Chapter 691
”Someone came here before to check the energy field,” Harvey said, a hint of fear in his voice.” They said this spot has the best energy field. They even suggested we create a small place of reverence to seek blessings. They claimed it would help the Tillery family rise to greater heights.”
He had seen the pig manifest from this very spot earlier. Even though he didn’t understand much about the energy field, he could tell this place wasn’t as ideal as it seemed.
“Well, some energy field experts prefer to take unconventional paths,” Odalys remarked sharply. “They believe the more dangerous a place is, the safer it can be. This spot is heavy with negative energy. Only those with the right strength and luck can keep it under control.”
She paused, then continued, “If you don’t have the right protection, seeking favor in this place could lead to tragedy. But there’s always an exception. If your luck is strong enough, it could be like they said-your family could rise. But there’s a catch.”
She glanced at them, her gaze hardening. “To succeed, someone must be sacrificed. It doesn’t mean your loved ones do if you have the strength to control it. So, people looking for the best energy field often overlook one thing.”
“Can your future generations bear the cost?” she added coldly. “Too much of anything leads to imbalance. When you push things too far, it’s like trying to fill a cup already full. The
unconventional path might seem like a shortcut, but it could end up costing lives.”
Harvey and Celeste were both visibly shaken by her words.
But after Odalys finished her work, the atmosphere around the Tillery villa felt utterly different. Despite not seeing anything, the heavy pressure on them seemed to vanish.
“Don’t underestimate that pig,” Odalys continued. “If it had fully manifested, this city would have known no peace. It had already been sealed, meaning something happened in the Tillery family’s past.”
She paused, her expression turning thoughtful.” Your family likely sought out an expert to contain it. It couldn’t be destroyed, only sealed. Over the years, the Tillery family had no major issues-until that rare emerald was taken. That’s when the trouble started.”
Odalys thought, ‘Something doesn’t feel right. I held the rare emerald, and it didn’t seem like an object meant to control such forces. But the moment it was taken, the Tillery family ran into trouble. Does this mean someone wants me to return it? Why, though?’
Celeste, still uneasy, spoke up. “So, has it been contained now?” Her voice trembled, clearly unsettled. She thought, ‘No ordinary person could face something so terrifying.’
“Yes, it’s contained,” Odalys said. “At least for the next few years, even if it’s released, it will be too weakened to harm anyone. I’ve struck it 108 times, and with cursed energy on the butcher’s knife, it won’t withstand it.”
She paused before continuing, “I also used a powerful ritual to ensure it couldn’t escape. But the knife must remain here for forty-nine days. After that, I’ll take care of it.”
Harvey and Celeste nodded quickly.
As they spoke, they heard Blossom’s voice upstairs. “Odalys, Oswald’s awake!” Blossom called, excitement clear in her tone.
Hearing this, Odalys immediately headed upstairs, followed closely by Harvey and Celeste. They went to Oswald’s room, where they found him awake, though still weak. He appeared disoriented, but when he saw Odalys, he shot up suddenly.
“Oswald, how are you feeling? Is there anything that hurts?” Odalys asked, her words gentle. As she spoke, she moved forward, placing her hand on his and quickly checking his pulse.
Sure enough, his pulse had returned to normal, and he no longer seemed frail.
“I feel much lighter, and my mind’s clearer,” Oswald said, his voice filled with relief.
Odalys smiled, pulling the covers up around him. “Don’t worry, I’ve taken care of it. The danger is gone. It won’t harm your family, and Blossom will be fine.”
As she spoke, Oswald suddenly grabbed her hand, his eyes fixed on her with a strange intensity. Tears welled up in his eyes as he whispered, “It’s you… It is you.”
“I saw you on TV before, and Blossom mentioned you. I knew you had returned,” Oswald said, his voice choked with emotion.
His words left everyone confused and unsure of what he meant.
Oswald and Odalys were from entirely different generations-he was in his seventies or eighties, while she was barely twenty. Yet he said, “I knew you had returned.”
Anyone unaware of the situation might assume they were old acquaintances.
“Why are you saying that?” Odalys asked, her brow furrowing. She looked at Oswald, her mind drifting to the rare emerald.
Odalys thought, ‘A vague understanding is starting to form. Previously, Celeste had told me that the rare emerald was connected to me, yet I had never met Oswald.’
“Harvey, help me to the study,” Oswald said.
Harvey, looking both confused and concerned, glanced at Oswald. “Oswald, you’re too weak. Let me bring whatever you need. I can fetch it for you.”
Oswald shook his head stubbornly. “No, help me walk there.”
Seeing this, Harvey and Celeste stepped forward, carefully helping Oswald to his feet. Blossom followed closely behind, watching as they slowly descended the hall.
At the end of the hall was a study. Harvey stepped forward and pushed the door open.
The light flickered on with a click, illuminating the room. The walls were lined with books, all neatly arranged, and the air smelled of aged paper.
“Help me over there,” Oswald instructed, pointing to a spot by the window.
Harvey and Celeste carefully guided him toward the spot. Once there, Oswald reached out, his hands trembling as he pressed against the nearby surface. The place suddenly gave way, sinking in.
There was a faint click, followed by the sound of something shifting. A long crack appeared, revealing a narrow box inside.
“Take it out,” Oswald said.
The others gasped in surprise. They hadn’t known there was a hidden compartment in the study, one they had been entirely unaware of.
If Oswald hadn’t opened it, they would have never known it was there or contained something so important. He had kept this secret from them for years, even in his old age, never mentioning it to anyone.
This item was significant to him- he protected it with his life.
“Yes,” Blossom said obediently, stepping forward. She picked up the box beside her and discovered it was made of rich walnut wood, long and seemingly designed to hold a portrait or something precious.
Oswald was helped into a nearby pearwood chair and sat down quietly. He gestured to Odalys, “Come sit here.”
Odalys walked over at his request.
Oswald pointed to the main seat beside him.” You sit here.”
Harvey and Celeste took a deep breath, their eyes fixed on the spot Oswald had pointed to. That chair was sacred, a place even Oswald would never occupy, as it was reserved for the family’s highest regard. Harvey himself had never dared to sit there.
“Here?” Odalys asked, pointing to the chair.
Chapter 692
The seat before her was one of undeniable authority, a place not meant for just anyone. An unspoken rule in wealthy or noble families dictated that certain positions were reserved for those of higher status. There could be no mistakes; occupying the wrong seat could bring serious repercussions.
“Yes, sit here,” Oswald said kindly.
Odalys didn’t hesitate, walking over and sitting down. After she settled in, Oswald lifted his hand, and Blossom quickly placed the long box made of rich walnut wood into his palm.
Everyone stood behind Oswald, their eyes fixed on the box in his hands, curious to see what it contained that was so important to him.
“It’s like… it’s like her,” Oswald said, his gaze fixed on Odalys, filled with warmth and affection. His eyes were filled with admiration and respect, and there was no trace of disrespect in them. While everyone felt uneasy, Oswald handed the box to Odalys. “Open it and see.”
Odalys took the box. The intricate patterns and craftsmanship made it clear that it was a vintage piece, rare and well-preserved. She carefully opened the box, revealing a portrait inside.
Blossom stepped forward and took the box from her. Odalys gently unfolded the portrait.
The woman in the portrait stood tall, dressed in an elegant early 20th-century gown. A heavy cloak was over her shoulders. A sword was slung over her back, and her hair was tied up with a hairpin.
She appeared to be walking toward the light, leaving the shadows behind as if emerging from darkness into the warmth of day.
The woman’s gaze was cold but unwavering, her steps confident. The wind swept through, lifting a strand of hair that brushed against her delicate face. And that face looked almost identical to Odalys’.
“Isn’t this… Isn’t this Odalys?” Blossom exclaimed, startled. She leaned closer, and although the portrait was quite old, it was clear that the figure in it was Odalys.
“It does look like her,” Celeste nodded quickly.
She seemed a bit nervous, gripping Harvey’s arm tightly. “Harvey, tell me, am I seeing things, or does this look like Odalys?”
“It’s not just a resemblance; it is her,” Harvey said. The artist’s skill was undeniable-the figure in the portrait was so lifelike that it almost seemed as though she could step out of the frame and walk toward the light.
“Odalys thought, ‘I’m surprised. Looking at the figure in the portrait, it feels like I’m in it.’
The figure in the portrait stood beneath a tree, with thick snow blanketing the ground. She was walking from the darkness toward the light, and a grand house appeared in the background.
Odalys thought, ‘Looking closely, it resembled the Tillery villa.’ “Why does this look like the Tillery villa?” Odalys asked. “Oswald, when was this portrait painted?” She thought, ‘I remembered vintage portraits often have signatures and dates in the lower corner!
Before she could answer, Oswald chuckled softly and gestured toward the portrait. “This has been passed down through our family for about a thousand years,” he said.
“This dates back to the 1920s when our family went through a crisis. A benefactor came to our aid, and her help allowed us to survive. The rare emerald she left behind was a token of her support.”
“They say that the rare emerald can protect our home and ensure our family’s prosperity,” Oswald whispered.
His voice grew more animated, as though he were reliving the past. “This portrait has been handed down for generations. It’s the most valuable heirloom in our family.
“It’s said that our family’s predecessors painted it and that if we ever meet the woman in the painting, she will return to save us, which also means that our family might be in danger again. “The rare emerald can protect us, but there’s a catch. We must either keep the rare emerald to save our lives or return it to its rightful owner,” Oswald said.
Everyone was left in stunned silence.
They hadn’t expected the rare emerald to have such a history. And they certainly hadn’t imagined that something as simple as an emerald could be tied to the lives of the Tillery family.
“This is a prophecy, a rule our family has followed for generations,” Oswald said, his voice heavy with emotion. “I thought I’d never live to see this person and planned to pass this portrait down to Harvey when I died. But to my surprise, I’ve lived to see you in my lifetime.”
As he spoke, Oswald began coughing, laughing through each fit.
“Coughing violently, Oswald struggled to catch his breath. Celeste quickly handed him a cup of coffee. After a sip, he seemed to feel a little better.
“I’m fine, really,” Oswald said, raising his hand to reassure them.
“He kept his eyes on the portrait before turning to Odalys. She resembled the woman in the portrait in every way-not just in appearance but in her demeanor, and the unwavering conviction in her gaze was undeniable.
“Why didn’t you keep the rare emerald?” Odalys asked, perplexed. “You knew that the Tillery family could be in danger without it. It could have protected all of us.”
“Odalys thought, ‘But people aren’t always loyal to one person forever. Beliefs and loyalty are often passed down for only a couple of generations. As time goes on, how can future generations uphold the same faith? People like him, so steadfast in their beliefs, are rare.’
“No! The Tillery family might not be here today without the benefactor who saved us. We act with conscience, always.
“The values passed down in my family cannot be broken. The moment I saw you on television, I knew you had returned. At the time, I was still at the old mansion and couldn’t return.
“When I heard you saved Blossom, I became even more certain it was you. Who else would come to the aid of a stranger, let alone my granddaughter?” Oswald said, his voice shaking with emotion, nearly tearing him up.
Oswald thought, ‘I’m reminded of the stories my grandfather once told me. As people grow older, they often reflect on the past, remembering lost loved ones, their parents, and the elders who had once cared for them.’
“The older man dabbed at his teary eyes as he continued, “Besides, you were the one who left this ancient emerald stone with the Tillery family originally. It has protected the Tillery family for so many years and ensured our prosperity. It can be said that the wealth of the Tillery family was bestowed by you.
“This ancient emerald stone not only keeps us safe but also brings us good luck. The fortune of the Tillery family is the manifestation of the blessings you have given us,” Oswald declared emphatically.
“He suddenly stood up and bowed deeply before Odalys.
Chapter 693
“Grandpa…”
“Dad!”
“Sir!”
All at once, everyone exclaimed in a flustered
manner.
者
“They were so taken aback by the sight of the elderly man bowing so deeply to Odalys that no one thought of helping to support him.
“It was quite a while before the elderly man straightened up to look at Odalys earnestly.
“After the Tillery family was saved, it was said that someone harmed you and that you perished in some mishap. Our forefather went to look for you with this ancient emerald stone, but he didn’t get to see you one last time.
“According to my grandfather, when our forefather arrived, the ground was covered in blood. At that point, this ancient emerald stone dropped to the ground, but it didn’t break. Instead, it absorbed all the blood on the ground. “Later, many strange things happened. Following that, our family moved elsewhere with this ancient emerald stone and settled here, which is the current Tillery family’s estate.
“At that juncture, a master said that this place was haunted, but after we moved in, nothing strange happened. Later, we met an expert who said that our Tillery family was protected and that the mystery lies in this ancient emerald stone.
“As for what the mystery is, I don’t know. I only know that from then on, our Tillery family never mentioned this ancient emerald stone again. Whatever family upheavals we encountered thereafter, we never gave this ancient emerald stone away, even if we had to dispose of our assets.
“One night, our forefather had a dream in which he was instructed to hide this ancient emerald stone. From that day onward, our family prospered again. Up till now, our family’s fortunes have never declined.
“Our forefather also passed down a message that we must return this ancient emerald stone to you because you would return one day. Thus, this stone has been passed down from generation to generation in our family. He said that you might have encountered trouble on account of this emerald stone and that this was a debt our Tillery family owed you.” Oswald was almost in tears as he recounted the past.
“The elderly man bowed deeply again before Odalys after he finished his tale.
“At the same time, Harvey and Celeste also bowed deeply, though Blossom had to be prompted before she did the same.
“Although these three didn’t say anything, they were so moved by Oswald’s heartfelt demeanor that tears also streamed down their faces.
“Odalys was utterly shocked. She could never have imagined that the Tillery family had such a storied past.
“She gazed at the portrait with conflicting emotions, surprised by the story behind it. She suddenly recalled the moment Celeste handed her the ancient emerald stone.
“When Odalys touched the emerald stone, she felt a certain resonance with it. Numerous images flashed through her mind, including one of herself and Percival Stewart in wedding attire. “At first, she wanted to examine the ancient emerald stone again with Percival, but her injury and subsequent events had delayed her intention.
“Please dispense with the formalities,” Odalys pleaded with everyone.
“She put down the portrait and hurried forward to help Oswald up.
“After Oswald sat down, Odalys brought him a cup of warm water. After Oswald accepted the cup reverently, he took a sip uneasily.
“Did you feel any discomfort after you received the ancient emerald stone? My grandfather told me that the previous owner of the ancient emerald would feel something after touching it. “He also said that when our benefactor rescued our family back then, he must have suspected that something would happen, so our benefactor planted the ancient emerald stone in the Tillery family. There must be some secret hidden in it,” said Oswald.
However, Odalys simply shook her head and answered truthfully, “Not yet.”
Although she did feel something when she touched it previously, it might not mean anything.
She had also seen the images of herself and Percival in wedding attire at the intersection of life and death, so she was not sure if she was hallucinating when she felt the stone.
“At any rate, the ancient emerald stone has been returned to its original owner. Maybe the time is not ripe for the secret to be revealed to you yet,” Oswald lamented.
As he recalled the recent events, he warned, “I heard from my son that Oliver Carlin wants to join hands with the Bennett family to harm you. “This Carline fellow was merely a teenager when he first arrived in Crownridge. The first thing he did was visit the Tillery family, hoping to stay with us and offering to read our family’s energy field. I turned him down.
“After that, he refused to give up and kept trying to find ways to get close to our family. I instructed my men to drive him away and forbid him from approaching the Tillery’s place again. He was clearly after something.
“Now, he’s so close to the Bennett family and trying to deal with you. This man must be up to no good. Fortunately, he’s not very capable, so we don’t need to worry too much. However, the fact that he was so eager to get close to the Tillerys at such a young age indicated that there must be a mastermind behind him.
“You have to watch for this Carline character. He’s way too interested in our family’s energy field. I wonder if he’s after this ancient emerald stone.” Oswald cautioned Odalys after recalling this incident.
Those present were somewhat shocked that Oliver Carline had made so many overtures in the past.
“No wonder Oliver Carline also came that night when Odalys was performing the ritual for Blossom.” Celeste’s heart tensed up when she wondered out loud. Oswald’s face also turned ominous upon hearing this.
“Stay away from this character from now on. Do not let him get involved in anything related to Blossom,” Oswald warned instantly with a frown. Both Celeste and Harvey nodded in concurrence. Oswald then beckoned to Blossom. “Blossom, come here.”
“Yes, Grandpa?” Blossom approached timidly as Oswald bade her sit beside him.
The elderly man gazed at her and implored earnestly, “Remember, you must put Ms. Stone first in everything you do. The Tillery family’s fate will be in your hands in the future.
“I don’t ask for anything except for your safety and a smooth sailing life ahead for you. In the future, the Tillery family will put Ms. Stone first in everything we do. In everything we do, remember this!” Oswald reiterated.
Blossom nodded repeatedly. She heard everything Oswald said earlier, so she understood that without the person in the painting, there would be no Tillery family today. Without this person, the Tillery family would have died out long ago.
“I understand,” Blossom quickly reassured the old man. Oswald looked at his grandchild with some relief and then turned to Odalys.
“Don’t worry about this matter for now. Take this painting back with you. If you don’t sense anything from the ancient emerald stone, maybe you can look at this painting again to see if there are any secrets that we haven’t found. “Back then, my forefather regarded this painting as a treasure. I think it’s not only because the person in the painting is the benefactor of the Tillery family, but also because there may be other mysteries,” Oswald surmised.
After rolling up the portrait, the elderly man carefully put it into a walnut wooden box with gold inlay.
He then handed the box to Odalys, who accepted it with a heavy heart. The feeling that this box might contain more than just a painting weighed on her mind…
To think that she would encounter such incredible things or hear such unexpected news during her impromptu visit to the Tillery family… “Are you sure you want me to take something that your family has treasured for generations?” Odalys asked one last time after taking the walnut wooden box with gold inlay.
Chapter 694
Oswald chuckled, and his wrinkled face creased into a disarming smile.
“The person in the painting is you, and the painting was painted for you! It’s only right for you to take it back. It belongs to you in the first place, including that ancient emerald stone.
“Our family has only been safeguarding them for you all these years; that’s all. Through the generations, our family members have always been loyal to you, whether in the past, the present or the future,” Oswald said in a solemn voice.
For some reason, Odalys felt a lump in her throat. As she listened to the elderly man recount the past, tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced herself to appear calm and indifferent.
She clutched the walnut box with gold inlay tightly. Its contents felt like a thousand pounds, and it seemed so heavy that she was fearful of dropping it.
What happened in the past might have something to do with her death.
“In that case, I will take this painting for now and return it to you when the time is ripe,” Odalys finally said.
After hearing what Oswald said, she also wanted to know what happened in the past.
Oswald also mentioned that back then, the forebears of the Tillery family took this ancient emerald stone back to look for their benefactor but discovered that everyone had died tragically. The ancient emerald stone then fell to the ground and absorbed all the blood on the ground.
As she mulled over this, Odalys seemed lost in thought, making people wonder what she was thinking.
“But after the ancient emerald stone was taken away, the negative energy of the Tillery family became very strong. I don’t think that scumbag was capable of conjuring such a force,” Odalys spoke after some time.
Sometimes, when things went wrong, the incident could be a cover-up for something else. “But I have already suppressed that entity. As long as no one touches that sword, nothing will happen,” Odalys reassured with confidence. She got up and walked to the window. After opening it and looking out, she said, “It’s noon now. All of you open all the windows and doors in this residence.”
“Sure, I’ll do it right away.” Both Harvey and Celeste Tillery sprang into action.
After all, although the Tillery residence was old, it was a large house with numerous doors and windows. It would take one person a long time to get all the doors and windows open.
“I’ll go help too,” Blossom chimed in and followed her parents out.
Only Odalys and Oswald were left in the study.
Odalys proceeded to open all the windows before turning to the elderly man. To her surprise, Oswald spoke again. “Ms. Stone, I didn’t tell you the whole story earlier.”
Obviously, what he was going to say next was only meant for Odalys’s ears.
“According to the will left by my forefathers, the benefactor who saved our family years ago was cursed. That curse was related to a man. As for the details, I would need to read through the will they left behind.
“My wife hid that will before she died. I haven’t touched it all these years, so I need some time to look for it,” Oswald explained.
Odalys frowned when she heard this. The image of herself and Percival Stewart in wedding attire surfaced in her mind again. Could it be related to Percival?
“You have attracted a lot of attention in Crownridge lately. There’s no doubt that many people have an axe to grind with you. Since the Bennett family has abandoned you, you should not go back to them anymore. As for the rest, let our family take care of them for you.
“Just remember this. Besides yourself, don’t trust anyone else. Don’t let anyone find out the secret of that ancient emerald stone.
“Ultimately, your own safety is the most important thing. Though other people may harm you, you will never harm yourself, so it’s best to depend on yourself rather than depend on others to protect you.
“As long as you stay alive, all other problems can be solved. In the past, you trusted others and failed to survive that tribulation. That was also a lifelong regret of my forefathers.
“They couldn’t save you in time, nor were they able to retrieve your body for burial…” Oswald suddenly clammed up at this juncture, realizing that he had made a faux pas.
“Sorry, I was too thoughtless. I was referring to that benefactor from long ago, not you. I know you will live a long life,” Oswald hurriedly explained.
Although he was advanced in years, in front of Odalys, he was like an ignorant boy.
Odalys saw his anxious look and replied softly, It’s okay. I don’t mind, as long as you don’t paint me as someone totally alien to my true self.” “Let me take your pulse again,” she added.
After taking his pulse, she wrote out a prescription before explaining, “You have been thinking too much over the years, which has led to some depression and physical weakness. “Maybe you have been too worried about the ancient emerald stone and this painting, which has caused your body to crack under so much pressure. Leave these things with me for the time being, and don’t worry about them anymore. “Relax, eat well, and take care of your health. Who knows, maybe we’ll have the opportunity to find out the secret inside this ancient emerald stone together!” Odalys smiled.
She deliberately drew the old man’s attention back to the secret of the ancient emerald stone. Oswald’s eyes lit up instantly as if he had found his pillar of support and the meaning of life.
For generations, the Tillery family had never known the secret, but it was his generation now. If he found out the secret before he died, this glory would be his to show off.
“Yes, yes, you’re right. I have to eat well.” Oswald nodded eagerly. He had been a little lifeless before, but now, he was full of energy.
This was because now, he had hope. He had important tasks to carry out, which aroused the desire in his heart. In turn, his will to live became much stronger, and his physical state naturally improved.
“It seems that my brat is more fortunate than me. To think that he met you before me,” Oswald grumbled with some jealousy. Odalys simply laughed at his childish demeanor.
When the rest of the family members came back after opening the windows and the doors, they found Odalys and Oswald chatting and laughing. The old man was in better spirits than before. In fact, he looked as if he had never been sick at all.
They were all a little surprised. What good news could have made the old man so happy?
“I’ll prepare some talismans. Later, all of you can stick one on each of the four corners of the Tillery residence, and all the negative energy will dissipate. Moreover, the sun is strong today, so that will also help. Everything will be fine after that,” Odalys instructed.
After she finished preparing the talismans, she handed them to Celeste.
Harvey went with Celeste to follow up on the instruction. Meanwhile, Blossom clung to Odalys. “Odalys, are you leaving? I don’t want you to go. I haven’t seen you for a long time, and I miss you,” she whined petulantly and even buried her face in Odalys’s shoulder.
Oswald became aghast at this sight. “Let go, let go quickly, you silly child! You must respect her. She is the savior of our Tillery family and our honored guest. How can you cling to her like this?” the old man chided.
He was worried that Blossom’s behavior might offend Odalys and became a little anxious.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind at all,” Odalys said with a smile.
She gently stroked Blossom’s head. The young girl then moved her face closer and even pressed her forehead against Odalys’s. The two were extremely affectionate, but Oswald was so anxious that he was sweating.
Chapter 695
Oswald cherished Odalys, and now Blossom was hugging her and acting spoiled, which seemed a little presumptuous. This kind of behavior was very disrespectful.
Even though Oswald knew that young people nowadays were like this, he couldn’t help but feel a little anxious and uneasy when he saw it.
“But I can’t bear to part with you.” Blossom hugged her and pouted coquettishly.
Seeing this, Celeste hurried forward and pulled Blossom’s arm away.
“Odalys has been busy all morning. How can you keep her here for you? She must have her reasons for going back, and besides, everyone lives in Crownridge, so we’ll see each other often. “If you miss her, you can go find her. It’s not like you won’t see her again. You’re always clinging to her. You’re holding her up if she’s got something to take care of,” Celeste scolded with a serious face.
Hearing this, Blossom immediately let go of her hand.
“I didn’t think that much. Odalys, I’m sorry.” Blossom panicked.
Unaware of the seriousness of the situation, she simply enjoyed spending time with Odalys. That was all.
Odalys smiled but said nothing, reaching out to gently rub Blossom’s soft hair.
“Well, it’s not a big deal. Don’t ever apologize again. But I do have to leave first. Things here are taken care of. As long as you don’t touch that butcher knife, everything will be fine,” Odalys said.
She pointed to the butcher knife she had sealed. The knife was still stained with blood, which was a bit scary.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on this place and won’t let anyone near it,” Harvey said quickly.
Thinking of Oswald’s recent situation, Harvey took it seriously.
Seeing this, Odalys nodded.
She knew that Harvey was a man of action and decisiveness, so she didn’t worry about these things. With his verbal assurance, there was no way anything could go wrong.
“Then I’ll see you off,” Celeste said.
She was a little reluctant to part. She thought that Odalys would stay for dinner after dealing with it.
Odalys seemed to understand what she meant. After getting in the car and rolling down the window, she said to Celeste, “Celeste, I’ll come over to enjoy your cooking when I am free.”
Celeste froze. She hadn’t expected Odalys to say that.
She immediately nodded happily and said, “Okay, it’s settled then. Come over when you are free.”
“Okay.” Odalys also nodded readily.
Celeste stepped aside and watched Odalys drive away. She was filled with mixed emotions, not expecting Odalys to be involved with the Tillery family’s ancestors.
‘Perhaps everything is destined and beyond control, she thought.
“Mom, Odalys is really amazing.” Blossom walked over and held Celeste’s arm.
She knew Odalys was amazing, but it was beyond her expectations.
Thinking about what happened when the hallucination occurred, she was still afraid.
“Yes, she is so amazing at such a young age,” Celeste also said sincerely.
Harvey and Oswald stood not far away. The two men remained silent, their eyes fixed on the butcher knife. After a long while, Harvey reached out to support his father.
“Let me help you upstairs to rest,” Harvey said.
Oswald held Harvey’s hand and looked at him with complex emotions. “She must have been admired by all the generations of our family,” he said.
“From now on, the Tillery family must prioritize her, even at the cost of everything. Keep it in your mind,” Oswald emphasized.
Harvey nodded quickly. “Yes.”
“Come with me to the study,” Oswald said.
Harvey was taken aback. The study was a forbidden area, off-limits even to him. Over the years, he had been curious about why Oswald kept it locked, but he understood it held the Tillery family secrets.
Now, Oswald was inviting him into the study, indicating his intention to reveal those secrets. Not daring to delay, Harvey followed closely behind Oswald. Together, they entered the study. Oswald, who had been on the verge of death, was no longer weak after Odalys’ intervention. It seemed his health had significantly improved.
Celeste stood not far away, watching as the two went upstairs.
“It seems that Oswald is cured,” Blossom whispered.
She was surprised, but she knew that it must have something to do with wicked energy. However, she didn’t say anything. It was inappropriate for her to ask any further questions.
“Let’s go back to our room,” Celeste said.
After they went upstairs, Odalys got in her car and headed back to the Stewart Villa.
Inside, there was a lot of noise. Freya and the others seemed to be busy in the kitchen, while Evander was playing chess with Stellan and Francis. Callum sat by and watched.
“Odalys, you’re back.” Callum turned his head as he heard footsteps.
He stood up immediately when he saw Odalys.
Callum’s injuries were almost healed, and he was now basically able to handle things well.
“Yes,” Odalys replied softly.
Hearing her voice, Evander immediately got up and looked at her.
“Odalys, you are back?” Evander asked.
Francis and Stellan were sensible. They both walked straight to the kitchen and said, “I’ll go to the kitchen to help.”
As they spoke, they turned and left.
Callum was clearing the chessboard. Evander stepped forward, stood beside Odalys, and asked, “Did you fix everything with the Tillery family?”
“Evander, you know?” Odalys was a little surprised.
But she quickly realized that the Stewart family had a firm grip on Crownridge, and no matter how the Tillery family tried to hide it, it was impossible to cover up something that happened to such a powerful family.
“I took care of it. It’s not a big deal,” Odalys replied.
Evander stood there and looked in the direction of the century-old tree.
“Things are too complicated in Crownridge. All kinds of people have gathered here. I don’t know if they are here for you or the Stewart family,” Evander said with a sigh.
Everything seemed fine, but in fact, it was fraught with danger.
It was like an invisible hand was reaching out toward them and trying to wipe them out. Evander didn’t worry about it.
They survived in wars. They didn’t take these things seriously, of course.
“Yes,” Odalys replied.
After chatting with Evander for a few words, she hurried upstairs and returned to her bedroom. Sitting on the sofa, she took out the ancient emerald from the box on the side. Staring at the shiny ancient emerald, she vaguely saw traces of blood from that year remaining on it.
Odalys reached out and touched it, and a scorching temperature came from it.
She quickly withdrew her hand in fright, but strange images flashed through her mind. Odalys held her breath and reached out to touch it again, but found nothing.
Odalys tried again, but found that the images that kept appearing in her mind were gone.
“How could this be?” Odalys wondered in a low voice.
She originally wanted to see what exactly happened back then, but after repeated attempts, she failed.
It was as if the figures from the 1920s that she had seen before were just figments of her
imagination.
Chapter 696
Odalys sat there for a long time, Percival’s figure constantly flashing through her mind. She muttered, “Do I need to call Percival over?”
With that in mind, she immediately gave Percival a call.
The phone vibrated a few times and Percival picked up almost instantly.
Percival’s voice came from the other end of the phone, sounding cheerful. He said, “Odalys, what’ s wrong?”
“Are you free?” Odalys asked.
As soon as she finished speaking, she could feel Percival’s pleasant mood through the phone, and he whispered, “I’ll be home with you as soon as I’m done with my work.”
But the plain words were romantic to her.
Odalys recalled the scene of their date last night. Her cheeks were slightly red, and her heartbeat inexplicably sped up. This feeling was very strange, and she couldn’t control it at all.
“Okay,” Odalys replied in a low voice.
After hanging up the phone, she stared at the ancient emerald for a long time before slowly getting up.
But she didn’t know that after she got up, the ancient emerald emitted a faint light, and when she closed the door, the light disappeared immediately as if it couldn’t sense it, so it was forced back.
Odalys went downstairs quickly and saw Freya holding food and waving to her.
“Odalys, look what I made for you,” Freya said as if offering a treasure.
Odalys went downstairs and walked to the dining table. When she saw the soup on the table, she frowned. Freya excitedly introduced it to her, “This is the most nourishing soup.”
“I heard that it is not only nourishing but also beautifies the skin. You have to drink this soup with Percival later,” Freya said confidently.
Selah was silent.
Staring at the basin of soup, she silently took half a step back.
“Selah, tell me, isn’t it true? Couples who drink this will stay together longer.” Freya winked at her.
Selah managed a smile, nodding awkwardly. She forced herself to say, “This kind of soup is more suitable for people who are preparing to get pregnant.”
“Well, what do you know? You can drink it even if you don’t want children. Odalys has been working so hard recently, and my brother is so busy. It would be perfect for them to drink it together,” Freya said, waving her hand.
Hearing this, Odalys wanted to sneak away.
She had just taken a step back when she bumped into someone; a familiar scent filled her nose.
Scenes from their date last night flashed through Odalys’ mind. Her lips parted, but before she could speak, Percival’s magnetic voice sounded in her ear.
“Is the matter with the Tillery family taken care of?” Percival asked.
Percival’s voice brought her back to reality. She nodded quickly and said, “Yes, it’s taken care of.” “I’ll tell you later.” Odalys deliberately lowered her voice.
There were some things she needed to discuss with him in detail.
She didn’t think she could hide it very well about the ancient emerald and all that stuff about the Tillery family.
Perhaps she still needed Percival’s help with this matter.
“Okay,” Percival replied.
Percival was very sensible and didn’t ask any further questions.
He could always listen to her when she wanted to talk, and when she didn’t want to talk, he never asked. He respected her decisions and never put any pressure on her.
“Dinner’s ready,” Freya called out.
Oswald and Callum walked in from outside, while Francis and Stellan walked in this way, chatting about something.
The lunch was hearty and everyone at the table was very animated. Freya was good at breaking the ice. By the time lunch was over, it was already half past one in the afternoon.
“Let’s go upstairs,” Odalys said concisely. Percival nodded slightly, stood up, and followed behind her. The two walked upstairs one after the other, their figures quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.
“What is going on?” Selah looked at their backs, vaguely sensing something.
“It’s probably something to do with the Tillerys,” Freya said.
There were no secrets in this world. Everyone knew that Odalys went to the Tillery Villa, and it was obvious that she was troubled by something when she came back, but she didn’t mention it.
Evander was deep in thought and said nothing. Upstairs, in the bedroom.
Odalys walked in, Percival following behind her and gently closing the door.
Percival glanced around her bedroom and saw the piece of ancient emerald placed on the table. It was the one she had mentioned before.
“I went to the Tillerys’ today and unexpectedly discovered that what happened today was caused by something from a long time ago, something related to the Tillerys and me.
“I never thought I would have anything to do with the Tillerys. Maybe it explains why Oswald insisted on giving me this ancient emerald,” Odalys said.
She sat on the sofa, looking at the ancient emerald with a complex expression.
Oswald’s words filled her with mixed emotions. She didn’t want to cause trouble, but it seemed to be related to her ordeal of leaving the mountain.
Percival didn’t say anything. He walked over and sat down beside her, listening quietly as she spoke.
She told him everything about the Tillery family in detail. Percival listened quietly, and after a long while, he looked up at her in silence.
“Maybe that was your past life?” Percival asked. Odalys leaned back and said nothing.
“It feels like it. Maybe I’m overthinking it. But if it is, I don’t know if the current turmoil in
Crownridge is the butterfly effect of me leaving the mountain,” Odalys said.
She used to be optimistic, but now she seemed unable to.
“Don’t overthink it. Things will work out. If someone has ambitions, what they want to do has nothing to do with anyone else. This is the
same.
“Others have had their eyes on Crownridge and the Stewart family for a long time. Why would it be because of you?” Percival enlightened her in a low voice.
He worried that she was putting too much pressure on herself and was afraid that she would blame herself.
“Are you interested? Shall we take a look?” Odalys took the initiative to invite him.
Percival nodded. He had been prepared from the moment he came back.
“No matter what happens, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If something happens, we’ Il deal with it and find a better solution together,” Percival said.
Percival reached out and gently held her small hand.
Odalys’ hand was tightly held by Percival. The warmth from his large hand settled her messy mind inexplicably.
She was indeed a little irritated, but more afraid.
But she had no way to retreat, and she couldn’t retreat.
If everything started because of her, then she should be the one to solve it.
“Windsor disappeared after returning from the film set that day, and his whereabouts are still unknown,” Percival brought up the matter.
Strangely enough, it was like Windsor had evaporated.
Oliver was still in the hospital. His injuries were severe. What’s more, Orson hasn’t given him the best medication, keeping him uncured and preventing his injuries from healing.
“I told you he has 48 hours. It’s almost time. He’ll be back within 48 hours,” Odalys said.
There was still some time left before the 48 hours were up.
Chapter 697
Odalys was so determined that Percival didn’t say anything more.
As they sat side by side, her small hand was tightly clasped in his. She picked up the ancient emerald and placed it in his palm. The two touched the ancient emerald with their hands.
The moment their hands touched, a strong light struck the bedroom.
The dazzling light seemed like it was trying to envelop the two and force its way over. They vaguely heard someone screaming miserably. Odalys’ hand was grabbed, and her body fell to the ground. But what lay on the ground were corpses, covered in blood.
“Percival,” Odalys quickly called his name. Percival instinctively put his arm around her shoulder, shielding her behind him.
They looked at the retro courtyard. Blood was almost everywhere; the dazzling red, along with the pungent smell of blood, hit their eyes.
Odalys walked forward, only to see the door of the courtyard creak open.
The inside was covered with wedding decorations, some of which fell to the ground and were kicked everywhere. Obviously, something happened before the decorations were finished.
Some cakes and plates were smashed on the ground, and some clothes were torn to pieces.
Odalys’ feet seemed to be fixed in place. She was heartbroken at the tragic scene. She vaguely heard someone calling her name, “Odalys.”
She saw a tall figure almost running back from outside.
His body passed her and Percival and rushed inside. Odalys and Percival looked at each other and subconsciously followed him.
“Get out,” A familiar voice came.
Odalys saw a woman in a traditional wedding dress. The moment she turned around, she saw a face just like herself. Words failed her.
“Don’t come over. Just leave. Hurry up,” The woman growled in a low voice.
Her hand was clutching a long sword, stained with blood. She pushed the man out with all her might, her eyes crimson, and said, “Go. Stay alive.” “We either live together or die together,” the man said.
He strode forward and helped her up.
The man looked down at the woman and saw her body trembling. Though her eyes didn’t show fear, she was prepared to die. She looked at the man quietly.
The woman’s beautiful fingertips traced the man’s forehead, as if to carve his features into the depths of her heart.
“Don’t worry. If I die, I will find you in the next life,” she said, and with a sudden push, she shoved the man out.
The man didn’t expect her to suddenly push him out. The moment he fell out, he saw her turn around and slam the door shut. Then he saw figures flickering inside the house.
The screams kept coming, and bright red blood seeped out from the crack of the door.
The man stood outside for a long time and didn’t go back in.
He seemed to be thinking about something with his determined eyes. Then he turned and walked away resolutely without looking back. But his hurried steps were a little messy, betraying his inner uneasiness.
The longsword in her hand was faster, as if she was trying to carve a bloody path. A smell of gasoline wafted to her nose.
More people poured in from outside the door, and the moment the woman turned around, they almost surrounded her.
“I heard that you were the one who saved the Tillery family?” The man’s attitude was casual, but a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.
The woman didn’t say anything. She raised her hand and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth forcefully, but a hint of contempt flashed in her eyes. She said nothing and strode forward.
“Stay back. Stop! Don’t come any closer!” The man said in a panic.
However, the woman strode forward without saying anything. She slammed her sword down on his head. No one expected her to step forward and kill him, and the man’s head was chopped off by her sword.
“Come on, I’m not afraid of you. Since you’re all here today, you can’t leave alive.” The woman’s voice was cold, with a do-or-die attitude.
The ground was littered with corpses as if to tell the world what happened here.
But the scene changed as if back to an hour ago. The lively courtyard was filled with joy, children were playing and clapping their hands as they walked inside, but the wedding room was very quiet, and the woman was sitting on the edge of the bed.
“It’s wedding night. It’s time for the wedding night,” the children shouted and followed behind. The man and the woman were sitting on the edge of the bed when two figures walked in from outside. An elder held a tray and handed it over and said, “Since you are married, I’ll give this to you.”
Inside was a family heirloom.
Percival looked at the object. His throat was a little raw. He subconsciously took Odalys’ hand and said, “This is the emerald token passed down from generation to generation of the Stewart family. “This emerald token can activate all the assets under the name of the Stewart family, as well as all the dead soldiers of the Stewart family. Only the person in charge of the Stewart family is eligible to get it,” Percival explained to her.
Odalys’ heart tightened as she stared at the two figures inside the wedding room.
One was her, and the other was Percival. The two were sitting by the bed. After the elder left, the man suddenly got up and quietly brought the food he had secretly brought in to her.
“Are you starving? Why don’t you eat something first?” the man asked in a low voice.
The woman’s eyes lit up when she saw the food. The man pulled her to a chair and sat her down. He put the food on the table. He suddenly remembered something and said, “I’ll go get some wine. Let’s drink till we drop tonight.” “Okay,” the woman replied.
The moment she responded, a scream came from outside. The two looked at each other. “Mr. Stewart! Mr. Stewart!” someone screamed. The woman got up and walked outside, only to see a group of people pouring in. The elder of the Stewart family had just left the wedding room and had not taken a few steps when his head was chopped off.
It all happened so fast that no one had time to react.
Then, blood flowed like a river in the courtyard, and a group of people rushed in like madmen.
“Be careful,” the man whispered. He just lifted his foot and felt pain in his chest, and a mouthful of blood spurted out of his mouth.
The woman was so frightened that she hurriedly helped him up, her fingertips resting on his pulse, her face becoming increasingly gloomy. In an instant, the scene was a mess.
Odalys stood there, her eyes fixed on everything in the courtyard; these things kept flashing in her mind like a movie.
“There should be no poison in the wine, but his clothes are poisonous. Or, more accurately, his clothes have been soaked in poison,” Odalys suddenly said.
Even from a bystander’s point of view, she could tell how he was poisoned.
The man spat out a mouthful of blood, and the moment the woman was heartbroken, he almost immediately got up and hugged her tightly. A knife cut through his arm, and blood continued to ooze out.
Chapter 698
In the courtyard, the servants kept running. All of them, adults and children, were hacked to death tragically.
Originally, it was a happy wedding, and no one expected that the whole family would be killed, so no one was prepared with any weapons.
Odalys and Percival kept walking forward, as if time was going backward. Everything was reflected in their eyes, and Percival’s hands were clenched into fists.
He stood there, witnessing everything.
“So Stewart Villa was burned to the ground on the wedding night, and everyone was killed because…” Percival choked.
In the end, the words were stuck in his throat, and he couldn’t utter a word.
Odalys put her small hands behind her back and watched the couple fall. Then the man raised his hand and set the whole house on fire. The ancient emerald on her hand fell to the ground.
A crisp “clang” rang out, particularly ear-piercing in the deadly quiet house.
As the ancient emerald fell, the blood on the ground seemed to come to life, constantly being absorbed by it, as if everything had ceased to exist.
Odalys stared at the scene, almost identical to what she had seen at the Tillery Villa.
‘But why does the ancient emerald end up in my hands? I saw at Tillery Villa that after the incident here, the Tillery’s family arrived and the ancient emerald was held by the Tillery family. So what went wrong?’ Odalys thought.
“No, it’s all wrong. It’s an illusion.
“The ancient emerald is in the hands of the Tillery family. They rushed over when they heard about the incident, but it was too late. However, just now, the ancient emerald was in the woman’s hand.
“Everything we just saw was fake. We might have been brought into an illusion,” Odalys said. Whether it was a time tunnel or the junction of wicked energy and divine energy, everything was universal. Things must have happened, but the perspective might have been different, which created some illusions.
“I also think something was strange just now. If the clothes were soaked in venom, why didn’t you notice it?” Percival asked.
If the clothes were soaked in venom, even if they were covered up with some fragrance, someone who has studied medicine could tell at a glance, instead of nothing happening.
“Since everything we see is fake, let’s tear this illusion apart,” Odalys said.
Her attitude was firm as she stood side by side with Percival.
“I need a drop of your blood,” Odalys said.
Percival didn’t hesitate. He raised his hand and cut his fingertips. As his blood dripped down, Odalys quickly raised her hand to block the blood dripping from his fingertip. She also broke her fingertip, letting her blood fuse with his. As their blood melted together, the talisman in her hand was thrown out, wrapping the two drops of blood and throwing them into the air. The talisman banged in mid-air as if it wanted to crack the sky.
The original gloomy sky was torn open. Odalys and Percival turned around and stepped forward without hesitation, raising their hands to touch the sky.
The sky high above the clouds landed on their hands the moment they reached out.
The sky within reach was torn open in their hands. With a “boom”, the entire house collapsed, as if everything before had been gone.
A joyous courtyard reappeared in front of them, and laughter could be heard from inside.
The woman stood outside the door in a wedding dress. The wind blew her dress as if it wanted to blend in with nature, and the man followed beside her.
He held her hand tightly and lowered his head to whisper something in her ear. The woman’s eyes were full of smiles.
“Do you regret it?” she suddenly asked.
The man held her hand tightly and said resolutely, “No regrets.”
After they finished speaking, they smiled at each other.
As they turned around smiling, their joyful appearance was exactly the same as the scene Odalys and Percival saw at the junction of energy.
They walked toward the courtyard and saw flames engulfing the entire yard.
And they walked in without hesitation, screams constantly coming from inside.
Odalys’ pupils dilated, and she ran forward in disbelief, only to find that the people inside were killing insanely. The people who died were not the people from the courtyard, but the people who came to kill her.
The entire courtyard was a trap she set.
She led others into the trap so they could be attacked more easily. There were corpses everywhere, and after it was all burned out, the Tillery family hurried back from other places and saw blood all over the floor.
“So, someone wants to destroy all the well- known families. These families do not refer to the Stewart family, nor the Tillery family, but all the wealthy families and the people.
“Those poisons were not aimed at wealthy families. Wealthy families were just the beginning.
“They’re killing the wealthy as practice, replacing them, and then their target is ordinary people. When these poisons are carried out, it is highly likely that they will cause air pollution and everyone will end up dying of poisoning.
“The people behind this want to reset the entire country, or even the whole world. They want to kill the whole world so they can rule it all.” Odalys’ voice trembled.
Originally, they thought these people were targeting the rich and wanted to convert all these rich and powerful people into their people. They never expected these people to have such insatiable ambition after seizing control of money and power.
“Therefore, the Stewart family is safeguarding not just the economic lifeline, but the hope of all. Once the Stewart family is crushed, everyone will be attacked, leading to utter chaos,” Percival said in disbelief.
Like Odalys, he had assumed their ambition, however great, was ultimately for money and power.
They didn’t expect that these people wanted not just wealth and authority, but the lives of
everyone.
“So around the 1920s, we had already destroyed everything. On our wedding night, we set a trap, leading them to die together. Why didn’t it end then?” Odalys murmured.
She felt like she’d missed something.
“Is it because of this ancient emerald? It absorbed everyone’s blood. You and I can live again, so can these people?” Percival suddenly asked.
He didn’t know if his assumption was valid. “Yes, the ancient emerald absorbed blood and took away everyone’s memories, which may have awakened these people. No wonder Crownridge has become like this,” Odalys said.
“Your father joined the game and caused a sensation with his death. Maybe he discovered it long ago.”
“If his car accident and death were all faked by himself, then maybe he wasn’t the only one who discovered it. There should be others. Who would it be? Could it be Windsor?” Odalys whispered.
Everything happened so suddenly.
She looked at the blood in front of her that stained the land, and the ancient emerald sucked it all up.
Everything returned to silence, except for the smell of blood in the air. It seemed that no one had ever died. Odalys’ body trembled uncontrollably.
Chapter 699
Her lips moved, but she couldn’t say anything. With a bang, the whole world seemed to collapse. Odalys was held tightly by Percival, and in the next second, they both opened their eyes abruptly, back in the bedroom.
The ancient emerald in their hands fell to the ground. The originally intact emerald shattered the moment it landed.
As if its mission was complete, the moment Odalys and Percival opened their eyes, it shattered before them.
“It’s broken,” Odalys murmured.
Percival bent down and picked up the ancient emerald, now in pieces. He gently placed it back into the wooden box, both of them silent.
At this moment, they were gloomy.
“Remember the giant python in that village I mentioned to you?” Odalys suddenly asked. Percival nodded slightly and said, “Yes, it’s the mother of that little snake.”
“The blood poison buried in that village was fused with its blood, and the giant python was forced to guard it there. The elder had been waiting in the village all along.”
“Now that he’s been seriously injured by me, he’s locked up in the station with Caspian,” Percival said.
“Caspian’s leg is broken, and the elder’s power is locked by me. Find someone to watch them,” Odalys said.
Percival sat there and poured her a glass of water and handed it to her. “My men have been keeping an eye on them, and they are getting more and more anxious.”
“Caspian is not reconciled. Instead, the elder is a little anxious, like he needs to go out to deal with something urgent. He tried to try to communicate with the people in the police station to let him out,” Percival said.
Everything was under Percival’s control.
Odalys took a sip of water. She kept rubbing the water glass in her hand, but remained silent.
“Can you find Windsor?” Percival suddenly asked. Odalys did not answer. After being silent for a long time, she suddenly asked, “What is the relationship between Windsor and your father?”
“I don’t know. Since I can remember, my father has not been in contact with the Bennett family, and the Stewart family and the Bennett family have no business dealings.
“Even after Edie married into the Stewart family, she broke off contact with Hannah. It seems that the Stewart family and the Bennett family have never interacted,” Percival said.
Odalys laughed as she listened.
She said, “Don’t you think this is a little too deliberate? Businesses are all intertwined. How can the Stewart family and the Bennett family be so clearly separated with no interaction at all? “Besides, although the Bennett family is not as good as the Stewart family, your father and Windsor should know each other. But they seem like strangers. It’s like they’re deliberately avoiding each other.”
Percival frowned when Odalys said this.
After all, he had never really asked whether his father knew Windsor. Speaking of which, he also felt that something was wrong.
“Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Before they could speak, the door was pushed open. Evander walked in with pastries and coffee.
“You’ve been upstairs all this time and haven’t come down. Freya prepared some food for you. I brought it to you.” Evander chuckled.
He brought in the food and put it on the table.
“Evander, you’ve come at the right time. We have something to ask you,” Percival said.
He hurried forward and helped Evander to sit down.
After Evander sat down, he sized them up calmly, seeming to have figured out that they had something to ask him, and he wasn’t surprised at all. He just glanced over the shattered ancient emerald.
“It’s broken,” Evander said lightly.
He pointed to the ancient emerald and said, “Back then, Oswald guarded this thing like a treasure. No one could touch it. He said it was passed down by his ancestors.”
“I didn’t expect this thing to end up in your hands. It seems that you and the Tillery family are indeed meant to be,” Evander said lightly.
He was in no hurry to ask them what they wanted to ask him, but continued to talk to himself.
“Things in Crownridge are too complicated. The Stewart family has also been affected a lot. Some people always want the Stewart family destroyed. Even though the Stewart family is rich and powerful, if these things are not settled, they will always cause some trouble,” Evander continued.
Odalys sat there in silence for a long time.
After a while, she slowly said, “Evander, did you know that Percival was poisoned?
“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have suddenly asked us to get married to counteract bad luck shortly after I returned to the Bennett family. You were sure that the Bennett family would not let Sophia marry Percival, so it was most reasonable for me to marry in her place.”
“You wanted me to counteract bad luck in the first place, right?” Odalys suddenly asked.
Looking at Evander’s calm and composed demeanor, she was suddenly certain.
“Yes,” Evander suddenly replied.
He sat there, glancing at Percival and Odalys.
“The Stewart family and the Bennett family don’t have much to do with each other. But you and William were best friends back then. Why did you suddenly stop contacting him?” Odalys continued to ask.
Percival frowned and subconsciously looked at Evander.
Evander chuckled softly and leaned back. “Back then, we old folks all survived the war, and we are all friends for life.
“But after we came back, some strange things happened that made us immediately cut ties with them.
“I stopped interacting with not only the Bennett family, but also the Tillery family. Some people say that the Stewarts are arrogant and that because we are rich, we look down on other families and disdain associating with them. “In fact, we were all protecting ourselves. In order to make the family last longer, we have to stay out of each other’s way. I didn’t expect the balance to be suddenly upset,” Evander whispered.
A lot of emotions seemed to flash through Evander’s cloudy eyes.
It was like he was reminiscing about the past, or remembering something else. His eyes were full of nostalgia.
“It’s not easy to run a wealthy and powerful family, especially one that’s at the top of the heap like us. We’re always a target, always in danger.
“Sometimes, having too much money isn’t necessarily a good thing. It might make you a target,” Evander said.
He lowered his head to make the coffee and pushed the pastries toward Odalys.
“Then, did my father know Windsor?” Percival finally asked the question he had been wanting to ask.
Actually, when he heard Evander’s words, he seemed to know the answer, but he still wanted to ask.
Without getting to the bottom of these things, nothing would work out.
“Yes, they practically grew up together. All the people in charge of wealthy and powerful families trained together in seclusion, including Mr. Tillery, whom you mentioned. He was also your father’s best friend, and so was Dangelo from the Drake family,” Evander said in a low voice.
♡
Chapter 700
Odalys and Percival were a little surprised to hear what Evander said.
“Mr. Drake? But my father never mentioned it.” Percival was a little surprised.
Although Percival knew that these people must know each other. After all, they were all from wealthy families. He didn’t expect that they had been secretly training together.
“If he didn’t know your father, why did he help you? If I’m not mistaken, even though he was seriously ill in the hospital recently, he still used all his connections and resources to investigate with you.
“And the one from the Tillery family must want to recognize Odalys as his goddaughter. It’s true that he and his wife like Odalys, but people from wealthy families don’t take risks easily.
“It must be thanks to your father that they can trust you wholeheartedly. They have been secretly trained together since they were young, but after the training, they no longer had any interaction.
“So from the moment they left the training base, they became strangers. It is a kind of protection. They don’t seem to have any intersection, but it doesn’t mean they really don’t,” Evander said.
Odalys’ heart sank as she listened.
As she expected, the older generation probably knew everything, but pretended they didn’t.
“So my father’s death…” Percival’s Adam’s apple moved, and his voice became hoarse. He’s got a lot of mixed emotions going on in his mind. He wanted to restrain himself but failed.
“Whether his death was an accident or not, I am not sure. Your father has been clever since he was a child. After he left the secret base, he could stand on his own and was not close to women.
“But that night, somehow, he was tricked by Edie. When she became pregnant, he married her and she gave birth to you. He never even mentioned these things.
“Edie is very arrogant, but he never asked about it. On the contrary, he allowed her to be high- profile outside. He turned a blind eye to her taking money to help the Simpson family climb to the top of the social ladder.
“I once reminded him, but he didn’t say anything. I know he always knew what he was doing, but Edie was an accident. Your father wasn’t a love- struck fool, and he wouldn’t be carried away by something.
“So I didn’t interfere in his business. I turned a blind eye to Edie’s outrageous behavior. But suddenly one day, he came home and told me about Percival’s marriage.
“You were still young at the time, and many things hadn’t happened yet, but he mentioned the marriage and even specified the Bennett family.
“I haven’t been in touch with William for a long time. When I contacted him at that time and asked him, he didn’t know what was going on, but everyone acquiesced.
“In fact, it wasn’t me who advocated marriage, but your father’s decision before he died. He seemed to be sure that Odalys would come back, and that something would happen to you. “But no one knew what he was thinking, and no one knew what he was doing. When Percival’s father died, Odalys didn’t seem to be born yet. I didn’t take it seriously at the time.
“But shortly after he made this decision, that is, on the night three days later, something suddenly happened to him, and he died on the spot,” Evander said.
He seemed to be constantly recalling the things of that year.
He still can’t let go of his son’s death.
His son was arguably the smartest and most capable person in the world, and he was proud of that. But one day, his son died, in the prime of his life.
“After his death, there was no grand funeral, but many of the Stewart family’s powers were taken back. I didn’t hand the Stewart family over to Percival until he was an adult.
“It wasn’t until I discovered that Percival was seriously ill, poisoned with something incurable, that I remembered what my son had said before he died about a marriage with the Bennett family for good luck.
“I didn’t think highly of Sophia until the Bennett family took you in.
“In fact, when I released the news that I was looking for a marriage for good luck, I knew that the Bennett family would react accordingly,” Evander continued.
Percival and Odalys were both silent.
“So, you were unaware of many things my father did, including whether he had any plans?” Percival continued to ask.
Evander nodded.
“As for whether he and Windsor had secret dealings, or whether they had any secret plans, I don’t know. I only know that after your father’s accident, something happened to the Bennett family.
“The Bennett Group canceled all project collaborations, and Windsor stayed out of the public eye for a long time. However, after your father’s death, no one from the Bennett family visited the Stewart family. It wasn’t until three years ago that Windsor suddenly abandoned the Bennett family and went abroad and never returned,” Evander said.
Listening to this, Odalys gently tapped her fingers on the sofa.
“What do you know about things between Hannah and Windsor?” Odalys asked.
As far as she knew, Hannah had drugged Windsor to sleep with him. And she married into the Bennett family after getting pregnant.
“It’s strange. The Bennett family is a wealthy family, and Windsor is the only son. Logically speaking, it should be a happy family. But for some reason, the Bennett family suddenly adopted a daughter.
“That daughter is Hannah. After she was adopted for about five years, something happened to the Bennett family. William suddenly died. He sent me a message before he died.
“He told me that no matter what, I should not have any contact with the Bennett family, including business cooperation, and asked me to take care of Windsor. At the time, I did think about it and proposed it to my son.
“But my son refused, and he didn’t have any contact with the Bennett family after he took over the Stewart family,” Evander said.
After listening, Odalys raised her eyebrows and said, “When Windsor entered the secret training base, was Hannah adopted?”
“Yes,” Evander said.
Odalys ate a piece of pastry, sank into deep thought, and said, “So, Hannah was adopted, and then Windsor entered the secret base. Shortly after he finished his training and returned to the Bennett family, Hannah drugged him and got pregnant with his child.
“Moreover, Percival’s father was also drugged by Edie using the same method, which led to their sex. After Edie became pregnant, she married into the Stewart family.
“These two things may sound unrelated, but in fact, they are exactly the same. They both used the same method to sleep their way to the top, and coincidentally, both got pregnant on the first try,” Odalys said.
Many women who have been preparing for pregnancy for a long time may not be able to
conceive.
But Edie and Hannah were very efficient. They got pregnant on the first try, and both gave birth to sons who inherited family fortunes and became the heads of their respective families.
“There are some drugs that can stimulate a woman’s ovaries, causing premature ovulation and increasing the chances of conception. However, these drugs are damaging to health. These drugs have become illegal drugs,” Percival said.
Drugs were also part of the economic chain, so he knew a little about them, especially illegal drugs.
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