Betrayed, Yet Bound To The Billionaire by Grace Madeline (Chapters 271 to 280)

Chapter 271

Odalys’s attention was still on the gifts as she absentmindedly said, “I’m done.”

“Then let’s go home,” Percival replied in a husky tone.

It was easy to detect a trace of happiness in his voice as if he genuinely looked forward to going home.

In the past, Percival never cared much about home, but now, it seemed like he wanted to go back every single day.

“Sure,” Odalys answered softly.

She pulled out her phone, snapped a picture, and posted it in the group chat. [Why are all of you sending me gifts?]

[Congrats on your booming business!]

[Exactly. Here’s to endless fortune coming your way.] May you flourish like a ruby, bright, dazzling, and full of joy.

[Wishing you massive success!]

One by one, her friends chimed in with their messages. Odalys looked at the flood of replies and couldn’t help but smile.

She had never had friends before. Even after her time travel, she hadn’t thought of making any. Yet, somehow, she’d stumbled into having real friendships. For the first time, she understood the happiness of sharing meals and moments with friends.

Back in the days when she lived with the Bennett family, they consumed every moment of her time. Even when Odalys was supposed to be resting, they’d demand she return home.

It was as if the Bennett family wanted to keep her locked inside their villa, completely isolated from the outside world.

After years of this, Odalys had become accustomed to their control. Perhaps it could even be called self-destructive. She had wholly submitted to their domineering rules.

It was quite terrible.

“Earlier, when Hannah took Sophia to the hospital, she secretly met with Edie,” Percival interjected, clearly trying to start a conversation with her.

Hearing him refer to Edie by name surprised Odalys.

“They’re that eager to connect? Haven’t they been pretending not to know each other all these years?” she asked, astonished.

After years of silence, they suddenly decided to meet. “Take a look at this,” Percival said, handing her his phone. Odalys took it and tapped on the video. The moment she heard the conversation, her world was turned upside down. “This… Are they seriously targeting you first, and now that they think you’re dead, they’re setting their sights on your grandfather?” she said. “Edie’s your mother, and Evander’s your grandfather. What’s going through her head?”

“Not to mention, Hannah’s in her forties, yet she’s planning to have a baby with your seventy-something-year-old grandfather? And my father’s not even dead yet!” Odalys exclaimed, utterly dumbfounded.

She had never seen anyone so shameless. To achieve her goals, Hannah was willing to seduce a man nearly twice her age.

“I’d like to know whether it’s the Stewart family fortune they’re after or something else entirely,” Percival replied coldly. Hearing this, Odalys thought of Brandon and his son, her fingertips involuntarily tightening.

“Have you confirmed whether the health conditions of those wealthy businessmen from the village match the symptoms we found on the list?” she asked in a low voice. Percival gripped the steering wheel and skillfully made a sharp turn, heading straight toward the Stewart Villa.

The sleek black Maybach cruised along the long road, flanked by towering, orderly trees that cast shadows over the path. As they neared the end of the driveway, the gates opened automatically.

Percival drove through, pulling up to the front door.

“We’ve uncovered a few leads. Orson is verifying them to see if they match what we know about Stellan’s father,” he said.

Percival’s team worked efficiently.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Odalys’ phone buzzed with a notification.

She glanced down to see a news alert from the Stewart Group’s official website. She wasn’t particularly interested but tapped it instinctively.

“The Stewart Group’s official site… issued a statement cutting ties with Edie?” Odalys exclaimed in disbelief. Typically, announcements on the site pertained to internal company matters, rarely involving personal affairs. What was more, Edie was Percival’s mother, a figure of prominence and status.

“I asked them to post it,” Percival said in a deep voice.

The two of them walked side by side, the late afternoon sun casting a golden glow on their surroundings. Their elongated shadows intertwined as they moved.

“You want to cut ties with her?” Odalys asked, clearly surprised.

Percival stopped abruptly, turning to meet her gaze with a serious expression. “I won’t let her hurt you. Whether it’s you or my grandfather, I’ll protect both of you. Last night, she rushed over just to test if I was truly alive.”

His voice grew colder as he continued, “When she learned I’d been in trouble, there wasn’t a trace of sadness. Instead, she had my grandfather’s leg broken and tried to conspire with outsiders to exploit him.”

“If I don’t sever ties with someone as ruthless as her, she’ll become a bigger threat down the line.” He spoke with conviction.

Percival knew exactly who was genuine and who wasn’t. “I did protect her before,” he admitted honestly. “After my father’s accident, I thought she had it tough as a widow. I even turned a blind eye when she used the Stewart family’s connections and resources to pave the way for my uncle. “But now, it’s clear. She doesn’t value the Stewart family or see us as her family. So, I don’t need her anymore.”

His honesty left no room for doubt. For Percival, being transparent was a sign of trust in their relationship.

Odalys murmured quietly, “Not everyone can see things as clearly as you do. If I’d been this decisive before I time traveled, maybe I wouldn’t have died. If I hadn’t died, neither would you. Staying clear-headed is crucial.”

She was sure that Percival died when she time-traveled. Because before she time-traveled, Selah had also died. She quickened her pace, feeling an inexplicable urgency to get back.

Percival caught fragments of what she said, something about her dying and him dying too, but her voice was so faint that he wasn’t entirely sure if he’d heard her correctly.

“You’re back?” Evander’s voice echoed from the living room as he stepped out.

Evander had spent the entire night praying and decided to wait at the Stewart Villa instead of heading back to the mansion. He hadn’t expected the two to return so soon. “Hi, Mr. Stewart,” Odalys greeted, speeding up as she approached him.

Evander stood tall and imposing, his broad frame exuding an air of authority. Despite his age, his presence remained commanding.

“I heard your company opened today,” Evander said warmly. “I wanted to drop by and join the celebration, but you had so many guests that I couldn’t even get in.” He smiled. Come on. I will cook you a nice dinner tonight.”

Noticing Percival trailing behind her, Evander frowned slightly and added, “And you, how could you not make any effort? Today was a big day for Odalys’ company!”

He sounded genuinely exasperated, even stamping his foot for emphasis.

Chapter 272

Odalys watched Evander’s anxious expression and barely held back a chuckle.

“Mr. Stewart, I heard you prayed all night yesterday?” She quickly changed the topic, her tone light.

The mention of the previous night made Evander’s face light up with pride.

“Yes, I did. I even sent flowers to every ancestor in the family,” he replied, instinctively straightening his posture. Despite being a tall and imposing man in his seventies, he had a childlike charm that was oddly endearing.

“I also heard you bought all the best flowers in town,” Odalys added with a knowing smile.

Evander, now engaged in the conversation, let the earlier scolding of Percival slide as he walked with Odalys into the living room.

Dorian appeared with a tray of fresh fruit.

“I caught the livestream. Your new shop seems to be doing well. It already had a long line on opening day. I hear people are booking appointments a month in advance?” Evander’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he asked.

Odalys popped a cherry into her mouth and nodded. “Yes, that’s true.

“You’re not charging money? You’re only doing resource exchanges? And for those without resources, they can just pay whatever they want?” Evander pressed, still puzzled. “That’s right,” Odalys confirmed softly.

Evander fell silent for a moment, his brows furrowing. “And what if someone just wants a Star reading or an energy field consultation but doesn’t offer resources or flat-out refuses to pay?”

“Plenty of people try to take advantage, especially the wealthy. They’re not always generous,” he added, his voice laced with concern. It was clear he was worried she might be too young to handle potential exploitation.

Still nibbling on her fruit, Odalys shook her head. “That won’t happen. I can perform divination. I can tell right away what kind of luck someone has. If they’re stingy and only looking for a freebie, I’ll just give them a basic reading.” She added with a small smile, “It’s all about reciprocity. I can help you, but you can’t take advantage of me, right?” Evander nodded approvingly and slapped his thigh lightly. Exactly! Well said.”

It didn’t matter to him whether Odalys made money or not. The Stewart family had immense wealth, enough to ensure that even if she never worked another day, she’d still live comfortably. Besides, the Stewart Group would eventually fall into the hands of Percival and Odalys anyway.

“Odalys, I’d like to talk to you about Percival and his mother,” Evander said after a long pause, his tone more serious now. It was clear he was weighing how best to broach the subject.

After all, the family’s history was a tangled mess that would give anyone a headache.

“You mean how he publicly kicked Edie out of the Stewart family?” Odalys asked, her tone calm as she glanced at him.

Evander’s lips parted, but he hesitated, the words catching in his throat.

“You already know?” he asked, visibly surprised.

Evander had been worried that Odalys might look down on Percival for having a deceased father and a mother who caused trouble. He understood how messy such a background could seem.

“Yes, he already told me everything. I think he did the right thing.

“If someone only knows how to retreat and let others push them around, even to the point of being trampled without fighting back, then they’re truly weak and unreliable,” she said firmly, her gaze unwavering.

‘Family isn’t something you can force into existence. Some people simply aren’t worth the effort, even if they’re your own mother.’ The thought brought a pang of bitterness to Odalys, a reminder of her experience before her time travel. Before time-traveling, she had clung too tightly to the idea of family, and it had cost her everything.

“I’m glad you see it that way,” Evander said with a relieved sigh. The tension in his shoulders visibly eased.

Dorian had been bustling around for a while, and by 5:30, he approached them.

“Mr. Stewart, Odalys, dinner is ready,” Dorian announced. As soon as he finished speaking, Percival walked in from outside, having just ended a phone call.

The dining table was laden with an array of sumptuous dishes. Odalys wasn’t picky about food, so she ate quietly while Evander and Percival discussed various matters. She didn’t feel the need to interject, content to let them talk. After finishing her meal, Odalys hesitated for a moment. “Mr. Stewart,” she called out softly.

Evander immediately turned toward her, his expression puzzled. “What is it?”

“The Stewart mansion has a good energy field, but it’s in such a remote area. It wouldn’t be safe for you to live there alone. Have you thought about staying here?” Odalys asked, her tone cautious.

Evander glanced over at Percival.

“Grandpa, listen to her,” Percival said with a nod.

Evander hesitated. He knew that Odalys always had her reasons for what she said and did, but he was getting older. He wasn’t sure if living with young people would be a burden on them.

“If I move in, would it be inconvenient for you two? Would 1 be disturbing you?” Evander asked.

He understood that young people preferred their freedom and often didn’t want to live with elders.

“It won’t be a problem. I used to live with my master, and it was just fine.” Odalys reassured him.

Evander nodded, and with that, he agreed to stay.

After dinner, Evander and Dorian headed outside for a walk, while Odalys and Percival went upstairs.

“Come sit for a while?” Percival called over his shoulder as he walked toward the study.

Odalys raised an eyebrow and followed him. Once inside the study, Percival opened a drawer, took out a file, and handed it to her, his voice low. “I’ve found something.”

Odalys took the file and glanced through it.

“You suspect your uncle might be abroad?” she asked. softly.

Percival poured her a glass of water and sat down across from her.

“Yes,” he replied, his voice still quiet.

After reading through the file, Odalys thought about the events of the day and said softly, “So, you cut off Edie’s ties with the Stewart family completely.

“And now, she’ll go to great lengths to try and help her brother. When she realizes the Stewart family has severed all her connections, she’ll be frantic.”

“If your uncle wasn’t prepared and was hoping to use the Stewart family’s resources, only to find out that all support has suddenly been cut off, he’ll be in a difficult position, caught between a rock and a hard place,” Odalys continued. Percival chuckled softly, an appreciative look in his eyes as he watched her.

“Yes,” Percival agreed. “When I account for the resources and money she’s provided to her brother over the years, it’s enough for them to live in luxury. But if she wants to do something else, it won’t be nearly enough.

“She’s afraid my grandfather will find out, so every time she moves money, it’s within her control. Today, I made sure the bank cut off all her cards.”

“Now she can’t access any of the Stewart family’s accounts. All the properties and other assets under her name have been reclaimed. Now, aside from a single apartment, she has no real estate left.”

Percival had already offered her a place to stay, which was the most lenient concession he could make.

“It looks like you want to push them to their limits?” Odalys said with a quiet laugh.

She watched Percival, who seemed to effortlessly block all their escape routes, orchestrating every move like a master strategist. He appeared nonchalant, but everything was under his control.

“If we go step by step, we might suffer too many casualties.

It’s better to take the initiative and make them realize the danger,” he said.

Chapter 273

“Once the funding is cut off, many things will inevitably fall apart. That’s when they’ll start getting desperate and push the plan forward. Maybe even take matters into their own hands with some powerful figures,” Percival said in a low voice.

So, all he needed to do was sit back and watch.

“You want to follow the gossip trail and wait for them to make a move in desperation. Once they act, you’ll be able to figure out their weak spot and strike a lethal blow,” Odalys speculated, guessing his line of thought.

Percival nodded.

It was easy talking to someone intelligent. He just needed to give her a hint, and she’d figure out his plan right away. Percival looked at Odalys. Her charm was undeniable, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed. His deep-set eyes narrowed, and he instinctively looked away.

He picked up his water glass and took a sip, almost as though he was hiding something.

“What do you want me to do?” Odalys asked, placing the materials neatly back on the coffee table after taking a sip of her own water.

Percival watched her, eyes following her graceful movements as she drank. He glanced around the study, his gaze falling on her clear, beautiful eyes that seemed almost too mesmerizing.

He spoke. “For now, you don’t need to do anything. I’m telling you all of this because I want you to stay alert. I’m worried Edie might come after you.

“Now that Hannah has met her, and considering how they once plotted to kill you, they’re bound to be thinking of ways to harm you again. The Bennett family seems harmless now.”

“But when they’re pushed to the edge, they’ll do anything. These people have dark hearts. I want to have some bodyguards follow you around, keeping an eye out for your safety. What do you think?” Percival asked, seeking her opinion.

If he didn’t speak directly with her, he feared she might think he was trying to have someone spy on her.

Being upfront was the best approach.

“Do as you think is right. As for them trying to deal with me? That depends on whether they have the ability. Back then, I was just three or four years old and couldn’t do anything about it. Now I’m grown, and they’re getting older. Isn’t that right?” Odalys said with a cold smirk.

She set the water glass down and stood up.

She walked over to the bookshelf, pulled out a book, and casually flipped through its pages.

“I have a question,” Percival said, striding over to her side.

It was already past six. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sun was setting, and the evening glow poured into the study. His tall figure stood beside her, casting a shadow that blocked the last of the sunlight.

Odalys looked up and found Percival looking down at her, his profile strikingly handsome.

“Go ahead,” Odalys replied casually, leaning back against the bookshelf with a relaxed and carefree posture.

Her hair, loosely tied up, fell free as she leaned, partially hiding her beautiful face. She smiled, and her clear, bright eyes seemed to hold a sky full of stars.

Percival’s eyes were full of confusion. “Why would my mother go after you? You were just a child back then. Why would she want to team up with the Bennett family and abandon you? Why even wish for your death?

“You were just a kid, no threat to them at all. Besides, Edie isn’t even a member of the Bennett family. After she married into the Stewart family, she rarely had any contact with Hannah.

“Given their distant relationship, why would she target the Bennett family, especially when it was a three-year-old you?”

Though Percival suspected it might have something to do with Odalys’ fate, he still wasn’t entirely sure.

Odalys paused for a moment before speaking. “My fate is tough. It can overcome anything. In turn, what can be overcome can also prosper.

“That means, if the Bennett family is in trouble, I can help clear away their bad luck. I can restrain all the negative forces around them while making them thrive.

“If I remember correctly, after I was born, the Bennett family suddenly got a huge order, expanded internationally, and even quickly climbed to the top ten on the Crownridge Rich List.

“But then strange things started happening. The Bennett family began to believe I was bringing them bad luck and that my birth was affecting their business. Maybe that’s when Edie started getting involved.

“That made them trust even more that I was bad luck for the Bennett family. At first, they just abused me. But when they decided to abandon me and wish for my death, I bet Edie had a hand in that.”

“As for why she wants me dead, we’ll have to see what Oliver and she talked about. I originally thought Oliver was in his forties, but after checking, I found out he’s nearly sixty.” Odalys spoke in a low voice.

From the surveillance footage Percival had shown her earlier, it was clear that Edie was heavily reliant on Oliver. Many wealthy families in Crownridge relied on him too. Those he had guided saw their businesses thrive, even making a lot of money in a short time. Some, when facing tough situations, would even approach him for help.

Yet, Oliver was known to be cautious. He helped people through difficulties, but he always played it safe. This was something that puzzled Odalys.

“About ten years ago, Oliver was still in his forties,” Odalys murmured.

Percival furrowed his brow, meeting her gaze. After a moment, he asked, “Do you think Oliver and my mother are connected?”

“Did you hear about Sophia today?” Odalys asked quietly. Percival, recalling the news from earlier that day, nodded slightly.

“I heard a bit about it. It’s been circulating in the circle,” Percival replied.

Odalys moved to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the sunset and taking in the view, her voice still calm as she continued, “I’ve met Oliver once.

“He’s quite charming, no doubt surrounded by many women, and they’re all wealthy. These kinds of masters often have relationships with the women who come to them for Star readings.”

“Take today, for example. Sophia sought someone else’s help, but Alden manipulated her, made her strip in public, and even raped her. They claim it’s to help women clear bad luck, but really, they’re taking advantage of them.

“They even say they’re the true messenger of a God, able to use their body to solve women’s problems. When women are in a confused, unlucky state, they can easily fall for it.”

“In the end, those women end up in bed with him, giving him leverage over them. With Oliver’s immense charm, I’m sure this is part of what’s going on.

“As for which rich madams he’s been involved with, that’s not something I know. But one thing’s clear in high society: everyone turns to him, whether for Star readings or energy field assessments.

“All of this is thanks to those wealthy madams. They fear that if they don’t help him, their scandals might be exposed, and they’ll be ruined, thrown out of their families.”

“On top of that, Oliver knows how to handle things. He never asks for too much, and the rich madams are naturally pleased with him,” Odalys explained.

At first, Odalys had seen Oliver as a man of integrity. But over time, she realized that while many people appeared virtuous on the outside, it was hard to tell if they were truly genuine inside.

“It looks like I need to find an opportunity for Oliver to meet with Brandon,” Percival said coldly.

Brandon, his son, and Rafael had all been brought back to Crownridge by Percival’s people. They were now locked in the basement, guarded by bodyguards.

“Okay,” Odalys responded quietly, her gaze meeting Percival’s also with a touch of admiration.

Chapter 274

Percival had an incredible ability to read situations and think on his feet. Even when he was unaware of all the details, just hearing a bit of related information was enough for him to take control of any situation.

Partnering with him made things much easier for Odalys. At that moment, his phone buzzed, and faintly, Odalys could hear a woman’s voice on the other end.

Percival froze, his gaze shifting toward the floor below, his mind clearly racing. A red Ferrari zoomed into the Stewart Villa’s driveway and stopped in front of the building.

“I’ve got something to take care of. I’ll be back in a bit,” Percival said in a hoarse voice. He quickly turned and walked out the door, his steps hurried and disordered.

Odalys watched the familiar Ferrari, which looked remarkably like the one Freya had been driving earlier that day.

Turning to the door, still ajar, Odalys paused, lost in thought. She stepped outside, heading downstairs. When she entered the living room, it was empty, so she grabbed a peach and took a bite.

Night had fallen, and the streetlights outside flickered to life.

Odalys stepped outside, the cool night breeze brushing against her face.

As she turned, she spotted Percival standing under a streetlamp, with a tall figure before him. The woman had her head lowered, her long, wavy hair spilling over her shoulders. She was wearing a Chanel outfit that screamed sophistication and grace.

The woman stood before the man, head bent low, and it seemed as if she was crying.

“Who’s that?” Odalys raised an eyebrow, leaning lazily against the doorframe, observing the scene from a distance.

The woman kept rubbing her eyes, clearly trying to wipe away her tears. Percival’s handsome face was clouded with anger. After a long moment, he sighed and reached out to gently pat her head.

Odalys couldn’t help but stare at the woman’s silhouette, her gaze drawn to the small bag she was holding. That bag looked just like one Freya owned.

Earlier that day, Freya had avoided meeting Odalys’ eyes when she looked at her. After recording their show, Freya had been with her when Odalys called Percival’s name.

It seemed like ever since that moment, Freya had been • acting a little off, especially when the news of Percival’s supposed death had gone viral. She was the first to call after that.

While Odalys was deep in thought, she saw the woman turn her head and look in her direction.

Under the dim streetlight, Odalys recognized Freya. Her face was delicate and beautiful. Although the distance was a bit far, Odalys was sure it was Freya.

“So it really is her,” Odalys muttered under her breath.

At that moment, Odalys felt a sense of guilt, as though she were eavesdropping on their private moment. She awkwardly touched her nose, turning to head back inside.

But then Freya started running toward her, panic in her eyes. She grabbed Odalys by the arm, her eyes filled with tears as she shook her head, whispering, “Odalys, I’m so sorry.” “What?” Odalys watched in confusion as Freya rushed toward her, apologizing through her tears.

Odalys was completely at a loss. No matter what, she and Percival were just business partners. Even if Freya and Percival had something going on, there was no need for Freya to apologize to her.

They had agreed that after a month, Odalys would leave the Stewart family, and with half of the month already passed, that time was nearly up.

So Freya showing up at her door wasn’t a surprise.

But Odalys didn’t think Freya had a boyfriend. In fact, Freya didn’t seem like someone who had many suitors at all.” What’s their relationship,’ she wondered.

Odalys couldn’t help but wonder, ‘What was the real connection between her and Percival? What exactly was going on here?’

“Odalys, I’m so sorry, I was wrong. Please forgive me,” Freya cried, her voice shaky.

Freya almost bowed in front of her, but Odalys reacted quickly, grabbing her by the arm to stop her.

Freya’s tears streamed down her face. Her lips trembled as she sobbed and suddenly collapsed into Odalys’ arms.

“It’s all my fault… I didn’t mean for this to happen. I just… I just like you so much, more than you could ever know. That’s why I said those things…” Freya sobbed softly, her voice barely audible.

She spoke as if making a heartfelt confession.

Odalys was completely stunned by her words. She had thought that Freya and Percival had feelings for each other, but it turned out that Freya liked her.

However, Freya didn’t seem like the type to be a lesbian.

“What are you talking about?” Odalys was a bit confused. Her mind was struggling to keep up with Freya’s words, feeling like it had exploded into a chaotic mess.

She had no idea what was happening. She was curious about what could have made Freya cry so hard.

Freya liked Odalys, but she came to find Percival. This didn’t quite make sense.

Freya began. “I liked you from the moment I first saw you. I thought you were a great person, and you’re beautiful. I wanted to introduce you to my cousin and have you marry him. Wow, I even said it a few times… It’s all my fault, I really said it a lot.”

“Then, I almost ruined things for my cousin, but luckily, you didn’t agree,” Freya said, tears streaming down her face.

It was hard to imagine that she was once a well-regarded star, now in such a messy state.

Her makeup was ruined from crying, and she looked utterly miserable.

“Your cousin?” Odalys was still a bit lost.

Odalys remembered that Freya had mentioned wanting to introduce her to her cousin before. Now, Freya was crying about it.

“She’s the daughter of my father’s comrade. After her parents passed away, my father took her in as a goddaughter and raised her elsewhere. She doesn’t live at the Stewart family’s house. After my father’s accident, I’ve been sending her money to support her.” Percival stepped closer.

He stood there, and Freya shrank back, intimidated.

Freya pointed at Percival, and her tears flowed even more. He’s my cousin… I wanted to introduce you to him, to make you his wife. I’m so sorry.”

Freya lowered her voice, continuing, “When I saw you today, I felt guilty and sorry for you. I didn’t know you were his wife. I wanted to introduce you to another man. I’ll never have these silly thoughts again. I promise.”

Percival shot her a cold look and said in a low voice, “Stop crying.”

Freya wanted to sob, but she instantly forced herself to stop.

She moved closer to Odalys, wrapping her arms around her tightly and whispering, “Odalys, actually, Percival is really a good guy. He knew I always wanted to introduce you to a boyfriend, but he didn’t yell at all.”

“I feel guilty. I came here to apologize; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.” Freya bit her lip, afraid Odalys would cut ties with her.

Odalys remained silent, not expecting this kind of misunderstanding. She almost laughed at how ridiculous it was.

“I didn’t take your offer to introduce me to a boyfriend seriously, and I didn’t even think about finding a boyfriend. So why are you so worried?” Odalys was almost laughing at Freya’s crying.

Freya looked up quickly, staring at Odalys with seriousness in her eyes.

She realized that Odalys wasn’t angry, so she asked, “Then it’s settled, we’re still friends. You can’t be mad, and you can’t cut me off.”

“Okay,” Odalys replied affectionately.

Freya immediately turned to Percival and said, “Then you have to promise too. Even though I said I’d introduce Odalys to a boyfriend, the man I was talking about is actually you.”

Chapter 275

“You can’t take this out on me and stop letting Odalys and me hang out,” Freya said cautiously, eyeing him warily. Percival gave her a cold, intense stare. His voice was low and menacing as he replied, “If you ever try that again, I’ll break your legs.”

“Odalys, look at him!” Freya immediately shrank into Odalys’s embrace.

Percival observed her curling into Odalys’ arms, her hands clutching tightly around Odalys’ slender waist. His eyes darkened slightly, scanning her hands for a moment. Freya quickly pulled her hands back. “We’ve cleared everything up, so I’m leaving now,” she said, not daring to stay longer.

Freya turned on her heels and rushed for the door, almost colliding with the bodyguards, grabbing her car keys, and driving off in a hurry, looking as though she might fly away. Odalys watched Freya’s car drive off into the distance, taking a long while before pulling her gaze away.

“My father adopted her. I don’t interact with her much. Only when something comes up. We don’t live together.” Percival seemed to sense her possible misunderstanding, quickly offering an explanation to Odalys.

Seeing Odalys remain silent, Percival grew anxious.

He continued, “She doesn’t live at the Stewart Villa. I set her up in an apartment before, but now that she’s rich from being a celebrity, she returned it. She’s living in her own place now, one she bought with her own money.

“She does have some connections, and yes, some came from the Stewart family, but most of what she has now is because of her own abilities. We only reach out when there’s a real need, and we don’t really bother each other.”

Odalys stayed quiet, still processing everything.

“I didn’t know she was your sister. No wonder she said her cousin was in good health, handsome, and rich. It turns out it’s you,” Odalys said, her tone tinged with helplessness. Percival’s face immediately darkened.”

“My health is just fine,” he stressed, his voice firm.

It was as if he were trying to prove that, if necessary, he could show off his perfect abs or a defined V-line to her, without a second thought.

“I think Freya is a good person and knows her boundaries. Besides, I’m not mad, just surprised that you’re the ‘cousin’ she was always talking about,” Odalys said with a shrug. Just then, her phone started buzzing nonstop. It was all messages from Freya, professing her loyalty and devotion. “You’re not angry?” Percival’s voice was low, observing her closely, his gaze scrutinizing her every expression. Odalys shrugged again and said, “Why would I be angry?” “Good. By the way, when Callum was watching a variety show, he saw Freya trying to set you up with a boyfriend. He even said he was worried she might actually steal you away from me,” Percival added casually.

Odalys’s lips twitched in amusement as she turned to head upstairs.

Percival hurried to follow her. When he saw her go into the bedroom, he wanted to follow her, yet before he did, she shut the door in his face with a loud bang.

“Get some rest,” Percival said in a low voice.

“I will. You too,” Odalys answered back without turning around.

After hearing her response, Percival stood still for a moment, then slowly walked toward his own room.

Odalys took a shower and was drying her hair when her phone rang. It was Freya calling, and Odalys answered with a sigh. “I’m really not mad.”

“Odalys, you’re finally with my cousin. You know, when I saw you for the first time, I thought you looked so much like him,” Freya said excitedly on the other end.

She added, “When we finished filming that variety show and you called him Percival, I was totally shocked. I panicked!! I was so scared.

“I was worried that if my cousin found out I was trying to steal you away, he might actually break my legs. I know he’s usually a nice guy and calm, but you’re his wife, and here I was, trying to set you up with another man.”

Freya paused, her voice shaking as she continued, “I can’t even think about it. When I apologized earlier, his eyes were so sharp, I thought I was done for.”

Clearly, she was really scared of Percival.

“What’s so scary about him?” Odalys asked, somewhat confused.

Percival was a reasonable person. Unless someone crossed his bottom line, he generally wouldn’t make things difficult for others. But if someone pushed their luck, it could be hard to stop things from getting out of hand.

“He’s not scary. I’m just worried you might ignore me. I haven’t slept properly for two days over this. I’ve been on edge, and today at dinner…” Freya’s voice trailed off softly. Upon hearing this, Odalys instantly understood.

“You saw his car outside the spaghetti place today, didn’t you? That’s why you suddenly turned and ran?” Odalys said, finally piecing things together.

Odalys had sensed something was off with Freya earlier. Freya had bolted, and right after she left, Percival’s car had pulled up.

“Yeah, I saw his car. I was scared he’d scold me,” Freya said, chuckling at herself. Then, she collapsed onto the bed and rolled over twice.

“You’ll have to protect me from now on. As long as you’re around, I won’t be afraid of him anymore,” Freya said, seeming to focus on something else.

She hesitated for a moment, then asked quietly, “Odalys, you know medicine, right? Could you help my cousin?

“He’s not in good health. There’s a rumor going around that he’s dead, and a lot of people are hostile toward him, just because he’s rich. They’re hoping for his death, but he’s actually a really good person. He’s done a lot of good things.”

“He’s not just sick. He’s dying,” Odalys replied softly.

Freya fell silent as she listened.

Odalys was right. It was the truth. Freya couldn’t argue with that, though she wished the Stewart family didn’t have to come to an end like this. If such a good person died, it would be such a loss.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. “Freya, get out here,” Edie’s voice called from the other side.

Freya jumped in surprise, staring at the door that had been kicked. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.

“Odalys, I…” Freya’s lips moved, but she didn’t dare speak. ‘If Odalys finds out the truth about Edie, would she stop liking Percival?’ Freya wondered to herself.

“I’ll be right there,” Odalys said coldly.

Even through the phone, Odalys could tell it was Edie’s voice. Plus, Freya had been having a rough time lately. The last time, she had almost been tricked by Sophia, letting Rafael take advantage of the situation.

And now Edie was going after Freya. This couldn’t be good. Odalys quickly changed into casual clothes and grabbed her canvas bag, heading out. When she opened the door, she saw that Percival seemed to be heading out as well.

“Edie went to find Freya. I need to go over there,” Odalys said in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Percival grabbed his car keys and followed her.

“I’ll go with you,” Percival said.

Odalys snatched the keys from him and replied, “No, I’m going alone. You’re already a dead man to outsiders. If you show up, they’ll figure things out.”

“Besides, I can handle Edie myself,” Odalys added.

She slipped on her white sneakers, walking quickly as she disappeared from his view after just a few steps.

Chapter 276

Percival stood there, picked up his phone, and made a call. ” Choose a few of the more skilled ones to follow Odalys. If Edie makes a move, make sure she doesn’t harm Odalys.” “Understood,” the bodyguard replied in a deep voice. Percival clenched his fist tightly, heading downstairs, just as he ran into Callum walking in from outside.

“Hi, Mr. Stewart,” Callum said, quickly increasing his pace to approach him.

Callum stood in front of Percival, hurriedly reporting. “Edie just left the hospital. She tried transferring money and swiping her card, but it’s all been frozen. It’s also been disconnected from the Stewart family.

“After seeing the official announcement from the Stewart Group about severing ties, she tried reaching out to many connections. When they realized who she was, they avoided her. She’s practically gone mad.”

Callum looked worried. ‘After all, Edie is your biological mother, and we don’t want to push her to the edge, he wondered.

“It’s fine. Let her lose her mind. No one from the Stewart family is allowed to assist her. Anyone who dares to go against this order… eliminate them,” Percival said coldly. “Understood.” Callum let out a quiet sigh of relief. He had been afraid that Edie’s identity might ruin everything.

“Mr. Stewart, are you going out?” As Percival walked outside, Callum went to the side, picked up the Rolls-Royce car keys, and quickly caught up.

“To the countryside villa,” Percival said in a low voice. He opened the car door and sat in the driver’s seat.

Callum quickly jumped into the passenger seat as Percival drove off. Midway, Orson called. After they shared their locations, Orson also headed there by car.

*****

The countryside villa was sealed off outside, with police having excavated numerous bodies here. Ordinary people, upon seeing this place, instinctively stayed away, even detouring if passing by.

After nightfall, it became even more eerie and terrifying here.

“Mr. Stewart, why did you come here?” Callum asked, puzzled.

This villa was the place Odalys had chosen back then to help Francis escape danger. The fight there had been intense.

Those people had tried to harvest Francis’s organs, while everyone else had backed away, leaving him to face them alone.

Unexpectedly, the situation had turned around. Francis was saved, the police arrived, and they unearthed numerous bodies on the property. The villa was subsequently sealed off.

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to take a look,” Percival replied in a low voice.

Percival stepped inside, and Callum quickly followed.

Not far away, a car sped toward them. Orson stepped out and approached them, glancing around as he walked. “Why is he here at this hour?”

Percival stood there, feeling a faint heat radiating from his wrist.

He glanced down and saw the thunderstruck wood block Odalys had given him. It seemed to be reacting, as though sensing something.

“This place has seen death,” Percival said in a hushed tone. The police are still investigating, but there’s no progress yet. Why would they choose this spot?”

He had a vague feeling that something wasn’t right about this place.

Odalys had mentioned that she’d burned Sophia’s hair and followed its aura to this location, where an elder had performed rituals for Sophia.

There had to be a reason. They chose this place for the rituals and the burials.

“Yeah, I asked around earlier, but there’s no breakthrough yet,” Orson replied, nodding. He was clearly invested in the matter.

As they spoke, they entered the villa. Though it was sealed off, Percival had obtained a special permit. The officers stationed outside recognized him and stepped aside to let them pass.

Inside, Percival moved with ease, his steps confident. But suddenly, he doubled over, coughing up blood.

Callum and Orson, still scanning the area, turned at the sound of his pained groan. They saw Percival’s pale face, devoid of color, as he clutched his chest.

“Percival!”

“Mr. Stewart!”

They rushed to support him, but Percival raised a hand, signaling them to stay calm.

Straightening up, he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his lips. His chest felt as though it was in turmoil, but his voice remained steady as he said, “This place might have what we’re looking for.”

“What are we looking for?” Orson asked, startled.

“Poisoned blood mud,” Percival replied hoarsely.

Percival recalled how his body had reacted near the mountain village because of the suppressed poison inside him. Odalys had explained that when he approached the source of the poison, his body would sense it.

Tonight, as he came here, the dormant poison within him stirred momentarily, only to calm down again.

It seemed whatever was here could no longer harm him. Whether it was the thunderstruck wood on his wrist or the lightning essence Odalys had infused into him, he couldn’t be sure.

“How do you feel now? Are you alright?” Orson asked with concern.

Clutching the handkerchief tightly, Percival surveyed the dim surroundings and said firmly, “I’m fine now.”

“Let’s search the area. Don’t disturb anything unnecessarily. Just keep an eye out for anything suspicious,” he

instructed in a gravelly voice.

Callum and Orson nodded and headed upstairs, leaving Percival on the ground floor. He thought about what Odalys had told him before and walked toward the window.

From the corner of his eye, he caught a fleeting shadow outside.

“Who’s there?” Percival demanded, his voice sharp.

He stepped out into the yard, where the figure came into view, a woman in a white dress standing under the moonlight. Her loose hair swayed gently in the night breeze.

Percival’s gaze darkened, and he approached her cautiously.

The woman slowly turned around. Her dress, with its plunging neckline and thin straps, looked delicate enough to snap with a tug.

Her exposed collarbone and faintly visible chest seemed to shimmer as she sauntered closer.

“Sophia?” Percival recognized her immediately, especially those greedy eyes of hers.

Standing still, his expression grew colder by the second.

Sophia twisted her waist as she walked toward him, her gaze nearly crazed as she locked eyes with his striking features. Her voice was syrupy as she spoke. “Yes, I’m Sophia.”

“You must be the man backing Odalys, giving her all those resources, aren’t you?” she asked seductively.

Sophia lifted a finger, playing with the strap of her dress, her fingertips brushing her shoulder as if to release a tempting fragrance into the air.

Barefoot, she stepped onto the grass, her movements languid and deliberate, every step meant to entice.

“I saw you when you dined together before. How about we have a little talk?” Sophia’s voice dripped with allure, punctuated by shallow breaths that seemed deliberately provocative.

Her sultry tone, paired with the moonlit night, made her words linger like a melody.

Her dress clung to her curvaceous figure, and Sophia didn’t believe for a moment that he could resist her charms.

Chapter 277

Percival stood with his hands behind his back and suddenly took out his phone.

The phone vibrated. Odalys answered immediately, but found that he didn’t make a sound. The voice call switched to video one, and before she could see him, the video was adjusted.

“Sophia? What is she doing?” Odalys was stunned. Odalys had just driven to the location Freya had mentioned earlier and had just entered the elevator when she saw a video call from Percival. Thinking it was something important, she quickly answered.

But then Odalys saw Sophia, dressed provocatively, walking toward him with an alluring sway of her hips. “I don’t know.” Percival’s voice came out low and raspy. As soon as he finished speaking, Sophia, with her hips swaying, approached him. When she noticed him watching his phone, she reached out with her slender hand to snatch it away.

“Hey, what’s so interesting on your phone? Don’t tell me I’m not more interesting?” Sophia’s voice came through, dripping with a flirtatious tone.

Even through the phone, Odalys could feel a chill creeping down her spine. She hadn’t expected Sophia to be meeting with Percival.

Sophia truly had no boundaries. Just this morning, Odalys had discovered her affair with another man, and now, here Sophia was, trying to get to Percival.

Odalys couldn’t help but feel a strange kind of respect for Sophia’s boundless energy.

But what Sophia didn’t realize was that Percival was on a video call. She saw his large hand holding the phone out of reach, so she quickly pulled back her hand, her fingers subconsciously adjusting the strap on her shoulder.

As she stood there, a cool breeze blew through, lifting the hem of her dress and tousling her hair, revealing her long, smooth legs:

Sophia turned slightly to the side, deliberately pressing her hand to her chest as she showed him the most perfect profile, her lips curling into a teasing smile as she spoke. “Sorry, I was just dancing,” Sophia said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Up close, Sophia could see the man’s tall, broad frame. His powerful presence radiated pure masculinity, especially his cold, piercing eyes that seemed as sharp as a blade.

She felt a sudden shiver of excitement, her legs growing weak, and she nearly stumbled onto the grass.

His aura was overwhelming. Sophia’s eyes grew hazy with desire as she longed to rush toward him.

Sophia never expected Odalys to have such an excellent man by her side. Earlier, she had suspected the man might be Percival. However, he looked so healthy and full of life, and the force in his gaze was unlike anything an ordinary person could have.

He looked vigorous and strong, and Sophia was sure he couldn’t possibly be Percival.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Actually, Odalys is my sister. You’ve probably seen us eating together. You didn’t know, right? She’s already married,” Sophia said, biting her lip.

She stood there, looking a little pitiful, and her smile remained enticing.

“I had an engagement with the Stewart family before, and she knew how rich they were, so she used underhanded tricks to force me to compromise. She married into the Stewart family on my behalf,” Sophia continued, her eyes immediately welling up with fake tears.

She spun this lie with such ease, making it sound completely convincing. As long as she could tarnish Odalys’ reputation and ruin her in front of the man, Sophia would have a chance to take Odalys’ place.

“Is that so?” Percival’s voice sounded low and husky.

Hearing his deep, pleasant voice, Sophia almost lost her balance. Her body felt weak, and she couldn’t help but look at him, almost greedily. Her lips moved slightly as she gazed at this perfect man.

“Didn’t you know? She didn’t tell you? Well, it’s not entirely her fault. She’s always been like this,” Sophia said, her voice dripping with an air of innocence.

Percival’s eyes narrowed slightly. He stood there, coldly watching her performance, his gaze piercing.

“How has she been? Have you lived with her? If I remember correctly, she grew up in the mountains, with no family or friends around her.” Percival’s voice was icy as he exposed her lies.

Sophia froze. She hadn’t expected him to ask that.

Normally, when men saw Sophia, their eyes lit up, even eager to pull her into their arms. They didn’t care whether what she said was true or false.

But today, with everything going wrong, Sophia couldn’t stay at the hospital any longer. As she was about to leave, she ran into Finnian.

Sophia saw the scheming look and the resentment in his eyes. They quickly figured Sophia could use Finnian’s connections to track Orson, getting Orson under her control.

If she could get something on Orson, Sophia’d have leverage to force him to back off. Then, Finnian could smoothly return to the Lark family, and she would be able to clear her name and help the Bennett Group rise again. But as Sophia was getting out of the car, she spotted Percival.

She was immediately intrigued. Sophia knew that a man with such an imposing aura was either very rich or very powerful.

“Oh!” Sophia cried out, pretending to trip as she staggered toward Percival’s chest.

With one hand still holding his phone, Percival stepped back slightly as Sophia came toward her.

In a split second, a shadow darted toward her. “Bang!”

The figure slammed into Sophia, kicking her hard in the abdomen.

“Ah!” Sophia cried out as she was knocked to the ground.

Sophia looked up, seeing Callum standing in front of Percival, blocking her view. With a look of complete disdain, he said, “Sophia, you really have no shame.”

“You were just live-streaming yourself in bed with a fraud this morning, and now you’re here, trying to seduce him?” Callum didn’t pull any punches.

Just hearing Sophia’s name made him sick to his stomach. This woman was truly shameless.

“You’re talking nonsense! I was set up!” Sophia’s eyes filled with tears as she tried to defend herself.

Just then, Orson stepped out of the villa, holding his phone as he finished a call. He said in a low voice, “Alright, I got it.” After hanging up, Orson walked over to Percival, standing side by side with him as they both looked down at Sophia, who was sprawled on the grass, her eyes still throwing him seductive glances.

“Hi, Odalys.” Orson glanced briefly at the screen. Seeing that Percival was video chatting with Odalys, he immediately greeted her respectfully.

Odalys’ voice came from the other end of the video. She looked at Orsom and said, “She’s been following you.”

“I know,” Orson replied.

Without another word, Odalys ended the video call, not paying attention to the situation anymore.

Percival looked at the now-ended video call. He turned to Orson and said, “Looks like Finnian still hasn’t given up.”

The only person who could have followed Orson so closely was Finnian. Having lived with the Lark family for so many years, Finnian knew Orson’s whereabouts well.

“I just got off the phone. It’s confirmed that Finnian hired people to track me down, driving with Sophia to follow us here,” Orson said with obvious disappointment.

Sophia’s face turned pale when she heard their conversation. She didn’t expect them to find out about this so easily.

Panicked, Sophia scrambled to her feet, intending to leave, only to spot Finnian being escorted by bodyguards, walking toward them. Then, Finnian was suddenly kicked.

“Ouch,” Finnian grunted in pain as he stumbled.

Finnian fell to the ground, just in front of Sophia’s feet, and saw Percival and Orson standing there, watching him like he was a clown.

“Orson,” Finnian said, his eyes red with emotion as he scrambled to his feet, rushing toward Orson. “Orson, I swear I didn’t mean to. Please, help me get back to the Lark family.”

“Say it to Dad. I know I was wrong. I won’t have any more bad thoughts. Please, help me.” Finnian begged, his voice trembling with desperation.

Chapter 278

Orson stepped forward and grabbed Finnian by the collar. “Now you don’t dare have any ulterior motives, huh? So you team up with Sophia and secretly follow me around? Were you planning to have her seduce me, or him?” Orson hissed through gritted teeth.

Orson had taken pity on Finnian all those years ago and convinced his parents to bring him into the family. After raising him for so long, Finnian ended up with nothing but a treacherous ingrate.

“No, no! That’s not it! I don’t know her well, and I have no idea why she’s here.” Finnian quickly distanced himself from any blame.

Finnian wasn’t the top-tier celebrity he used to be anymore. After finishing that variety show, he crashed hard. His resources dried up, his fans disappeared, and even his manager stopped answering his calls. His agency didn’t officially fire him, and they basically locked him away, burying him in silence.

Reality had slapped him across the face.

“Finnian, what are you talking about? Didn’t you block me at the hospital entrance?” Sophia was startled, her face paling. At this point, even she wasn’t too naive to figure it out.

Finnian had been using her to seduce Orson. If he succeeded, he could worm his way back into the Lark family; if not, he’d just throw her under the bus.

She had never known before, but now she realized how disgusting this man could really be.

“What are you talking about? I never blocked you!” Finnian grew desperate.

Sophia suddenly burst into manic laughter. Realizing she couldn’t seduce anyone tonight, and seeing that none of these men were interested in her, she understood that she was being played.

If they really wanted her, they would’ve already taken her down. But they hadn’t.

Now, she just wanted to get away from them. Otherwise, if any of them got mad, she’d be in serious trouble.

“Is that so?” Sophia sneered.

She’d learned her lesson by now. Whenever she encountered Finnian, she’d record their conversations.

“As long as you seduce Orson and help me get back into the Lark family, I’ll find a way to secure the Lark family’s inheritance. Once the Lark family is in trouble, it will all be mine to control.

“You just have to follow my lead. Once I succeed, all the entertainment industry resources will be at your disposal. I’ Il even make sure the Lark Group partners with the Bennett family. When the Bennett Group rises, you’ll be the one to thank. You’ll be the Bennett family’s hero.

“I get the Lark family, you get the Bennett Group, and together, we’ll rule.” Finnian’s voice rang out arrogantly. Every word was clear and distinct, reaching everyone’s ears. Finnian had been trying to defend himself, but now, hearing his own words, he almost collapsed as if the weight of his actions finally hit him.

“No, no, this must be fabricated! This voice is definitely AI-generated. Orson, don’t believe her! She’s always had bad intentions. She framed Odalys before, and now she’s trying to do the same to me!” Finnian shook his head violently.

Once the proud, aloof figure, he now appeared nothing but a petty, spineless man.

Orson looked at him with disgust in his eyes. This is who he is? After all these years, this is the man who had the gall to call himself a Lark?’

With a sharp, sudden motion, Orson kicked Finnian aside, causing him to stumble to the ground. Orson marched over, standing tall before him.

“You really are nothing but an illegitimate child. You can’t stand in the light; you’re just filth that can’t rise to the occasion.

“It was your mother who drugged my father, causing her to get pregnant with you. She secretly gave birth to you, hoping to use you to provoke my mother, trying to rise to the position of a mistress. I felt sorry for you being so young, so I had my mother bring you back to raise you. “I thought that with the blood of the Lark family running through your veins, your character wouldn’t be so bad. Seems like you’ve only inherited your mother’s filth,” Orson said, his voice heavy with disappointment.

Finnian opened his mouth, but no words came out. “Orson, you’re nothing special. Just because you’re a little luckier than I, do you really think you’re better?” Finnian spat, suddenly pulling a knife from his pocket and lunging at Orson.

Orson didn’t flinch. He stood there, watching Finnian charge, and just as the knife came close to striking him, he grabbed Finnian’s wrist with a swift, forceful twist.

With a sharp crack, Finnian let out a muffled grunt of pain as the knife slipped from his hand.

Orson immediately kicked him hard in the leg. Finnian looked at him in shock, feeling a sharp pain shoot through his leg as if it had gone completely numb.

“Ah, you… you… My leg!” Finnian cried out in agony, falling to the ground.

He stared at his leg, unable to move it, and then at his wrist. Hatred and resentment filled his heart at this moment. How dare he do this to me? I’ll make him regret it, he wondered.

“This time, I’ve only broken your leg and wrist. If I catch you scheming like this again, don’t think you’ll ever show your face in Crownridge again,” Orson said coldly.

He picked up the knife and handed it to one of the bodyguards. “Take him back and dump him on the street.”

“Understood,” the bodyguard replied. After taking the knife, he roughly hauled Finnian to his feet and tossed him into the nearby car.

Percival, watching from the side, spoke in a low voice. Wait.”

The bodyguard, seeing him, quickly approached but dared not make eye contact. He also didn’t dare address him as Mr. Stewart.” As Orson’s secret bodyguard, he knew the situation surrounding the Stewart family.

The rumors had been circulating that Percival was dead, so it was crucial to keep it that way, especially out in public. “Take her as well. Throw her back to the Bennett family. Tell them to keep an eye on their adopted daughter and make sure she doesn’t embarrass herself again. Tell them that a woman who likes to seduce men like that is truly disgusting,” Percival said, his voice chilling.

Sophia’s face immediately drained of color.

She tried to get up, but her injuries, combined with the blow from Callum, left her barely able to move. She wanted to explain, to get up and leave, but her body simply wouldn’t cooperate.

The bodyguards roughly dragged her away and shoved her into the car. The car sped off into the night. The villa fell completely silent as the cold night air settled in.

“I can’t believe Finnian would still follow me around, trying to have Sophia seduce me. That’s just…” Orson was furious. The Lark family had never had such morally corrupt people among them. Finnian was the one exception.

“He wanted to take your place. No wonder Odalys looks down on him so much,” Percival said in a low voice. There was a moment of silence. Callum remained quiet.

“Any findings upstairs?” Percival asked, his voice steady.

Callum and Orson shook their heads. “We searched the villa. The layout’s a bit odd, almost like some kind of good setup, but other than that, nothing unusual.”

“Then dig here,” Percival said quietly, raising his hand toward a nearby pit.

Orson and Callum both looked at the location he pointed to. It was the same spot where they had previously dug up bodies. The yard had several such pits.

“Isn’t this where they bury people? This is a grave pit,” Orson gasped.

Percival remained silent, only responding in a deep voice,” Dig.”

“Alright.” Orson nodded. He and Callum fetched the necessary tools, and the three of them started digging into the deep pit. Initially, all they encountered was wet soil, and there didn’t seem to be anything unusual.

But after digging deeper, a strong, pungent smell of blood suddenly hit them.

“Ugh, what’s that smell?” Callum exclaimed, taken aback. The familiar stench of blood made Orson’s eyes light up. This… this is the blood-soaked earth buried beneath mountain villages,” he said, his tone certain.

“That’s the smell,” Orson affirmed.

Chapter 279

Percival nodded, then dropped the tool he was holding and glanced around at the other pits. “Get someone to dig up all these graves. Let’s see what’s buried underneath,” he said.

“Understood.” Callum immediately made a phone call. Before long, the bodyguards arrived. They moved quickly, and soon every pit had been dug open.

To their surprise, beneath each pit, about 1.5 feet deeper, a strong, sickening stench of blood filled the air. The bodyguards assumed it was blood from the dead and didn’t think much of it.

Once the digging was done, the bodyguards left.

“How is this possible?” Callum was visibly shocked.

Instead of just dead bodies, there were more things buried beneath.

“No wonder Odalys wanted to come back here to check again,” Percival muttered, his voice low. “Seems like this place has hidden depths.”

“The first time she came, she killed the old man, which led to Sophia’s backlash. The second time, she saved Francis and drew the police over, making them discover the bodies.

If this was a place she kept returning to, it had to be significant.”

“It looks like Odalys’ intuition was right,” Orson remarked with some awe.

Percival stood there for a moment, scanning the pits. After a pause, he said, “Get in touch with the police and see if they’ve identified these bodies.”

“Since these pits are full of mixed blood and mud, the people buried here must be someone of importance,” he continued.

“Brandon tried to use the negative energy of his dead grandson to tap into the Stewart family’s luck,” Percival muttered, his voice grim. “Maybe these people who died here were all from wealthy or high-ranking families.”

He wasn’t sure if his guess was correct, but something about the situation felt off.

“I think there’s a strong possibility of that.” Orson agreed.

Callum, listening to their conversation, spoke up in a low voice, “I’ll head over to the police station.”

“Be careful. Don’t let anyone notice you,” Percival reminded him.

After all, they had been followed by Finnian tonight.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Stewart. I’ll be careful,” Callum replied before hurrying off, driving Percival’s car.

Once Callum was gone, Orson and Percival began covering the pits to prevent the contents from being washed away. by the rain. When they finished, Orson got behind the wheel and headed back.

“Back to the Stewart Villa?” Orson asked in a low voice.

Percival pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen. He noticed that Odalys hadn’t sent him any messages.

“Let’s go to Freya’s apartment,” Percival said quietly.

Orson was momentarily taken aback. While Freya was the Stewart family’s adopted daughter, Percival wasn’t particularly interested in women, and he didn’t usually interact much with Freya.

‘Why is he suddenly going to her apartment at this hour?” Orson wondered.

“Odalys must have gone to her place earlier, and something must have happened,” Percival explained.

Hearing this, Orson immediately floored the accelerator and sped off toward Freya’s apartment.

*****

At Woakin Apartment, as soon as Odalys arrived and stepped into the elevator, she received a video call from Percival. When she saw Sophia’s tempting figure in the frame, she immediately knew that Sophia must have been following Percival out.

Sophia’s fate seemed tied to Finnian, so it was most likely related to Finnian.

And Finnian’s luck was terrible. Just the other day, Odalys had said that he was likely going to do something extreme. She hadn’t expected it to happen so soon, but the fact that Finnian had targeted Percival and his group seemed like a death wish.

‘With his bad luck, it’s no surprise. If the heavens want you to suffer, there’s no escaping it, Odalys wondered.

But Finnian, it seemed, had picked the most ruthless option to go after.

With a loud sound, the elevator doors opened, and Odalys quickly stepped out. She saw Edie, holding a fire extinguisher, pounding on the door, clearly frustrated as it remained locked.

“Freya, you better come out here!” Edie’s voice lacked the commanding tone from last night.

Her hair was disheveled, and she had kicked off her high heels in her rage.

With a soft click, Freya opened the door.

As soon as Edie saw her, she threw the fire extinguisher aside and stood tall, her posture dripping with arrogance. “I thought you were some big shot,” she sneered. “My husband adopted you into the Stewart family, raised you up, and now you think you’re all high and mighty, huh?”

Freya’s heart tightened at Edie’s words as tears filled her eyes.

Freya never spoke of her past, nor did she ever use the Stewart family’s influence to push others down.

Because of that, the resources she had hoped for were always taken by Sophia, and the Stewart family never stepped in to support her.

Now, Edie was bringing up Freya’s adoption as if it were. some kind of insult, aiming straight for the heart.

“You have a problem?” Freya’s voice was icy.

Suddenly, Edie lunged at her. Freya didn’t react fast enough and was knocked down onto the carpet, the two of them crashing hard onto the floor. Freya quickly pushed Edie away, but before she could get up, Edie pulled out a needle. Freya’s pupils contracted.

“Now that Percival has kicked me out of the Stewart family, you, the adopted daughter, have become my only way back in.” Edie sneered, her eyes cold. “Let’s see how you deal with this.”

With that, Edie aimed the needle at Freya’s neck.

Just as the needle was about to pierce Freya’s skin, a strong hand grabbed Edie’s wrist. A gust of wind swept through the room, and with a loud slap, Edie was struck hard across the face.

Dazed, she regained her senses and realized her wrist was now firmly held by someone else. And the needle she had been holding was now pointed right back at her.

“No, please, no!” Edie screamed in terror.

Before she could pull away, the needle was plunged into her own flesh.

Odalys had acted quickly, and the syringe’s contents were now being injected into Edie’s body. As the liquid flowed through her veins, Edie’s face turned pale, and a look of sheer panic spread across her eyes as she realized what was happening.

“Clink.” The syringe fell from Odalys’ hand, hitting the floor with a soft thud.

“You… you injected me?” Edie’s voice was trembling, disbelief washing over her.

She stared at Odalys, unable to process the fact that she had actually come.

“You wanted to inject her, right? Well, I thought I’d let you do it yourself. I’m sure this medicine is very expensive. Don’t you think?

“Wasting it on an adopted daughter like Freya seems like such a waste,” Odalys said with a calm smile, her tone almost mocking. “But using it on you? That’s the perfect fit.”

Her calm smile irritated Edie.

Fixed her eyes on Odalys, Edie opened her mouth, but the agony from the injection forced her to take a step back, collapsing heavily onto the floor.

“Call an ambulance! Someone, please, call an ambulance!” Edie shouted weakly. But Odalys didn’t move. Neither did Freya.

Both stood at the door of the apartment, looking down at her with cold, unmoving eyes.

She had lived almost fifty years without ever feeling so afraid.

She had once been the wife of Percival’s father, and was treated with the utmost respect. Even a small cut on her finger would have doctors attending to her immediately, and the finest overseas physicians would examine her.

But now, after a single night, she was nothing.

“After waking up in the hospital, she realized just how quickly everything had unraveled.

Even Oliver, who had once been close to her, was now avoiding her. She had spent the entire day in the hospital, but Oliver never showed up. Not a single wealthy madam who had once been her friend had come to visit either.” It wasn’t until she saw the official announcement from the Stewart family that she truly panicked. She tried to use her credit card to settle the bill, only to find her bank accounts frozen. Her properties had been reclaimed.

In just one day, she had lost everything.

Chapter 280

So, Edie returned to the Stewart Villa. But before she could even get close, the bodyguards pressed guns to her and fired two shots at her feet.

It was only then that Edie realized Percival really didn’t want her anymore.

No matter what she did before, Percival always stepped back. He had clearly treated her like a mother. But after last night, everything had changed.

‘So, it’s not that Percival abandoned me? Is it that he was really dead?’ Edie wondered.

“You’ve all lost your minds, haven’t you? I’m Percival’s mom! If anything happens to me, do you believe the Stewart family will let you off?” Edie yelled, her anger boiling over.

Freya stood before Odalys, protecting her. She stepped forward, her gaze cold as she looked at Edie, who appeared a bit haggard.

“The Stewart family? You’re no longer a part of the Stewart family. For years, you’ve been using the Stewart family’s name to do shady things. My cousin has been more than patient with you,” Freya said in a low voice.

Edie, grimacing from pain, tried to push herself up but fell again with a loud thud.

“Your cousin? What are you? How dare you call my son a cousin? You’re nothing to do with us. It’s because of me drugging your filthy mother, or she would never have married into the Stewart family!” Edie sneered, her words venomous.

“Your mother tried to steal from me back then, and now you want to harm me? But I am Percival’s real mother, and even if he’s dead, the Stewart family will still be mine.” Edie spat, as though seeing Freya triggered her to lose control of her emotions.

Her words left everyone speechless.

“Are you saying that Percival’s dad and my mother were in love, and they were meant to marry, but you interfered and destroyed their relationship?” Freya said, a bit stunned.

All these years, Edie had constantly suppressed her. There were even occasions when Edie, behind the scenes, had orchestrated situations where others took advantage of her. She never imagined Edie would have such hidden secrets. “Yeah, so what? In the end, I won, didn’t I? So, what gives you the right to call my son a cousin?” Edie mocked her. Freya froze for a moment, unable to process what she had just heard.

All she knew was that her father and Percival’s father were comrades, and later, after both men went out and had an accident, her parents saved Percival’s father.

That’s why her parents died, and the Stewart family took Freya in.

“Ah… someone, hurry up and call an ambulance!” Edie gritted her teeth, her pain so intense that her face twisted in agony.

Odalys watched her struggle in pain. Not far away, she saw two figures approaching. She locked eyes with Percival, who raised his hand slightly toward her.

“Freya, let’s go inside first,” Odalys said, pulling Freya along.

Edie tried to rush forward, but Odalys was quicker. With a sharp bang, Odalys slammed the door shut, leaving Edie crashing into the empty air.

“Mmm.” Edie felt someone near.

When she turned around, Orson was approaching, holding a handkerchief. He moved behind her, and in one swift motion, he covered her mouth and nose with it. Edie struggled for a few moments before collapsing into his arms.

“How should we handle this?” Orson asked, his voice low, after confirming that Edie had passed out.

Percival stared at Edie, noticing how she had lost her previous elegance. She looked so worn out as if aging ten years overnight. This was his mother, who had once taken such good care of herself.

“Check what kind of drug she injected,” Percival instructed coldly.

Orson picked up the syringe from the ground and sniffed it briefly before speaking in a low voice. “It’s a slow-acting poison. After it enters the body, it causes uncontrollable pain.”

“It’s manageable at first, but it becomes addictive. It’s a mixed type of poison,” Orson added, his face darkening. Edie had tried to use drugs to control Freya. That was just too ruthless.

“Since this is her choice, let her deal with it,” Percival said, his eyes turning cold.

Orson looked at Edie. His handsome face held no expression as he stared at the older woman. She seemed familiar, but at the same time, she felt so alien.

“My handkerchief only has a small amount of the sleeping drug on it, just enough to knock her out for half an hour. What should we do with her?” Orson asked.

No matter how bad she was, she was still Percival’s mother.

“Have someone drop her back at her place, then have another team investigate where she got those drugs from. Find out who supplied her and why they did it,” Percival said in a deep voice.

One shot of that drug had ruined her future.

Once the pain became unbearable, Edie would desperately seek out more.

This drug, mixed with the other substances, would make her entire body ache horribly when it took effect. Perhaps this was what she deserved.

“Alright, I’ll arrange it,” Orson said, lifting her and turning to leave.

Percival stood outside the apartment, raising his hand to knock on the door. It opened almost immediately, clearly, Freya and Odalys had been waiting outside. They must have overheard the conversation between him and Orson.

“She really tried to control me with drugs?” Freya asked, clearly shocked.

Odalys looked at her with sympathy and gave her head a gentle rub, saying, “It’s okay now.”

“So, from now on, will she have to rely on drugs to ease her pain? Should we get a doctor to help flush it out? It’s still fresh in her system, maybe she can be saved,” Freya murmured quietly.

Percival stood there, seemingly deep in thought.

He was carefully choosing his words before speaking. This is her choice. We have no right to interfere. She chose to go against the Stewart family and tried to use you to manipulate us.”

“She chose this path. I won’t pay the price for her decisions. Once she decided to mess with illegal substances, she lost her chance at being saved,” Percival said, his tone cold. It might sound cruel, but he believed adults should face the consequences of their own actions.

“As for what she said about your parents, that’s a matter from the older generation. Even if your mother and my father couldn’t be together, they still chose to remain friends, even comrades who stood by each other through life and death.

“So, the past didn’t affect them. You don’t need to take her words to heart,” Percival added.

Freya fell silent.

“Alright, if you really want to draw a line, then you’re falling into her trap. She’s trying to control you to force the Stewart family to compromise, which just shows she’s afraid of you,” Odalys said.

Odalys could see that Freya wasn’t the kind of person who held grudges or played games. That was why Odalys wanted to be friends with Freya.

“Odalys, you’re really the best,” Freya said, her eyes reddening as she walked up and hugged Odalys, her voice soft as she added, “We will be good friends forever, right?”

“Not really,” Odalys laughed, teasing her.

Percival stood watching them, his face unreadable. He cleared his throat loudly.

“By the way, how did you get here? I thought you were with Sophia earlier?” Odalys asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.

When Freya heard that he had been with Sophia, she immediately became anxious.

“Percival, why were you with Sophia? Don’t you know she’s always trying to frame Odalys?” Freya asked, her eyes wide with anger.

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