Chapter 601
”Besides, my master was the one who had raised me all these years and even saved my life, not the Bennett family. Don’t think I don’t know why you brought me back. Your only goal was to make me a substitute bride, wasn’t it?
“From the very beginning, your motives were selfish. You brought me back hoping I’d die in Sophia’s place. When I was a child, my parents did not hesitate to abandon me so that Sophia could take my place!”
At this point, Odalys slowly turned around to fix him with an icy stare. “I already saved you from disaster when I came back to the Bennett family. If it hadn’t been for me giving that necklace to Hannah, you would’ve been done by now.
“You’ve had more than half a year of glory thanks to me, and that’s more than enough to pay back any so-called debt for bringing me into this world. I owe you nothing more.” Odalys scoffed.
Every word she said pierced Henry’s heart like a knife.
Henry’s lips moved, but no rebuttal came out.
As conceited as Henry was, he knew Odalys was telling the truth.
He had heard Hannah mention the necklace before; even Oliver wanted to get his hands on it. Recently, he overheard a conversation between Hannah and Oliver.
They all believed that getting their hands on that necklace-no matter what it took-would secure the Bennett family’s future. They even believed that it could steal Odalys’s luck. The power within the necklace was immense, capable of accomplishing anything.
Hence, Hannah still wanted Odalys dead.
As much as he wished to deny it, Henry could not deny that Odalys was right to be decisive. “Mr. Bennett.” At this moment, the bodyguard suddenly stepped forward.
He took out a stack of money and stuffed it into Henry’s hand, saying, “Mr. Stewart thanks you for coming to convey the message to Mrs. Stewart. This 3 grand dollars is a thank-you gift from him.” 3 grand dollars was an amount that was neither excessive nor stingy.
Henry held the 3 grand dollars, feeling very uncomfortable.
Back in the day, he would have scoffed and thrown the money right back at her, yelling about how it was an insult. But now, he did not even have 3 grand dollars to his name. He could barely afford gas for the family car.
“Thank you,” Henry said. Ultimately, he decided to take the money.
“Clutching the thick wad of cash, Henry confirmed it totaled over 3 grand dollars. Henry’s fingers trembled as he clutched the stack of cash, his emotions a chaotic mess. He stared blankly at the cash, lost in thought.
Not long ago, Henry had reached out to an old friend, hoping to rebuild his network. This was someone who Henry had often looked after in the past. =^=But instead of lending a hand, the man had Henry thrown out and humiliated, even dousing him with cold water.
Henry had given up all hope in connections and his once-powerful network. Since losing his position as the head of the company, he could not even scrape together 30 dollars. Hence, the 3 grand dollars were a lifesaver.
“I’ll take the money,” Henry said, his voice hoarse.
He spoke in the direction of the Stewart Villa before stuffing the money into his pocket and getting into his car. He could not help but take a drag of his cigarette.
“Henry, I never expected a day would come when you’d be grateful for 3 grand dollars,” he mocked himself.
His life had gone downhill since his marriage to Edie.
Not only had his reputation been ruined, but the Bennett family had also gone bankrupt.
As Henry carefully separated the money, a note fell out. His eyes widened and he quickly picked it up. His fingers were trembling as he unfolded it.
After reading it, he lit a cigarette, burned the note, started the car, and sped away.
Inside the Stewart Villa, Percival stood with his hands behind his back, watching coldly as Henry drove away, then looked away expressionlessly.
“Mr. Stewart, I have given him the money.” The bodyguard reported to him.
Percival nodded slightly, and the bodyguard returned to his post.
Odalys walked with ease, casually bending down to pick a flower. She rubbed it gently between her fingers and inhaled the rich fragrance. Her mood seemed unaffected by Henry’s words.
“It seems that Windsor did come back yesterday, but unfortunately, he was reverted back to his original state by that old man from the mountain village. Now, he’s been replaced,” Odalys said to Percival.
“From her words, Percival seemed to have guessed why Henry was looking for Odalys.
“Windsor asked Henry to pass on a message to you?” Percival asked.
Odalys nodded and repeated what Henry had said earlier.
“So, what he’s implying is that they abandoned you because they wanted to protect you? And had they not cast you aside and you remained in the Bennett family, you’d have died?” Percival frowned.
Odalys nodded.
“Do you believe that?” Percival asked.
Odalys chuckled lightly, tossing the flower petal into the nearby pond. She watched it float gently on the surface until a goldfish rose to nibble it away.
She said, “Then they could have given me away to an orphanage or quietly sent me back to their hometown. Anywhere would have been better than abandoning me in the snow on a snowy night.
“What if I had run into bad people or human traffickers? What if some old bachelor took me home to be his wife? How could I possibly escape at such a young age?
“Moreover, I was wearing a thin, short-sleeved shirt at the time. I almost froze to death. If they wanted me to live, even if they didn’t give me away, they could have at least given me a coat, right?
“Or are you telling me that the wealthy Bennett family couldn’t even spare the money for a winter jacket? Funny how in all these years, not a single warm coat ever turned up in my closet.
“Someone who wants you to live will always find a way to protect you. But someone who wants you dead will always have excuses to justify their cruelty.
“I’m no saint, and I certainly don’t believe in those fake sympathetic looks people throw your way when you’re at your lowest. Even if Windsor has regained his clarity and told Henry those things, it’s just a reminder of the past-nothing more.
“If everything he said is true, why didn’t he say it in the private room last night? Why did he wait until he was in danger before he told Henry to relay the message?
“He has most likely realized that the current situation is not in his favor, and I might be the only one who can help him. =^=”Simply put, he wants to appeal to my kindness so that I will help him get rid of the thing that’s trying to replace him, so he can return to normal.
“If he’s truly back to normal, don’t you think he’ll act like Hannah? Once they realize I’m useful, they’ll exploit me. =^=”Hannah proved that when she realized the necklace I gave her could save her life. She plotted to steal it without hesitation, even if it meant hurting me in the process.”
Odalys was no fool. Having gone unloved for so many years, her mind was more clear-headed than the average person.
“Fortunately, you’re clear-headed,” Percival said.
Just now, for a moment, he was worried that Odalys had been moved by Henry.
Once she started to pity the Bennett family, it would only bring endless trouble and might even crush her.
Odalys chuckled. “Do I seem like a kind woman? Unlike you, I wouldn’t bother giving money to Henry. Besides, who knows what else was in that money?” She raised an eyebrow.
Without waiting for Percival to say anything more, Odalys walked toward the Stewart Villa.
Chapter 602
”Before Percival could utter a word, Odalys had forcefully shut the door with a loud bang.
Not far away, Evander and Dorian poked their heads out from behind a tree and looked over. “Did you offend her?” Evander asked urgently. He hurried over with his cup, and Callum followed closely behind.
He never expected that stepping out for tea in the morning would lead to such juicy gossip.
“It was not often that Odalys slammed a door, so when it happened, Evander could not help but feel uneasy.
“Mr. Stewart, what happened?” Callum asked. He was so anxious that he was sweating profusely.
Dorian stood where he was and subconsciously looked in the direction of Odalys’s bedroom. From the window, he could see Odalys drawing the curtains tightly as if shutting herself off from the outside world.
“I don’t think so,” Percival finally said after a prolonged silence, shaking his head in response to Evander’s question.
Just now, Odalys did not look angry when she walked away.
Moreover, the amount Percival gave to Henry was not much. He wanted to make use of Henry to suppress the Bennett Group and force the person behind the scenes to come out into the open. Dragging this out any longer would not solve anything.
Although the Bennett family was already in disarray, the true culprits had not yet revealed themselves.
Brandon and Oliver seemed to have ulterior motives, but they were probably just bait and not the real masterminds.
“Hey, you brat! Go and coax her! Women need to be coaxed, so go coax her! At my age, I went out of my way to help you get a wife. What am I supposed to do if you lose her?” Evander was greatly worried.
Seeing that Percival was still standing there, with no intention of going upstairs, Evander was so anxious that he stamped his feet, wanting nothing more than to kick Percival.
“
“Grandpa, you’re overthinking this. We didn’t have a fight.” Percival shook his head helplessly.
However, when he met Evander’s angry gaze, Percival fell silent.
“He glanced thoughtfully toward Odalys’s bedroom, lightly rubbing his fingers as he pondered. Without another word, Percival turned and headed upstairs, leaving the others downstairs to stare after him until he disappeared.
“What is Henry doing running to our house so early in the morning? He’s affecting the relationship between the married couple,” Evander said, running his hand through his hair in annoyance.
He hated the Bennett family and even wished that the Bennett family would disappear from his sight.
“Henry suddenly came to see Odalys, so there must be some things he wants the Stewart family to help with. It seems that the Bennett family is still not ready to give up,” Callum said thoughtfully.
Evander and Dorian were silent after hearing this. Odalys, meanwhile, returned to her room and lay down, scrolling through the news on her phone. She did not give the earlier incident a second thought, unaware that the people downstairs were concocting all sorts of wild scenarios in their heads after her dramatic exit.
“Are you free now?” Odalys made a call.
On the other end of the phone, Francis immediately got up and walked toward the bathroom after answering the call.
“I just finished shooting a scene. I’m on break now,” he whispered after closing the bathroom door.
“Last time I said your last name Ziegler wasn’t good, that the last name attracted negative energy easily, so I told you to change it to the last name Zephyr instead. After changing your name, have you been having nightmares?” Odalys asked.
Recently, the things that had been happening around Francis were rather strange.
“Yes. What’s even stranger is that there seems to be a voice in my heart that keeps urging me to change my name back. I have no idea why,” Francis said.
This thought lingered persistently, like an unshakable obsession.
“Seems like someone in the crew is stirring up trouble. Otherwise, your current name shouldn’t attract negative energy. It’s likely your previous name held some benefit for certain people, so they are trying to manipulate you into reverting to it.
“After all, you’re orphaned. It shouldn’t matter what your last name is. You can’t possibly be attached to the last name,” Odalys said.
She had inexplicably thought of Francis after meeting Henry earlier.
“So now what, Odalys? What should I do?” Francis asked, feeling a little nervous.
He leaned back against the door. In the quiet bathroom, he vaguely heard his own heartbeat. Even his palms were starting to sweat.
“After filming is finished, during your lunch break, call Freya, Selah, and Stellan. Didn’t I give each of you a talisman before? Have them put the talismans in your room.
“Put your own talisman under your pillow. Don’t go anywhere in the afternoon; remember to take a nap at 12 noon sharp,” Odalys said.
Francis was a little anxious and uneasy.
“Okay.” His voice was hoarse with nervousness.
Francis gripped the phone so tightly that the phone case was almost deformed.
Although he seemed calm and composed, he was actually quite nervous.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll set you up?” Odalys asked over the phone, detecting the nervousness in Francis’s rapid breathing. Francis was clearly tense but refrained from asking or saying too much.
Francis chuckled at that question.
“If it weren’t for you, I would have died at the hands of my ex-girlfriend and manager when I went home after recording the variety show. How could I still be alive?
“Besides, I know exactly what kind of person you are! Even if you mess up, I’m not one to just give up.
“It’s obvious that something is wrong with me. Lately, I’ve felt this suffocating force pushing down on me. It’s impossible to ignore,” Francis admitted.
Originally, he did not want to mention it to Odalys, worried that it might add to her burdens.
But now that Odalys had brought it up, he did not want to hide it from her anymore.
“Since you trust me, then do as I say. Let them put the talisman in your room later,” Odalys said. Francis nodded and said, “Got it.”
After ending the call, Francis took a sharp breath and pocketed his phone. He splashed cold water on his face to calm himself down.
After that, he turned and opened the bathroom door, only to see a figure flash by.
“Who is it?” Francis hurried out, but it was empty outside, with no one to be seen.
Francis frowned, staring at the empty hallway thoughtfully.
He did not linger there. He turned and walked toward the dressing room.
While eating mango pudding, Freya sat with Selah, engrossed in celebrity gossip. “I can’t believe she’s still posting selfies. It’s unbelievable,” Freya remarked.
“Who are you talking about?” Stellan asked, approaching after changing his clothes.
As Freya chewed on her pudding, she handed over her phone. “Sophia. After the last incident, she lost all her fans. I thought she’d keep a low profile for a while.
“Unexpectedly, she just posted a selfie saying she wants to start over, and claimed that the whole thing about hurting her fans was a lie and that she’s innocent,” Freya said disdainfully.
She had seen shameless people, but not this shameless.
After casting a quick glance at the phone, Stellan remarked, “Looks like Sophia is trying to play the victim and shift the focus, hoping for a fresh start.”
Selah munched on a snack and frowned. “So negative publicity is still publicity? Even if she wants to make a comeback, does the Bennett family even have the resources to back her up now?”
Chapter 603
“Now that the Bennett Group has gone bankrupt, Caspian originally wanted to sell Sophia for a posthumous marriage in exchange for resources, but it turned into a joke. I’m afraid there won’t be any buzz about her for a while,” Selah said.
Freya’s interest was immediately piqued when she heard the words “posthumous marriage.” “Speaking of that, I wonder if this thing really works. How can a living person marry a dead one? Will a dead person even know that they are married to a living person and show up at their door at midnight?
“It is said that the living and the dead have different paths. How does a posthumous marriage work? Will the living person consummate the marriage with the dead?” Freya rubbed her wrists excitedly. She was energized when the topic was brought up.
Freya used to think that these were just superstitions, so when Odalys mentioned that Sophia was almost forced into a posthumous marriage, she was beyond stunned.
Freya was disappointed that she had left too early yesterday, resulting in her missing out on a good show.
“I’m also puzzled. If you bind the birthdates of the living and the dead together, can they really become a couple?” Selah’s eyes also sparkled when she talked about it.
As the two were gossiping, Freya turned her head and saw Francis sitting quietly at one side.
She quickly tilted her head at Selah, who followed her gaze and stared at Francis for a long time.
“Francis, are you alright? That was a great take just now.” Selah quickly tried to strike up a conversation with him.
Francis snapped back to reality at Selah’s voice. He quickly walked out. After making sure that no one was outside the dressing room, he closed the door and said worriedly, “I went to the bathroom to answer a call earlier and sensed someone eavesdropping outside.
“But when I came out, no one was outside. I’m afraid someone in the crew is watching us.” Hearing this, Stellan quickly got up.
He glanced around the dressing room. Freya and Selah also became nervous.
The group silently exchanged looks and then started searching in different directions.
Stellan’s eyes fell on the trash can beside him. He reached over and grabbed the garbage bag, pulling it up, and the others gathered closer, staring intently at the bin.
A red dot was blinking on the edge of the trash can.
Freya’s eyes instantly turned red.
She gripped her phone tightly and suddenly grabbed Selah. “What are you trying to do? Let go of me,” she said.
“Huh? I’m not trying to do anything.” Selah was also startled.
Seeing this, Stellan gave both of them a look and said, “Stop fighting, both of you!”
At his words, Freya quickly kicked the trash can and said, “Damn it, I’ve had enough of you.”
“As if I haven’t had enough of you! I’m going to end you today,” Selah said.
The two turned around in tacit agreement, grabbed a bucket of water nearby, and threw it at the trash can.
The water spilled out, drenching the trash can and hitting the listening device. A faint electric crackling sound was heard. Water enveloped the listening device, and after the red dot flickered a few times, it went out.
“Is it broken?” Selah asked in a low voice.
Freya held onto Selah’s arm, obviously frightened. “Yeah, it should be broken.” Stellan squatted down and checked.
Francis’s face was ashen. His mind was
replaying scenes from earlier. “I remember the trash can was replaced this morning.
“The cleaner said the trash can was full and took it away. When he brought it back, it was this color. I glanced at it, and he explained that the old one was broken, so he replaced it with a new one,” Francis said.
Stellan rubbed his temples and sank into a chair nearby.
“It seems this listening device was planted when the trash can was changed this morning. It’s a good thing we didn’t talk about anything important; otherwise, we’d be in big trouble,” he said in disbelief.
Selah pulled Freya back a few steps and searched the dressing room again.
Only after confirming there were no more listening devices did they both sigh in relief and collapse onto the floor.
“Freya, it’s a good thing you’re quick-witted. You started an argument with me, making them think we were having a conflict, and then you smashed things and destroyed the listening device. They’ll definitely be confused, but they shouldn’t be suspicious.
“It seems we are being watched. Someone in the production crew is keeping an eye on us,” Selah said.
Francis was silent for a moment before telling them about his phone call with Odalys.
“Therefore, it’s possible that I am the target, not you. The safest thing for you now is to keep your distance from me. They are coming for me.
“At noon, I want all of you to leave after you put the talismans in my room. I will take care of the rest,” Francis said. He did not want to implicate others.
“Nearly all of the recent troubles, including the Devil’s Triangle incident, were directed at him. “It would be great if Lee were here,” Selah suddenly remarked.
When Lee was mentioned, Stellan said, “I heard that during an investigation, Lee encountered the drug trafficker from before. He gave chase into the woods and then disappeared. The police have been searching for Lee, but they still haven’t found any trace of him.”
Freya was a little surprised.
“Why did Lee suddenly go missing?” Freya was in disbelief.
Lee was a highly respected and capable police officer.
Stellan said, “You guys are aware that Finnian was working with people from the dark web yesterday, planning to harm Lee’s family, right? But the plan was foiled by Odalys, who saved them.
“So Finnian’s plan was ruined and he got arrested. I heard that after his arrest, his body started to rot, and he’s probably going to die soon.”
His words were like a bomb, leaving everyone stunned.
“Lee is in charge of many cases in Crownridge, including some major ones, and his investigation was always thorough. With him missing now, many cases in Crownridge would become cold cases.
“If something happened to him, no one would know the inside story of the case. Even if someone took over, he couldn’t possibly figure out the details of the case in a short period of time, which would only add to the police’s workload.
“So no matter what happens, the police may not have the manpower to investigate,” Freya interjected.
Stellan nodded.
His parents were both businessmen, so he was always quicker than others to catch rumors.
Stellan said, “I suspect that Lee’s incident is also a setup, but there’s no word from the police. Previously, we could cooperate with Lee, but it seems like it’s not possible now.”
Selah fell silent.
“They even dared to attack the family of a police officer; it seems that it is a foreign force at work. Didn’t Windsor stay abroad for three years before coming back?” Selah suddenly said.
The moment she mentioned Windsor, everyone recalled the figure they had seen at the nightclub the night before.
From the way Windsor was strangling Sophia, no one could tell that the two of them were actually having an affair.
“It’s messed up, it feels messed up.” Freya shook her head quickly.
Stellan exchanged glances with Francis, and both of them said almost in unison, “Could all those people who were watching us be related to these people?”
Chapter 604
”Why are we talking about Lee?” Selah raised her hand and asked.
“Odalys is quite close to Lee, and we have a good relationship with Odalys. If something happens and we call the police, Lee should show up.
“Many criminals are afraid of Lee; moreover, haven’t you noticed that many people have been targeting Francis recently?” Freya interjected at this time.
Selah came to a sudden realization upon hearing this.
“Is the listening device also aimed at Francis?
What should we do?” Selah felt a little nervous.
Stellan took a sip of his coffee.
Silence returned to the dressing room, and everyone felt a little nervous.
“Let’s finish filming first and discuss again at noon,” Freya said.
They had excellent teamwork and cooperation. From that moment on, none of them said anything else about that matter.
After changing their clothes, the four of them left the dressing room. As they were leaving, Freya looked back as if she had thought of something. She said to them, “You guys go ahead. I need to get something.”
“Okay,” they replied before they strode away.
Freya turned back. She went to the dressing room and looked around. Then she walked to the corner, turned on the video recording on her phone, left her phone in the corner, and strode away.
She quickly caught up with them, holding the script, and shouted, “Selah, let’s go over the lines.” “Sure,” Selah said.
As they went over the lines, they walked toward the studio.
After filming three scenes, it was already 11:00 AM. They returned to the dressing room with their lunch boxes. After changing clothes, Freya walked to a corner.
She picked up her phone, turned it off, and stuffed it into her pocket.
“Let’s go. Let’s go back to the room and eat,” Freya said, beckoning them.
Stellan noticed Freya’s strange expression. He quickly got to his feet and followed her, with Francis and Selah following closely behind.
Once they were back in the room, Freya quickly shut the door.
“What’s wrong?” Selah asked nervously.
Freya pulled out her phone. Her expression was a little strange as she whispered, “I left my phone in the dressing room with the recording function on. When I went back to grab it, I saw a notification.
“There were seven red dots, which means that after I left, someone entered the dressing room seven times.” As she spoke, Freya clicked on the recording.
This phone was a gift from Percival. Callum had installed a program in it, and the system was much more advanced than ordinary phones and would give a notification as soon as a recording started.
It could detect the number of people who passed by and could pull out footage of anyone who entered, without the need for playback.
Freya clicked open her phone and saw 7 short videos placed separately in a folder.
“Seven times, I want to see who it is,” she said coldly.
Freya did not bother to eat her lunch box and quickly clicked on the video.
After they finished watching the video, the group looked a bit puzzled. The image was blurry as if the lens had been covered. It was unsettling.
“Why can’t we see anyone? It’s not a ghost, is it?” Selah was terrified.
She unconsciously leaned toward Freya, warily checking her surroundings before saying, “How come there’s no one in the footage?”
“Look at mine,” Stellan said.
He also took out his phone and clicked on the video.
“You also took a recording?” Selah gasped. To her surprise, both Freya and Stellan had left their phones in the dressing room.
“I’m just as curious as she is about who got into our dressing room. It’s fine if it’s paparazzi, but what if it’s someone else?” Stellan said.
As they watched his video recording, they realized that it was the same as Freya’s.
After the video flickered a few times, it became blurred, and it was impossible to see who the person who entered was.
“Let’s eat first! Let Francis take a nap after eating.” Freya was panicking a little.
It would be a lie to say she was not afraid.
Freya quickly took the lunch box, opened it, and shoveled a few mouthfuls of food into her mouth. She obviously did not have much of an appetite and threw it away after taking a few bites.
Everyone else reacted the same way.
After everyone finished eating, they washed their hands and took out the talismans that Odalys had given them previously. They put the talismans in Francis’s bedroom before they walked out quickly, saying loudly, “I ate too much.
I’m going to go for a walk.”
“I’ll go get a smoothie.”
“Oh? Where is my script? Where did I put it?”
The three of them pretended to have something to do and found excuses to leave.
Francis was alone in his bedroom. Sunlight streamed through the window, but instead of warmth, the room felt eerily cold. It was noon, but Francis felt a chill all over his body.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he slumped down on the bed.
He took out the talisman and placed it under the pillow. He lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He was in a daze when he vaguely heard footsteps outside the door.
A faint sound, “tap, tap, tap,” echoed on the floor. “Who is it?” Francis asked softly.
But there was no response from outside the door. The sound stopped outside his door, and Francis’s nerves were tense. Just as he was about to speak, the door slammed open and he felt a gust of wind charging toward him. “Ugh.” Francis groaned.
He could feel an unseen force bearing down on him, immobilizing him.
Francis fought to break free, feeling the shadow pressing in on him, getting closer, while the biting cold crept up on him, causing him to shiver uncontrollably.
“Who are you?” Francis asked.
The moment he spoke, the cold seemed to grip his neck as though something sharp was about to slice through it.
Francis’s eyes widened, staring straight ahead, vaguely seeing a shadow, but no matter how hard he looked, he could not see who it was. His eyes felt as though they were clouded by something; Francis felt a burst of pain and hissed.
The moment something pierced his skin, the talismans that Freya and the others had placed on the ground suddenly emitted a bright light. Bang! The doors and windows were slammed shut, and the several talismans transformed into golden light, entwining in midair like threads, striking toward Francis’s body.
The blurry figure seemed to feel the attack and was about to pull back and dodge, but was stabbed by the talisman under Francis’s pillow. “Ah!” The blurry figure let out a miserable scream. Several golden lights formed a strange rune in mid-air, pressing down from the sky.
Francis hurriedly got up from the bed, but blood kept dripping down his neck. He quickly grabbed a tissue and covered the wound on his neck.
“Who are you?” Francis asked coldly.
As soon as Francis finished speaking, the figure seemed to sense danger and tried to break out of the window.
Francis hurriedly chased after him, but another figure was faster than him. The moment the window was opened, she kicked from outside.
“A “thud” sounded as the figure was kicked and fell to the ground.
A spurt of fresh blood flew out, and as the blood spilled, the blurry form on its body slowly retreated, revealing its true form.
“Odalys!” When Francis saw Odalys, the panic and anxiety he had felt before dissipated.
Chapter 605
Seeing that Francis was approaching her, Odalys quickly held out her hand to him, stopping him from coming near.
Seeing this, Francis stopped in his tracks, not daring to move.
“Who is this?” Francis followed her gaze to the figure on the ground.
As the blurry figure slowly disappeared, a familiar outline came into view. Francis said in surprise, “Isn’t that your father? How is Windsor that thing?”
Francis was stunned.
Hearing the commotion, Stellan, Freya, and Selah rushed in from outside.
They were shocked to see the mess in the room.
Selah saw that Francis was covering his neck with a tissue soaked in blood. She hurried over with the medicine box and said, “Let me treat your wound first.”
“Okay,” Francis agreed without hesitation. Freya came closer, stared at Francis’s wound, and said in surprise, “What happened to your wound? Who bit you? It couldn’t be Windsor, could it? Why did he bite your neck? Is he a zombie?”
Her words successfully drew Stellan’s attention. He also strode forward, stared at Francis for a long time, and was also taken aback.
The wound on Francis’s neck was very deep. It did not look like it was cut by a sharp weapon, but like it was bitten. The teeth marks were very deep, like someone had bitten into it, and the flesh was mangled.
“Odalys, come and have a look,” Selah said anxiously.
It was the first time she had seen such a wound, and she was a little at a loss.
Odalys looked at Windsor, who had fainted on the ground. She paid him no further attention and instead stepped around him to stand before Francis.
As Odalys stared at Francis’s wound, her eyes narrowed.
“It can’t really be a zombie, can it? Windsor doesn’t look like one either.”
“But why was he keeping an eye on Francis? I don’t remember Francis knowing him. Didn’t Windsor just return to the country not long ago? Could they have met abroad?”
“Or could it be that he saw Francis at the nightclub last night and decided to target him today?”
Everyone’s minds were racing, and they were constantly making guesses at what was happening.
After all, with something like this happening, everyone was bound to be panicking.
They had seen scenes like this on TV or in movies, but never in reality.
Everyone was dumbfounded. They almost felt like they were dreaming. “Let me see.” Odalys leaned forward.
As Odalys caught a strange smell, her eyes narrowed. She turned to Freya and asked, “Freya, did Zachery come today?”
“Yes.” Freya nodded quickly, though puzzled. Odalys paused for a moment and said, “Go and call him over. Tell him I’m looking for him.”
“I’ll go! It’s safest for you to stay here.” Stellan hurriedly stopped Freya.
Staying with Odalys was the safest now.
As a man, it was naturally best for him to run such errands.
“All right.” Freya did not object.
Stellan headed out. After a while, Zachery came back with him. When Zachery saw the scene in the room, he panicked a little, as it looked similar to the scene at his house that day. Zachery strode forward, approaching Odalys, and followed her gaze to Francis’s wound. “This looks exactly like the creature in the painting my wife placed near the bedside!” he exclaimed in shock.
At that time, Zachery burned the lucky doll in the painting, but its mark was seared onto his palm. When he slapped Oliver across the face, the teeth marks were imprinted on Oliver’s face.
This tooth mark was different from that of ordinary people, which was why Zachery recognized it at a glance.
“Are you sure?” Odalys asked.
Zachery nodded quickly and said, “I can’t be wrong. Look at the shape of these fangs on both sides-they’re not like those of an ordinary person. They resemble something like a zombie’ s, but not quite.
“The lower teeth, in particular, are a bit uneven. I remember it clearly. That mark appeared after I slapped Oliver. I’d recognize it anywhere.”
After Zachery finished speaking, he looked around vigilantly.
He realized that apart from the four actors, only he and Odalys were present. He did not recognize the person on the ground.
“Why did Oliver bite Francis’s neck? Did he mutate? Did he turn into a zombie so he needs to suck blood? But why Francis?” Zachery was terrified.
After that incident, he had moved house.
But he still occasionally had nightmares about that scene at night, leaving him somewhat traumatized.
“I know what happened,” Odalys said.
She pressed down on Francis’s wound, quickly disinfected and treated it, before bandaging it up. Francis was still a little scared and asked nervously, touching the wound, “Odalys, will I turn into a zombie?”
Francis had imagined countless possibilities.
‘If I get bitten, will I turn into that? What would it be like? Would Odalys kill me?’ he thought. ‘I’d rather die than become a zombie. It’s too ugly; I wouldn’t find peace!’
“He wasn’t a true zombie. The mark left on him was from something else. A deceased child had been taken in and transformed into something sinister within a human body. It aims to enter the womb of a pregnant woman and replace the unborn child.
“Unfortunately, the plan failed. I uncovered its intentions and forced it back into its original form. However, with the power it held, I couldn’t destroy it entirely. Instead, it left behind a strange mark. This mark was once branded on Oliver.
“Oliver’s body must have been severely weakened after the last backlash, so he couldn’t bear its presence any longer. It must have bitten Windsor, tasted his blood, and was eventually transferred to Windsor by Oliver.
“However, Windsor’s body was unable to bear the weight of its resentment, so it turned its attention to Francis, whose unique fate makes him highly susceptible to such negative entities.
“It probably wanted to possess Francis but didn’t anticipate that he was prepared. My talisman caused it to suffer a backlash,” Odalys explained.
Zachery listened with cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
He never expected this thing to be so resilient.
Zachery asked, “Is there any way to send it away? If it keeps doing this, more people will die.” His greatest concern was that it might go after his wife again, which would be a disaster, especially since she was pregnant and resting at home.
However, he also urged his wife not to go out unless necessary. There were talismans pasted on the door of the house, which were meant to prevent these malicious things from hurting people.
“Its resentment is far too strong to be resolved for now. It seems that Oliver has come to an agreement with it-if he doesn’t die, it won’t either,” Odalys said.
Francis was silent.
He pressed a hand to the wound on his neck, his fear evident as he recalled the earlier scene.
“So is it following Windsor now?” Francis looked at Windsor, who was still unconscious on the ground.
After being kicked by Odalys, Windsor had fainted.
“That’s the case for now, but if Windsor’s body can’t handle its presence, it will return to Oliver’s body. Their consciousness is connected,” Odalys said.
Chapter 606
In other words, Oliver raised this creature. To raise a creature like this, one would need to nurture it with their own breath, creating an unseen thread of destiny between them. It was a highly risky endeavor. Oliver likely took on the risk as a contingency plan.
“If we can’t deal with him, is it possible that he will come after my wife again?” Zachery started to panic.
He felt more at ease after moving.
Now that the bite marks had reappeared, he felt like his nightmare had returned.
“No. Since it came to us today and used Windsor’s body to harm others, I’ll trap it in Windsor’s body. That way, it won’t be able to return to Oliver’s body, even if it wants to.
“Without Oliver to sustain it, this creature would be like a man trapped in the desert, unable to break free,” Odalys said.
Zachery quickly bowed to Odalys and said, “That’ s good, trap him inside quickly! If there is anything I can do to help, just tell me. I’ll do everything I can to assist.”
At the mention of this, Odalys asked, “Is there any filming scheduled for this afternoon? Francis probably won’t be able to film this afternoon in his condition.”
“Not anymore! Everyone will have the afternoon off. I’ll take care of this,” Zachery said, immediately picking up his phone and walking out.
After Zachery left, Freya asked, “Odalys, how did this creature get into Windsor’s body?”
Odalys replied, “Windsor set up a trap yesterday, wanting to hurt someone, but it backfired, causing him to be injured. Because of his injury, he was able to come back to his body! But unfortunately, he was sent back in the end.”
No one understood what Odalys meant except herself.
Odalys was referring to the real Windsor. Windsor had taken control of his own body but was sent back by Brandon and that was how this creature, Lockfang, took advantage of the situation.
Since Lockfang chose to escape from Oliver’s body, it proved one thing: Oliver’s injury was more serious than they had imagined.
“Don’t worry, Francis is fine. However, there must be someone on the set who is a mole. Since you guys have the afternoon off, you should go find Zachery.
“Join forces with him to find out who the mole is. This person should be sent by Edie to keep an eye on Francis,” Odalys said.
At the mention of the word “Edie”, everyone’s expressions darkened.
The name trailed them like a cursed apparition that never left.
“Okay, we’ll go now,” Stellan said.
He was a man of action. Once he made a decision, he acted on it immediately.
Seeing this, Selah hurriedly went out to assist him.
However, Freya stayed behind to help Odalys. “Windsor was acting super weird last night, Odalys. People said he and Sophia had a thing, but last night, he almost killed her! You could see it in his eyes-he despised her.
“Windsor has been abroad for three years and is obviously in cahoots with Edie’s brother! Now that Edie is married to Henry, the Bennett and Stewart families are completely bound together. “Could Windsor be using the guise of being a victim to hurt others and get away with it?” Freya analyzed rationally.
She did not believe these people were innocent.
People who could hurt others like that did not deserve forgiveness.
Odalys said, “The original Windsor is trapped inside his own body. The one controlling his body is not him; maybe it’s his shadow, or someone else’s soul, just like last time Francis was almost replaced by the soul of Brandon’s ancestor.
“Windsor should have gotten controlled three years ago. After he regained control of himself last night, it seemed like he was about to kill Sophia, but he didn’t. He must know something -Sophia’s the key to whatever’s going on.
“There’s no way Sophia could be adopted by the Bennett family and raised by them, but Windsor only started suspecting her three years ago.”
Francis had been quiet all this while, but when he heard this, he frowned.
“So what you’re saying is that the original Windsor might have known what was going to happen all along but chose to stay neutral. By the time the trouble landed on his doorstep, it was too late for him to fight back,” Francis said. Odalys nodded.
Freya scratched her head thoughtfully, then tied her hair back.
“But why did they target Francis?” Freya was puzzled.
Not long ago, Francis’s agent and his ex- girlfriend had been after him for his organs. Now, it seemed that a new group was after him. This time, they were coveting his body. Francis was indeed popular.
“Francis’s unusual physique and birth chart make him a magnet for those things. On top of that, he’s an orphan, with no parents to speak of. Doesn’t that seem a bit off?
“It’s strange that someone like him, with no parents or background, can unintentionally find his way into the entertainment industry, become a model, and garner so much love from fans.
“It’s incredibly rare for an ordinary person to enter this circle and skyrocket to fame, so someone must be behind Francis, secretly pulling the strings, making him the center of attention.
“The more popular Francis becomes, the better his fortune. When the time comes to harvest his fortune, the benefits will be even greater. Now that Francis’s popularity is at its peak, the other side is growing impatient.
“If we can catch the mole in the crew, it might lead us straight to the person behind all this. Then we can deal with them once and for all,” Odalys said.
Initially, Odalys had planned to wait a little longer, but it was no longer necessary.
If these people were not dealt with, it might lead to even more complications.
Odalys was not the type to waste time or leave unfinished business. With Windsor practically delivered to her doorstep, there was no way she was letting this chance slip by.
“Then what should we do with Windsor? Do we kick him awake or tie him up?” Freya pointed at Windsor, who was still lying unconscious on the ground, not knowing what to do.
Odalys followed her gaze.
She got up and walked forward, standing in front of Windsor condescendingly.
“As Odalys observed Windsor’s still form, the words Henry had conveyed to her that morning played over and over in her mind.
“Odalys.” Freya seemed a bit uneasy as she hurried forward, staying close behind Odalys. She adopted a defensive stance, ready to pull Odalys back at the first sign of danger. Seeing her tense and on guard, Odalys could not help but let a faint smile tug at her lips.
It would be a lie to say she was not touched. The Stewart family seemed to think she needed protection as if she was still a child. Even Freya subconsciously wanted to protect her.
Even though Odalys knew they were not capable of protecting her, the gesture warmed her heart. “Don’t worry, he can’t hurt me,” Odalys said.
Francis was a little nervous too, and he hurried over.
He and Freya stood behind Odalys, fruit knife in hand, ready to stab Windsor without hesitation. Odalys did not say anything more. She bit her fingertip and drew a talisman in the air before forcibly injecting it into Windsor’s body. Windsor groaned.
The moment the talisman entered his body, Windsor let out a low groan, his face losing all its color. He opened his eyes wide and stared at the ceiling.
“Ah!” Windsor let out a miserable cry.
His hands clenched into fists as his body writhed uncontrollably, seemingly the battleground for three unknown forces.
Windsor rolled on the ground in pain before suddenly leaping to his feet. When his gaze locked with Odalys’s, he froze in shock and stared at her with wide eyes.
“No… Get lost! Let me go!”
Windsor’s mouth opened wide, with different voices coming out of him.
Following that, Windsor slapped himself across the face with one hand while the other clung to his leg. The eerie sight left Freya clutching Odalys’s arm in horror.
“Why is he hitting himself?” Freya’s voice trembled with fear.
Chapter 607
Everyone was stunned by this scene.
Freya’s expression was one of shock, as if she were looking at an insane person. She watched as he stood up, raised his hand, and slapped himself across the face with one hand, the other hand holding onto his leg.
“Is it masochistic tendencies?” Francis asked in puzzlement after a long silence.
Odalys did not respond.
She took half a step back, and the other two followed behind her.
“Die, all of you die!” Windsor roared continuously.
It was as if a demon was living inside him and was directing his every move.
While Windsor beat himself up, he suddenly smiled wickedly, then spun around and lunged at Odalys.
“Ah!” Windsor was sent flying by Odalys’s kick.
A loud bang echoed from outside the door, followed by two figures bursting in.
“What are you doing, Odalys?”
“Dad.”
Atlas and Caspian’s voices rang out simultaneously.
The moment they burst in, Windsor, having been kicked by Odalys, flew straight at them. They were caught off guard and knocked to the ground, their faces crashing onto the floor.
“Ugh.” “Ugh.”
They groaned in pain, their faces contorting in agony.
Trapped beneath Windsor, they pushed with all their might to get him off, but Windsor swiftly flipped over and held them down. Without a second thought, Windsor leaned down and bit them.
“Ah!” Atlas cried out in pain.
His chest, still bearing the wound from Sophia’s attack, had not healed. Now, bitten by Windsor, he felt a piece of flesh being ripped off even through his clothes.
The excruciating pain left Atlas questioning his own existence.
“Dad, what are you doing? It’s me, Caspian!” Caspian panicked.
He rushed over as soon as he received Odalys’s call, but before he could make sense of the chaos, Windsor knocked him over. Caspian’s mind went blank, and he had no idea what was going on.
Windsor, as if he had lost his mind, was viciously attacking his neck.
The pain snapped Caspian back to reality. He gripped Windsor’s neck and shoved him away.
When Caspian turned his head, he saw the playful look in Odalys’s eyes and his heart skipped a beat. Even a fool could tell that Odalys had not called them here for a good reason. “Casplan, has Dad gone crazy?” Atlas asked, terrified.
The wound on his chest was torn open, and he was about to faint from the agonizing pain. The sight of Windsor’s bloodshot, enraged eyes reminded Atlas of a maniacal beast, like something straight out of a horror movie.
Even Caspian could tell that something was wrong with Windsor.
Caspian kicked Windsor to the ground, then pounced on him and pinned him down.
“Ouch,” Caspian grunted, clutching his neck. He touched the wound, making him grimace in pain. As he looked up, he met Odalys’s eyes.
His lips moved slightly, wanting to speak.
“Don’t bother asking me for help. The Bennett family’s matters have nothing to do with me. Since you’re here, you can handle it yourselves.” Odalys waved her hand dismissively.
Seeing Caspian brought back memories of the previous timeline when he had planned a posthumous marriage for her.
Before, she was still puzzled about what exactly a posthumous marriage was.
After the events of last night, when Caspian sent Sophia away for the posthumous marriage, it finally dawned on Odalys. In the previous timeline, after her death, Caspian had tried to sell her into a posthumous marriage.
She would have become one of the brides in the basement of that villa.
And the mastermind behind the posthumous marriage was Edie.
It felt as if everything was destined. Even though she was given a second chance at life, nothing had changed. The only difference was that she was still alive, yet everything else seemed to follow the same course.
“What have you done? Even if you were abandoned, you still have the blood of the Bennett family in you, Odalys. Why are you so heartless? How can you do this to Dad? No matter what, he is our father!” Atlas yelled in anguish.
Looking at Odalys, Atlas realized how cold- blooded and unfamiliar she seemed.
Odalys smirked. “He is your father, not mine. The money that he earned was used on you, not me. You spent his money, used his connections, and enjoyed the affluent life he provided, but I didn’t. “It was they who abandoned me and nearly killed me, so the gratitude for giving me life and the hatred for their attempt to kill me now cancel each other out,” Odalys said coldly, her tone emotionless.
Despite seeing their pitiful and distressed appearance, she felt nothing inside.
“Ah!” Windsor was still screaming in pain.
Casplan felt a surge of anger as he listened to Odalys, yet his gaze was full of conflicted emotions.
They knew Odalys was right. The Bennett family owed her, but seeing her thriving while they were in such dire straits filled them with bitter resentment.
“I brought you here today to show you what happens to those who cross me.” Odalys’s gaze swept over them, a chilling glint in her eyes. Caspian and Henry were taken aback.
A sense of foreboding washed over them. As they watched Odalys step forward, they instinctively tried to cry out, “No!”, but no sound escaped their lips.
Odalys did not give them a chance to speak. With a flick of her wrist, she drew another talisman and sent it hurtling toward Windsor. A deafening boom echoed as Windsor was seemingly blown away.
His body was thrown into the air, bouncing several times before falling with a sickening thud. As he was airborne, they could faintly make out shadows being ripped from his body, only to dart swiftly into Caspian and Atlas.
Both brothers cried out in unison.
Windsor, on the other hand, landed with a brittle crack.
He groaned in pain and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Windsor lay on the ground for a long time, his eyes wide with disbelief as he turned to look at Odalys, then at Caspian and Atlas lying on their sides.
“Ah!” Caspian and Atlas screamed.
They vaguely felt something drilling around inside their bodies, trying to forcibly occupy them.
It was like an itch that spread all over their bodies, but they could not seem to find where to scratch.
The feeling was maddening, driving them to the brink of insanity.
“What happened to me?” Windsor sat up from the ground.
He looked at his hands in disbelief, then turned to Odalys in astonishment.
“I don’t care what your intentions were in asking Henry to deliver that message to me, but since you managed to suppress those things and regain your senses when your body was suffering from the backlash, I’ll give you a chance today.
“I’ve expelled the shadow inside you, along with the other soul that wanted to replace you, and transferred them into Atlas and Caspian’s bodies. “But they have been in your body for too long and have already taken ownership, so you only have 48 hours of consciousness. After 48 hours, they will break out of Caspian and Windsor’s bodies and return to yours,” Odalys said.
Chapter 608
”I believe you should know who is actually behind all this. Considering that you didn’t kill me before, I’ll give you a chance for revenge today. Consider it as repayment for bringing me into the world,” Odalys said in a cold voice. Windsor’s lips moved, and he looked at her with a complicated gaze.
He stood up from the ground and approached Odalys, who exuded an indescribable aura of nobility, with coldness radiating from her eyes. Windsor wanted to speak, but his voice was stuck in his throat, unable to make a sound. “Oliver has placed the creature that he raised into your body. If you don’t want to die, find a way to return it to him.
“Within two hours, if you don’t return it to Oliver, it may control your body and absorb the divine energy in your body,” Odalys continued.
Windsor clenched his hand into a fist.
At that moment, he seemed defeated, yet there was a hint of comfort in his expression.
“As expected, leaving the Bennett family was the right thing to do,” he said.
Windsor did not say anything more and turned to leave with big strides.
Atlas and Caspian fell to the ground in pain. An excruciating pain shot through their bones. They wanted to struggle, but they were powerless.
“Dad!” they shouted hoarsely. Windsor left without looking back. As he was closing the door, he looked back at his two sons. “You can’t tell right from wrong! You repay kindness with malice and even dare to kill your sister. Everything that happened today is your own fault-death is still too light a punishment for you.
“Odalys doesn’t owe the Bennett family anything, and certainly not to you. As her brothers, you failed to protect her and constantly schemed against her. You deserve to die.
“Odalys didn’t grow up in the Bennett family and her last name isn’t Bennett. Don’t ever use moral blackmail to control her again; otherwise, you’re unworthy of being men.” After Windsor finished speaking, he left with big strides without looking back.
Atlas and Caspian were stunned.
They gasped in disbelief, unable to believe that they had rushed over only to be given such a warning by their father.
No one had ever spoken to them like that.
They had always believed that, as their sister, Odalys should accept whatever harsh treatment they imposed.
Now, with Windsor reprimanding them in front of everyone, they felt humiliated.
“Dad! Have you been brainwashed by her?” Atlas roared indignantly.
But there was someone inside his body, seemingly suppressing him, and he felt a terrible headache.
Caspian, however, was quite calm. He felt someone inside his body trying to replace him, and when he recalled what Odalys had just said, his face darkened.
“Y-you.” Caspian’s lips moved, wanting to ask Odalys something.
Odalys smiled.
“Yes, that’s what Oliver did to Francis that night. Weren’t you guys there too? Now I’m using it on you to get revenge for Francis.
“Now there is a soul inside your body that doesn’t belong to you. It could be Windsor’s shadow, or it could be the soul of someone else who died. They are trying to control your body.
“Don’t worry, though. If they take over your bodies, you won’t be yourselves anymore. That way, someone else will be alive in your place. Isn’t that a good thing?
“It’s just like that night when Oliver and the others were plotting against Francis. You were all just standing there watching! Maybe you thought at the time, ‘It’s just Francis, it’s no big deal.’
“The reason I called you all here today is to let you have a taste of this feeling,” Odalys said coldly.
Caspian’s heart sank.
He thought about the time he had that car accident, and Odalys saved him.
At the time, he thought he was special to Odalys. Now, she was taking revenge on him regardless. “So, the reason Dad’s behavior has been unusual since he returned to the country is that his body has been taken over by someone else?” Casplan asked, grasping the key point.
He thought, ‘So that’s why Dad acted the way he did with Sophia after he came back. It explains why he was so different. Now it all makes sense!
“Let’s go,” Odalys said to Francis and Freya, ignoring the others.
Francis and Freya were still reeling from the shock, feeling like they had witnessed something extraordinary today. They stood rooted to the spot until Odalys turned to look at them and snapped her fingers.
“Huh? What?” Freya asked, bewildered, as she came to her senses.
She was completely bewildered.
Francis was no better; both of them looked at each other in bewilderment.
“Let’s go,” Odalys said.
Freya and Francis didn’t dare ask anything and quickly walked out.
In the room, Atlas and Caspian lay on the ground in pain. They tried to get up but fell back down again. Their bodies felt hollowed out as if all their strength had been drained.
“Odalys, about Windsor earlier…” Freya held onto Odalys’s arm and hesitated to speak.
“The events that just unfolded were like a rollercoaster, completely overturning all of her previous beliefs.
Odalys explained with a smile, “The Windsor from earlier should be the real Windsor. Someone controlled his body, just like Francis a few days ago. Oliver wanted another soul to enter his body and replace him.
“Windsor must have been controlled while abroad, which explains why he changed drastically after returning and became entangled with Sophia.
“From last night’s situation, it’s clear that Windsor must have realized something is wrong with Sophia, and he even knows where the problem in the Bennett family lies.
“Today I figured he would attack Francis, so I deliberately called Caspian and Caspian over because I wanted to expel the two things in Windsor’s body.
“I don’t have time to deal with them after expelling them, so I can only use Atlas and Caspian’s bodies to share the burden for me, and also prevent them from causing more trouble.
“After Windsor regains his senses, he will definitely not want to be controlled anymore. He will definitely investigate further, and if he finds out who is behind it, he will find a way to expose them.
“We don’t need to do anything. We merely need to wait and see how he handles it. That way, we get a break and don’t have to do anything ourselves. It’s good to have someone else do the work for us.”
Freya was dumbfounded.
“Damn, you are such a scheming person.” Freya was amused.
“She was worried that Odalys might soften up or be moved by the Bennett family.
She hadn’t expected Odalys to plot against the Bennett family from the very beginning. Instantly, Freya felt satisfied.
“Good thing you’re merely using them. I thought you were brainwashing yourself, forcing yourself to forgive them!” Freya said, clutching her chest and feigning fear.
Chapter 609
Francis then chimed in, “Odalys is not a saint. How could she forgive those who hurt her? It’s already good enough that she didn’t kill them.”
“Oh, is that so? You think you’re the only one who knows her well?” Freya retorted, starting an argument with Francis.
Seeing her approaching, Francis quickly raised his hand and said, “No! You’re the only one who understands her.”
“Glad you know your place.” Seeing his reaction, Freya silently withdrew her hand.
Odalys was amused by their bickering. As she rubbed her temples, she thought, ‘How good it is to be young. Even their arguments are full of energy, though utterly childish.’
“Odalys, you can only be mine.” Freya wrapped her arms around Odalys, acting coquettishly. Though Freya was older than Odalys, she loved to act coquettishly toward Odalys. Odalys did not refuse Freya’s antics; in fact, she indulged and spoiled Freya rotten.
“By the way, should we keep Atlas and Caspian locked up here? What are we going to do with them?” Francis asked with concern.
After all, this was a film set, with people coming and going.
“Lock the door first. I’ll ask Henry to come and pick them up later,” Odalys said.
Freya shrank back slightly and glanced at Francis.
“What about the bite marks on Francis’s neck? Is it dangerous? Like, will it make him a ghost magnet or something?” Freya asked, her imagination running wild.
Hearing her say this, Francis subconsciously touched his neck.
The scene just now kept flashing through his mind, and he still felt a little scared thinking about it.
“He’ll be fine after washing the wound with talisman water later. The creature was burned with a talisman by Zachery previously. Plus, after it was transferred to Oliver and Oliver was backlashed, its vitality was severely damaged. “This time it was forced to transfer to Windsor. The only thing it can do is bite. It can no longer absorb divine energy. Later, I will beat it back to its original form and send it away,” Odalys said. She originally did not want to interfere in other people’s karma.
However, she found it annoying that these things kept appearing in front of her.
Originally, she wanted to see what Oliver wanted to use it for, but she did not expect Oliver to be so weak. In that case, she had no reason to keep the creature around anymore.
“That’s good.” Freya breathed a sigh of relief.
As she bit her fingertip, she suddenly thought of a question and asked, “By the way, why have more problems been coming Francis’s way after he changed his last name?”
“If he didn’t change his last name, he would be dead by now,” Odalys said lightly.
Francis trembled upon hearing that.
The things that had happened recently came to mind, all of which were directed at him.
“Francis, you follow Odalys!” Freya was silent for a few seconds, then pushed Francis toward Odalys.
She was not worried about herself. If Francis was too far away from Odalys and if anything happened, Odalys would have to turn back to save him. It would be too inconvenient.
Francis became even quieter after being pushed by Freya.
“How about I act as bait and lure out the mastermind again?” Francis suddenly suggested.
Francis felt that since he was a ticking bomb, it would be better to set him off directly.
Since he was always in danger, it made more sense to deal a single, fatal blow and capture the mastermind. If he were to die, he would die a swift death, instead of living in fear every day and being unable to sleep peacefully at night. “We’ll talk about this later. Let’s go see what’s going on over at Stellan’s side,” Odalys said. The three of them rushed over. They saw Zachery standing there with an ashen face, saying something to Selah. Hearing footsteps, they turned their heads to look.
Realizing that it was Odalys and the others, Selah quickly ran forward.
“How is it? Did you find who the mole is?” Odalys asked.
Selah looked at Zachery awkwardly. She waved her hand and said, “It’s better for you to tell them.” Zachery had a grim expression. He took out a cigarette and lit it, his fingertips pinching it hard. After a long time, he said, “We just took advantage of the situation and investigated.
“We pulled up all the surveillance footage from today and found that the person who has been secretly following Francis is my brother-in-law.
“He’s my wife’s brother. His business went bankrupt in recent years, and he’s been struggling to find a stable job. He recently came to the crew to help out, and I arranged some easy errands for him.”
As Zachery said this, he looked at Odalys thoughtfully.
“My brother-in-law is an honest and dutiful person! He couldn’t have committed murder. I wonder if there is any misunderstanding?” Zachery asked Odalys in a cautious tone.
After all, this was Zachery’s brother-in-law. If this situation was not handled well, he and his wife might get divorced.
Odalys did not speak. She merely looked at him coldly.
Zachery’s heart rose to his throat. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
“Remember how Oliver was after the baby in your wife’s belly?” Odalys suddenly said.
Zachery was dumbfounded by her question. The others also held their breath, vaguely guessing something.
“Tell me, why did Oliver suddenly set his sights on your wife? Normally, she wouldn’t even be in his circle. How did she end up getting involved with these kinds of people?
“Did it start when your brother-in-law’s business failed? Or when your wife accompanied him to pray?” Odalys asked calmly.
“When Zachery heard this, his fingers clenched around his cigarette, snapping it in half.
His mind was racing as if trying to recall something.
“Oliver targeted your wife because of her birth date. He wanted her to conceive, link a lingering presence to the unborn child within her.
“If your wife has a miscarriage, two lives will be lost. Then who will inherit your wife’s property? You might want to call and check if your wife has purchased any insurance or something like that.
“You only need to check who the beneficiary is,” Odalys reminded.
Zachery panicked a little.
He did not expect that this matter was not over yet, so he hurriedly took out his phone and made a call.
After the assistant answered his call, he immediately went to investigate. The atmosphere on the set was tense, and everyone was silent.
Time passed by, and beads of sweat kept oozing from Zachery’s forehead. He clutched his phone tightly. After a while, the phone vibrated and rang.
“Well?” Zachery answered the phone and asked. The assistant said just a few words before hanging up. Quickly, Zachery opened WhatsApp and was stunned-his brother-in-law was listed as the beneficiary for all the insurance plans.
“Life insurance, critical illness insurance, accidental death insurance… What? All of these are death-related policies, and the total payout exceeds over 30 million dollars.
“Odalys, these policies are even more ruthless than the ones the Bennett family bought for you.” Freya leaned closer and was startled after seeing the insurance policies shown on the producer’s phone screen.
No normal person would buy so many insurance policies.
“Why didn’t she tell me that she bought these insurances?” Zachery’s face turned pale.
Zachery had joined hands with Stellan to conduct an investigation, and when he found out that it was his brother-in-law, he was a little doubtful, wondering if there was a mistake somewhere. Now seeing these insurances, he felt very uncomfortable.
“Zachery, are you looking for me?” At that moment, a man in a vest walked over.
When he saw a group of celebrities standing there, he subconsciously quickened his pace, and his gaze fell on Freya.
Chapter 610
Freya felt his gaze and got goosebumps. She tried to turn away, but Selah stepped before her and pushed her behind Odalys.
“Did your sister ever buy insurance?” Zachery asked in a low voice.
Apparently, he was trying hard to suppress his anger.
“Yes, she did. She bought a few policies from me when I worked at the insurance company to help me meet my quota,” Tulsi replied. His smile stiffened as his eyes darted around.
“Is that so?” Zachery said coldly.
Tulsi met his icy gaze with a flicker of displeasure.
He put a cigarette in his mouth, leaning back and looking at everyone casually. “What? You’re telling me what my sister can and can’t buy insurance for?”
Tulsi saw Francis turn to look at him as soon as he finished his words.
Meeting Francis’s eyes, Tulsi paled. His lips moved, but no sound came out. He wanted to speak but couldn’t. His body stiffened as he instinctively stepped back.
“Surprised to see me?” Francis asked suddenly.
Tulsi backed up in fear, but someone pressed against him from behind.
Stellan reached out and blocked him from behind. Before Tulsi could react, Stellan grabbed a hemp rope and swung it over, tying him up. Tulsi had been tied up when he came to his senses.
“What are you doing? Zachery, what are you doing?” Tulsi yelled.
He was nervous.
He struggled constantly, but Stellan kicked him and knocked him to the ground.
“Slap.” Stellan threw a stack of documents at Tulsi’s face. The A4 paper cut Tulsi’s cheek, and the pain made his eyes flicker with fear.
“What can Zachery do? Isn’t it just that he found out you wanted to use your sister to get close to him and then kill his whole family to take over his family property?” Stellan said.
The Drake family was in business, so they naturally had a wide network of contacts.
Stellan called the Drake Corporation directly after discovering Tulsi’s connection to the matter. With the help of Dangelo and Sienna, he quickly found out everything about Tulsi.
He was printing out some documents, so he was a little late.
“What do you mean?” Zachery asked, quickly picking up the documents and glancing at them.
Francis and Freya also picked up the documents. They were shocked after skimming through them.
Odalys said coldly, “Tulsi has the look of death. He must have killed someone. If I’m not mistaken, he should have had contact with the Simpson family after his business failure.
“Recently, many girls have gone missing from Crownridge. The girls never appeared again after their parents sold them. Tulsi, your brother-in- law, went to contact these families who value boys over girls.
“To put it bluntly, he went to negotiate a price. After confirming the family favored boys over girls, he kept brainwashing the parents to sell their daughters for money. He could then earn thirty percent of that money. Am I right?” Tulsi’s face changed drastically.
It was as if Odalys had seen through all his dirty secrets.
It was a lie to say Tulsi was not panicked at that moment.
“You’re talking nonsense! I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t try to hurt me! Odalys Stone, do you think you can frame anyone because you’re so smart?” said Tulsi, panicked. He did all of these things secretly. He was fully armed when he contacted those families who preferred sons to daughters. Even if the other party was in front of him, they might not be able to recognize him.
Odalys said, “It doesn’t matter whether you are framed or not. The point is that you have a deadly aura. Those girls have been following you since they were killed because those things were done through your hands.
“And the villa where you met them has been sealed. They have nowhere to go now, so they can only follow you. The dead air on you betrayed you.
“Did you feel chilly on your back since last night? You always feel cold but feel hot when you put on clothes. Finally, you took off your coat. You found the coldness disappeared when you came here?”
The more Odalys said, the more frightened Tulsi became.
As Odalys said, he felt countless pairs of eyes staring at his back last night.
Odalys added coldly, “They don’t dare to approach you because I am here, so the coldness on your back disappeared. But you have done a lot of evil things. This time, you tried to scheme against your sister but failed, and you wanted to plot against Francis.
“There is a price to pay for taking money to do things for others.”
Upon hearing Odalys’s words, Zachery was so angry that he stepped forward and fiercely kicked Tulsi.
“I didn’t expect you to be involved in human trafficking and kill people. I felt sorry for you before! I thought you were having a hard time and wanted to help you. You didn’t even spare your sister and the child in her belly,” Zachery said with a sigh of exasperation.
Zachery was happy to participate when Stellan and the others came looking for him just then. However, Zachery didn’t expect that the investigation would lead to Tulsi.
“No! I didn’t. She’s lying to you. She must be trying to find a scapegoat! Kenny, you have to save me.” Tulsi panicked.
Once the matter was exposed, he would have no way out but death.
Odalys said coldly, “Zachery can’t save you. You’re already dead. You’ve driven yourself to a dead end! After your business failed, you were not yet at a dead end, but you got involved in these things and killed so many people.
“All your good fortune is blocked, and there’s no turning back.”
Tulsi especially wanted to hurt an unborn child! It was even more unforgivable.
“It’s not like that. I just took some money; I didn’t kill them myself.” Tulsi wanted to argue.
Odalys sneered. She stood before Tulsi, looking down at him condescendingly and saying, “Do you think I would have come here to arrest you myself if you weren’t involved?
“After those girls were sold by their parents, did you drug every one of them before they died, making them insane and unconscious?
“After you took their innocence, they didn’t know anything about it afterward. They thought they were hallucinating and even felt grateful to you for having enough food and clothing there.
“In fact, you are the most heinous criminal!” Odalys said sharply.
Selah was so angry that she turned around and slapped Tulsi hard.
“You disgusting scumbag. I’m going to beat you to death,” said Selah, furious.
Upon hearing Odalys’s words, Selah didn’t know why she felt a surge of hatred in her heart, as if a fire was pent up inside her. She slapped him a few times in anger and even kicked Tulsi.
No one stepped forward to stop her. Until she was tired from beating, Freya stepped forward and hugged her.
“Odalys, I have nothing to say if he committed these crimes. You can deal with him as you see fit,” said Zachery, hardening his heart and closing his eyes momentarily.
お金金
SEND GIFT or GCASH: +63.936.139.8714 or Buy Me Coffee
COMMENT
Subscribe
