Chapter 641
Odalys remembered her teacher saying that she would face a challenge and needed to return to the Bennett family.”
She listened and returned home a changed girl. In that past life, she was too caught up in seeking her parents’ attention and love, which led to the tragedy.”
Maybe it was because Odalys had never felt her parents’ love and care that she longed for it so intensely. She couldn’t understand why, as their biological daughter, she was always overshadowed by an adopted child.
This time, she wasn’t obsessed with their attention and began a whole new ## Chapter in her life.
She wondered, ‘What’s the challenge? Is it the devastating blow from the Bennett family, or something related to the
Stewart family?’ She had no idea.
“If my father knew your teacher, then the expert I met as a child was likely to be him,” Percival suggested abruptly.
Evander watched silently, amazed at how their thoughts seemed to match perfectly as they chatted.
“I think this note is from your teacher. Based on your guess, let’s say they knew each other and that my dad’s accident was planned by him.
“Then that means there was something off about the time and place of the accident, leading us to stumble into the portal and witness the tragic scene,” Percival said.
It felt like they were getting closer to the truth, yet everything seemed too coincidental to believe.
“If that was the case, then why did my dad get drugged by Edie and fall into her trap, eventually marrying her?” Percival asked, puzzled.
“Dad was too sharp for that. He always kept his distance from women. Maybe he saw it coming and just had to roll with it,” Percival wondered.
“What if your father knew about the scheme and played along? Maybe he was the one who plotted against Edie,
marrying her to keep her under the family’s watch. It was safer than leaving her out there, right?” Odalys suggested.
Her words set Percival and Evander’s minds racing. She did have a point.
“Is there any way to contact your teacher?” Percival suddenly asked.
Odalys shook her head and leaned back, her fingertips lightly tracing the edge of the table. She gazed out the window, lost in thought. Even through the thick darkness outside, it seemed as if she saw something more.
“I can’t reach him. Since I established Magic Entertainment, he used his magic power to keep the company under
control for me. He has disappeared ever since.
“Thanks to him, the company remains intact. That place is the heart of Crownridge, the focal point of all energy fields. This is why I let everyone go there to pay their respects,” Odalys said frankly.
She had not mentioned this to anyone else. For some reason, she wanted to tell Percival.
Maybe it was because she trusted him, or maybe there was some inseparable, unspoken bond between them.
“Since then, I haven’t been able to reach him. He’s always mysterious and often in seclusion. No one can find him unless he decides to show up,” Odalys added.
Her teacher was not just a master of magic; he seemed to see through everything. Thus, he rarely got involved in worldly affairs.
“Odalys,” Percival called out.
Odalys looked up in confusion, her eyes meeting his. “Yes?”
“Last time, we stumbled into that portal. But what if it wasn’t just a fluke? Do you think he had something to do with it?”
“But what if the person my dad met was someone else? What’s this shadowy figure up to? What were he and my dad scheming?
“My dad said something big was coming. Was he talking about what we’re investigating, or something else?” Percival asked.
He picked up a pen and began sketching.
Though his strokes seemed random, they were forming a new lead.
“First, we need to identify who this person was. Then, we need to see if your dad planned the incident or if someone else did it to shut him up for good because he knew too much,” Odalys replied.
Things became far more complicated; no one could tell what was true and what was not.
“So, let’s start with the Bennett family, your birth date, and the surname on the paper.
“Why did the Bennett family abandon you in the first place? Did they do it on purpose, or was there something else we don’t know about?” Percival tried to sort things out.
Odalys nodded in agreement. “I’ve gotten that thing clinging to Windsor off him. Now those shadows have shifted to Atlas and Caspian. Windsor is back to normal.
“He hasn’t been back to the Bennett family since he got better. We should check out where he went and what he did.
“Maybe we’ll find the answers we want from him.”
They felt like they were back to square one.
It was better to uncover the Bennett family’s secrets first and understand what happened back then. This way, they might get closer to the truth.
“So, the main thing we need to figure out now is who persuaded the Bennett family to ditch Odalys. Did they want her dead, or was there another reason?
“Was adopting Sophia their goal, or did they need to protect her?” Evander remarked after a long silence. Percival and Odalys nodded.
“But Sophia’s situation suggests they’re not on her side, which means she’s fighting alone now. Is this true? We’ll find out.
“The Bennetts are selfish and self- serving! They don’t care about Sophia. Now that her reputation is ruined, they haven’t even tried to defend her.” Evander paused as he thought of something.
“He then glanced at Odalys, his lips parting slightly, but no words came out.
“So, Evander, do you think they’re just putting on a show? Making it seem like they’re holding her back but actually protecting her? Other people might fall for it.” Odalys raised her eyebrows.
Evander chuckled softly. “Odalys, you’re sharp. No wonder you’ve been targeting Sophia all this time. You want to figure out the Bennetts’ attitude and force Sophia to show her true colors, huh?”
He took a sip of water, the worry on his face easing. He was more and more satisfied with Odalys and Percival.
Their approaches seemed to grow more similar. It was as if they were truly destined for each other.
“Where did Sophia’s Love Spells come from? I couldn’t find the person who made them. The old man who blessed her with luck suffered a backlash and died,” Odalys said.
Chapter 642
Odalys continued, “The villa in the suburbs has been sealed off, and the bodies of the missing people have been found. That place is no longer protected.
“Sophia’s power dropped after she faced a setback. That’s why she became desperate to use Love Spells. She’s always tempted guys to help her and used the Love Spell to keep herself blessed.
“So she knows she needs others’ power to stabilize everything, but even now that she’s cornered, she still hasn’t contacted the mastermind behind it.
“She’s acting like she’s got nowhere to go and can’t find the mastermind, but I think it’s all a facade.”
After a brief pause, Odalys thought of another possibility. “Or maybe she thinks everyone’s watching her, so she can’t take any risks. Sophia might act like a fool, but she’s clever enough to have tricked the Bennett family for years.
“Some things are just for show! To marry into the Bennett family, Edie didn’t hesitate to turn against the Stewarts. Clearly, there’s something in the Bennett family that everyone desires.
“The wicked energy around Bennett Villa is getting stronger, twice as strong as before. It makes me wonder if there’s something hidden beneath that house.”
Those strange things came and went, invisible and untouchable, but they could harm people.
“You must be tired. Go to bed. If you can’t figure it out now, just leave it,” Evander said, looking at Odalys and Percival.
Everyone had a limited amount of energy. After a long day, Evander was pushing his limits.
“OK, Grandpa, good night,” Percival replied.
With that, he rose and turned to leave, and Odalys followed. Evander remained seated in his chair, staring thoughtfully at the papers on the table, lost in memories.
Tonight felt like a dream. The image of his young, gentle son, still fond of coffee, lingered vividly in his mind.
“Son, what are you doing? Are you really gone?” Evander murmured.
Sadly, there was no response. He sat there until Dorian came up to urge him. Finally, he got up, took a bath, and went to sleep.
Back in her room, Odalys drew a bath. As she dried her hair, she noticed the antique emerald on the table but left it untouched. Memories of her former self from the 1920s flooded her mind.
She picked up her phone and sent Percival a message. [Are you asleep?]
There was no reply. With her hair now dry, she went downstairs and picked up a cup of yogurt to bring to Percival.
She faintly heard a conversation in his room-the voices of Callum and Percival. Standing outside, she raised her hand to knock on the door but hesitated and walked away.
Just then, her phone vibrated. Seeing Freya’s number on the screen, she quickly answered
“Odalys, did I wake you up?” Freya asked softly over the phone.
Odalys hurriedly climbed into bed. “Nah, just got out of the shower and lying down.”
“I can’t sleep,” Freya said, her voice so soft it was almost a whisper. “I want to chat with you.”
Odalys laughed and said with a smile, Can’t sleep? What’s on your mind?”
“Not much, just thinking about Francis getting bitten on the neck today. It’s kind of freaky, so I’m sharing a bed with Selah tonight. She’s also too scared to even close her eyes.”
The next second, Selah’s voice came through, “Odalys, do you think that bite is serious? It’s like a zombie bite. Could he possess other people and make them bite anyone they see? If that happens, everyone will panic.”
“Now Selah was afraid of strangers, and whenever anyone approached, she would hide her neck. She worried about getting bitten if not careful.
“He’s not that powerful,” Odalys replied with a laugh. She couldn’t help but chuckle, imagining them hiding under their blankets, peeking out cautiously at the room, scared out of their wits.
“He usually targets people with good luck, not those having a streak of bad luck. And he avoids people with positive energy, so make sure to get plenty of sunshine. It helps.
“Plus, he can’t just possess anyone. He needs to reach a certain level of power to do that,” Odalys explained softly.
Selah and Freya snuggled under the blanket and said sweetly, “Odalys, want to join us?”
“I’m not coming. Don’t worry, nothing will happen,” Odalys whispered to calm them. Though younger, she was like a caring big sister to them.
“By the way, we left our talismans in Francis’s room earlier, and they seem to have burned to ashes,” Selah quickly mentioned. This meant the talismans on her, Freya, and Stellan were all useless. “I’ll get you a new one tomorrow,” Odalys said after a moment of silence.
Upon hearing that, they laughed. It was hard to imagine that these two were superstars, laughing like that in private.”
“Hey Odalys, did you see the news?” Selah exclaimed, a sudden memory lighting up her eyes. “The story about you having a heart-to-heart with your fans and treating them to barbecue is blowing up online!”
She knew Odalys was busy all day and hardly had time for things online.
“Really? Let me check.” Odalys immediately opened Twitter.
There, she saw lots of videos of her chat with fans, and the comments were great.
[I’m crying! Odalys is so gentle!]
[I’m feeling a bit down and could really use some kind words from her.]
[I didn’t expect Odalys to be so friendly. She not only treated passing fans to barbecue but also sat and chatted with them.]
[They all said she was pretending in the past. Is your idol as approachable as she is?
The fans got into heated arguments.
Some people wanted to dig up dirt on Odalys in the past but were unsuccessful. Now, when they tried to launch a smear campaign instead, they were immediately besieged by her fans.
The comments were deeply polarized. Some fans expressed their adoration of Odalys while others tried to discredit her.
In the end, the haters were scolded so viciously that they clammed up.
“As Odalys browsed through the comments, the name “Officer Lee Hersey” caught her attention. She immediately got up from the bed and read carefully what the other party wrote. [Could Officer Lee Hersey’s disappearance have anything to do with Odalys Stone?]
Someone also asked doubtfully, [What does the police have to do with Odalys Stone? She only does astrological predictions. Does she have the ability to interfere in police affairs?]
However, these fleeting mentions of the police were quickly drowned out by other comments.
Knock, knock, knock! Someone knocked on Odalys’s room door at this moment. Odalys quickly put away her phone and went to open the door.
At the door, Percival Stewart was dressed in casual home clothes. It was obvious that he had just showered as his hair was slightly damp. He stood outside the room, looking extremely refreshed.
Chapter 643
The faint scent of shower gel emanating from him was very nice.
“You are already exhausted. Let’s put the ancient emerald stone aside for now, okay? I’m worried you’ll tire yourself out,”
Percival advised affectionately.
Odalys didn’t say anything. Strangely enough, she had always been energetic, but now she did feel a little overwhelmed.
She didn’t know if it was because she had broken the rules earlier to let Percival and the old man see that person, or if there was another reason.
“Good idea.” Odalys nodded. After all, she could not push herself too hard.
“By the way, when you saw the truck coming the first time, you couldn’t avoid it, but earlier, at the second time, you saved him and changed the trajectory,” Odalys said. She was also surprised at the time.
Generally, it was impossible to change what had happened.
was just like what happened in the time tunnel. The scene of the truck crashing into the person kept repeating itself, but no matter how hard they tried to stop the incident, they were always too late.
Yet earlier that night, there was a different outcome.
“Did you feel anything at that time?” Odalys asked curiously.
What happened just now was so implausible that it flew in the face of logic.
“I felt a surge of energy pushing us forward, and when I rushed forward to stop it, I sensed a colliding force. Thereafter, it erupted.
“But this feeling disappeared very quickly. I’m still wondering if I’m overthinking it, or if this power really exists.” Percival also fell into deep thought.
“He himself found it incredible. He had dashed forward and shielded his father. When the truck came barreling towards them, it suddenly flipped over before hitting them.
“Previously, when we were inside the time tunnel, we couldn’t change anything. But tonight was different.
“And the circumstances surrounding my father’s accident were exactly the same. But tonight, my father was drinking tea, yet that truck still appeared.
“I have checked the license plate. I’m certain the truck that crashed tonight is the same one that hit my father before. The license plates were identical.
“In other words, the same truck appeared, but the circumstances surrounding my father have changed,” Percival surmised with a perplexed expression. This conclusion didn’t seem to make sense.
“Perhaps the energy field has shifted,” Odalys suggested.
Percival’s bafflement mirrored her own doubts.
In reality, it should not be possible to change anything, but tonight’s different outcome had taken her by surprise.
“So you’re saying my father… really died? But when I saw him earlier… he didn’t look like a spirit, nor did he feel like someone who has passed on.” Percival’s voice was filled with anguish. He wondered whether his thoughts were too ludicrous…
“Go get some rest,” Odalys answered gently. She didn’t want to continue with this topic. If she continued thinking, her head would ache so much that it felt as if it was about to split open.
She didn’t know if it was because she broke the rules earlier that caused the energy field to change. At any rate, it probably wasn’t a good thing.
“Are you feeling unwell?” Percival asked with concern when he noticed her pale face.
Odalys shook her head with a smile as she leaned against the door frame. She gave a dismissive wave and said, “I’m just a little sleepy. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Then… you should rest,” Percival replied haltingly. The worry in his eyes was almost overflowing.
He looked at her with heartache, but Odalys gave another nonchalant wave and replied, “You should get some rest too.”
Thud! Odalys then closed the door unceremoniously.
Percival remained where he was outside the room. He leaned against the wall behind him and stared blankly at the light in the hallway.
“Sir, why are you standing here? It’s very late now. You should go to bed.” The butler emerged from the old man’s room and was startled when he saw Percival.
It was almost early morning, but Percival was standing in the corridor instead of sleeping in his room.
“It’s fine. You can go ahead and rest,” Percival responded.
The butler then subconsciously glanced in the direction of Odalys’s bedroom.
“If you miss her, you should at least try knocking on the door. Simply standing outside like that will not get you anywhere,” the butler muttered in a low voice as he made his way downstairs.
Percival remained where he was, watching and thinking quietly.
He sensed something odd about Odalys’s behavior, and he could see that she was not feeling well.
“Percival then whipped out his cell phone and made a call. “Orson, it’s me.”
It wasn’t long before Orson Lark rushed over with some medicinal herbs. He stood there, panting, his exquisite face full of bewilderment. “What do you need these for?”
“Did you bring them?” Percival asked instead of replying.
Orson reluctantly handed the things to him, muttering, “Here you go.”
“These are medicinal herbs that my family has treasured for a hundred years! Why do you need them in the middle of the night? Even my grandfather can’t bear to use them,” Orson persisted in asking.
He kept staring at the package of medicinal herbs in Percival’s hand as if he couldn’t bear to part with them.
These were good stuff! No amount of money could buy such herbs.
“It’s nothing,” Percival said simply as he took the package downstairs.
Puzzled, Orson followed him closely.
When he saw Percival take out an ancient book and flip through it, he couldn’t resist leaning closer.
He saw that it was a treasured tome of the Stewart family, handed down by their ancestors.
“This is?” Orson gasped. Staring at the text in the book, he thought about the medicine Percival had asked him for.
Orson watched Percival in astonishment as the latter busied himself. Then he hurried to the kitchen after Percival. Percival got busy in the kitchen, but the book in his hand never left his hand as he kept flipping through it. Orson held his breath and dared not make a sound.
“Odalys must have been injured,” Percival murmured in a low voice. He was clearly trying to control his emotions.
Odalys’s face was very pale. She seemed to have expended a lot of energy or effort. Although she didn’t look any different outwardly, he could feel that she was injured.
“Odalys is injured? What kind of injury? Do you want me to take a look at her? But she is so powerful, and she has medical knowledge herself, so logically speaking, if she is injured, she can give herself treatment.” Orson was downright puzzled.
He was shocked to hear that Odalys was injured. But he hadn’t heard of any dangerous incident tonight, so why was Odalys suddenly injured?
“She’s expended too much energy just now…” Percival was filled with guilt at the thought of that incident. He felt as if his heart had been stabbed a million times. Earlier, Odalys had used her own blood to write the talisman in order to summon the lightning.
Prior to that, she was outside the formation and seemingly doing nothing. She must have been stabilizing the spell all along. Following that, her complexion didn’t look so good.
When they were in the old man’s room, Percival observed her closely. Although Odalys kept pretending that nothing was wrong, he still noticed that something was off.
“If she is injured, are these enough?” Orson asked worriedly.
The matter involved Odalys Stone, so Orson Lark was naturally anxious.
Odalys was the person he admired the most. He learned a lot of his current medical skills from her. She even pioneered many breakthroughs in traditional medicine.
Chapter 644
To the Lark family, Odalys was the Savior.
Even if she wanted the entire Lark family’s wealth, the Lark family would offer it to her, much less these precious herbs for her injuries. “Apparently this is Kirin blood, a once-in-a- millennium treasure.” Orson stared at Percival. He could not believe that Percival would resort to using this. He had heard rumors before that Kirin blood had the effect of bringing the dead back to life.
Whether these rumors were true or not, no one knew.
Yet such a miracle remedy was recorded in the ancient tome Percival was holding now. “So what if it’s a once-in-a-millennium treasure?” Percival replied.
Orson didn’t say anything else. He watched nearby as Percival brewed the Kirin blood with a bunch of other herbs into a healing concoction. When the concoction was ready, simply taking a whiff of the mixture was enough to make Orson feel energized, even though he was not right next to the brewing pot.
In the bedroom, Odalys went back to bed after closing the door.
“Ugh.” Odalys threw up a mouthful of blood. She swayed violently and her hand hurriedly gripped the table beside her. She had barely any strength to support her body and her whole body collapsed on the floor.
At this moment, her face was pale as a sheet.
She thought she was fine earlier but now, she realized she had suffered internal injuries.
The talisman she wrote with her blood tonight went against the divine will. Her body had been feeling a little overwhelmed recently, and with tonight’s spell, she had almost exhausted all of her strength.
She slumped to the ground, feeling her life force ebbing away. However, this sensation didn’t frighten her.
She simply stared blankly out the window for a moment before struggling up to draw the curtains.
“Is this my tribulation? In my past life, I died jumping from a building. Now that I have been bestowed a new life, am I destined to die in the Stewart family’s residence?” Odalys murmured under her breath.
She hadn’t acted recklessly earlier. A voice in her head had told her to help them.
Odalys narrowed her doe-like eyes slightly. As she leaned back on the sofa, she felt a churning in her chest. Pfft! She coughed up another mouthful of blood.
She fought hard to steady her body. As she tried to stand, the door swung open.
Percival’s imposing figure appeared in the doorway. He strode in anxiously with hurried footsteps when he saw the blood stains. Odalys raised her head, only to see him holding out a soup bowl containing some liquid.
“What’s this?” Odalys asked, surprised by the medicinal scent wafting from the soup bowl. She found the aroma familiar. She had encountered it before at her master’s place. “Kirin blood,” Percival answered succinctly. Odalys was already reaching out to accept the bowl but abruptly withdrew her hand. Her eyes were wide with astonishment as she stared at Percival. “Percival, have you lost your mind? “Do you even know what Kirin blood is? It’s an invaluable treasure, Percival. Kirin’s are practically extinct! It’s said to have the power to bring the dead back to life and reshape one’s meridians. Why are you giving this to me?” Odalys exclaimed, her voice trembling with shock.
“Percival noticed the intense emotional turmoil swirling within her and a low chuckle escaped his lips.
He set the bowl of healing concoction aside and crouched down to meet her gaze. “That’s what people say about Kirin blood. But whether it’s true or just a legend, we can’t be certain. “You’re well-versed in medical knowledge, Odalys. There’s no harm in letting you try,” Percival reasoned.
He placed the soup bowl in her hands and cupped her hands to gently lift it toward her lips. “This is utter madness, Percival! Did you even consult your grandfather on this? Did you get his consent?” Odalys protested with some exasperation.
Kirin blood was incredibly rare. According to her master, apart from the single drop within her own lineage, only one other drop existed in the entire world.
To her surprise, the other drop was in the Stewart family’s possession.
“I gave my consent.” Evander Stewart’s voice rang out from beyond the room.
Apparently, the butler had noticed something was wrong with Percival earlier and had gone to inform the elderly man.
At this moment, Evander was standing outside Odalys’s room. He did not enter but had seen the bloodstains all over the floor when he looked inside. He was watching her now.
“Now that you’ve married into the Stewart family, you are one of us. It’s just a little Kirin blood. It’s all the same to use it on you. Otherwise, it’s a waste to keep it in storage.
“Besides, he has already used it. Wouldn’t it be a waste if you don’t drink it now?” Evander contended.
Odalys looked at the bowl of healing concoction brought by Percival with a pained expression. She could discern from the scent that the concoction not only contained Kirin blood but also other precious herbs like thousand-year-old Ganoderma fungus.
“She lowered her eyes and did not reply. At this moment, she felt very conflicted inwardly as she gazed at the bowl of healing concoction that Percival was still holding near her face. “Odalys, what’s the big deal? Why are you still hesitating?” Orson chimed in.
After a long while, Odalys finally took the bowl of healing concoction and drank everything. After the healing concoction entered her mouth, a magical feeling spread throughout her body. She felt a heat flow like an electric current spreading out inside her body.
A warm sensation engulfed her entire body. Odalys’s fingers tensed up slightly, and a trace of wonder flashed across her eyes.
“How do you feel? Are you feeling better?” Percival hurriedly put aside the empty soup bowl.
As Percival watched her anxiously, Evander entered the room with Orson and they, too, observed her closely.
Odalys’s pale face had instantly turned rosy, her doe-like eyes were more radiant, and her appearance seemed to have undergone a complete transformation. Her delicate face was even more beautiful now.
“I feel strange,” Odalys finally whispered.
She quickly stood up from the sofa. She felt as if a gush of power was surging through her entire body. All her discomfort had vanished!
She sensed a change in her energy. It seemed that she could see through everything without relying on talismans. It was as if she had leveled up. While writing talismans used to consume her physical strength, now she only needed to gesture with her fingers, and the talisman would take shape.
Orson couldn’t hold back and immediately leaned forward to ask, “Strange in what way?” Odalys shook her head helplessly. She couldn’t describe the feeling, but after the healing concoction went down her throat, she felt like she had achieved some sort of breakthrough.
“I don’t know how to describe it, but I feel like I made a breakthrough,” Odalys finally said. As soon as she finished speaking, she seemed to have thought of something. She turned to look at Evander and then at Percival before asking, “Since you have the Kirin blood, why didn’t you use it in the past?”
Hearing this, Evander shook his head and said, This is a tacit understanding between the Lark family and the Stewart family. It cannot be used unless it is absolutely necessary, and it cannot be used unless so destined.
“It’s true that Kirin blood is rare in the world, but to use it also depends on fate.”
“Our forebears gave an order that even the heads of the Stewart family cannot use it, not even when they are seriously ill. They said that the Kirin blood is looking for someone who is destined to use it. Only the destined one can use it.
“Just now, I received a call from Clarence Larks, saying that when Orson took those medicinal herbs…” Evander paused at this juncture.
Everyone’s hearts were in their throats as they looked at the elderly man.
“The Sensing Stone moved,” Evander finally revealed.
Everyone was puzzled when they heard the phrase “Sensing Stone.”
“The Sensing Stone was left by our ancestors. The Lark family has one, and the Stewart family has one. No one can take out the Kirin blood unless the destined one has appeared. “Otherwise, even if we know where the Kirin blood is, there is no way to get it. When Orson took it, the Sensing Stone moved,” Evander explained.
Chapter 645
Both Odalys and Orson were equally stunned. “Sensing Stone? I heard my grandpa mention it. He said that the Sensing Stone was guarding something. That something could only be taken when the Sensing Stone moved. But I didn’t take anything tonight,” Orson finally spoke up.
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to look at Percival.
Suddenly, the two guys blurted almost in unison,” Kirin blood!”
Evander nodded slowly. At this point, Percival brought him a chair and helped him sit down. “That’s right. It’s the Kirin blood. Back then, when something happened to my son, I also thought about taking it, but unfortunately, I couldn’t,” Evander said with a self-deprecating smile.
The Kirin blood was passed down by the Stewart family’s ancestors.
As long as the Sensing Stone didn’t move, no one could take the Kirin blood.
“Grandpa, you mean the Kirin blood can only be used when the Sensing Stone moves?” Odalys asked in surprise. She had never heard of such a thing.
“Evander nodded and continued, “When the Sensing Stone moves, it means the time has come. That’s why when Percival called Orson to retrieve the Kirin blood for you, the stone moved. It seems the time has come.
“I never thought the Kirin blood would be used, nor did I imagine I would live to see the day when it would be used.”
“As Evander spoke, his cloudy eyes became a little clearer. No one knew whether he was feeling emotional or anticipating something. “Our family has been waiting for this moment, for the Sensing Stone to move. It isn’t just our family. The Lark family has been waiting as well. However, even after hundreds of years, no one has ever witnessed it.
“Nonetheless, this is the rule set by our ancestors. Someone tried to take the Kirin blood before, and the consequence was that he died tragically when he touched the Sensing Stone. He was found dead, bleeding from his seven orifices.
“Since then, no one has dared to take the Kirin blood or even think about it,” Evander said.
Odalys fell silent. A mix of emotions surged within her as she glanced at Percival and Orson. “Weren’t you guys afraid of dying when you were taking the Kirin blood?” Odalys asked in a distant voice, belying the emotional turmoil she felt inwardly.
Percival simply gave a faint smile before replying, “I didn’t think much of it at the time. I just felt that you looked unwell, like you were injured or something.
“But you had no external injuries. Therefore, you must have injured yourself internally when you were drawing the talisman after biting your finger. Ordinary medicine probably wouldn’t work on you, so I thought of that item our family stored at the Lark Group.
“I just wanted to give it a try. I didn’t think about the consequences,” Percival confessed truthfully. Orson raised his hand and piped up, “Me too. Percival told me to get it, saying that you were injured. I didn’t think much of it either, and I forgot that Grandpa warned me that forcibly taking it might cause problems.
“Heehee! I forgot totally, to be honest.” Orson smiled sheepishly.
He had grown up together with Percival, and he would always go along with whatever decision Percival made.
Evander chuckled as he listened to the two.
“Who would have thought that a series of blunders that led to you two clashing would end up with such a fortuitous outcome!” Evander was clearly in a good mood as well.
He looked at Odalys and then at Percival. The more he looked, the more pleased he became.
“Odalys, how are you feeling now? Still feeling unwell anywhere?” the old man asked with concern.
Odalys shook her head and said, “I feel as strong as an ox now.”
“Haha, that’s good, that’s good.” The old man was delighted.
By the time he stood up to leave, the butler had already cleaned up the bloodstains on the bedroom floor. Odalys’s room was filled with a fresh fragrance, and there was no lingering scent of blood.
“Then you should rest early. Remember not to worry about anything and don’t let yourself get too tired. If you need anything, just discuss it with these two fellows,” Evander reminded her gently.
Odalys nodded and replied, “Sure, Grandpa.”
“I’m going back to my room to sleep. I’m too old to stay up all night.” Evander then left the room with the butler’s help.
After the old man left, the bedroom fell silent again.
“What fortuitous outcome is he talking about?” Odalys asked somewhat nervously.
She had never considered herself the Stewart family’s destined one, nor had she foreseen Percival would use the Kirin blood because he noticed she was injured.
“I don’t know. I only heard Grandpa mention that our forebears once set a rule that this item can only be used when the time is ripe. Otherwise, those who use it recklessly will die.
“He also said it concerns the future of our family, but I’m not sure about the rest,” Percival answered with a shake of his head.
Orson raised his hand to interject, “I heard my grandpa mention before that this thing can bring the dead back to life, but not everyone can use it.
“It sounds like some kind of specialized blood. If ordinary people use it, their bodies may not be able to withstand its power and they may die suddenly. Therefore, no one dares to have any ideas about it.
“Odalys, my gut feeling is that this item may have been specially reserved for you. As for why you are the one to use it and what benefits it will give you, we don’t know,” Orson surmised.
Odalys moved around for a while, and her body did feel much lighter.
Not only did her whole being feel invigorated, but even her previous injuries seemed to have healed.
“Your birth date and time were predicted before you were born, and the Kirin blood was even saved for you a long time ago. It seems that our forebears also met an expert who advised them at the beginning.
“The only thing is, I don’t know if the descendant of this expert is the one my father contacted,” Percival mused out loud.
It felt like everything was too much of a coincidence. Everything seemed to revolve around Odalys.
“It’s very late now. It doesn’t seem appropriate to talk about this now. Although Odalys has almost recovered, she still needs to sleep. Why don’t we talk about it tomorrow?” Orson suggested.
Percival nodded in concurrence and reminded, ” Alright then. Odalys, you get some rest first. If you feel unwell, remember to give me a call or just yell out.”
Odalys felt awful inwardly. She thought she had concealed her condition well, yet Percival was still able to see through her pretense.
This guy had to be incredibly observant to notice her discomfort.
“Okay. You two should get some rest too,” Odalys replied.
Both Percival and Orson then left her room. After closing the door, Odalys curled up on the sofa and turned to look out of the full-height window, which happened to frame that particular big tree.
She got up again to draw the curtains aside, all the while looking intently at that big tree.
She vaguely saw a figure resembling Percival’s father, but the branches swayed for a moment, and the figure disappeared. Everything returned to normal.
“Master, you told me to return to Crownridge. Is the tribulation in my destiny related to the Stewart family?”
“Are you and Percival Stewart’s father old acquaintances?”
“Are you a descendant of that master who advised the Stewart family’s ancestors?” Odalys murmured to herself.
“These three questions swirled in her mind repeatedly. She wanted to unravel the mystery, yet she had no idea how to go about it.
“Everything surged towards her like a flood, threatening to drown her, leaving her unable to fight back.
She stood by the full-height window for a long time before returning to her bed.
That night, Odalys fell asleep quickly. In her dream, she thought she vaguely saw a figure with his hands clasped behind his back standing on a snowy mountaintop, his loose clothes billowing in the wind.
Chapter 646
Odalys tried to make out who that person was, but no matter how close she got, he always maintained a certain distance from her.
“Odalys Stone, It’s time for you to go back.” A voice boomed out from afar.
She wanted to say something, but her throat felt like it was being choked. She couldn’t make a sound at all. Next thing she knew, her feet seemed to have stepped into empty space and she felt herself falling.
“Argh!” Odalys screamed and woke up.
She sat up abruptly in bed, her hair damp with cold sweat. She leaned weakly on one side of the bed and reached for the water on the bedside table.
“What kind of dream was that?” Odalys whispered to herself.
She had rarely dreamed since she was a child, but every time she did, it was as if her soul had been pulled to another space. Everything that happened in the dream seemed real.
Thinking of this, she raised her hand and saw some marks on her hand, a result of ice burn.
The marks were very faint, just some red patches. She reached out and rubbed them gently, but she still felt some pain.
“So, what happened just now wasn’t a dream? It was real? A snow-capped mountain, but where? And who was that person? Was it my master?” Odalys muttered to herself.
If it was her master, she would have recognized him at first glance.
The point was that the other person’s figure was too blurred, and she couldn’t see him clearly at all.
Odalys rubbed her temples as she got up and went into the bathroom to take a shower. After changing into a fresh set of clothes, she slowly went downstairs and saw Evander Stewart talking to Percival’s assistant, Callum Hale.
“Good morning, Mrs. Stewart,” Callum quickly greeted Odalys when he saw her.
“You are up, Odalys?” Evander heard footsteps and immediately got up.
Then he issued some instructions in the direction of the kitchen. “Dorian, Odalys is up. Bring her some breakfast.”
“Yes, Sir,” the butler responded promptly. Odalys stretched lazily before approaching Callum and Evander. She saw that they were playing chess and some documents were placed beside them.
“Odalys, come here.” Evander seemed to be in a good mood.
He bade Odalys sit near him and then he picked up a document beside him. “This is from old man Clarence. It’s the traditional medicine patent he applied for you previously.
“The prescriptions you wrote and some of the surgical procedures have all been patented. Many traditional medicine practitioners have modified their methods based on what you taught the Lark family in the past, and they have found that their medical skills have improved a lot.
“These approvals have just been issued this morning. Clarence was busy, so I told Callum to pick them up,” Evander explained.
As he spoke, he handed the certificates and approval documents to Odalys.
Odalys was taken aback. Clarence Lark had indeed mentioned this matter to her, but she had forgotten about it after listening. To her surprise, he had gone ahead to apply for the patents for her.
“This is the appointment certificate for the position of Dean at the Larks’ traditional medicine center. He wanted to give you a formal title,” the old man chuckled, pointing at the certificate.
It wasn’t hard to hear the pride in his voice as he spoke.
Evander was also gratified that his decision to allow Odalys and Percival to enter into a marriage of convenience had turned out to be a good move in hindsight. He shuddered to imagine the consequences if he had made a mistake.
“Mrs. Stewart, there’s one more thing. Previously, there was a lawyer representing you online in a lawsuit to sue the Bennett family for abandonment. The trial is tomorrow. I’ve already contacted the lawyers who are representing you in the lawsuit.
“The Stewart family will hire them as full-time lawyers. Mr. Stewart’s intention is to set up a legal team specifically for you to follow up on your personal cases and handle public relations in the future,” Callum explained.
Odalys buried her face in her hand after hearing this. “Does Percival think I am going to get embroiled in all kinds of legal disputes?” Odalys gave a helpless laugh.
However, she didn’t refuse his help. As they said, better safe than sorry.
“Mrs. Stewart, breakfast is ready. Would you like to have it now or later?” the butler asked respectfully after he pushed out the breakfast trolley.
The moment she heard “breakfast,” Odalys’s stomach began rumbling.
“Grandpa, Callum, you two carry on. I’ll go have breakfast.” Odalys smiled sheepishly.
She went off with the butler while Evander continued playing chess with Callum.
After breakfast, Odalys checked Callum’s pulse and commented, “Your recovery is good, but you still need to continue taking the medicine.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Stewart.” Callum suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
After breakfast, Odalys drove off alone. However, after leaving the Stewart family’s residence, the car took a detour.
In the distance, a sudden “bang” broke the morning quiet of Crownridge. Many people heard the gunshot, and some even thought it was an explosion.
The car came to a stop with a screech as Odalys slammed on the brakes.
Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, and she turned her head in the direction of the gunshot.
Bang, bang, bang! Several gunshots rang out in succession. Without thinking, Odalys turned the car around and sped toward the sound of the gunfire. Her BMW was practically flying.
Not far away was an abandoned warehouse. The surroundings were deserted and overgrown with weeds. The sound of gunfire intensified, and faint screams could be heard.
“Argh!” A man’s scream pierced the silence.
Odalys jumped out of the car and dashed inside. She saw two figures running out and the first guy kicked the one in front of him. The second man then fell to the ground, and the first man punched him in the head.
“Officer Lee Hersey?” Odalys cried out in shock. Despite his facial injuries, she found the first man familiar and recognized him as Officer Hersey.
Everyone presumed that he perished in the mudslide previously, but Odalys knew that he would be fine.
Even the police believed that he was lost for good after searching very hard for him, but after Percival met Officer Hersey that time, the officer disappeared while he was tailing somebody.
Odalys didn’t ask any questions back then, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have her own speculation.
“Ms. Stone, run! There’s a bomb here. There’s a bomb strapped to his body!” Officer Hersey was so scared that his voice trembled.
He grabbed the fleeing man tightly and kept punching him.
Though the men were a little far away, Odalys could see that the second man had a time bomb strapped to his chest. As she rushed toward them, she saw some people not far away.
“Leave at once!” Odalys shouted to them.
Those people were all injured, and their wrists and feet were bound with iron chains. They seemed to be petrified with fear as they watched the two men fighting before their eyes. It wasn’t until Odalys pushed them forward a few times that they came back to their senses and immediately ran out without looking back.
These people smelled bad. It seemed that they hadn’t taken a bath for a long time, which meant that they had been imprisoned for quite some time. Even their movements were a little unsteady.
“Head to the left. All of you go left,” Odalys instructed urgently.
As these people ran away in a panic, the gunshots rang out again.
Bang! The gunshots echoed around, and Odalys turned her head in time to see Officer Hersey getting shot. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched his blood splatter into the air.
Chapter 647
Odalys didn’t even think as she immediately rushed to the officer. “Officer Hersey!” Odalys called out urgently.
She tried to help him up, but Officer Hersey immediately pushed her away. Blood was still dripping down his face. After shoving her aside, he yelled, “Leave! Right now! It’s going to blow up!”
Despite saying that, he himself still tried to apprehend the suspect. He pounced on the fellow struggling to flee even as blood still oozed out of his body, and tried valiantly to pin him to the ground.
This was the sight that greeted the police when they arrived at this juncture.
They were horrified when they saw the bomb strapped to the suspect and the countdown timer on it was ticking down. [10… 9… 8… 7… ]
The beeping sound reverberated ominously in everyone’s ears.
“Get down!” the leading police officer yelled.
Everyone else was too scared to do anything else. Only Odalys sprang into action without thinking. She yanked Officer Hersey away before kicking the suspect with all her might.
Incredibly, the suspect was sent flying through the air by Odalys’s kick. His eyes widened in shock at the amount of strength Odalys could muster.
Boom! The time bomb exploded in mid-air.
Before the suspect could react, the bomb strapped to him exploded, blowing his body into shreds.
Flesh and blood splattered everywhere. By the time the suspect hit the ground, he was nothing more than a bloody mess scattered everywhere. Odalys had already hunkered down with Officer Hersey for safety. The officer’s eyes were wide with shock as he watched the suspect explode. As he stared at the blood mess raining down, the sound of the explosion was still ringing in his
ears.
He had been on this suspect’s tail for more than ten years. This was the guy who killed his comrade back then.
When he finally cornered the guy this time, he threw caution to the wind and held him tightly, refusing to let go.
Finally, this guy died in front of him. Officer Hersey felt as if a great weight had been lifted. He collapsed to the ground and lay limply next to Odalys.
“After a long while, he finally tried to get up.
“
Ouch! Ms. Stone, are you alright?” Officer Hersey asked, wincing in pain.
Odalys gave him a pained look. She glanced at the wounds on his body and the scar on his face. His clothes were also tattered, and his eyes were bloodshot.
For five whole days, he must have been tailing the suspect without eating, drinking, or sleeping properly.
He was practically running on empty as he pursued his target relentlessly, hell-bent on avenging his comrade.
“I’m fine, and so are your family members,” Odalys told him.
Upon hearing this, Officer Hersey laughed softly. He closed his eyes and collapsed heavily to the ground.
Odalys used her hand to apply pressure to his wound, but blood still oozed out.
“Thank you,” Officer Hersey whispered.
He had avenged his comrade and knew that his family was safe. The weight in his heart was finally lifted. He looked at Odalys, his eyes filled with tenderness and respect.
He also hoped his own daughter would grow up as strong and brave as Odalys.
“Don’t move. You’re injured all over,” Odalys instructed him.
Officer Hersey didn’t move again. By now, the other police officers had already grabbed their first aid kits and rushed to them. Odalys stepped aside to let them help Officer Hersey.
The ambulance had arrived now, along with many reporters. The whole incident, starting from Officer Hersey’s brave actions to Odalys rushing forward to support him and then kicking the suspect away, had been captured on film. Officer Hersey was finally carried into the ambulance. In the distance, Percival had appeared at some point.
Percival’s clothes were torn in many places, and he looked a bit disheveled. He hurried toward Odalys; he saw her, his face fraught with worry. “Odalys, why are you here?” Percival asked anxiously.
Odalys sized up the disheveled man in front of her and then the people behind him.
She gazed intently at him. She had noticed Percival emerging from the same direction as Officer Hersey just before he got shot. They must have already met each other prior to this. “So, this operation to nab the drug traffickers was a joint plan between you and Officer Hersey?” Odalys asked with certainty.
She already had her suspicions that Percival was involved ever since Officer Hersey ” disappeared.”
With Officer Hersey’s ability, he could indeed go into hiding easily, but the fact that no one could find any trace of him at all was very strange. It was as if a huge net had been cast to blind everyone.
No one else could have pulled off such a monumental undertaking unless he was someone from the powerful Stewart family. “You guessed it?” Percival didn’t bother hiding it now that Odalys had seen through him.
He held her shoulders and examined her thoroughly. It was only when he had verified that she was indeed unharmed that he started brushing the dust off her clothes.
“The last time Officer Hersey disappeared, I lost him when I was tailing him. I happened to run into you then, and I detected his scent on you. I guessed then that you had been in contact with him.
“That ginger head was also arrested later, but the police kept it a secret. I was even more certain that you were involved,” Odalys said.
Percival looked at her confident expression and let out a chuckle.
“Looks like nothing can be hidden from you. I was afraid that you would be worried, so I didn’t tell you. That time when you were live-streaming, you exposed the identity of the drug trafficking leader, which led to his arrest.
“Officer Hersey and I guessed that his men would never let this matter rest and would try to make a move. Even if it wasn’t to save him, they would still want to seek revenge as a matter of pride.
“I managed to get the list of missing persons earlier. Officer Hersey had been secretly investigating this case, so we went with the flow and lured them out. Then Officer Hersey decided to infiltrate the syndicate.
“After creating an accident to cover up his tracks, he went alone into the enemy camp and rescued the kidnapped missing persons. Some secret drug production warehouses were basically all taken down,” Percival recounted everything.
Odalys listened to him in silence before finally asking, her voice tinged with concern, “So you have been out since last night? You haven’t slept all night?”
Percival felt very happy inwardly when he saw her concern for him. “Nah, I can still handle it.”
In the distance, reporters kept trying to enter the compound, but the police stopped them outside while they entered the warehouse to search.
Those missing persons who escaped earlier were also taken away by the police. The entire place was cordoned off. Soon, the police
uncovered a lot of evidence, as well as the confessions hidden by Officer Hersey.
“Let’s go to the hospital,” Percival suggested. He was still energetic even though he hadn’t slept all night.
Percival drove to the hospital. By now, Orson Lark was already performing surgery on Officer Hersey in the operating room.
Outside the operating room, Zoe Hersey and daughter Norah were waiting, staring at the light above the operating room. They didn’t cry or make a fuss and were a picture of silent fortitude.
“Mrs. Hersey?” Odalys went up to them and called softly.
Zoe turned to Odalys, her face fraught with anxiety. Her eyes showed her internal emotional turmoil while her lips trembled constantly. She said in a tearful voice, “I just heard about it. You saved him again.”
Chapter 648
“If you hadn’t saved him, maybe he wouldn’t have escaped this calamity today. You also saved me and my daughter the last time, Ms. Stone. I really don’t know how to thank you,” Zoe said as tears of gratitude flowed out.
Norah was standing by silently with red-rimmed eyes.
She tugged gently at Odalys’s clothes and whispered, “Odalys, you are my idol. Dad said that when I grow up, I should be strong and brave like you and be a good person.” Odalys squatted down to look at the girl when she heard the girl’s voice.
Before saying anything, she gently hugged the girl. Then she said gently, “You are already very brave and strong. You are already taking care of your mother now, aren’t you?”
As Zoe listened to Odalys comforting the girl, she felt her anxiety dissipating gradually. The surgery lasted for three hours, and the bullets in Officer Hersey’s body were eventually removed. Orson was shocked by the officer’s condition at the beginning. In addition to the gunshot he had just received in the morning, Officer Hersey had also been shot twice in the abdomen.
He had used his clothes to bandage the wound to stop the bleeding.
After two days in this state, the wound had already begun to fester. If he had not been sent here, he would probably have developed an infection. By then, it would be too late to save him.
And there were many more wounds on his body. But this time, Officer Hersey rescued a total of 132 imprisoned people.
Three drug warehouses and five bases were destroyed, and 39 drug dealers were arrested.
Ever since the last major case, this was the next big case to grab headlines worldwide. The missing people who had been trafficked and kidnapped were reunited with their families. The truth was finally revealed. Everyone thought Officer Hersey was dead after he vanished. Surprisingly, he had gone undercover to crack a major case.
Everyone knew that narcotics officers were the toughest of the lot. Many endured humiliation and bore heavy burdens. Some even had their flesh cut off, their bones broken, and their nails pulled out in the course of duty. They suffered all kinds of pain and torture in the name of saving people.
Officer Hersey destroyed the enemy’s lair this time. He sustained a total of 29 wounds, three gunshot wounds, and one broken arm. He even had two more scars on his face.
Once details of the operation were published, the case grabbed headlines worldwide once more.
The video of Odalys rescuing Officer Hersey, as well as the video of her kicking a suspect into the air, were also posted online, and countless viewers were shocked. Various topics started trending…
“[Odalys Stone Kicks Bomb-Man Away]
[Brave Cop Severely Injured in Bid to Crush Drug Den]
[Missing Police Officer Resurfaced After Many Days]
[What If Time Bomb is Strapped to Bad Guy?] [Let’s Kick Him Away]”
All kinds of trending topics topped the internet search results, along with the names of Lee Hersey and Odalys Stone.
Odalys never thought that she would end up saving Officer Hersey’s life by suddenly turning around and rushing to the site. And it never occurred to her that her name would become an internet sensation once more.
After Officer Hersey came out of the operating room, Odalys left quietly.
Percival was already in the VIP lounge of the hospital to take a shower and change his clothes.
He was drying his hair now after getting out of the bathroom. The towel was loosely wrapped around his waist, and drops of water were still sliding down the grooves of his muscles.
The lounge door swung open, and Odalys came in. “I brought you some food.”
She stood there holding the takeout carrier bag, and her eyes fell on Percival’s torso wrapped in a bath towel. The taut abs and well-defined muscles made her heart race.
Odalys’ eyes widened as her gaze landed on his abdomen. As she watched the water droplets slide down his skin and get absorbed by the towel, her face became flushed and her heartbeat quickened inexplicably.
She quickly averted her gaze and saw that Percival had finished drying his hair. His short dark hair was slightly damp as he walked towards her.
As he came closer, Odalys felt her mouth go dry.
“What did you get me?” Percival’s seductive voice rang out.
Odalys didn’t know why, but she felt a little guilty and didn’t dare look at him.
She quickly walked past him with the takeout carrier bag, brushing against his arm accidentally. The heat from his skin seemed to burn her.
Though she was startled by the sensation, Odalys pretended not to care and laid out the food on the table.
“I got you some breakfast from across the street. It’ll have to do for now, but I’ll treat you to a good feast this afternoon,” Odalys told him.
Percival was delighted when he heard that she was giving him a treat.
He walked towards her and sat down on the sofa. Then he watched her spread out all the delicious food.
“Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, bratwurst and muffins, mashed potatoes, sourdough and guacamole. These are all breakfast items. I’m not sure if you’ll like them. I saw you were injured, so I didn’t get anything too greasy,” Odalys prattled on as she busied herself.
Percival accepted the cutlery set Odalys offered him.
His fingertips brushed against her palm, and Odalys quickly withdrew her hand. “Go on, try them,” she said with a reddened face.
“How about we go out for dinner tonight? Just the two of us, no one else,” Percival asked.
Odalys froze, caught off guard by his question. Why can’t other people join us?” she asked, appearing puzzled for a fleeting moment.
“Oh, they can. It’s just that I’m worried you may bring Freya along again. We’ve never been out for a meal alone, or done anything else together, for that matter. It’s like your heart and mind are always with Freya.” Percival appeared somewhat reproachful as he spoke.
He was eating his meal in a genteel manner. Though the delicious food filled his whole mouth, it still could not hide the jealousy in his voice.
“Sometimes I feel like having Freya banned globally or exiled to some remote desert to do hard labor so that she can’t stay in Crownridge and take up all of your time.
“You rush to Film Capital whenever you have free time, you always remember to treat her to dinner, you are always going shopping with her, but you don’t allocate any time for me.” Percival sounded quite aggrieved as he lamented.
Odalys was dumbfounded. She had never considered these issues. Whenever she went out for supper, it was always with Freya. She would only ask Percival to join them as an afterthought.
His reminder made her realize that she had never really gone out alone with Percival. Even if they did, there always seemed to be other people with them.
“Then, how about the two of us go out together tonight?” Odalys suggested tentatively.
Percival’s eyes lit up with joy and he answered at once, “Great!”
“Without anyone else?” he added after a pause. Odalys quickly shook her head and said, “No one else. Just you and me. What would you like to eat tonight? It’s on me. I’m treating you.”
“Why, thank you so much, Mrs. Stewart,” Percival replied in a teasing manner.
Odalys sat there watching him eat. After a while, Percival handed her a set of cutlery and gestured to her to eat something too.
She obliged him by having some drinks and food. Thus, the two of them ate and chatted. During the course of their conversation, she found out that Percival had been secretly collaborating with Officer Hersey on the case. In fact, over the years, when Officer Hersey solved numerous cases, Percival was more or less involved.
In other words, he and Officer Hersey were old acquaintances!
Chapter 649
However, their relationship was not made public until Officer Hersey became acquainted with Odalys. Only then did the two men allow their association to become public knowledge in their own circle.
“So, can we go see a movie together tonight?” Percival asked again.
“Odalys nodded without hesitation. “Sure, what movie do you want to see? I’ll get the tickets.”
After she finished speaking, the two of them looked at each other and laughed.
Odalys beamed at the man in front of her, her eyes fixed on his deep, dark eyes. His expression was gentle and no longer as aloof as when she first met him.
“You have such an attractive smile. Why weren’t you in a relationship before meeting me?” Odalys couldn’t help feeling curious about him. Percival was the head of the Stewart family and held the power to move heaven and earth. He was revered in both the business and political worlds. It was believed that every eligible socialite in the upper class wanted to marry him.
But Percival Stewart was a very mysterious character. He didn’t like to show his face in public and, apart from his business associates, he hardly ever interacted with women.
His assistants, bodyguards, and even his friends were all male except for Freya Winslow. He had almost no contact with other women.
“Why should I be in a relationship? There’s no need to waste time on such things if I don’t like the other party.” Percival was a little puzzled. He was truly clueless about romantic relationships.
He couldn’t understand why some men would want to waste time flirting and romancing women and then argue and break up with them. For him, once he made up his mind, it was for life.
He didn’t like arguing with women. If a woman wanted to argue, it must be because the man had not done well enough. He had not given her enough security, so she kept making a fuss. So, a responsible man should put his woman first. When his family was harmonious, his career would naturally be smooth sailing.
“If I bother getting into an uncertain relationship when I know my time will be wasted?” Percival continued.
As if worried that she didn’t understand, Percival elaborated, “In my opinion, one should only start a relationship when he genuinely likes the other party. And once he starts one, he should not talk about ending it. After all, time is precious for everyone.
“One should not be selfish and waste the other party’s time. Or let’s say he doesn’t really like someone but still gets entangled with her. In the end, he’s reluctant to marry her. Isn’t that holding the woman back?
“Youth is short-lived. Wonderful things should be reserved for the right person, and it should be for someone he likes. If he likes her and she likes her back, that’s the best outcome,” Percival said firmly.
Odalys listened silently. She gazed intently at Percival again and saw the earnestness in his eyes.
As she mulled over the flippant attitudes of men and women towards relationships in today’s society, she realized Percival was completely different.
“But, if you don’t try, how do you know whether you like someone or not? Or whether the two of you are compatible or not?” Odalys asked doubtfully.
Odalys was a bit surprised by Percival’s outlook on love.
She had never been in a romantic relationship, but ever since she returned to Crownridge and entered the entertainment industry, she had witnessed many relationships.
Many people dated for a few months or even weeks, and then broke up when they found out they were not compatible. Sometimes, they even cheated on their partners without any regard for the other person’s feelings.
“There’s no need to try. You know whether you like someone or not at first sight. If you really like someone and want to be together, then there’s no compatibility issue.
“If you like someone, you’ll be willing to make compromises. There’s no such thing as needing time to get used to each other. If two people are together and realize they’re not compatible after trying to adjust, it only means that they don’t truly love each other.
“Everyone has a different lifestyle and personality. How do you ascertain that the other person is right for you? There is no such thing as two perfectly compatible people.
“But if you truly love each other and are willing to make compromises, then you and your partner are compatible,” Percival spoke to her very solemnly.
Odalys didn’t respond. She knew Percival was right.
After listening to him, she realized that the current social norm in relationships was not very ideal. That was why there were so many heartless men.
“Which brings me to my point… I like you, and I think we’re a good match. If you think I’m making you uncomfortable, I can change.”
Seeing her silence, Percival quickly confessed.
Odalys was rendered speechless by his sudden confession.
“Odalys, I said before I liked you, and I still do,” Percival reiterated.
“Odalys blushed and her heart began racing at his heartfelt confession. “Ahem… quickly finish up your food. It’s getting cold,” she urged him. Percival watched her getting all shy and embarrassed and felt delighted inwardly.
In the end, he finished every morsel of food. Odalys was caught off guard by his good appetite. She asked weakly, “Is it enough for you?” Percival saw the anxiety in her eyes and knew that she was worried she had bought too little. “I can eat some more in the evening,” Percival said reassuringly.
Odalys was about to get up and clear the table when Percival beat her to it. He gathered everything, bagged the garbage, and set it aside. After the meal was over, Odalys sat there numbly, not knowing what to say.
As the silence dragged on, Odalys sneaked a glance at Percival. His phone vibrated at this moment. With the towel still wrapped around his waist, he walked to his phone to answer it.
While on the phone, he unscrewed the cap of a mineral water bottle with one hand and handed the bottle to her. “Thank you,” Odalys murmured. “She accepted the bottle and took a sip. She overheard Percival discussing business in perfect Spanish, vaguely making out words like ” familias ricas.” She stopped listening after this. She looked down at her phone and saw there was a message from Freya Winslow.
[Odalys, you’re trending! That kick was awesome! Are you free tonight? I want to give you a dinner treat!] Freya asked excitedly.
“Odalys rested her cheek on her hand and texted back, [Didn’t we just meet up yesterday?]
[Gosh, I can’t bear it if I don’t see you for one day. Miss you already!] Freya cajoled sweetly. Odalys glanced at Percival thoughtfully and typed, [But Percival asked me out.
“Huh? Damn! Percival asked you out? My word, the sky is falling!” Freya was thrilled after receiving this message.
“After finding out that Percival had taken the initiative to ask Odalys out, Freya immediately called Odalys.
“Odalys, fleece him! Make him treat you to the most expensive food!” Freya immediately advised.
Odalys could hardly suppress her smile. “I was the one who offered to treat him. I may well be the one to get fleeced,” she said with mock annoyance.
“What? He’s that stingy? That’s not like him. He used to transfer me thousands in pocket money! No way, you can’t treat him. You have to make him treat you. Spend his money, spend it all,” Freya blurted with indignation.
Odalys laughed, amused by her friend’s spirited defiance. “Haha…”
She thought for a moment and reminded Freya,” Come to think of it, you are his younger sister. Surely it’s not appropriate for you to tell me to rip him off, is it?”
“Hmph! But you’re my sister-in-law; we’re both women. We should help women over men, don’t you think?” Freya rebutted, though she felt somewhat guilty.
Chapter 650
Odalys was amused by Freya’s words and almost burst into laughter.
“I’m a little curious. You were adopted by the Stewart family when you were little. After you found out about your background, have you ever thought of having Percival as your boyfriend? “Why didn’t you choose him? Why did you move out of the Stewart family’s place and strike out on your own?” Odalys asked with a quizzical look.
If it were Sophia Bennet, she would have climbed into Percival’s bed long ago.
It was no secret that many people yearned to marry into wealthy families.
“Dammit! Odalys, to be honest with you, Percival hit me when I was young.” Freya was furious when she recalled this.
“She practically leaped to her feet and ranted into the phone, “He didn’t tell you, did he? Once when he was little, he came back from training and I accidentally blew him up.
“I had used a lighter to light up some stuff he was studying, and it exploded and almost blew him away. Guess what? He chased me down many streets, threatening to kill me.
“Every time he saw me after that, he would glare at me with murderous eyes. It’s not easy for me to survive to this age! Now I have nightmares
whenever I see him. I feel as if he wants to take revenge on me at any moment,” Freya complained bitterly.
Though she knew that it was her fault when they were little, how could anyone blame a pretty little girl like her? As long as she adamantly refused to admit any wrongdoing, no one could pin the blame on her.
“Haha…” Odalys couldn’t contain herself anymore and laughed out loud. She chatted merrily with Freya on the phone, unaware of the figure standing behind her. Percival had already ended his call and was watching her thoughtfully. It wasn’t until he re-emerged after changing his clothes that he saw her ending her call.
Percival strode forward and sat down opposite Odalys. He looked at her gravely and the atmosphere became tense in an instant. Odalys immediately restrained her mirth.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen? Is Officer Hersey in danger? Didn’t he just have surgery?” Odalys asked somewhat nervously.
Percival reached out and held her hand, motioning for her to keep quiet.
Odalys’s heart was thumping madly as all kinds of thoughts raced through her mind.
She bit her lip, her eyes filled with anxiety. When she looked at Percival, her heartbeat became erratic. His stern but pained gaze was fixed intently on her.
“Freya Winslow and I are only childhood acquaintances,” he declared firmly.
“Huh?” Odalys froze. It was as if her mind had short-circuited and was unable to keep up with Percival’s train of thought.
“There’s no way I can be with Freya. I see her as a little sister, at most. We only see each other once a year, let alone develop any other kind of relationship.
“I hope you won’t misunderstand. Although Freya and I are not related by blood, we will not have any romantic relationship.
“Just because we have known each other since we were young doesn’t mean we will end up marrying each other. I protect her because her father and my father were comrades-in-arms. Her father died because of my father, so it is now my responsibility to take care of her.
“But frankly, I haven’t been too proactive in taking care of her. Most of the time, I let Callum and the other staff look after her. I occasionally give her some pocket money when she needs money; that’s all,” Percival continued to explain. After listening to his explanation, Odalys sank into deep thought.
Obviously, this man had overheard her conversation with Freya. At that moment, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“You overheard me chatting with Freya on the phone earlier, didn’t you? We were just joking with each other. I didn’t have any
misunderstanding about your relationship with her. I know you treat her as family. There’s no misunderstanding on my part at all.” Odalys tried to reassure him.
She found Percival’s serious expression both amusing and a little heartbreaking.
Who would have thought that her nonsensical chit-chat with her good friend would give rise to a misunderstanding in Percival’s mind?
“It’s good that you didn’t misunderstand.” Percival’s tense heart finally relaxed.
When he overheard her conversation with Freya earlier, his heart had skipped a beat, and he became very worried that Odalys would misunderstand his relationship with Freya.
He had already seen what happened in the Bennett family previously.
Sophia Bennet’s unclear relationship with those three from the Bennett family, which might have even involved something more, had made him worry that Odalys would overthink things. This was in spite of the fact that not everyone was like the Bennett family.
The Stewart family members had always conducted themselves in a proper manner. They would never make such an unbecoming mistake. They never had, and never would.
“Do you need to take a rest? You didn’t sleep last night.” Odalys suddenly remembered something when she saw Percival’s bloodshot eyes.
It was clear that he not only didn’t sleep well last night, but he probably had not been sleeping well lately.
Percival heard the concern in her words and let out a chuckle. “I’m fine,” he said.
Almost immediately, Odalys reached out and her dainty fingertips pressed against his forehead. Percival froze as he felt a warm current washing over him. Instantly, his fatigue vanished. Now he looked refreshed and felt energized.
“He stared at her in astonishment as she withdrew her hand. “Just imparting some strength to you,” Odalys explained.
“You can do that?” Percival was incredulous.
Odalys winked at him mysteriously, then got up and walked out. Percival quickly followed suit, and the two headed towards the VIP ward.
Officer Hersey was warded here. He was still unconscious after the surgery.
Zoe Hersey and daughter Norah were at his bedside. They did not appear to be too upset to see Officer Hersey lying there injured. Compared to hearing about his death or worse, this was by far the best outcome.
Odalys didn’t want to bother them and left the ward quietly with Percival.
“I want to have a few words with Orson. Wait for me downstairs,” Percival said.
Odalys made an OK gesture and headed for the elevator. After waiting a long time for the elevator, she gave up and decided to take the stairs. This VIP ward was on the 8th floor, which was not very high.
She was in good shape and reached the 3rd floor very quickly.
“Did you hear? Sophia Bennet’s fingers were ruined. I heard it was due to sulfuric acid. I wonder if it was retribution for doing too many wicked things.” A voice could be heard gossiping.
“Odalys stopped at once when she heard the name “Sophia Bennet.”
Gripped by curiosity, she turned to look and saw several patients’ families gossiping.
“That’s right! It’s such a shame. She used to be a big star. Why is she so desperate? She wants to sleep with any man she sees.”
“I heard that she and those few from the Bennett family…”
“Really? Could it be that someone is deliberately slandering her?”
“Who knows? She’s always been at odds with Odalys Stone. I heard that she is also capable of stealing her fans’ good luck. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but Odalys Stone’s career has been smooth sailing.”
“The entertainment industry is full of rumors. Who knows what’s true and what’s not?” The women laughed derisively as they talked.
After listening for a while, Odalys was about to take another route downstairs when a sharp voice called out to her.
“Odalys Stone.” Sophia Bennet’s sharp voice rang out from somewhere nearby.
Before Odalys could leave, Sophia rushed up to her. Her eyes were bloodshot as she glared at Odalys. She looked like she wanted to tear Odalys apart.
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