animals to Selah while moving to wash her hands. Freya looked around, scanning Odalys for any injuries, and only relaxed when she saw she was unharmed.
“What did it want with you?” Freya asked in a lowered voice. Odalys had been checked over several times by Freya and was smiling from ear to ear. She wrapped an arm around Freya’s shoulder and said, “His son was injured, probably by accident, during a hunt. He came to me for help.”
“That works?” Freya was stunned.
Odalys just smiled without answering, quickly pushing Freya forward. “Did you wash the vegetables?”
“Yeah, they’re all ready. We’re about to make lunch,” Selah answered.
Stellan rolled up his sleeves and said, “I’ll make a stew with pheasant.”
“And then we can roast some rabbits… How about we eat while we cook?” Freya added, raising her hand in excitement.
“Sounds good.” Odalys nodded in agreement.
They all worked together to clean the wild game Odalys had brought back, cutting some sticks to hang them out to dry. After starting the fire, they skewered the wild rabbits, seasoned them, and placed them on the fire.
The savory aroma quickly filled the air.
Meanwhile, the scent of Stellan’s pheasant stew continued to spread through the village.
“Hey, this smells pretty good. I didn’t expect Stellan to be such a good cook,” Freya said after taking a bite, immediately praising him.
Selah and Odalys joined in and tasted it as well. After washing their hands, they sat down to enjoy the stew while occasionally brushing seasoning onto the roasting rabbits. Odalys used a knife to make a few shallow cuts in the meat, allowing the flavor to soak in better while roasting.
“We don’t have a fire over here. Can we put our stuff on your grill?” Francis walked over, noticing how strong their fire was. He was holding a pheasant, clearly already prepared.
“Sure, come on over.” Odalys waved him over with a welcoming gesture.
Seeing this, Francis quickly approached with his pheasant, following their lead. He found a thicker stick, skewered the pheasant, and set it over the fire. The delicious aroma soon began to rise.
Finnian also appeared, bringing some of his own food toward the fire.
Chapter 156
The group sat around the campfire. Finnian glanced thoughtfully at Odalys, his lips parted as if to speak, but Odalys cut him off.
“Don’t talk to me,” Odalys said coldly.
Finnian’s words were forced back down. He gave a self-deprecating smile, nodded slightly, and didn’t say anything more.
However, his gaze on Odalys remained intense and filled with longing. Stellan turned his head to block Odalys from Finnian’s view and said, “Odalys, let’s switch seats.”
“Okay.” Odalys nodded.
Stellan moved over to sit next to Finnian, effectively separating the two.
Finnian watched them take their positions, and a bitter feeling stirred in his chest. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of unwillingness, but he dared not speak up. He was afraid of getting hit.
“Ah, it seems like it’s cooked. I’ll try it first,” Freya said, picking up a knife to cut a small piece of meat. She tasted it, and her eyes lit up.
“This tastes great. It’s ready to eat.” Freya declared. The others, having finished their stew, immediately dug into the roasted meat.
The people from Group B handed some of the rabbits to Francis, and Finnian helped himself as well. Francis naturally shared the roasted pheasant with them too, and everyone ate happily.
Inside the adjacent room, Sophia was overwhelmed by the delicious aroma, sneezing repeatedly.
“Atlas, is the food ready? It smells amazing,” Sophia said, propping herself up from the bed, wincing in pain.
Her whole body ached as if her bones were coming apart.
After lying down for so long, her stomach growled loudly in protest. Atlas stood silently in the corner, his expression dark.
“Atlas, what’s wrong? Did they bully you?” Sophia asked, walking over to him, still unable to believe her own words.
“Atlas’s face was grim. Sophia had a feeling that it was somehow related to Odalys.
“Did Odalys do something to you? I’ll go confront her,” Sophia said, turning to leave the room.”
With each step, pain shot through her bones, and she gritted her teeth, her face pale, as she made her way outside.
The area outside was empty, but the enticing aroma drifted from the next room.
Sophia instinctively moved toward it, finding Finnian and Francis sitting by the fire. A rabbit was roasting over the flames, along with a pheasant.
They held knives, cutting the cooked meat off and dipping it in sauce, eating it with relish.
Nearby, there seemed to be some potherb and pickles, and the smell of the food assaulted her senses, sending waves of hunger through her. Sophia stood frozen, staring in disbelief.
“Atlas, why are Finnian and Francis eating with them? Where’s our share?” Sophia turned back to Atlas, her voice tinged with shock.
Atlas’s face remained tight, his fists clenched.
“This pheasant was hunted by Francis and Finnian. You were injured this morning, and I brought you back. We didn’t get anything ourselves,” Atlas said, his voice low.
He hadn’t expected to be so upset over food, of all things.
“What do you mean? Francis and Finnian are from our group. The things they hunted should have been shared with us, right? Why are they keeping it all to themselves, eating with Group B?” Sophia couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
She felt utterly betrayed by her own people, fury building inside her.
“Maybe they just think Odalys is more important right now,” Atlas said, his tone bitter.
Sophia, however, wasn’t satisfied with this. She lifted her chin, ignoring the pain in her body, and walked over to the group. She stood towering above them, looking down on the ones by the fire.
“Francis, Finnian, you’re from Group A, right? Why are you eating with Group B?” Sophia asked in a cold voice, her tone dripping with disdain.
In the past, Finnian would’ve rushed to her side, showering her with attention and care. But now, he didn’t even look up. He simply kept chewing on the pheasant leg in his hand. Francis wiped his mouth and replied sarcastically, “Ms. Bennett, didn’t I tell you I wasn’t joining you? I find my own food, and I’m fine on my own. You’re always busy with something, never focused on finding supplies.
“What’s the matter? Now you think I should share the food I find with you? You and Atlas have never even helped with the search for supplies.
“Since we got here, have either of you even gone into the woods? Have you gone out looking for food?”
Sophia’s face turned bright red. It was true. She hadn’t gone out to search for anything since they arrived. There had always been something else keeping her occupied, but it wasn’t because she wanted to avoid it.
Sophia stood up straight and confronted him with confidence. “Francis, we’re in the same group. We need to stick together. Did Group B brainwash you or something? “Even if you don’t like me or don’t agree with me, you’re still part of Group A. What will Group B think of us if you act like this?”
Francis didn’t respond to her. Instead, he sliced off another piece of meat and held it out.
“I’ll trade you a wing for a piece of rabbit meat. How does that sound?” Francis said as he placed the wing on a clean plate.
Stellan, watching the exchange, couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Alright,” he said, being generous. He cut a large piece of meat and passed it forward to make the trade. He then pushed the wing toward the others, silently signaling them to help themselves.
“Odalys?” Freya gestured toward Odalys, but Odalys simply took the wing and pressed it into Freya’s hand with a gentle smile. “You eat it.”
“Thanks,” Freya said, taking the wing and passing it to Selah, who took a bite.
Odalys, meanwhile, continued eating her pickled
cucumbers and cutting her meat in silence, not uttering a word.
The more calm and composed Odalys appeared, the angrier Sophia became. She stomped her foot in frustration.
“Odalys, are you trying to brainwash my team and make them turn against us?” Sophia shouted, her frustration clear.
Odalys, who had been suddenly called out, looked at her with a puzzled expression. She stared at Sophia as if she were dealing with a fool.
Not getting angry, Odalys simply replied, “They’re grown men in their twenties. Do you really think I need to brainwash them? Besides, we have a campfire. They came to borrow some fire, and we graciously let them.
“Is that a problem? Or do you think we shouldn’t help them? Should we have turned them away just when they needed fire?”
Odalys’ few words shut Sophia down. Sophia, angered and speechless, couldn’t find a way to respond.
“Francis, what about us? Does that mean Atlas and I don’t get anything to eat?” Sophia asked, her voice filled with frustration.
Francis chewed his meat without care, looking at her with a cold, almost disdainful glance. A flicker of sarcasm flashed in his eyes. “If you want some, then come over here and get it. Do you expect me to kneel and beg you for permission?”
Sophia froze at his words. There was no way she was going to lower herself to walk over and ask for food.
She stood there, watching the sizzling meat, her stomach growling, and she could almost feel the hunger pangs piercing through her. The delicious scent was almost too much to bear.
But her pride and reason stopped her from moving.
“Who cares about your food?” Sophia scoffed, turning around and walking away with her head held high, her steps deliberate.
Chapter 157
Sophia walked slowly, almost as if she wanted them to stop her, but nobody spoke up.’
When she reached the door, she glanced back at the group next door. They were still chatting quietly, with laughter echoing from their side.
“They’re planning to isolate us. Are we being bullied in the entertainment industry?” Sophia gritted her teeth and muttered.
She intentionally made her tone heavier for the cameras.
In today’s world, people are sensitive to isolation and bullying. She didn’t believe that Odalys and the others would get bombarded by online criticism.
[What’s this? She’s the one causing all the trouble, but now she’s shifting the blame to others.]
[This is unbelievable. Sophia is such a bitch.]
[I actually think Sophia has a point. They’re all part of the same group. Why are they isolating Sophia and Atlas? Does that mean Sophia doesn’t deserve food just because she can’t find any?]
[Now that I think about it, Sophia and Atlas are kind of pitiful.]
Everyone watching the footage felt a bit sympathetic. It wasn’t really about isolation or bullying. It was more about Sophia wanting to get by without lifting a finger.
She didn’t want to search for food, but expected to be served. When no one catered to her, she started to complain.
“It’s still early. You can go out and search for fifteen more minutes,” the cameraman kindly reminded her.
But Sophia wasn’t having it. She stomped her foot in frustration.
“It’s noon! The sun is blazing! You want us to go out and search for food? What if I get sunburned?” Sophia snapped instinctively. The cameraman was taken aback and didn’t respond.
Atlas remained silent, his energy drained. For some reason, after arguing with Sophia, he felt like he couldn’t get his spirit back. Being isolated by everyone wasn’t the problem. It was the emptiness he felt inside.
“Atlas, say something!” Sophia urged when she noticed his silence. She quickly walked over to him, trying to act cute, but Atlas instinctively took a step back.
Sophia’s hand froze in mid-air, and she stared at him, disbelieving. “You’re disgusted by me?”
“Knock it off. You stole the snake eggs this morning, and you almost scared everyone to death. Now you’re still making a fuss. What do you want to do?” Atlas snapped before he could stop himself.
As soon as he spoke, tears welled up in Sophia’s eyes. She staggered backward, unable to believe what she had just heard. She looked at Atlas, her voice trembling. “Even you’re yelling at me?
“Do you think I wanted to steal the eggs? I wanted to get you guys some supplies! But now that things went wrong, you’re blaming it all on me?”
“What if the eggs were chicken eggs? Wouldn’t you have eaten them together? Then why is it my fault now that things went wrong?” Sophia whispered, her voice heavy with hurt.
She had never been treated so coldly before. Now, she regretted dragging Odalys onto this variety show.
She didn’t get the attention she expected. Instead of being the center of admiration, she was being targeted by everyone. It all happened because Odalys kept trying to show off, and now Sophia had become the one everyone was comparing.
“Forget it. I don’t want to argue with you anymore.” Atlas was fed up. He turned and walked away, not wanting to say another word to her.
Sophia sat down on a nearby chair, staring blankly at his retreating figure. She buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed with emotion.
She murmured, “I can’t let this go on like this. There are only a few days left. I need to grab the spotlight and draw attention.’
Sophia thought to herself, ‘I can’t leave the entertainment industry. It’s the easiest way to make money, and I’ll get to be the center of attention. The key is that only in this industry can people notice me.
‘That’s the only way I’ll ever have a chance to marry into a wealthy family. I can’t live that kind of poor life. If I don’t stay in the entertainment industry, where else can I go? Right now, the Bennett Group’s business is in trouble.
‘If the company goes under, or if the Bennett family falls apart, what am I going to do? The entertainment industry is the easiest way to meet the big players, where even the smallest investor is a millionaire.
With these thoughts racing through her mind, she quickly forced a smile. Although her fists were clenched tightly, she still managed to turn gracefully and walk toward the next door. When she got there, she found that everyone had already finished eating.
“Sorry for disturbing you all today. Thank you for letting us use your fire,” Francis said politely, picking up the bones from the ground and stretching lazily.
Stellan waved his hand dismissively. “We’re all here for the show, no need to be so formal.”
Although they weren’t exactly friendly, they weren’t at the point of ripping each other apart in front of the cameras. Courtesy was still expected.
While they were talking, they noticed Sophia had quietly walked up and was standing not far from them. They exchanged a brief look.
“I was too emotional earlier, and I came to apologize. Also, for what happened this morning, it was my ignorance that almost dragged everyone into trouble. I’m really sorry,” Sophia said softly.
Sophia didn’t truly believe she was wrong. What she didn’t want was for these people to become her enemies. She couldn’t afford to make enemies in the industry, especially when these people could become valuable contacts and resources that would help her secure her position in the entertainment world. She couldn’t afford to miss out on that.
“Instead of apologizing to us, you’d be better off going out and looking for food. It’ll get dark soon,” Francis said, pointing at the sun.
Time was running out. The mountain path was tough to navigate, and if they didn’t hurry, it would be evening by the time they got back.
Sophia didn’t expect him to be so blunt. She thought that after apologizing, they would offer to share some of their food with her.
But Stellan had no intention of being generous, and Freya was sitting under a tree, drinking from her cup. Selah and Odalys were chatting, and it seemed like Odalys was giving her a divination reading.
Hearing Sophia’s voice, neither of them seemed interested in engaging.
“Odalys,” Sophia said, struggling to take a step forward. When she saw Odalys holding Selah’s hand, Sophia forced a smile and asked, “Are you doing divination for her?”
“I heard you do divination. I haven’t had a chance to ask you for a reading. How about doing one for me?” Sophia said, trying to be as charming as possible.
Freya was stunned and stared at Sophia, trying to figure out what Sophia was after.
“Do you really want me to do a reading for you?” Odalys sneered at her.
Sophia was wearing a pink dress with high heels, standing there elegantly and composed. Her face was covered with heavy makeup, attempting to hide her pale complexion.
On any normal day, she would have looked fine in that outfit. But this was a village.
It wasn’t that people couldn’t dress up here. It was just that the ground wasn’t paved with concrete, but rather hard soil. Everywhere she walked in her high heels, she left small indents from the tips of her shoes.
Sophia looked glamorous, but she felt completely out of place.
Most people around her were dressed casually, and the area was infested with mosquitoes. Sophia’s exposed arms were immediately covered in two itchy bites, but she couldn’t scratch them without drawing attention.
The scene felt awkward, and even Odalys fell silent as she watched.
♡
Chapter 158
Even though Sophia liked to appear beautiful and showcase herself in front of the camera, she didn’t have to go this far.
“What do you mean by that?” Sophia’s expression changed, her face paling slightly.
Sophia had expected that if she took the initiative to approach Odalys, she wouldn’t be met with such coldness. But she had miscalculated.
“You wanted men to revolve around you. You went and
sought a love talisman, didn’t you? Even if you’re in trouble, it’s all because you asked for it, right?” Odalys said, casting a casual glance at her.
Sophia’s heart skipped a beat, and her face drained of color. It felt as though Odalys could see straight through her, and it made Sophia even more anxious.
‘How could Odalys know I sought the love talisman? Wait… trouble?’ Sophia’s heart began to race, her palms sweating. “Are you joking? Why would I need a love talisman?” Sophia let out a cold laugh, her voice laced with a hint of nervousness.
She tried to mask the awkwardness, but her inner panic was almost impossible to conceal.
Sophia remembered hearing Odalys’ words, and they made her nervous for no clear reason.
Back on the variety show, Sophia’s popularity wasn’t great, so she had secretly gone to find a love talisman. That was when she had acquired the Love Spell to help display her personal charm.
Sophia wanted men to fall deeply for her and give her their undivided attention. But unexpectedly, Odalys had destroyed her plans.
Sophia hadn’t anticipated that Odalys would injure Finnian’s palm and ruin the Love Spell that Sophia had paid a hefty price for. That spell was now completely wasted.
Sophia stared at Odalys, wanting to say something more. “I’m a little tired. I’m going to lie down in my room for a bit. We can go out later this afternoon,” Odalys said, turning to head inside her room.
Sophia rushed forward, trying to stop her. Freya immediately stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “Sophia, no matter what’s going on with you, I think it’s better if you just take a hint. We just finished eating, and we’re going to rest now. Please leave,” Freya said coldly.
Freya had never liked Sophia, and her dislike had only intensified.
Sophia, stung by Freya’s words, bit her lip, forcing a strained smile as she said, “Why are you so defensive? Yes, we’re competitors, but you didn’t have to go this far.”
“As long as you don’t cause trouble or keep pestering us, we can all get along just fine,” Freya said with icy indifference.
Selah stepped forward, grabbing Freya’s arm and whispering, “Freya, Odalys just gave me a divination. I…” Selah lowered her voice as she spoke, walking backward toward the room. With a loud bang, the door slammed shut. Sophia barely heard Selah’s voice from the other side of the door, but it was too soft to make out clearly.
Feeling awkward, Selah turned to leave but froze when she noticed Stellan standing with his arms crossed, staring at her coldly.
“Sorry, I think they must’ve misunderstood me, so they’re acting so hostile toward me.” Sophia approached Stellan, hoping to engage him in conversation.
After all, Stellan was different from the others. He had a powerful background.
“Ms. Bennett, why do you feel the need to explain to me? I think we’re not at a level where you should feel obligated to tell me all this,” Stellan replied dismissively.
Sophia’s eyes welled up with tears. She looked at Stellan in disbelief, but all she saw in his gaze was cold indifference.
In the past, many rich young men had pursued Sophia, but now, she was being shunned and couldn’t even get a meal. It was beyond humiliating.
“Sorry to bother you.” Sophia forced a bitter smile. She turned to walk toward the next room, ready to retreat and rest.
Sophia spotted Rafael not far away, standing under a tree, holding a plate of food and waving at her. She lifted her foot to approach him, but then, remembering his sleazy behavior, she abruptly turned around and headed back to her room.
Lying on her bed, Sophia couldn’t seem to fall asleep. She felt lightheaded from hunger, as though she might faint. She quickly got up, grabbed the bag of crackers she had stashed in her purse, and began eating. After a few bites of crackers and a half-glass of water, she felt a bit better. “What am I supposed to do?” Sophia muttered softly to herself.
Her current situation was extremely unfavorable, and she couldn’t figure out how to turn things around. For a moment, she regretted her impulsive decision earlier that morning.
‘Why have I gone and picked up the snake eggs?’ She thought about it, and a dark, malicious look crossed her face.
“What if it dies?” she whispered, a wicked thought forming in her mind.
Sophia remembered how Odalys had used the snake repellent spray when she went to the deserted island. The village was surrounded by mountains, and the villagers must have had snake repellent spray too. She thought of Rafael. ‘If Rafael has some, he would probably give it to me, right?’ The thought made Sophia’s mood improve. She lay back on the bed and soon drifted off to sleep.
Just as she was falling asleep, she heard a faint sound. A chill wind blew past her, and she suddenly felt a cold shiver down her spine. She quickly turned her head and saw a giant python outside the window.
“No way, it must be a hallucination,” Sophia whispered to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.
But still, she cautiously approached the window. She reached out to open it, but just then, there was a loud crash, and the glass shattered all over the floor.
Startled, Sophia quickly stepped back. Several shards of glass flew toward her, cutting her arm. The giant python was now at the window, its head peering in, locking eyes with her.
“Ah, what do you want? Don’t come closer, please! I already gave you back the snake eggs. Why are you still after me?” Sophia screamed in terror.
But the giant python paid her no mind. It slithered through the broken window and charged at her, knocking her back hard against the wall.
Pain shot through her body as she fell, and the giant python slowly slithered toward her. It exhaled a hot breath directly onto her face.
“What do you want from me?” Sophia cried out, her voice trembling with fear.
She tugged at the hem of her dress, but the python’s breath caused the fabric to flutter up, sending a cold wave over her. She saw it lunge at her, and her eyes widened in horror. “Ah, pervert, no!” Sophia screamed in terror.
She desperately tried to pull her skirt down, but felt a sharp pain. She cried out in pain and sat up in bed, only to realize the familiar room was now empty. Aside from her heavy breathing, there was no other sound.
“I must have been dreaming,” Sophia muttered bitterly to herself, a dry laugh escaping her lips.
She shifted slightly, leaning against the headboard, and glanced at the window. It felt cold, and the dream still lingered in her mind, vivid and unsettling.
The panic from the dream had left her restless, and when she touched the bedspread, she realized it was slightly damp.
“How did this happen? Did the snake crush me in my dream, and that’s why my bones got dislocated, causing me to wet the bed?” Sophia whispered to herself.
The thought startled her. She had felt something strange when she was in the woods earlier, and now, the sheets were damp in a small spot.
Sophia quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped it, but the more she thought about it, the worse she felt.
Just then, a knock came from the door. Sophia jumped, startled.
“Who is it?” she asked, irritation rising in her chest. She hurried to the door and opened it to find Atlas standing outside, holding a portion of cereal, offering it to her.
Chapter 159
“This is from the production team. Consider this a one-time thing,” Atlas said.
Everyone had noticed that Sophia wasn’t going out to find anything to eat, and they were starting to worry that she might starve during the recording.
When she saw the cereal he handed her, a lump formed in Sophia’s throat. She used to refuse this kind of food, but now, seeing it, her eyes began to well up.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the cereal. She had intended to eat it delicately, but subconsciously, she was eating it in large gulps. It wasn’t long before it was gone.
Though she wasn’t completely full, she felt much more energized.
“We’ll go out and find something to eat soon. Group B has a lot of games they hunted, and I think we can get some too. We can’t let Odalys think we’re weak,” Atlas added, then suddenly leaned in closer, lowering his voice.
“We still need to find a way to get close to her. The emerald pendant is still with her. Only if we get our hands on it can the Bennett family be restored. Once the Bennett Group is back on track, our resources won’t be affected.”
“If Odalys refuses to hand it over, we can work together to trick her out of it. This place is unfamiliar to her, and if she were to have an accident, no one would suspect anything. What do you think?” Atlas spoke in a low, serious tone.
His eyes were filled with competition and desire, but he had never considered that Odalys was his biological sister.
Sophia had originally intended to ignore him, but hearing Atlas’s words made her snap out of her daze.
“Fine, I’ll follow your lead,” Sophia whispered, determination in her voice. Her grip on the plate tightened, and she nearly crushed it in her hands.
Sophia thought to herself, ‘Once I take back the emerald pendant, Hannah will definitely see me in a new light. Then, I won’t have to worry about her being biased toward Odalys anymore.
‘Before, I was always afraid that the Bennett family might discard me because we weren’t blood relatives. But as long as I’m useful to the Bennett family, they won’t dare abandon me.’
“Alright, you go rest. I’ll take the plate back to the production team,” Atlas said, gently ruffling her hair.
Sophia looked up at him, flashing an alluring smile. She whispered, “Don’t worry, Atlas. Even if they try to push us out, I believe we’ll still be just fine.”
“Yes,” Atlas replied with a faint nod. His mind wasn’t on that. Right now, his focus was on obtaining the emerald pendant.
Meanwhile, in the room next door, Selah had turned her head and crawled over to Odalys, flipping onto her stomach and resting her chin in her hands as she looked at her. Odalys, can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead,” Odalys replied softly.
Selah took a moment to collect her thoughts before asking, “You said Sophia brought this trouble upon herself.”
“I know about the love talisman. It makes men obsessed with her, but what kind of trouble are you talking about? Does it mean she’s going to face disaster? Is that what you meant?” Selah asked, confused, unsure if she understood the same thing Odalys meant.
Freya, who had been listening, immediately shuffled closer and perked up her ears.
Odalys spoke softly, explaining, “In simple terms, it’s a catastrophe caused by attraction. It’s a good thing to be liked by someone, but if you force someone to like you, that’s often done with an agenda.
“When that desire isn’t met, it can turn destructive. Some things have a tipping point. Sophia wants too much. When her inner desires are unfulfilled, she’ll end up trapped in a cycle of self-manipulation.
“At that point, she’ll lose her rationality. Right now, she’s trapped by her own inner demons, making mistakes and shifting the blame onto others, just to draw attention to herself.
“But we’re all adults. We know right from wrong. No one is going to go along with what she wants. The more she feels frustrated, the more she’ll try to show off and rebel.
“People create their own catastrophes, and the trouble she’s facing because of men is exactly what she asked for.”
Selah listened quietly, nodding repeatedly.
“There is some truth to that. I even wonder if she’s mentally unstable,” Selah said, voicing her inner thoughts. ‘Sophia’s like a crazy person, targeting anyone she sees,’ she wondered.
“If you don’t want to get caught up in her mess, it’s best to stay away from her. I’m not trying to exclude her, but we’re not on the same path,” Odalys said softly.
Sophia’s fate was one she brought upon herself. From a young age, she had been stripped of her essence and rebuilt, leading her life to be rewritten.
In truth, Sophia’s troubles stemmed from her own malice. If she had been kind, then even though she had suffered such hardship as a child, her spirit would still have remained pure.
Everything that had happened to Sophia was a result of her own choices, a reflection of her inner self.
“Okay, I’ll follow your lead, Odalys,” Selah said, nodding obediently.
Selah gazed at Odalys, her eyes full of admiration, and spoke softly, “When I first met you both, I was so scared and worried. I was constantly second-guessing myself, afraid I would offend someone and end up blacklisted.”
“At the time, I was so naive. But honestly, you two are great.” Selah laughed a little as she spoke.
Back then, Selah had been overly cautious, and now, thinking back on it, she felt a bit pathetic for how she had acted.
Freya, who had been listening, raised her hand and playfully slapped Selah on the behind.
“Ow!” Selah quickly covered her backside and turned to look at Freya.
“Getting brave now, huh? You’re flirting with Odalys in front of me?” Freya teased with a grin. “Odalys is mine. Don’t try to take her from me.”
At the sound of Freya’s words, Selah immediately flung herself onto Odalys and wrapped her arms around her. “No way! She’s mine!”
“Mine! Mine!” Freya said as she pounced on them.
The three of them tumbled around on the bed, and with a loud thud, they all fell off the bed in a heap.
[Ah, this is just like when my best friend and I used to mess around.]
[I thought stars were all so composed, but I had no idea they could be so playful, just like us regular people, getting into little scuffles on the bed.]
[They’re so cute! Not like the atmosphere in Group A.]
[Don’t bring up Group A. I just saw Sophia and Atlas talking in hushed voices. I don’t know what they were scheming, but something felt off.]
The viewers watching Group B’s playful scuffle and subsequent fall from the bed were filled with nostalgia, some even immediately calling old friends they hadn’t spoken to in a while, as memories of their past friendships came rushing back.
“What’s that smell?” Freya suddenly sniffed the air and looked around, confused, as she stood up.
Selah, still a bit dazed, replied, “What smell?”
Odalys’ expression changed slightly, her eyes widening with surprise. She quickly sat up, her gaze flickering with a sense of urgency.
“Something’s wrong,” Odalys whispered.
Without wasting another moment, Odalys grabbed her backpack and rushed out. The sky was growing dim, and dusk had already settled. A few men were sitting outside, chatting lazily.
When they saw Odalys running out, Stellan stood up in surprise. “What’s going on? Where are you headed?” Stellan asked.
Odalys’ face had darkened, her mood clearly foul. She glanced around quickly, but neither Sophia nor Atlas was anywhere to be seen.
“Where are Atlas and Sophia?” Odalys’ voice trembled with anxiety.
Stellan, puzzled, scratched his head and said in a low voice, “They went out about half an hour ago.
“Damn it,” Odalys muttered, her expression growing darker.
Without saying another word, she turned and dashed off toward the door.
Chapter 160
The eerie sound of screams echoed through the forest, sending a chill down everyone’s spine. They were all stunned, instinctively following Odalys as she rushed forward.
“What’s going on?” Freya exclaimed, startled.
Selah, right behind her, grabbed a nearby kitchen knife, holding it firmly as she whispered, “Whatever’s happening? We’re going to check it out.”
With the knife in her hand, Selah was ready to charge ahead.
Freya turned back, grabbing a nearby shovel with one hand, and said, “Let’s go.”
Selah gripped the knife, Freya held the shovel, and they both followed Odalys closely.
Stellan, behind them, grabbed a broomstick. Despite his fear, the cameraman quickly followed, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
It was the first time the cameraman had seen two of the hottest stars, Freya, the popular actress, and Stellan, the top actor, rushing out like they were about to get into a fight, armed with a knife, a shovel, and a broom. The scene was strange, to say the least.
[What’s going on?]
[Selah’s holding a knife, Freya’s got a shovel, and Stellan’s carrying a broom… Are they about to fight?]
[I feel like it’s either going to be a fight or some serious chaos. Why else would Odalys be running so fast?]
[The cameraman, hurry up. I need to catch the first scoop of this drama.]
The viewers were thrilled, nearly climbing into their screens to watch, and some even stopped what they were doing, holding their breath in anticipation.
Odalys sprinted toward the forest, following the same path, until she reached the edge of a cliff.
“Sophia, what are you doing?” Odalys shouted furiously.
Sophia turned in shock and saw Odalys standing not far behind her. She gripped something tightly in her hands, her eyes flashing with malice, ready to pour it out. But before she could, Odalys stormed forward.
Without hesitation, Odalys raised her foot and kicked Sophia hard. With a loud thud, Sophia was sent flying.
Sophia hit the ground heavily, and before she could even get up, Odalys stepped forward and brutally stomped on her back.
“Odalys, what are you doing?” Sophia gasped, wincing in pain.
Sophia had been about to spray snake repellent when Odalys interrupted her. She had almost succeeded.
It was common knowledge that snakes feared snake repellent spray. Once Sophia sprayed it, the snake would be trapped, and then, the fate of the giant python would be in her hands.
Killing the giant python would not only rid the area of a threat but would also show off her skills on the live broadcast.
Unfortunately, Odalys had ruined her plans.
“What am I doing? I should be asking what you’re doing!” Odalys snapped sharply. She grabbed Sophia’s wrist, yanking the package out of her hand.
Leaning down, she sniffed it, confirming her suspicion. It was indeed snake repellent spray, and there was a substantial amount.
“Why did you suddenly kick me? What did I do wrong? You should just die!” Sophia cried out in pain, her voice trembling.
Atlas, hiding in the shadows, saw Sophia get kicked and was scared out of his mind. He rushed forward.
“What’s going on here?” Finnian demanded, striding up and seeing Odalys standing over Sophia, her foot pressing Sophia into the ground.
Odalys opened her hand to show the snake repellent spray to everyone.
“Sophia somehow got her hands on this snake repellent spray and was planning to use it on the giant python from earlier this morning,” Odalys said coldly.
Odalys just heard the giant python screeching, clearly sensing danger. Snakes were very sensitive to snake repellent spray. A small snake would get trapped by it, but the giant python was different. The spray couldn’t stop it. “You’re lying!” Sophia’s face turned pale.
Sophia hadn’t expected her plan to be uncovered by Odalys. Odalys looked down at the spray in Sophia’s hand and then coldly stated, “Am I lying? You and Atlas are holding snake repellent spray. Snakes are terrified of it.”
“Earlier this morning, the giant python struck you, embarrassing you. Now you want revenge, don’t you? Stop causing trouble here,” Odalys said, her voice cold and commanding.
“This giant python has been alive for nearly fifty years. A little snake repellent spray isn’t going to do a thing to it. Now you’ve angered it. Luckily, I got here in time,” she added. “If I hadn’t, today would have been your last day. “You can die if you want, but don’t drag us down with you.”
If killing weren’t illegal, Odalys would have already sent Sophia straight to hell.
Listening to Odalys’ explanation, everyone began to understand what was really going on.
“You’re lying. I don’t have anything in my hands!” Atlas insisted stubbornly.
‘As long as I don’t admit it, Odalys won’t be able to frame me,’ Atlas thought to himself.
The moment Atlas finished speaking, Odalys picked up a stone and flicked it at his hand. With a loud clink, the bottle in his hand shattered, and the spray poured out, spilling everywhere.
Without hesitation, Odalys took out a lighter, lit it, and tossed it at Atlas.
There was a loud whoosh, and flames engulfed his hand. The fire quickly spread, nearly wrapping around his entire body. Atlas, terrified, quickly dropped the bottle, but the burn on his skin was excruciating, the pain sharp and unrelenting.
“Ah! Odalys, what are you doing?” Atlas yelled, hopping up and down in pain. He hadn’t expected Odalys to set him on fire, almost burning him alive.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t holding snake repellent spray?” Odalys sneered. “Then why are you so scared? And this smell is clearly snake repellent spray.” As Odalys spoke, several staff members immediately nodded.
“That’s snake repellent spray. I often go into the wilderness, and my wife always makes sure I have some with me. It smells exactly like that,” one person immediately raised his hand and confirmed.
Atlas gritted his teeth, standing there as the burning pain in his hand drove him to the brink of madness.
He couldn’t believe it. They hadn’t killed the giant python, and Odalys had exposed his plan.
“If you want to die, just say it. Stop scheming behind everyone’s back,” Odalys said coldly.
She then raised her foot and kicked Sophia hard. Sophia let out a muffled grunt as the blow hit her chest, nearly knocking the wind out of her. The pain was so intense that she clutched her chest, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Sophia, you better watch yourself. If you end up getting someone killed, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Kenny said, now fully aware of how serious things were. He stepped forward, giving Sophia a stern warning.
Odalys continued, holding the snake repellent spray and flicking it right at Sophia’s face, “There are very few people in this village, and we haven’t interacted with any of them except for Rafael. Sophia, you’re really shameless.
“You were dragged into a room by Rafael, nearly taken advantage of, and now you’re still trying to stir up trouble.”
“Ah!” Sophia screamed as the spray hit her, choking and coughing as the liquid mixed with her sweat, leaving her face a muddy mess.
Sophia glared at Odalys with fierce, cold eyes. There was no longer any attempt to hide the bitterness in her gaze.
“Why does everyone believe you, but no one believes me?” Sophia growled, her teeth clenched.
Odalys pointed ahead, her voice low. “Didn’t you just hear the giant python screeching in anger? You still want to argue? If you don’t believe me, go ahead and try it yourself.”
お金金
SEND GIFT or GCASH: +63.936.139.8714 or Buy Me Coffee
COMMENT
Subscribe
Daisy Novels 
3 thoughts on “Betrayed, Yet Bound To The Billionaire by Grace Madeline (Chapters 151 to 160)”