Chapter 261
Selah immediately retweeted Odalys’ tweet, tagging her. [ Hey, the store’s open! I’m the first employee!]
Francis said nothing and just retweeted: [Wishing Ms. Stone prosperity, I’m Employee No. 2.]
Freya, in a hurry, grabbed her phone and quickly joined in: [ Ms. Stone, I’m Employee No. 3!] nearly crashed. As soon as they posted their tweets, the entire internet
Tens of millions of people were online waiting for Odalys’ post. It was her first tweet, and she tagged the location of her shop. Those who had been eager to see her star readings flooded in instantly.
Some wanted a reading from her, some wanted to watch her fail, and many entertainment reporters were lurking around.
After the variety show, Odalys’ popularity had surpassed that of top-tier celebrities.
“Dammit, my phone’s frozen!” Selah tapped her phone and noticed the screen was unresponsive.
Freya refreshed her feed and whispered, “My tweet hit a million likes in a minute.”
“Let me check.” Francis leaned over.
At that moment, Stellan jumped into the fray, posting his own tweet: [Hey, that’s great. I’ve already had Ms. Stone’s Star readings. She saved my whole family.]
With the fans from the group and Odalys’ popularity, the posts skyrocketed.
Their tweets all broke a million likes, while Odalys’ tweet completely crashed the platform. Comments reached ten million, likes exceeded one hundred million, and shares also surpassed one hundred million.
Odalys turned and opened the door to the store, only to find a hidden world inside.
The pitch-black shop illuminated as the lights flicked on, and it felt like walking into a forest. As they stepped into the living room, they saw a hundred-year-old tree on the left, its branches and leaves sprawling out, with a faint sound of running water in the background.
They followed the sound, and a forest appeared before them. Continuing through the trees, the blinding sunlight poured down onto the land, revealing a vast plain ahead.
In the distance, snow-capped mountains loomed, sending a chill through the air.
And all the scenery kept shifting as if it were real, within arm’s reach. It wasn’t just a lighting effect.
“Oh my god, I thought it would be a simple store, but this is… amazing!” Selah exclaimed, stunned.
The others were equally shocked. Stellan arrived just in time, saw them entering, and quickly followed them in. “Odalys, is all of this real? I actually felt a drop of water,” Stellan whispered, amazed.
Odalys stepped further in, and both sides of the shop had long benches. The air was thick with the fragrance of flowers, making it feel like stepping into nature.
“Sort of,” she said softly. “You could say it’s magic. I use my mind to draw it into the talisman and project it here. It’s both real and fake. And there’s one advantage. If anyone tries to cause trouble here, they’ll get hit by a backlash.” Just as she finished speaking, a commotion came from outside.
Freya turned to look, noticing a line of luxury cars parked outside, with even some people riding bicycles, blocking the area in front of the store.
“Everyone, get in line,” the leader of the group immediately ordered.
They were all out of breath, and when they saw the humble store, they were a little surprised. But once they reached the door and saw the magical scene inside, they were taken aback.
“My god, how many people are there? The police have even arrived.” Freya rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
Stellan stood there, exchanging a look with Francis.
They were both celebrities, used to crowded fan events, but even they were stunned by the sight before them.
“Odalys! Odalys!” Fans outside were even chanting her name.
News of how Odalys had treated her fans to meals and helped them spread in the industry. Some came for Star readings, and others came to deliver flowers.
“Fans, come this way! If you want Star readings, head over here!” Selah quickly stepped forward to guide them.
Originally, the sun was blazing outside, but those waiting in line felt no heat. It was even a bit cool. Standing there, their hearts calmed down inexplicably. Some even started crying when they saw Odalys.
“Today, I’m offering three free Star readings, but only for ten people. The fee for the readings is up to you. Pay whatever you want,” Odalys said softly.
As soon as she finished speaking, the room went completely silent.
Many people had guessed that her Star readings could cost millions of dollars, and some had even offered over 30 million dollars, yet they hadn’t expected her to give them such freedom in paying.
“This is basically free? Now I’m starting to worry… Will it even be accurate?” someone whispered nervously.
The woman at the front of the line, Cordelia Blythe, saw Odalys on the verge of tears from excitement. Without hesitation, she rushed up to her, bowed, and said in a choked voice, “Ms. Stone, my daughter has been missing for several days.”
“Please, help me… Can you find her?” she asked, barely holding back sobs.
She had been the fastest to run up, hoping to save her daughter’s life.
“Come inside,” Odalys said softly.
As soon as Cordelia stepped in, the wind that greeted her seemed to sweep away all her anxiety, even making her forget to cry. Odalys motioned for her to sit down.
On the table, there was a stack of red paper. Odalys picked up a pen and said, “Tell me your daughter’s birthdate.” Cordelia quickly provided the information, and Odalys froze, her fingers stiffening as she looked up in shock, unable to believe it. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Cordelia whispered, her voice quivering.
Odalys furrowed her brow even more deeply and asked, Have you reported it to the police?”
“Yes, but they haven’t found her yet. I don’t know what to do anymore. Please, help me save my daughter,” Cordelia replied, almost bowing again.
Freya, seeing this, quickly stepped forward and stopped her.
“Enough. Get to the point. Crying won’t help anyone.” Freya reminded her.
Cordelia sat up straight and locked her gaze on Odalys, her eyes full of hope.
“Give me the phone number of the officer you’ve been in contact with,” Odalys said.
Cordelia hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly pulled out her phone and brought up the number.
“Call her,” Odalys instructed.
Cordelia was visibly shaken, her fingers trembling as she dialed the number. After only a few seconds, the line clicked, and the officer answered. “Mrs. Blythe, don’t worry. We’ll notify you as soon as we have any updates,” the officer said.
“Officer, listen to me. The girl is in immediate danger. You need to go to Zurian Road, number 23, right now, or she’ll be moved out of the country and smuggled by sea,” Odalys said urgently.
“What do you mean? Who are you?” The officer’s tone grew wary as Odalys gave the exact address.
Holding the pen firmly, Odalys said seriously, “I’m Odalys Stone. Whether you believe me or not, get your team out there immediately. You’ve got ten minutes, and after that, you might never catch her again.”
“I’m going too,” Cordelia said, standing up in a rush.
Odalys pressed her back down, shaking her head. “Stay here. Don’t go anywhere. They’re watching you now. If you move, they might kill your daughter.’
“What?” Cordelia was shocked.
Turning to Francis and Stellan, Odalys quickly gave them instructions. Both of them looked startled but immediately turned and headed for the door.
The people in the line were all straining to hear Odalys’ words. Some were curious to see if she was truly that powerful, while others were eager to get their own Star readings.
“Catch him!” Stellan shouted angrily.
Chapter 262
Francis lunged forward, and the people waiting in line for Star readings surged ahead, quickly overpowering the man who had just tried to run. He reached for his phone, and Freya swiftly stepped in, stomping on his hand to stop him. Selah stepped up and picked up his phone, hanging up the call that had not yet gone through.
The whole thing happened so suddenly that it startled some people.
“Oh my God, Stellan, Freya, Francis, and Selah are all here? Are these big stars helping Odalys? They must really be close. Their appearance fees start at hundreds of thousands of dollars!” someone said, their voice filled with disbelief.
Even these celebrities were stepping in to help Odalys catch a criminal suspect.
Many people immediately pulled out their phones to record the scene. Freya turned around and said, “Don’t post any videos online.”
“Right now, it’s a matter of life and death. Cordelia came to Star readings. The police were already on their way, and this man was the one watching over her. If you post that video, you could end up putting her daughter in danger,” Freya added.
The people who had been about to upload the video froze, hastily putting their phones away.
As time passed, someone quickly found the news. The address was the same as the one Odalys had mentioned earlier.
“Hello, everyone. The police just busted a human trafficking ring. In the number 23 basement at Zurian Road, 23 young girls were being held captive. All of them are from the recent list of missing persons,” the reporter said.
The news immediately caused a stir. No one expected Odalys’ casual remark to help a lot.
“Thank you, really thank you.” Cordelia looked at the news, her phone vibrating with an incoming call.
When she answered the police’s call and switched it to speakerphone, the officer’s voice came through, saying, Hello, we’ve found your daughter. She’s on her way to the hospital. Please come as soon as you can.”
“Also, please thank Ms. Stone for us,” the officer added.
The officer’s voice stunned everyone. Cordelia, overcome with emotion, kept bowing to Odalys, her body trembling as tears flowed freely.
“Thank you… Thank you, Odalys, truly, thank you. You saved my daughter, and you saved my whole family. She’s my only child. If anything happened to her, I don’t think I’d be able to go on. Thank you, thank you so much,” she cried out, her voice breaking.
Many parents were moved by her words.
Cordelia tried to offer money in thanks, but Odalys stopped her.
“Everyone who helped catch the trafficker just now can come by anytime for a free Star reading, as long as you present your sign-up number,” Odalys said, handing over the sign.
The people who had bravely stepped in never expected to receive such good fortune.
They were so excited, they hurried forward to accept the sign.
Odalys glanced at the second and third people in line and said, “You should go to the hospital. Just like Mrs. Blythe, you’re looking for your children. They’ve been found, and they’re on their way to the hospital.”
They were stunned and didn’t have a chance to speak before it seemed as though Odalys had already guessed. their situation.
“How did you know what we were looking for?” they asked, surprised.
As if on cue, they received a call from the police. They held onto their phones tightly. What had once seemed like a long shot now felt like an undeniable truth.
“Thank you.” After thanking Odalys, they turned and left. Those who had been waiting for some kind of spectacle now silently lowered their heads and walked away.
Fans crowded around, offering flowers, feeling that the atmosphere was too sacred to interrupt. Just as they were preparing to leave, they all received gift bags.
The outside was bustling, but half an hour later, the crowd had dispersed, leaving the place eerily quiet.
“Is it over already?” Selah stood there, looking at the scene outside, which was spotless.
There wasn’t a scrap of trash on the ground, not even a piece of paper. The only sign that people had been there was the many flower bouquets placed near the door, making it seem like no one had come at all.
“Yeah, it’s over,” Odalys said, stretching with a smile.
Selah and Francis had been expecting to have to work hard, but to their surprise, it had all ended so easily. They felt a bit dazed.
“I told you about the resource exchange. You’ll both have work soon,” Odalys said with a smile. Just as she finished speaking, her phone vibrated with a message.
“Alright, fine,” Odalys said, then hung up the phone.
She motioned with her hand, and Selah and Francis instinctively stepped forward. Odalys wrote a note and handed it to them, saying, “One of the top three people in the line just now is the head of an entertainment company.” “They just saw their child at the hospital. To show their gratitude, they’re giving us access to an S-level drama project. Take a look at the script, you can choose any role, even the lead roles,” Odalys added.
As soon as she finished speaking, the boss sent the script directly to her email.
Odalys forwarded it to Selah and Francis. Freya and Stellan gathered around and, upon seeing the script, their eyes widened in shock. “So many people in the industry are fighting over this script. I heard it’s a high-quality one aimed at winning awards.”
“Ah, Odalys, I love you!” Selah said excitedly, rushing forward to hug Odalys.
Francis tightly gripped the script in his hands. Though he was a model, he had acted before.
Many people didn’t think he’d succeed in transitioning to acting, but unexpectedly, his first project was an S-level one. This was all thanks to Odalys.
At first, he had thought she was just about Star readings, but he hadn’t realized she was pulling strings to get them resources.
“We’re done for the day. How about we go out to eat?” Odalys asked.
Stellan immediately raised his hand and said, “I’ll pick the place.”
“You all go ahead. I’ll join you soon.” Odalys said.
Selah wanted to wait for her, but Freya pulled her away. After they left in the car, Odalys locked up the shop and was about to leave when a figure suddenly appeared, blocking her path.
“Odalys!” Atlas stormed toward her, his expression dark. Atlas stood in front of Odalys. Seeing her look so energized, he couldn’t help but feel unsettled.
The Bennett family had been in chaos last night. Sophia had gone missing and hadn’t returned all night. Henry had been running a fever ever since he came back from the small clinic, and only this morning did he finally start to recover after taking some medicine.
Meanwhile, Odalys had opened her shop, and her business was booming. Twitter was full of news about her, with shares surpassing a hundred billion, and the comments numbered in the billions.
The combined star power of all the top names in the entertainment industry still couldn’t match her individual popularity.
Atlas couldn’t understand what kind of magic Odalys had that made people lose their minds over her and desperately seek out her Star readings.
“What’s going on? Do you need something from me?”
Odalys glanced at him coldly.
Odalys had a feeling Atlas would approach her, which was why she had told Selah and the others to leave first.
Watching Atlas’ angry expression, Odalys found it somewhat amusing. The Bennett family was all good-looking, but their brains were a bit too simple.
A few foolish men were completely captivated by Sophia.
“Sophia went missing last night. Did you have something to do with it? Did you have someone kidnap her?” Atlas asked, barely holding back his anger.
Odalys couldn’t help but laugh, stepping forward in a way that forced Atlas to instinctively take a few steps back.
♡
Chapter 263
“Are you out of your mind?” Odalys asked coldly. “Sophia’s missing, so you should be calling the police, not coming to me. What’s so special about her? Do you expect me to keep an eye on her? What is she to me? And what are you to me?” Odalys’ tone was cold.
Atlas was taken aback by her words, his frustration growing.
Furious, Atlas shot back. “I’m your brother, and Sophia is your sister. Is this how you treat family? Just because we like Sophia more, you’re holding a grudge? What are you trying to do, destroy us, ruin the Bennett family?
“Is that what you want? You beat Sophia last night and even hurt Henry. Mom’s leg was broken. I’m starting to think you were behind that!”
Seeing her remain so calm, with no sign of guilt or fear, only made Atlas angrier.
‘Why is she living the high life while we’re stuck in this mess?’ Atlas thought bitterly, unable to shake the feeling of resentment.
Before, Odalys had been meek and compliant with the Bennett family, always giving. But since she left, she’d turned into a winner in life, while they were all left to deal with chaos.
“And that thing you said on that variety show,” Atlas continued, his voice sharp with anger. “You claimed our family abused and abandoned you, and even had the cops back you up.
“Do you realize that everyone in the industry is now gossiping, saying it was the Bennett family who did it? Now, people are watching us. They’re even questioning if you’re really one of us.”
He paused, his eyes hard as he wondered, ‘I think she just forces us to take her back.”
But Atlas wasn’t about to let her come back so easily. He wanted to teach her a lesson.
“All this talk, and you just want to know where Sophia is, accusations. Don’t you?” Odalys raised an eyebrow, unfazed by his
Atlas felt like he’d hit the air.
His anger was building, but she wasn’t giving him the satisfaction of a fight. He couldn’t vent his frustration. creeping into his voice. “Are you going to help us find her?” Atlas asked, suspicion uneasy. Odalys was being too accommodating, and it made him with me,” Odalys replied. “I’ll help, but only if Hannah, Henry, Caspian, and you come
A sense of foreboding washed over Atlas. ‘She wants us all to go together? Is she planning to murder us on the way? What’s she up to?’ he wondered, feeling uneasy.
“If you don’t want to, then forget it,” Odalys added, her tone cold. “I’m going to eat. Move!!!”
Atlas hesitated for a moment before quickly making a call. He didn’t wait long before hanging up and speaking in a low voice. “They’re on their way.”
“You better pray that Sophia’s okay,” Atlas warned, his voice dark. “Otherwise, we won’t let you off the hook.”
He turned to leave, and Odalys was already dialing her phone.
As Stellan and the others drove out, still some distance from the restaurant, they heard Odalys’ words and immediately turned the car around to head back.
A black SUV was parked outside. Caspian rolled down the window and looked out at the scene.
“Are you sure she wants the whole family to go?” Caspian asked, a slight unease creeping into his voice.
‘Odalys is always bold with her actions. If she’s making this kind of request, I have a feeling it’s not a good sign, he thought.
“Yeah. She’ll only help if we all go together. The police haven’t made any progress. If something happens to Sophia, the Bennett Group’s reputation will be even worse,
Atlas replied in a low voice.
Hannah had just been lifted into the car. Sitting in a wheelchair, she watched Odalys through the window, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes.
“Let her get in the car,” Hannah said coldly.
Atlas turned, ready to walk over, but then saw Odalys heading toward another vehicle. The door opened, and she slid inside without hesitation. Before he could say anything, the car sped off.
“Follow her,” Odalys called out through the open window. Atlas froze for a moment, then immediately jumped into the passenger seat. “Caspian, she told us to follow her. Hurry up. I need to see what she’s up to.”
“Did you call the police?” Hannah asked in a low voice.
Henry’s left hand was bandaged, his pain keeping him from moving it. His right hand held his phone as he spoke quietly, “Yes, we suspect Sophia was maliciously kidnapped by Odalys.’
“The police are behind us. Let’s go ahead, and they’ll follow,” Henry said in a hushed voice.
At that moment, Henry was exhausted, both physically and mentally.
After his hand was injured last night, he was sent to a small clinic. There, he was overcharged, 15 thousand dollars just for a bandage and some wound treatment. He was furious, wishing he could scream out.
In the past, 15 thousand dollars wasn’t a big deal to him. But now, with the Bennett Group on the brink of collapse, he couldn’t bear to spend so much.
All of this was Odalys’ fault. If it weren’t for her, the Bennett Group wouldn’t be in such dire straits.
Today, Henry was determined to ruin Odalys’ reputation. With the police backing them up, if something happened to Sophia, Odalys would be locked up for a long time. “Did you start the live stream?” Hannah whispered, reminding him.
They were using the official Bennett Group account for the live stream, hoping to salvage the company’s reputation. They also wanted to capitalize on the publicity to make a comeback, using the current crisis to spin things in their favor.
“It’ll start soon,” Henry replied.
He had just posted an announcement saying that Sophia was missing and that they suspected she had been kidnapped. In five minutes, they would begin the live stream with the police, all in an attempt to locate her. “There are already a million people waiting to watch. Seems like Sophia’s popularity isn’t any less than Odalys,” Atlas said, looking at the live stream data on his phone. They had expected that the Bennett Group’s fall from grace would mean no one would care.
But now, with over a million people eager to tune in, it was starting to get interesting.
“Do you think this is too harsh on Odalys?” Caspian asked, glancing over at the others while driving. He had an uneasy feeling about what was happening.
For him, hurting Odalys for the sake of gaining attention might soon backfire and bring them more trouble than it was worth.
“Too harsh? Did she think about how harsh she was when she attacked you guys?” Henry replied coldly, his face dark with anger.
Henry hadn’t slept all night because of the pain in his hand. Now, all he wanted was to take the opportunity to crush Odalys and make sure she could never recover.
“Don’t forget. If the Bennett Group goes under, you guys won’t have it easy either. Yesterday, she hurt my hand. Next time, she might kill you,” Henry said, intentionally trying to scare them.
The others fell silent, the gravity of his words settling in. As the car in front came to a stop, Henry immediately started the live stream. He turned the camera to himself, his expression somber.
“I’m sorry to be broadcasting under these circumstances, but last night, celebrity Sophia went missing and hasn’t returned. We’ve been unable to reach her by phone. We suspect she’s been kidnapped,” he said.
“The Bennett Group has already contacted the police, and the patrol car is following us. We invite all of you to witness this with us… Together, we will protect Sophia. The
Bennett Group will never bow to evil forces,” Henry continued, his voice full of determination.
“As Henry saw the viewer count surge into the millions, he felt a surge of excitement.
He set his phone down, allowing the camera to capture the view ahead clearly.”
“Make sure to point the camera at Odalys later. Let’s solidify the suspicion that she’s the one who kidnapped
Sophia,” Hannah whispered, her voice low.
♡
Chapter 264
Henry wiped the sadness from his expression, his eyes now filled with calculation. He spoke in a low voice, “Don’t worry, Mom. After today, I’ll make sure Odalys will never recover.”
He paused, then added, “We’re going to use her current popularity to climb higher. In this digital age, attention is everything.”
As he looked at the livestream comments, a smile that he could barely suppress spread across his face.
Ahead of them, Stellan was driving, his eyes focused on the road as he asked, “Odalys, what’s your connection to Sophia’s disappearance?”
“I’m curious about that too,” Selah chimed in.
Odalys, sitting in the back seat, answered casually, “The Bennett family wants me to help find her, but they’re just trying to frame me for wanting to harm Sophia, hoping to use me to rise again.”
She shrugged. “The Bennett Group is so suppressed right now, they have no way to get back up. I’m guessing Henry must be live streaming already, trying to gain attention and set things up for the Bennett Group’s comeback.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Francis and Freya pulled out their phones to check.
Their faces darkened when they confirmed that the Bennett Group was indeed live-streaming.
“They’re really doing it. Could they be setting a trap for you?” Freya gasped.
Freya was ready to jump through the screen and start arguing with the Bennett family members.
“We could live stream, too. Open your streams soon, and follow my lead,” Odalys said quietly.
Francis nodded. “I have an international account. I can stream as well.”
“Right, Francis should stream too. Let’s get this news out internationally.” Selah immediately gave a thumbs-up.
The vehicle sped off toward the outskirts, stopping in front of an old, secluded house. The house had an air of history about it, and it looked quite run-down.
“This is going to be an exciting day,” Freya said with a grin. Odalys stepped out of the car, staring at the house ahead. She was about to walk inside when she saw the Bennett family’s car pull up, and Atlas hurried over toward her.
“Don’t go in.” Atlas quickly grabbed her arm.
He was worried that she might warn the kidnappers inside or that she might ruin their plans.
At that moment, Henry appeared, holding his phone, and purposely gave Odalys a wide shot on camera. He said, Looks like you know where the incident happened. How can you still claim that the kidnapping wasn’t your doing?” As he spoke, the police stepped out of their vehicle.
The old house didn’t look like it had anything to do with the kidnapping. In fact, it appeared so unstable that escaping from it would be incredibly easy.
Inside the quiet living room, strange objects were scattered about.
Spirit dolls grinned eerily, and some even had blood trickling from their eyes.
There were talismans stuck to the windows, and flowers were placed nearby.
Sophia spoke with a burning ambition, “I want a Love Spell, and… I want to control someone. I want her to lose control of her emotions, to commit murder and arson, and finally take her own life. I want her to obey my every command.”
She was desperate for the Love Spell and also wanted Odalys dead.
Sophia had plans for Odalys to kill Percival and then force her to hand over the Stewart family to her. Sophia intended to step on Odalys’ blood as she climbed to the top.
As soon as Sophia finished speaking, Alden, sitting in the high-backed chair, sharply lifted his head.
He stared at her, seeing the greedy and malicious look in her eyes. A calculating glint flashed in his gaze.
Alden, sitting with his legs crossed, calmly addressed Sophia, “Take off your clothes and sit in the bath.”
Sophia, taken aback, asked, “Here? In front of you?”
Earlier, when she paid for the Love Spell, there had been no such process.
Now, Alden was demanding that she undress in front of him and bathe. Sophia felt something was off.
Alden, still wearing his robe, added, “What? Don’t want the Love Spell anymore? Last time, you weren’t sincere enough, so the Love Spell was broken and didn’t work.”
“Now you need to calm down, strip away all your inhibitions, and sit in the bath to cleanse yourself. Let me give you a proper ritual,” Alden said smoothly.
Sophia stood there for a moment, then turned to leave. But the arrogant attitude Odalys had shown earlier stopped Sophia in her tracks.
“Fine, I’ll do it,” Sophia muttered, gripping her clothes tightly as she began to undo them one by one.
The clothes fell to the ground, and she blushed deeply. Hesitant but determined, she stepped toward the bath. With a splash, she quickly sat down, water splashing around her.
A strange fragrance from the lit scented candles filled the air, and as it reached her, Sophia felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.
“My head feels so dizzy,” she whispered to herself, clutching the side of the bath.
Alden remained seated, watching her closely. Once he saw the effect of the incense taking hold, he walked toward her, taking a talisman, burning it, and then pouring the ashes into the water. He approached her and gently forced the liquid into her mouth.
“How wonderful… Your ambition, your ruthlessness… Women like you, who’ve already been altered, are rare.”
Alden said, his voice laced with fascination.
When Sophia had first come to ask for the Love Spell, he had sensed something about her that intrigued him. Upon closer inspection, he realized just how irresistible she was.
His spirit dolls needed to be fed with energy, and now, Sophia was offering it to him willingly.
The more Alden thought about it, the more excited he became, his gaze fixated on her face.
Suddenly, he jumped into the bath with a loud splash, sending water splashing over the sides and onto the floor. “Baby, once we unite, we will be one,” Alden said, his voice full of excitement.
Sophia, feeling faint and dizzy, struggled as Alden moved closer. She tried to open her mouth to scream.
“Didn’t you say you wanted the Love Spell? I not only have the Love Spell, but I also have a talisman that can make someone’s life and death impossible to control. If you give yourself to me, I’ll make your wishes come true,” Alden whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her skin. Sophia tried to resist, but deep down, a part of her craved it. ‘The talisman that can control life and death? Yes, I want Odalys to suffer, to be trapped between life and death. Her thoughts screamed.
Her ambition surged again, and her struggles weakened. Alden moved closer, his breath heavy against her face.
“Stop, no,” Sophia whimpered weakly.
Sophia kept struggling, but Alden grabbed her wrist firmly, pinning her down as she fought against him, her movements becoming increasingly futile.
Her hair fell loose, and her eyes widened with panic. She was immobilized, unable to move, her gaze fixed on Alden as he came closer.
“No, please,” she cried softly, tears starting to spill.
Sophia had always dreamed of marrying into a wealthy family. She would only sleep with a man who was rich and powerful.
But Alden was greasy and repulsive. She could barely stand the sight of him.
When he asked her to undress and get into the bath, she hadn’t suspected anything.
Previously, when she came to buy the talisman, everything had seemed normal. But now, she realized something was wrong. Alden was totally after her body.
“Why do you keep struggling? I’m helping you. Let me cleanse your body first,” Alden said in a low voice.
Outside, Atlas had a firm grip on Odalys, stopping her from entering.
Chapter 265
Atlas faintly heard the sounds of impact and a woman pleading for mercy from within, and he became anxious. “Looks like you had someone torture her…” Atlas said, rushing forward.
Henry and Selah quickly followed behind him. Francis, tall with long legs, sprinted ahead. The police, seeing this, also hurried to follow.
The moment the live broadcast started, media reporters quickly arrived on the scene.
A large group rushed in, all eager to get the first scoop. “Ah, please stop!” A woman’s scream echoed through the living room.
Everyone stared at the talismans covering the entire ceiling. The wind blew in from outside, making the talismans flutter, while the floor was covered in spirit dolls, creating an eerie scene.
The atmosphere was gruesome, almost like they had stepped into hell.
They walked past the spirit dolls, and a woman’s scream, followed by heavy breathing, came from a corner. Everyone turned to look.
The bathtub was huge, water splashed out of it, and the floor was wet with droplets. A hand reached out from the tub, gripping the edge of the wooden barrel.
“What’s that sound?” someone exclaimed.
Selah, Freya, and Henry, walking ahead, froze in place when they saw the situation in the tub.
The phones they were holding were streaming the live feed, clearly broadcasting the scene. They stood there, stunned, unable to react for a long moment.
“How… how is this possible?” Henry’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Sophia and Alden were pressed together, her body covered in bruises.
She tilted her head back, appearing to be in pain, but almost as if she were enjoying it. She locked eyes with Henry, her mouth opening as if to scream, but Alden kissed her on the lips.
“This… this is too intense, right?” Selah held her breath.
‘Oh my gosh. This is insane. What exactly are they doing?’ Selah wondered.
“What’s going on?” Atlas and Caspian, pushing Hannah’s wheelchair, pushed forward.
Unsure of what was happening, they moved closer and froze when they saw the scene in the tub.
They thought they had caught something compromising on Odalys, but instead, they were witnessing Sophia and a man having sex, with an air of infidelity.
No one would believe she was being forced. After all, Sophia looked like she was enjoying it.
“Sophia’s shooting an adult film with someone?” A reporter stood in shock.
Everyone stood frozen. The police entered and, seeing the scene, fell silent. The Bennett family had reported Sophia as being kidnapped, suspecting Odalys’ involvement. Now, it seemed Sophia had simply gone out on a date.
They hadn’t even gone to a hotel, but straight to this secluded rural house. Whether it was young people seeking a thrill or something else, no one could say.
“The Bennett family reported that Sophia was kidnapped. I don’t think that’s the case,” a police officer said seriously.
Given the connection to Odalys, their attitude immediately shifted.
The events at the villa had been circulating widely in the police circles. Just this morning, Odalys had helped capture human traffickers involved in smuggling girls. They had cracked two big cases in two days..
Now, someone was claiming Odalys had kidnapped Sophia. When it came to Odalys, the police took it seriously.
“Right. It must’ve been Odalys who had Sophia kidnapped. This guy’s clearly a rapist. She must’ve brought him here, right?” Atlas said instinctively.
After he spoke, he noticed Caspian immediately distancing himself from him.
The words Caspian had said to him last night kept replaying in Atlas’s mind, and Atlas couldn’t help but feel a little regretful now.
Aside from Atlas, no one from the Bennett family spoke. “Is that so?” The police officer stood still, showing no intention of letting anyone leave.
It was clear the officer intended to handle the matter in front of everyone.
Usually, in such situations, the police would ask everyone to step back. But now, things were the opposite, as they began questioning everyone right on the spot.
The reporters raised their cameras high, eager to get the live footage.
Sophia’s lips moved slightly, and as she met Odalys’ eyes, she suddenly blurted out. “She didn’t hurt me! I just took off my clothes, and he came in. I came here to buy some talismans and kill Odalys. I want this bitch dead.”
As soon as Sophia finished speaking, the room fell silent.
The man on top of her twisted his expression, suddenly standing up and saying, “Damn it, I just wanted to sleep with her.”
“I’m helping her. Do you understand? I’m cleaning out some bad stuff from her body. It’s done,” he said as he started to get dressed.
The moment he grabbed his clothes, he suddenly felt like he had been possessed.
Normally, he wouldn’t have said something like that, but he did.
Sophia was also stunned, not understanding why she had just revealed her true thoughts. Listening to Alden’s words, she realized she had been tricked.
“He’s a liar! He’s not the one who cast the Love Spell!” Sophia screamed.
She scrambled to her feet, lunging at Alden and pinning him to the ground.
“She scrambled to her feet, lunging at Alden and pinning him to the ground.
She raised her hand as if to slap him, but the wind blew in from the window, and she suddenly felt cold. Looking down, she froze.”
“Ah.” She saw she was completely naked, and everything went black as she fainted.
Sophia fell into Alden’s arms. The police rushed forward to pull her away, and the members of the Bennett family turned pale. They had thought they would expose Odalys, but instead, they had stumbled upon an affair.
“Stop. No one is allowed to film anymore. Turn off all your cameras!” Hannah was the first to react.
Her voice snapped everyone back to reality. Henry tried to shut off the live feed, but his phone had frozen and wouldn’t turn off.
[Here! Sophia caught in an affair.]
[She went missing in the middle of the night, and now they have found her getting a thrill with someone else.]
[Fuck, so hot. She even stood up naked.]
[Is this really appropriate in public? I used to think she was innocent. This is so unexpected.]
[Oh my gosh, this is fucking shocking.]
[She blames everything on Odalys. Did Odalys force her to take off her clothes? Did Odalys force her to make love with this man?]
[This is so ridiculous. By the way, her chest is so small.]
The comments in the live chat were full of laughter. No one expected such a dramatic scene.
The members of the Bennett family snapped out of it, but it was already too late.
Sophia had passed out. The police could only arrest Alden and ask him what had happened.
Alden quickly explained, “Sophia texted me in the middle of the night, asking me to come over to buy talismans. I invited her over. Everything that happened just now was her choice. She was the one who undressed and came to me. “You all saw it. She didn’t resist. It was all consensual.”
In the end, the police arrested Alden and sealed off the place.
The reporters scattered in a hurry, and the Bennett family members quickly draped clothes over Sophia. Caspian had injuries, and Henry’s hand was immobile. In the end, Atlas carried Sophia to the car.
Chapter 266
“Mr. Bennett, how do you explain Sophia’s messy personal life? Was her image all a lie? Is she really this promiscuous behind closed doors?”
“Why are you deliberately framing Odalys? Do you think this situation has anything to do with her?”
“Do you have a personal vendetta against Odalys? Why are you constantly targeting her? We need an explanation.” “Is this the first time Sophia has hooked up with a man?” “Why are you promoting her so much? Do you think she’s some kind of bitch?”
The reporters crowded in, causing members of the Bennett family to explode in anger. Caspian hurriedly pushed
Hannah got into the car.
At that moment, Hannah had lost her previous calculation and glared bitterly at Odalys from a distance.
She hadn’t expected this outcome. She never thought that Sophia would be mixing with a man like this.
In the past, Sophia would come home right after work, and when she didn’t have any shoots, she’d stay home, never out socializing. Hannah had thought that Sophia was still a virgin, never imagining that she…
“Mom…” Caspian saw Hannah slowly close her eyes and quickly called out to her.
“Take her to the hospital. Get her some morning-after pills. If she’s pregnant, things will get even worse,” Hannah said tiredly.
Sophia’s future was completely ruined.
Before, she just had some haters, but now, she was finished.
Atlas sat in the driver’s seat, silently gripping the steering wheel. Sophia’s image had shattered completely at that moment. He had no choice but to believe it.
“Why is it like this? Someone must have drugged her.” Atlas gritted his teeth.
Caspian, sitting in the back, felt like Atlas had completely lost it. The night before, Caspian had already warned Atlas, but Atlas still had to interfere.
“Does she look like someone who’s been drugged? She was completely lucid.” Caspian retorted.
They all froze.
The live broadcast couldn’t be shut off. Henry, with a firm resolve, shoved the phone into a nearby drawer, cutting off all visuals.
“Let’s go home,” Henry said tiredly. He didn’t want to say another word.
Now, he was starting to doubt himself. It felt like no matter what they did, it was always wrong, and something bad would eventually happen.
Henry had once favored Sophia, but now he even wondered if he had been wrong about her all along.
Before, to protect Sophia from being bullied, Henry had deliberately suppressed Odalys. But now, Odalys seemed to be thriving.
Henry felt disoriented. Obviously, nothing had changed, yet everything had.
Everything was different now. He looked at Sophia in the back seat, her eyes swollen and red from crying, and felt an overwhelming urge to scream at her.
“Why are you even here?” Henry asked coldly.
The car instantly went silent. Sophia, unable to cry anymore, looked at Henry’s darkened face, his eyes seeming like they were going to swallow her whole.
She quickly turned her head away, her eyes flickering, biting her lip.
“I…” Sophia panicked.
She had pretended to faint earlier, never expecting Henry to call her out.
“Odalys invited me out. I didn’t think she’d set me up like this. Henry, it was Sophia who tried to hurt me.” Sophia lay in a panic.
As long as Henry didn’t verify it, the lie wouldn’t be exposed. Henry let out a hoarse laugh, rubbing his brow. He, who had always been calm, suddenly shouted in anger, “You’re full of crap. Odalys invited you?”
Henry’s voice was filled with fury, as though he was about to unload all his pent-up frustration. “She just came to the Bennett Villa last night to slap you. After that, she left.
“Do you even know who was waiting for her outside the Bennett Villa last night? That limited-edition Cayenne was a Stewart family exclusive luxury car. She was picked up by them.
“She invited you? Why? Today, her new company is opening. It’s packed. But you’re here, having sex with that man?”
It was as if he wanted to vent all his recent frustrations at once.
Sophia was stunned by his shouting, so much so that she forgot to cry.
“Henry, I…” Sophia bit her lip, looking at him in disbelief. This was the first time Henry had yelled at her.
‘How could he yell at me and even defend Odalys? Now I’ve been assaulted, but no one in the Bennett family is speaking up for me, not even standing up for me, Sophia wondered.
“Odalys is married into the Stewart family and has a backer now, so you all don’t love me anymore? I’m the victim here, but why is everyone doubting me?” Sophia’s voice broke with emotion.
Henry laughed bitterly as he listened.
He cursed loudly. “Victim? Do you think I’m an idiot? You were clearly enjoying it at the time. Were you trying to tell everyone what you were doing?
“Do you want me to replay the video for you? Or do you think the Bennett family hasn’t suffered enough because of you?”
Atlas, driving, was shaking. He couldn’t tell if it was panic or anger.
“Enough,” Hannah suddenly spoke up.
Hannah seemed emotionally detached, neither angry nor upset. It almost felt like even if Sophia really had been assaulted, Hannah wouldn’t care.
Perhaps, after last night, when Hannah made her decision to climb the Stewart family’s ranks, she had completely discarded Sophia.
“Hospital? Do you think they’ll admit her?” Henry sneered. Sophia’s tears fell in a steady stream.
Of all three brothers, Henry had spoiled her the most, so all the Bennett family’s resources were directed toward her.
Now, Henry was the only one who didn’t believe her.
“The internet is filled with shameful news about Sophia now. How is the Bennett family going to hold its ground? Mom, you said today would be a turning point for the Bennett family. What now? We’ve hit rock bottom,” Henry continued.
Only Caspian remained silent. He turned his head to look out the car window, his mind replaying the scenes from today.
In that fleeting moment, Caspian caught a glimpse of Sophia’s chest, partially exposed. He swallowed hard and asked, “Was he your first?”
“I…” Sophia didn’t expect Caspian to ask such a question.
Her face flushed a deep red, and memories from her childhood flooded her mind.
Alden could never have been her first. Her first time had been in a storage room at the Bennett Villa. Thinking about it, Sophia lowered her gaze and fell silent.
Atlas drove toward the hospital.
He thought they would refuse to admit Sophia, but to his surprise, she was immediately given a room. They even conducted an examination, and the results came quickly. There were signs of tearing in her lower body.
“Was she a virgin?” Henry suddenly asked.
The nurse glanced down at the report and said, “We didn’t find any evidence of a torn hymen, so it doesn’t seem like it’s her first time.”
“If you want to repair her hymen, I suggest she wait until her body has recovered, then schedule surgery.” The nurse handed him the medical report and left.
Henry took the report, and the nurse’s words kept echoing in his ears.
With a loud slap, he struck his own face.
‘What kind of jerk have I been protecting? I used to think she was pure and sweet, that she wasn’t secretly seeing men. Even when she seduced me before, I endured it, he wondered.
Now, Henry realized she wasn’t even a virgin.
Chapter 267
This meant that, prior to this, Sophia had already slept with many men.
Henry walked into the room, holding a medical file. With a loud snap, he threw it onto Sophia, saying, “You deal with the negative news online yourself.”
No sooner had he spoken, the police pushed open the door and entered.
Upon seeing all the Bennett family members present, they directly delivered the result, saying, “You reported Ms. Bennett as being kidnapped. We’ve reviewed her schedule and other phone data.
“It’s been confirmed that she wasn’t lured out by anyone. She contacted Alden on her own, and they met up there. Your kidnapping report is invalid.”
“This is the case closure notice. Please sign here,” the officer said, handing over the receipt.
Henry took the slip, signed it, and the police left.
Once the room grew quiet again, Henry spoke without turning back. “From now on, the Bennett Group won’t handle your PR anymore.”
With those words, he turned and walked out of the room.
Sophia was stunned, lying there on the bed in utter disarray. Her mind raced, replaying the events of last night while the police’s words echoed in her ears. She had indeed contacted Alden herself to buy the Love Spell.
She had thought that picking up the Love Spell and paying for it would be enough to leave.
But Alden had kept her there, made her undress, even shower, and then he raped her in front of everyone…
“How did this happen?” Sophia muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible.
In a panic, Sophia grabbed her phone and opened up WhatsApp to check the new contact, but then froze. A few seconds later, she realized she had made a mistake when adding this person. She had misdialed a number.
Alden wasn’t the man she had originally intended to contact.
“Ah!” The realization hit her hard. She cursed herself for rushing last night, being careless.
She had added the wrong person and chosen the wrong target. In the end, she not only failed to get the Love Spell, but she also ended up getting raped. Now the whole world knew that Alden had slept with her.
“Mom, I’m going out for a walk.” Atlas, feeling frustrated, turned and followed Henry out.
Once Atlas had left, Hannah, sitting in her wheelchair, gazed thoughtfully out the window.
“Caspian, take me outside,” Hannah said.
Caspian, eager to leave, immediately pushed her out. Once in the hallway, Hannah spoke again, saying, “Wait here for me.”
Caspian was puzzled. Hannah, on her own, wheeled herself toward the nearby VIP room.
There were guards outside the room, and after Hannah spoke to them, they went inside to ask for permission. Shortly after, the guards returned and opened the door for her.
Caspian, still confused, spoke. “Whose room is this?”
Caspian didn’t expect to find his mother’s friend staying next door.
He quickly went to inquire and discovered that the
occupant was none other than Edie. That name was all too familiar. Edie was Percival’s mother.
“How does she know my mom?” Caspian muttered. “I remember it was Grandpa and Evander who were old acquaintances. How does my mom know Edie?”
He had never heard his mother mention knowing anyone from the Stewart family. Now she could go straight into a hospital room and be allowed inside.
Caspian stood outside, deep in thought, occasionally glancing inside. The bodyguards blocked his view, but he still caught glimpses of what was happening.
*****
Inside the room, Edie was lying in bed, her forehead bandaged. Every time she spoke, pain shot through her head. She was Percival’s mother, and whether at home or in public, others treated her with great respect.
Edie had not expected to be struck by Evander last night at the Stewart Villa.
Edie couldn’t swallow her anger, but when she woke up, she found that Percival was dead..
“What are you doing here?” Edie asked as she saw Hannah, her well-maintained face immediately turning sour.
She arrogantly leaned against the wall, the marks on her neck still visible and slightly bruised.
When she saw Hannah, images of Odalys flashed in her mind. Last night, Odalys grabbed Edie by the neck and threw her out.
Edie was Odalys’ mother-in-law, yet Odalys beat her up. Anyone would feel humiliated in that situation, let alone Edie, who had been highly respected.
“I heard you were sent to the hospital from the Stewart Villa last night. Did you get those injuries there?” Hannah said with a calm but mocking tone. “I never imagined that after all these years, your standing in the Stewart family would still end up so low.’
Hannah sat in her wheelchair, meeting Edie’s gaze.
“Hannah, when did it become your place to meddle in my business? If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll…” Edie quickly regained her haughty stance.
Hannah, however, just smiled, keeping her eyes locked with Edie’s.
“Rumor has it that Percival is dead. The Stewart family has such a huge fortune. Do you think Evander is going to let you have it?” Hannah said, still with a touch of arrogance despite sitting in a wheelchair.
Edie couldn’t finish her sentence, forced to swallow her words.
“What do you mean?” Edie said, glaring at her.
The atmosphere in the room was tense, and the two women locked in a silent battle through their glares.
Hannah spoke in a low voice, “The only member of the Stewart family still alive is Evander. He’s old, but he’s still useful.
“Whoever gets pregnant with his child, whether it’s you or me, will be the heir of the Stewart family. If you don’t want that, then let me handle it.”
Edie was stunned. She hadn’t expected Hannah to be so shameless. Her eyes widened as if trying to see through the woman standing before her.
“Evander is over seventy. You’re after him? Hannah, have you lost your mind?” Edie exclaimed in disbelief.
Hannah found Edie’s shocked reaction amusing.
She said calmly, “What’s so pure about you? Didn’t you use drugs to sleep with his son and get pregnant with Percival? So what?”
“My husband’s overseas, and he still hasn’t come back. What’s the harm in me having a little fun with a man? If you don’t want to, then I will.” She pulled out a packet of pills and held it out.
With a loud slap, Hannah dropped the pills onto the table and slid them over to Edie.
“The pills are here. It’s up to you whether I take them or you do. Either way, the Stewart family cannot fall into the hands of outsiders,” Hannah said, turning her wheelchair to leave.
Edie stayed seated, staring at Hannah’s departing figure, suddenly questioning if she even knew this woman.
“You promised that we would stay out of each other’s business, but now you’ve crossed the line,” Edie said coldly. Hannah turned her back to Edie, her expression unreadable, and simply replied, “I kept my promise to you. I made sure Odalys never stayed in the Bennett family. I did that. So I don’t owe you anything.”
“But you do owe me a favor,” Hannah continued, her voice unwavering. “So, are you going, or should I? No matter who carries the Stewart family’s child, half of the fortune is mine.”
With that, Hannah pushed her wheelchair out of the room. After the door closed, Edie lowered her gaze to the pills on the table.
Images of Odalys flooded her mind, and after a long pause, Edie grabbed her phone and made a call. “Oliver, come to the hospital and see me right now.”
Chapter 268
In the VIP lounge of the hospital, Percival stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the bustling cityscape. The bright sunlight hit his face.
“It looks like something’s happening after all.” Orson wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Orson had just returned from a quick shower and was now watching the scene unfold on the screen.
Percival turned around, his eyes landing on Hannah’s figure as she appeared on the large TV screen. After being pushed out by Caspian, Hannah entered Edie’s hospital room alone.
Orson began. “Percival, you were right. I had the hospital take in members of the Bennett family and arranged for them to stay next to your mother’s room. If they knew each other, they’d inevitably run into each other.
“Didn’t expect Hannah to be an old acquaintance of your mother’s. And that when Odalys was little, your mother’s deal with the Bennett family led to Odalys being kicked out.” Orson furrowed his brows in confusion. “But why would she make the Bennett family kick Odalys out? Odalys was just a little kid back then, only three or four years old. Why target a child like that?”
Percival’s voice was low and heavy. “Edie and Hannah go way back. In fact, when Odalys was young, it was a deal between Edie and the Bennett family that led to Odalys being expelled.
“And to help her brother, she drugged my father. She wanted to marry into the Stewart family to support her brother. My father’s death is tied to her brother.”
“Maybe…” Percival trailed off, his gaze turning icy as he stared at Edie on the monitor.
His voice grew even colder. “Odalys might have been in the way of her plans, so she suppressed the Bennett family, forcing them to mistreat Odalys. She even had them kick her out in the dead of winter, hoping to let the cold kill her.
“But Odalys ended up being taken in by her master and brought to the mountains.”
That was Percival’s guess, and it was the only explanation that made sense so far.
Orson spoke quietly. “If it’s like you said, then as long as Odalys is alive, she can save the Stewart family, and also destroy your mother’s plans. Your mother must have known that Odalys’ existence would ruin her schemes, so she had to get rid of her.
“But she never expected that years later, the Bennett family would want to bring Odalys back.
“They knew Edie feared Odalys, so the Bennett family deliberately went against her. That’s why they didn’t want Sophia to marry into the Stewart family. They were protecting her. They feared that if Sophia did marry into the Stewart family, your mother would kill her.”
“So, they ended up marrying someone your mother hated, to you, as a way to use it to negotiate with the Stewart family?” Orson clapped his hands together as if a lightbulb went off in his head. “That makes everything clear.”
Orson continued to speculate. “The Bennett family is selfish, and Hannah didn’t want to be pushed around. In the end, she took a bold move and brought Odalys back to marry you, to intimidate Edie.
“So when the police called to have the Bennett family pick Odalys up, they refused. That means they knew Odalys wasn’t dead, but your mother didn’t have a clue. They’ve been hiding this from her, keeping it as a trump card?” Percival pressed his lips together tightly, his eyes locked on Edie’s figure. She had just taken the medicine package Hannah gave her and tucked it into her bag.
“It’s a shame she thought she could use the Stewart family’s influence to get away with all these dirty deeds. Now she’s even trying to use my grandfather for her own benefit. It’s unbelievable. Two crazy women.” Percival couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
He had never imagined that a woman would go as far as trying to manipulate Evander.
They actually wanted to drug Evander and have his child, thinking they could carry on the Stewart family’s bloodline. “Send me this video,” Percival said in a low voice.
Orson quickly pulled out his laptop and, after a few moments of typing, sent the video to Percival. Without a second of hesitation, Percival immediately forwarded it to Evander.
Percival wasn’t arrogant enough to think he could keep things hidden. He certainly didn’t believe he could stop everything on his own. It was best to let Evander know, for his protection.
“You’re just going to let Mr. Stewart know like this?” Orson asked, a bit surprised.
Percival gripped his phone tightly, his tall frame leaning back against the chair. He took a sip from the coffee beside him, his fingers, long and elegant, gripping the cup’s edge.
“Grandfather has the right to know. And only he can prevent things from happening,” Percival said.
He then took out his phone and dialed Callum.
“Callum, it’s me.” Percival took another sip of coffee before speaking in a gravelly voice. “Pass it down. Strip my mother of any control over the Stewart family’s assets.
“She is no longer allowed access to any Stewart properties, estates, businesses, or stores. Furthermore, no one, guards, servants, or employees, is to take orders from her. “The Stewart Villa and the Stewart mansion, she is prohibited from entering. If she tries to force her way in, tell the guards they are allowed to injure her on the spot, as long as they don’t kill her.”
Percival’s deep voice resonated in the lounge, and Orson held his breath, fully aware of the gravity of the situation.
Percival continued, “Also, inform all the banks to immediately unlink her from any accounts tied to the Stewart family. She’s not allowed to charge anything to the Stewart family cards anymore.
“Have the Stewart Group’s official website issue a statement severing all ties with Edie, making it clear that she is no longer a member of the Stewart family. Anyone caught working with her privately will bear the consequences, and the Stewart family will take no responsibility.”
Each of Percival’s commands startled Callum.
After hearing the orders, Callum repeated them and asked, Mr. Stewart, are you sure?”
“Yes. Do it right now,” Percival replied, his voice gravelly.
In the past, Percival had refrained from taking action against Edie because she was his mother. He’d let her have her way, covering for her in everything.
But now, he knew Edie had been behind Evander’s leg injury.
Though he didn’t have concrete proof regarding his father’s death, Percival suspected she was involved.
And Edie had certainly been behind Odalys’ mistreatment and abandonment.
A person so cruel didn’t deserve to be a mother. ‘I’ll never acknowledge this madwoman as my real mother again. I’ve tolerated enough of her behavior, he wondered.
“Understood.” Callum hung up the phone and immediately set the plan into motion.
Orson brewed more coffee and brought it over, refilling Percival’s cup. He stared at Percival thoughtfully, his eyes sparkling. He spoke quietly. “You’re worried about Odalys, right?”
Percival remained silent.
“Today’s the opening of Odalys’ company. People have been sending flowers her way. Why don’t you show some support?” Orson asked in a low voice.
In fact, Percival had been keeping an eye on Odalys’ situation.
“She doesn’t like all that superficial stuff. Besides, if I show up, it’ll just cause trouble for her. Right now, rumors are spreading that I’m dead. It’s better for her to distance herself. That way, no one will target her, and it’ll keep her out of harm’s way,” Percival said in a low tone.
Orson took a sip of his coffee, then leaned against a nearby counter.
He looked Percival up and down, noting how well he was recovering. Orson said softly, “Honestly, last night, I didn’t think you’d make it.”
Chapter 269
Orson scratched his head. “I can’t believe Odalys used thunderstruck wood to summon a lightning strike. Not only did it dispel the negative energy from your body, but she also fused the lightning with venomroot and let it be absorbed into you.
“This approach is absolutely unheard of. I’ve never come across anything like it before. But her explanation makes sense. You’ve been sick for so long, and your body has been severely weakened.
“Weak bodies attract negative energy, which causes lingering illnesses. And thunderstruck wood is known to help.
Every step Odalys took seemed to venture into a realm beyond Orson’s expertise.
“For a moment, I thought I had a grasp of her medical skills, but now it’s clear I’ve been completely outpaced by her methods,’ he thought, his expression troubled.
“Let’s go.” Percival placed his coffee cup down with a firm clink.
Grabbing his car keys, he strode toward the door with long, determined steps, his urgency making it clear he had someone to meet.
“You’re just leaving like this? Didn’t your mother say Oliver would be coming over? Aren’t you curious about what they’re planning to say?” Orson asked, still holding his coffee cup as he hurried after him.
Percival moved with an air of nonchalance. As he closed the door behind him, his deep voice lingered in the air. “You handle it.”
“Fine, I’ll keep an eye on them,” Orson replied with a shrug. Meanwhile, on the surveillance screen, Edie lay down, but her gaze kept darting toward her bag. Orson’s eyes lit up as he recalled the medicine pouch Hannah had handed over earlier.
‘I need to find out if that pouch contains some kind of aphrodisiac, Orson mused, a glint of mischief in his eyes. While Orson schemed, Percival had already reached the parking lot. He slid into the driver’s seat of his Maybach, the luxury car purring as it roared to life and sped off into the distance.
*****
In the heart of the city, at a cozy spaghetti restaurant, Stellan had reserved a private room.
After finishing a livestream and watching Sophia get carried away, they’d headed straight there once the police announced Odalys was not involved in the incident. “Spaghetti? That’s awesome!” Selah exclaimed with delight. As soon as Odalys entered the restaurant, she pulled out a chair, sat down, and signaled to a waiter for a menu. “I’ll have the cheesy beef spaghetti. Oh, and add a portion of clam chowder and a salad.”
She pushed the menu across the table. “Take a look and order whatever you want.”
Stellan and Francis leaned in to add a few dishes, while Freya and Selah selected some extras as well. Once the order was placed, the waiter brought over some fruit and drinks.
“Who would’ve thought Sophia could be so shameless? Why on earth would she mess around with a guy like that?” Selah asked curiously.
Freya nodded, lowering her voice. “Yeah, I always thought she was too picky, only going for guys with money and power. I never expected her to hook up with a rapist.”
“What rapist?” Francis asked, walking back from the restroom just in time to hear the conversation.
Selah pulled out her phone and scrolled. “The police just released a statement. The guy Sophia was caught with is a repeat offender, a serial rapist.”
Selah continued with disgust, “His scam involves targeting gullible women. He convinces them they have negative energy and tells them they need to strip so he can cleanse their impurities.”
“He’s gotten so many women pregnant, not to mention scamming them out of their money and dignity,” Selah added with a shake of her head.
Stellan stayed quiet, excusing himself to take a call.
When he returned, he spoke in a hushed tone. “That was my mom. She and my dad were supposed to attend Odalys’ grand opening.
“But my dad’s injuries haven’t healed, and my mom can’t move around easily, so she asked me to treat everyone to dinner instead.”
Odalys felt a flicker of warmth in her chest. ‘I didn’t expect Sienna to be so thoughtful about celebrating my opening! She wondered.
Stellan went on, “My mom hasn’t stopped talking about it. She even stayed up all night watching that variety show. She spent the whole time cursing out the Bennett family, saying the Bennett Group is filled with heartless people for abandoning their own daughter.
“She just told me again to comfort you. Don’t take those people seriously. Focus on living your life well and leave them behind.”
Sienna was a strong woman who rarely concerned herself with other people’s personal affairs.
It was the first time Stellan had heard his mother commenting on someone else’s family matters.
“I know. The Bennett family has no impact on me,” Odalys said with a soft laugh.
She treated them like a joke, completely unaffected by their actions. If anything, she felt a hint of schadenfreude.
Odalys wasn’t the type to play saint, nor was she quick to forgive those who had wronged her. As long as it pleased her, that was all that mattered.
“Come on. Here’s to Odalys’ flourishing business!” Freya said, pouring drinks and raising her glass.
The others quickly lifted their glasses, clinking them against Odalys’.
At that moment, Odalys’ phone buzzed. After ending the call, she said with a sigh, “That was Blue Entertainment calling to check in.”
“They’re really excited about this project and want to finalize the collaboration as soon as possible. They’re hoping Selah and Francis can read the script and decide which roles they’d like to play,” she added with a small smile.
“Once that’s settled, we can sign the contract,” Odalys said, still chuckling softly.
Freya, struggling with the spicy spaghetti, asked while rubbing her slightly swollen lips, “Why the rush? Is there some kind of condition?”
“They mentioned that when filming starts, they’d like me to choose an auspicious date for the opening. They believe the timing is crucial,” Odalys explained.
Hearing that, Selah was reminded of something.
“That’s actually a thing. When I was filming before, the director had chosen a lucky date to start shooting, but there was a last-minute incident, and we missed it. After that, the production hit one problem after another. A bunch of actors got caught in scandals, and the whole show ended up getting canned,” Selah said.
As they continued eating spaghetti, their conversation shifted to lighthearted gossip.
In the middle of their lively chatter, the door to the private room suddenly swung open.
“Hi, Odalys.” Finnian’s voice came from the hallway.
The cheerful atmosphere in the room abruptly fell silent. Everyone turned their heads toward him.
“Finnian, what are you doing here? We’re having a private dinner, and you weren’t invited,” Selah said sharply, standing up immediately.
She placed herself between Finnian and Odalys as if shielding her from potential harm.
Finnian noticed her defensive posture. His lips moved as if to say something, but no words came out. Once a popular star, he now found himself without resources, even losing his apartment.
The Lark family had truly abandoned him.
“I want to talk to Odalys,” Finnian said, holding back the frustration that threatened to spill out.
Finnian thought that without the cameras rolling, Odalys might show him a bit of respect.
Contrary to his expectations, she didn’t even glance his way. She continued eating her food as if he weren’t there.
“Odalys…” Finnian’s voice cracked slightly.
He couldn’t believe she was so indifferent. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, stepping forward to bypass Selah and reaching out toward Odalys.
Before he could touch her, Odalys picked up her fork and struck his hand away.
“You chose this path when you willingly teamed up with Sophia to scheme against me,” Odalys said coldly.
“Even if Sophia drugged you, it was your choice to collude with her,” she continued, her tone sharp. “You were arrogant, dismissive of others, and tried to manipulate and ruin me.
“You humiliated yourself with your own scandals, offended the Lark family, and now they’ve thrown you out like garbage.”
Chapter 270
Odalys continued, her tone sharp and unwavering, “This is the result of your own scheming against Orson, trying to take his place. You never understood gratitude. Orson allowed you to return to the Lark family, even providing you with resources and opportunities through the Lark Group. “But instead of appreciating that, you tried to crush him completely. What you’re facing now is exactly what you deserve. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”
She paused, her gaze cold and unrelenting. “Even if you cling to me, it won’t change your situation. And don’t even think about dragging the Stewart family into your mess. You know exactly where you stand.”
“You followed me, hoping to test the waters? Let me give you a word of advice. Drop the idea. If you don’t, this low point you’re in will just be the beginning.” Odalys warned icily.
Finnian’s aura was clouded, a clear sign that his streak of good luck had run dry.
‘If he had been kind, done some good, and shown gratitude, perhaps things might have turned out differently, she wondered.
But unfortunately, Finnian neither appreciated nor reciprocated kindness. Instead, he betrayed it, ensuring that his life would only spiral further downward.
“You’re into Star readings, aren’t you? You can save others, so why can’t you save me?” Finnian’s voice grew desperate.
Odalys let out a sharp laugh as she slammed her fork down onto the table. Rising slowly, she locked eyes with him and smirked. “Why should I save you?”
“When you and Sophia teamed up to plot against me, did you ever stop to think about what kind of situation I’d be left in?” she retorted, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.
Finnian’s face hardened as he tried to justify himself. “But you’re doing just fine now, aren’t you?”
“And besides, you’re not an ordinary person. Even if something happened to you, it wouldn’t be that bad. If you pull me up now, I might be able to return the favor someday,” he added, his tone almost patronizing.
“Nobody wins forever. You can’t always count on being this lucky. The future is unpredictable, and you shouldn’t look down on me. If you help me now, I’ll make sure to help you in the future.” Finnian pressed on.
Before Odalys could reply, Freya burst out laughing. She crossed her arms and shook her head in disbelief. ‘I’ve never seen anyone beg with this level of shameless confidence. Seriously, do you hear yourself?’ she wondered. Her voice grew sharper as she continued, “Why would she need you to pull her up? Look at everyone here. Any one of us is more capable of helping her than you are. What makes you so special, Finnian?”
“Who do you think you are, acting like you’re in a position to give her advice?” Freya’s words cut through Finnian’s fragile pride like a knife.
As Finnian turned his gaze to the others, he found no sympathy. Stellan and Francis barely spared him a glance, their expressions full of disdain.
At that moment, humiliation washed over him in a wave so strong it almost knocked him over.
His voice faltered as he tried to cover his shame. “Fine. You all want to push me into a corner? Odalys, you’d better not regret this,” he spat.
Finnian had expected that tailing them into the private room and catching them alone would give him a chance.
But now, standing in the harsh light of their indifference, he realized just how little they thought of him.
She spoke softly, “His luck is gone. Sophia must have absorbed it all. Finnian might be desperate enough to do something extreme now.’
As Finnian stormed out, Odalys watched his retreating figure.
‘He’s beyond reasoning,’ she thought. ‘I wanted to snap him out of it, but he’s so caught up in his bitterness that he blames everyone else for his own mistakes.’
“You’re wasting your breath trying to get through to him,” Francis said, his voice calm but firm. “The Lark Group abandoned him. And he’s being shut out everywhere: He’s contemptuous.’ convinced that you refusing to help him is a sign of
They could understand it.
Freya tilted her head, picking up on a crucial detail. “Hold on. Sophia took his luck? But Sophia’s situation isn’t exactly great right now. She doesn’t seem like someone who’s got a lot of good fortune left.’
Selah glanced over with curiosity, clearly intrigued.
Odalys explained in a low voice, “Sophia used up her luck during the filming of that show. If it weren’t for that luck, Rafael would have raped her back then. She barely managed to escape every time.
“Everyone’s actions deplete their energy. Kindness doesn’t always bring rewards, but cruelty always comes with consequences,” she added, her tone somber.
Some people were kind their whole lives, yet received no reward for it. Some people did terrible things but lived a life full of blessings.
It was all about personal choices.
“That’s true. Every time she deliberately provoked Rafael, she managed to walk away unharmed,” Selah said after thinking it over.
“And don’t forget. She stole the python’s eggs, yet the python didn’t devour her. If it had been any other snake, she’d have been eaten already,” Odalys added.
The others fell silent. What Odalys pointed out seemed to make sense.
“By the way, when you get back, take time to study the script carefully. After getting a good grasp of your characters, we’ll set a time to sign the contracts. As for the shop, there’s no need to set up individual private lounges,” Odalys instructed.
After finishing their spaghetti, it was already 3 PM.
Francis and Selah hailed a cab to head back to their apartment to rehearse the script. Stellan, on the other hand, went shopping before heading to the hospital to care for his parents.
“Oh, earlier you said you wanted to introduce me to your cousin, but you honestly seem more like an orphan,” Odalys remarked, turning toward Freya with a puzzled expression. Freya, who was busy texting, froze for a moment, flustered by the unexpected comment.
“Odalys, I really do have a cousin. I was adopted, and officially, I have a cousin. He’s wonderful, and I think you’d be really happy if you married him,” Freya explained earnestly.
Not far away, a Maybach approached.
The moment Freya recognized the license plate, she panicked, hastily covering her face. “Odalys, I just remembered something urgent. I’ve got to go!”
Freya spun around to leave but hesitated as if remembering something. She came back, quickly stuffed something into Odalys’ bag, and then dashed toward her Ferrari, shielding her face.
“Why’s Freya in such a hurry?” Odalys muttered, confused.
After Freya drove off, Odalys reached into her bag and found several pouches. Pulling them out, she noticed each pouch had a name on it: Selah, Freya, Francis, and Stellan. She opened one of the pouches and discovered a card inside, along with a ruby. ‘What in the world?’ Odalys was stunned.
“Are you finished?” Percival’s pleasant voice came from above her.
Odalys looked up, meeting Percival’s deep gaze. He was dressed in a black shirt paired with slacks, casually standing behind her.
Quickly, Odalys shoved the gifts back into her bag and walked toward him.
“Percival, what are you doing here?” she asked, surprised.
Percival turned and opened the car door for her. She slid into the passenger seat, and he leaned over her to buckle her seatbelt.
Then he returned to the driver’s seat, started the car, and began driving.
“I just finished up some work and was heading back when I saw you on the side of the road. I thought I’d check on you,” Percival explained in his deep voice, glancing her way.
“And you? Are you done with everything? If so, let’s go home,” he asked softly.
In the past, Percival was always swamped with work, often sleeping at the office and rarely coming home.
♡
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