Betrayed, Yet Bound To The Billionaire by Grace Madeline (Chapters 161 to 170)

Chapter 161

“This snake won’t harm strangers, but it will attack anyone who tries to hurt it,” Odalys said, lifting Sophia with one hand and pushing her toward the cliff’s edge.

Sophia struggled, fear flashing in her eyes.

“Odalys, let me go. Let me go!” Sophia’s voice cracked, hoarse from panic.

For a moment, as she fought against Odalys, Sophia glanced down at the base of the cliff. The giant python slowly extended its head, flicking its tongue as it locked eyes with her. Sophia trembled, the fear overwhelming her, as Odalys gave her a sharp push.

“Ah!” Sophia lost her balance, falling to her knees.

She scrambled backward, shaking her head. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I just wanted to spray some snake repellent to keep you away. It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me,” Sophia stammered, struggling to stand before she turned and ran.

The onlookers, watching the scene unfold, were filled with anger.

Sophia realized her plan had been exposed and didn’t dare to stay any longer. Without a second thought, she ran off. “Sophia!” Atlas called out, stunned as he watched her flee, unable to believe she had left him behind.

Just as Atlas moved to follow, Stellan stepped forward, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him off the ground. Are you trying to get us all killed? Don’t drag us down with you. She’s crazy. Are you losing it too?”

“Don’t you have any idea why the giant python went berserk this morning? She stole its eggs, and now she wants to kill the python to cover her tracks. You guys are ruthless. Atlas, you’re not much of a man!” Stellan spat.

With that, Stellan shoved Atlas away.

Atlas, stung by Stellan’s words, opened his mouth, but couldn’t come up with a response. He gritted his teeth and turned to walk away.

[Damn, I want to curse too. Who did the giant python offend? They were planning to kill it to keep quiet about what they did? These two are really something else.]

[If Odalys hadn’t caught on in time, the whole village would probably be dead by now.]

[Snake revenge is the worst. Once someone kills their companion, no matter where you go, they’ll track you down and make you pay.]

[Sophia really has lost it. Has she gone completely mad?] The online commentators were shocked, having initially thought Odalys was charging ahead to fight. Instead, she was trying to save everyone. If she hadn’t stopped Sophia, they all would’ve been doomed.

Even the production team stood there in stunned silence.

Odalys paid no attention to the crowd. Instead, she moved closer to the cliff, kneeling to speak to the giant python before jumping down.

“Odalys!” Freya gasped, her heart racing. She rushed forward, only to find that Odalys had already jumped.

The giant python was waiting below and caught her. On the side of the cliff, the injured snake lay still. After Odalys treated its wounds and placed a talisman on it, the wound seemed to be healing.

“It should be fine now. Don’t worry. Before I leave, I won’t let anyone disturb you,” Odalys whispered, speaking to the python.

She knew this ancient creature could understand human speech.

The giant python stared at Odalys for a long moment. She took out a talisman and wrote something in the air before tossing it upwards. The talisman hovered, creating an invisible barrier above them.

“As long as you stay inside, this talisman will protect you for three days. No one, and no animals, can get in,” Odalys murmured.

With a sudden thud, the giant python dropped to its knees before her. Its massive form made the ground tremble slightly as it knelt, and Odalys was startled by the force.

“You don’t have to thank me. Meeting is fate, a blessing from God. My mentor always said that all things have spirits, and animals and humans are no different,” Odalys spoke softly.

She was about to climb back up when the giant python’s tail wrapped around her, lifting her up effortlessly.

By the time the others arrived, Odalys was already back on solid ground. She turned to see everyone staring at her in shock. Her lips twitched slightly, trying not to smile.

“I just went down to check if the giant python was still there. It seems like it’s gone, probably scared off by Sophia.” Odalys lied smoothly.

Whether or not they believed her didn’t matter. Odalys grabbed Freya and Selah and started walking back.

No one dared to stay too long, so they quickly followed Odalys toward the village. As they left, the giant python slowly poked its head out from the cliff’s edge, waiting until everyone was gone before retreating back into the shadows.

This entire scene had been watched from the darkness by a hidden figure.

From the moment Odalys had saved someone earlier in the morning to later when she helped the snake, it had all been under his watch.

“It seems she wasn’t after me, after all,” Brandon muttered softly to himself.

Odalys had appeared and even treated his son last night. Although his son’s fever had broken and his condition was improving, Brandon still hesitated, believing his son might still be in serious danger.

Brandon had thought she was targeting him, even planning to kill him.

Since last night when she left, he had been observing her from the shadows. He’d realized that she was part of the production team, here for the show.

With that thought, Brandon turned and walked back toward the house.

By the time they returned to the village, it was already six in the evening. Everyone was exhausted, barely able to move. “Are you all hungry? Let’s have stew for dinner,” Odalys said quietly.

Selah was still shaken, sitting down with a far-off look. “Sure, I’ll go pick some vegetables,” Selah said, standing up to go.

Freya raised her hand and said, “The veggies we had the other day were good. Let’s see if there are more in the woods, and pick some more.

“I’ll check if there’s any potherb left, and we can throw in some wild game too,” Odalys offered.

Seeing this, Stellan took the wild game and said, “Okay, I’ll take care of chopping these up.

“Sounds good,” they all replied, splitting up to get to work.

In truth, none of them were really hungry, but since they were filming, it wouldn’t look good if they just sat around doing nothing. So, they chose to actively go out and find something to eat.

Stellan returned with wild vegetables by seven o’clock, and the steaming stew was ready. Finnian and Francis brought over plates, munching on leftover roasted pheasant from earlier.

“You guys have it pretty good,” they commented as they watched the others.

Meanwhile, only Sophia and Atlas sat by the fire, tossing the two potatoes they had stolen from the field into the flames. Unfortunately, the fire was too hot, and the potatoes quickly burned.

“They’re burnt,” Sophia said, her heart sinking. These were the only things they had to eat, and now they were ruined.

“Peel off the burnt bits. The inside should still be fine,” Atlas suggested.

His hands were wrapped in bandages, and he didn’t dare move them too much. The blisters on the back of his hands made it too painful to touch anything.

He hadn’t expected Odalys to be so cruel. She really did want to blow him up. Now, whenever Atlas looked at Odalys, all he felt was hatred, and even an urge to kill her.

“Tomorrow, we’ll definitely find something better to eat,” Sophia said, trying to comfort him.

She was worried that he might abandon her. Now, besides Atlas, no one else was paying her any attention.

“Okay,” Atlas answered in a distant voice, his mind clearly elsewhere. He seemed distracted, as though lost in thought.

That feeling of impending dread grew stronger. Atlas couldn’t shake the sense that everything was starting to fall off track.

As he fell deeper into his thoughts, Sophia noticed Rafael standing a little ways off, staring at her with an intense gaze. His eyes were fixed on her chest.

受 ♡

Chapter 162

“Atlas, I’m heading back to my room,” Sophia said, visibly shaken.

Earlier that afternoon, Sophia had gone to Rafael and borrowed some snake repellent spray, thinking she could just lie to him with no consequences. But now, here he was. If anyone found out, her reputation would be ruined.

[Wait. I just saw that creepy single guy.]

[He’s been staring at Sophia. I have a feeling something’s going on between them.]

[She went to his place earlier. Must’ve been to get the snake repellent spray she asked for.]

[Ugh, this is gross. I feel like throwing up.]

The internet users quickly noticed the figure nearby.

Rafael seemed to be watching Sophia, but she kept avoiding his gaze. A flicker of displeasure flashed in his eyes, though he didn’t move and instead walked off in a different direction.

Sophia had just entered her room when a tap on the window startled her.

She looked up, and there was Rafael’s face pressed against the glass, sending a chill down her spine. She almost screamed.

“You promised that you’d borrow something from me, and then come over for dinner tonight. You’re not trying to back out, are you?” Rafael’s voice was thick and slurred.

Even through the glass, Sophia could smell the stench of his bad breath.

“I-I’m not feeling well today. Maybe tomorrow,” Sophia stammered, her voice shaking.

Someone might have tampered with her underwear, flashed in her mind. The thought of that sleazy face made her regret getting involved with Rafael. She couldn’t understand why she had let herself be tangled up with him in the first place.

Rafael was the kind of person who wouldn’t even have been worthy of speaking to her in the past. Now, though, he was all over her.

If anyone found out, her reputation would be destroyed.

‘No, I need to think of something. Should I just kill him?’ This idea kept swirling in her mind, relentlessly hammering her brain as though urging her to give in.

“Fine. If you dare lie to me, you’ll regret it.” Rafael spat, turning and walking away.

Sophia collapsed onto the bed, forgetting that there were hidden cameras in the room.

The viewers watching the livestream were stunned. None of them dared to say bad of her, afraid of getting caught up in her mess.

At that moment, Selah was heading out to dump

something when she saw Rafael’s face pressed against the glass, speaking to Sophia.

“You guys won’t believe what I just saw!” Selah quickly grabbed her plate and rushed back.

She sat down, leaning in to whisper. “I saw Rafael standing by Sophia’s window, talking to her.”

“Do you think the things she and Atlas got today are the same things Odalys mentioned? Could they have made a deal with Rafael? What’s going on here?” Selah said, looking at them with disdain.

‘Sophia was supposed to be a noble young lady. She couldn’t have fallen this low, could she?’ Freya thought, her mouth falling open in shock.

“Rafael? Sophia’s got some serious tastes, huh? She used to act all high and mighty when we were fighting for resources. She had this whole attitude like she was above everything.” Freya sighed.

Even though Sophia was down on her luck, Freya never thought she would end up like this.

“Maybe I’m wrong, but look at this.” Selah pulled out her phone and showed them a picture.

She had just taken a quick shot, and although it was a bit blurry, it was clear enough to see Rafael leaning against the window, looking like he was talking to Sophia.

Odalys couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh. Everyone’s future partner had a certain level, a certain status.

By choosing someone like Rafael, it only proved that Sophia’s own fate wasn’t that high. She was draining her luck with these kinds of decisions.

Sophia had even gone as far as to undergo a complete transformation and let herself be adopted by the Bennett family. Now, Odalys was becoming more and more curious about the people pulling the strings behind Sophia.

It seemed that Sophia’s adoption by the Bennett family was no coincidence. It was possible that a member of the Bennett family might have struck some kind of deal with someone, leading to their favoring Sophia. Otherwise, it didn’t make sense.

“Odalys, could this be her trouble?” Freya asked, startled. The person in the photo looked to be at least in their fifties. “What else could it be?” Odalys responded.

Stellan, noticing the conversation, instinctively looked down at the screen. Then, without saying a word, he quietly stood up and began washing the dishes for everyone. Clearly, Sophia had left him speechless, unable to offer any further commentary.

After dinner, with the whole giant python incident still fresh on everyone’s mind, no one dared to wander off. Everyone returned to the living room to sit and chat.

“I’m going for a walk,” Odalys said, standing up.

Freya was about to follow, but Stellan reached out and placed a hand on her arm to stop her.

“I…” Freya’s lips moved, but then she saw Stellan shake his head.

“Odalys, come back soon. Be careful.” Freya quickly waved at her.

Odalys nodded, then turned and walked toward the door, disappearing quickly into the night.

Freya turned to Stellan, confusion written all over her face. Why did you stop me from going after her? Do you know something?”

Stellan sat there, sipping coffee, before answering in a low voice. “Odalys is always careful with her actions. If there’s nothing important, she won’t be leaving. And if she really wanted you to come along, she would’ve asked you to join her.”

“But she seemed a little anxious just now. She probably has something urgent to handle. If you follow her, you’ll only be a distraction,” Stellan said in a quiet tone.

His words shocked both Freya and Selah. They exchanged glances, then spoke in unison. “Wow, you really know her well.”

“Don’t overthink it. I think she’s a good person. She’s mature and sensible, even if she’s young,” Stellan said, continuing to sip his coffee as he walked back to his room.

Selah pointed at him, then at Odalys. “Stellan has feelings for Odalys, doesn’t he?” Selah seemed to be reveling in some gossip.

Freya flicked her forehead and said, “Nonsense. Stellan’s very principled. Don’t expect him to fall for Odalys. Even if he did, it wouldn’t matter.’

“Don’t forget. Odalys already said she’s married.” Freya waved her hand dismissively as she headed for her room.

Selah was suddenly much more agitated. “She’s only 20! There’s no way she’s married already, right?” Selah asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

Freya just shook her head and pointed to her own head. Marriage isn’t about age. In rich families, marriage is all about status like…”

“Anyway, they’re legally protected if they have a marriage license, but if they don’t, it doesn’t mean they aren’t married,” Freya said casually as she walked away, leaving Selah standing there in confusion.

“Seriously?” Selah asked, jumping up to follow Freya.

While they were gossiping, Odalys made her way through the streets, disabling all the nearby surveillance cameras and hidden ones, avoiding detection. She then headed toward the old mansion.

She knocked on the door but got no response. After a moment of thought, she turned, jumped up, and scaled the wall, effortlessly slipping inside.

♡

Chapter 163

The house was pitch dark, with no lights on inside. But Odalys knew that Brandon and his son were both in the house, watching her.

Odalys stepped inside, her boots echoing slightly on the empty yard. The air smelled faintly of something unusual, a fragrant scent wafting in from inside. As she pushed open the door, the lights in the living room suddenly flickered on. “You’re here?” Brandon’s aged voice called out, breaking the silence.

He was dressed in a black vintage suit, his pale hair slightly disheveled. His bony face revealed no emotion, but his sharp eyes were fixed on her, piercing as ever.

“It looks like he’s over the fever, able to sit up now. The poison in his body has been temporarily suppressed,” Odalys said, turning her head to glance at the middle-aged man Keylor beside Brandon, giving him a slight nod.

Keylor looked pale, dressed in an oversized T-shirt that only highlighted his frailty.

“Did you save me?” Keylor coughed softly, bowing his head in gratitude.

Odalys stood calmly, her hands clasped behind her, raising an eyebrow. She let out a low chuckle. “It seems like you have some questions for me.’

“If you’ve got something to ask, just ask. I don’t like to beat around the bush,” she added, her voice clear and confident.

She had come with a purpose. If it hadn’t been for that scent, she wouldn’t have had her eye on this place.

Brandon took a slow drag from his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke after a pause. He studied her thoughtfully through the haze as if trying to see through her.

To his surprise, Odalys stood there unfazed, and he couldn’t read her mind.

He began. “From the production team to that night in the village, you stood outside my house for two minutes. Then, pretending to be on a walk, you brought people into my house.”

“You’ve had your eye on me from the start. Last night, you came to save my son. What is it you want?” Brandon’s voice was old but still strong.

Odalys narrowed her eyes, meeting his gaze without a hint of unease. “Help me check something,” she said softly, pulling out a stick from behind her and offering it to him.

Brandon looked at her, confused, before taking the stick from her hand. As he held it, he noticed dried blood on the surface, with a faint metallic smell lingering.

“This stick has a peculiar scent, almost like the one in the air here. Is this yours?” Odalys asked, her voice low and deliberate.

The stick had been used to stab into the body of a giant snake. After pulling it out, she had kept it. Now, the scent it carried seemed to match the one wafting through the house.

“No.” Brandon shook his head slowly.

He ran his fingers over the stick, tapping it lightly before speaking. “This stick may look ordinary, but it’s been soaked in a special solution for several years.”

“The scent and the stick have merged together,” he added, handing it back to her.

Odalys frowned. She turned her head toward the lit scented candles nearby, her voice soft but serious. “But this scent is the same as the one coming from the candles you’re burning.”

“It’s different. Our scented candles are freshly made, while the scent on your stick has been aged for years. It may smell the same, but the effect is different,” Keylor suddenly spoke up, his voice weak but clear.

Odalys’s curiosity deepened.

“Freshly made scented candles mask other odors in the room, but aged ones, after years of accumulation, can be both a scent and a poison,” Keylor explained.

Odalys’s eyes widened in understanding.

“So this stick, which seems to be covered in scented candle residue, is actually poisonous?” she asked, her voice a bit sharper.

Keylor nodded slightly. “After soaking for years, the wood has turned black.”

“That’s strange,” Odalys said, even more puzzled now.

Someone had taken a poisonous stick and used it to stab a snake, but clearly, the giant python would have been of far more value.

“There’s nothing strange about it. This poison has a unique effect. Over time, it can control the human mind,” Brandon suddenly added.

Odalys’s fingers tightened slightly. The answer felt like it was almost within her grasp, but she couldn’t quite catch it:

An unusual sensation began to spread in her chest, an unsettling feeling that gnawed at her.

“But the stick was taken from a snake,” Odalys finally admitted.

When Brandon heard her mention a snake, the cup he had been holding slipped from his hands with a clatter,

crashing to the ground. Water splashed on his clothes, and his hands trembled as he stared at her.

“Was it the snake from the forest at the edge of the village?” Brandon’s voice was shaky, almost fearful.

Odalys nodded, recounting everything that had happened earlier that day.

She kept her gaze fixed on them, noting every detail of their expressions, taking it all in.

“Was there something wrong with the snake’s injury?” Odalys suppressed the rising confusion within her, her voice soft as she asked.

Brandon fell silent for a long time, his gaze distant, as though lost in thought.

Time passed slowly. Odalys remained patient, not interrupting him. When he finally snapped out of it, it seemed as though he had aged a decade.

“The giant python is poisonous, but the older they get, the more intelligent they become. It’s difficult to control them. Some people, in order to control these adult giant pythons, target their offspring instead,” Brandon explained.

“If what you said is true, then it’s possible that the stick was driven into that snake to control it, to use it to subdue the giant python and make it submit,” Brandon continued. Odalys was completely bewildered by this.

“Why would they want to control a giant python?” she asked in a low voice.

Brandon let out a quiet laugh, though it was laced with anger. “The giant python has venom in its body, and the fluids it secretes can be used to make all sorts of different poisons.

“While murder is a crime, if the giant python does the killing, swallowing a person whole leaves no trace, no evidence. The giant python is more loyal than any human, making it the perfect assassin.”

“The one in the forest near our village may be about to ascend to a higher form. It has become sentient. It doesn’t attack humans, but it won’t let anyone near its lair either. I never imagined someone would harm its offspring,” Brandon said, his eyes burning with barely contained rage. He slammed his hand down hard on the table, the sound echoing through the room.

“So these scented candles are unique to your house, or does everyone in your village have them?” Odalys asked, her confusion deepening.

But after entering the village, she hadn’t noticed this scent anywhere else, only in Brandon’s house.

“Our village has a long history of making scented candles. They can be used as fragrance or as poison, and my family has a tradition of weaving fabric. We use the scent in the cloth we make. The fabric we produce absorbs the scented candles, and it can stay fragrant for a long time without the need for perfume,” Brandon explained.

Odalys’s mind wandered briefly to the piece of clothing she had seen at the Stewart Villa, the one in the pond.

That garment had been made from the clothing of the dead. It not only carried the scent of the scented candles, but also the lingering energy of the deceased.

“Is your family the only one in the entire village that makes clothing?” Odalys asked in a low, measured tone.

Keylor, who had been silent until now, hurried to answer. “Of course. Our fabrics were famous all over the world. Back in Crownridge, we were well-known and respected.”

Chapter 164

With just one sentence, the fact that Brandon and his son had been in Crownridge was confirmed.

Odalys’ eyes darkened, a cold glint flashing in them as she shot a sharp look at both Brandon and Keylor.

“You both fled to a remote village in the mountains after leaving Crownridge, didn’t you?” Her voice was low and terrifying. “You must have harmed someone, or even killed them.”

Her words carried an immense pressure, as though her entire presence had expanded, filling the room.

Though she was only a 20-year-old girl, her aura was heavy enough to make it hard to breathe.

She stood there, her eyes filled with cold fury, slowly walking toward Brandon. When she stood right in front of him, she bent down slightly to meet his gaze, her voice icy as she asked, “Have you ever heard of the Stewart family?”

Brandon’s pupils constricted, and he began to tremble uncontrollably.

His lips parted, but he couldn’t find the strength to speak. Slowly, he collapsed back into the chair, as though his backbone had vanished, muttering under his breath, “So it’s come to this.”

“Who are you?” Keylor asked, stunned.

Keylor instinctively stepped in front of Brandon, but before he could move further, Odalys grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground with ease.

With a loud thud, Keylor was slammed against the wall, the impact ringing through the room.

He groaned in pain, still unable to believe what was happening. “Who… Who are you?”

Ordinary women couldn’t even lift a bucket of water, but Odalys had effortlessly picked him up. He didn’t have the strength to fight back. Her power was terrifying.

“You two used scented candles, didn’t you? You tampered with the fabric of those clothes and killed someone from the Stewart family, didn’t you?” Odalys’ voice was chilling, each word precise and clear.

The two men remained silent. Odalys released Keylor, tossing him roughly to the floor.

She thought of the gold bars Percival had given her and the pile of golden jewelry from Evander.

Even though she and Percival weren’t a real couple, they were still her employers. Checking into matters for them was simply part of the job.

“Did someone from the Stewart family send you?” Brandon’s voice was hoarse, and he slowly stood up, his eyes locked on Odalys. He trembled as he asked, “Is Mr. Stewart alright?”

Odalys stood firm, a cold smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “You’ve already killed his son. And you still have the nerve to ask if Mr. Stewart is alright? His son is dead. You think he’s fine?”

Her words were cutting, each one a dagger aimed at his heart. “Just like you. Your son is about to be killed, too. So tell me. Are you alright?”

Brandon’s body shook as he slumped back into the chair.

“Then kill me,” he said, voice trembling. “Just spare my son. He doesn’t know anything. Use my life to pay for Mr. Stewart’s son.”

Brandon pulled out a knife in desperation, attempting to end his own life. But as he tried to stab himself, he found the knife hovering in mid-air, unable to reach his body, no matter how hard he tried.

He froze, confused, realizing that Odalys had somehow stopped the blade in mid-flight.

With a soft clink, the knife fell to the floor, its sound sharp and clear.

Odalys watched the two men carefully, a sly smile spreading across her face as she spoke lowly. “I can save your son… and I can kill him too.”

She stepped forward casually, sitting down with one leg crossed over the other, propping her chin up in her hand as she gave both men a pointed look. “If you truly feel guilty about Mr. Stewart’s son, then why don’t you tell me the truth about that clothing?”

Brandon remained silent, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. They used my son’s life to threaten me, forcing me to make that garment. I checked it thoroughly at the time, and the fabric seemed fine. I thought it was just an ordinary new outfit.

“I folded the clothes, remade them to fit Mr. Stewart’s son’s size, and soaked them in my family’s special scented candles to cover up the fact that the fabric wasn’t new.

“The Stewart family’s clothes were always custom-made at my place. When my family was about to go under, Mr. Stewart helped us out.

“But after that, I just had this feeling something wasn’t right. Why did they want me to make the clothes in Mr. Stewart’s son’s size? After the Stewart family took the clothes away, I couldn’t sit still.

“I originally planned to go to the Stewart family and clear things up with Mr. Stewart, but before I could, I saw a car crash at an intersection downtown. It hit his son’s car.

“I saw blood everywhere, and strangely, there was no one in that truck. The car that hit Mr. Stewart’s son was also empty. I thought maybe he’d passed out.

“When I walked over, I found the car was empty. I felt something was off and wanted to help, but the car exploded.”

“Mr. Stewart’s son died right in front of me. No one got out of that car, and I felt more and more that something wasn’t right.” Brandon spoke, his voice trembling as he slowly rose to his feet.

His eyes were already brimming with tears as if he were drowning in regret and guilt. “I had this vague feeling that something was wrong. I kept thinking that something about those clothes was off, but when I tried to go to the Stewart family, my son was in trouble.

“He was found hanging, barely alive. They said he was poisoned, but no one could heal him. He couldn’t wake up. Later, I got a call telling me to pick up a package with a remedy that could ease the poison.”

Brandon paused, his lips twisting into a bitter smile. “I closed the shop, left Crownridge, and came back here, but over time, my son’s condition only worsened.

“When I finally decided to go back to the Stewart family, I found out that something had happened to them. And because I wanted to return, my grandson, my daughter-in-law, and my wife… All of them died.

“They all died because of me. Now, I only have one son left. They warned me that if I stepped foot outside this place or had any connection to the Stewart family, my family would be wiped out.”

“I’m not afraid of death, but now that my family’s all gone, I can’t just sit by and watch my son die in front of me, too,” Brandon said, kneeling before Odalys.

He kept bowing repeatedly, his cries nearly bringing him to the ground. Seeing this, Keylor rushed over, pulling him into a tight embrace, whispering softly, “Dad, please, stop.”

Odalys felt a pang of sorrow deep in her chest as she watched them.

When she had entered the room, she had drawn a talisman, an invisible mark placed upon them that allowed her to discern the truth of their words. She clearly saw that both of them were telling the truth.

“Then why are you telling me this now?” Odalys asked softly.

Brandon slowly lifted his head, and there seemed to be a flicker of light in his murky eyes. “You’ve helped my son with the poison. You saved his life. You’re my son’s savior. If it weren’t for you, he probably wouldn’t have made it through last night.

“I’ve told you everything you wanted to know. Even if I die tomorrow, I can’t keep this secret anymore. I saw Mr. Stewart’s son die in that car accident. I couldn’t save him.”

Chapter 165

“I want to know if it was that piece of clothing that caused Mr. Stewart’s son to die. I checked it. There was no poison. I made sure it was fine,” Brandon murmured softly to himself.

‘It’s just someone else’s worn clothes,’ he thought. ‘There’s no way anything could go wrong.’

Odalys watched him as he muttered under his breath, and slowly crouched down beside him.

“That’s a dead man’s clothes. It was worn by a dead man for years, then taken off and handed to you,” Odalys said coldly.

Brandon immediately stopped crying. He was stunned, his eyes wide as he looked at Odalys in disbelief.

“What happens to a living person who wears clothes worn by a dead man?” Odalys asked, her voice carrying a sharp edge.

Brandon collapsed again to the ground, his body trembling, the light in his eyes vanishing as if all his hope had just disappeared.

“Dead man’s clothes? That was a dead man’s clothes? I killed Mr. Stewart’s son, didn’t I?” Brandon shouted angrily, rising to his feet. For all these years, he had never dared face the truth, always hiding away in fear.

“Did the who person gave you those clothes also break your tendons?” Odalys asked quietly.

Brandon nodded through his tears. “Yes.”

At this, Keylor began to cry, his voice hoarse. “It was the night the Stewart family fell. That’s when they hung me up and poisoned me.

“They forced my dad to kneel before me, holding a dagger, and right in front of me, they cut his tendons.”

“Then they began to kill my son, my wife, and my mother…” Keylor’s voice trembled with rage, and he looked at Odalys, laughing bitterly. “They said if our family ever dared to have any more dealings with the Stewart family, next time, it wouldn’t be just killing or cutting tendons.”

“It would be castration, and our bloodline would be completely wiped out.” Keylor collapsed to his knees. Both men sat on the ground, in utter disarray.

Odalys didn’t speak. She stared at the talisman on them, ensuring they were telling the truth. After confirming, her fingers suddenly clenched, nearly crushing the edge of the table in her grip.

“You’re willing to tell me all of this, and you’re not afraid of dying?” Odalys asked, her voice still cold, though her anger had simmered slightly.

Brandon was helped back to his feet by his son, then returned to his seat. “They kept us alive because we still have some use. Since you’ve found this, it means the issues with the Stewart family aren’t fully settled.”

“You saved the giant python at the village edge. It’s our village’s guardian, the protector that has watched over us for generations. It’s over a hundred years old,” Brandon said. Odalys was taken aback. She had guessed the snake might be over fifty years old, but she hadn’t realized it was over a century old.

“You see a snake, yet we see a god. You saved it, and you saved its offspring. Now, you’ve saved my son. You’re not just the savior of our village, but also of me. If you want to know anything, I will tell you everything. Even if it means giving my life, I’ll do it,” Brandon said, his tone unwavering. Odalys hadn’t expected that it was the saving of the snake that would move them so much. She knew some people held great reverence for snakes, but she didn’t realize it was this significant.

“If that snake is your village’s guardian spirit, then the one who harmed it couldn’t have been one of your people. And in the days I’ve been here, I haven’t seen anyone from the village leave,” Odalys said quietly.

Brandon closed his eyes slowly after hearing this. “They, like me, had their tendons cut. Those who resisted fiercely even had their leg tendons severed. We’re practically prisoners, not stepping foot outside…” he explained. Odalys’s mind immediately went to Rafael.

“But I saw a single man. He kept meeting with the celebrity we were working with for the variety show and even gave her food. Today, he even brought her some snake repellent spray,” Odalys remarked without thinking.

This didn’t match what Brandon had said earlier.

As soon as Odalys finished speaking, Brandon suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand.

He shook his head repeatedly, his voice barely audible as he said, “That person isn’t from our village.”

Odalys’s pupils constricted, and she sucked in a breath. After a long pause, she asked, “Was he sent to keep an eye on you? You’re not allowed to leave your homes because of your injuries. He’s the one giving you food so you won’t starve?”

Brandon gave a slight nod. “And my son’s medicine leftovers, he checks them every day. He goes to the place where I dispose of the leftover herbs to make sure the medicine I prepare is the same as what he gave me,” he said in a lowered voice.

Odalys felt an indescribable sensation stir inside her.

“Was it him who injured the snake? He was the one who gave Sophia the snake repellent spray? And he is testing the giant python, trying to tame it using outside help?” Odalys gasped, realization hitting her hard.

When Brandon heard her speak these words, a pang of pain seemed to stab at his heart.

“We can’t let him go,” Brandon said, already preparing to grab a knife and head out.

But Odalys stopped him. She shook her head, saying, “If you trust me, let me handle this. It’s better if you stay out of sight.

“He’s just a messenger. The fact that he was left here to watch you means someone is backing him. If you kill him, you’ll all be dead.”

“If you die, the giant python will be in danger too,” Odalys said in a low voice.

Brandon was convinced by her words. He sat back down, no longer speaking, but just staring at her, lost in thought. After a long time, Brandon asked, “Are you really from the Stewart family?”

“Yes,” Odalys replied in a deep voice.

Brandon and Keylor exchanged a glance, both feeling a strange sense of unease. After all these years, they never expected to have any connection with the Stewart family again.

“If you get the chance, please tell Mr. Stewart I’m sorry. I had no idea about that clothing. If the Stewart family needs anything, even if it means giving up my life, I won’t hesitate,” Brandon said, rising to bow deeply in front of her.

Keylor quickly followed suit, bowing as well to show his sincerity.

“Are you not afraid of us betraying you, telling you all this?” Brandon asked, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

Odalys smiled lightly, exuding confidence as she answered, “What’s there to fear? The moment you even think of betraying or selling me out, the moment you open your mouth to do so, will be the moment you die.”

She had the ability to draw talismans that could determine whether someone was telling the truth, so she could certainly create talismans that would guarantee their loyalty.

If they ever betrayed her, their internal organs would instantly be shattered by her talisman. They wouldn’t even have the chance to speak.

They were clearly shaken by her words, unsure of where her confidence came from, but they didn’t dare question the truth of what she said.

“Draw me a picture of the person who gave you those clothes, including his features and contact details,” Odalys said, standing up and looking at them both.

“As long as you’re sure everything you’ve said is true, write down all the details about him. I promise I’ll help you fix your tendon injury,” Odalys added.

Chapter 166

Odalys placed another prescription on the table.

“This is the antidote. Drink it for the next two days, and it will clear about sixty percent of the poison from your system,” she said, then lifted her foot and turned toward the door.

She was quick to arrive, and just as quickly, she left. She didn’t waste time on pleasantries.

Odalys scaled the wall and jumped down with a speed that made them shudder. It was so smooth, so swift, they couldn’t help but feel a little unsettled. When she disappeared from their sight, they were left in stunned silence.

“Dad, can we trust her?” Keylor asked in a low voice.

Brandon clenched his fist before opening his hand again. He lowered his voice, saying, “As long as she’s really from the Stewart family, I can trust her. I owe Mr. Stewart more than I can ever repay. If it weren’t for him, I’d be dead by now.”

“Even if we die in the end, we’ll die for a good cause,” Brandon added quietly.

Brandon glanced at the prescription again before turning and walking off to prepare the medicine.

Keylor didn’t say anything else. He followed Brandon, and without a word, the two of them turned off the lights in the house, making it seem like no one had been there at all.

After Odalys left, she took a route around the back of the house, heading home via a small, hidden path.

From a distance, Odalys spotted a figure sneaking around, pacing back and forth. Her eyes narrowed. She walked toward him, her steps light. She saw him holding a stick, reaching it toward the clothes Sophia had hung out.

“Hey,” Odalys said, tapping him on the shoulder.

Rafael jumped in shock, dropping the bamboo stick with a loud clatter.

When he turned to see Odalys, the startled expression on his face quickly turned lecherous.

Before, Rafael hadn’t paid much attention to her, but now, seeing her up close, he realized Odalys was even more beautiful than Sophia. Her delicate face, the sharpness of her cheekbones, her high nose, and her small, pink lips it was a breathtaking sight.

“You looking for me?” Rafael said, his gaze lecherous.

As he spoke, he reached out, seemingly trying to smack her backside.

But before his hand could reach her, Odalys grabbed his wrist with one swift motion and kicked him hard in the stomach. Rafael was caught off guard. He didn’t expect her to be so quick to strike.

“Ah!” He screamed as she sent him flying backward.

Rafael’s scream woke everyone in the house, and they quickly scrambled to put on their shoes and run outside. When Atlas saw Rafael lying on the ground near the door, he raised an eyebrow in confusion. When his eyes landed on Odalys, a smile crept onto his face.

It looked like Odalys had taken down Rafael.

Even though Atlas didn’t particularly like Odalys, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She had knocked out the old pervert, after all.

“What’s going on here? What are you doing standing out here at this hour?” Atlas asked, his voice sharp.

Finnian and Francis appeared from behind him, both looking equally confused at the sight.

Stellan and the others also rushed out, their faces still half-asleep, staring in confusion at Rafael, who was on the ground, then at Odalys.

“I was just out for a walk, needed to use the bathroom, and I found this guy standing here with a bamboo stick, trying to steal clothes. And the clothes he was trying to grab? They were Sophia’s underwear,” Odalys said coldly.

Her words shocked everyone into silence.

They all turned their heads toward the clothes rack nearby. Sure enough, Sophia’s underwear was lying on the ground, soaked with mud.

Atlas remembered that Sophia’s underwear had been ruined earlier. He had been holding it at the time. ‘Could this Rafael be the one who did it?’ he wondered.

“No, how could you accuse me of that? I’m a local villager, a good person! Why would I steal women’s underwear in the middle of the night?” Rafael argued stubbornly.

He struggled to get up, but Odalys stepped forward and placed a heavy foot on him, pinning him down.

Rafael groaned as he tried to push her off, but she was too strong. He couldn’t budge an inch. It was clear now that he was scared.

“You don’t need to explain,” Odalys said coldly. “We have surveillance cameras and hidden cameras here. Should I pull up the footage for everyone to see?”

Odalys hadn’t gone looking for Rafael yet, but Rafael came to her instead.

“Right, I’ll go ask Kenny for the footage,” Stellan said, turning to head toward the production team.

The production team members had been in a meeting, but when they heard the noise, they came over to check. Once they understood what had happened, they immediately pulled up the surveillance footage.

Sure enough, the video showed Rafael holding the stick, trying to pull clothes down. Then Odalys appeared from behind him, tapped him on the shoulder, and scared him into dropping the stick.

After that, Odalys kicked him, sending him flying.

Everyone suppressed their laughter, exchanging amused glances as they watched the footage of Odalys landing that powerful kick. There was a hint of admiration in their eyes. People with skills like hers were something to be reckoned with.

“Did you touch my underwear?” Sophia walked over, her voice cold.

Sophia had been planning to confront Rafael earlier, but he almost dragged her into the room. Now, with Rafael caught red-handed by Odalys, it was clear that he had been the one responsible before, too.

Sophia was disgusted. ‘How can there be such a shameless man, trying to get his hands on my underwear?’ she thought to herself.

“Call the police,” Odalys suddenly said.

The others were a bit surprised. It wasn’t a huge deal, and since Rafael hadn’t actually succeeded, calling the police seemed unnecessary.

But Rafael’s reaction was a different story. When he heard the mention of the police, his face went pale, and he looked terrified.

Odalys had been closely watching his expression, and seeing how afraid he was of the police made her connect the dots with what Brandon had said earlier. She now had a clearer idea of the situation.

“We can skip the police… I’m sorry, okay?” Rafael quickly lowered his stance, trying to appease them.

Odalys couldn’t afford to have her identity exposed. If he found out she was trying to stir up trouble, it might be the end for her.

“Fine, no police. But explain this, then. Why did you give her snake repellent spray today? That’s meant for dealing with snakes,” Odalys said coldly.

The others were curious now.

After all, they had all seen the giant python today and watched as Sophia and Atlas tried to use that very spray on it. They couldn’t help but feel a little unsettled, wondering what would have happened if they had succeeded. Maybe the python would come back for revenge.

Rafael quickly spilled the truth. “She told me that if I gave her those things, she’d have dinner with me. But after she took the stuff, she refused to meet me again. She borrowed things from me before and let me touch her, but now she takes the stuff and runs off without letting me touch her…”

He let out an angry huff. “Isn’t that just freeloading? You come into my village to shoot your show, but you can’t just keep taking advantage of us like that.”

Everyone was stunned, gasping in disbelief.

They turned to Sophia, unable to believe what they were hearing. To think that she had actually allowed Rafael to touch her just to get some things.

Even Atlas, who had always been proud of her, couldn’t believe it. ‘My pure and dignified sister really let Rafael touch her? And yet, I’ve never even gotten that close,’ he wondered.

“You’re lying! Who let you touch me? Stop slandering me!” Sophia’s face turned pale with panic. “I don’t even know you! I’m the daughter of the Bennett family. Why would I need to borrow anything from you? I can get whatever I want! How dare you make up such lies?”

Chapter 167

Sophia’s face was filled with fear.

In the entertainment industry, there were no secrets. With so many people around, if even one person decided to spread the word, Sophia’s career would be destroyed.

“Really? On your first day here, when you came to my place looking for food, we were alone in the room. When I reached out and touched your shoulder, and then your chest, did you push me away?” Rafael asked, his tone almost nostalgic.

His eyes scanned Sophia in a way that made her feel uncomfortable, as though he still had the desire to touch her.

Sophia’s face flushed with panic. “What are you talking about? Is this Odalys trying to trick you into saying these things, trying to humiliate me in front of everyone?”

Sophia hadn’t expected this. She had thought there was a show happening outside, but it was all suddenly turned on her.

“I’m not making things up. Don’t you know what happened? You were the one who came on to me, so what’s the big deal? And you think you can call the cops over this? Hah!” Rafael scoffed, spitting on the ground in disgust.

Rafael seemed worried about the possibility of a real police report. After his words, he turned and walked away.

Atlas was furious, his fists clenched tightly as he stormed toward Rafael.

“You dare touch Sophia? Come back here and explain yourself!” Atlas shouted, his voice seething with rage.

His arms tensed with veins bulging, and if Finnian and Francis hadn’t held him back, Atlas might have gone after Rafael with murderous intent.

Once he had shouted, he shot an icy glare at Odalys.

Odalys, isn’t this enough of a mess for you? Why did you have to hit him tonight?”

“You wanted to make a scene, ruin Sophia’s reputation, didn’ t you?” Atlas immediately turned his anger toward Odalys. Odalys looked at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. There was no hiding the mockery in her eyes. “You’re really blind, and maybe a little crazy. After we finish filming this variety show, I suggest you see a doctor. If nothing else, maybe try seeing a psychiatrist,” Odalys said, her voice cold.

Just as she was about to walk away, something seemed to occur to her, and she stopped.

“You’re defending her like this. Could it be that you have feelings for her? I can see the possessiveness in your eyes. If no one knew better, they might think you’re in love with your own sister,” Odalys teased, her voice low with a mocking laugh.

Atlas froze. His eyes flickered, and for a moment, he wanted to yell at her, but for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out.

Everyone around them exchanged knowing glances, shifting their focus between Sophia and Atlas, then casting a few final looks in the direction Rafael had gone.

“What are you talking about?” Sophia snapped, panicking. She had never imagined that Odalys would go this far.

“Do you really not know what I’m talking about? Why do you think no one else is tangled up with Rafael? Why did he never bother anyone else, but you’ve been the one he keeps coming after? Is it because you’re too beautiful, or

because you’re a real bitch?” Odalys shot back, her words dripping with sarcasm.

Sophia’s frustration reached a boiling point, and she stormed off toward her room, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

The production team members, witnessing the scene, quickly scattered, though it was clear they were still gossiping about everything that had just happened.

“No wonder Odalys had us hang our clothes in the living room to dry. We only brought them out during the day.”

Selah said, her eyes widening as the pieces clicked into place.

Freya, still in shock, whispered, “I thought Odalys just thought it might rain at night and didn’t want our clothes to get wet.” She had no idea it was all to avoid the men.

“It’s fine. We’ll be leaving soon.” Odalys reassured them, pulling them toward their rooms.

Odalys walked calmly, while Stellan trailed behind,

occasionally glancing around to see if Rafael was secretly watching them.

When they finally reached the house, Stellan let out a sigh of relief.

“If you hear anything unusual outside at night, wake me up immediately. I’m a man, and I should be the one keeping you all safe.” Stellan warned them, his concern evident.

“Thanks… You should go get some rest,” Odalys smiled, gently nudging him back to his room.

Once Stellan was gone, they returned to their own rooms. As soon as Odalys lay down, Selah scooted over to her bed, her eyes fixed on Odalys.

“What’s going on?” Odalys asked, feeling a little uneasy under Selah’s gaze.

Selah immediately sat up, her voice dropping to a whisper. Did you go out without us tonight to keep an eye on Rafael?” “Did you know he would act tonight and use this trick to warn Sophia that someone might have tampered with her clothes?” Selah asked, her curiosity getting the best of her. Freya’s curiosity was piqued as she nodded repeatedly.

“I think you’re right. Otherwise, Odalys, why did you rush out without taking us with you?” Freya had already conjured up numerous scenarios in her mind.

Odalys reached out and lightly patted their head.

“You guys really think too much of me. I almost believed it myself.” Odalys laughed.

For some reason, even though people often said there’s no true friendship in the entertainment industry, Odalys genuinely enjoyed spending time with them.

After the variety show ended, Odalys even made plans to go out for a meal with them. In her heart, she considered them friends. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken the time to meet them for dinner.

“Hmph, Odalys, once this variety show is over, you won’t be able to get rid of me. I’m going to be your best friend, and I’ Il handle all the resources you need in the industry,” Freya said, her tone a bit domineering.

As if an idea had suddenly struck her, Freya quickly added, ” How about being with my brother, right? That way, I can protect you with him.”

Selah immediately sat up, looking flustered. She was worried Freya would get to Odalys first, leaving her with no chance.

“Me too! I don’t have Freya’s connections, but I’ll be a good friend to you. If nothing else, I’ll run errands for you.” Selah insisted, her voice sincere.

“I don’t have a brother, but what about me? I can take care of you for the rest of your life,” Selah declared boldly, puffing out her chest and making promises.

Seeing this, Freya immediately shoved Selah back down onto the bed, laughing. “You little rascal, trying to steal Odalys from me? I’m going to teach you a lesson.”

“Help! I was wrong. Let me go!” Selah laughed, clutching her stomach as she surrendered. Afterward, Freya waved her off dismissively.

Odalys watched them with amusement. The smile at the corner of her lips deepened. She reached out and pulled both of them close, laying them down on the bed with her.

“You two are so strong and tough. If you can fight, how about we go do something exciting tomorrow?” Odalys raised an eyebrow and asked.

Both girls perked up.

“Exciting? What kind of exciting?” they asked in unison. Odalys quickly covered their mouths with her hands, teasing. “Want to know? Then you better sleep quickly.”

Forced to lie down by Odalys, they were both filled with curiosity, the itch to know gnawing at them. They didn’t fall asleep until well past midnight.

In contrast, Sophia couldn’t sleep at all.

Sophia felt like there was a fire burning inside her, and no matter what she did, she couldn’t release it. The frustration was driving her mad. She couldn’t understand why everything was being ruined by Odalys.

“Why did she have to show up in the middle of the night? Was it to expose that man and destroy me?” Sophia muttered to herself.

Chapter 168

Sophia complained. “I want to be the only daughter of the Bennett family. Why can’t she just give me that position?

“She’s already married. I’ve already let her have the man. Why can’t she just make things easier for me? If it weren’t for me, she never would have gotten into the Stewart family in the first place!”

The more Sophia thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.

The Stewart family was incredibly wealthy. The man was on the verge of death. Once Odalys married in, she would live a comfortable life, even if she ended up as a widow.

‘Isn’t that enough for Odalys? What more does she want?’ Sophia thought bitterly. Tears streamed down her face, and Sophia sobbed uncontrollably.

“Mom, Brothers, what should I do? Odalys is trying to kill me. You have to save me, please!” Sophia cried out in a choked voice.

Feeling helpless, she climbed to her feet and curled up, staring out into the night, lost and directionless.

Sophia had once believed Finnian liked her, but now she realized that he was avoiding her.

‘Atlas just looked at me with suspicion. He doubts my innocence. How could he not trust me? I can’t accept this, she thought, frustration growing within her.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. She quickly rushed to open it, and Atlas charged in.

Atlas pinned her against the door, then wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, pulling her into him as he leaned down, inhaling the fragrance of her hair. “Don’t move. Let me touch you,” he murmured, his voice low.

“Uh, Atlas, stop. Don’t do this.” Sophia grew desperate.

She tried to push him away, but Atlas only held on tighter.

Their bodies pressed together, and Atlas’s eyes gleamed with desire, as if he were about to devour her.

“Did he touch you? Where did he touch you? He said he touched your shoulder and your chest, right?” Atlas’s voice was hoarse.

His hands slowly began to wander over her body.

Sophia froze, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at Atlas, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

“What are you doing? Atlas, let go of me!” Sophia panicked.

They could flirt, but if it came down to anything more, Sophia would never agree to that.

She could never stay in the Bennett family forever, nor would she ever marry into it. She was aiming for greater heights. She only wanted to be the daughter of the Bennett family, and beyond that, nothing else mattered.

‘Does Atlas want to ruin me?’ Sophia thought, feeling trapped.

Atlas was jealous. “Let go? When he came to you earlier, we were right outside the door, but you didn’t reject him. You didn’t scream. If you had, we would have barged in right away. But you didn’t. He touches you, and it’s fine. Why can’t I?”

He continued, “Also, when you asked him for those things this afternoon, you promised you would be with him. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Atlas had watched Sophia grow up, but now he realized that Rafael had already touched her before him. Atlas was jealous and couldn’t stand it.

“Atlas, have you lost your mind? I’m your sister. You trust Odalys but not me, don’t you?” Sophia’s eyes reddened as she turned her head away.

Seeing her tears, Atlas was taken aback.

“But Odalys is my sister too.” Atlas blurted out.

Sophia’s heart felt as though it had been stabbed. She let out a bitter laugh, her voice soft. “Right, she’s your sister. You trust her, not me.

“Fine then. If you don’t trust me, I’ll go find Rafael tonight. I’ll really go to sleep with him. Is that what you want?” Sophia said, spinning on her heels to walk away.

Atlas quickly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her tightly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to doubt you,” Atlas said, his voice soft and regretful. He held her close, continuously apologizing.

Sophia heard his apology and, seeing him admit his mistake, a cold smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She tilted her head back to look at him, her voice low. “Then you’d better never yell at me again.”

“No matter what I do, it’s for our own good. Don’t forget. What we need is the emerald pendant from Odalys. Only by getting it can we save the Bennett family.

“You can’t go easy on her just because she’s your sister. Everything I’m doing is a setup for getting that emerald pendant. You need to trust me,” Sophia said softly, trying to calm him.

As expected, just a few words from her, and Atlas seemed to be swayed.

“Alright, I trust you.” Atlas nodded hoarsely.

He immediately picked her up and carried her toward the bed, gently placing her down. With both hands on the bed’s edge, his fingers traced her jawline, slowly moving downward.

Sophia let out a low grunt, her eyes following his fingers as they brushed over her chest.

She turned her head away, and Atlas hesitated for a moment before pulling his hand back. He held his breath and said, “Get some rest. Don’t do anything rash again. If you have something on your mind, talk to me first.”

He knew Sophia was lying, but he chose to trust her.

If he didn’t trust her now, their relationship would shatter beyond repair.

“Okay, Atlas. You’re the best,” Sophia murmured softly. Watching him begin to turn away from the bed, she hurriedly wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing her face into his back.

Sophia nuzzled against him, lingering for a while before whispering, “Good night.”

“Good night,” Atlas replied, suppressing the strange feelings inside him, before getting up and heading toward the door.

However, as he stepped out, he found Finnian and Francis standing in the living room with glasses of water, watching him with strange looks. Atlas froze, feeling suddenly awkward.

“What are you two doing here?” Atlas asked, a hint of irritation in his voice.

Atlas felt as though he had just done something wrong, and the sight of the two of them made him feel uneasy, even ashamed.

Francis raised his cup slightly, saying, “I got some coffee from Stellan today. We came out to brew some, but I didn’t expect you to be having a heart-to-heart with Sophia tonight.”

His words weren’t outright wrong, but they felt a little jarring to Atlas. He wanted to snap back, but couldn’t find a reason to lash out.

“Atlas, don’t forget that Odalys is also your sister.” Finnian suddenly reminded him.

Finnian had known about this situation for a while.

In fact, Finnian had brainwashed Odalys back then, hoping she would marry into the Stewart family so that he could take advantage of her marriage and use it to get benefits from them.

But Finnian’s plans had fallen apart.

Now, Odalys had severed all ties with Finnian and was even filled with animosity toward him.

“Sister?” Francis looked at the exchange with interest, clearly intrigued by the new gossip.

Francis hadn’t been aware of this, though he had known about the public rivalry between Sophia and Odalys from the variety show. Their antagonism had become a hot topic, and Francis had hoped to get some attention from it.

After participating in the show, Francis realized that sometimes it was better to stay out of things, or it could come back to haunt him as a dark ##Chapter in his career. “Enough. This is my personal business. Finnian, stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.” Atlas snapped, turning around and storming back into the room, slamming the door behind him.

Finnian wasn’t angered by Atlas’s outburst.

“Odalys is Atlas’s sister, and what about Sophia?” Francis raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.

Francis, usually reserved and not one for gossip, was particularly interested in this situation.

But he was particularly interested in their relationship.

Chapter 169

“Go to sleep.” Finnian turned around and went to his room with the glass, leaving Francis behind.

Alone, Francis thoughtfully looked at Sophia’s room door and then said in a deep voice, “He visited a woman at midnight and turned on another.”

“It seems Atlas likes the angelic bitch.” With this conclusion, Francis carried his glass of water to his bedroom.

Sophia was ignorant of the misunderstanding about her. Lying on the bed, she couldn’t fall asleep because her mind was occupied with how to kill Odalys.

How should she lure Odalys to the cliff? How should she push Odalys down the cliff without getting noticed by others?

Her plot needed careful consideration.

*****

It was late at night, and this was the Stewart Villa.

A tall figure stood by the French window and looked at the lightning in the distance as if his gaze could penetrate the darkness.

“Mr. Stewart.” Dorian walked over with a glass of water.

Instantly, Percival snapped out of his thoughts. He reached for the water and took a sip of it.

“Have you watched the variety show?” Percival asked in a hoarse voice.

Nervous, Dorian nodded and whispered, “Yes.”

“Have all the screenshots of what Sophia did?” Percival asked sternly.

Restless, Dorian raised his head, looked at Percival, and answered in a low voice, “Mr. Stewart, are you missing your wife?”

Immediately, silence fell.

Realizing his slip of the tongue, Dorian was shocked.

On the day Odalys left home, Percival told Dorian to watch every episode of the variety show for evidence of how Sophia picked on Odalys.

However, Sophia had been beaten by Odalys in the variety show.

In today’s episode, Odalys kicked Sophia to the ground, stomped on the latter, and then dragged the latter to the cliff. Sophia was almost pushed down the cliff.

Besides, Odalys threw out a lighter to ignite the wine, and Atlas almost got blown up.

Given this pattern, how could Sophia pick on Odalys? Before she did, she might have been killed by Odalys. “Did you loaf on the job?” Percival asked in a deep voice. Sweating, Dorian nodded and replied, “No! I got all the screenshots. I will take the evidence to the hospital later.

“I will confront Mrs. Bennett myself and question her family. education. How dare they bully Mrs. Stewart! How courageous!” Dorian sounded indignant.

Percival showed his agreement via a slight nod.

His anger dissipated a bit.

“Alright, go,” he said hoarsely.

After a short response, Dorian quickly withdrew from the study.

Sitting on the sofa, Orson shook his glass of red wine as a faint smile spread across his handsome face. In a low voice, he said, “You won’t give the Bennett family a moment of peace, will you?”

“Whoever messes with the Stewart family should pay the price. Since she doesn’t want a good rest at the hospital, I don’t mind keeping her busy,” Percival said coldly.

He turned around, walked to the sofa with his water, and sat down.

Orson leaned back on the sofa and casually crossed his long legs.

He said, “By the way, Henry invited Oliver over. Oliver has ulterior motives. It seems he wants something from the Bennett family.

“The nurse at the hospital called, saying that they had mentioned the emerald pendant. It seems they are interested in Odalys’ stuff!”

The hospital was his turf, so he knew what happened in the VIP ward.

Caspian’s incident didn’t alert the Bennett family that the hospital was unsafe for them.

How would they react when they found out the truth?

“Callum, keep an eye on Oliver and find out his connection with the influential families in Crownridge. I would like to know when and how he served them,” Percival said in a deep voice.

Sitting in the corner, Callum quickly took out his iPad and took notes.

“I will get down to it right away,” Callum said.

He picked up his glass of liquor and poured it into his mouth. He then strode away with his iPad and car keys. Callum was a man of action, and he was efficient.

Curious, Orson said, “I watch the show, and I feel that Odalys is weird. In the show, she seemed interested in the village but did nothing. Given your understanding of her, will she take action after the cameras are off?”

He had complete faith in Odalys. He had deliberately signed up for a Twitter account for her news.

He paid particular attention to everything she did in the show.

“Sophia and Atlas will cause trouble for Odalys for sure, and Odalys seems to have the emerald pendant Oliver wants.

“The Bennett family is stubborn, so I will keep them busy to prevent them from disturbing Odalys, Percival said hoarsely.

Everything was under his control.

Orson changed the topic by saying, “By the way, about the clothes Odalys found in the pond, we investigated and found that its maker and his family had disappeared after your father’s incident.

“It is weird. Back then, you saw them as the suspects, but the investigation result suggested a different conclusion. I thought they had closed up their shop because of the bad influence of the incident.

“On second thoughts, they may be connected with the incident.”

Silence pervaded after Orson mentioned those clothes.

Only the experienced could tell that those clothes had been worn by the dead.

“It seems we need a trip,” Percival said hoarsely. He put his glass down hard.

Seeing this, Orson drank up the wine in his glass, put his glass down, and stood up. At the same time, Percival grabbed his coat and walked away.

“Where are we going?” Orson hurried to catch up with Percival.

Percival didn’t answer this question, and his gait was rapid.

Orson broke into a cold sweat because it was rare for Percival to appear so anxious. Worried, he couldn’t help but quicken his pace to follow Percival.

Orson watched Percival give Dorian a few instructions and then hurry away with the car key.

“Armored car? What are you driving it?” Orson’s voice became husky.

It was clear that Orson was frightened.

Every car in the Stewart family had been modified.

The one Percival had chosen was fireproof, bulletproof, and explosion-proof. It was for dangerous missions.

After Percival took the driver’s seat, Orson quickly occupied the passenger one.

“Shut up if you want to go with me,” Percival said in a husky voice, and there were some subtle emotions in his eyes.

Orson instantly shut his mouth. Something came to mind, so he muttered to himself, “Is he going to see Odalys? At midnight! Damn.”

Chapter 170

It was dawn.

Odalys was already up. She washed up and took a stroll in the village.

Every house in the village was closed. Via the uncurtained window, Odalys found that most villagers were old and had problems with their hands or legs.

“He made an attempt on the villagers and injured the snake. What does he want? To tame the python with the snake? For Python’s poison? To manipulate the python to kill others? What is his plot?” Odalys wondered.

Again and again, she pondered over what the elders had said last night.

Back at the base, she saw her companions washing up.

“Odalys, when did you get up? Did you make breakfast?” Freya sounded surprised.

Odalys seemed more energetic than her companions, though she stayed up late as they did. She got up early and was vibrant, which impressed Freya.

“Odalys, you are so energetic. How could you get up so early?” Selah asked.

Odalys stretched. Her yellow and loose shirt and black pants made her look spirited.

“If you work out every day, you can get up early,” Odalys teased.

Selah shook her head and said, “No.”

“I love to lie down. When my agent told me to lose some weight, I starved myself to achieve the goal. I want to sleep whenever I am in the gym. I don’t like working out at all,” Selah explained.

When it came to exercise, she became down.

“I don’t have that problem, but I lack tenacity,” Freya said. Stellan walked over, picked up the lid of the pot, and saw 4 potatoes, a plate of meat, 4 eggs, and a plate of bamboo shoots.

“Odalys, did you go out at dawn?” Stellan was surprised.

There had been no potatoes or eggs in their food storage, and the game and bamboo shoots had been obtained yesterday.

Therefore, Stellan guessed that Odalys had left the base early in the morning.

“Yes, I jogged at five o’clock. On the way back, I found those good surprises in the mountains.” Smiling, Odalys walked over.

Selah and Freya helped get the food out of the pot.

Besides the bamboo shoots and the meat, each member had a potato and an egg. What a nice breakfast! Stellan poured a cup of water for his companions.

“By the way, where are we going?” Freya asked while eating. Odalys looked at the back of the village and said, “The cliff.” “We were there, but we didn’t go down. There may be something great down there,” Odalys said, peeling her egg. Hearing this, the others were startled.

With a flash of doubt on his handsome face, Stellan lowered his voice and asked, “Didn’t a python appear on the cliff yesterday?”

“Yes,” Odalys replied in a low voice.

She intended to visit the python for more information.

The elders had called the python the guardian of the village yesterday.

“Relax. As I said, it won’t hurt you as long as you mean it no ill. Let’s go and see whether there are some precious herbs under the cliff.

“The pheasant will be our lunch today. Since we are already here, don’t you feel it a pity if we retreat now?” Odalys said. She would if she didn’t seize such a good opportunity.

“Okay, count me in.” Selah nodded quickly.

The other two people had no objections.

Compared to Group B, the atmosphere in Group A was not so good.

After Group B had their breakfast, Group A just got up. Finnian was shocked when he saw Group B doing the dishes.

“Did you all have breakfast?” Finnian asked with disbelief. It surprised him that Group B was up while his members were still in their dreams.

“Yes, we will go out in a while,” Selah replied.

Thoughtful, Finnian stood there for a moment. He then casually ran his hand through his hair while approaching Selah. Instantly, Selah distanced herself from Finnian and looked at him warily.

“What are you doing?” Selah asked.

Her wary look brought Finnian a bitter smile.

“Relax. I didn’t mean ill. I just want to ask if I can go with you,” Finnian asked in a low voice.

Without hesitation, Selah shook her head.

“No. It is better for us if we should work apart. Don’t play tricks on Odalys. I don’t think she likes scandals. Nobody will be happy if there is a misunderstanding,” Selah spoke up for Odalys.

She had learned her lesson on the deserted island. She became wary and was not as naive as before. Finnian didn’t expect such a blunt refusal from Selah. “You got me wrong. I just think it will be safer if we stick together.” Finnian didn’t give up easily.

Silent, Selah turned around and left with the dishes.

She washed her hands, hesitated for a few seconds, walked up to Odalys, and whispered, “Odalys, Finnian wants to go out with us. I refused him because I’m afraid. that he’s up to something.”

“Got it,” Odalys said without turning her head.

She took the ropes that had been cut in half by Finnian, tied a knot with them, and burned them with a lighter, so the ropes became one again.

After a few pulls on the knot, she tossed one end of the rope to Stellan.

“Pull it as a test,” said Odalys.

Stellan gripped the end of the rope and pulled it with Odalys on the other end. The knot didn’t get loose, so Odalys rolled up the rope and pulled it into her bag.

“Use some sunscreen. We’ll be out in a while,” said Odalys.

She was anxious to leave because she wanted to get rid of Group A.

Wherever Sophia and Atlas were, there was bound to be trouble.

“Okay.” Odalys’s companions nodded. In their opinion, Odalys was anxious to get the missions done, which was their job.

They liked to dodge Group A if possible.

“No!” Group B heard Sophia’s scream from next door when they were outside their house.

Sophia ran out of her room, barefoot and disheveled, and constantly shook her nightgown.

“What is this?” Sophia shouted, terrified.

She felt sticky all over her body as if there was slime on her. “Ugh, what is that smell?” Atlas quickly took a few steps backward at the foul smell after he approached Sophia.

Finnian and Francis walked over to the noise after washing their faces. They were surprised to see the slime on Sophia’s clothes and catch a whiff of the dead rat from a distance.

“What happened?” Sophia felt nauseous.

She tried to shake the slime off but failed.

Upset, she raised her head, saw Group B, and furiously ran over to block Odalys’s way.

“Your work, isn’t it?” Sophia was pissed off.

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