Chapter 491
Hannah thought about how last night she was knocked down by Brandon and humiliated! The entire night, no one came to her rescue, leaving her to be abused.
As she fainted from the pain, she vaguely heard his wild laughter.
When she woke up, she was lying in bed, and Brandon was sitting in her room. He was still in Bennett Villa.
“But she didn’t dare to say anything. She was afraid that if she spoke up, he would haunt her like a ghost.
“Mom! Why is there a man in your room?” Atlas’s voice echoed through Bennett Villa.
He stood in shock outside the master bedroom, staring at the room, not believing his eyes.
Inside the room, an old man in a bathrobe sat on the sofa, resting with his eyes closed. His legs crossed comfortably in a relaxed posture.
Atlas was dumbfounded. He never expected that there would be a man hidden in his mother’s room.
He had already thought the scene of Windsor and Sophia’s passionate affair was shocking enough, but he had never imagined his mother would be sneaking around with a man and bringing him back.
Moreover, the man’s hair was gray, and he looked very old.
“Atlas couldn’t believe Hannah would do it with such an old man. Atlas was stunned, stepping back in fear, and just as he was about to retreat upstairs, he bumped into Windsor.
“What man?” Windsor asked hurriedly when he heard the shout.
Atlas saw Windsor and panicked. He rushed forward, trying to close the bedroom door, but it was too late.
“Dad.” Atlas was terrified.
He had never been this worried, even when he saw Windsor and Sophia in their affair.
“Now, discovering a man in his mother’s room, he felt uneasy for some reason. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the beginning of the family’s complete collapse.
“Move,” Windsor ordered coldly, his eyes filled with fury, glaring into the room.
“Since leaving the country, Windsor hadn’t stepped into this bedroom again, and now, just a few days after the divorce quarrel, Hannah had brought a man into her room.
If it hadn’t been for his unexpected return today, he wouldn’t have witnessed this scene.
“Dad, it’s probably a misunderstanding. I’ve never seen Mom with another man or anyone else visiting the house. It might be a misunderstanding…!” Atlas tried to explain but was interrupted.
Windsor shoved Atlas away forcefully.
Atlas, still injured, couldn’t stop him and was thrown against the door frame. The impact caused him pain, and he struggled to stabilize himself, leaning on the door frame.
In a fit of rage, Windsor kicked open the door and entered the bedroom. The smell of old man’ s sweat filled the room, and there were several crumpled tissues on the floor. The trash can was in disarray, and two takeout boxes were placed on the table.
His eyes landed on Brandon, who was still sitting on the chair in his bathrobe, seemingly without any underwear. Outside the window, his underwear was hanging, still wet.
“Windsor’s fists clenched tightly. He had been stressed recently and aged several years in just a short time. Now, more wrinkles appeared on his face, and his teeth almost ground to dust in fury.
“Who are you?” Windsor growled, his chest nearly bursting with rage.
His injury was still inflamed, and he was feeling unwell.
After being rejected at the Simpson Villa, he had narrowly avoided a car accident, and things just kept going wrong. Today, he had no choice but to return to Bennett Villa.
He didn’t expect to discover Hannah’s affair. It was simply unbelievable.
Windsor thought, ‘She has another man! This is outrageous!’
“Who do you think I am?” Brandon sat there calmly, taking a sip of the freshly brewed coffee. Last night, he had slept in the master bedroom of Bennett Villa, enjoying the soft bed of a wealthy wife, drinking her coffee, and watching her kneel fearfully at his feet. Then, he realized retreating to the mountain village had been a mistake.
Especially when he saw Hannah washing and hanging his underwear, a sense of vanity swelled within him.
“Brandon once believed that the Bennett family’s energy field was filled with negativity, which suited him well.
“He seems to have developed a taste for the luxurious lifestyle, in addition to his interest in energy field.
“You!” Windsor was extremely furious.
At that moment, he finally saw Brandon’s face. He recalled how, on the night he returned to the country, Brandon had also come to Bennett Villa to cause trouble, which led to the ruined plans with Odalys.
“Get out of here,” Windsor threatened in a low voice.
“Brandon remained calm, his wrinkled face slowly lifting. He stared blankly with clouded eyes, then grinned, revealing yellowed teeth. Apparently, he hadn’t brushed his teeth for days, and his breath reeked. The pungent odor filled the air, causing Windsor to step back.
He never expected Brandon to make a move on his wife.
Even though he and Hannah were divorced, she was still his woman! Yet, Brandon had the audacity to sleep with her.
“Get out! All of you, get out,” Hannah commanded as she was helped upstairs.
“Seeing her most cherished item broken on the ground, she immediately rushed forward. However, Windsor slapped Hannah’s face hard.
The force of the blow sent Hannah tumbling to the ground. Shards of the antique pierced her palm, drawing blood. She stared at him in disbelief. “Windsor, you dare to hit me?”
“Hannah’s eyes blazed with fury. “We’re divorced, and I haven’t even confronted you about your affair! Why are you back? Get out! Take Sophia and get out of my sight!”
Tears and snot streamed down her face as she screamed at him.
Sophia trailed behind, standing at the doorway, watching the chaotic scene unfold inside. She had a triumphant smirk.
“Do you even know who he is? Are you so desperate that you’ll sleep with anyone? Hannah, you’re truly shameless. You’ll sleep with this old man?” Windsor gritted his teeth and shouted. Hannah had lost her sanity after being slapped. She struggled to get up.
“So what if I slept with him? He might be old, but he’s still better than you!” Hannah shouted back at Windsor.
Windsor was taken aback by her words.
“He stared at her in disbelief, then at smug Brandon. After a long silence, he slowly nodded. “ Fine. You’re asking for this. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“He killed his son outside Bennett Villa. Do you think he’ll protect you? He’ll destroy you next,” Windsor added coldly before leaving.
When he saw Sophia, he reached for her hand.” Sweetheart, let’s go.”
“But I…” Sophia’s eyes were wet as she shook her head, but he pulled her into his arms and dragged her toward the study.
“Stop, it hurts.” Sophia bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. “You’re hurting me,” she
whimpered.
Windsor ignored her pleas and shoved her into the study, slamming the door shut behind them. “Hannah collapsed to the ground.
Windsor’s words echoed in her mind, and when she turned to look at Brandon’s gaze, which was filled with contempt, she was so scared that she could barely move.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Brandon asked casually, his voice laced with menace.
Chapter 492
“He pressed her shoulder down, forcing her to stay where she was.
Hannah groaned in pain, feeling her shoulder about to shatter under his grip. She hadn’t expected such strength from Brandon. Helpless, she looked at Atlas.
Atlas stood at the door, looking lost in thought. Their eyes met for a moment before he turned and strode away.
“Atlas!” Hannah panicked.
If Atlas ignored her too, she feared no one would ever come to her rescue.
“She was once the respected Mrs. Bennett. Now, she ended up being humiliated by an old man. Even her children had turned their backs on her. “If you don’t want to die, shut your mouth,” Brandon said coldly before kicking her harshly. “Hannah fell to the ground, glaring at him venomously but unable to fight back.
The howling wind last night had left her shaken. She wanted to escape but found herself helpless and abandoned. All her former friends had severed ties with her.
Now even her son was ignoring her. Her glamorous life had crumbled overnight, leaving her trapped in a living hell with no way out.
“What do you want?” Hannah asked, her face contorted with anger.
She had just witnessed the exchange of glances between Windsor and Brandon. She had a hunch they knew each other.
“I want all of you dead.” Brandon lowered his head, bringing his foul-smelling mouth close to her ear as he whispered.
Hannah was furious. Her hands gripped the carpet tightly, her scalp feeling as if it were being ripped off.
In the hallway, Caspian stood there lighting a cigarette. He took a drag and listened to the curses echoing from within, a self-deprecating smile spreading across his face.
“Caspian.” Atlas ran towards him.
Panic flashed across his face as he glanced around nervously, as if the house itself were haunted.
“The old man we just saw in Mom’s room seems to be the same one from the village where we filmed that variety show,” Atlas said as if he had discovered a secret.
Atlas felt a strange sensation in his heart the moment he saw Brandon’s face.
“What’s more, I feel like Dad knows him,” Atlas continued.
Caspian took a long drag from his cigarette, slowly exhaling a plume of smoke, then turned to lean against the railing. He turned his head and gave Atlas a helpless smile.
“Caspian, what are you smiling about?” Atlas was confused.
Caspian stared at the flickering flame on the cigarette butt and said slowly, “Last night, the apartment where Henry was staying suddenly had water and electrical leakage. It nearly caused a fatal accident.”
He continued, “My newly purchased property was declared an illegal construction, forcibly seized, and demolished overnight. I had
someone investigate. It turns out someone is pushing for this behind the scenes. They got my property’s location reclassified as a restricted area.”
Atlas was stunned, feeling like his brain couldn’t keep up.
Caspian added, “Someone is pulling the strings, cornering us until we have no choice but to move back to Bennett Villa. In the entire Crownridge, who else has such power to ruin us in such a short time?”
“Atlas’s confidence faltered as he nervously asked, “Could it be the Stewart family?”
Caspian replied, “I don’t know. But what I do know is that offending Odalys was a mistake. Look at Bennett Villa now: the chaotic relationships, and even Mom is being targeted.” He explained, “I suspected Odalys became a substitute bride; Bennett Villa’s energy field was messed up! After leaving the Bennett family, she’s been thriving. She even earned the Stewart family’s approval, and Percival even defended her and put us in our place.”
He sighed. “Maybe it was wrong from the start.” “Atlas was still clueless. After all, he had been pampered since he was a child and had little understanding of how things worked.
“What went wrong?” Atlas pressed on.
“Caspian took a long drag from his cigarette before extinguishing it.
He asked, “Have you ever wondered why Mom and Dad abandoned Odalys and instead adopted Sophia? Both were daughters, so why would they give up their own child to take in someone else’s?”
Caspian added, “If Odalys had gone missing and Mom and Dad adopted someone as a way to cope, that might have been understandable.
But Mr. Cantrell already confirmed the truth. They deliberately took her out one winter and abandoned her.”
He said, “In other words, they never intended for Odalys to survive. They wanted her dead.”
As soon as he finished, a slow clap echoed behind them.
Caspian and Atlas turned abruptly to see Henry standing there, unnoticed until now.
“Although they were brothers, they were not that close. Henry’s authority over Bennett Villa, paired with his overbearing demeanor, had long left the others disgruntled.
Henry said, “Caspian is right! We need to find out why Mom and Dad wanted to abandon Odalys and then adopt Sophia.
“Odalys said that Mom had bad luck, but after giving her a necklace, everything went well. After Odalys took back the necklace, Mom’s leg was broken.”
Henry added, “The Bennett family has been acting strange since Odalys moved out, and Sophia knows how to use a Love Spell! We never noticed this before. I heard that the eldest daughter of the Lark family became obsessed with Sophia, which caused her to have a mental breakdown and almost commit suicide. It was Odalys who saved her.”
“He continued, “After Finnian drank Sophia’s runes potion and finished recording the variety show, the Lark family kicked him out. It seems everyone who has crossed paths with Sophia has experienced misfortune.”
“Henry’s voice carried a hint of fear. “Look at our relationship, and Dad and Mom’s relationship. Dad and Mom were doing okay, but after he came back and slept with her, they ended up getting divorced.”
The more Henry analyzed, the more Atlas felt his scalp tingle. It was like some invisible force was controlling them.
“Then Dad is still going to the study with her?” Atlas sneezed in fear. He shivered and hid behind Caspian, clutching his arm.
“You’re right, Henry. The day Mom and Dad got divorced, Dad fell at the entrance of the city hall. He was stabbed in the chest by gravel, causing massive bleeding. He almost died right there.” Caspian suddenly recalled.
Henry stood there, his usually upright figure now appearing thin and haggard.
“After Odalys’s marriage to Percival, Sophia came to me once, claiming that Odalys was out to harm her. I took her to confront Odalys, but we got into a car accident on the way. The car was crushed by one from the Stewart family. Ever since Sophia has been around, I’ve become more unlucky.” Henry’s voice grew quieter as he recounted his memories.
Atlas listened, constantly swallowing.
He thought back to the reality show. On the island, nothing happened to the others, but when he stayed with Sophia, he was nearly swept away by the tide and injured.
In the mountain village, he faced ostracism, scandals, and the end of his acting career.
“What should we do?” Atlas panicked.
Faced with these events, he felt lost.
Henry said, “We need to find out where her Love Spell came from and if she used it on all of us! We also need to figure out if there’s a problem with the Bennett family’s energy field and if it has been disrupted by her.”
Chapter 493
Caspian listened to him in silence.
“More importantly, we need to find out why Mom and Dad adopted Sophia and why they abandoned Odalys in the first place!” Caspian continued.
Henry nodded in agreement.
As the three men talked, a sweet, woman’s voice sounded behind them.
“Guys, what are you talking about?” Sophia’s coquettish voice came.
They quickly turned around and saw her walking towards them, swaying her waist. Her clothes were a little messy, but her eyes were full of charm. She bit her lip and looked at them shyly. “Nothing, it’s nothing.” Atlas grabbed the railing in fright when he saw her.
“He swallowed nervously, avoiding her gaze like she was a ghost.
“I’m leaving.” Henry glanced at her coldly.
“He didn’t say anything more and walked out. Caspian followed suit without a word.
“Atlas’s legs almost gave way in fear. Just as he turned to chase after them, Sophia grabbed his arm. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at him with a trembling voice.
“Atlas, do you hate me too?” Sophia bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Atlas’s heart softened at the sight of her pitiful appearance. He began to wonder if his brothers were overthinking things. Yet, flashes of unsettling memories flickered through his mind. “Don’t cry. I don’t hate you,” Atlas said helplessly. Upon hearing this, Sophia threw herself into his arms with a smile. “You’re the best, Atlas,” she said, hugging him tightly.
Atlas froze.
He kept holding his breath as he recalled the events of the previous night when she had pinned him down and torn open his shirt. He still couldn’t believe it had actually happened.
“My stomach hurts so much. Atlas, can you carry me back to my room?” Sophia’s expression suddenly changed.
She clutched her stomach in pain, her small hand clinging tightly to the hem of his clothes.
Seeing her in such pain, Atlas quickly helped her up. “Are you alright? Is it the baby?” he asked, concerned.
He panicked, scooping her up in his arms and striding towards her bedroom. He kicked open the door and carried her inside, placing her on the bed. Just then, he heard a loud bang as the door slammed shut.
Atlas jolted awake, cold sweat soaking his back.
He watched as Sophia lay on the bed. As he turned to leave, Sophia caught his hand.
Before he could react, Sophia pulled him down onto the bed. He lost his balance and fell on top of her. Sophia cried out.
“Atlas…” Sophia pushed him away with a wounded expression.
As Atlas tried to sit up, his hand brushed against the hem of her dress. With a ripping sound, her thin strap dress tore, revealing her skin.
His gaze fell on her smooth skin, and he swallowed nervously.
“Atlas, look at this! It really hurts.” Sophia whimpered, taking his hand and pressing it to her body.
“The instant Atlas’s fingers brushed against her collarbone, he froze, scrambling off the bed to escape. But as his hand reached for the doorknob, a pair of arms enveloped him from behind.
“Atlas, do you hate me too?” Sophia asked, her arms tightening around him from behind.
Her face pressed against his back; she rubbed against him, her fingertips teasingly exploring his skin.
“No.” Atlas felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest.
He pulled hard at the door, but it wouldn’t open.
“Atlas panicked and frantically tried to pry Sophia’s hand off him, but upon touching her, he was overcome with the urge to take advantage of the situation. Inappropriate images flooded his mind, leaving him frozen.
“Get lost!” Atlas suddenly yelled at her in fear.
Sophia was startled by him and saw him turn around and raise his hand to hit her.
Atlas slapped Sophia hard across the face. She looked up in shock, watching him storm out the door. He glared at her before leaving. “Are you out of your mind?”
Atlas slammed the door behind him.
Sophia clutched her stinging cheek, her eyes blazing with hatred.
“You hit me? You dare lay a hand on me, Atlas? If your blood wasn’t so useful, do you think I’d even bother with seducing you?” Sophia said coldly.
She thought of how Windsor had dragged her into the study and kept touching her belly just now.
Sophia suspected that Windsor wanted to do something to her baby. She whispered, “It seems that Windsor is after my belly. If Edie gets pregnant, will he also be after her?”
“A bunch of fools.” Sophia sneered.
After taking Atlas’s blood the night before, she felt her body was bursting with energy. Everything she did earlier was an act, feigning weakness to manipulate them.
But now, the Bennett family was beginning to guard against her. She couldn’t let that happen. With this in mind, she walked to the bedside, opened the secret compartment, took out the Love Spell, and placed it on the table. She cut her finger, dipped a pen in blood, and wrote the astrological signs of Atlas, Henry, and Caspian on the back of the talisman.
After that, she found a lighter and burned the talisman.
“As Sophia watched the talisman burn, a wave of comfort washed over her. She slipped off her torn camisole, sank onto the bed, and closed her eyes in blissful relaxation.
“Meanwhile, Atlas bolted down the stairs, losing a shoe in his frantic rush.
“Henry! Caspian!” Atlas called out, only to find that they were both gone.
He quickly took out his phone and instinctively called Odalys, but found that her phone was unreachable. Atlas was furious and roared in a low voice, “You blocked me?”
“Odalys, you hit me last night, and now you’re blocking me? Do you really want me dead?” Atlas was so angry he nearly cried.
He hurriedly called Caspian and asked, “Caspian, Sophia was trying to seduce me just now! I’m so scared, where are you?”
“Okay, I’ll come to you.” As Atlas spoke, he hurriedly pulled up his pants and walked out quickly.
Meanwhile, at Magic Entertainment.
“There were many visitors, leaving behind gifts and flowers at the gate. Despite the crowd, no one dared linger by the doors.
After Odalys finished her livestream, she drove to the company.
“As she got out of the car and walked toward the entrance, two figures emerged from behind a column, blocking her path.
“Caspian, Henry, what are you doing here?” Odalys frowned, obviously unhappy to see them. “Her eyes narrowed as she noticed the dark aura around them growing thicker, their misfortune evidently worsening.
She subconsciously took half a step back, keeping a distance from them. Even if their misfortune couldn’t affect her, she still didn’t like to stand too close to them.
“Odalys.” Caspian was stimulated by her action; he licked his lips and continued, “Can you help us?”
“What?” Odalys was a little surprised to hear this.
Chapter 494
Odalys had always thought the Bennett family carried themselves with a superior, untouchable air, yet here they were, bowing their heads in desperation.
Caspian was the first to speak. “We suspect there’s something wrong with Sophia. Our parents abandoned you, leaving you to freeze to death outside. We thought it was strange. Why would they cast away their biological daughter just to adopt someone with no blood ties?”
“He added, “They spoiled her, especially Dad. And when we looked back on it… What Dad did to Sophia three years ago was beyond suspicious.”
“He continued, “Let’s put that aside for now. Sophia was still a young lady of the Bennet family at the time. Why would she possess a Love Spell? Did she ever use it on us? And how could she possibly know how to control people with it?”
“I heard she used a Love Spell to manipulate the Tillerys, nearly killing someone. You saved them, though,” Caspian said.
Odalys listened with a smile but said nothing, merely observing them with indifference.
“Noticing her silence, Henry continued where Caspian left off. “We suspect something’s off.
Maybe Mom and Dad were brainwashed or tricked back then.”
Odalys found it rather amusing. She took half a step back and settled into a chair.
“Mrs. Stewart, have some coffee.” Dorian walked out with a tray of coffee. He set it on the table outside the company entrance, poured a cup, and handed it to her.
Odalys took the cup and sipped delicately, her gaze fixed elsewhere.
“We think it’s possible that Sophia used the talisman to control our minds. That might be why we targeted you and treated you so terribly back then. We… we weren’t in control of ourselves!” Henry continued.
Odalys let out a laugh, placing her cup back on the table.
“What? Now you’re blaming a Love Spell for the things you did yourselves?” Her voice, cold as ice, pierced through them like a sword.
“Her gaze hardened as she glared at them, disappointment written all over her face.
“She couldn’t believe they’d blame a Love Spell instead of taking responsibility for their immoral actions. They kept shifting the blame and claiming they were influenced by others.
Looking at their faces, she felt nothing but extreme disgust.
“Are you Bennett’s all cowards? You were exploiting and bullying me just to try and win over Sophia, weren’t you?” Odalys asked with a sarcastic smile.
She slowly stood up from her chair.
Walking up to Caspian and Henry, she looked them up and down as if trying to see right through them.
“Odalys asked, “Or was it that time when Sophia was taking a shower, and you intentionally opened the door, pretending you didn’t know she was in there, and initiated inappropriate physical contact?”
She added, “Or was it that time you invited her to a hotel under the guise of meeting sponsors, only to take advantage of her when she got drunk? Does that sound familiar?”
Odalys’s words cut through the air like knives, tearing away their thin veneer of dignity.
Caspian and Henry’s faces twisted, their lips trembling as they tried to speak but failed. Odalys continued, “Under the guise of love, you took advantage of her repeatedly. Do you think you’re innocent just because you didn’t sleep with her? You think being ambiguous absolves you?
“You disgust me! Even if she used a love spell to control you, even if your parents had ulterior motives for adopting her, you deserved it.”
She added, “And now, you have the audacity to come begging for my help? Harassing me with calls and showing up at my workplace. What makes you think you’re worth my time?”
“You’re filthy, through and through. The moment you forced me into that sham marriage, any ties between us were severed.”
She said coldly, “It doesn’t matter if you’re drowning in bad luck or if you die in front of me. I will never help you. Caspian, did you think I saved you last time because of some lingering familial bond? Don’t flatter yourself.”
Her every word pierced their hearts like daggers, leaving them speechless.
Henry clenched his fists. He was the CEO of the Bennett Group, yet Odalys humiliated him. Fury burned within him.
“Why would you save others for free but not us? We’re your brothers.” Caspian was on the verge of breaking down.
After everything that had happened recently, he knew that Odalys was the only one who could save them.
“I told you, you don’t deserve it,” Odalys said coldly.
Henry gasped, his face hardening as he stood there, fuming. “But I’m Percival’s stepfather now! I married Edie! By that logic, I’m your father-in- law.”
Odalys was stunned by his shamelessness. She stared at him.
“Henry, you’ve truly outdone yourself. You sold yourself out to cling to the Simpson family and still dare to try and leverage a connection to the Stewart family?” Odalys couldn’t help but laugh out of sheer disbelief.
A few claps rang out.
Evander came out of Magic Entertainment. He exuded an aura of righteousness, his gray suit lending him an air of authority as he stood there, commanding respect without a word.
His gaze made Henry’s scalp tingle. The arrogance he had displayed before Odalys dissipated in an instant, replaced by a wave of unease and fear.
He had no idea Evander would show up at Odalys’s company.
“Trying to become the stepfather of my grandson? Funny, I don’t recall the Stewart family having any ties to you,” Evander said, his voice laced with anger as he strode forward.
Henry, overwhelmed by Evander’s aura, subconsciously stepped back.
Evander said, “Do you think my family is an easy target? Or is Odalys someone you can bully and manipulate with moral coercion? The Bennett family doesn’t deserve my granddaughter-in-law’ s help.”
“Or do you believe that crawling into Edie’s bed and selling yourself gives you the right to threaten the Stewart family? Henry, your sordid little bedroom tricks have nothing to do with us.” Evander’s words cut like knives.
Henry was humiliated by his words but dared not retort.
“As for why your parents adopted Sophia home to seduce you, that’s your family’s mess to deal with. It has nothing to do with Odalys. You should ask your father instead of threatening her here.”
“A bunch of shameless, self-indulgent fools who can’t even control themselves dare to come here and make a scene?” Evander roared, his fury palpable.
Every word he said made Henry ashamed.
No one had ever dared to humiliate him like this, let alone openly accuse him of selling his body as if he were some common gigolo. Yet he couldn’t refute a single word.
He did have an affair with Edie, and he did marry her after having sex with her. He did want to use this relationship to gain favor with the Stewart family.
“But his plan had backfired spectacularly. Edie wasn’t as easily manipulated as he thought. In fact, she was now intent on killing him.
“…” Henry’s lips moved.
Chapter 495
“He was about to speak when he heard Atlas’s voice behind him. Atlas had parked the car and was hurrying towards them, his clothes slightly disheveled.
“Henry, Caspian.” Atlas panted, his legs feeling weak.
He was still afraid, feeling as if Sophia’s soft hands were still wandering over his body.
“In the past, when she threw herself into his arms, acting coy, he felt protective and indulgent. Now, however, her touch felt like a snake slithering on his skin, making his hair stand on end.
Odalys couldn’t help but laugh when she saw his expression.
As Atlas ran over and stood with them, a cloud of black mist rose around them as if to engulf them all.
“The mist had been dense before, but now it was pushing toward their foreheads, poised to seep into their very essence.
“Odalys thought, “Sophia must be desperate to have used the Love Spell again.”
“How about it?” Evander turned and asked Odalys.
Odalys reached out her hand to cover her lips, lowering her voice as she spoke to him. “You were quite intimidating just now, scolding them relentlessly. It was awesome.”
Evander felt a bit smug after being praised by her.
Last night, after returning from the time tunnel, he sat under the tree in front of the Stewart family’s house for a long time, until he fell asleep and woke up in the morning. His mood suddenly brightened considerably.
Knowing that Odalys had brought his son back, he seemed to have hope in his heart, vaguely feeling that he would have the opportunity to see his son again in the future.
“Odalys, we were wrong about what happened in the past. Now, the three of us are here to sincerely apologize to you. We hope that you can forgive us and save us.” Caspian suddenly spoke up.
He was someone who could let go of pride when necessary. Now, he didn’t even care about his dignity. All he wanted was to live.
“Especially after realizing that the strange occurrences at his estate might be the work of the Stewart family, he felt that his life now depended entirely on their goodwill.
“Odalys! Just now, Sophia tried to seduce me! Look at the injuries on my body. She did this! She’s trying to kill me!” Atlas quickly interjected.
He lifted his clothes, wanting to show her his injuries.
But Odalys only glanced at him. She then reached out to support Evander’s arm, and said, ” Evander, it’s too sunny outside. Let’s go inside.” “Okay,” Evander responded indulgently.
Dorian stood there, watching the others who wanted to follow.
He quickly picked up a cup, splashed it at them, and said, “This is a sacred place for mystics. Outsiders are not welcome!”
Atlas was dumbfounded.
He thought Odalys would sympathize with him a little, but she just walked away.
“Isn’t Magic Entertainment supposed to allow people to go in and offer prayer? Can’t we at least go in to pay our respects?” Atlas grumbled, still unwilling to give up.
“He charged toward the door, but just as he got close, a sudden force struck him, sending him flying backward.
Atlas fell to the ground, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. He looked at the door in disbelief and whispered, “Is she really that powerful?”
He was bounced out without even touching anything.
“Let’s go.” Henry reached out, pulled up Atlas, and dragged him out.
After getting into the car, they didn’t drive away immediately but sat quietly.
Caspian irritably took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Listening to Atlas recount what had just happened, he remained silent, staring thoughtfully at the entrance of Magic Entertainment.
“This time, she really left us to die!” Caspian said.
Henry sat in the driver’s seat, his phone vibrating constantly. He glanced at the number on the screen. It was Edie calling.
“It seems we can only save ourselves. We need to find a way to get the Love Spell. Since Sophia can use the Love Spell to manipulate others into doing her bidding, then if we acquire them, we can not only save ourselves but perhaps even…” Henry didn’t finish his sentence but stared at the entrance of Magic Entertainment.
Henry swore the humiliation they suffered today would not be forgotten. Retribution would come. He didn’t believe the Stewart family could protect Odalys forever. A wealthy and powerful family like the Stewarts would definitely kick her out once she was no longer useful.
They only acknowledged her now because she was a source of public attention and admiration.
“Where can we get a Love Spell?” Atlas Bennett asked, confused.
He had never come into contact with magic and had no idea where to find an expert.
Henry said thoughtfully, “Track down everyone Sophia has been in contact with. I refuse to believe we can’t find the person who sold her the Love Spell. And if we can’t get them that way… perhaps Sophia herself already has some.”
He added, “Control her, and the Love Spell is ours.”
Caspian remained silent, neither objecting nor supporting.
“Caspian, what do you think?” Henry glanced at him and asked.
Only after being called out did Caspian take out his lighter, light the cigarette, take a drag, and flick the ash out the window.
Caspian said, “I feel like everything started with the abandonment of Odalys. What made Mom and Dad abandon her? What made them bring Sophia home? Was it the lure of profit, or something else?
“Why did Dad defile Sophia before he went abroad? With his status, he could have any woman he wanted. Why Sophia?”
Caspian analyzed, “Was there something special about her virginity? Or was there something special about her body? I had someone look into it. Dad didn’t look for any woman after he went abroad.”
If Windsor just wanted to cheat on Hannah, he could have had a mistress in those three years he was abroad, but he didn’t.
He didn’t sleep with Hannah after he came back, but he sought out Sophia.
“Caspian didn’t believe that Windsor was madly in love with Sophia. He thought there was something about Sophia that compelled Windsor, something unusual.
“Atlas, did you just say that Sophia tricked you into her room and tried to seduce you?” Henry suddenly asked.
Atlas had a bad feeling.
“He quickly stepped aside, afraid to answer and worried that Henry would put him in a dangerous situation.
“Since she seduced you, it means you have some allure to her. Why don’t you just go along with it and see how you feel after sleeping with her?” Henry said.
Atlas’s heart sank.
“Henry.” Atlas looked at him in disbelief.
He couldn’t believe that Henry actually wanted him to sleep with Sophia. It was no different from sending him to death. However, he had just escaped a grave danger.
“Atlas retorted, “Why don’t you go yourself? She’s tried to seduce you before. Just the other day, weren’t you two practically glued together? You couldn’t even pull yourselves apart!”
Every fiber of Atlas’s being resisted the idea. The thought of “sleeping” with Sophia was unthinkable. He feared it would be his end.
Unbeknownst to them, there was a surveillance camera in front of the Magic Entertainment agency, and their car windows were not closed. Everything they said was captured by the camera.
“Are all the Bennetts this strange?” Clarence said after a long silence.
“He couldn’t believe Henry asked Atlas to sleep with Sophia to see if she was special. That was something no normal person would say, let alone to their family members.
Chapter 496
Evander watched the scene on the surveillance camera without saying a word.
He poured Odalys a cup of coffee and handed it to her. “At this rate, Bennett Group’s good fortune is coming to an end.”
“Evander continued, “You don’t need any knowledge of energy fields to see this. Just observe the Bennett children’s personalities and mindsets. When they face problems, they don’t seek solutions but rather try to shift the burden onto others.”
He continued, “Take Henry, for instance. He suggests sending Atlas to seduce Sophia to see if she possesses Love Spell. But what if Atlas loses his life in the process? What then?”
“I’d heard that Henry was ruthless in his business dealings after he took over. It seems that’s true,” Evander said disdainfully.
“As Clarence Lark listened, his frown relaxed.
“It’s truly shameful that they don’t care about their siblings. Odalys, don’t fall for the Bennett family’s tricks.” Clarence advised.
Looking at Odalys’s delicate face and recalling her actions in the time tunnel last night, Clarence liked her even more. He thought it was a pity that she was married to Percival.
Otherwise, he would have encouraged his less promising grandson to step up.
“He knew Edie was Hannah’s old friend, yet he had an affair with Edie and still married her, even defying his parents’ wishes. He’d do anything to get ahead, even stoop to selling his body. What kind of future could someone like that have?” Dorian chimed in.
He also looked down on Henry.
“Sophia used a Love Spell,” Odalys suddenly said. Her words silenced the entire office. Everyone turned to look at her in shock, thinking they had misheard.
“Love Spell?” Evander’s eyes widened in shock. He instantly perked up, straightening his back for fear of missing a single word.
“Odalys explained, “Yes. When Henry and Caspian arrived earlier, I only sensed a dark mist surrounding them. However, when Atlas joined them, their aura drastically declined, and the dark mist intensified, threatening to consume them completely.”
“I smelled the scent of a Love Spell on him. Sophia has made her move again.” Odalys couldn’t help but chuckle.
Sophia wouldn’t back down so easily. Being rejected by them must have fueled her determination.
“What will happen to them after she uses the Love Spell?” Evander asked anxiously.
Odalys took a sip of coffee, tapped her finger on the table, and said, “Their guard will drop around her. Although they reject her, they will subconsciously want to please her.”
“Moreover, Oliver will find them soon,” Odalys added.
She had just finished speaking and looked up at the surveillance screen.
Henry was sitting in the driver’s seat. As he looked at Atlas, his phone vibrated. Thinking it was Edie, he was about to hang up.
When he saw the familiar number flashing on the screen, Henry suddenly sat straight up in alert.
“Hello.” Henry’s voice trembled.
Oliver had disappeared since their argument at the hospital. Henry tried to find him through connections, but Oliver avoided him. After learning about the Bennett family’s troubles, others were unwilling to help.
He didn’t expect Oliver to call him now.
“The Bennett family is doomed,” Oliver said in a deep voice.
“Henry’s smile faded as he heard the words, prompting the other two to draw closer. He put the call on speaker so everyone could hear.
“Mr. Carline, what do you mean?” Henry gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to control his emotions.
Recently, he found himself becoming impatient and irritable.
“Have you brothers been experiencing frequent accidents lately? Bloodshed, or maybe someone was injured in a fight, a car accident, or even threats against your lives? And unrest in the household as well?” Oliver’s voice was calm. Henry exchanged glances with the other two. “Then what do you mean, Mr. Carline?” Henry asked, pretending to be puzzled.
Sensing that Henry was tilted, Oliver coughed lightly.
“I feel a certain connection with your family. I can help you resolve your issues, but you’ll need to trade something in return. I want the necklace that Odalys once gave your mother.” Oliver made a request.
Henry fell silent.
Trying to get the necklace from Odalys was simply a fool’s dream.
“Not only were the three of them unable to defeat her together, but they also wouldn’t dare provoke the Stewart family. To do so would be suicide.
“Besides the necklace, is there any other choice?” Henry asked.
“Her blood will do as well.” Oliver didn’t hesitate to say.
“Okay,” Henry said, nodding at them. “When will you arrive at Bennett Villa? We’ll discuss this in detail then.”
“Now,” Oliver said.
“He desperately needed Odalys’s necklace, or something else she owned, to suppress the mark on his face. Without it, Lockfang would deepen, the miscarried child growing stronger and draining him of his positive energy.
“Alright, we’ll go home and wait for you.” Henry hung up the phone after speaking.
Caspian fell back into his chair in frustration. He ran his fingers through his hair forcefully. “Henry, are you sure you can get him these things?” “I’ve promised him. We’ll deal with it when the time comes. For now, we need to focus on dealing with the immediate issues,” Henry said. Atlas sat there, his chest constricted, as if an invisible hand was clutching at him.
“Let’s go home,” Henry said, starting the car and turning it around to head toward Bennett Villa.
In the office, Odalys watched the scene unfold on the surveillance camera and listened to the conversation between Henry and Oliver. She propped her chin on her hand, deep in thought. “The Bennetts are utterly shameless, Evander muttered angrily, slamming his hand on the desk. He hadn’t expected that Henry would target Odalys.
“Evander, don’t be angry. I’ve been stirring things behind the scenes.” Odalys hurriedly calmed Evander down before telling him about how Oliver had plotted against the producer and his wife.
As Evander listened, a hint of doubt flickered in his sharp eyes.
“It was the two who came here yesterday at noon.” Odalys reminded him.
“Hearing this, Clarence slapped his thigh. “I remember! We were just leaving when that man rushed over, supporting a pregnant woman. He was even praying her baby wouldn’t be miscarried.”
“So it was them.” Evander suddenly realized.
Hearing this, Dorian also hurriedly pulled up a chair and leaned closer.
The office fell silent, and the surroundings kept changing as if the four seasons were repeating themselves.
“Evander remarked, “He plotted against Zachery’s wife, hoping to cause a miscarriage and intensify the resentment of the unborn child. Now, through your charm, that unborn child has been transformed into a Lockfang, striking Oliver’s face.”
“He’s in such a hurry to find Henry and the others. Is he trying to resolve this problem?” Evander asked hurriedly.
Chapter 497
Odalys nodded.
“She sipped the coffee Dorian had made. She said, “Yes, Lockfang is from that stillborn child. If he doesn’t get rid of it, it will just keep growing on his face.”
She continued, “This child, having died prematurely, doesn’t understand human emotions or morality. It acts purely out of self- interest, which is why it continuously drains Oliver’s life force.”
“Over time, as it absorbs his energy, the Lockfang will grow larger on his face. Once his face can no longer sustain its growth.” She paused, her tone heavy. “It will try to invade his body entirely, seeking to take over.”
Clarence drew a sharp breath, his scalp tingling with unease. “Are you saying it could replace him?” Odalyse picked up a sheet of paper and began sketching, speaking as she worked. “Exactly. Think of it as the moon waxes and wanes, and people experience joy and sorrow. Everything follows a certain rhythm.”
She explained, “People and their shadows exist in harmony, one is the person, the other their reflection. But if someone were to summon their shadow, and that shadow developed malevolent intent, it might try to reverse the roles, turning
the person into the shadow and taking their place.”
“Her explanation left them all stunned.
“So, Lockfang is effectively merging with Oliver. To remove it, he needs a source of powerful energy to force it out,” she continued.
“Oliver must have realized that the necklace I gave to Hannah is imbued with such energy. If he gets his hands on it, he could use it to remove the Lockfang.”
She added, “He could also absorb its power, strengthening himself and using it to harm me in return. He wants me out of the way so he can secure his position in Crownridge.”
Hearing that Oliver intended to eliminate Odalyse, Evander’s fury erupted.
“If he’s that dangerous, let’s just kill him now,” he declared, rising to his feet with the intent to act immediately. His decisive nature left no room for hesitation.
Seeing his urgency, Odalyse quickly stood and intercepted him. “Evander, we can’t kill him yet.”
Odalys said, “Oliver recently met with the tailor in the courtyard house in the small alley. That same tailor is now hiding in Bennett Villa. My plan is to lure Oliver there and make them meet.” She continued, “I’ll use their interaction to uncover the truth about what happened to the Stewart family all those years ago. Someone has been erasing every trace of their involvement, staying hidden in the shadows. This is our chance to draw them out.”
She added, “I also like to use Oliver to disrupt Bennett Villa, make Hannah and Windsor turn against each other, and force their hand.”
“I want to see who encouraged them to abandon me and send Sophia to the Bennett family back then,” Odalys said.
Everything seemed far-fetched, but every step was under her control.
“She was leading everyone into her web, ensuring they revealed the secrets themselves. Evander sank into thought upon hearing this. “Someone wanted the Bennett family to abandon you, leaving you to freeze on a snowy night while bringing Sophia into their home.
What does the Bennett family have that others would go to such lengths to obtain?” Evander murmured.
It felt like something was missing, something he could almost grasp but not quite.
Odalys replied, “Someone has been constantly enhancing Sophia’s aura. After I broke the formation of the person who was doing it before, he suffered backlash and died tragically in that villa in the suburbs.”
She added, “That villa has been sealed off by the police. They could only move. The alley where Oliver had his accident yesterday should be their temporary hideout.
“They need people’s prayers, but now after Zachery made a scene there, no one dares to go there, and the police have sealed off the place. So, Oliver has nowhere to go.”
“Logically, Oliver should be the one supporting Sophia, but something doesn’t add up. I can’t shake the feeling that there’s someone else behind all this,” Odalyse admitted, a trace of frustration in her voice.
It was as if the true mastermind was a magician, always slipping away just as she thought she had caught them.
“Odalyse, don’t rush! The more anxious you are, the easier it is for others to lead you by the nose,” Evander said, his heart aching at the sight of her troubled expression.
“That’s right, Odalys. Don’t worry. We old folks can help you.” Brandon was eager to try.
For a moment, it felt like an opportunity to prove their worth had landed right in their laps.
Despite their age, their network and resources were still formidable. They might not be able to handle everything, but scheming in the background was well within their expertise.
“Alright, thank you,” Oddalys replied with a lighthearted smile.
Watching the three elderly men settle back onto the sofa and engage in a spirited discussion, she noticed Evander picking up his phone to rally his old friends.
Odalys sipped her coffee, watching them focus on their tasks. She decided not to disturb them any further. She picked up her car keys, and quietly made her way outside.
As she got into the car, the ring in her backpack emitted a wave of heat.
“Ouch!” She felt the intense heat and quickly grabbed her canvas bag to open it.
Putting the ring on her finger and feeling its warmth, she gently stroked it and said, “Okay, I understand. Don’t worry. I’ll be right there.”
This ring had been gifted to her by a young general during a ritual at Film Capital. Though he had passed on, some parts of his soul stubbornly lingered within the ring.
“Don’t worry. I’ll avenge you soon. After I’ve taken care of things, I’ll reunite your souls and let you be a normal person again,” Odalys whispered reassuringly.
Then, the scorching heat from the ring vanished, as if nothing had happened.
Just as she was about to start the car, something darted through the open window, slapping onto her wrist.
“Ouch,” she muttered, lowering her head.
She saw something lying on her wrist, leaving a red welt on her skin.
The culprit was a snake, now coiled tightly around her wrist. It slithered to the steering wheel, wrapped around it, and then leaped onto the dashboard before settling on the passenger seat.
“The snake raised its head slowly, flicking its tongue as it locked eyes with her.
Odalys rubbed her wrist and stared back at it.
“You’re this desperate to find me?” Odalys asked, reaching out to touch the snake’s head in annoyance. The snake snorted and turned away from her as if offended.
Odalys was dumbfounded, never expecting the snake to give her the cold shoulder.
“Are you mad? I didn’t mean to ignore you. Thank you for going to the hotel the night before yesterday to warn Francis and the others.” Odalys said softly.
Only after hearing her thank you did the little snake slowly turn its head to look at her.
Chapter 498
“You did well! So I’ll reward you,” Odalys said as she reached out to poke the snake lightly on its head.
The snake’s body stiffened, seemingly in anticipation.
“When her finger touched its head, a tingling sensation coursed through its body, and it felt as though it was wrapped in a bright light.
Moments later, it slumped onto the seat, unconscious.
“She fainted from that?” Odalys was dumbfounded.
“The snake was knocked after a small reward. Scratching her nose, she rolled up the car window and started driving toward the film studio.
“By the time Odalys arrived, it was already 4 pm. “The area felt quieter than usual, with fewer actors walking around. Most of them were likely inside shooting scenes.
Outside, the only people around were a lady selling hotdogs and a small stand making smoothies.
“After parking her car by the roadside, Odalys tucked the unconscious snake into her canvas bag and planned to grab a drink. Just as she turned toward the stand, she noticed a group of men in sunglasses heading straight for her with a menacing aura.
Odalys stopped in her tracks, observing the hostility in their movements.
“You are Odalys, right?” The leader asked menacingly, blocking her way.
“The leader waved a metal rod in front of her, while the two men on either side brandished fruit knives. Behind her, two more men armed with electric batons cut off her escape. “Yes,” Odalys replied in a low voice.
The leader took off his sunglasses and glanced at her contemptuously.
The leader asked, “So it’s you? A young woman playing tricks and pretending to be mystical. Was it you who live-streamed fortune-telling yesterday and caused someone’s death?”
Odalys listened, guessing who they were. “Yes.” She nodded again. No wonder she felt uneasy when she came. Someone was here to make trouble for her.
“You’d better behave and come with us!” The leader swung the rod threateningly. The two men flanking her grabbed her arms and pushed her forward.
Odalys stumbled but didn’t resist. She could easily take them down if she wanted to, but she chose not to fight back. Since the trouble had found her, it needed to be resolved.
They “invited” her to a corner where a black luxury car was parked. The leader walked up to the car and knocked on the window.
“The door opened slowly, and a portly man with a round face stepped out.
His black T-shirt stretched tightly over his protruding belly, making him look about six months pregnant. His expression was full of anger as he glared at Odalys.
The moment he saw her face, the man’s anger turned to lechery.
“You’re Odalys?” He sneered, his beady eyes scanning her. “Yesterday, you told my sister-in- law to come to my house and cause trouble?” Odalys stood there, glancing at him coldly before her gaze landed on the back seat of the car.
“What goes around comes around,” Odalys said coldly.
“The back door opened, and the woman from yesterday’s livestream stepped out with reddened eyes. Spotting Odalys, she rushed over and pointed at her. “It’s her!”
“She told me to come after you!” The woman’s voice trembled with indignation. “She told me to confront your son, to make him say he’d give my son’s life force back. It’s all her doing!”
Her emotions flared as she jabbed a finger at Odalys, though she faltered slightly when their eyes met.
Odalys tilted her head, studying the woman. Her eyes were red, but the greed in them was unmistakable. Disgusted, Odalys turned away and looked into the distance with a bitter expression.
“It seems you’ve given up your child’s life for money,” Odalys said coldly.
“The woman froze, shocked by the words. Her face twisted, and her anger flared once more.
“Nonsense! My son died because of you! If you hadn’t deliberately told me to confront my brother-in-law, my son wouldn’t have gotten into this mess!” The woman continued shifting the blame, her voice growing shriller.
Hearing this, Odalys strode forward.
Seeing her approaching, the woman took a step back in a panic.
Odalys reached out and snatched her backpack, then fiercely flung it back. Then, banknotes tumbled out of the bag, scattering all over the ground.
“My money! My money!” The woman shrieked and dove to the ground, frantically grabbing at the scattered cash.
Odalys stepped forward and stomped on her hand.
“She rarely bothered targeting anyone, especially a defenseless woman. But this woman had taken things too far. She distorted the truth, twisting right and wrong.
The truth was painfully clear. Yesterday, the woman had indeed been seeking justice for her son, hoping to reclaim her son’s life force she’d sold. But fear overtook her at the critical moment.
“Fearful of confrontation and resistance, she ultimately blamed Odalys, convinced that she was the instigator.
“After midnight, she couldn’t get her nephew to promise he would “return the life force” to her son. Tragically, her son fell gravely ill last night and passed away at the hospital.
“She could have simply persevered, especially since her brother-in-law was absent. All that was needed was for the child to promise to give back her son’s life force. Yet, fear gripped her.
“She feared her brother-in-law’s retaliation, feared being discovered, and ultimately cowered instead of fighting back.
“Overwhelmed with remorse when her son passed away, she confided in her brother-in-law, revealing everything and urging him to confront Odalys.
“My hand, my hand!” The woman screamed and struggled.
But her hand was stepped on by Odalys, and she felt as if her bones were about to be crushed.
The woman looked up and met Odalys’s cold gaze in horror. She panicked, her lips moved, her eyes flickered and she didn’t dare to look at her. “You’re framing me? It’s you who was too cowardly to save your son! You didn’t even dare to fight for his life!”
Odalys’s voice was low. She continued, “Your brother-in-law didn’t know anything, yet you manipulated him into coming after me. You even encouraged him by saying I was pretty enough to give him a healthy son, urging him to kidnap me as a mistress!”
She never targeted anyone, but this woman had already angered her.
“You, how do you know?” The woman was terrified.
“Only she and her brother-in-law knew about these things, but she didn’t expect Odalys to blurt it out. It was as if Odalys overheard the conversation herself.
“Be kind. Even if you can’t manage kindness, don’ t go around harming others for no reason. You’ve truly angered me today.” Odalys said coldly.
She shuddered at the thought of how many innocent lives this woman might ruin if left unchecked.
“Grab her! Didn’t you say you wanted a beautiful woman to give you a healthy son? Look at her.
She has such a great figure and a fat butt. She’s perfect!” The woman cried out, her voice laced with pain and desperation.
Her words only emboldened the portly man. His gaze grew even more lascivious as he looked at Odalys.
“Get her in the car! If she dared harm my son, she could make it up to me by giving me a new, healthy one,” he ordered, gesturing for his men to seize her.
Chapter 499
Several henchmen brandished their weapons and charged forward. Odalys remained still, though her fists clenched tightly.
Before she could act, a deep, commanding voice cut through the tension. “Don’t even think about touching her.”
Percival’s voice, laced with authority and menace, echoed through the air. Instantly, he appeared before Odalys with lightning speed, his long leg shooting out in a powerful kick aimed at the leader.
“The leader was sent flying, the iron rod in his hand snatched away midair. Immediately, Percival brought the rod crashing down on the man’s arm.
The man cried out in pain. He felt his arm had been shattered. Percival’s foot connected with his chest, sending him flying once more.
The two remaining men, armed with switchblades, lunged forward.
They didn’t stand a chance. Percival effortlessly caught them by the necks, slamming them to the ground with brutal force. Their heads hit the pavement with a sickening thud, blood oozing from the impact.
Seeing this, the other man backed away in fear. He turned to leave but was kicked in the back and sent flying into a green belt.
“The brother-in-law was stunned, frozen in place. He couldn’t believe his most capable subordinate had been taken down, especially since he hadn’t even seen it happen. These subordinates usually did the fighting for him, and they had never encountered such a formidable opponent.
“Damn it! How dare you ruin my plans!” the brother-in-law shouted.
He charged forward with his large belly, but before he could get close, Percival punched him in the face. His nose was broken, and blood gushed from his nostrils.
“My nose, my stomach,” the brother-in-law groaned, clutching his face as he stumbled back. His belly was met with a swift kick, sending him crashing into the open car door. It was as if his stomach had been sliced open upon impact.
He screamed in pain, staring in horror at the deep gash on his belly, blood oozing out relentlessly.
He realized Percival was different from the ordinary people he had bullied before.
“Dressed in a crisp black shirt and tailored slacks, Percival exuded a composed yet lethal aura. He had a tall, commanding figure and chiseled features. However, his eyes gleamed with menace.
The brother-in-law couldn’t help but shiver. He was scared, his body aching so much that he couldn’t move.
“Want her to bear your children?” Percival threw the iron rod aside with a clang.
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, methodically wiping his elegant fingers. Then, with meticulous precision, he rolled up his sleeves to reveal a strong, muscular forearm. The brother-in-law was stunned by his powerful aura. He wanted to speak but found himself couldn’t utter a single word.
His face was filled with fear. He knew that he had messed with someone he shouldn’t have.
“After starting his business and making money through loan sharking, he habitually bullied ordinary people, believing himself to be king.
He didn’t expect to encounter such a formidable opponent today.
“Cursing your younger brother’s son is already unconscionable. But letting a woman incite you to abduct someone and force them to bear your child? You’re despicable man,” Percival said coldly.
His voice was firm and powerful as if everything was under his control.
The brother-in-law clutched his bleeding stomach and scrambled to his feet. Meeting Percival’s unyielding gaze, he blustered, “Are you threatening me? Who do you think you are?”
“Do you think you’re above the law? Do you think you can kill me?” Though his words were defiant, his shaking voice betrayed his fear.
Percival didn’t bother responding. Instead, he pulled out his phone and made a call.
“The brother-in-law watched as Percival made a call. He vaguely caught the chilling words, “Get rid of him.” Before he could hear more, Percival had already ended the call.
“Panicked, the brother-in-law grabbed his phone, preparing to call the police.
“However, his phone buzzed before he could dial. Answering the call, his assistant’s frantic voice came through. “Gareth, it’s bad! The company’s been shut down! Our accounts are frozen!”
The assistant continued, “All those shady deals we never legalized were exposed. The authorities seized our records, and they found evidence of your illegal money lending, breaking into homes, and assaulting people.”
“Worse, they’re saying you’ve got blood on your hands. The police are on their way to arrest you. You’ve got to run!” the assistant urged.
“Impossible… That’s not possible. I’ve operated for years without issues. I’ve got people protecting me!” the brother-in-law, Gareth, muttered.
As soon as he finished speaking, his assistant became even more afraid.
He said, “Gareth, your so-called protector has already been arrested. He’s the one who turned you in! If you don’t run now, it’s the death penalty for sure!”
“Before Gareth could respond, the line went dead.
“How could this be? Who are you?” Gareth was scared now.
“It was no wonder he sensed Percival’s formidable presence. Percival was someone not to be trifled with. His years of hard work building the company were gone, just like that.
Even the murders he thought he’d buried deep had come to light.
“He seemed dazed for a moment before lunging forward and kicking the woman. He shouted, ” Damn it! You’re the one who tricked me! You said she was a danger to my son and told me to kidnap her and force her to bear my child!”
“Now my company is gone and I’m in trouble. Why don’t you just die? I shouldn’t have cursed your son. I should have cursed you to extend my son’s life instead!” Gareth snapped while punching the woman.
The woman didn’t expect her brother-in-law to hit her.
“She was dazed. While she was being beaten, Odalys had already released the woman’s hand
and looked away as her brother-in-law continued to hit her. Odalys did not intervene.
One shouldn’t be soft-hearted, let alone sympathize with others easily.
Odalyse gave the woman a free fortune-telling session, originally wanting to save her son. However, she didn’t expect that woman to blame her in return.
“Luckily, her self-defense skills were good. She was also relieved that Percival had arrived when he did. She dreaded what might have happened if it had been someone else.
“That woman’s cruel actions had caused her son’s misfortune.
“Originally, that woman could have saved her son. Odalyse had divined yesterday that if this woman simply asked, her brother-in-law’s son would vow to give back his life force to her son. However, that woman was cowardly and greedy. “She could have saved her son initially, but she chose to leverage the situation as a reminder to pressure her brother-in-law for more money.
“It hurts! Don’t hit me!” the woman shrieked, shielding herself.
Still, she found the strength to retort, “Catch her! That man must be her lapdog. If you capture her, you’ll have leverage. If he doesn’t listen, strip her in front of him!”
Hearing this, Odalys looked at the woman coldly,
“It had been a long time since she was this furious. She couldn’t believe how vicious this woman was. She’d done nothing wrong to this woman, yet this woman was hostile toward her. Thinking of this, Odalys raised her hand and swung it fiercely in the air.
Chapter 500
“An invisible force slapped the woman with a resounding crack, sending her front teeth flying. Her head snapped to the side, blood gushing from her mouth.
She screamed in pain. The force sent her crashing into Gareth’s arms.
“Before Gareth could react, she collided with him, pinning him beneath a nearby car. His weight trapped him under the chassis, crushing the woman’s foot in the process.
“The pain was intense. Gareth held her legs down, making it impossible to move. As she opened her mouth, another tooth came loose. “My leg, my mouth, my teeth!” she wailed, her face contorted in agony.
She watched as Odalys stood not far away, her hands clasped behind her back, staring at her.
At that moment, the woman came to her senses, looked at Odalys, and subconsciously shrank her body, her lips trembled as she said, “I thought you were devout? How can you hit me?” “Aren’t you afraid of retribution? You will be punished for hitting me. I’ll curse you!” the woman said.
She raised the finger pointing at Odalys, and the moment she stretched it out, a loud sound was heard. A brick flew out of nowhere and smashed toward her finger.
Then, one of her fingers was severed. She stared in disbelief at her now four-fingered hand, blood dripping from the stump of her missing finger. “My hand! my finger!” the woman screamed in terror.
Odalys walked up to her, stood tall, looked down at her, and said, “Do you know who threw that brick just now? It’s your son.”
“My son? You’re talking nonsense!” The woman panicked even more when she heard it was her son who threw it.
Odalys smirked faintly, enjoying the woman’s descent into terror.
“With a casual wave of her hand, the sky darkened. A chill wind swept through the area, and in the dim light, a frail figure emerged. It was a boy, his eyes fixed on the woman with a cold, accusing glare.
“Mom, why did you harm me?” the boy’s voice echoed.
“Why did you take money from him, using me as a tool for pity? Why didn’t you save me? Yesterday, all you had to do was ask him to return my life force. I could have been saved. But you chose money over me,” the boy said, stepping closer with each word.
The woman shook her head frantically, struggling to free her crushed leg, but the pain immobilized her.
“No! I couldn’t save you. It was Odalys who lied! She said you could be saved, but it was all a trick!” she cried, desperate to shift the blame.
But the boy stood before her, gazing at her with disappointment.
“She didn’t lie. She was saving me. She told you how to save me, but you didn’t. You are the one who killed me.” The boy lunged at her.
“The woman was so terrified when he lunged at her that she involuntarily urinated.
Fortunately, the little boy stopped at the last moment.
He stared at her blankly and said, “In the next life, I don’t want to be your son anymore.”
“I’ll let you off. Don’t let me see you in the next life.” The little boy added, his words pierced the woman’s heart. She regretted it.
She reached out to grab him, but he turned and walked away.
“His figure grew smaller and smaller until it vanished entirely. As he disappeared, the dark clouds parted, and sunlight poured down once more, blinding her.
“My son, don’t go.” The woman tried desperately to keep him, but it was too late.
She looked at Odalys, realizing she must have helped her son’s appearance just now.
“Odalys, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have tried to harm you. I should have saved my son. Give me another chance, let me save him again.” The woman said, trying to crawl forward.
Unfortunately, it was all futile.
Odalys stared at the woman before her, a mixture of hatred and pity swirling within her.
“Grief was etched on the woman’s face, the pain of losing her son ever-present.
It was karma, pure and simple. The woman had a life-altering trial. If she had chosen to save her son, she would have passed her ordeal unharmed.
“But she had not. Instead, she had watched her son die, and now his resentment compounded her misfortune, ensuring her fate was sealed. As Odalys considered this, a wave of emotion washed over herm, perhaps relief, perhaps something else entirely. She didn’t look back, instead turning and striding away.
Percival stood at a distance, a smoothie and a hot dog in hand. Seeing her approach, he moved to meet her.
“Hungry? Have some of this,” he said.
The thought of stopping her from enjoying street food never crossed his mind.
He had parked nearby just as she got out of the car and headed for the stall. While she handled the troublesome group, he had quietly ordered and packed the food for her.
“Alright,” Odalys replied in a low voice.
She took a bite of the hot dog. Percival thoughtfully put a straw in for her and handed her the smoothie.
“I haven’t eaten any of these in a long time. They taste pretty good. Do you want to try some?” Odalys asked with a smile as she held the hot dog to his mouth.
She was just being polite, but she didn’t expect Percival to take a bite where she had just bitten. Odalys was stunned. She watched him take a bite, then chew gently and say, “It’s delicious.” “Odalys froze, staring at the spot where his lips had touched. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks, and her mind couldn’t help but conjure the thought of an indirect kiss.
The owner of the roadside stall stood there, looking into the distance.
Just now, someone squatted nearby and started livestreaming. The scene just now was all broadcast live. Even some extras were watching the livestream.
“That’s so bad. That woman is malicious! Odalys gave her a free fortune-telling and taught her how to save her son, yet she repaid Odalys’s kindness with treachery and harm.”
“I’m so mad. I’m going to go beat her up.”
“And me, count me in.”
Many extras ran out angrily. Seeing the location, they quickly found where Gareth had parked his car.
A group of people rushed up and began to punch and kick Gareth and the woman.
Soon, a police car drove over. By the time the police arrived, Gareth had been severely beaten and was taken away by the police.
The woman was injured, and the police called an ambulance for her.
When the police called the ambulance, she panicked. Afraid that her son would come back to claim her life, she hurriedly dragged her broken leg and rushed out.
Unexpectedly, there was a pit in front of her. She missed her footing and fell. Then, her body was impaled by the steel pipes erected inside the pit. By the time the ambulance arrived, she was barely breathing. As she was being carried into the ambulance, she vaguely saw her son.
At that moment, a vision appeared before her, an alternate life. She had no selfish desires, and after saving her son, she won the lottery and lived happily ever after with him. But her greed and mistrust had led her astray.
She had doubted Odalys and believed her son could survive without her intervention. That single choice had cost her everything.
Her trial, her fate, had always been tied to her son.
If her son died, she had to die too, but if her son lived, she would have a happy life and wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. It was a pity she didn’t know.
“She died. That’s karma,” someone said indignantly.
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