Chapter 371
“She handed over the ring, and Percival took it, turning it over in his palm, his brow furrowed in obvious surprise.
“It’s a blood ring,” Percival said in a low voice.
Blood rings were rare, especially ones that could be passed down through generations.
“This particular ring was clearly of immense value, practically priceless. If it were put up for sale, it would likely cause a frenzy.
“It is a blood ring, but don’t you think it looks familiar?” Odalys said softly. She pointed at the ring, urging Percival to think carefully.
“Percival’s gaze grew intense as he stared at it, deep in thought. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“A century old…” Odalys quietly reminded him. “Percival tightened his grip on the ring, his gaze flickering to her with a complex expression. “A century-old tailor.”
“Exactly,” Odalys quickly nodded, her look at Percival filled with admiration.
“After finishing her task, Odalys had immediately texted Percival, asking him to come and take a look at the blood ring. The negative energy emanating from it was strong, continuously surging.
“The energy felt oddly familiar, making her think of Brandon.
“Where did you get this blood ring?” Percival asked, his voice low.
“He remembered that she hadn’t had it before.
“Odalys briefly explained, and as she did, Percival’s grip on the ring tightened, his voice darkening. “This Major’s whole family was massacred, their wealth wiped out, and their ancestral home was forced to be sold. In fact, it was all orchestrated.”
“Yes, someone coveted their ancestral home because of its prime energy field. They plotted to destroy the family, leading to the massacre and the fall of their fortune,” Odalys said.
The scene was too tragic for her to let that man remember. If she did, he wouldn’t have left so easily.
“But if he didn’t go through time travel soon, it wouldn’t just be him. Even that woman could end up losing her soul.
“The century-old tailor family was the murderers,” Percival said in a low voice. He handed the ring back to her.
“It seems this family hid things well. We initially thought they were misled and wanted to take advantage of the Stewart family’s fortune, but now it seems they were most likely the masterminds,” he said.
Odalys looked at Percival with even greater admiration upon hearing this.
“She knew he was strategic, but she hadn’t realized just how sharp he truly was.
“You know why I didn’t kill him last night at the Bennett Villa?” she asked. “Otherwise, given my personality, I would have ended it right then.”
“She added, “He went to the villa in the suburbs, then came back to the Bennett Villa to confront Windsor. On the surface, it seemed like he wanted justice, but in reality, he knew we were following him and did it on purpose. He wanted to mislead us and shift suspicion onto Windsor. “But he didn’t expect that I would find a way to make Windsor break the rules. Once Windsor is ruined, he becomes useless to him.”
“Brandon is sharp. His son’s death was probably intentional. He needed to get rid of a burden.” Odalys fiddled with the ring in her hand as she walked outside.
Percival followed quietly behind her, listening thoughtfully.
“The mountain village hides toxic blood. He’s trying to frame Windsor as a scapegoat. It looks like he’s done nothing, but in reality, he’s used everything. He wants to take advantage of us to eliminate his enemies.
“Then he’s likely the accomplice of my uncle,” Percival said.
Odalys smiled without speaking, carefully tucking the ring into her bag. As soon as it was inside, the negative energy seemed to vanish.
“At his age, sacrificing his entire family for this, what do you think he’s after?” Odalys threw the question at him.
“Percival answered without hesitation, “He’s seeking immortality.”
“Odalys listened, a smile playing on her lips, but she said nothing.
“She didn’t argue with his words again, instead, she walked toward the car. Percival stepped forward and opened the door for her. As Odalys sat down, she noticed a smoothie placed on the side.
Percival sensed her curious gaze and waved his hand dismissively.
“I saw that you liked this brand of smoothie last time. I was passing by on my way here, so I picked one up for you,” Percival explained, though his words came out a little awkwardly. “In the business world or in politics, Percival could turn any situation around, but in front of Odalys, he felt a bit uneasy. He feared he wasn’t doing enough, or worse, that he might overstep and make her uncomfortable.
“He couldn’t quite figure out the right balance, and he worried that if he hugged her outside city hall, it might upset her.
“Now, though, it seemed that Odalys hadn’t thought much about that moment.
“Percival couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. The fact that she hadn’t given it much thought meant that maybe she didn’t treat him as a man, just someone she exchanged pleasantries with, after which she would leave.
“A sense of heaviness pressed against his chest. “Aren’t you leaving?” Odalys asked, lowering the window in confusion.
“Her eyes met Percival’s deep ones, and she froze. Her heart suddenly raced, as if it had been stabbed, and the strange emotion left her feeling confused.
“Yeah,” Percival replied in a low voice. He walked around and got into the driver’s seat.
“Just then, his phone vibrated with a call from Callum.
“Something happened?” Percival’s voice was cold.
“Callum felt a chill run down his spine, immediately standing up straighter, unconsciously straightening his legs and giving a small salute before speaking in a low voice.” Mr. Stewart, Brandon wants to see Odalys.”
“Brandon wants to see you,” Percival said, handing her the phone.
“Odalys didn’t take it, quietly sipping her smoothie instead. She simply said, “Tell him I’m not available.”
“What if he keeps pushing?” Callum asked, his voice tinged with hesitation.
“Percival tapped the phone screen, putting it on speaker, and Callum’s voice filled the car. Odalys took a quiet sip of her smoothie, contemplating for a moment before responding, “Leave him hanging.”
“Got it, I’ll handle it,” Callum quickly said before hanging up.
“Odalys turned her head and their eyes met. For a moment, they just stared at each other, and Percival instinctively looked away, feeling a little guilty.
“He grasped the steering wheel, and after a couple of awkward coughs, the silence lingered. “Odalys, still sipping her smoothie, instinctively extended it toward him. “Want a sip?”
“She had barely finished speaking when she realized the only smoothie she had was the one she had been drinking.
“She was about to retract her hand when Percival, looking down, took the straw into his mouth. He took a sip of the smoothie, the subtle sweetness lingering in his mouth.
“Percival wasn’t particularly fond of sweet foods, but he didn’t mind this. In fact, he thought it was quite pleasant.
“Want me to give it to you?” Odalys’ hand, holding the smoothie, froze.
“She offered it to him, but suddenly something crossed her mind, and she quickly pulled it back. Now, neither drinking it nor not seemed right, and the atmosphere inside the car grew tense. “Where are you going? I’ll drive you,” Percival asked, breaking the silence.
Odalys felt somewhat flustered, wanting to head back to her studio.
Chapter 372
“By the way, I was thinking of giving Mr. Stewart the company key, so he can come over and pray whenever he has the time,” Odalys said, tapping her forehead.
Earlier, Harvey had mentioned wanting to come over to pray every day.
Many regular clients liked to come to her place to pray as well. Odalys had always been welcoming, believing that as long as the intentions were sincere, anyone was welcome.
“It had become a trend now, even to the point where some people treated her company like a church.
“I mentioned it to him. He probably went,” Percival replied.
“For some reason, he and Odalys seemed to have an unspoken understanding. They didn’t need to say much to know what the other was thinking. This kind of connection between them felt almost like it had been formed long before as if it were destined.
“Let’s go check it out,” Odalys said.
She took a sip of her smoothie, only then realizing that Percival had also just had some.
“The fruity taste lingered in her mouth, and there was still a faint warmth from his lips on the glass. Her fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of the cup as she turned to look out the window.
“Are you hungry? What would you like to eat later?” Percival broke the silence.
“Odalys pulled out her phone and glanced at the screen. It was already half-past twelve.
“The opening ceremony for Heroic Era was set for 11:08 AM. She had originally planned to have lunch with Freya and the others, but this situation had come up unexpectedly.
“Let’s stop by the company first,” Odalys said.
“She wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to have lunch with him now, and even being alone with him felt somewhat ambiguous.
“Alright,” Percival responded, his voice low and steady.
“Odalys turned her head slightly, lost in thought. Percival drove with quiet focus, his sharply defined profile looking particularly striking.
“Percival,” Odalys suddenly said, calling his name.
Percival turned to look at her.
“This morning, when I saw Edie outside the city hall, I realized that if she doesn’t find someone skilled to handle the curse on her, she’ll probably be drained of life very soon.
“Without the branch church worm, the main curse worm will start absorbing more of her vital energy. Once she’s completely dried up, it’ll escape,” Odalys warned.
“No matter how bad she was, Edie was Percival’ s mother.
Even though she didn’t like Edie, Odalys still felt the need to say something, just in case Percival would regret not doing anything later.
“Got it,” Percival responded, his large hand gripping the steering wheel tighter.
“After Odalys left earlier, Edie had rushed at him like a madwoman, even trying to push him into the road, just as a car sped by.
If Percival hadn’t reacted quickly, he would’ve been hit.
She wasn’t fit to be a mother. Edie had always wanted Percival dead, all so she could take the Stewart family’s fortune. She had been abusing her position as his mother to get whatever she wanted.
“She won’t back off just because she didn’t get what she wanted from you. After Henry gets that marriage license with her, he’ll have leverage over her. And under the influence of the curse worm, she’s going to become even more unhinged. Who knows what she’ll do next?” Odalys said.
“It would be great to get rid of Edie. But leaving her alive would only bring trouble in the long run.
“I’ll handle it,” Percival said. He was holding back, still deciding what to do.
“As long as you know what you’re doing. Don’t give her a chance. Edie’s bad luck will make her go to extremes. If she can’t get what she wants, she’ll destroy everything,” Odalys warned.
“People like her were possessive to the core. Once she set her sights on something, she would stop at nothing to take it.
“I know,” Percival replied in a low voice.
The two of them fell silent. Odalys continued drinking her smoothie, watching the pedestrians hurrying along the road. She spotted the security guard she had seen earlier that morning in the neighborhood.
“He was holding the little girl’s hand and standing under a tree, holding a stack of reports. It seemed like they had just returned from the hospital and were waiting for a ride.
“Seeing the little girl’s complexion return to normal, Odalys smiled to herself.
“She raised her hand to shield herself from the sunlight, watching as it filtered through her fingers, casting a soft glow across her face. She closed her eyes and savored the peaceful moment.
“Screech! At that moment, Percival hit the brakes, smoothly bringing the car to a stop in front of her company.
“Odalys opened her eyes and saw him already walking around to open the car door for her. She hurriedly got out of the car and made her way toward the company, walking quickly as though she were afraid Percival would catch up to her. “Percival watched her anxious figure and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“To him, Odalys seemed like a little girl who didn’t quite know what to do.
“Odalys rushed inside and saw Evander and Clarence sitting inside, playing chess. The thurible nearby was nearly full.
“It was clear that there were many guests today. “When Odalys wasn’t busy with Star readings, the company also welcomed those who wanted to pray. Many people came simply because they had heard of her reputation.
“Odalys, you’re back?” Evander said when he saw her, immediately standing up from the chess game. He walked over, looking quite pleased with himself. “We’ve had a lot of visitors today.”
“128 people in total. Each one prayed and left. Before they left, they wanted to make appointments for your Star readings. Eight of them wanted to check their energy fields,” Evander said as he flipped through his notebook. He had carefully written down all their details, who wanted Star readings and who wanted their energy fields read, even noting down their gender and phone numbers.
“Thank you, Mr. Stewart,” Odalys said, taking the material and glancing at it.
“Evander’s handwriting was strong and bold, just like his character, honest and upright.
“Harvey came with his wife and daughter. Even his parents came, bringing gifts and flowers,” Evander continued, pointing to the flowers and gifts nearby. To differentiate them from the others, he had placed them to the side.
“Oswald heard you saved the Tillery family and wanted to thank you by taking you out to dinner, but I turned him down,” Evander said quietly.
“Given the current situation with Odalys, Evander thought it best to keep things low-key to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Helping others was a good thing, but it was best to limit private interactions, especially with powerful families that had their own set of complicated issues.
“Thank you, Mr. Stewart,” Odalys said, feeling a lump in her throat.
“She knew Evander was looking out for her, considering things from her perspective, and she was deeply touched.
“Why are you thanking him? Percival’s luck is what got him you. It’s only right that he helps solve some problems for you,” Clarence said, his face serious as he stood up.
“He walked over, and the strong scent of rounded him, blending with his natural scent in a way that was strangely pleasant.
“This scent signified that Clarence had spent many years working with herbs, and the fragrance of medicine had become part of him. This was also why he was healthier than most people.
“Hello, Mr. Lark,” Odalys greeted him.
“Clarence looked at her with a fondness so intense it was almost overflowing. And he cast an envious glance at Evander.
“This morning, I heard from Orson about how you saved his life and helped Finnian with some trouble. I’ve studied the ointment you used, and it’s truly amazing. Even I can’t tell what ingredients are in it,” Clarence said, excitement evident in his voice.
For him, medicine was everything. Clarence had spent his life practicing medicine, and it had long since become part of his very being.
Chapter 373
“At that moment, Odalys was deeply moved by Clarence’s noble character. She held him in high regard.
“Actually, this isn’t anything particularly special. My method is quite simple. I take regular herbs and add a few other ingredients to reach certain point, which maximizes the herbs’ effectiveness and causes a transformation,” Odalys explained patiently.
“Clarence was even more excited. He immediately sat up straighter, paying close attention to every word she said, afraid of missing anything.
He even pulled out a pen and began writing down notes on a piece of paper beside him. “How can we maximize the effect?” Clarence asked, voicing his doubt. “During the refining process, many of the active ingredients of the herbs are lost, which makes the final product not as effective as expected.”
“This was the part that bothered him the most. The medicine wasn’t being used to its full potential. Many conditions that seemed easy to treat often only achieved about 60% effectiveness with standard medicine, which was considered good.
“So, we need to lock in the ingredients of the medicine before they’re lost, to prevent the effectiveness from fading. This way, the medicine can reach 90% of its potential,” Odalys explained.
“She added, “With this approach, the medicine will quickly take effect on wounds, promoting fast healing of the skin. That’s why, when I scratched Finnian’s wound this morning and applied the medicine, his wound healed instantly. “But the wound may not be able to handle such rapid healing, which could lead to side effects. So, for the month after applying this medicine, the wound must not come into contact with water. If it does, the water will wash away the medicine’s effect, causing the wound to decay rapidly.”
Clarence jumped to his feet and quickly walked toward her. His eyes sparkled with a deep thirst for knowledge.
“How can we lock in the medicine’s ingredients? I’ve tried this approach before, but it’s always failed. The medical community has raised this question, but no one has ever been able to achieve it,” Clarence said, his voice trembling with excitement.
“He hadn’t expected to meet Odalys in his lifetime, let alone have her solve this problem so easily.
“Clarence, now older, felt his eyes welling up with tears as he listened.
“Of course, I can write you a prescription. You can take it back and use it repeatedly, and maybe you’ll be able to adjust it to suit your needs,” Odalys said.
“After all, everyone had their own habits when it came to medicine. Her prescription might not work perfectly for everyone, but Clarence could modify it to fit his own preferences.
“Huh? You’re really just going to write it down for me? You can’t be serious! This is your hard work, your legacy! You could make history with this! This could shock the entire medical world,” Clarence said, stunned.
“Everyone, to some extent, sought fame and fortune.
“If Odalys wrote down her prescription, there was a risk it could be leaked. Others might take credit for her work.
“Clarence quickly scolded her, saying, “In the future, you should just keep things like this to yourself. The fact that you’ve given me these medicines for my grandson is already more than we could ever ask for. We can’t accept your prescription.”
“You’re still young; you don’t understand how cruel people can be. You need to protect your hard work. Even the people closest to you might not have the best intentions. You have to be cautious,” Clarence advised her.
“At that moment, Clarence had completely come to see her as one of his own. He had never encountered anyone so kind-hearted.
“The Lark family had no ties with Odalys, but she had been teaching Orson knowledge that he had never encountered before. This was something the entire Lark family was aware of.
The Lark family members were simple, focused on perfecting their medical skills and saving more lives “But Odalys had shattered their traditions, and after learning about her actions, they had a deep respect for her.
“Odalys thought that after recording a variety show, she had only gained a little fame, but she had no idea that in the medical field, her reputation had become immense. There were even people who wanted to meet her, but the Lark family had shut them down.
“The Lark family knew very well that not everyone admired her. Most were hoping to steal her knowledge.
“For that reason, they had subtly been protecting Odalys, ensuring no one bothered her.
The Lark family had even made it clear that if anyone were to try and disturb Odalys, they would use all their influence and connections to kick that person out of the medical field.
“Studying medicine is all about saving lives. My mentor used to say the same thing. And I trust the Lark family; otherwise, I wouldn’t be teaching Orson so much,” Odalys said, smiling.
“For the first time, Odalys felt cared for by a stranger.
“These were feelings the Bennett family had never given her, and, of course, she had never expected it.
“Odalys picked up the pen next to her and began writing the prescription on the paper. Clarence and Evander immediately gathered around, both nearing 70, yet they behaved like children in her presence.
“I can’t believe this. I never even considered it,” Clarence muttered under his breath.
“Evander, standing tall and proud with his hands behind his back as if he were showing off, said, ” Of course. She has always been clever. See? Odalys is something, isn’t she?”
“Cut it out with the boasting,” Clarence said, giving him a side-eye.
“The two old men bickered, but they kept their voices low, not wanting to disturb Odalys.
“Odalys quickly finished writing the prescription and handed it to Clarence, saying, “This is it. You can adjust it to your habits; maybe you’ll even make an improved version.”
“Clarence, holding the prescription, was grinning from ear to ear.
He cradled the paper as if it were a precious treasure, carefully tucking it into his bag, unwilling to crease it, and said, “You’re young and you write so beautifully.”
“Also, here’s this talisman for you. Remember to wear it at all times,” Odalys said, touching some magic dust and writing the talisman on yellow paper before handing it to him.
“Clarence froze, staring at the talisman she handed him. A sense of foreboding crept into his heart.
It was not a good thing for someone to give a talisman. It meant that trouble, possibly even death, could be on the horizon.
“Thank you,” Clarence quickly accepted the talisman, placing it in his pocket.
“His lips parted as if he wanted to ask something, but he decided against it.
“Just then, his phone buzzed. After answering, Clarence spoke urgently, “Alright, I’ll be back right away.”
“After hanging up, he turned to Odalys and said, ” Odalys, I have something urgent to take care of. I’m afraid I can’t stay any longer. I’ll be applying for a patent for your prescription in the medical field.”
“And thank you for the talisman,” Clarence added.
“He was about to leave when Odalys stopped him. “Pray before you go,” Odalys said.
“Clarence, halted by her request, paused for a second, then hurriedly washed his hands and gave a respectful bow, praying.
Odalys watched his figure with a slightly pensive gaze.
♡
Chapter 374
“I’ll be leaving now,” Clarence said softly. “He hurriedly walked out. Evander watched his old friend leave, his expression serious. After a long pause, he turned his gaze toward Odalys.
“Odalys, is something going to happen to him?” Evander’s voice was filled with concern.
“Clarence was Evander’s closest friend, and they had a bond that could not be broken. If it hadn’t been for the Lark family, Evander would have perished on the battlefield long ago and wouldn’t have lived to see this day.
“Yes,” Odalys whispered.
“She made a cup of coffee and handed it to Evander. Meeting his gaze, she shook her head and said, “This is his fate. You can’t help him, even if you want to.”
“If you insist on getting involved and disrupting things, it might lead to even worse outcomes. Actually, you don’t need to worry about it; just wait and see,” Odalys added.
Evander fell silent. He sipped his coffee, his eyes drawn to the unfinished chess game, his mind uneasy.
“It wasn’t until he finished the coffee that he noticed Odalys standing in front of him, holding a pen and sketching in mid-air. As her strokes moved, the scenery within the sketch seemed to change.
“What is this?” Evander quickly stepped forward.
“As he looked at the image she was creating, he felt the cold wind from the snow-capped mountains, as though it were blowing out of the drawing.
“Magic,” Odalys said. It could be called magic, but it was real.
“Evander admired the landscape she had drawn, finding each part beautiful, though something about it felt oddly familiar, as if he had seen it before.
“Isn’t this the ancestral cemetery of my family?” Evander asked, astonished.
He remembered that Odalys had never visited the Stewart family’s ancestral cemetery, yet she had depicted a scene from the southern side, and he was deeply shocked.
“Yes,” Odalys whispered.
“Evander looked at her with a complex expression. He vaguely sensed that she might have some form of precognition. She hadn’t done anything, yet it seemed like she knew everything.
“Evander didn’t dare to speak again and simply stood quietly. At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“The sound broke Odalys’ focus on her drawing.
She put the pen down and walked with Evander to the door, where they saw Lee standing outside, looking exhausted.
“His face was grim, and when he saw Odalys, his eyes were red from crying.
“Ms. Stone…” Lee’s voice was choked with emotion.
“The young man, known for his iron will, was now in tears, his eyes swollen, as though he were carrying deep hurt and shock.
“What happened?” Odalys quickly stepped forward.
“With trembling hands, Lee pulled out the talisman she had given him earlier. His voice was hoarse as he said, “The school where my daughter is… there was an explosion today.
“By chance, she was on duty after school today, cleaning the hallways. The entire building collapsed. By the time I got there, I found her thrown outside.”
“She told me that after the explosion, some light threw her out. She landed on the lawn and passed out. She has some scrapes and a mild concussion, but thankfully no serious injuries.” Lee’s voice shook as he spoke.
“Lee never imagined he would come to believe in magic.
The last time Odalys used a talisman to reveal the truth about a deceased person, he had been skeptical. But now, in this moment, Lee truly believed.
“If it hadn’t been for the talisman you gave me, my daughter might have been killed in that explosion. My wife is still at the hospital with her. She sent me here to ask you to pray for her,” Lee said.
“He was a police officer, and his beliefs did not allow him to accept magic.
“Lee believed that things were driven by human effort, not by relying on magic for protection. However, today, magic had saved his daughter’s life.
“I’m so glad she’s okay.” Hearing this, Odalys was greatly shaken. She hadn’t expected the talisman’s effect to manifest so soon. When Lee had come to ask for a talisman earlier, she had given him two.
“Lee wasn’t exactly the type to have children. As a police officer, he often dealt with sensitive cases and made enemies along the way. His children were likely to suffer and get hurt because of his job.
“Come in,” Evander said, his heart sinking. He quickly invited Lee inside.
“Lee walked straight to the thurible, bowed, and began to pray.
Bowing his head, Lee’s emotions were incredibly complicated, but somehow, he felt an unexpected sense of peace.
“At that moment, as he finished his prayer, all the panic and fear inside him seemed to vanish, leaving him calm.
“Ms. Stone, the talisman you gave me last time is gone. Could I please ask for another one?” Lee asked anxiously.
“He knew the request was unreasonable, but after today’s events, he couldn’t shake his worry.’ What if this happens again? What should I do next time?’
As a police officer, Lee knew something was off about the explosion. Explosions didn’t just happen in schools, especially not during the time his daughter was alone on duty, cleaning.
“This was clearly targeted at him. The cases Lee had been investigating recently might have upset someone.
“You don’t need another one. I think she won’t face any more danger for at least the next three years. Even if something does happen, it will be minor, just small scrapes or bruises. Kids can be mischievous, and little injuries are normal,” Odalys said.
“Lee thought he had heard wrong.
“That’s a relief. I was worried she might not make it to adulthood,” Lee said, quickly reaching for his wallet.
“Odalys stopped him.
“Lee, I don’t accept money. Besides, you’ve already prayed, which counts as compensating for my Star readings. If your wife and child are free, they can stop by anytime to pray,” Odalys said.
“For her, magic wasn’t about making money, but about protecting others.
For God, the purpose of prayer was to offer help and guidance, not to receive payment.
“Of course, for bigger tasks, there might be exchanges or money involved, but she would judge the situation.
Lee had been a police officer for many years, but he wasn’t wealthy. He was a righteous man, working to protect the people, and Odalys had no intention of accepting his money.
“Alright, I’ll make sure they come by when they can,” Lee said, his voice hoarse, though his heart was bitter.
“His wife had urged him to give more money, but he hadn’t expected Odalys to refuse it. It wasn’t that Lee was stingy, but he knew Odalys’ personality. When she said no, she meant it. If Lee had insisted, she might have truly gotten upset.
“By the way, has there been any progress with the case?” Odalys casually asked.
“At the mention of the case, Lee’s spirits lifted.
“He had always been passionate about his country and loved investigating cases. The more difficult a case was, the more excited he became.
He wanted to dive deep, uncover more clues, and slowly piece together the truth to capture the real culprits. This was his specialty.
He said, After you helped the spirits appear, we followed the descriptions of the people we saw and managed to find their records. Most of their families had filed reports, but nothing came of it.
We’ve already notified the families and continued our investigation, and we’ve uncovered a shocking secret.
Chapter 375
“Lee spoke, “The dates of disappearance for these people are all the same. Each person went missing on August 23rd.
“The forensic results confirm that the time of death matches. Right now, there are ten bodies. I’m worried there might be more deaths.
“Let’s set aside the deaths for now. The fact that all these victims went missing on the same day confirms that August 23rd could be a special day for the killer.”
As soon as Lee finished, Odalys fell silent.
“According to magical reasoning, there are twelve zodiac signs,” Odalys said, pausing briefly. “Ten are dead. There are likely two more. Keep a close watch on that villa. No one is allowed to get near or enter. The villa has been set up with a formation.
“If there are two more deaths, the killer will find a way to get those bodies into the villa. This is what’s known as a sacrifice.”
“What they need are living people. The people must be alive when they’re brought in, and placed in the correct positions. Only when the twelfth person dies will some kind of agreement be fulfilled,” she added.
“Today is July 27th, and we’re less than a month away from August 23rd.” Odalys calculated.
“Lee listened quietly, taking note of everything she said.
“Got it,” Lee murmured, his gaze toward Odalys now filled with admiration.
“He had respected her for her bravery and decisiveness before, but now, his admiration was almost overflowing.
“Do you need me to assist in any way?” Evander asked, his voice firm. Lives were on the line, and the situation had to be treated seriously.
“And, of course, this was Crownridge, the Stewart family’s territory.
“If the Stewart family can assist, I believe we’ll have a better chance. The police force is limited, especially with so many officers recently dispatched,” Lee said.
“Evander nodded slightly in agreement. Just then, Percival entered from outside.
“He overheard part of their conversation, though not all of it. He didn’t interrupt but quietly approached, bowed, and prayed.
“It wasn’t until Odalys and Lee had finished their discussion that Percival walked up confidently.
“I’ve already had Callum assemble a 30-person team, dedicated to assisting your police force with the investigation of the suburban villa case,” Percival said.
“Lee was thrilled by this news.
“Normally, outsiders weren’t allowed to interfere with investigations. Even if they offered help, the police would have to ask for approval from higher-ups. But Lee hadn’t done that.
“Thank you for the Stewart family’s support,” Lee said, his voice filled with gratitude.
“Afterward, Percival and Lee had a private discussion, quickly reaching an agreement. Once their cooperation was confirmed, Lee thanked Odalys again and rushed off to the hospital.
“It seems he suspects there’s a mole in the police department, possibly someone in the higher-ups,” Percival said in a low voice.
“She began. “Otherwise, why have so many people died, and yet there’s been no progress in the investigation over the years? It seems like someone has been actively hindering the case. And today, the school explosion targeted Lee’s daughter.
“This shows someone is warning him. Lee is smart, and he probably knows what’s going on. He should have some idea. When you mentioned that the Stewart family had organized a 30- person team, he didn’t refuse.”
“Evander listened to the two of them converse so naturally and seamlessly, feeling a sense of relief.
He hadn’t expected Percival, who had always kept his distance from women, to get along so well with Odalys. All his previous concerns seemed to fade away.
“He had thought that he would never see Percival fall in love, get married, or have children. Now, it seemed like Percival’s life was about to become complete.
“How about it? Want to have a barbecue for lunch?” Percival asked in a low voice.
“As soon as Odalys heard the mention of barbecue, her stomach rumbled loudly.
“I think that’s a great idea. Mr. Stewart, what do you think?” Odalys quickly agreed.
“Evander nodded as well, saying, “Alright, I’m good with whatever you two decide.” “Soon, the bodyguards brought over the prepared ingredients. The three of them set up the grill outside the company, and Percival rolled up his shirt sleeves. He placed the fatty beef and pork belly onto the grill.
The meat quickly started sizzling, the sound of fat dripping and the aroma filling the air.
“Odalys and Evander sat back, sipping cold Sprite, eagerly waiting for Percival to serve them.
“Odalys was surprised that Percival was so good at cooking.
“I want some pork belly,” Odalys said.
“Evander pushed the plate forward, adding, “Give me some beef.”
“Wait a moment,” Percival replied, flipping the meat. After a few moments, he placed the cooked pieces onto their plates and continued grilling mushrooms and other items.
“Odalys and Evander ate happily, and Percival watched them with a relaxed expression, his previously tense face softening.
“Percival, your cooking skills are impressive. From now on, your cooking will be the key to my and Odalys’ happiness,” Evander said, jokingly passing the pressure onto Percival.
Mature and with a good temperament, Percival was well-suited to his position of power.
“Having encountered so many people, he was naturally adept at embracing his role.
“Alright, whenever you and Odalys want to eat, just call me,” Percival replied with a deep, amused smile.
“He served them more grilled meat and mushrooms. Odalys added some potatoes to her plate, and Percival placed some salad into hers as well.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“The side dishes were also delicious.
“After the barbecue, Odalys and Evander were both full, but Percival had eaten very little, mostly focused on grilling.
“Evander, being older, rarely ate such food, and today he was thoroughly satisfied. “His cooking skills are impressive. This is the first time I’ve had meat grilled by him,” Evander remarked.
“Not far away, a figure stood, glaring at the scene with intensity. She never imagined that Percival and Evander would come to this shabby company to have a barbecue with Odalys.
“What struck her even more was that Percival was the one who had taken the initiative to grill, thoughtfully serving Odalys and even affectionately pouring her a drink. As a mother, Edie had never experienced such treatment.
“After the insult she had suffered outside city hall that morning, Edie felt a surge of resentment that only grew the more she thought about it.
“She had intended to come here to cause trouble for Odalys, but never expected to witness this scene. She certainly didn’t expect Evander to get along so well with Odalys.
“It seems I’m the outsider here. They’ve never treated me so well, Edie thought to herself, fury bubbling inside.
“Odalys, you little bitch!” Edie stormed over, holding a can of gasoline. Her eyes had turned cold, and her face twisted in anger.
Chapter 376
“Edie strode forward, standing not far away, one hand gripping a canister of gasoline, the other clutching a lighter. She glared at them with fury in her eyes. As soon as they were gone, the Stewart family would be hers.
“Shut up. Odalys is a member of the Stewart family. What right do you, an outsider, have to insult her?” Evander barked, immediately jumping to her defense when he heard Odalys being mocked.
“Odalys glanced at the items Edie was holding, a look of mockery flickering in her eyes.
“It’s gasoline. Looks like she’s lost her mind,” Percival said coldly, his voice calm but stern.
“He started to take a step forward, ready to handle the situation, while Odalys grabbed his arm and shook her head. “No need to intervene. Even if it’s not her today, someone else would have stepped in to stir trouble. It’s bound to happen sooner or later.”
“Since there’s going to be trouble anyway, let her burn things down today,” Odalys said in a cold tone.
“No sooner had she finished speaking than Edie screamed, “All of you think you can push me around just because my husband is dead, and now that I helped the Simpson family, you want to kick me out?”
“Why don’t you just give me the Stewart family?” Edie continued. “The Stewart family belongs to my husband. Since he’s dead, his inheritance should come to me. What gives you the right to tell me to leave?”
“Just die! Die, all of you!” Edie shouted in madness.
In Edie’s mind, the Stewart family’s refusal to give her shares, to give her 2 billion dollars, was nothing less than a sign of disrespect.
Last night, Edie’s brother had returned to the country, refusing to let her come home, implying that she could no longer expect any benefits from the Stewart family. She wasn’t worthy of their help anymore.
“Now, the Simpson family was distancing themselves from her.
“She had sacrificed so much for the Simpson family, yet all she got in return was nothing. “And it was all the Stewart family’s fault. If they had given her shares, if they had given her the 2 billion dollars, then the Simpson family wouldn’t look down on her, and they wouldn’t have refused to let her come home.
“After her rushed marriage to Henry, even he had the audacity to give her attitude.
“Edie felt like life had lost all meaning. She believed everything was unfair.
“My god, is she planning to burn down Odalys’ company?” someone in the crowd muttered.
“Does Odalys really have magic powers? If Edie burns down her company, who will trust her after that? If she can’t even protect her own turf, no one will believe in her.”
“My god, someone start a live stream. We need to let everyone see Odalys for who she really is.” “Yeah, start the stream. Let everyone see that Odalys has been lying to them all along.”
“A lot of people in the crowd began to doubt Odalys. Those who couldn’t get free Star readings from her were starting to feel jealous. Some onlookers had already called the police, while most were streaming the scene live.
“Odalys, Percival, and Evander stood side by side. The bodyguards wanted to step forward to restrain Edie, but Percival shook his head, signaling them to hold back.
“This was something the bodyguards could easily handle, but since Odalys had spoken, it meant she had a plan. Percival wasn’t going to question her judgment. He trusted every decision she made.
“Even if things did end up going south, Percival would find a way to protect her.
“Die! All of you, just die!” Edie screamed again.
“Edie was now completely consumed by the curse worm within her, her thoughts twisted and spiraling out of control. The curse worm was driving her to madness, and she couldn’t take it anymore. She just needed to unleash her fury.
“She didn’t care whether what she was doing was right or wrong. All she could think about was killing Odalys, killing everyone in the Stewart family.
“She wanted the Stewart family’s wealth, their status, everything they had.
“The gasoline splashed onto the ground, the pungent smell of it filling the air, and Edie was now ready to strike the match.
“Suddenly, with a loud roar, the sky grew dark, and lightning flashed across the sky, as if trying to tear the heavens apart.
“Odalys remained calm, standing there, watching as Edie frantically fumbled with the lighter and tossed it toward the spot where she had just splashed gasoline. Everyone held their breath in anticipation.
“With a bang, a burst of flames shot into the sky. “The fire seemed as though it might consume Magic Entertainment itself, and Edie stood there, laughing maniacally for a moment.
Thunder rumbled once more, and a bolt of lightning shot down, striking the very hand that had just ignited the flames.
“Edie felt her body seize with the impact of the lightning, and a faint smell of burnt flesh reached her nose. Wincing in pain, she looked down.
“Her wrist had been struck by the lightning, the skin torn open, flesh scorched.
“Meanwhile, the fire she had ignited was quickly extinguished by a sudden downpour. Then, a strong gust of wind blew in, sending Edie flying. “With a bang, Edie was hurled several feet away like a kite with its string cut.
She crashed heavily into a nearby vehicle, the very car she had just driven here.
“The car’s windows shattered upon impact, and shards of glass pierced her body. The unmistakable smell of burning flesh filled the air. The crowd was horrified.
“Her hand, the one she lit the fire with, was struck by lightning. My god. Is her hand… gone?” “The rain put out the fire… Looks like Magic Entertainment is protected by God. This is truly unbelievable.”
“And that gust of wind only threw this crazy woman out of the way, while we’re perfectly fine. Magic Entertainment really is something.”
“No wonder Odalys was so confident earlier.
Turns out she’s a woman protected by God.”
The crowd was left speechless by the turn of events.
“The live stream, which had just been opened, instantly flooded with millions of viewers, and the numbers continued to climb.
“Everyone was eager to see what would happen next, but none of them could have expected something so shocking.
“Things had unfolded so quickly that by the time they realized what was going on, it was already
over.
“Many people began speculating whether Odalys would emerge crying from the building. Instead, she stood there, her hands clasped behind her back, motionless as the situation resolved itself. “In an instant, all the people who had been mocking Odalys for the fire aimed at Magic Entertainment fell silent.
“I’ve always thought she was incredible. She’s probably someone sent by God to watch over us. We should be more respectful of her from now on.”
“I heard Magic Entertainment accepts prayers. I’ m going with my mom to pray there tomorrow.”
“Did you hear? There was an explosion at Crownridge School today. Apparently, a girl who received a talisman from Odalys survived the blast.”
“Odalys’ name was once again trending on social media.
“Her Twitter account gained another 20 million followers. Everyone wanted to be closer to Odalys, believing that simply being near her would keep them safe.
“Many people immediately headed to Magic Entertainment with their families, eager to pray for their safety.
“Who called the police?” At that moment, the police arrived.
“After hearing the details of what had happened, the officers approached. Edie had been knocked unconscious and was lying on the ground, blood seeping from her arm.
“The police had no choice but to call for an ambulance. The doctors who arrived examined her wrist and said, “Her hand is probably broken, and the flesh is severely burned.”
“The crowd held its breath, not daring to speak.
“The people who had been mocking Odalys earlier now fell to their knees, offering apologies.
Chapter 377
Odalys paid no attention to the people around her. To her, whether they believed her or not didn’t matter. Their opinions held no weight in her life.
Whether they liked her, envied her, or tried to mock her wouldn’t influence any of the decisions she made.
“I’m stepping out for a moment,” Odalys said softly.
“She walked out, dressed in simple black casual clothes, looking low-key, yet her presence still couldn’t be hidden. As she left, no one dared to follow her.
“Famous actors often get harassed when they go out, but Odalys was different.
“She seemed to possess a certain kind of charm that made everyone, whether strangers or fans, hesitant to approach her. Even when someone wanted to speak with her, they would think twice. “Edie’s appearance here must have been orchestrated by someone,” Evander murmured, his gaze lingering on Odalys as she walked away. “Percival said, “She and Henry went to city hall this morning and got married. Then she demanded 20% of the Stewart Group’s shares and wanted me to give her 2 billion dollars, but I turned her down.
“She must have taken that rejection personally.
Now that Uncle’s back, she’s probably trying to get back into the Simpson family, but they might not accept her. Without money, she has no status with them. Her hatred for the Stewart family has only grown.”
“Percival hadn’t investigated, but it seemed like he knew these people too well.
“For money, they’d throw anything away, even their dignity. And those without money meant nothing to them. That was the reality.
“She married Henry with the idea of mutual benefit. Edie didn’t expect that the Simpson family would disown her, and the Bennett family won’t take her in either. She can’t go back to either side,” Evander continued.
“Edie had destroyed her own good life.
“Odalys said Edie’s emotions have been affected by a curse worm, leading to her mental breakdown. This has caused her behavior to become more erratic, and she’ll continue to get more violent until she dies,” Percival added. “Evander moved his lips but said nothing. “After all, Edie was his son’s wife. If she hadn’t gone too far, trying to take his and Percival’s lives, he might have said something to defend her.
“But her actions had long exceeded the limits of what Evander could tolerate.
“A woman who had gone mad and wanted to kill her own flesh and blood-there was no compassion left for her.
“Let her deal with it on her own. The Stewart family owes her nothing,” Evander sighed.
Percival remained silent.
“Edie was taken away by an ambulance, followed by the police. The crowd gathered to pray. Evander personally attended to them, while only Percival walked away.
“He didn’t follow her, instead standing at a distance, watching her figure as she left.
Odalys walked out, veering to one side. She coldly eyed the nearby vehicles, then reached out to open a car door.
“Ah!” Sophia was leaning against the car door, looking out.
“Sophia wanted to see Magic Entertainment burn, to watch Odalys flee in shame, to see all her hard work go to waste. But unexpectedly, a storm came out of nowhere, with thunder and rain crashing down.
“Before Sophia could fully understand what was happening, the car door swung open.
She didn’t have time to react. The door opened, and she was forcefully thrown from the car.
“Ah!” Sophia screamed in pain.
Her shoulder hit the ground, and it felt like her bones had shattered. Sophia gritted her teeth, her head lifting as she met Odalys’ clear eyes, the coldness in her gaze sharply piercing through.
“Odalys? How… how are you here?” Sophia gasped, terrified. ‘Odalys should have been burned to death by now’
“Given Edie’s bold and reckless behavior, there was no way she would have let Odalys walk away unscathed.
“Sophia had deliberately come today to watch Odalys suffer.
“So? You’re happy I wasn’t burned alive by Edie?” Odalys said coldly.
“She stepped forward and placed her foot firmly on Sophia’s hand.
“Ah, it hurts! You’re stepping on my hand! Let go! Take your foot off!” Sophia cried out in pain, struggling to break free.
“Sophia pushed against Odalys’ leg, but strangely, when her hand touched Odalys, it felt like it was burning. Her skin instantly started to scorch.
“She quickly withdrew her hand in fear, seeing blisters forming on her palm from the burn.
“She winced in pain and looked at Odalys, her eyes filled with fear.
“You look fine. You’ve slept with Windsor again?
No wonder he divorced you and Hannah. You’re truly the Bennett family’s lucky charm,” Odalys said coldly.
“From Sophia’s appearance, Odalys could tell that she had slept with Windsor again.
“Earlier that morning, Odalys had noticed Windsor looking haggard and unlucky, and she immediately put two and two together.
“What surprised Odalys was that Sophia seemed prettier after sleeping with Windsor than she had before.
“It seemed that Windsor’s energy had been drained by Sophia. No wonder Windsor had aged so much in just one night. All credit went to Sophia. Sophia frantically tried to cover up. She couldn’t understand how Odalys knew all this. “What are you talking about?
Windsor is my adoptive father. He loves me. Why do you have to misunderstand our relationship?
“You’re just jealous that the Bennett family members are kind to me, trying to ruin my reputation,” she said.
Sophia didn’t know why Odalys had known. That was Sophia’s secret, and one no one knew.
“Did you install surveillance at home? Did you put cameras in my room? Odalys, you bitch, why are you so disgusting?” Sophia yelled, enraged.
“If Sophia’s secret got out, her reputation would be destroyed.
“Earlier, when Windsor and Hannah went out to get a divorce, Caspian wanted nothing more than to kill Sophia.
“In the past, Sophia had been spoiled by the Bennett family members, but now their looks toward her were different, filled with contempt and mockery.
“Who’s more disgusting than you?” Odalys retorted.
“Sophia, unable to respond to the insult, felt helpless.
“Odalys pressed harder, and Sophia could almost feel her hand bones shattering. As Sophia could no longer bear it, Odalys lifted her foot.
“I’ll kill you!” Sophia screamed as she scrambled to her feet.
“She rushed forward, but a figure suddenly moved, standing in front of Odalys.
“You…” Sophia grunted in pain as her wrist was grabbed.
When she saw who it was, her eyes went wide in disbelief. “You… are you my fan? Why are you grabbing me?”
“Quick, beat her! Odalys is a bitch. She’s trying to hurt me. Kill her right now!” Sophia had
completely lost her sanity.
“Her wrist was gripped tightly, and she felt pain coursing through her.
“Fan? I’m disgusted by myself for ever liking you… How could I have liked someone like you? Now all you do is spout ‘bitch’? Just like Odalys said, who’s more shameless than you?
“You slept with your adoptive father, causing your adoptive parents to divorce. You were also flirting with Atlas. I thought you were friends, wasn’t he your brother? Sophia, you make me sick.” Blossom said.
“Sophia, you make me sick,” Blossom said.
“Although Blossom was only 16, growing up in a wealthy family had made her more mature than most kids her age.
Chapter 378
The last time Blossom had an incident, Blossom woke up filled with dread. Although she was awake, the things she had done seemed like a dream, constantly replaying in her mind.
“If it weren’t for Odalys saving her, Blossom didn’t dare think about what could have happened to her.
“Sophia was stunned. “You… you’re my loyal fan, right? You were at my wrap party last time, so how come you’re fine?”
Sophia had never taken these fans seriously.
“She believed her charm was so great that everyone would like her. But now, Blossom, her supposed loyal fan, was slandering her, and Sophia could tell things were about to take a turn for the worse.
“Lately, the Bennett family’s issues had been too much for Sophia to focus on her fans. She always thought they would keep supporting her, but now her own loyal fan was glaring at her with anger.
“Sophia felt embarrassed and angrily pulled her hand away.
“Yeah, it’s because I went to the wrap party that I almost had my dad give all the family endorsements and other resources to you. I went home and got sick after that. Shouldn’t you explain?” Blossom said coldly.
“Blossom’s young face was filled with fury and confusion, her gaze sharp enough to kill Sophia on the spot.
“Sophia was shaken by her look. She never imagined that her fan would hate her like this.
She couldn’t accept it. ‘Why do the people who love me always end up hating me?
“The members of the Bennett family are like that, and now my fan is too. What did Odalys do to make people who like me eventually leave me?’ “Isn’t that how it should be? Since you like me, you should beg me to help your family with endorsements. Call your dad right now. If he agrees, I’ll immediately do the endorsement, and the fee will be 6 million dollars, just for you,” Sophia whispered.
“Sophia tried to steady her emotions, putting on a pitiful act.
“Unfortunately, this tactic had already lost its effect on Blossom, who no longer cared.
“Blossom slapped her across the face. Despite her youth, Blossom was full of fiery passion.
“At one point, Blossom had adored Sophia so much that she would have offered everything she had. But later, when Blossom realized she had been used and almost lost her life, everything changed.
“The more she thought about it, the angrier Blossom became. She shoved Sophia away.
“What are you doing? How dare you hit me? Do you believe I’ll have you kicked out of the fan club? You’ll never attend my wrap party again.” Sophia threatened.
Sophia couldn’t believe what was happening. Her most loyal fan dared to strike her.
“Humph, you nearly cost me my life, and now you still dare to threaten me?” Blossom charged at her.
“In the distance, two figures rushed toward them. “Harvey who was gentle and elegant, along with his wife, ran forward. This once tender family was now pouring all their anger onto Sophia.
“Ah, you dare hit me? Help! I’m going to sue you. I’ll call the police. Odalys, save me.” Sophia was terrified.
“She tried to flee, but Celeste grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back. Harvey ripped off his tie and used it to bind Sophia’s wrists.
“Mmm, you dare hit me? Do you know who I am? I’m Sophia, the daughter of the Bennett family. Does the Tillery family want to ruin their reputation in Crownridge?” Sophia said.
The more Sophia yelled, the angrier the Tillery family became.
“As they punched and kicked her, Sophia finally felt fear. She glanced at Odalys, only to find her holding a stone.
“What… what are you going to do?” Sophia asked, confused.
“Odalys swung the stone and smashed it into a nearby monitor. The camera immediately went down. Sophia’s pupils dilated as she stared at Odalys and then at the broken monitor.
“Odalys, I’m your sister, but you actually helped them destroy the surveillance. Are you crazy?” As soon as Sophia finished speaking, Celeste slapped her across the face.
“The force of Celeste’s slap left Sophia’s face swollen, and blood began to drip from the corner of her mouth. Blossom kicked her in the chest, watching as Sophia collapsed to the ground.
The family stood there, watching Sophia barely cling to life, and the anger they had been holding in finally spilled out.
“They exhaled in relief. Blossom seemed to regain her energy.
They knew that if Blossom didn’t release the anger she had been bottling up, she would eventually become depressed.
“They had just received a message from Odalys and rushed over in a car to ensure Blossom could let it all out. Seeing Blossom strike someone, they realized for the first time that she was stronger than they had thought.
“The Tillery family was strict in their upbringing, and Blossom had always been well-mannered and never resorted to violence. Today was the first time she had ever done so.
“Ms. Stone, thank you for sending us the message. After Blossom released her anger, I truly feel like she’s back to normal,” Celeste said as she walked over, holding her daughter’s hand. “Blossom stood there, gazing at Odalys with admiration in her eyes.
She quickly stepped forward and threw herself into Odalys’ arms, hugging her tightly. “Odalys, thank you for saving
me.”
“How do you feel now? Has the anger been released?” Odalys didn’t reject the hug, but instead, with a smile, asked.
“Blossom’s face, flushed with excitement, nodded vigorously.
“Yes, it’s been released,” Blossom said as she raised her fist in the air.
“Odalys exchanged a glance with Harvey. He removed the tie that had been binding Sophia’s wrists, and once she was free, Sophia struggled to get up.
“Murder! Someone help! The Tillerys are trying to kill me!” Sophia shouted as she ran outside.
The Tillery family didn’t chase after her, and not far away, some people heard her and rushed over.
“Seeing Sophia standing there, disheveled, her face swollen and blood still seeping from her mouth, someone immediately stepped forward to speak up for her, asking, “Who hit you?”
“They did! The president of Tillery Group and his daughter came and hit me. Odalys sent them to deal with me. She’s a liar, and she would kill without blinking!” Sophia exaggerated wildly.
“Sophia wanted to pin a crime on Odalys. She hoped to smear her reputation so badly that Odalys would never recover. But as soon as she finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent. “Are you crazy? Odalys tried to kill you? What are you, for her to lift a finger against you?”
“Do you even know who Odalys is? Last time I went to her company for treatment, I felt so much better the next morning. How could she possibly kill anyone?”
“You look familiar. Aren’t you that Sophia who likes to cheat?”
“Someone stared at her, scrutinizing her closely.
“Sophia was stunned, quickly covering her face, but everyone instantly spat on the ground, yelling at her, “Shameless bitch! I saw the livestream last time.”
“Me too. You and some guy were having sex in a barrel, and we all saw it.”
“How can you be so shameless? If Mr. Tillery really wanted to kill you, wouldn’t he do it somewhere more private? Do you really think you’re someone important?”
Chapter 379
“I heard you’ve been flirting with the Bennett family brothers for a while. Have you two ever slept together?”
The public liked gossip.
“The moment they saw Sophia, their minds went straight to the scandalous moments from the variety show. She had once been held by Rafael, sitting on his lap as he touched her.
“What are you talking about? They are my brothers. How could I ever do something like that? The last time, I was set up by Odalys. If you don’t believe me, check the surveillance footage.” Sophia quickly retorted.
“The surveillance footage was just smashed by Odalys, but the footage before that should still be intact. You just need to pull it up, and you’ll see what really happened,” Sophia continued. She had no intention of taking the blame for this. “It was clear that Odalys had caused trouble today. She had shown up first to provoke Sophia and then called in the Tillery family for backup, just to beat Sophia up.
“Why won’t you believe me? Once you see the footage, you’ll know I’m innocent,” Sophia said, her eyes red from frustration.
“All she wanted now was to tarnish Odalys’ reputation.
“Want to see the footage? Alright, let’s all stream this live. Let’s see if she’s lying or not.” The crowd immediately agreed, their disbelief palpable.
“No one seemed to believe her, especially after this morning, when there had been an incident outside Odalys’ company, where someone tried to set her on fire. That person had been struck by lightning and blown away by strong winds.
Because of this, Odalys’ reputation had only gotten better.
Some people even believed in magic and claimed that anyone who dared to mess with Odalys would go to hell.
“They even started calling her the woman blessed by God, untouchable by anyone.
“A new wave of loyal fans started to pray for her. “If they hit you, just call the police. The police will come and pull up the footage, and then we’ll believe you,” someone shouted, urging her on. “Sophia only wanted to bring Odalys down, but hearing them suggest calling the police made her hesitate. Her reputation was already in tatters, and she couldn’t afford any more trouble. “She was feeling completely uncertain now. But the truth was clear. It was Odalys who had opened Sophia’s car door earlier, and then the Tillery family came and attacked her.
“The whole time, I had no chance to fight back. I am the victim here, Sophia thought to herself.
“Okay. I’ll call the police, but you guys keep an eye on them. Don’t let them leave,” Sophia quickly said.
“She picked up the phone next to her and immediately dialed the police.
“Blossom stood nervously next to Odalys.” Odalys, what should we do? Maybe you should leave for now? This has nothing to do with you. We can’t drag you into this.”
“Blossom was the one who had hit Sophia. This wasn’t Odalys’ fault at all. But now, Sophia was trying to pull Odalys into it.
Blossom was furious. “She couldn’t believe how foolish she had been to ever support Sophia, spending so much money on her.
“Ms. Stone, you should leave. I’ll handle this,” Harvey said, pushing his gold-rimmed glasses up. His anger was barely contained in his eyes. “Sophia had nearly gotten his only daughter killed, and Harvey had been harboring resentment for a long time. If not for the law, he would have already sent Sophia away permanently.
“Yeah, Ms. Stone, you should leave. If anything happens, the Tillery family will take responsibility. This really has nothing to do with you,” Celeste also said urgently.
“They didn’t care about public opinion, but they couldn’t let Odalys be involved in this.
“I’m the one who asked you to come. I wanted Blossom to vent her frustration. How could this not be my business?” Odalys said firmly.
“The Tillery family members were clearly worried when they saw Odalys wasn’t leaving.
“Don’t worry. She won’t be able to make any waves.” Odalys’ lips curled into a cold smile.
“She looked at Sophia as if she were just a clown performing on stage.
“The crooked bastard, just like her luck, is as thick and dark as the bottom of a pot, Odalys thought to herself.
“But…” Celeste didn’t even know what else to say to persuade Odalys to go.
“In their eyes, Odalys was the savior of the Tillery family. They couldn’t let her be wronged in the slightest. They had indeed just physically intervened.
“Confident, Odalys spoke up. “Don’t worry. I won’t let myself get caught in a difficult position. Sophia has been trying to harm me for a long time. Even if I leave now, she’ll find a way to destroy me next time.
“She’s called the police now. Once they get here, the truth will come out.”
“Blossom’s eyes reddened as she listened. She bit her lip, her youthful face showing determination.
“Smile. Cheer up. Good luck will come your way,” Odalys gently coaxed.
“Blossom pouted and whispered, “But, Odalys, my mom told me you’re only four years older than me. I’m already 16, not a little kid anymore.” “Odalys looked at her with a bit of envy. A child raised with wealth is pure and kind-hearted.
“Alright, Blossom, you’re an adult now,” Odalys said, soothing her.
“Harvey and Celeste watched Odalys comforting their daughter, feeling a mix of emotions.
“Odalys was their benefactor, yet she showed no arrogance. However, they found themselves feeling helpless.
“As they spoke, Sophia was feeling quite pleased with herself, thinking that they were flustered and trying to come up with a strategy.
“Are you all panicking now? If you apologize and kneel to me before the police arrive, maybe I’ll forgive you,” Sophia said proudly.
As she spoke, she accidentally tugged at the wound on the corner of her mouth, and she winced in pain.
“Before long, the police arrived quickly, scanning the surroundings before asking, “Who called the police? What happened here? Why was there a fight?”
“Sophia answered confidently, “I called the police, Officer. They teamed up to attack me, saying they would get revenge and ruin my reputation. There’s surveillance footage, but Odalys smashed the cameras earlier.
“She deliberately destroyed the footage, but before she did that, they were hitting me. The footage should show them attacking me. You need to pull up the footage before it was destroyed. It will show everything.”
“The police looked up and saw that the cameras were indeed broken.
“They immediately stopped making eye contact and turned to Odalys, their expressions turning serious.
“Is it true that you broke the surveillance footage?” the officer asked politely.
“When they arrived, they had recognized Odalys. Even if they weren’t fans, they knew her influence. Odalys was like a goddess at the police station. Even people like them had heard of her legendary status.
“Officer, that’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t break the cameras. How could I possibly destroy someone else’s surveillance? Please, give me justice,” Odalys immediately waved her hands in denial.
“The Tillery family members were stunned. They had clearly seen Odalys destroy the cameras, but she was denying it.
“They fell silent, afraid of saying the wrong thing. “How dare you lie? You were the one who picked up a rock and smashed the cameras earlier!” Sophia yelled angrily.
“Odalys waved her hand dismissively, giving Sophia a somewhat pitying look.
Chapter 380
“Odalys stepped forward and stood in front of Sophia, letting out a sigh before speaking,” Sophia, I know your reputation has been ruined recently, and you’re feeling upset about it.
“But you can’t accuse me of things I didn’t do. Why would I break someone else’s security camera?”
“I’m a good person. I don’t do bad things, so why won’t you let this go? You trapped me before, and now, in front of so many people, are you trying to ruin me?” Odalys said quietly.
“The police officers remained silent after hearing her words.
Both women seemed to be in distress, but while Odalys was unharmed, Sophia was badly injured. Her face had a large scrape, and blood was still trickling down.
“It was clear that Sophia had been hurt badly, and her clothes were a mess, covered in dirt and with scratches all over her arms.
“You… You…” Sophia stomped her foot, almost on the verge of tears, and shouted, “Officer, everything I’m saying is true! She tried to hurt me! After hitting me, she sent messages for the Tillery family to come over and finish what she started! They even destroyed the security cameras! I’m not lying!”
“For the first time, Sophia was so furious with Odalys that she almost felt like she might pass out.
“Alright, let’s call out the owner of this place,” the officer said with resignation, going along with Sophia’s request.
“After all, without evidence, the police were in no position to make a judgment.
“The owner, hearing the commotion outside, opened the door and stepped out. Upon hearing the conversation, he looked confused.
With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he lit it with a lighter and took a deep drag.
“What’s going on here?” he asked, his voice irritated, still in his flip-flops and beach shorts, running his hand through his messy hair.
The officer stepped forward, flashed his badge, and explained briefly, “Someone called the police and said this woman was assaulted right outside your door.
“The security cameras supposedly caught the whole thing. She also mentioned that Ms. Stone had broken your cameras. I just want to check the footage and see what happened.”
The man took another drag from his cigarette, squinting at Sophia.
“Fuck, are you stupid or something? You must be crazy,” the man snapped at Sophia.
The crowd around them immediately went silent. They hadn’t expected him to speak so harshly to Sophia.
Even Sophia was momentarily stunned. She pointed at herself, a bit confused, and asked, ” Are you talking to me?”
“Yeah, I’m talking to you. Damn it, I was trying to take a nap, and here you are making a ruckus outside. Did you know you woke me up?” he growled, clearly irritated.
“Also, my cameras have been broken for a long time. They weren’t destroyed by her,” he added, his voice filled with annoyance.
“He was so agitated from being woken up that, had the police not been there, he might have gone over and punched her.
It was so annoying.
“Why are you lying too?” Sophia demanded.” What’s your reason for supporting Odalys? I get it now. Her company is near here, so you’re backing her up, right? You’re afraid she’ll take revenge on you, aren’t you?”
“If you just tell the truth to the police, I can guarantee you’ll be safe,” Sophia insisted, nearly losing her composure.
“She couldn’t believe this man was so cowardly. All he had to do was speak the truth, and everyone would know what really happened, but instead, he was insulting her.
“You really are out of your mind,” the man muttered. “I think you need to see a shrink. Your face is all swollen, and you’re stomping around, whining, accusing people of things that aren’t true?”
“My cameras have been broken for ages, and it was my son who smashed them before,” the man yelled.
“Harvey fell silent, glancing over at Odalys. “Odalys stood there smiling, watching the drama unfold, giving no indication of being the one who was setting anyone up.
‘No wonder she was so confident earlier, even sending messages for me to bring Blossom over to take her frustration out on her. She must have known the cameras were already broken.
‘But what did she really break earlier? She definitely picked up a rock and threw it, He thought to himself.
“I need to explain,” Odalys interrupted. “I did pick up a rock and throw it. Earlier, there was a snake in the tree, a poisonous one. Its head was starting to come down, and I was worried it would fall and bite someone passing by.”
“I picked up a rock and killed the snake with it. If no one had dealt with it, I believe the snake would still be there,” Odalys said, pointing to a spot not far away.
The police, hearing her words, quickly turned around and walked toward the area. The crowd, naturally, followed suit.
They bypassed the vehicles and walked a few steps forward, only to find the snake hanging in the street.
“The snake had a sharp stone lodged in its body, and there were no signs of struggle, indicating it had been killed instantly.
“There really is a snake. There’s a stone stuck in it, so it must have been killed by the rock,” someone gasped. The police officers also moved forward to inspect it and confirmed that Odalys had been right.
“The snake was venomous, and it appeared to have fallen from the tree.
“The male homeowner looked at Odalys thoughtfully. He noticed her calm and collected demeanor, and when his gaze shifted to Sophia, he fell into a deep silence.
“The house diagonally across from mine belongs to my grandfather. There are cameras there too, and they should have footage of what happened here. How about I check the footage?” the man suggested.
“At that moment, Sophia panicked. If the snake was really killed by Odalys, then the broken camera might genuinely be broken at first, and everyone would start thinking she was lying.
“Sophia quickly turned her head to look at Odalys, meeting her challenging gaze. A sense of unease began to settle in her stomach. She felt like she had been tricked.
‘She did this on purpose. Odalys did this on purpose,’ Sophia thought to herself.
Sophia opened her mouth to protest but quickly realized she couldn’t back out now with so many people around. It had been her decision to call the police, and it was her request to check the footage. Regret was useless at this point.
“Yes, go ahead and check the footage to see who’s lying,” people around them shouted.
“By now, they were starting to believe that Odalys was innocent.
“Everyone knew Odalys had the ability to kill a snake.
After all, anyone who had seen her on the variety show knew she could kill a wild boar with her bare hands. Taking down a snake would be no challenge for her.
“Alright, I’ll check the footage,” the man said.
“He turned and went back into the house. He took down the ultra-thin TV from the living room, placed it on an empty shelf, and plugged it in.
Once the TV powered on, he immediately took out his phone and accessed the footage from his grandfather’s house.
“The video flickered a few times before showing the moment Odalys bent down to pick
something up. She looked up at the tree, and a snake was hanging down, its head swaying as it stuck out its tongue.
Odalys thoughtfully looked down, picked up a rock from the ground, and turned to throw it at the snake.
“The stone flew through the air and struck the snake perfectly, causing it to recoil before falling from the tree.
“The entire scene was displayed in high- definition on the TV screen.
“How is this possible? I clearly saw her smashing the camera!” Sophia’s face went pale instantly.
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