Chapter 421
Hannah stood there, her face ashen with fury, watching as the two bodies on the floor pressed tighter together. She trembled in rage, pointing at them with a shaking hand. “Go, pull them apart, now!”
No matter how shameless she was, she couldn’t bear this scene any longer. She was humiliated beyond belief.
“Yes, ma’am,” Atlas said quickly, rushing forward.
He gripped Henry’s arm and yanked, trying to pull him away. But to his horror, his force seemed to drag Sophia along with Henry, as if they were stuck together.
Sophia screamed in pain, feeling as if her skin were being ripped apart. Henry let out a strained grunt.
“What the hell is going on?” Atlas asked, his confusion palpable.
At that moment, he realized something wasn’t right. No matter how hard he tried, it felt like Henry and Sophia were glued together. It was as if they were stuck with super glue.
“Are they stuck together?” Atlas gasped, his mind racing. “Henry, did you swap the lubricant for super glue?”
He couldn’t believe what he was saying-this kind of scandalous news wasn’t new to him.
There were cases where lovers, caught in the act by their spouses, intentionally used glue to trap themselves together, and it became a public embarrassment when they had to be rushed to the hospital.
And now, this bizarre situation was happening to Henry, someone Atlas had once looked up to. Staring at Henry, once the respected heir to the Bennett family, now reduced to this mess, Atlas felt an overwhelming desire to disappear.
Just as he spoke, everyone’s gaze shifted toward Edie.
“You really think she’s worthy of my attention? And your Bennett family? Do you really think I’d get involved in your mess?” Edie sneered, her tone dripping with disdain.
She had no respect for the Bennett family. To her, it was nothing more than a sinking ship.
The more she spoke, the more agitated Hannah became.
Biting down on her anger, she gritted her teeth and, despite the pain in her legs, stormed forward. Without warning, she slapped Edie across the face with a loud smack, sending shockwaves through the room.
Edie’s face stung as she stumbled back in disbelief, pressing her hand against her cheek. You dare hit me? Hannah, you actually dare hit me?”
Hannah glared at her, her eyes filled with cold fury. “What’s it to you? Just because you once had some connection to me, you think you can seduce my son?”
Her voice was venomous. “Now that you’re my daughter-in-law, I’ll hit you however I please. You really think you’re something special, trying to play games in front of me?”
The two women locked eyes, their animosity palpable.
“Fine. Very fine,” Edie hissed. “I hope you don’t regret this, Hannah.”
Her makeup, despite its thick layers, couldn’t hide the weariness in her eyes. The weight of the situation was beginning to sink in.
Hannah’s laugh was cold and mocking. “Regret? Do you think you can kill me? Try it. I dare you.”
Edie fell silent, her gaze hardening as she stared at Hannah.
“This is bad. I think the 502 glue mixed with some kind of acid-it’s eating away at Henry’s skin,” he said, his voice steady but filled with concern.
The argument between the two women halted instantly. All eyes turned toward Caspian in surprise.
“Acid?” Atlas blurted, finally snapping to attention. “You mean, Henry’s been set up?”
If this were just a matter of an affair, things wouldn’t have escalated so violently.
“Call a doctor, quick!” Caspian urged. “If they don’t get their bodies cleaned, they could die.”
His eyes glinted with something almost… pleased. Caspian had always been overshadowed by Henry, especially since Henry was the eldest son. Caspian had been nothing but a runner-up, even denied a chance to join the family business.
Now, if Henry were to fall, the Bennett family’s affairs would inevitably fall into his hands.
He was confident he could do better than Henry, who had already ruined his own name. If Henry was gone, Caspian could rise and seize everything.
“Doctor! Where is the doctor?” Atlas called out, panic rising in his voice.
By pure chance, he spotted a doctor passing by and grabbed him, dragging him into the room. Look at them!” he shouted, pointing at Henry and Sophia. “Their bodies are rotting away!” The doctor, adjusting his glasses, approached the couple with a serious expression. After a quick inspection, he shook his head grimly.
“They’re stuck together. They’ll need surgery to separate them,” the doctor said, his tone as grim as his expression. “If we wait too long, the parts where their bodies are fused together will become more and more bonded. The chemicals will continue to corrode their skin, causing widespread damage.”
“The doctor paused, looking at Henry and Sophia with concern. “We’re especially worried about the genital area. If it spreads there, they could lose everything.”
The implication was clear, and the doctor’s reprimanding tone only deepened the awkwardness in the room. Henry and Sophia could barely respond, too drained to argue. Sophia, pinned beneath him, couldn’t stop the images flashing through her mind. She was trapped in the bed with Henry, clothes in disarray. The memory of him appearing there, disoriented and vulnerable, had stirred something in her-a desire to take his heart’s blood.
Why had she felt this intense craving to do so? She had never used that method before, not in all her scheming. But today, the urge had become overwhelming.
“Henry… Why are you here?” she murmured, her teeth clenched. Her body ached, but her gaze was unwavering, filled with an unsettling resolve.
Henry was stunned by the question. He froze, realizing something was very wrong. He was about to respond when the doctor grabbed his arm.
“Quickly, lift him up! Move them now!” the doctor ordered.
Before Henry could say another word, he was lifted onto a stretcher by the nurses.
As they rushed him out, the stretcher collided with Edie, who was just entering the room. She winced, feeling a sharp pain, her sweat mingling with her makeup, smearing it as it dripped down her face. She reached up to wipe it away, only to discover her makeup had turned into a greasy mess.
“What the hell?” Edie muttered, staring at the foundation on her fingers in confusion.
Her cosmetics were the best money could buy, never prone to smudging. Yet, the moment she broke a sweat, her face was turning into an oily mess. She quickly pulled out a mirror, her heart sinking as she saw her reflection-her face was smeared, her eyeliner a disaster.
“What’s happening?” she whispered to herself, feeling a cold dread creeping up her spine.
Panicked, she quickly ran to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her. Turning on the tap, she rinsed her hands, but when she looked down, the water was no longer clear-it was bright red.
“What’s going on? What’s happening?” Edie muttered, her mind racing.
Her gaze shot up, locking onto the mirror. But what she saw made her blood run cold. There was no reflection. The mirror was completely blank, as though she wasn’t even there.
Frantically, she reached out to touch the glass, her breath catching in her throat. “Where’s my reflection? Why can’t I see myself?” she gasped.
Horrified, she rubbed her eyes, turned, and tried to escape through the door. But it wouldn’t budge.
Edie kicked at the door in desperation. When her foot lifted, it felt as though something invisible had gripped it, preventing her from pulling it back.
“Who’s playing tricks? Show yourself!” she screamed, grabbing her bag and hurling it forward, but there was nothing-just empty air.
Turning back, she caught a glimpse of something-two delicate hands, slowly emerging from the mirror.
Chapter 422
“Stop, no, please, no!” Edie murmured, her voice trembling as she backed away, but in an instant, those hands lunged at her, grabbing her by the collar with terrifying speed.
Edie’s eyes widened in shock as her body was yanked forward, pulled into the mirror. Before she could comprehend what was happening, her vision went black, and she lost consciousness. As Edie fell unconscious, Freya rubbed her hands together with an almost giddy excitement. “Damn, that was so satisfying… seeing her panic like that for the first time-felt like a breath of fresh air.”
“I almost got scared too,” Selah chimed in, her voice a little hesitant. “The illusion was too real.”
The two of them dragged Edie to the side. Meanwhile, Odalys rolled over and jumped through the window with graceful precision.
“Odalys, what do we do now?” Freya asked, her curiosity evident.
Odalys didn’t answer right away. Instead, she took a talisman from her pocket and placed it on the bathroom floor. In an instant, the room plunged into darkness.
Standing over Edie’s motionless form, Odalys held her breath, her eyes closed, the talisman glowing with fiery energy as the flames danced across its surface. Time seemed to stretch as she waited. Minutes felt like hours.
Freya and Selah stood there anxiously, exchanging nervous glances as they watched Odalys work.
Finally, Odalys opened her eyes, a complicated expression in them, and the flames on the talisman flickered out.
“We should leave,” Odalys said, her voice quiet but resolute.
Without another word, she turned and jumped back through the window. Freya and Selah followed suit, pulling themselves up with ropes, disappearing into the night. As they vanished, the bathroom door slammed open.
“Edie!” Hannah rushed in.
She froze as she saw Edie lying on the floor, her face a picture of confusion, and kicked her sharply.
Noticing that Edie was unconscious, Hannah immediately reached down and grabbed her by the neck, slowly tightening her grip. Just as the pressure reached its peak, she released her, a dark look crossing her face.
“If you weren’t useful to me still, I’d strangle you right now,” Hannah hissed coldly.
Edie’s eyes fluttered open at the sound of her voice. She blinked in confusion before locking eyes with Hannah, her face filling with rage.
Without thinking, she lunged up and slapped Hannah across the face, her voice a sneer.” Hannah, so it was you behind all of this.”
“You really thought that all the things you did in the past would stay buried just because I died? Think again,” Edie spat as she staggered to her feet.
She scanned the bathroom, her hand reaching out to touch the mirror, confirming it was real. Her reflection stared back at her, clear as day. The faucet was running, but the water was normal-no blood. So, everything she’d seen earlier was just an illusion?
But why had she ended up on the floor? Her mind raced.
Her eyes narrowed as she shot a cautious glance at Hannah, her instincts kicking into overdrive.
Grabbing her bag, she stormed towards the door. As she passed Hannah, she shoved her shoulder hard, deliberately bumping into her. Hannah didn’t react with anger. Instead, she smiled darkly as she watched Edie storm out of the room, and then calmly closed the bathroom door behind her.
“Do you know why Edie married Henry so suddenly?” Hannah’s voice cut through the air.
Caspian, who had been standing by, frozen with his phone in hand, turned his head in confusion.
“Wasn’t it because she was abandoned by the Stewart family and needed a place to hide?” he asked, unsure.
Hannah laughed softly, stepping closer to him, her eyes locking with his. “Foolish boy,” she said, her tone almost affectionate but laced with venom. “She used to be my friend. What kind of woman willingly becomes her old friend’s daughter-in-law?”
She walked right up to Caspian and continued, ” Do you honestly think Henry was so extraordinary that she’d abandon the Stewart family, risk everything, and marry into the Bennett family? The Bennett family is bankrupt. We’re public enemies now. Why would she want to drag herself into this mess?”
Caspian fell silent, his mind processing what she said.
“She wanted something from the Bennett family,” Hannah added with a cold smirk. “She thought she could take it. But I’m afraid she won’t get what she wants.”
Caspian couldn’t help but feel a chill creep down his spine. There was something in Hannah’s voice, something unsettling, that made her words seem more like a threat than a simple observation. He blinked, and in the next moment, Hannah’s demeanor softened, almost like nothing had happened. It was as if the dark, sinister aura around her had disappeared in the blink of an eye.
He looked like a man on the brink of collapse, fully aware that the Bennett family was teetering on the edge of total collapse. The media was already circling them like vultures.
He looked like a man on the brink of collapse, fully aware that the Bennett family was teetering on the edge of total collapse. The media was already circling them like vultures.
“Why are you so frantic?” Hannah said coldly, a sly grin curling at her lips. “Why should I care about Henry’s reputation?”
“Caspian, are you alright?” Atlas asked, his voice full of confusion.
The Bennett family’s foundation was crumbling, and they were all adrift. No one seemed to know what was truly happening.
Caspian’s expression darkened, and he leaned in to speak quietly, his voice low and intense. Listen to me,” he said, closing the hospital room door behind him. “Ever since Dad returned from abroad, he’s been acting strange. After Henry married Edie, everything changed. And I don’t think Mom’s the same either.”
Atlas’s eyes widened in surprise. “What do you mean?”
Caspian continued, “Mom and Dad are divorced, and Mom doesn’t seem to care. She’s not even trying to kick Sophia out of the house. Does that seem normal to you?”
Atlas stood there, stunned, as he tried to piece together what was happening. “Now that you mention it… it does seem off,” he said quietly. “It feels like something’s going on with the Bennett family, but neither of us knows what’s really happening. It’s like they’re secretly involved in something behind the scenes, and that’s what’s causing the Bennett family to end up like this,” Caspian said quietly.
“And now, whenever I go back home, it feels so eerie. It’s cold everywhere, and I keep having nightmares. Remember that necklace Odalys gave Mom? She said it would protect her.”
“Ever since Odalys left the Bennett Villa and took the necklace with her, things have been going wrong one after another. The first one affected was Mom, then Henry, and now Sophia. It’s like they’re all connected somehow, but I can’t explain how. My gut tells me the only person who can help us is Odalys.”
Caspian’s voice dropped as he looked at Atlas, his frustration mounting.
“You’re asking me to go back and beg Odalys? No way.” Atlas’ face flushed red, his anger rising as he waved his hand dismissively. “I won’t bow to her.”
“I am her brother,” he said, his voice filled with pride, but even as the words left his mouth, he could feel the lack of conviction. He had no real strength in those words, not after how Odalys had treated him, especially when she had so coldly turned her back on him. The more he thought about it, the more uncertain he became. “I got into a car accident last night. If it weren’t for Odalys, I’d be dead right now. I’ve been so unlucky lately. Have you thought about the Love Spell that Mom and Sophia mentioned?”
“Finnian’s a perfect example of someone who got caught in it-he’s neither alive nor dead, and he’s lost everything.” Caspian continued, analyzing the situation.
Hearing this, Atlas felt a knot tighten in his stomach.
“So, what do we do now?” Atlas asked, his voice shaking slightly with the rising panic.
Chapter 423
Atlas, young and carefree, had always been pampered by his parents. He never had to worry about making decisions, and now, when things had gone terribly wrong, he was completely lost. “Don’t go back to the Bennett Villa for now. Move out and see if things improve,” Caspian advised. Atlas opened his mouth, hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.
Caspian let out a quiet sigh of relief. At least someone was on his side. As long as he wasn’t fighting this battle alone, there was still hope. “So what now?” Atlas asked, his voice uncertain. Caspian paused for a moment before responding. “We need to check the surveillance footage. We need to find out how Henry got involved with Sophia. Something’s not right about this whole thing.”
Before Atlas could respond, a blood-curdling scream echoed from outside.
They exchanged looks and rushed to the door. They found Windsor, his face twisted with rage, grabbing Hannah by her hair and slamming her head against the wall.
“Who told you to touch my things?” Windsor spat, his voice dripping with fury. “Didn’t I tell you not to mess with Sophia?”
His eyes were bloodshot, filled with an almost animalistic fury.
Hannah, her forehead bleeding from the impact, struggled desperately against his grip, but Windsor held her fast, his anger only growing with each passing second.
“You let Henry sleep with her? Are you trying to ruin everything for me?” Windsor roared, delivering another brutal kick to Hannah’s side.
She crashed to the floor, unable to shield herself from his assault.
Not far away, Dangelo was leaning against the wall, supported by Sienna, watching the scene unfold.
“Good thing you only share a name with her,” Dangelo muttered to himself, shuddering at the thought.
Sienna shot him an irritated look and swiped at his shoulder. “Don’t bring that up again. You don’ t want me to turn on you.”
Dangelo, not taking offense, simply sighed. “I don’t get it. Windsor’s acting completely out of character. I’ve worked with him before. He’s not like this. He was always level-headed, able to keep his cool. But now? He’s completely lost it.” Sienna frowned, her expression dark. “I’m worried. It’s not just Windsor. Something’s off with the whole Bennett family. I’ll have to talk to Odalys. We need to stay alert.”
She felt like there was something more at play- something hidden beneath the surface. It was like the entire Bennett family was unraveling. “Let’s head back,” Dangelo said, his tone grave. As they turned to leave, they noticed Harvey and Celeste standing off to the side, observing them. The four locked eyes, and Harvey spoke up first.” Has Caspian contacted you two recently?”
He and Celeste were dressed down, trying to blend in, standing in the corner away from the crowd. Their conversation was private, out of the public eye.
“Has he been in touch with you?” Dangelo asked, surprised.
Caspian had been contacting them frequently, trying to use their connections to arrange a meeting with Odalys.
“It seems like Caspian’s not as simple as he seems. He’s trying to use us to get closer to Odalys. What’s his real game?” Harvey’s tone grew cold, his suspicion palpable.
As businessmen, they were accustomed to recognizing when something was off. Caspian’s motives weren’t entirely clear, and now they were starting to grow wary.
“We’ll talk more in your room,” Sienna interrupted, sensing the conversation was heading into dangerous territory. “We don’t want anyone overhearing.”
The four of them moved discreetly toward the VIP section of the hospital, ensuring that no one could listen in. They even had their bodyguards posted at the door to keep eavesdroppers away. In the operating room, Orson, wearing his gloves, inserted the needle and injected the sedative into Henry and Sophia’s veins.
With a soft clink, he tossed the syringe aside, the sharp sound echoing in the otherwise sterile room.
The temperature in the operating room was frigid, and Henry and Sophia, feeling the cold, began to stir. They were about to speak, but the anesthesia took effect almost immediately, and their eyes glazed over, their bodies going limp. “Everyone out,” Orson ordered, his voice steady and commanding.
The rest of the medical staff filed out quickly, knowing they weren’t needed for this procedure. Orson had complete control over the situation.
Once the room cleared, he stood over the two unconscious bodies, watching them closely. He rubbed his temples, then walked over to the door as he heard a knock.
He pressed a button beside him, and the door slid open, revealing Odalys.
“How’s it going?” Odalys asked, her voice calm but expectant.
Orson gestured for her to follow him, leading her over to the operating table where Henry and Sophia lay side by side.
“I’ve given them both the anesthetic. They won’t wake up for at least an hour,” Orson explained.
Odalys looked down at the two of them, her eyes narrowing. “So, when you carried Henry into the room earlier, you were… treating him with something on the side?” she asked, a slight edge to her voice.
Orson cleared his throat awkwardly. “Well… I thought it would help,” he admitted, rubbing his wrist as he looked at her with a slightly embarrassed expression. He was trying to play the role of her assistant in this moment, a role he wasn’t quite used to.
“I just wanted to see if they were really innocent, but I didn’t expect Sophia to want his heart’s blood. What does she need it for?” Orson wondered aloud.
Odalys’ gaze hardened. “Finnian was under her Love Spell. She drained his luck, used him as a puppet until he was ruined. That’s how she operates.”
Orson’s eyes widened. Hearing Finnian’s name made him freeze. He hadn’t expected to hear it in this context.
He had never suspected that the Lark family’s downfall had been caused by someone like Sophia. The truth about Finnian being the illegitimate” son had been a public scandal, but the Lark family had never questioned it. Now, it seemed they’d been played, manipulated by Finnian’s mother.
“Is this about Henry’s heart’s blood, too?” Orson asked, still processing the information.
“It’s related,” Odalys explained. “Getting someone’ s heart’s blood is a form of control, whether it’s for Love Spells or other dark magic. Once it’s taken, it binds the soul to the one who possesses it.”
“So she’s trying to turn Henry into her puppet?” Orson asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Odalys nodded. “Sophia is an expert at these twisted arts. She knows how to manipulate people’s fates.”
Orson looked at Sophia’s unconscious form, his mind racing with questions. “But if she’s from the Bennett family, why would she be practicing these dark arts? A true heir from such a family wouldn’t bother with this kind of thing.”
Odalys stared at Sophia’s face, her expression unreadable. “You want to see her true form?”
Orson blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?” Before he could react, Odalys took a small vial from her pocket, dipping a willow leaf into the liquid and lightly brushing it across Sophia’s face. The effect was immediate. The fair skin that had once appeared flawless turned sickly and yellow. The change was jarring, revealing a grotesque, almost corpse-like pallor beneath the surface.
Chapter 424
Orson’s beautiful eyes widened in shock as he gasped, momentarily holding his breath.
He stared in disbelief at the woman who had once appeared pure and refined. After her face turned a sickly yellow, it seemed to distort before his eyes-her high, aristocratic nose collapsed, her small mouth stretched into a grotesque gaping maw. Her eyebrows had faded to mere stubs.
Her face appeared flattened, her once delicate eyes bulging grotesquely, resembling those of a dead fish. Her once thick hair thinned and receded, leaving her with a receding hairline, a stark “bald spot” on top like a middle-aged man’s balding scalp.
Her slender, graceful fingers had turned thick and stubby, while her breasts shrank from a C- cup to an A-cup, and her height, which had once been a modest 5’2″, now seemed to shrink to barely 5’0″.
What had once been a vibrant, captivating woman was now a deformed, unrecognizable figure.
There was even a faint odor in the air, one that didn’t belong to her at all. Gone was the soft fragrance she usually exuded.
“Is… is this really Sophia?” Orson’s voice trembled in disbelief.
His lips moved, but no words could come. He couldn’t find a single phrase to encapsulate what he was feeling.
Orson was shocked.
“You should take a look at her abdomen,” Odalys said, raising a hand to point.
Orson, a trained doctor, wasn’t unfamiliar with examining bodies. He knew what to do without feeling out of place.
Quickly, he separated Henry and Sophia’s bodies, lifting her top to reveal her abdomen. His eyes narrowed as he noticed a slight looseness in the area.
“This doesn’t look like the typical bloating you’d get from overeating. A woman’s stomach doesn’t usually get this way unless she’s given birth- look at these stretch marks,” he muttered, his voice low, trying to keep it quiet.
He couldn’t contain his shock. His words hung in the air, but they didn’t feel like they were enough to explain what was happening.
“This body of hers… it’s a vessel. A carefully crafted vessel. The Bennett family’s luck has always been poor, which is why it’s been tainted with such negative energy,” Odalys explained, her voice measured, as though she were unraveling a complex mystery.
“Sophia may appear to elevate the Bennett family’s luck, but everything about her is a lie. What you see on the surface is an illusion. Once she reached a certain peak, everything about her started to reverse itself.”
“When she was adopted into the Bennett family, my own aura was still present, masking her true nature. But over the years, Sophia could have prolonged the facade. Instead, her ambition and malice became too much, and now she’s spiraled into self-destruction,” Odalys continued, her words slow and deliberate, as if she were piecing together a puzzle.
Orson stepped back, instinctively distancing himself from Sophia. Even if he had never been superstitious, seeing her like this made him uneasy. He was afraid that if he stayed too close, her cursed energy would infect him, and his luck would take a turn for the worse.
“But if she’s like this, why did we see her as a beautiful woman before?” Orson asked, his confusion deepening.
How could someone go from being so hideous to so flawless?
No surgery could achieve this kind of transformation-her height had been stretched, her sickly yellow skin had turned pale and smooth, and even her balding scalp had become a flowing mane of hair.
It was a miracle of impossible proportions, and Orson felt as though everything he’d seen had been nothing but an illusion.
“Her astrological signs are heavily laden with negative energy-energy that’s unique, so she was chosen. But this was also her own desired outcome,” Odalys explained. “Once selected, she underwent bone reshaping, skin scraping-her body was essentially swapped out for a new one. She’s been soaking in a special candle and talisman for years, which has ‘baptized’ her body, allowing her to take on the appearance we know. She’s had constant assistance from someone behind the scenes, empowering her, keeping her beautiful.”
“That’s why she always looked perfect. Before she was hospitalized, it was like she became an entirely different person. The elderly man who had been working on her energy manipulation… he died after I thwarted his rituals. That’s when I decided to expose that villa, so the people behind her wouldn’t be able to continue using that cursed energy field to empower her.”
Orson’s face went pale.
“So… the people who died in that villa were all connected to Sophia? They were paving the way for her?” His breath caught in his throat.
Over a dozen people had died-each death brutal and horrifying. The entire city had been shaken to its core by the revelations.
“Yes, you could say that. The murders stirred up resentment, which gathered more negative energy in that villa. That’s how they were able to use it to boost Sophia’s fortune.”
“When she attacked Finnian, it was because I interrupted a ritual. The person behind her was killed by a backlash, and Sophia’s body slowly began to deteriorate. Desperate, she targeted Finnian.
“But Finnian didn’t know that she was after his fortune. By stealing it, she clouded his mind, leading him down a dangerous path.
“And that was when Finnian’s true nature was exposed, and the Lark family kicked him out.”
Orson stood still, his mind racing. There were so many layers to this situation-so many hidden truths. He no longer felt any sympathy for Sophia.
He glanced at the woman on the operating table, then over to Henry lying nearby. He couldn’t help but feel a strange detachment.
“So what do we do now? What should I do?” Orson asked cautiously, his voice low and respectful.
Percival had told him before to follow Odalys’s instructions, to put her first above all else. The Stewart family, the Lark Group-they were all at her disposal.
Right now, he was her assistant, and he would do whatever was necessary-no matter what it took.
“I want to see how much energy is mixed in with her aura-how many people’s fates are intertwined with hers,” Odalys said, her gaze fixed on Sophia with a quiet intensity.
She reached out, her hand gently pressing against Sophia’s forehead. Orson saw her fingers tremble slightly, and he noticed the subtle frown on her face.
“Odalys? What’s going on?” Orson’s voice cracked with urgency.
Odalys didn’t answer immediately. She stood there, her gaze locked on Sophia, lost in thought.
Orson held his breath, anxiously waiting for her to speak.
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “I see… a tangled web of fates. There are numerous intersecting lines of fortune- some of them even point to the Bennett family. Her familial ties… they’re closer than I thought. But… I don’t understand. I never saw any direct bloodline connection between her and them.” Orson blinked, his confusion deepening. “What does it mean that her ‘family line’ is crossing with the Bennett family? Didn’t we always think there was no blood relation?”
Odalys muttered under her breath, her brow furrowed. “It’s not a direct lineage, but it’s there. It’s like an ancestral link-distant, perhaps a collateral branch. But Henry… Henry isn’t related to her at all.”
Her eyes narrowed as she reached for Henry’s wrist, placing it over Sophia’s body. The energy between them swirled together, intertwining. The more she looked, the deeper her frown grew.
“Now it makes sense. No wonder Sophia was so desperate to get Henry’s heart’s blood. Their energy is complementary. If she uses his blood, especially with a Love Spell, she could reverse her situation entirely.”
Chapter 425
”But what’s strange is that Henry seems… custom-made for her,” Odalys murmured, a puzzled look crossing her face.
This was the first time she’d encountered such a thing. Even she, with all her knowledge, found it hard to believe.
“Henry… custom-made for her?” Orson shook his head, skeptical. “But Henry is older than her.” If anyone had been custom-made for anyone, it would make sense if it were Sophia who was crafted to suit Henry’s needs. It would imply that Henry had needed an heir or someone to pave the way for his future. But now, the situation was reversed-this was impossible.
“Sophia may not be as much younger as we think,” Odalys replied, her voice low but confident. “She looks completely unrecognizable now, and her body is older than Henry’s. Her real age is much greater than any of us realize.”
She paused, her eyes narrowing as if trying to piece together the mystery. “But someone’s been using a talisman to shield her true form. We can’t uncover her real nature for now, but given her current trajectory, it won’t be long before she shows her true face.”
Orson held his breath. The revelation shook him to his core.
“Odalys, what do we do now?” He asked, his voice full of determination. His hands were restless, eager to get started.
“Take some blood from both Sophia and Henry, as well as hair samples. Keep them for later,” Odalys instructed. “Then, we’ll need to conduct a full examination of their bodies. The details need to be thorough, especially with Sophia. I need to know her body’s structure inside and out -where it’s been manipulated. The more information, the better.”
She paused, her lips curling into a cold, knowing smile. “Once we’ve gathered everything, we’ll spread the word that Sophia is pregnant. As for whose child it is… let the Bennett family figure that one out.”
Orson’s eyes widened, but he hesitated. “But she’ s not pregnant. If they check, it’ll be exposed.”
Odaly’s smile deepened. “We won’t let her be truly pregnant, but we can make everyone believe she is. That’s all we need. Let’s create a scandal where she has no answers, where no matter what she says, she can’t explain it. The Bennett family will be at each other’s throats, and no one will know the truth. Especially considering her previous entanglements with that fake magician, Windsor, and her current relationship with Henry-or the lack thereof-it doesn’t matter. The public sees one thing, and that’s all that counts.”
Her voice dripped with venom as she thought about Sophia’s past actions. “Let her face the consequences of being unable to explain herself.” “Got it. I’ll handle the rest,” Orson said, nodding with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
He immediately put on gloves, preparing to extract blood from both Henry and Sophia, making sure to collect hair samples and store them in the proper bags.
Just as he was working, Odalys turned to leave but suddenly remembered something.
“By the way,” she began, her tone now cautious,” last night, after Finnian and Windsor left the hospital, it started raining.
Finnian was afraid of water, so he didn’t want to leave, and now he’s still hiding in the hospital.”
She looked at Orson, her eyes sharp with a warning. “Be careful. Don’t let him outsmart you.”
Finnian was at his breaking point, and Odalys knew he could snap at any moment, doing something reckless. But, given his survival instinct, she doubted he would act rashly.
“I’ll have people look into it immediately,” Orson said, without hesitation. He wasn’t going to take any chances, not when even the smallest threat could be a danger.
“Good.” Odalys nodded and, with a distracted expression, started walking toward the hidden door.
She couldn’t shake the strange feeling that had lingered after her brief encounter with Sophia’s true form. Something about it had unsettled her, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
As she walked down the hall, she saw Freya and Selah standing by the corner, trying to suppress their excitement, their eyes wide with frenzy.
“I can’t believe it. I actually got to hit her, and now it’s all out in the open,” Freya said, rubbing her face as if she were savoring the moment. That anger I’ve been holding onto for so long- finally, I can release it. And it’s all thanks to Odalys.”
Her adoration for Odalys was evident in her eyes, like a dog loyally following its master.
Selah glanced at her, her lips curling in a sly grin. “You really went easy on her. This woman has tried to ruin you, and even tried to mess with Odalys. Those kicks didn’t do her justice.”
“Tell me about it,” Freya muttered, clenching her fists. “I want to go back and give her a few more. After all, she’s the one who cursed my house, and got me caught up in all that mess with Edie. I spent all that money, only to find out the house was haunted.” She seethed, barely able to hold back her rage.
Odalys, overhearing them, smiled. “Not done venting yet?”
Hearing her voice, Freya and Selah turned around, their faces brightening in an instant.
“Did you handle everything?” Freya asked eagerly. “Did you separate their bodies? I can’t believe Orson was slick enough to use 502 glue on Henry. It really gave off an… intimate vibe, didn’t it? He’s good at creating misunderstandings.”
Odalys chuckled lightly. “I’m sure Orson handled it well.”
Selah, ever curious, approached Odalys and wrapped her arm around hers. “So, Odalys, what’ s next? Anything for me and Freya to do?” Odalys checked the time on her phone, her expression unreadable. “It’s almost noon. Don’t you two need to rest? You still have that night shoot, don’t you?”
Both Freya and Selah’s faces immediately dropped.
They weren’t exactly thrilled at the thought of going back to the set. Being with Odalys was far more enjoyable than filming, but they knew work came first. Without it, they couldn’t keep up their playful lifestyle.
Freya sighed dramatically. “I guess we should head out. If you need anything, just call. We’ll come back and help you.”
“I’ll visit the set tonight, to check in on you both,” Odalys added, her tone casual but reassuring.
Suddenly, their faces lit up again, smiles returning in an instant. “Great! We’ll see you later!”
Freya said, practically skipping as she left.
As they disappeared around the corner, Odalys made her way to the elevator. But just as she reached it, a figure suddenly lunged at her from the shadows.
Without missing a beat, Odalys spun on her heel, her hand shooting out to grab the figure by the neck.
Finnian let out a strangled scream as her fingers tightened around his throat, slamming him into the wall. He gasped for air, eyes wide with panic. “Odalys… let… go… It’s me…” Finnian choked out, his voice full of pain and fear.
He struggled against her grip, but Odalys held him in place, her strength unyielding. His face was turning purple as she squeezed harder, her gaze as cold as ice.
“Last time, I spared you for Orson’s sake. But now… you’ve come to me, right to my doorstep. Do you really think Windsor can save you? Or that the Bennett family’s promises will get you what you want?” Odalys’ voice was a deadly whisper, her eyes narrowing into an unforgiving glare.
Finnian’s struggles weakened as he looked into her eyes, realizing just how deep in trouble he was.
Chapter 426
”Who gave you the illusion that you actually have any power? If it weren’t for the Lark family, you’d be nothing. A fraud, and yet here you are, acting all arrogant?” Odalys sneered, her voice cold and merciless.
Finnian’s eyes rolled back, his breath coming in labored gasps. It was only now that he realized Odalys wasn’t just threatening him-she truly intended to kill him.
Memories flooded his mind-of the past when Odalys had been the obedient, submissive woman in his grasp, a toy he could control and manipulate. When had he begun to look down on her? When had he decided to team up with Sophia to toy with her?
The images tormented him, and he struggled in desperation.
A guttural scream escaped his throat as Odalys’ s fist slammed into his chest, and blood began to pour from the corner of his mouth. His eyes widened in shock.
The sound echoed through the room as Odalys swung him with ease, throwing him to the ground.
He crashed roughly, flying a good 1.5 feet, and when he landed, his arm snapped under the force, the sickening crack of bone resounding in the air. Pain shot through him, and he cradled his broken arm, unable to rise.
As Odalys’s footstep echoed closer, a sense of true terror gripped him. He scrambled backward, his eyes frantic, his lips trembling as blood dripped from his mouth, staining the smooth floor beneath him.
“Your mother pretended to be pregnant with the Lark family’s child and raised you for all these years, only to return you to them. But you were never really born of them, were you? After all, Orson’s father was drugged, wasn’t he?” Odalys’s voice was sharp as a blade.
“How did you become the Lark family’s illegitimate child, and did your mother never tell you the truth?” Odalys’s words stung. Finnian stared at her, caught off guard, unable to comprehend.
“Why do you think you and Sophia click so easily? Why is it that you’re bound to her fate, that she controls you with her Love Spell and feeds off your luck, causing you to spiral into misfortune? Haven’t you ever wondered why, out of all the people in the world, she specifically targeted you?” Odalys’s voice was chilling as she pressed forward, each word a cold accusation.
Finnian was frozen, lost in confusion. These were things he had never considered, never dared to think about.
“Why is Windsor involving you again? Bringing you to the hospital to threaten Sophia? Why does everything in your life seem to be tangled with hers?” Odalys continued, her eyes never leaving him.
Finnian had no answers. He was trapped in a web of confusion and fear.
“I’ll show you something,” Odalys said with an almost casual tone.
She reached forward, her fingers brushing against Finnian’s eyelids, pressing lightly on his wrist. “See this?” Odalys’s voice dropped to a whisper. “A death line, bound to your wrist. The other end? It’s tied to Sophia.”
“You and she are intertwined, bound to each other’s fate. The worse you fare, the better she does. She’s been stealing your luck, sucking the life out of you.
“Before she cast her Love Spell on you, your luck and hers were both flourishing. But once she started draining your energy, your life began to go downhill,” Odalys explained, her voice calm but chilling.
Finnian’s body trembled as he tried to shake the invisible line from his wrist. No matter what he did, it wouldn’t break free. Desperation clawed at him as he reached for it, but his hand could never touch the line, never sever its hold.
“What… what is this death line?” Finnian’s voice shook with fear.
The terror in his voice only deepened as Odalys’s words came crashing down on him.
“You were raised to provide her with luck, to feed her energy, and that death line only affects you. But there’s a way to fight back. If you can steal her luck, the death line will turn back on her. Only then will you be saved,” Odalys explained, her voice strangely gentle despite the deadly nature of her words.
Finnian’s eyes flickered with something akin to hope, as if a sliver of light had pierced through his despair.
“I can still be saved? How do I steal her luck back?” His voice trembled with excitement, his broken body still reeling from the pain.
Odalys remained silent, turning away without another word.
“Wait!” Finnian shouted, scrambling to his feet despite the agony in his arm. “Odalys, you haven’ t told me how to steal her luck back! How do I turn this death line against her?”
But Odalys had already walked away, her footsteps echoing coldly down the hallway. He tried to chase after her, but his injury was too severe. With a sickening thud, he collapsed again, his body unable to keep up with his frantic desperation.
Odalys didn’t look back as she left. As she rounded the corner, she saw Orson leaning against the wall, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp with attention.
He had just finished a call with the Lark family. Their people had already begun moving, and they had quickly pinpointed Orson’s location. He had been on his way to meet Odalys when their paths had crossed.
“Is what you said true?” Orson asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
The concept of a death line was new to him. “Half-true, half-false,” Odalys replied cryptically.” Finnian’s mother is probably connected to the Bennett family. You should have someone keep an eye on her-see if she makes contact with anyone from the Bennett family.”
She paused, a hint of intrigue in her voice. “The Bennett family’s waters run deep. Even Edie had to marry Henry in a flash just to get close to them.”
Her words carried an unspoken warning- sometimes the most insignificant places could hide the greatest dangers.
“What about Finnian?” Orson asked, his tone uncertain. “Should I have him killed or locked up?” Odalys’s gaze was unwavering. “No. What I said to him earlier is enough to stir up the hatred in his heart-both toward his mother and Sophia. What I need from him is that raw, burning hatred, his desire for revenge.”
Her voice was tinged with urgency. “I need to push Sophia’s hate to the extreme. That’s my only chance to get the medicine I need. If I don’t take drastic measures, Percival might really die, and I won’t allow that.”
Orson nodded, understanding her urgency.” Understood.”
Without further words, Odalys left, and Orson sent his people to track Finnian’s every move. Meanwhile, in the hospital, chaos reigned outside the operating room.
Hannah sat with a scowl on her face, her gaze fixed on Edie, who was still groggy and disoriented from the ordeal. Edie’s body ached, and the images of the horror she had witnessed in the bathroom kept replaying in her mind.
“Hannah, are you sure I only passed out in the bathroom? I didn’t see anything else?” Edie asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
If she could, she would’ve preferred to stay silent, but she needed answers.
Once best friends, their relationship had soured after a falling-out. Now, their bond was fractured, neither truly friends nor enemies.
“Is that what you’re saying?” Hannah shot back sarcastically. “Are you trying to pin this on me? Or maybe you’re pretending to be pregnant again? I remember when you had that miscarriage-guess you’ll never carry a child again.”
Edie’s face darkened instantly. She sat back, closing her eyes slowly, the gruesome image of the bloody bathroom and the hand reaching for her foot haunting her thoughts.
Chapter 427
Edie clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms.
‘This can’t be a hallucination. That feeling is too familiar… Someone is definitely messing with me from behind, Edie thought darkly to herself. Atlas and Caspian stood off to the side, exchanging a look but not speaking a word.
Inside the hospital room, after hearing Caspian’s words, Atlas fell into deep thought. He had begun to see how strange and mysterious the Bennett family truly was, and he couldn’t help but feel that there might be some truth in what Caspian was suggesting.
Suddenly, the door to the operating room slammed open with a loud bang.
Henry and Sophia were pushed out on the same gurney, side by side.
The scene was undeniably intimate, and as the gurney rolled out, both Henry and Sophia slowly began to regain consciousness, their eyes bleary and confused. They looked at each other in a dazed silence, clearly not processing what was happening.
“Who’s the family member?” a doctor’s voice rang out, deliberately loud, drawing everyone’s attention.
The Bennett family rushed forward, but the doctor didn’t lower his voice. Instead, he shot them a cold look and continued, “While the bodies are separate, there has been some damage to the skin. I’d recommend the young couple exercise caution and avoid excessive stimulation. If things go too far, the consequences could be catastrophic. Also, when I separated them, I noticed this lady may be showing signs of pregnancy.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
Sophia, still groggy, stared blankly, her mind a whirlwind. ‘Wait-what? How am I pregnant?’
“No way. How could I be pregnant?” Sophia murmured under her breath, confused and horrified.
It was true that she had been in her ovulation period recently, but other than Windsor, no one else had been close.
Just as she was about to speak up, Henry abruptly sat up on his gurney and began to explain frantically, “I didn’t touch her.
Someone set me up. They knocked me out and brought me to the hospital using Edie’s name. When I woke up, I was inexplicably stuck to her by some kind of glue. Sophia and I are innocent. She’s not pregnant by me-someone’s clearly targeting the Bennett family, trying to ruin me.”
He was desperate, but his voice was firm-he had to make it clear.
“Yes, Henry suddenly appeared at my bedside. I thought he wasn’t feeling well, so I tried to help him, but we ended up stuck together,” Sophia added, nodding quickly.
But just as she spoke, a sudden wave of nausea hit her.
Her stomach churned violently, and she gasped. Ugh…” She barely managed to suppress the rising bile.
Her violent gagging immediately silenced the room. Every eye was on her, watching her struggle to keep control. Anyone who had been pregnant or had given birth could see it-she was clearly showing signs of pregnancy. Edie, her face twisted with contempt, stepped forward and stood beside Sophia. Without a second thought, she slapped her across the face. Smack!
Sophia gasped in pain, her cheek stinging from the force of the slap.
“
Edie stood tall, glaring at Sophia with cold disdain. “I heard you were low, but I didn’t realize just how low you could go. You really climbed into Henry’s bed, didn’t you? We just got married, and you’re already after him? No wonder you’re trying to ruin Windsor’s marriage with Hannah.” She sneered, her voice dripping with venom.” What kind of mother raised someone as cheap and shameless as you? It doesn’t matter whose child you’re carrying-I won’t let you keep it. Get an abortion, now.”
Her words were cruel, a sharp jab at Sophia’s already fragile state.
Sophia, reeling from the slap, stared back, fury flashing in her eyes. “You hit me? You really think you can hit me?” She sneered, trying to regain her composure. “What’s so special about you? You’re an over-the-hill woman, barely in your fifties. Do you honestly think the Bennett family will accept you?”
“You think all that perfume can hide your age and smell? You’re just trying to piss off my mom, right? You and her are old friends, and now you’re trying to marry into the family just to make her miserable.”
Sophia’s words were biting, unrelenting.
Edie stood frozen, shocked by the audacity of Sophia’s words. She couldn’t believe it-no one had ever dared speak to her like this. In the Stewart family, everyone had treated her with respect, but now, after being cast out, a mere adopted daughter dared to insult her?
“Shut your mouth!” Henry suddenly growled from his position on the gurney. With a painful grimace, he slowly got to his feet, barefoot, and moved to stand next to Edie.
He locked eyes with Sophia, his gaze cold and piercing. “She’s your Odalys, and you’re going to apologize to her, right now.”
Sophia’s face contorted in anger. “Apologize? Are you out of your mind, Henry?” Her voice was sharp, disbelief lacing every word. “I’ve always been the Bennett family’s golden girl. You think I’ d apologize to that… that woman?”
She looked between Henry and Edie, her expression seething. “You really think you’re the important ones here? It was she who encouraged me to go after Magic Entertainment! After being cast out of the Stewart family, she’s been plotting against Odalys. She dragged me into her schemes. She’s the one who pushed me to burn Odalys’s company down!”
Sophia’s accusations were sharp, though she was lying through her teeth. She was the one who had urged Edie to start the fire, but now, with no evidence, she threw all the blame on Edie.
Edie, however, didn’t react with anger. Instead, she smiled coldly. “Oh? Is that what you want people to believe?” she said, her voice chilling. Sophia swallowed hard, trying to stand tall, but just then, her eyes locked on Windsor, who was standing in the crowd, staring at her intently.
“Without thinking, she took a step back. The next thing she knew, reporters swarmed her, their cameras flashing relentlessly.
“Sophia, is your personal life so chaotic because you can’t stand being alone?”
“How many married men have you seduced? You seem to have a thing for taken men.”
“And about the child inside you-who’s the father? Is it one of the four men: Windsor, Henry, Finnian, or the fake magician?”
The questions were sharp, invasive, and unrelenting. They came fast and hard, leaving Sophia speechless.
“What nonsense are you talking about? I’m not pregnant!” she shouted, her voice cracking with distress. “I can sue you for slander!”
But when she turned to the Bennett family for support, she found them all eerily silent. No one spoke up. No one came to her defense.
Her gaze finally landed on Caspian and Atlas, but they were too busy with their phones to even glance up.
“Get lost! All of you, get lost!” Sophia shrieked, her fury reaching a boiling point.
But just as the words left her mouth, another wave of nausea hit her, and she couldn’t help but retch. “Ugh…” she gasped, the vomit rising uncontrollably.
The reporters, cameras still rolling, captured every moment. They snapped photo after photo, and one even started streaming live, as Sophia clutched her chest, unable to speak, her face pale and drenched in sweat.
Chapter 428
“Get lost! All of you, get lost!” Sophia lunged forward, her fingers wildly swiping at the reporters’ faces. In her frantic state, she no longer cared about her image.
The reporters had already gotten what they wanted and quickly retreated. But the storm wasn’t over. Hannah, seething with fury, couldn’t contain herself any longer. She turned sharply to Windsor, her voice icy. “Don’t think that just because you’re divorced, you can do whatever you want.”
She fixed him with a bitter gaze, then spat out,” As long as I’m alive, she’ll never marry into the Bennett family.”
With that, she grabbed Atlas and Caspian, forcing them to support her as they all left the room in a huff.
Edie gave Henry one last contemptuous glance before turning on her heel. Henry, clutching his aching abdomen, followed quickly behind her. The long, quiet hallway felt suffocating as Windsor and Sophia remained alone, the air thick with tension.
“How… how could this happen? I can’t be pregnant. Why am I throwing up?” Sophia’s voice quivered as panic set in. Her eyes filled with Windsor’s cold, unblinking gaze.
“Who’s the father?” Windsor’s voice was as sharp as ice.
Everything had been meticulously planned, but Sophia’s pregnancy-if it was true-was a wrench in his calculations. She couldn’t be pregnant. If she was, it would destroy his plans. And yet, here she was, vomiting uncontrollably. Windsor was furious. The timing couldn’t be worse.
“I’m not pregnant! The doctor must have made a mistake,” Sophia snapped, her panic turning to desperation.
She knew deep down she couldn’t possibly be pregnant.
But her body, betraying her, kept rejecting her claims, and the doctor had been so certain.
She could almost hear the verdict in her mind. ‘It doesn’t matter how many times you deny it. You’ re pregnant.’
“No pregnancy? Then why did the doctor say there’s a possibility? Why are you vomiting nonstop? These doctors are professionals, and the Lark family’s doctors never make mistakes. Are you saying they misread it?” Windsor’s voice was low, dangerous.
“And what about you and Henry? Why were you so close? Do you honestly think I’ll believe you two are innocent? If you were truly innocent, why would you be that close to him? Don’t think I’m blind, Sophia. I see everything.”
His words hit her like a hammer. He was accusing her of something she could barely comprehend, and yet, somewhere deep inside, she wasn’t sure anymore. What if she was pregnant? The thought gnawed at her. ‘Could the child be Henry’s?’
Sophia’s face drained of color. No one would believe me now. Even she was beginning to question everything.
“Well?” Windsor’s voice cut through her thoughts, cold and angry. “Not going to defend yourself?” Sophia covered her face, her tears flowing freely. ‘How did this happen?’ she thought, her heart a whirl of confusion and betrayal.
She had always been the glamorous star, the one everyone adored. Every rich girl wanted her autograph, everyone wanted to be her. But now… now it was as if the world had flipped upside down. She was drowning, and no one was throwing her a lifeline.
‘It has to be someone else’s fault, she thought wildly. ‘It’s Odalys-she must have stolen my luck! Why is everyone obsessed with her now? Why is she the one getting all the attention?’
Her mind raced, filled with dark thoughts. ‘I have to get her out of the way. If I can just destroy her, I’ll get everything back.
Sophia’s eyes lit up, her desperation pushing her forward. “Windsor, please help me. Get Odalys to meet with me. I need to talk to her. I beg you, please.”
Windsor, however, yanked his arm away from her grasp, visibly irritated. Without a word, he turned on his heel and walked toward the elevator. “Windsor! You can’t leave me like this! You have to take responsibility! You ruined me three years ago-now you’re just going to abandon me?” Her voice was raw, her anger erupting uncontrollably. “If it weren’t for you, Hannah wouldn’t be disappointed in me, and the Bennett family wouldn’t have turned their backs on me! Why did you come back to the country? Why?” Sophia’s chest heaved with frustration. ‘If Windsor hadn’t come back, she wouldn’t have been exposed for what she truly was in front of the Bennett family.’
“Windsor stopped by the elevator, hearing her shouts. He turned to look at her, his gaze filled with derision. “Isn’t it you who came into my study and seduced me? Didn’t you strip down and lie next to me first? You forced me, Sophia. Don’t pretend to be innocent now.”
His words sliced through the air, sharper than any knife.
Sophia staggered back, her legs giving way beneath her. She collapsed onto the floor, staring helplessly at the empty corridor as Windsor stepped into the elevator, his back turned to her.
The silence was deafening. Her entire world felt like it was crumbling around her, and tears poured freely from her eyes. ‘How did it come to this?’
She pushed herself up and rushed back to her hospital room, only to find her belongings trashed, everything thrown around carelessly. As she searched the wreckage, she found her phone and opened it.
Her heart dropped as the screen filled with breaking news. [Sophia the homewrecker, Seduces men and ends up in the operating room ], [Sophia Pregnant: Who’s the Father?], [Don’t be like Sophia, sleeping around always has consequences].
Sophia’s hands trembled as she read the cruel headlines. Twitter notifications flooded in, and she saw her follower count plummet—from millions to just 200,000 —and that number was quickly falling.
The worst part? She knew that 200,000 wouldn’t last much longer.
“No, this can’t be happening!” she cried, looking at her phone screen in disbelief. “My fans-they promised they would always support me. How could they just turn on me? I’m being framed! This isn’t me!” Her voice cracked with desperation.
She typed furiously, sending out a tweet: I’ve been framed! This isn’t my fault. Look at who benefits from this. Open your eyes!
Her tweet immediately sparked a flood of responses-thousands of comments from people who had once supported her, now attacking her. Her loyal fans were now calling her a liar, a manipulator.
Sophia’s hands shook violently as she stared at the familiar usernames, now filled with vitriol. They were the same people who had once cheered her on, but now, they were her accusers. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she fell to the floor, clutching her stomach.
“Why is this happening?” she whispered, her voice breaking.
The world she once knew, the world she had built so carefully, was slipping away. And somewhere in the back of her mind, a nagging thought kept repeating. ‘What if I really am pregnant?’
‘I have to find a way to turn this around. Odalys is getting all the luck, all the glory-if I can just steal that from her, I can make a comeback. I’ll show them all. I’ll be the one who wins in the end, Sophia thought.
As she thought of this, a surge of motivation coursed through her.
She thought about Odalys’ success and glory-if it were her instead, what would be stopping her from accomplishing everything? In fact, she might even end up marrying into the Stewart family.
If she hadn’t backed down back then, if she hadn’t feared becoming a widow, if she hadn’t been afraid of being buried alongside him, she would have married long ago. There wouldn’t even be an Odalys in the picture.
But sadly, life doesn’t have “what-ifs” or “regrets.” Everything had already been decided, and that was something she couldn’t escape.
And she hated it.
She hated Odalys. She hated her for agreeing to the arranged marriage. If Odalys hadn’t agreed, maybe she would have been the one married off.
Chapter 429
Sophia couldn’t help but be momentarily consumed by a wave of nostalgia.
She remembered how Edie used to walk through Crownridge like a queen-everyone either respected or feared her. Nobody dared cross her, and even her mere presence made people bow their heads in deference.
The thought of Edie’s past power sparked something within Sophia. A wicked smile spread across her face. ‘Yes,’ she thought, ‘it’s all Odalys’ fault. I just need to find her and make her take the blame. She’s the one behind everything.’
Sophia was already mentally preparing to confront Odalys, to corner her and force her to take the fall for all of it. The thought of it filled her with a dark kind of exhilaration.
With determination, she hurried out of her room, ready to find Odalys and force her to fix this mess. But when she opened the door, she froze. Two police officers were standing in the hallway. Her heart stopped for a second, and the color drained from her face. She hadn’t expected this at all. Just a few hours ago, after her injury, they’ d escorted her to the hospital and left. Wasn’t it over?
“Ms. Bennett,” one of the officers said calmly, pulling out his badge. “We’re here to arrest you for defamation and intentional harm.”
“What?!” Sophia snapped, her mind reeling. ” What do you mean, arrest me?” She was caught completely off guard. How could they still be here?
She had assumed everything had been handled. The police had left her alone after bringing her to the hospital. Now, they were back, and they were arresting her?
“Is Odalys behind this?” Sophia hissed, her voice growing frantic. “You’re the police! You should be upholding the law, not bending to her because she married well!”
“That day, Odalys set me up! She could have explained everything, but she didn’t! She left me to believe it was her fault!” Sophia was shaking with rage, her eyes burning with accusation.
The officers exchanged a look, and one of them replied coldly, “You don’t get to accuse others just because things aren’t going your way. You’ve made a mistake, and now you’ll pay for it.”
Sophia’s eyes narrowed, her teeth gritting in frustration.
She suddenly lunged toward the door, but before she could take another step, the two officers grabbed her-one on each side-and forced her out of the room.
“Let go of me! Let go!” Sophia screamed, her body thrashing in their grip.
A few feet away, Lee stood watching, his eyes narrowed in cold amusement as he observed her struggle.
“Ms. Bennett,” he called out, his voice icy. “Would you like me to get you a megaphone?”
Sophia froze, utterly confused. A megaphone? She turned to look at Lee, completely bewildered. What was he talking about?
“What do you mean, a megaphone?” she asked instinctively.
Lee walked up to her, his presence imposing. He stood before her, towering as he looked down at her with a condescending smirk. “Since you seem to think we’re framing you, it seems you have some issues with the police, don’t you? So, if you still believe we’ve wronged you, we’ll make sure you understand exactly who’s in control here.”
Lee’s voice grew colder. “I’ll have someone bring a megaphone, and then we can announce everything you’ve done that day to the entire crowd. It’ll be like an advertisement for your actions. If anyone believes you, and supports your cause, we’ll let you go. How does that sound?”
Sophia stood frozen, the weight of his words sinking in. A megaphone? Was this some kind of sick joke?
She didn’t know how to react. She remembered that the police weren’t supposed to act like this -this felt personal. They were clearly siding with Odalys, mocking her as if she were the villain. Her heart dropped to her stomach. ‘They’re all against me,’ she thought bitterly. ‘Even the police are in on it.’
Desperation filled her eyes as she locked her gaze on Lee. “What’s your relationship with Odalys?” she demanded.
Lee’s eyes gleamed coldly as he took a step toward her, his tone never faltering. “Go get the megaphone,” he ordered. “Since Ms. Bennett hasn’t shouted enough yet, let’s make sure she gets her voice out loud and clear.”
Sophia’s world seemed to tilt. She couldn’t believe it. The police were actually turning against her, humiliating her in front of everyone. Her hands trembled, and she almost collapsed on the spot.
“Is this necessary?” she mumbled weakly, her voice barely audible. “How long will I be locked up for?”
She was already picturing the headlines, imagining her reputation sinking even further.’ This can’t be happening,’ she thought, her stomach twisting in dread.
The officer glanced at her, his face hard as stone. “You’ll be detained for three days and fined 1, 500 dollars as a warning.”
Three days. The words rang in her head. Even three hours would be enough to destroy me. If she went to jail, it would be over-her reputation, her career, everything.
She was trapped, with no way out. The once- golden star of the Bennett family now reduced to a pariah. And there was no one who could help her. Everyone had turned away from her, all because of Odalys.
Sophia’s mind raced. ‘How has it come to this?’ There, among the onlookers, was Odalys. Her arms were crossed calmly over her chest, and she was looking at Sophia with an expression that was both cold and satisfied.
The two locked eyes, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Then, without warning, Sophia’s pent-up rage exploded. As she was roughly escorted downstairs to the police car, the stares and whispers of the crowd around her only made things worse. People pointed, some even took photos, and as she turned to look, her heart sank.
“Odalys, you bitch! Get over here!” Sophia screamed, her voice full of fury.
“She had tried to keep her composure, but seeing Odalys standing there, so calm and confident, pushed her over the edge. Her hatred for the woman who had ruined her life surged to the surface.
“Why are you doing this to me?” Sophia shouted, her voice breaking.
The crowd followed her gaze, and sure enough, they saw Odalys standing there, dressed casually, smiling faintly. She didn’t seem bothered at all. As Odalys stepped forward, the crowd parted to make way for her.
She stopped in front of Sophia, eyeing her with a mix of amusement and disdain.
“Harm you?” Odalys raised an eyebrow. “Maybe you should think about what you’re saying. Or perhaps you’ve forgotten? If you want, I can play the whole thing on the hospital’s big screen for you. Would you like that?”
Sophia’s breath caught in her throat. Odalys’ words left her speechless. She wanted to retort, to scream, but she couldn’t.
“Anyone here who hasn’t seen what happened, raise your hand,” Odalys continued, her voice ringing out clearly. “You all saw how Sophia, using her position as the Bennett family’s adopted daughter, tried to frame me. She even tried to burn me alive, but I caught her in the act. Now she wants to lie about me and accuse me of destroying her, but the truth is, she’s the one who needs to pay.”
Sophia’s world collapsed around her. The crowd murmured, some nodding in agreement. It was over.
As Odalys spoke, the crowd seemed to grow larger, the truth becoming undeniable. Sophia felt her knees buckle, and she almost fell. It was too late to stop it now.
“Looks like you’ve been caught, Ms. Bennett,” Odalys said, her voice sweet as honey, though it dripped with venom. “And by the way, stop trying to play the fainting card. You’ve used that one too many times.”
Sophia felt a hot tear slip down her cheek, but she refused to let it show. She had nowhere left to run.
Chapter 430
Sophia stood there, humiliated, her face burning with shame. In a fit of panic, she turned and rushed toward the police car, trying to escape the crowd’s venomous gaze. But just as she neared the vehicle, someone hurled a coffee cup at her, hitting her squarely on the back.
“You shameless thing,” a voice spat from the crowd. “I heard you’ve been seducing men left and right. You’ve turned the Bennett family into a battlefield, with the men at each other’s throats. Absolutely disgusting.”
The crowd erupted in a wave of jeers, pushing closer to the car.
Luckily, the police acted swiftly, locking the car doors as the onlookers pressed in, shouting and pointing at Sophia through the windows. Sophia sank into the back seat, overwhelmed by the barrage of insults. She could only curl up in silence, tears streaming down her face.
Lee stood nearby, watching the scene unfold. He exchanged a glance with Odalys, but neither of them said a word. He simply gave a slight nod before moving toward the front passenger seat and getting into the car.
As the police vehicle pulled away, the crowd began to disperse, their murmurs fading into the distance.
Odalys was about to leave when two figures suddenly appeared in her path. Atlas and Caspian stood before her, silent and unmoving, their eyes fixed on her with an unreadable intensity.
“What is it?” Odalys asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Are you here to stand up for Sophia?”
Atlas and Caspian exchanged uneasy glances. They had witnessed the entire scene-Sophia’s lies, her manipulation, and the way she had even attempted to incite Edie to commit arson.
And yesterday, after doing some digging, they had confirmed that the police’s version of events was correct. Sophia had caused all this trouble and had even tried to manipulate Edie into committing a crime. If Edie didn’t have backing from powerful people, she might have been arrested by now.
Now, standing in front of Odalys, their emotions were complicated. They didn’t know what to say.
“Odalys,” Atlas finally spoke, his tone unexpectedly sharp, “Can you stop being so bitter? We’re family, aren’t we? Can’t we just sit down and talk calmly?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Atlas realized how wrong they sounded.
He had become so used to speaking to her with a certain level of condescension, even using his usual manipulative tone, that he couldn’t find a way to communicate with her respectfully anymore.
At some point, their relationship had twisted into something far from the familial bond it should have been. They had been a family once-or at least, that’s what he had convinced himself. But now everything felt different.
“Oho? Family?” Odalys’s voice was cool, almost mocking. “You and me? My last name is Stone, yours is Bennett. What ‘family’ are you talking about?” She raised an eyebrow at him.
“And let’s not forget, Sophia is your family, not me. You two are probably trying to cling to the Stewart family for some leverage, aren’t you? Trying to gain favor by pretending to be ‘family’ with me? Well, if I recall correctly, I’ve already sued your family. They’re being sued for abandonment, and since the statute of limitations hasn’t passed, you’ll be waiting for a summons from the court soon enough.”
Odalys shrugged casually, as if the entire situation was of no consequence to her. But her words stung, and Atlas’s face turned a shade paler.
Her nonchalance only angered him further.
“Odalys,” Atlas seethed, “have some dignity, will you? Do you really think that just because you married into the Stewart family, you’ve somehow elevated yourself? You weren’t even supposed to be the bride; Sophia was. You’re just the one who picked up the scraps after she was discarded.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” he continued, bitterness dripping from his voice. “If it weren’t for our fear that Percival would die, you’d never have been in the Stewart family’s bed. We would have never let you take her place.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Atlas regretted them.
His tongue had run wild in a fit of anger, but deep down, he knew he was just trying to hurt Odalys.
“So, now you’re regretting it because I’m the one who married you? But have you looked at the state of your Bennett family? Do you really think the Stewart family would be interested in you? Sophia has been played by Windsor and Henry; are you guys just holding a grudge because you never got your turn? You just can’t accept it, can you?” Odalys said deliberately, knowing how to push their buttons.
She enjoyed seeing them get worked up, watched as the Bennett family became increasingly desperate, unable to control their anger.
“Odalys, waiting here for you today was a mistake! We’ve given you enough respect already, don’t push it any further!” Atlas snapped, clearly furious.
Lately, things had been going from bad to worse for the Bennett family.
The weight of the situation was suffocating, and their emotions were unstable. They had once enjoyed the privileges of being wealthy and powerful, but now everything had crumbled. The helplessness, the pressure-it was all too much. He was powerless to change anything. It felt easier to blame Odalys for their misfortunes, as if it would make him feel better.
“Atlas,” Caspian spoke sharply, his face paling as he reached out and grabbed Atlas’ arm.
He regretted bringing Atlas here. If he’d known Atlas would be this reckless with his words, he would never have dragged him along. Atlas was ruining everything.
“I…” Atlas began, realizing too late that his outburst had gone too far. He had lost control of his emotions and spoken without thinking.
As he came to terms with his situation, he bit his tongue and fell silent, awkwardly turning his head away.
Caspian, standing there, still marked by the burn from last night’s accident, took a few steps forward. He stood in front of Odalys, his gaze filled with complexity.
“Odalys, thank you for saving me last night. If it weren’t for you, I would have been dead. I’ve been thinking, the Bennett family is in chaos lately. Atlas and I have decided we’re not going back to Bennett Villa. There’s too much going wrong, and we’ve acted impulsively in the past. Perhaps we’ve done things that hurt you.
“I hope you won’t hold it against us. We’re not here to ask for help from you or the Stewart family, but simply to offer an olive branch and make peace. We were deceived by Sophia. We didn’t know her true nature, and we certainly didn’t know she was secretly sabotaging you.” Caspian spoke clearly, his voice nervous. Standing in front of Odalys, he felt like a fool, like a clown. The situation made him uneasy. After all, he was one of the heirs to the Bennett family, Odalys’ older brother, and yet here he was, speaking so humbly in front of her.
“Enough. I don’t want to help you. Last night, I only acted out of a sense of repayment, to settle old debts. We’re even now, so let’s not bring up the Bennett family. I’m not involved in your problems,” Odalys interrupted coldly.
She was perfectly aware of Caspian’s motives.
He was the only one in the Bennett family who seemed to be awake to what was really going on. He had clearly realized that something was wrong at Bennett Villa and hadn’t followed Henry and the others but instead stayed behind to wait for her.
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