Chapter 401

”Yes, I understand.” Percival replied.

Seeing his good attitude and watching him pick up his phone to call Odalys, Evander nodded in satisfaction.

“Call her quickly and find her,” he said as he walked out.

Percival made the call, but found that he couldn’t get through.

“Can’t get through?” Orson realized it too.

Percival kept calling, but he was told that she was out of the service area.

“Did she notice something was wrong with you just now?” Orson asked nervously.

Percival thought of how she had looked at his face when she checked on him.

“I took the medicine you gave me. She only checked my heartbeat and didn’t ask anything else, so she shouldn’t have noticed anything unusual.” Percival shook his head quickly.

Besides, it was pitch black outside just now, so she might not have noticed anything wrong with him.

Orson rubbed his brow and said in a low voice,” Okay, you send someone to look for her. Maybe she went to find Freya. Girls like to get together.” “Okay,” Percival responded.

He hurriedly walked out, and Orson went downstairs and drove towards the hospital.

Late at night, at the hospital, the empty corridor was eerily quiet.

The dim lighting sent shivers down one’s spine, the dark corners seeming to exude an eerie aura. Sophia lay in the VIP ward, a mixture of frustration and unease washing over her.

“Is there a nurse? Get in here!” she roared in a low voice.

Due to her injuries, the police didn’t take her away and allowed her to stay in the hospital. However, none of the Bennet family came to see her.

Even Windsor, who had coveted her body, was nowhere to be found.

Sophia’s chest heaved with anger. Her social media accounts were flooded with insults, and the majority of her followers had unfollowed her. Some women from wealthy families who used to shower her with money now avoided her like the plague. She seemed to have lost everything overnight.

Now, she didn’t even have any friends left.

With a loud crash, she hurled the glass to the floor.

The frustration bottled up inside her refused to dissipate. She thought about how Odalys had set her up, getting the Tillery family to beat her up, and then used the internet to broadcast her humiliation to the world.

It made her already bad reputation even worse.

The sound of footsteps came from outside the corridor.

Sophia was startled. Her heart skipped a beat, and she looked up cautiously.

“Who is outside? Get out here! Don’t try to scare me with these tricks! I’m Sophia Bennett, the daughter of the Bennett family!” Sophia shouted in a low voice.

She got up and walked outside. When she opened the door, she found the hallway empty. However, the crisp sound of leather shoes stepping on the floor seemed to echo in her ears. Sophia panicked while swallowing hard.

She groaned in pain when her hair was suddenly grabbed from behind and pulled up sharply.

She felt like her scalp was being ripped apart, her face contorted from the pain.

“It hurts! Let me go!” Sophia cried out, as she was dragged back into the ward by her hair. The door slammed shut with a bang.

Sophia shrank back in fear. Meeting Finnian’s gloomy gaze, her soul almost left her body. She stared at him in disbelief.

“Finnian, what are you doing here?” Sophia’s heart raced.

Looking at Finnian, her fear intensified.

He had been abandoned by the Lark family. After being arrested before, the Lark family had used their connections to get him out.

Then, she lost contact with him.

She didn’t expect to find him there.

“You ruined me! If you hadn’t put the Love Spell on me, I wouldn’t be like this!” Finnian said, his voice filled with emotion.

He reached out, grabbed Sophia’s neck, and lifted her.

He pressed her against the wall. She struggled, but Finnian was too strong. She couldn’t break free.

Sophia hastily retorted, “Finnian, listen to me. It was all Odalys! She wanted to hurt us, to drive us apart. She’s the reason our relationship fell apart.

“Think about it. Odalys is doing great now, but we’re doomed.

“She was supposed to pave the way for us after she took my place, but she didn’t!”

“Finnian said with a cold laugh, “Really? Then why did you give me the Love Spell? Was my Love Spell different from others? You absorbed all my luck, didn’t you?

“Is that why I’m like this now? It’s all you! Why did you hurt me? Why did you suck away my luck? Why did you pull me down from my position as the son of the Lark family?” Finnian looked like he was going crazy.

He used to be a big star who had so many fans picking him up whenever he arrived at an airport.

However, now he was like a rat in the gutter, afraid of being found by the Lark family.

Even now, he still couldn’t move freely. He would die if he touched water.

He couldn’t help but imagine the scene of him dying with a bloated body that was filled with injuries. It kept replaying in his mind.

“No, it wasn’t me. It was Odalys. She gave me the Love Spell. She knows how to draw talismans. She drew it and gave it to me. She wanted to use me to harm you!” Sophia instinctively shifted the blame.

Seeing that Finnian was not in a good mental state, she panicked.

If she didn’t shift the blame, she was afraid that Finnian would kill her.

Finnian was triggered. “You still want to lie to me? Last time you went to find a magician, weren’t you trying to buy a Love Spell?

Wasn’t it you who burned the talisman on the variety show and made me drink it? If it weren’t for Odalys, I would have become a murderer.

“You ruined me!! Give me back my luck. Give it back to me.”

He stared at her neck as if making a big decision.

Finnian lowered his head and bit towards her delicate neck.

His teeth were sharp. After biting her neck, he twisted hard, breaking her delicate skin. Blood oozed out, and he sucked it directly.

“Let go of me, Finnian. Are you crazy? Let go of me.” Pain shot through Sophia’s neck.

She felt him sucking her blood, and images of zombies kept flashing through her mind.

Sophia’s scalp tingled. She struggled, but Finnian grabbed a glass, threw it on the ground, and it shattered.

He picked up a shard of glass and jabbed it into her arm.

Blood oozed out continuously. He pressed against her while constantly sucking her blood.

Finnian murmured in a low voice, “If you don’t give me back my luck, I will drain you of your blood. Do I have to drink all of your blood before I can recover?

“If it weren’t for you, Odalys wouldn’t have used that medicine on me.”

Chapter 402

By that point, Finnian deeply regretted his decision.

He really regretted cooperating with Sophia and even more so, drinking her water.

As a result, he was miserable.

Odalys had operated on his body, leaving him unable to touch water. He hadn’t showered in days, and his whole body reeked. He didn’t have a penny to his name, and he was like a homeless man.

He tried to return to the Lark family, but he couldn’t even get through the door.

Thinking of his former glory, the endless money, and the resources the Lark family had given him, he couldn’t accept that he had fallen to this point.

For this reason, he blamed Sophia for everything.

“It’s none of my business that you are so useless!” Sophia was furious.

The pain in her neck became more and more intense, and the blood from her arm continued to seep out. She moved her gaze toward the door of the ward, hoping that a nurse would pass by and save her.

However, she didn’t expect to see a familiar figure outside the door of the ward.

“Odalys?” Sophia’s pupils shrank.

She didn’t expect to see Odalys there in the middle of the night, and a sense of fear welled up in her heart again. She struggled to get up, but Finnian held her down.

Finnian said, “Are you still trying to escape? It’s useless for you to call Odalys now.”

He pressed the shard of glass in his hand hard into her arm again. Sophia winced in agony, her face contorting in pain. She felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body.

“Finnian, stop it!” Sophia bit her lip.

She let out a muffled groan and looked up again, only to find that Odalys’s figure had disappeared from the doorway.

Sophia struggled to sit up and saw the door to the ward being pushed open. A familiar figure appeared. She lunged toward him and said, “Dad, help me!”

Sophia’s eyes were red and swollen from crying. She rushed towards Windsor before throwing her arms around him.

She sought comfort in his arms but found him unusually distant. He didn’t embrace her as he usually did; he just stood there.
“Dad?” Sophia softly called out.

Looking up to meet Windsor’s cold eyes, she bit her lip and subconsciously took half a step back.

Windsor took out his handkerchief, wiped his fingertips, and strode towards her. Sophia sensed danger and stepped back quickly.

“Dad, why are you looking at me like that?” Sophia felt guilty and dared not look at Windsor directly.

When she looked at his aging face, she couldn’t help but think of his high-spirited appearance when he returned home. He was like a completely different person.

“You don’t dare to look at me now? Or are you afraid to look at my face?” Windsor said as he held a cigarette in his mouth.
Or are you afraid to look at my face?

He stood there, smoking heavily and looking at Sophia with a faint smile.

Back at the Bennett Villa today, he finally noticed the changes in his body. After making that phone call, he realized something was truly wrong.

He wondered if it was because he had broken his vow.

Since returning home, he hadn’t done anything except sleep with Sophia once when she offered herself to him.

That was why he had set his sights on Sophia. After having someone investigate, he discovered that the recent variety show was indeed very strange. It was after participating in that variety show that Finnian had fallen from grace.

After much deliberation, he decided to contact Finnian. The two went to the hospital in the middle of the night to test Sophia.

Sure enough, Sophia’s reaction explained everything.

Sophia said harshly, “Dad, what are you talking about? Did Finnian tell you something? He’s just jealous of me and doesn’t want to see me spoiled by you.

“He’s been kicked out of the Lark family. Dad, you have to get rid of him quickly, otherwise, the Lark family will hold a grudge against us. I’m afraid that the Bennett family will suffer too.” She tried to pull Windsor to her side.

Windsor smoked indifferently, looking at her with complicated eyes.

Windsor bit the tip of his tongue and asked, ” Really? Then tell me, why is it that after you and I slept together and I divorced for you, things turned out like this?

I heard that you have slept with a magician before. So, except for your first time, you’ve been playing with men all the time?”

Sophia’s face instantly turned pale. She didn’t expect Windsor to doubt her.

Her eyes were red. She bit her lip. With a pitiful look, she turned her head away, tears streaming down her cheeks.

She said, “If that’s what you think, there’s nothing I can do.

“You believe what others say, so why can’t you believe me?”

Sophia covered her arm, watching the blood ooze out.

She turned her head away sarcastically and then ran towards the window.

“Since you don’t believe me, then I’ll just die. If I die, I won’t be an eyesore to you.” As Sophia spoke, she pushed open the window and rushed out.

She wasn’t actually going to jump. She was just pretending.

Her hand clung desperately to the railing beside her while half her body leaning out.

Seeing this, Finnian strode over to her, shoving her hard and saying, “Then go ahead and die.” Sophia was terrified.

With a hard shove from him, her entire body flew outward. Her fingertips that were gripping the handrail were caught and pinched.

The instant her body flew out, a hand grabbed her foot and pulled her back hard. Her body hit the edge of the window, leaving several drag marks.

She was scared out of her wits.

When she fell to the floor, her limbs went weak, her body trembled uncontrollably, and her fingertips dug into her flesh.

Her eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Windsor Innocently. She crawled over to him and hugged his leg tightly.

She pleaded, “Daddy, please don’t leave me.

“I know I was wrong! If these men ever force me again, I’ll die in front of them to keep myself pure. Even if I die, I won’t ever give in to them again.”

Sophia was unable to hold back her sobs by that point.

Windsor stood there, looking at her, then at Finnian.

“Call the person who sold you the Love Spell.” Windsor held up the phone and tossed it in front of her.

Windsor held up the phone and tossed it in front of her.

Sophia froze, forgetting to even fake cry.

She stared blankly at Windsor, then at Finnian. Even a fool could see that they were there to bluff her.

She thought, ‘When did they join forces? I remember the two don’t even know each other.’

Sophia bit her lip tightly and said with some confusion, “What Love Spell, I don’t know what you are talking about.

Her words just fell when Windsor reached out and pinched her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

He bent down and looked at her; the indulgence in his eyes was gone. He said in a low voice,” Sophia, if you continue to pretend, I will be angry. Since you have a way to get Love Spell, then maybe we can use Love Spell to take back everything we have lost.

“Otherwise, wouldn’t my divorce be in vain?”

He blew smoke rings at Sophia’s face, and she coughed.

“I will try,” Sophia said as she quickly dialed a number. The call hung up after only a few rings, but she kept calling.

After three tries, she handed the phone back to Windsor.

Chapter 403

“Sophia’s voice was barely above a whisper.” After three tries, he didn’t answer. That means he’ll call me back soon, and when he does, he’ll give me the address for a face-to-face meeting.”

Windsor snatched the phone from her and turned to leave. Finnian followed closely behind, but not before casting a lingering glance at Sophia.

“Mr. Bennett, are you sure she’ll get us the Love Spell?” Finnian asked, his voice filled with doubt. Not a word escaped Windsor’s lips.

He only spoke after his cigarette burned down to the filter. “If Love Spell can steal your luck, then it seems my luck has been taken by it as well.”

“Sophia must know some method we don’t,” he continued, a cold glint in his eyes. “She used her body to take others’ luck. Well, let her use it to get ours back.”

“You’ve always had a grudge against the Lark family, haven’t you? If we get Love Spell, I’ll help you take back the Lark Group, and you’ll help me crush the Simpson family.”

The weight of those words settled heavily on Finnian.

The moment Windsor mentioned Love Spell, his mind reeled with the implications.

Ever since he’d been abroad, everything had seemed to go smoothly-too smoothly, he realized now. It was all part of a scheme.

Someone had tricked him into leaving Crownridge, allowing Henry to take control of the Bennett Group. By the time he returned three years later, the Bennett family had no place for him. He had been shoved out.

Today, out of nowhere, he had divorced Hannah, and now his son refused to be with him.

His luck seemed to have turned, and he was starting to see that he’d been played. He needed Finnian now, someone to take the fall if things went wrong.

“I’ll help you get back the Lark Group. If you force Odalys to give me the antidote, the Lark family will owe you a debt,” Finnian promised, his eyes gleaming with a mix of desperation and resolve.

It was his last chance.

But the Lark family had never given him a chance, and Odalys had cornered him, leaving him no way out.

“Alright, I’ll hold you to that,” Windsor said with a curt nod, then turned and walked back toward the hospital room.

The door shut behind him with a soft thud, but before it closed fully, Finnian heard a scream from inside. He looked back just in time to see Windsor throw Sophia onto the bed, the lights flickering out.

The muffled sounds of their movements filled the hallway-sounds that every adult would recognize.

“Really, starving for attention, huh?” Finnian muttered, a cruel smile curling on his lips. He hadn’t expected Windsor to be so desperate. He didn’t go in, but his eyelids twitched nervously. A sense of unease washed over him as if something was terribly wrong. Standing next to Windsor, he had the distinct feeling that he was on the verge of death.

A chill ran down his spine, and he spun around, only to find the hallway empty, not a soul in sight. “Must be overthinking it,” Finnian muttered to himself. “Why would Odalys be following me?” He chuckled dryly, reminding himself that to everyone else, he was as good as dead. No one would be watching him anymore.

The only danger was water-one wrong step, and that was it for him.

He leaned back against the wall, trying to ignore the restless sounds from the hospital room. But they gnawed at his nerves, sending waves of frustration through him.

Not far off, in the shadowed corner, Odalys stood, her tall figure watching Finnian coldly. Her eyes were sharp, Icy with contempt. She didn’t blink for what felt like ages before slowly turning her gaze elsewhere.
“Seems I was right. Sophia’s been hurt and sent to the hospital. Someone’s definitely meeting her.” “I didn’t expect Windsor, though…” Sienna spoke, her voice trailing off, her discomfort evident.

Ever since Dangelo was hospitalized, Sienna had been by his side. She knew every inch of the hospital.

Tonight, Odalys’ sudden appearance had caught her off guard.

And when she’d followed Odalys in, she hadn’t anticipated witnessing this scene. She couldn’t help but feel a bitter irony. She had never liked Hannah, believing her to be without boundaries, but now, she was witnessing Sophia-the girl she’d once raised-seducing Windsor.

“It’s normal,” Odalys said indifferently, her gaze piercing. “If Sophia wants to secure her place in the Bennett family, she has to take risks. She has to keep the Bennett men in her grasp. Windsor was once in charge of the Bennett Group, so it’s only natural she’d try to seduce him.”

Had Odalys not known all this in advance, she might have been shocked too. But after all, she understood Sophia well. The girl would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

“What did Windsor and Finnian mean by borrowing luck and Love Spell?” Sienna asked, clearly confused.

She wasn’t exactly young anymore, but she still had the air of a powerful woman, standing tall and poised before Odalys.

“Finnian almost killed us by cutting the rope. He was under the influence of Sophia’s Love Spell. “There are many types of Love Spells. One involves a physical relationship that binds the person’s luck to you, allowing you to absorb it.” Odalys explained coolly. “Another is mental control. It leaves the person dazed and under your command. That’s what Sophia did to Finnian.”

She paused for a moment, then continued.” There’s also luck-sharing, like what happened with Blossom. After eating something Sophia gave him, Blossom became completely enchanted, his soul was bound to hers, and she controlled him.”

“But the most dangerous one is the luck transfer. You can redirect your misfortune onto others, leaving yourself free from harm. That’s how it works-when your luck runs out, you can pass it on to someone else.”

Sienna listened, her face draining of color. The weight of Odalys’ words settled in her chest. “How do you avoid it?” Sienna swallowed, her throat dry.

If Sophia got angry and gave you a talisman, wouldn’t that mean ruin?

“Simple,” Odalys replied. “As long as you don’t agree to anything she asks, and don’t think about her, you won’t be affected. The love spell works because it’s tied to affection. If you like her, that’s when it works.”

“She looked at Sienna, as if to make a point. ” Finnian had feelings for her, Windsor wanted to possess her, and Blossom was her biggest fan- so they fell victim to it. As long as you repel her, the Love Spell won’t work on you.”

Sienna quickly nodded, eager to assert, “I hate Sophia. I absolutely hate her.”

Odalys gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Sienna, muttering to herself. Sienna suddenly seemed like an entirely different person.

“By the way,” Odalys said, her tone turning serious, “you came tonight because you knew they’d come looking for Sophia. Now that they’re here, what should we do? Destroy her Love Spell? Or follow her?” Sienna snapped back into focus, ready for the task at hand.

Odalys stood still, her gaze piercing through the hospital walls as she looked at Sophia’s room. “I need a catalyst,” she whispered.

Sienna immediately straightened, her excitement palpable.

After all, Odalys had saved both her and Dangelo’s lives. With their son and Odalys’ resources intertwined, the opportunity was clear-and it was one they couldn’t afford to miss.

Chapter 404

“What kind of ‘catalyst’ are you talking about? I’ve seen Stellan’s shows before. Some catalysts involve human blood-don’t tell me you need Sophia’s blood for this?” Sienna asked, her voice tinged with unease.

Her disdain for Sophia, once merely a slight distaste, now bloomed into something much darker.

The thought of using Sophia’s blood as a catalyst made her stomach churn. ‘How could anyone stomach it? If someone drank it, they’d surely become disoriented. It would feel… filthy!’ The hallway was unnervingly quiet, but Sienna could still faintly hear Sophia’s voice-a low, suggestive sound that left little to the imagination. It’s clear what’s going on in there. “Desire,” Odalys said, her tone flat, almost cryptic. Sienna blinked, completely thrown off by those two words. “Desire? How do you even… take someone’s desire?” Her mind raced, trying to understand.

Of course, Odalys never followed the conventional path. Ordinary catalysts? She could deal with those. But desire? How do you
capture something intangible, something you can’t see or touch?

Odalys gave her a calm, almost detached look.

Once Sophia’s desire reaches its peak, I’ll use it as a catalyst to find what I need.”

“My time is running out. Without the catalyst…” She trailed off, the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air.
Without that catalyst, Percival would die.

Tonight, after feeling Percival’s pulse and observing his condition, Odalys had realized just how dire things were. She had been suppressing the poison in his body for so long, but it was only temporary. The negative energy had been pushed back, but it was still there, lingering, waiting to explode.

“Wait a second,” Sienna said, her mind racing to keep up. “You’re telling me you need Sophia’s desire as some kind of… trigger for the cure?” “Exactly. If I can stoke her desire and push it to its limit, I’ll be able to use it to find the remedy I need.”

Sienna’s brow furrowed, her thoughts racing. How do you plan to do that? What do you need me to do?”

Odalys gave her a long, assessing look before whispering something into her ear.

Sienna froze, her hand involuntarily clenching into a fist. Her usual calm demeanor shattered as her face went pale, shock and disbelief flickering in her eyes.

“That’s… that’s your plan?” Sienna asked, her voice barely a whisper, as if she couldn’t quite believe what she had just heard.
“That’s it. It sounds simple, but executing it will be far from easy,” Odalys replied, her voice low but firm.

Sienna took a deep breath and then, surprisingly, gave Odalys an affirming nod. She raised her hand in a gesture of confidence. “I’ve been managing the Drake Group for years. This kind of business, I know inside and out.”

“I’ll take care of it. You can count on me,” she said, her voice full of resolve.

As soon as the topic turned to business, Sienna’s focus snapped into place.

She was a woman who thrived on negotiation and getting things done. Whatever the target, she knew how to make it happen.
“Thank you,” Odalys said with a rare, genuine smile.

The two women exchanged a knowing look, both understanding the weight of what was to come.

“I’m going to check on Dangelo’s condition,” Odalys said, straightening up. “I had planned to come during the day, but Percival’s condition worsened, so I came early. Since I’m already here, I might as well see how Dangelo is doing.”

“Thank you,” Sienna said with uncontained excitement.

She knew how skilled Odalys was in medicine. In fact, Orson had once told her that many of his methods came from Odalys, including the medicines he’d been using to treat Dangelo.

“Now that Odalys was here in person, it was like a miracle had arrived. How many people had been hoping for this? She didn’t want to miss the chance.

“It’s nothing,” Odalys replied, her voice calm. “It’s just a small favor.”

The two women turned and walked toward Dangelo’s room.

As they entered, they found Dangelo wide awake, his gaze fixed on the door. Since Sienna had left, sleep had eluded him. He was worried something might go wrong, afraid of the unexpected.

Seeing Odalys and Sienna enter, Dangelo’s eyes widened in surprise. Despite his illness, his mind was still sharp.

“Miss Stone?” Dangelo couldn’t believe his eyes. He immediately jumped out of bed and quickly approached them, his tone respectful. “Why are you here so late? Did something happen?”

“Or is it Stellan again?” he asked, a nervous edge to his voice.

He knew that Stellan had landed a new role in a series Odalys had recommended to him, and since today was the first day of filming, he feared the worst-had Stellan gotten into trouble? “No, Stellan is fine. The shoot went well,” Odalys reassured him. “I just came to the hospital to speak with Mrs. Drake about something and decided to check on your condition while I was here.”

Dangelo was guided back to his bed, where Odalys immediately began to take his pulse. The room fell into a deep, respectful silence as she worked, her hands steady and focused.

After several minutes, Odalys withdrew her hand and nodded. “Orson’s medicine is working. Your white blood cells are under control now.”

“That’s a good sign. The cells are no longer spreading, but you need to continue with the medication,” Odalys advised.

She reached into her canvas bag and pulled out several silver needles. Without a word, she inserted them into Dangelo’s temples and wrists. The needles stung as they pierced his skin, but Dangelo remained still, not daring to move.

“I’m using these needles to protect your heart meridian and control the spread of leukemia. Keep eating regularly, and when we reach the second stage of treatment, we’ll incorporate chemotherapy. If you don’t experience any bleeding, we’ll proceed with a more aggressive approach.”

As the needles entered his body, Dangelo’s complexion began to improve, a noticeable flush creeping into his pale face.

He felt the change immediately. His energy surged, and for the first time in a long while, he felt like he could face the day again.

“Thank you,” Dangelo said, his voice thick with emotion.

When he had first been diagnosed with leukemia, he had braced for the worst.

The survival rate was grim-only 5% of people survived. Even chemotherapy would only buy him a little more time, not a cure.
But now, after hearing Odalys’s words and feeling the positive effects of Orson’s medicine, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Odalys replied with a wry smile. “If I were truly a miracle worker, I wouldn’t be here asking you for help at midnight.”

Sienna laughed softly, her eyes damp with tears. She hadn’t expected to see this kind of improvement. Looking at Dangelo now, she could finally see a glimmer of hope.

‘Still, it’s not the same as with Percival, Odalys thought to herself. She remained outwardly calm, but inside, she felt the weight of uncertainty.

She had been hoping for a clear answer, but with Percival’s condition, it seemed far more complicated. She had a hunch about what was happening, though she didn’t voice it.

The situation with him was even more dire than she had feared-perhaps it wasn’t just one poison, but several, mixing and colliding inside him, controlled by dark forces.

Chapter 405

“You’re naturally kind-hearted, always striving for perfection, but life isn’t meant to be flawless. When the water’s too full, it overflows-I’m sure you understand that. In my opinion, you’ve done more than enough,” Sienna said.

Sienna couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. She looked at Odalys, barely twenty years old, taking everything onto her shoulders. It broke her heart.

Odalys was younger than Stellan, and yet, the burden she carried-no one her age should have to bear so much. It was hard enough for someone twice her age to handle such responsibility.

“Mr. Drake will get better. Don’t worry. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way,” Odalys said quickly, standing up.

She didn’t want to dwell on it further. Just now, a possibility had flashed through her mind-one so unsettling it began to creep into her thoughts. This bold hypothesis was terrifying.

“Alright, I’ll walk you out,” Sienna said, rising from her seat.

She followed Odalys down the hallway, watching the younger woman’s hurried pace.

“This girl has had it so hard. I don’t understand why the Bennett family is so determined to make her life miserable. If she were our daughter…” She trailed off, her voice filled with longing.

She had no right to decide what was best for Odalys, but if the young woman were her own child, Sienna thought that she could fight for Odalys like any mother would-even if it meant shedding blood.

“Since the Bennett family doesn’t want her, then we will,” Dangelo suddenly said, breaking the silence.

Sienna’s eyes widened, her heart leaping. She quickly turned to face him, her surprise evident. “Do you mean… adopt her as our goddaughter?” she asked, a gleam of hope in her eyes. “But I’ve heard the Tillery family is also trying to claim her as theirs. Can we compete with them?”

“Celeste and Harvey are far too invested in Odalys,” Dangelo said, his tone thoughtful. “No, I’ Il need to make some preparations.”
Sienna’s heart raced as if she were about to close a major business deal. This idea filled her with a surge of energy.

“We’ll wait for now. Let’s take care of her immediate problems first. Didn’t she ask us to keep an eye on Oliver? Let’s find someone to track him down.”

“The Bennett family has been a thorn in her side for too long,” Dangelo continued, his voice sharp.

“We’ll cut off their escape routes. Henry’s married to Edie, right? I suspect he’s looking to the Simpson family as his backup. We’ll cut them off, too.”

Sienna nodded, energized by his plan. “I’ll call the Tillery family and see where they stand. If they’re willing, we can team up to shut down the Simpson family’s options.”

“Dangelo’s mind was already working. As the head of the Drake family, he was used to handling such high-stakes maneuvers. He was the master of these kinds of strategic moves. “Okay, I’ll make the call right now,” Sienna said, already reaching for her phone, her fingers trembling with excitement.

Meanwhile, Odalys, unaware of the conversation that had just unfolded, made her way out of the hospital. The lights inside were dim, and the moon hung half-obscured by clouds. The atmosphere felt eerie, and she couldn’t shake the sensation that someone was watching her.

“Who’s there?” she said, turning quickly, her senses on alert.

She saw Percival standing under a streetlamp, his broad frame casting a shadow. He stood still, hands clasped behind his back, eyes locked on hers as he slowly approached.

“Percival? What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at home?” Odalys asked, bewildered.

She hadn’t expected to see him here. She’d left without drawing attention, so how could he have known?
Percival stopped in front of her, not saying a word. He reached out, taking her delicate hand in his, gripping it tightly, leaving no room for resistance.

“I’m here to take you home,” he said simply, his voice deep and unwavering.

His large hand enveloped hers, and for a moment, Odalys tried to pull away. But after a couple of futile attempts, she stopped struggling.

“How did you know I was out here?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

She cast a nervous glance behind him, half- expecting to see some sign of anger, but Percival didn’t look upset. Instead, he stepped forward, opening the car door and gently guiding her inside.

“No, I’ll get in myself,” she protested, startled by his sudden action.

But before she could fully protest, he had already settled her into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt with care. He leaned over, his eyes softening as they met hers, but his expression was intense.

“Some things aren’t for you to worry about,” he said after a long silence, his voice full of concern.

“You wake up every day, running around handling things, working yourself to the bone. You don’t give yourself any time to rest or recharge. You can’t keep going like this; your body will break down.

“Everything has its cause and effect, whether it’s me or anyone else. We all have our own fate. How long can you keep carrying the weight of everything? If you keep this up, can you really handle it?”

“What you need to do now is go home, take a shower, get a good night’s sleep, and clear your mind. Everything else can wait until tomorrow,” Percival continued, his voice gentle but firm. Odalys was taken aback by his words. She had never seen him like this-so concerned, so protective.

She didn’t even know how to react. No one had ever gotten angry because she was working too hard. The sudden shift in his demeanor made something inside her stir-though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it, she felt a warmth spreading through her chest.

“Actually,” she began, shifting in her seat to face him, “I’ve been thinking about Windsor’s return, and something seems off.”

She paused, locking eyes with him. “Three years ago, after he had that fling with Sophia, he left the country overnight. That was when Sophia’s popularity exploded. But this time, something’s different. I noticed he had this… protective aura around him when he came back. After he and Sophia got together again, that aura disappeared, and he broke his vow.”

She frowned, clearly disturbed. “I’ve told you before-once he breaks his vow, he’ll absorb Sophia’s bad luck. But while he’s definitely gotten unlucky, it doesn’t seem like Sophia’s luck has improved at all. Something’s wrong.”

Percival listened intently, his brow furrowing. He hadn’t expected this, but he knew better than to dismiss her instincts.
“Earlier, you said Windsor and Quinton were abroad for three years before returning to Crownridge together?” Odalys asked, changing the subject slightly.

Percival nodded, surprised by her suspicions.

He turned away, reaching for his phone, and after a moment, he handed it to her, his eyes dark with contemplation.

“Callum’s been keeping an eye on the Simpson family. My uncle hasn’t left the Simpson household since he came back, but today, when Edie set fire to your company, he suddenly made an appearance.”

Chapter 406

“He stepped in to find a chance to bail her out, exposing the Simpson family’s connections in the process, which allowed Lee to take advantage and eliminate their people.”

“Other than vouching for Edie, he didn’t make contact with anyone. He’s been holed up in the study, refusing to speak with anyone from the Simpson family.”

“My uncle, Quinton, is involved.” Percival’s voice was firm.

He knew Quinton too well. The man was always craving attention, flaunting his relationship with the Stewart family, hosting parties to network with important figures, trying to climb the social ladder. But now, he was acting low-key, keeping to himself, which only raised suspicions.

“When Windsor came back, he immediately slept with Sophia and then quickly divorced Hannah. But Quinton-he’s acting like a completely different person, staying locked away in his study. It doesn’t add up.”

“That’s what’s bothering me,” Percival continued. “It makes sense now. Windsor may have broken his vow, but the way things are developing seems different.”

“Could it be… that Windsor and Quinton spent three years together abroad, and during that time, they swapped places? They might have kept a little of their original selves intact, which could explain why Windsor came back and went straight for Sophia.”
“In other words, what if the Simpson family wanted to get rid of Windsor because of Sophia?”

“It’s just like when Sophia was little-after they tortured her, changing her face and sending her to the Bennett family to replace me as their daughter.”

“Sophia might be the key,” Odalys said, her voice trembling.

The more she thought about it, the more the pieces fit together. The theory was becoming disturbingly plausible.

“So the key point is Sophia?” Percival asked. “My sources found out that tonight, Windsor used his connections to meet Finnian at the hospital, and they both went in to see Sophia.”

“They even… had relations in the hospital room.” Percival added, his expression stiffening.

He gripped his phone tightly, his fingers momentarily tense.

After all, discussing something like this with a twenty-year-old woman made him uncomfortable. His face flushed slightly, and he turned his head away to hide it.

“Let’s assume Windsor was lured abroad by Quinton, and they stayed there for three years.

Windsor might have something they want.”

“Or maybe they need to get rid of Windsor,” Odalys suggested, her mind racing.

The more she analyzed it, the more she realized her suspicions had a foundation.
“I’ll keep my people on them,” Percival said.

He dialed Callum and told him to keep an eye on Windsor and Finnian. He wanted to know what the two would do after leaving the hospital.

Once the call was made, Percival set the phone aside, and the car fell into an uneasy silence. Odalys twiddled her fingers, lost in her thoughts. “I’ve got something on Finnian,” Odalys said suddenly. “Remember that surgery I did on him? If he touches water, his body will start rotting and eventually kill him. So, we’ll make sure he can’t leave the hospital. As soon as it starts to rain, he’ll have no choice but to stay inside.”

“Then Windsor will be left alone. We can see if he goes back to the Bennett Villa or heads somewhere else.”

Her excitement was palpable. She quickly pulled out a piece of paper, sprinkled it with magic dust, and began drawing. The lines of the talisman came to life in seconds.

She rolled down the window and muttered a few words under her breath. The talisman flew from her fingertips, and as it soared into the sky, the dark clouds above rumbled ominously.

At that moment, Windsor and Finnian came down from the hospital’s upper floor, standing in the lobby, about to head outside.
The rain came pouring down, like a curtain falling from the sky.

Finnian, who had been about to step outside, froze in fear. He recoiled, his eyes wide as he stared at the downpour.

He thought back to Odalys’s warning. A man like him, who cherished his life, wasn’t going to take any chances.

“You’re not going?” Windsor asked, raising an eyebrow.

Finnian’s eyes were red, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened. He watched the rain intensify, and then, with a quick step back, he retreated to a corner.

“I’ll stay here and keep an eye on Sophia,” Finnian quickly made up an excuse. “I don’t want her sneaking out or doing something that could harm us.”

Windsor nodded in agreement. “Fine. Stay with her, but make sure she doesn’t contact anyone else. As long as we control her, it’s good for us.” With that, Windsor opened the door, shielded himself with an umbrella, and strode out into the night, his figure quickly swallowed by the rain.

Finnian stood still, his eyes fixed on the direction Windsor had gone.

“What a monster,” Finnian muttered under his breath, his lip curling with disgust. “He can’t even leave his adopted daughter alone. You’re no better than me. If I wasn’t desperate, I’d never associate with a scum like you.”

He spat, his thoughts darkening. As he imagined returning to the Lark family and making Orson’s life a living hell, a sick thrill washed over him. Finnian shuddered, then turned and headed back upstairs. He was clearly going to check on Sophia.
Percival, who had been watching the scene unfold, let out a quiet sigh.

“It looks like he really is afraid of water,” Percival remarked, his tone thoughtful. “I never doubted you, Odalys, but seeing it with my own eyes is something else.”

“One life,” Odalys replied, unfazed. “He doesn’t want to risk it. Shall we follow Windsor and see where he’s going?”

She sat back in her seat, arms crossed, her expression calm. She’d seen far worse, especially from someone like Finnian, who had tried to use her for his own purposes.

Percival glanced at her, concern flickering in his eyes. “Are you tired?”
He hadn’t started the car yet. He was more worried about her health-she’d been running around all day, and he wasn’t sure how much more her body could take. Plus, the energy she’d expended drawing that talisman couldn’t have
been easy.

“I’m fine,” Odalys said. “Let’s follow him. I need to see if he’s headed back to the Bennett Villa or somewhere else. My instincts are telling me something’s off.”

The excitement in her voice was undeniable.

Percival didn’t argue. Whatever she needed, he would be there.

He started the car and drove off, following Windsor’s vehicle as it veered toward the Bennett Villa. Odalys watched the car in front of them, her brow furrowed in thought.

Could it be I was just overthinking things?’

Odalys thought.

Chapter 407

If Windsor were heading back to the Bennett Villa, that would mean Odalys’s suspicions were wrong.

But as she watched, he indeed took a detour, his car heading straight for the Bennett Villa.

Odalys’s fingers tightened into a fist, her gaze fixed on the sky above the Bennett Villa. The dark, oppressive energy hanging over the estate grew heavier with each passing moment, as midnight drew near.

“He’s out,” Percival’s voice broke through her focus.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Odalys followed his gaze. Windsor’s shadow slipped from the side door, dressed in a black coat, head down as if he were texting.

“What’s going on?” Percival asked, noticing her tense posture, her mind seemingly miles away. Odalys opened her palm, revealing a series of astrological signs written across her skin.

“Windsor’s astrological signs?” Percival glanced at the markings. He didn’t fully understand them, but still, he ventured a guess.

Odalys nodded, her fingers tracing the numbers slowly. After a long pause, she spoke, her voice heavy with realization.

“I just glanced at his astrological signs. Three years ago, Windsor had a life-and-death crisis. His marriage to Hannah was supposed to end back then, but they didn’t, and he went abroad, staying away for years. A life-and-death crisis is usually impossible to survive, yet Windsor came back alive. But that night, when he left after being with Sophia, it should have been the beginning of his end.”

“But he’s fine. And so is Sophia,” Odalys added, her voice trailing off with an unsettling sense of foreboding.

Percival fell silent, processing her words, the implications sinking in.

“Tell me Quinton’s astrological signs,” Odalys pressed.

Percival shook his head. “I don’t have them. I’ve had people watching the Simpson family for a while, trying to get any information on his signs. “But the Simpson family is incredibly secretive about them. They’ve never let anything slip. My grandfather told me that when Quinton was born, they chose the date based on astrology. They opted for a cesarean even though he was full term.

“No one knows the exact day he was born. Afterward, there wasn’t a single celebration, not even a coming-of-age party. Until Edie used my father, then married into the Stewart family, Quinton remained hidden.

“Once Edie settled in the Stewart family, Quinton took control of the Simpson family, and Edie used the Stewart family’s power to give the Simpson family a fresh start.”

His so-called uncle was shrouded in mystery. Over the years, Odalys had looked into him, but to no avail-he had vanished without a trace. This was deeply unsettling. After all, what ordinary person could be so elusive? And this was a wealthy family. In a high society family, the heir never showed his face, which didn’t sit right.

“A young heir from a powerful family choosing a good day for a caesarean birth is not that strange,” she began, her tone analytical. “But the real oddity lies in the fact that after his birth, and even up to Edie’s marriage, he was never seen.

“That’s very unusual. Under normal circumstances, they would have held a grand celebration for his full moon and tried to integrate him into the upper echelons of society by forming relationships with other high-profile families.

“But the Simpson family did nothing at all. Either something went wrong during the caesarean and left him with health problems, or the date they chose was intentional, aimed at making a statement against the Stewart family-or possibly even other noble families.”

Percival’s words painted a chilling picture of Quinton’s mysterious past, raising even more questions.

“He’s like a shadow-always pulling strings from the background,” Percival added, his voice quiet with suspicion. “It’s strange, the way he barely ever interacts with anyone, especially with me.” Odalys’s lips pressed into a thin line, her fingers trembling slightly as she continued thinking.

Odalys said, “Don’t you find it strange, the similarities between Quinton and Sophia? Sophia was subjected to horrendous treatment, her face mutilated and reconstructed before being sent to the Bennett family. Clearly, they made a deal.

“Perhaps it was to make the Bennett family believe she was their lucky charm. After her adoption, the Bennett family prospered, and Windsor and Hannah had to dote on her. So who’ s behind that, giving the Bennett family that nudge?”

“Could it have been the Simpson family pulling the strings? Could the Bennett family be just a stepping stone for Quinton?” Odalys lowered her voice, almost to a whisper.

Percival listened intently, clearly troubled by her theory. He, too, found himself thinking about the dark possibilities.

“Now, let’s circle back to the question we started with. Windsor’s life-and-death crisis… He wasn’t supposed to survive, but he came back. Could the Simpson family have interfered? Like you said, maybe they tampered with him somehow. After all, he and Quinton lived together for three years.” Percival’s voice dropped, as if the words themselves held a dangerous weight.

Odalys paused, her thoughts churning. She lifted her gaze just as Windsor took a few steps, then suddenly spun around, scanning the area as though he were being followed.

“He’s on alert,” Odalys noted, her voice sharp.” Let’s follow him, and when the moment’s right, we’ll get a sample of his hair.”
Percival nodded without hesitation. He watched Windsor climb into a car and drive off. Percival immediately started the engine and followed.

Odalys glanced back at the Bennett Villa.

The negative energy in the air was heavier than ever, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. It was like the estate itself was a magnet, drawing the life force from those who stayed there. She could feel the positive energy in the air thinning, slowly draining from the people inside and leaving them weaker with every passing moment.

She quickly pulled her gaze away, not a hint of sympathy in her heart for the Bennett family.

In her past life, each and every one of them had played a part in her death. So, if they suffered now, it was no more than they deserved.

In the Bennett villa, inside the bedroom, Atlas had just finished his shower. As he stepped out, a sudden chill swept over him. He shivered uncontrollably, his teeth chattering.

“What’s going on? Why is it so cold?” Atlas muttered to himself, quickly grabbing a jacket from the nearby chair.

With his coffee cup in hand, he made his way to the living room, where he found Hannah sitting alone. She was staring down at a calendar, deep in thought.

Atlas raised an eyebrow, puzzled. “Mom, what are you looking at a calendar from years ago for?” Hannah didn’t immediately respond. She was engrossed in the calendar, a pen in hand, tracing a specific date.

“Wait, isn’t this from years ago?” Atlas said, scratching his head. “Today… it’s the same date.” Hannah was startled by his sudden voice. The pen slipped from her fingers with a sharp clatter, falling to the floor. Her expression darkened, her eyes flashing with a cold anger as she glared at Atlas. The intensity of her gaze made him freeze in place, his heart skipping a beat.

“Mom, are you alright? Why do you look so… strange?” Atlas asked, his voice laced with unease.

There was something about the Bennett family now that felt off, something that left him deeply unsettled.

Chapter 408

Lately, the atmosphere within the Bennett family had become unnervingly eerie. Everyone seemed different-like they weren’t quite themselves. They all looked hollow, like ghosts walking through the halls. Atlas couldn’t shake the growing feeling that maybe it was time to leave, to get away from this place that had started to feel so… wrong.

“Do you know what happened ten years ago today?” Hannah suddenly spoke, her voice cold and distant. “The temperature dropped sharply, and it started snowing heavily. It was also on that very day that Odalys left the Bennett family and never came back.”

Atlas paused, the cup of coffee he’d been holding suddenly feeling heavy in his hand.

He remembered what Knox had said-that a heavy snowstorm had struck the town that day, and Odalys had been found in the snow, abandoned, and taken to the police station.

“Mom,” Atlas began hesitantly, “did you and Dad… purposely abandon Odalys? Was she discarded so you could adopt Sophia?” He asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He knew he shouldn’t be asking these questions, but his curiosity and the unsettling things he’d learned about Odalys’s past were making it hard to stay silent.

“He already suspected that Odalys had been deliberately abandoned-Knox’s words, and the way the police had tried to contact the family, only for them to refuse Odalys’s return, all pointed to something dark behind her departure. Atlas felt a pang in his chest as the thought lingered.

She was his sister after all, and now, if things had gone differently, perhaps he could have benefitted from her fame. But now, speaking about her-he could barely even mention her without facing backlash from the entire internet. It had cost him everything, even his job.

Hannah didn’t respond right away. Instead, she stared at the calendar, lost in her thoughts. Finally, she broke the silence again, her voice cold and bitter. “Do you think your father’s behavior has been strange since he came back to the country?”

Atlas immediately felt his guard go up. When it came to his parents’ relationship, he had to tread carefully. One wrong word, and the situation could escalate beyond his control. He quickly put his coffee down, adopting a serious tone.

“Mom, do you regret divorcing Dad? Maybe you should talk to him. Have you thought about remarrying him?” He glanced at her, his voice earnest. “I don’t want him to get too involved with Sophia. If she ends up marrying into the Bennett family, things are going to get… complicated.”

He didn’t hold back, letting his true feelings spill out. The very thought of Sophia marrying Windsor made him nauseous-he could hardly imagine her in that role, especially given her history with him.

Before he could continue, Hannah slammed the calendar down onto the coffee table, her eyes blazing with fury.

“Windsor has ruined me! He turned me into a laughingstock, and I won’t let him get away with it,” she hissed. “Sophia… that ungrateful little bitch. I raised her for over a decade, and now she thinks she can step on me to climb higher? She has another thing coming.”

Her chest heaved as she vented her anger, and Atlas winced, uncomfortable with the venom in her words. He had known for a while that his mother had a complicated relationship with Sophia, but this was something else entirely. The betrayal, the manipulation-it was clear that Sophia had used everything Hannah taught her against her.

“Mom,” Atlas asked cautiously, lowering his voice, “Dad said something about breaking his vows. What does that mean? Is there something going on between you two that you’re not telling us?”

Atlas wasn’t a superstitious person, but lately, he’d found himself searching for star readings online, trying to find answers, even though all the astrologers he found only gave him vague answers, making him more frustrated.

“Mom,” he repeated, “Is there something you Dad are hiding? The Bennett family is falling apart, and if you don’t start being honest with us, it might all come crashing down. Look at Henry and Edie-getting married in a flash. They’ve checked out. And now Dad’s with Sophia again… If you don’t tell us the truth, we might not survive whatever’s happening.”

Just then, Caspian entered from upstairs, his face grim, as if he had figured something out. “Help me upstairs; I need to rest,” Hannah muttered, closing her eyes.

But Atlas and Caspian didn’t move to help her. They just stood there, watching her with unreadable expressions. The silence in the room thickened, heavy with unspoken words.

After a long moment, Hannah opened her eyes, irritated to find that neither of her sons had come to her aid. She was about to speak when, suddenly, a thunderous crash echoed outside.

The sound of thunder rumbled violently, and a bolt of lightning struck the Bennett Villa.

Before they could process what had just happened, Caspian’s phone buzzed. He answered quickly, his voice trembling with disbelief.

“What? How is that possible?” His words rang out in the eerie quiet of the villa.

After hanging up, Caspian’s face turned ashen as he turned to look at Hannah, and then at Atlas.

“What’s going on?” Atlas demanded, his voice tight with concern.

Caspian stood motionless for a moment, the shock on his face evident. “I had people keeping an eye on Sophia,” he began, his voice hoarse. According to my sources, Finnian and Dad both went to the hospital tonight. They argued, and after that… Dad and Sophia went to bed together.”

Atlas’s stomach dropped as he processed the words. He couldn’t believe it. Sophia, injured and vulnerable, had somehow manipulated Windsor into sleeping with her. The thought of it made him sick to his core.

“Mom,” Atlas said, rushing to Hannah’s side as he saw her slumping to the ground, unconscious. He caught her just in time before she hit the floor.

But Caspian didn’t help. He merely turned, walking toward the door without a word.

“Caspian, where are you going?” Atlas called out frantically. “Mom’s fainted! You’re just going to leave her like that?”

Caspian didn’t even glance back. As he walked out, he threw a careless remark over his shoulder. “If she’s fainted, just take her back to her room. She’ll be fine.”

“Dammit, Caspian!” Atlas shouted, his temper flaring. He supported his mother with one arm while trying to stop Caspian, but it was no use. Caspian was already gone, heading for the door. As Caspian drove away, the oppressive energy that had been weighing down on the Bennett Villa seemed to lift, almost as if the dark forces surrounding it had dissipated the moment he left.

“What the hell is going on here?” Caspian muttered to himself, his heart pounding as he gripped the steering wheel tighter.

He glanced back at the fading lights of the Bennett Villa. A shiver ran down his spine.

‘Could the Bennett family truly be haunted? Has Sophia and Windsor made some kind of deal, or was this all connected to the mysterious ‘Love Spell’? Was that the key to everything that was happening? The sudden decline of the Bennett family… the strange, erratic behavior of his father and others… Could it all be tied to this spell?’ Caspian thought.

Caspian shuddered. The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. These magical things weren’t as easy to dismiss as nonsense. They could control people’s hearts, steal their luck, or even-he dreaded to think-cause death.

His thoughts spiraled as he fumbled for his phone. He quickly typed out a message to Odalys:

[Odalys, can you help me? Is this situation with the Bennett family connected to a ‘Love Spell’? What is it exactly? How did Sophia get her hands on it? And do you know how to cast it?]

Caspian sent the message and waited, but all he got was silence.

“How do I get in touch with her? Today, she gave Sophia a lesson, clearly doing it to avenge the Tillery family. Could she have a good relationship with the Tillery family?” Caspian murmured.

Chapter 409

“She once helped the Drake couple, right? That means she must have a solid relationship with the Drake family,” Caspian murmured to himself. “Why does Odalys have such good ties with all these rich families? If I were to visit on behalf of her brother, they probably wouldn’t refuse to help me get in touch with her, right?” Caspian whispered, unsure of himself as a strange longing took root inside him.

His heart raced.

He needed Odalys’s help, needed her to explain everything, to tell him what to do. If these issues weren’t resolved soon, he wasn’t sure if he’d survive-but the Bennett family would definitely fall apart.

“Please, help me get in touch with the Tillery family, or the Drake family,” Caspian quickly dialed a number. “Tell them it’s Caspian; I need to talk to them urgently.”

As he finished speaking, a flash of light illuminated the road ahead. Before he could react, there was a deafening bang as another vehicle collided with his car.

He froze. The impact threw him out of the car, and in mid-air, the vehicle was hurled about 1.5 feet before it crashed to the ground. The explosion that followed was deafening.

“Ugh…” Caspian groaned, his body hitting the ground hard.

He shook his head, trying to clear the dazed fog. Aside from a few scratches on his arm, he was miraculously unharmed.

He scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. The car was nothing more than a burning wreek, but when his eyes caught something on the ground beside him, his breath hitched-a talisman, Its edges already burned away, turning to ash.

He recognized it. He’d seen Odalys use this very type of talisman on Freya during a variety show
once.

“Is it… Odalys?” he whispered, reaching out to touch the ashes. But just as his fingers brushed against the burned remains, a gust of wind blew the ash away, scattering it into the air.

As if in response, Caspian felt something deep within him stir. He looked up instinctively, his eyes narrowing.
A sleek Maybach sped past him, its windows rolled down, and through the glass, he saw Odalys’s sharp profile, her face lit by the streetlights.

“Odalys…” he gasped, his body moving on reflex, trying to run after her.

But just before he could, she turned, her gaze locking with his for a brief moment.

“Consider it repayment for the favor you did for me in a past life, when you covered my body,” she said coldly, her voice carrying clearly despite its low volume.

Caspian froze, his mind racing to comprehend her words. Did she just say… past life? Before he could process it, the car sped off, disappearing into the night.

“Oh my god… that was terrifying,” someone nearby muttered, shaking their head. “The car owner must’ve been lucky-if they hadn’t been thrown out, they’d have been blown to pieces in that explosion.”

Caspian’s body stiffened. He had been wearing his seatbelt.

Normally, he never would have been ejected from the car in such a crash. But in that moment, he felt the seatbelt snap, as though an invisible hand had yanked him out of the vehicle, saving his life.

If he hadn’t been thrown out, he would have been shredded in the explosion.

“Odalys, you saved me. You must care about me, right? You wouldn’t want to see the Bennett family fall apart, would you?” he muttered to himself, almost feverishly. “You’ll help us with the Love Spell, won’t you? You’ll help me fix this.”

Desperately, he fumbled for his phone, only to realize it had been destroyed in the blast.

Panic surged as he looked around, trying to spot any trace of the car she’d been in, but it had already vanished from sight.

Moments later, the police arrived, blocking his path as they began to take his statement. At the head of the group was Lee, who, upon seeing Caspian, seemed colder than usual.

“Mr. Bennett,” Lee said, his tone noticeably detached. “We need you to come with us to clarify what just happened.”

Caspian could sense the subtle change in Lee’s attitude, but he wasn’t going to give up that easily. He stepped forward, trying to sound friendly.

“Lee, I heard that Odalys helped you guys out with some cases before. I’ve heard she’s been involved in several investigations. You two must be familiar with each other, right? Could you use your phone to help me contact her? I really need to speak with her.”

Lee slammed his notebook shut with a sharp clap, his gaze turning icy as he looked directly at Caspian.

“Do you hear yourself?” Lee’s voice was low and stern. “Who I know is none of your concern. Are you implying that you have inside knowledge about our investigations? Do you think you know how we do our work?”

He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing with an edge of disbelief.

“And why would I help you get in touch with Odalys? You two don’t even share the same last name. Who knows what your relationship really is? And let me ask you, Caspian-did you get into that crash on purpose to draw attention? Or was it some other reason? You’d better explain yourself.”

His tone was polite, but his words were a clear rebuke. The other officers, who had been watching the exchange, exchanged glances. They clearly felt some sympathy for Caspian, but Lee’s authority left them silent.

Caspian stood frozen, dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected Lee to be so stubborn.

Just then, Henry appeared, rushing toward him with a look of frustration. Seeing Caspian’s disheveled state, he grabbed him by the arm, clearly irritated.

“What the hell is going on here?” Henry barked. “I told you to lay low, didn’t I? Why are you out here making trouble again? The Bennett Group can’t afford any more negative press right now!”

Caspian’s gaze darkened as he met Henry’s eyes. But instead of responding, he glanced behind him, his eyes landing on Edie.
“Henry, did you get beaten up?” Caspian suddenly asked, his voice laced with surprise.

Henry’s face was bruised, with cuts at the corners of his mouth, and his sleeves were torn. It was obvious he’d been through some sort of struggle-likely a violent one.

Edie stood behind him, her posture proud and aloof, and Henry seemed strangely subdued in her presence.

Caspian didn’t need to guess to know who had caused Henry’s injuries.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve,” Caspian sneered. ” You were trying to burn Odalys, weren’t you? But didn’t you get caught by the police? Looks like the Simpson family is pretty well-connected, getting you out so quickly.”

“People like you, who go around setting fires, trying to burn others… I wouldn’t be caught dead associating with someone like you. Don’t ever compare yourself to Odalys,” Caspian spat, his voice sharp with disdain.

Lee, still standing off to the side, cast a brief glance at Edie, his expression unreadable.

Chapter 410

The morning after Edie’s arrest, the Simpson family swung into action. They used their connections to get Edie released, but Caspian wasn’t about to let that slide. He followed the trail of connections right to the source, and immediately blew the whistle on everyone involved, severing the Simpson family’s influence piece by piece.

Now, Edie stood there, glaring at him with an icy look that made his skin crawl.

“Lee,” she began with a smirk, “I didn’t know you had it in you. I hear that everything happening with the Simpson family today… it’s all because of your little report to the authorities, right? Looks like, aside from solving cases, you’ve got some other tricks up your sleeve.”

She stepped closer to him, leaning in with a whisper. “I wonder, do your wife and daughter know how resourceful you really are?”
She paused for a moment before continuing, her voice dropping to a threatening murmur. “I heard that the last time your daughter was at school, there was a sudden explosion in her classroom. I wonder, with a father like you, will her luck run out one day? What if something happens to her? You’d better be ready to mourn, Lee. You wouldn’t want to regret it.”

The words hit their mark. Lee’s face paled instantly, his features tightening with a mix of anger and fear.

He thought back to that explosion-an investigation that had gone nowhere. The authorities had been stumped. But Lee knew, deep down, someone had orchestrated it as a warning-a warning directed squarely at him. “That’s none of your concern, Edie. As long as it has nothing to do with me, that’s all that matters,” he shot back, his voice cold.

Edie met his icy gaze, but her smile faltered, her expression hardening. With a quick snap of her head, she turned toward Henry and snapped,” Well? Are we leaving or just standing here waiting to die?”

“Let’s go,” Henry growled, clenching his fists in frustration.

The insult stung, especially in front of all these people, but Henry knew better than to push too hard. With the Simpson family’s strange methods, he couldn’t afford to make a move too soon. For now, he’d bide his time, hoping for an opening to strike back.

Caspian couldn’t help but chuckle at the scene. His lips twisted into a sarcastic grin.

Meanwhile, Lee reviewed the nearby surveillance footage, piecing together the events of the explosion. From the video, it looked like a pure accident. Caspian had been distracted, staring at his phone while driving.

He had crashed into a light pole, which fell and ignited a fire beneath his car, ultimately causing the explosion.

It was a chain of bad luck for Caspian, a perfect storm of misfortune. The footage didn’t lie. The cause of the crash was clear-Caspian had caused it all by not paying attention. The responsibility lay solely on his shoulders.

On the road, Percival drove, keeping a safe distance behind Windsor’s vehicle. He had seen everything-Caspian’s near-fatal accident and the series of events that followed. If not for Odalys’s talisman, Caspian would be a goner, or at the very least, badly injured or crippled. “Seems like Caspian’s lucky,” Percival remarked, gripping the steering wheel. “If not for Odalys, his life would’ve ended tonight.”

He glanced at Caspian’s car in the distance, remembering the crash.

Ordinarily, a driver would simply need to make a small adjustment to avoid disaster, but Caspian -he had seemed like he’d been paralyzed, as though something had paralyzed him at the wheel.

“After spending all that time at the Bennett Villa, dealing with Windsor and Sophia, it’s a miracle he survived,” Odalys remarked, her voice flat.

Saving him wasn’t out of pity or because I’m some saint. It was a debt to repay-a favor from a past life when he covered my body after I died.”

She paused for a moment, the weight of her words sinking in. “Now, it’s settled. We owe each other nothing.”

“Not to mention, Caspian had plans for me in his past life. He even tried to force a posthumous marriage with me.” Her lips curled into a bitter smile. “From now on, whatever happens to him is none of my business. I won’t interfere.”

Percival raised an eyebrow. “You think Windsor’s headed for the Simpson family? That seems like quite the twist.”

He kept his eyes trained on Windsor’s car, noting the detour. The Simpson family lived in the northern part of the city, a more remote area with little commercial activity. Windsor’s car had turned in that direction, clearly headed straight for them.

“Let’s hope I’m wrong,” Odalys muttered. “If not, we’re in deeper trouble than we thought.”

“Are you saying it’s a matter of life-and-death? That Windsor and Quinton might have swapped fates?” Percival asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

After all, both men had spent three years overseas, and their return had been… strangely

Windsor’s first stop had been to find Sophia, followed by an immediate, almost unnatural relationship, and then a swift divorce from Hannah.

“Possibly,” Odalys said quietly. “It could be a trade of destinies. Or it could be something else.”
Percival parked under a tree, using the shadows to conceal the car. He cut the engine, watching Windsor’s car settle about 160 feet away.

The stillness of the night hung heavy in the air, as Windsor remained inside his car, not making a move.

Odalys and Percival sat in silence, their eyes trained on the figure in Windsor’s vehicle. They watched as he lit a cigarette. One. Two. Three. Windsor’s movements were deliberate. He smoked the first, then the second, and then the third, each time staring intently at the burning tip.

“It’s not just smoking,” Odalys said coldly, her tone sharpening. “He’s performing a ritual- summoning spirits, not just smoking. Sometimes, when there are no candles, people use cigarettes to call souls.”

Her words sent a chill down Percival’s spine. He hadn’t encountered this before, but he knew of it. Master had once warned her that certain people used smoke in the dead of night to summon spirits.

She quickly checked the time on her phone: 1:30 AM.

“There’s something off about this,” she murmured, her fingers rubbing the phone screen as if she could feel the tension in the air. negative energy. Very heavy,” she said, her voice low, almost inaudible.

Percival could sense her anxiety. Reaching out, he took her hand, holding it firmly.

“We’ll wait,” he said softly, his voice reassuring. Odalys nodded, but the exhaustion hit her all of a sudden, overwhelming her.
She had been fine just moments ago, but now, as Windsor lit his third cigarette, a wave of sleepiness washed over her. Her eyelids felt heavy, her body dragging.

“This doesn’t feel right,” Odalys whispered, her voice tinged with unease.

Suddenly, she pinched herself hard, then bit her fingertip, drawing blood. She touched Percival’s forehead with the same bloodstained finger and then smeared it across her own brow. The cold, sharp sting of the ritual sent a shock through her, snapping her back to full awareness.

Just as she did, Windsor seemed to convulse as if the act of summoning had backfired. A violent cough escaped his throat, and with it, a stream of blood sprayed from his mouth.

His cigarette dropped, smoldering on the ground, burning a hole in his pants.

“Windsor?” he muttered, looking down at the mess. “What the hell just happened?”

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