Chapter 281
Sophia was her kryptonite.
Whenever Sophia was involved, trouble was sure to follow. Just hearing her name made Freya feel anxious.
“She ran into Finnian when she was discharged from the hospital. They teamed up to plot against Orson and secretly followed him. Coincidentally, tonight, Orson and I. went to the villa in the suburbs,” Percival explained, his tone surprisingly calm.
“They followed us there, but instead of finding him, they spotted me. Maybe they changed their minds last minute and decided to target me instead. So, she tried to tempt me in front of her,” he continued. “But I didn’t let her get close. Callum kicked her away.”
Freya and Odalys exchanged a look, both surprised.
“You mentioned earlier today that his luck was bad and he might do something extreme. Now, just a few hours later, he’s already taken action and teamed up with Sophia?” Freya was nearly helpless.
She retreated into the apartment, motioning for them to follow.
Freya’s apartment was a spacious flat with a large living room. Simple sofas were arranged around the room, and the floor was carpeted. Near the floor-to-ceiling windows, there was a table covered with exquisite teapots and a few potted plants.
“So his luck really is bad,” Odalys said, impressed.
Freya admired Odalys to the extreme. What Odalys said in the afternoon came true in the evening.
“And, he’s in for some bloodshed. Looks like Orson definitely paid him a visit tonight,” Odalys added.
Percival walked in and took a seat on the armchair. As Freya brought over a glass of water, he reached out to accept it, taking a sip before speaking. “His wrists and legs were broken from the kick. He won’t be causing any trouble for a while.”
Freya’s eyes widened. “And Sophia?” She was desperate to know what happened to Sophia.
“She was kicked down by Callum, probably injured too. She couldn’t get back up, and the bodyguards took her away, sending her back to the Bennett Villa,” Percival explained. Freya couldn’t help it. A wide grin spread across her face, and she let out a small laugh.
“This is too satisfying. She actually dared to try to tempt you in the middle of the night. Doesn’t she know who you are?” Freya couldn’t understand.
Although Percival was mysterious, given his presence and the many times he’d been seen with Odalys, it was obvious that he was the man who had married Odalys.
“Probably doesn’t know,” Percival replied.
Freya propped her chin up, turning her gaze back to Odalys. She moved over to sit beside her.
“If Sophia knew who you really were, do you think she’d lose it? She’s always been after wealthy, powerful men, and her pride is sky-high.
“Now, with her reputation ruined and the scandal from earlier this morning coming to light, she’ll be scrambling to find a new ally. It makes sense, doesn’t it?” Freya said quietly.
Odalys remained silent.
Odalys felt a slight unease. She was still thinking about it when she finally asked, “You went to the villa in the suburbs? Which one?”
Since he arrived, there was a strong smell of blood clinging to him, and it wasn’t just the regular scent of fresh blood. There was something familiar about it, a particular scent she’d smelled before.
“The one you and Francis visited yesterday. The police sealed it off, but I managed to get inside and found something unexpected,” Percival said in a low voice.
Odalys listened closely, a soft smile curling on her lips. “
You found a pit where bodies were buried, filled with toxic blood and mud, didn’t you?”
“You knew?” Percival was surprised. He hadn’t expected her to guess.
“When I helped clean up that mess with Francis, I could smell something off when the police dug up the bodies. The bodies were well-preserved, so they had a sweet scent from the preservatives, but the blood had a distinct odor, one I’ve only smelled in the mountain villages,” Odalys explained softly.
“So, I suspect this villa is their second testing base for the poison, moved here from the mountain village to Crownridge. After they successfully tested it here, they must have abandoned the village,” Odalys continued, her voice calm but certain.
“This whole variety show thing was probably just a test by the people behind them, trying to lure some celebrities to draw attention and see if anyone would notice something off.
“If no one notices, they would keep the place. If someone does catch on, the village would be destroyed,” she explained further.
“The reason they left Rafael to manage it must be because they want to have a fallback plan,” Odalys concluded, deep in thought.
‘She’s always been sharp.’ Percival thought but didn’t say it aloud. Percival listened, his eyes widening with surprise.
“This also explains why Sophia got the wrong Love Spell seller this time. Originally, the Love Spell she bought should have been from the old man who died earlier,” Odalys added, her mind piecing things together.
“The old man must have had a disciple, someone who worked directly with Sophia, but for some reason, this time, they got it wrong. Perhaps the person is hiding now, afraid of being exposed,” she mused, her tone thoughtful.
“Maybe the villa was sealed off, and they got cautious, afraid of being watched, but Sophia had no idea,” Odalys continued, still piecing together the details.
Since she had seen the scene of Sophia with the man earlier that morning, Odalys had been able to make some educated guesses.
These people were always cautious and careful. They wouldn’t make such a big mistake unless something was off.
“That’s true. The police found out that this fraud was hired, though he was already known for his magic,” Percival added, confirming her suspicions.
“The person who hired him gave him 60 thousand dollars, originally planning just to give a talisman and be done with it. But when he saw how desperate Sophia was, he recognized her as a celebrity and decided to take advantage of the situation, trying to cheat her,” Percival explained.
Freya, sitting to the side, listened in stunned silence. She understood some of it, but at the same time, it felt like she didn’t.
It was almost as if this was a private conversation between the two of them, a secret only they shared.
“Wait… Is this something I should be hearing? Should I leave?” Freya asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.
It felt like listening to this was dangerous.
Percival gave her a sharp look and said, “If this gets out, it will be your responsibility.”
“No! Odalys, help me!” Freya immediately pleaded, clinging to Odalys’ arm in a playful yet desperate way.
Percival watched them for a moment. Freya curled up next to Odalys, and Odalys lovingly returned her gaze. There was a flash of emotion in Percival’s eyes before he spoke firmly, “Sit up straight.”
“Ah,” Freya froze, caught off guard. At the sight of Percival’s serious expression, she quickly sat upright, like a student who had just been scolded.
“Sit properly. Don’t be all touchy-feely. You’re grown-ups now. What is this?” Percival warned in a low voice.
Freya was more confused than ever. Two women being affectionate was just a normal friendship between women. But to Percival, it was a big deal.
“Yes,” Freya muttered, her body slumping on the couch.
Odalys, watching the interaction between the two, leaned back slightly, her eyes narrowing in thought. She finally understood why Freya didn’t live at the Stewart Villa.
It must be suffocating to live with Percival. He was way too controlling.
“Now that Edie has been stabbed with the drug she bought herself, she’s going to go crazy. She’ll probably do a lot of irrational things, and she won’t even be thinking about what you two are planning to do,” Odalys said, her tone calm but with a hint of concern.
That was why she had directly injected Edie earlier. “Okay,” Percival replied briefly, his tone serious.
Freya, still processing everything, grabbed a carrot and began chewing on it, her eyes turning toward the floor-to-ceiling windows as she tried to clear her mind.
Chapter 282
When Odalys felt Percival’s gaze on her, Freya quietly stood up and made her way to the floor-to-ceiling windows. She sat cross-legged, staring out into the night.
Odalys couldn’t help but feel amused. She couldn’t hold it in and chuckled softly.
Seeing the smile on her face, Percival’s thin lips moved, and he asked in a deep voice, “Is everything taken care of?”
“Huh?” Odalys was caught off guard.
Noticing him glance at his wristwatch, he pointed it out and said, “It’s almost midnight. Should we head back?”
“I’m staying here tonight to keep Freya company while she sleeps. She was frightened, and I’m sure she won’t be able to sleep alone,” Odalys quickly explained.
Freya nodded in agreement.
Percival hadn’t expected her to stay. He had come to pick her up, but he couldn’t directly say that. Seeing that she clearly didn’t want to leave, he sighed inwardly.
“Alright, if anything comes up, just call,” Percival said as he stood up.
He walked toward the door, and Odalys followed him. Just as she was about to close the door, she saw him turn around and come back.
“Something else?” Odalys asked, puzzled.
Percival gave her a lazy look and waved his hand. “Get some rest.’
“Okay,” Odalys replied, then slammed the door shut.
After standing outside for a moment, Percival finally made his way toward the elevator.
As he was heading downstairs, Orson had just driven back. Upon seeing Percival alone, he asked in confusion, “Hey, where’s Odalys? She didn’t come back with you?”
The moment Orson spoke, he could feel an icy chill radiating from Percival. It was clear Percival wasn’t pleased.
“Hey, I’ll take you home then,” Orson said, grinning.
It was obvious that Percival was very concerned about Odalys, but she was still just a young girl, not someone he had any romantic intentions toward.
“Don’t worry, I had people look into it and keep watch. If there’s any clue, we’ll catch them immediately,” Orson assured him.
Percival didn’t respond, and the car was enveloped in an eerie silence.
*****
That night, at the Bennett Villa, Henry and Hannah had just returned from the hospital.
They were both awake when they found Caspian and Atlas sitting in the living room, having not gone to the hospital. “Aren’t you two going to the hospital to bring food to Sophia?” Hannah asked.
Henry, feeling furious, didn’t even mention Sophia. At this point, he was ready to let her fend for herself and didn’t want to deal with her anymore.
“No. The hospital said she was discharged, but no one knows where she went. Her phone’s off.” Atlas scratched his head.
He looked pretty worn out. In the past, he’d always been very particular about his appearance, from his hair to his clothes, but now, he looked disheveled, with his collar not even straightened.
“Discharged?” Hannah thought for a moment.
They couldn’t just give up on Sophia yet. Even if she was in bad standing, a scandal still gave her some attention.
Before Hannah could say more, the sound of a car pulling up outside caught their attention.
They turned toward the door, and a tall figure walked in. Dressed in a suit and exuding the demeanor of a bodyguard, he was holding Sophia by the arm and roughly tossed her inside.
“Sophia,” Atlas gasped in shock.
He watched as the man threw Sophia to the ground, her forehead hitting the floor with a thud. Her face was bruised, and it was clear she had been struck. There were even visible handprints on her cheek.
“Boss sent me to inform the Bennett family that you should keep a closer eye on this adopted daughter of yours. Don’t let her go around causing trouble,” the bodyguard said coldly.
“In the middle of the night, dressing like this? Trying to seduce Mr. Stewart? Even thinking of stripping in public? What kind of behavior is that?
“Stop letting her embarrass herself. Tell them that anything that likes to seduce men is disgusting,” the bodyguard spat as he sneered at the scene.
The members of the Bennett family instantly lost color in their faces.
Sophia had just caused a stir in the morning, and now she was going to seduce someone at night.
“Wait, what nonsense are you talking about? Sophia was at the hospital today. How could she be trying to seduce a man? And who is this your boss you’re talking about?” Atlas, not willing to back down, immediately stood up. This involved the reputation of the Bennett family. He couldn’t just ignore it. The rest of the family kept silent. They couldn’t just let this slide without asking questions.
‘What if it’s all a misunderstanding? They couldn’t afford to take such an unjust hit, he wondered.
“Our Boss is the head of the Lark Group, Orson… Sophia has been working with the illegitimate son of the Lark family, Finnian. They’ve been secretly tracking Orson, trying to find a way to seduce him.
“Not only that, but they also planned to seduce Orson and, with Finnian’s help, take over the Lark Group, murder the rest of the Lark family, and use their resources to help the Bennett Group rise again.
“The Bennett family sure has a lot of nerve, targeting the Lark family like this… Now, Mr. Lark is furious. You’ll have to bear the consequences yourselves.” The bodyguard’s tone clearly showed his anger.
He was careful with his words, never once mentioning Percival. The Stewart family and the Lark family had a long-standing relationship, and the bodyguards were familiar with each other, knowing the situation in both families.
“How is this possible? Sophia, you’re so damn stupid. How dare you provoke the Lark family?” Henry was livid, nearly losing his mind.
He was still furious from the morning, and now the anger just piled up. He was seriously about to be driven insane by Sophia. ‘Why does she always go around doing these shady things?’ he wondered.
“I was thinking of the family. I don’t want to see the Bennett Group suppressed to the point of no return. If the Bennett Group falls, what will happen to the rest of the family? “Right now, everyone in the family is injured, Henry’s hand, Mom’s leg and back, Caspian is hurt too, and even I have injuries. Treating these injuries will cost a lot of money. “I don’t want our family to be like rats crossing the street, with everyone looking down on us. I want the Bennett family to rise again. Is that wrong?” Sophia cried as she spoke.
Her true intention wasn’t like that. But in front of the Bennett family members, she naturally tried to make up an excuse for herself.
Saying it this way would make them feel more guilty and less likely to hold her accountable.
“You!” Henry wanted to scold her, but the words stuck in his throat and wouldn’t come out. The others remained silent, and the bodyguard, looking at her with disdain, turned and walked away.
“Are you sure this is for the Bennett family, and not for yourself?” Caspian, clearly skeptical of her words, asked.
Ever since Caspian decided to distance himself from the Bennett family’s matters, his mind had become much clearer.
It felt like everyone had their own agendas, looking for opportunities to climb the ranks, and only he knew that no matter how hard he tried, he’d never be able to make it. As long as Odalys didn’t budge, the Stewart family would continue to hound them.
Even if they managed to ally with the Lark family, it wouldn’t matter. The Lark family was reliant on the Stewart family. Despite their outward connection as old friends, the Lark family still had to look to the Stewart family for approval. “Don’t forget. It’s the Stewart family that wants our heads because of the trouble we caused with Odalys. Yet, instead of trying to please the Stewart family, you’re aiming for the Lark family?
“With this, I can’t help but wonder if you’re just trying to marry into a rich family, get out of the Bennett family, and let us take the blame for whatever mess you make.”
Caspian said with startling clarity.
Each of his words struck right at the heart of Sophia’s intentions, and she panicked, feeling like Caspian could see through her.
Chapter 283
Sophia scrambled to her feet, taking a few frantic steps backward.
“Caspian, why have you changed all of a sudden? I’ve given so much to this family, even sacrificed my reputation, and you still think there’s something wrong with me?” Sophia said, her voice trembling with frustration.
She turned away and began heading upstairs, but a sharp kick to her abdomen from Callum sent waves of pain through her body, causing her steps to falter.
Her body was bruised all over, and she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to keep climbing the stairs. Once she reached her room, she slammed the door shut behind her.
“I can’t let this happen. I have to find that master. Without the Love Spell, what am I going to do?” Sophia’s panic was evident in her voice.
For years, she’d relied on the Love Spell to maintain her allure.
There were many types of Love Spells, some like the binding spell Sophia had used on Finnian, which were rare, but others were far more common, spells that made people fall hopelessly in love with her as if enchanted.
In a hurry, Sophia grabbed her phone and tried adding the guy’s number on WhatsApp again.
“How is this possible?” Sophia was shocked.
She couldn’t believe it. She kept trying, but no matter how many times she added the number correctly, it never went through to the right person. Each time, she ended up reaching someone else by mistake.
It felt as though the number had been tampered with, and whenever Sophia tried to contact it, something went wrong.
“I used to add him this way, and it worked every time. Why is it different now?” Sophia muttered to herself. A rush of frustration flooded her.
She murmured, “I actually dialed the correct number but got redirected to the fraud I saw last night…”
“Is this like call forwarding? Has something happened to the master? I’ve been buying Love Spells from him for years. I’m a regular client. He can’t just disappear like this.” A growing sense of unease gripped Sophia.
She felt as though some invisible hand was reaching for her.
Sophia set her phone down, her mind spinning. She hurriedly turned toward the bathroom, trying to calm herself under the rushing water of the shower. But as she stood there, Percival’s image flashed in her mind, and her heart began to race.
“Find out about that man,” she ordered in a tense voice as she made a phone call.
After hanging up, Sophia wrapped herself in a bathrobe and walked back to her room. There, she saw Atlas standing with his back to her.
“Why are you in here, Atlas?” Sophia asked in a panic.
She wasn’t sure if Atlas had overheard anything she’d just said. Of all the people in the Bennett family, Atlas was the only one who could still be easily manipulated.
Atlas slowly turned around, tossing a stack of photos toward Sophia. The photos landed with a sharp slap at her feet.
Sophia looked down, her eyes widening in shock. The photos were taken from various angles, showing her trying to seduce the man in question, each image more suggestive than the last.
The photos only showed her, capturing her in various poses that made her appear even more provocative.
“These just arrived from the Lark family. Each of us got a copy. They wanted us to see how you acted earlier,” Atlas said, holding his breath as he stared at her in disappointment.
When the scandal between her and Rafael broke during the variety show, Atlas had thought maybe she was in a tough spot.
But now… After everything, Sophia was still behaving the same way.
“Atlas, these photos are photoshopped!” Sophia scrambled to explain. Atlas just laughed bitterly.
“Photoshopped? And there’s also a video. Want to go downstairs and check it out? Sophia, you really disgust me,” he spat, before turning on his heel and walking out.
Sophia stood frozen, staring at the photos on the floor. Her hands trembled as she picked them up and tore them to pieces, her frustration and anger spilling over.
“Ah, why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong? All ever wanted was to climb higher,” she screamed, breaking down in tears.
Downstairs, the others could hear her screams, but none of them spoke. Silence hung heavily in the air.
“Don’t let her go out for the time being,” Henry said as he turned and walked back to his room. He couldn’t bear to see Sophia anymore.
Caspian, on the other hand, stayed silent. To him, Sophia was the devil. She was the one behind the attack that nearly left him crippled. If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t have been hurt this badly.
In the living room, only Hannah remained. She sat there for a long time, pulling out her phone to make a call. “Prepare everything for me. I need to go to the Stewart Villa tomorrow.”
“Hell, Odalys got married to him. What’s the big deal with me going there? I’m her mother. And besides, who knows if Percival is really dead or just pretending? I need to go check it out for myself.” Hannah ended the call abruptly.
For her, anyone from the Stewart family would do. She had to be the first to act, even if it meant trying to get pregnant in her middle years.
But with her leg broken and her back injured, she was physically limited. She couldn’t help but wonder if making love would harm her body. She was deeply concerned.
*****
Later that night, in her apartment, Freya handed Odalys a brand-new nightgown, gazing at her with eyes full of stars. Odalys, I think Percival might be a little jealous.”
“Still not asleep?” Odalys took the nightgown and playfully tapped her forehead.
Freya held her forehead, then turned and dashed toward the bedroom.
After changing into the nightgown, Odalys made her way to Freya’s room. As soon as she entered, she froze, her eyes scanning the room.
“What’s wrong?” Freya was lying on the bed, hugging a stuffed bear, looking a little anxious, as though she was anticipating some attention.
Noticing Odalys standing there, but not moving forward, Freya instinctively sat up. She jumped out of bed in her bare feet, running toward Odalys.
“Did you buy this apartment yourself?” Odalys furrowed her brow.
Freya shrank her neck slightly, quickly wrapping her arms around Odalys’. “Yes, this was with the money I earned from acting after I entered the entertainment industry.”
“No one recommended it to you? You saw it and bought it right away?” Odalys pressed on.
The more Odalys asked, the more nervous Freya became. She said, “I had just come back from filming and was out for dinner when I saw someone handing out flyers. I thought the building looked nice, so I decided to check it out. It turned out this was the only unit left.”
“It was a spacious flat with great lighting, so I just bought it right there and then,” Freya said, her voice shaky.
Odalys sneered. “And they gave you a 26% discount?”
“How did you know? The person handing out the flyers told me that if I paid in full, they would give me a discount. I thought it was a great deal, so I just went ahead and bought it,” Freya replied quickly.
Odalys remained silent.
“Wasn’t that day the 14th of July?” Odalys asked, her tone sharp.
Freya rushed to bed, grabbed her phone, and began scrolling through her Instagram. After a short while, she found the date. “You’re right… It was on July 14th, last year,” Freya said, swallowing hard.
Freya was genuinely scared now. She had never paid. attention to those details before, but with Odalys’ reminder, she now realized that it had been the 14th of July. The film crew had wrapped up early to go home that day.
“July 14th, a 26% discount… It’s quite strange…” Odalys said, her voice dripping with cold sarcasm.
Freya’s face turned pale. She had thought it was strange back then. Such a great property, but it was being sold at such a steep discount. She felt like she had hit the jackpot.
But now, she realized that no good property would be discounted like that. Plus, there would be plenty of buyers eager to snatch it up.
“What should I do? Have I been tricked?” Freya’s heart raced with panic.
Chapter 284
Freya only felt a sense of safety when she was near Odalys. “This house was probably intentionally left for you. The price was discounted on purpose, and there were issues from the very beginning. The location of your room is a death position,” Odalys said as she walked ahead.
She pulled back the curtains and opened the window, reaching outside with her hand.
Freya nervously followed behind. When she saw Odalys’ hand move to the back of the window and then retract, there were several talismans now in her hand. These talismans had been battered by the wind and sun and were in tatters.
“Looks like I was right. This house originally had no problems, but someone must have tampered with the energy field, making sure you moved in. Your room is in a dead spot,” Odalys explained, her tone calm.
She added, “Moreover, there are talismans stuck outside. If you stay here long enough, your health will slowly decline, but it won’t be obvious at first. Every time you feel utterly exhausted, you’ll just want to go home.”
“It’s like a slow poison. Over time, it weakens you, and if something happens, no one will suspect a thing,” Odalys continued.
Freya staggered back in shock and collapsed onto the bed. Odalys said matter-of-factly, “You seem like someone who could have a great life, but recently, your luck hasn’t been on your side. Back in the village, you had a brush with danger and even got caught up in romantic trouble. Your luck should’ve been much better. What I can’t figure out is why Sophia was able to steal your resources.
“Looks like it’s the house causing all this. Living here is draining your good fortune.”
She started walking out, and Freya hurriedly stood up, nervously following after her.
“There’s another room. Why didn’t you stay there?” Odalys asked. She pushed open the door to reveal a room that had been converted into a study.
The energy in this room was completely different from the one next door. There was an abundance of positive energy here.
“I had planned to live in this room, but the window broke that day, and it happened to rain. So, I moved into the next room instead. Later, I ended up just leaving all my stuff in there and didn’t feel like moving it,” Freya said, her voice shaky.
Now, she was feeling scared herself. The coincidences were piling up, and it all felt too deliberate like someone had planned it all. She had been set up.
“Odalys, I won’t die, right?” Freya asked, trailing behind her, pulling gently at the hem of Odalys’ clothes, looking like a frightened child.
Odalys glanced at her, her smile softening as she saw Freya’s hesitation.
“You won’t die,” she said, her tone light. “But your luck has definitely been diminished. You’re easier to manipulate now. If you stay here long enough, though, something bad could really happen.”
Freya looked at her large apartment, now filled with dread. She felt an overwhelming urge to leave immediately. She would rather stay in a hotel than remain in this house.
“Who wants to hurt me? I just wanted to buy my own place. I was adopted by the Stewart family, but I never wanted to rely on them. I just wanted to stand on my own,” Freya murmured, her voice filled with confusion.
She was a person who always kept her wits about her.
Odalys turned around, gently lifting Freya’s chin with her hand. She studied Freya’s delicate, youthful face, her smooth skin glowing like that of a young noblewoman from medieval times.
“Edie,” Odalys whispered. As soon as that name left her lips, Freya’s mind flashed back to Edie’s recent outburst.
Freya slowly closed her eyes, feeling a mix of fear and confusion. “Does she hate me that much? Just because her husband likes my mom? But my mom is already married to my dad, right? Could it be that my parents’ deaths weren’t an accident?”
Even Freya herself felt afraid as she spoke those words aloud.
For so long, she had believed her parents’ deaths were simply a tragic accident.
Odalys said, “Let’s leave that aside for now. The important thing is that she knew you were planning to move out of the Stewart family, so she arranged for this house to be sold to you. She made sure the timing was right for you to move in, and she deliberately had you stay in that room.
“This shows she’s wary of you and wants to harm you, but she can’t do it openly. And when I arrived just now, I could tell she had lived here before.
“She must have been unlucky herself, so she moved in first and let you come later, using your energy to nourish her.” Freya was born with the fortune of wealth, but Edie wasn’t. “Let me nourish her? So, after my luck weakens, she’ll only get stronger? Is there any way to break this?” Freya’s voice trembled slightly. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared. Faced with these things, everyone would be afraid.
“The talismans I tore apart earlier have broken the spell, but you should move out of the house tonight,” Odalys said firmly.
At those words, Freya immediately turned to pack her things.
“Ah!” Freya’s shrill scream came from the room.
Odalys hurried inside, seeing Freya staring at a doll. Needles were stuck into it, and talismans were attached to it. Odalys stepped forward to take a closer look.
“How did this end up in my wardrobe? I’ve never seen it before,” Freya said, pointing at the doll.
If she hadn’t been packing, she wouldn’t have even noticed the doll in her wardrobe.
“This is your birth chart. Looks like someone is in a hurry to cause you harm,” Odalys said.
When Odalys reached out to pick up the doll, it spontaneously ignited in her hands.
“Who?” Freya’s voice came out hoarsely.
Odalys looked at her, speaking each word carefully. “Your agent.”
“But she is probably dead now,” Odalys added.
The doll had self-ignited, meaning the person who set this up would face backlash. If they had magical abilities, they would suffer. If they were an ordinary person, they’d most likely be dead.
Freya hurriedly grabbed her phone and dialed her agent’s number.
When the call connected, the voice on the other end said, ” Sorry, this is the hospital. The person you asked about was in a car accident. After being sent here, she didn’t survive. She passed away during surgery. Are you a family member? Please come to claim the body.”
Freya stared at Odalys in shock, her voice barely above a whisper. “She really died. It was a car accident, and her body’s at the hospital.”
“Looks like this doll was placed by your agent. She must have had easy access to your house. You should find out who sent her to you,” Odalys said, her tone serious.
“I suspect she worked for Edie. Tonight, Edie tried to harm you, but I stopped it. She was kicked out of the Stewart family, so her luck is even worse now, and people around her will start facing misfortune,” Odalys explained.
Moreover, Edie was very knowledgeable about these matters.
To put it plainly, the agent had become Edie’s scapegoat. From the pond at the Stewart mansion to the birth chart buried under the tree, which caused Evander to break his leg for no reason, there were many signs that someone powerful was behind Edie.
So, causing someone’s death and making them a scapegoat was relatively easy.
“Edie is terrifying. What is she really trying to do?” Freya shouted in frustration.
She had never felt someone could be so terrifying before. Edie was certainly one of those people.
“Let’s take a couple of sets of clothes for now. We’ll send someone to collect the rest later,” Odalys said, keeping her tone practical.
Freya quickly packed a few sets of clothes, stuffed her valuables into a bag, and, with Odalys, left the apartment. As she closed the door behind them, Odalys placed a talisman on the door.
Chapter 285
“Odalys, where are we going? Are we staying at a hotel?” Freya asked, her steps quick as she kept close to Odalys, worried she might be left behind.
“How about we stay at the Stewart Villa? Or we could go to the apartment with Francis and them?” Odalys suggested. Freya immediately shook her head when she heard the Stewart Villa. “If Edie keeps hounding me, going back to the Stewart Villa will make her go crazy.
“She already doesn’t want me involved with the Stewart family, so I think it’s better to go to Francis’ place.”
“Does Francis’ apartment have any empty rooms?” Freya asked curiously.
The apartment was rented by Odalys, and Freya had never been there before.
“It does,” Odalys replied. She had always been generous, so she didn’t mind spending a little more on things like this. After heading downstairs, the two of them drove toward Francis and Selah’s place, which was a high-security apartment complex with a relatively low occupancy rate. “Huh, how did you get into this place? I’ve never seen any advertisements for it,” Freya said, her eyes lighting up as she looked at the apartment building.
Odalys smiled but didn’t answer. They stepped into the elevator, and after reaching the 19th floor, Odalys punched in the passcode to enter.
The door opened with a soft click, and Selah, wearing a face mask, was sitting on the sofa. Francis was also lounging, both of them looking over a script. Hearing the door open, they jumped up in surprise.
“Who’s that?” Selah asked, instinctively grabbing a nearby fruit knife. When she saw Freya and Odalys walk in with their bags, she quickly lowered the knife.
“Odalys, what are you doing here?” Selah ran over, excited to see her.
Odalys looked at Selah and Francis, who were holding scripts and reading them. She was a little surprised and said, “I brought Freya over to stay for a couple of days. I thought you two were asleep, so I didn’t message you. But you’re still up?”
Francis set down the script and walked over.
“We were doing a table read. We’ve been discussing it and are almost finished,” Francis explained.
The script was getting more interesting the more they read; no wonder it was a contender for awards.
“Alright, which room is still available?” Odalys asked.
The apartment had four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.
“The two rooms in the front are both empty,” Selah quickly said as she ran to open the doors.
Freya turned around, scanning the apartment. It was even bigger than her own flat. She let out a soft sigh and said,” This apartment is really nice.”
“I think so too. It’s rare to find a four-bedroom with its own bathrooms, and the kitchen is well-placed. You get a great view of the square,” Selah added.
Freya took one last look around and walked into one of the rooms. After making the bed, she sat down in the room, feeling an unfamiliar sense of energy.
“Odalys, how about I just stay here with them? It’s more lively with more people, and if anything happens, it’ll be nice to have someone around,” Freya said. She didn’t really need private space.
“If you’re okay with it, sure. It’s not like the room’s being used anyway,” Odalys replied.
Freya immediately went to work, making the bed and hanging her clothes in the wardrobe.
Selah watched them move in for the night, curious but too polite to ask too many questions.
“She’s having some issues with her house. We were supposed to stay there tonight, but couldn’t, so we moved in here last minute,” Odalys explained.
Selah was stunned. Even Francis, upon hearing the news, quickly walked over.
“Her house has problems? Is it haunted?” Francis asked with excitement.
After all, guys loved watching horror movies. After too many thrillers and suspense films, they got a bit curious. “It’s not that dramatic,” Odalys replied. “The house was previously owned by someone else before it was sold to her. That person has fixated on her and wants to drain her luck.”
“This is why, even though she’s gotten a bit famous in the past two years, her opportunities keep getting snatched away. The last disaster and the love misfortune both came from this situation,” Odalys explained briefly, though she didn’t mention Edie.
When it came to the Stewart family, the fewer people who knew, the better.
“That’s awful. Can we find out who did it? If we know who it is, we can keep an eye out for them,” Selah said, her eyes wide with concern.
Francis glanced at his phone, surprised. He handed it over to Freya, saying, “Freya’s manager just died in a car accident. It’s already trending on the hot search.”
“What? No way!” Selah was startled. Although they didn’t know Freya’s manager personally, being close to Freya meant they paid attention to such things.
“Freya, do you want to go to the hospital?” Selah asked, taking a deep breath.
After packing up her clothes, Freya sat heavily on the bed. When she heard about her manager’s accident, she felt a momentary sadness.
But then she remembered the doll in her wardrobe, with her birthdate written on it, clearly an attempt to harm her. Such a person didn’t really deserve her emotional investment. Freya had had a good relationship with her manager before, but now, to find out she was actually Edie’s person…
“Let the company handle it,” Freya said, making a firm decision.
Selah hesitated, her lips twitching as she spoke, “But she was your manager. If you don’t take action, won’t people think you’re cold-hearted?”
Freya finally spoke up, her voice quiet but firm. “She put a doll with my birthdate in my wardrobe. I just found it while packing.”
Her words hung in the air, and the room fell into an eerie silence.
Selah blinked, stunned, her mind slow to process the information.
“She put that in your room? Why?” Selah asked, dumbfounded.
Francis, who had been listening, seemed deep in thought. The entertainment industry is chaotic. Your manager doesn’t always have your back. My manager has always wanted to harm me.
“Not only does she want to hurt me, but she also tried to set me up with someone else, so they could become my girlfriend. Then, behind my back, she’d terminate my contract and even try to harvest my organs.”
“Not all managers are good people. If she’s done this, then Freya’s decision not to go makes perfect sense. If it were me, I wouldn’t go either,” Francis said, his voice filled with empathy.
Selah nodded, her expression sympathetic. “You’re right. If it were me, I’d feel scared too. Even if I went to the hospital, I wouldn’t know what kind of trouble I’d attract.”
It was already past 1 AM, and the mention of this issue had left everyone restless and unable to sleep.
“Are you hungry? How about a late-night snack? Looks like none of us are going to sleep right away,” Francis suggested, glancing at the group.
Selah patted her stomach. She hadn’t had much to eat all day, too focused on reading the script.
“Sounds good,” Selah said, giving an OK gesture.
Freya got up and started heading out. “How about some barbecue?”
“I’m good with anything,” Odalys replied.
Francis quickly pulled out his phone and ordered some barbecue. Forty minutes later, the delivery arrived. They set the food on the coffee table, and Selah walked to the fridge to grab some beers, bringing them over.
“Let’s have a drink,” she said, handing everyone a can.
Each of them grabbed a can and began to drink, enjoying the barbecue.
“So, how’s the script going? Any characters you like?” Odalys asked.
Freya leaned over to peek at the script. Selah pointed at it and said, “Every character is pretty good. Also, I think the lead female role would be perfect for you, Freya. If only Stellan could play the male lead, it would be even better.”
Chapter 286
Freya was taken aback when she heard her words. “They sent you the script, so why are you pushing me and Stellan to do it? A rare opportunity to play the lead, and you’ re not going to take it?” Freya asked, clearly confused.
Selah and Francis exchanged a glance.
She said, “I’ve never played the lead role before. The character is great, but it doesn’t quite suit my image.. Francis, on the other hand, is a former supermodel who switched careers. He’s an actor too, but he chose the second male lead. I went with the second female lead.”
“So, what about you and Stellan? Have you thought about it?” Selah asked.
Freya picked up the script, reading it for a moment. Before she knew it, she was already hooked.
“Are you sure you’re not interested in playing the lead?”
Freya asked again, confirming.
Both Selah and Francis nodded. They immediately called Stellan. To their surprise, it seemed he hadn’t gone to sleep yet and was apparently talking to his parents.
When he saw the incoming call, he answered right away. “Why are you still awake?” Stellan asked, puzzled. Francis exchanged a look with the others and replied, “We had a script reading today, and we realized that you and Freya are perfect for the lead roles. Selah and I are thinking about playing the second female and second male leads.”
“We weren’t sure if you had time. If you’re free, would you consider taking the role?” Francis asked.
Stellan was a bit surprised.
The script was from Odalys’ Star readings today. The boss’ s kid was kidnapped, and Odalys had figured out the location and helped rescue the child.
In exchange for the favor, the boss gave her the script and allowed them to pick the roles for the characters.
“Does it suit us?” Stellan asked, somewhat concerned.
This script came from Odalys’ Star readings. If all of us end up playing the roles, won’t it seem a bit… off?”
The others had already looked over the script and it could be told it was solid.
“Damon said today that none of the roles have been assigned yet. It’s not my decision to make. If you’re sure about it, you can go to the audition tomorrow. If you pass, you’ll get the role. If not, well, we’ll talk about it then,” Odalys said calmly.
She could tell these people were being tied together in some way.
Sometimes, the coincidence worked in strange ways. When the time was right, opportunities just seemed to fall into one’s lap.
“I’ll go over the script tomorrow and see. If it works, I’m willing to give it a try,” Stellan said.
After a pause, he lowered his voice and added, “Odalys, my dad wants to talk to you. Is it a good time? If not, he can call you tomorrow.”
“It’s fine,” Odalys replied. She stood up and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window, leaning against it.
Dangelo’s voice came through the phone, calm and steady, like that of a middle-aged man. He spoke politely and with a sense of regret. “Ms. Stone, I apologize for disturbing you at this hour.”
“It’s no trouble. I’m still awake,” Odalys responded.
Dangelo paused for a moment before continuing in a quieter tone. “The company arranges a physical exam every year, but every time, the results show that I have no health problems.
“This time, though, after the incident, I was diagnosed with cancer. Stellan and I believe that someone might have been behind this. It’s very likely that the disease was induced.
“And about the car accident… it was strange. My car had been running perfectly fine, but when I turned a corner, suddenly lost control like something was pushing it from behind, and it was thrown off course.”
Dangelo spoke, and if it weren’t for his own experience, he probably wouldn’t have believed it either.
But he and Sienna both clearly felt something was off. Talking about it with her today, they both had the same feeling. There was something more to this.
“The luck, perhaps,” Odalys said, her curiosity piqued. “But the Drake family is definitely being targeted. Does your company have a specific partner for the physical exams?” Dangelo nodded, replying, “Yes, in Crownridge, there are some excellent companies, and many of them have their own exclusive health check-up partners. The main benefit is that you don’t have to wait in line. It saves time.” “Usually, we make an appointment in advance, and then the department people go together for the check-up. The results are sent directly to the company. It’s simple and convenient, so we handle it this way,” Dangelo explained. Odalys fell silent.
“So the problem lies with the partner for the health exams,” Odalys said, her voice steady.
Dangelo understood her meaning immediately.
“Alright, I get it. I’ll have someone secretly look into the health partner and find out who’s behind it,” Dangelo said, his voice low and determined.
From the current medical reports, there was no way his cancer had developed just this year.
He had only completed a check-up last month, so it was impossible to have contracted the disease in just two weeks. Such illnesses generally had warning signs. It couldn’t have appeared out of nowhere.
“It’s best to check everyone around you, or perhaps replace them all,” Odalys suggested, her tone calm but firm.
The people closest to him were the ones most likely to tamper with things.
“I’ve already claimed to be sick as an excuse and replaced my driver, bodyguard, and even the servants at home,” Dangelo replied.
He was a businessman, clear-headed and sharp.
When Stellan had mentioned these things to him, he realized that the Drake family had become a target.
In such situations, one wrong move could spell disaster for the entire family.
It wasn’t like this hadn’t happened before. Many wealthy individuals had suddenly met misfortune, helicopters crashing mid-flight or deadly car accidents.
They all seemed like accidents, but most were actually orchestrated.
“If anything comes up, call me,” Odalys said.
After finishing her call with Dangelo, Odalys stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the empty square below. The only people she could see were a few late-night food delivery drivers, and beyond that, there was no one in sight.
“Odalys, want some more?” Freya asked, holding up a skewer of grilled meat.
Odalys took the lamb skewer from her and took a bite.
“I’m starting to feel a bit sleepy,” Odalys admitted.
Francis and Selah had finished eating as well, stretching as they stood up. They glanced at the clock. It was already 2: 30 a.m.
“Alright, Odalys, I’m going to bed now,” Selah said, yawning. Francis waved and went straight to his room.
After finishing the lamb skewer, Odalys noticed that the table had been cleaned up. She tossed the skewer stick into the trash bag and headed toward Freya’s room.
“I’ve already made the bed,” Freya said cutely, immediately climbing into bed. She even lifted the blanket for Odalys, motioning for her to lie down.
Odalys looked at her with a soft smile. Freya’s eager expression made her chuckle as she went to freshen up. Afterward, Odalys climbed into bed, and Freya quickly snuggled up next to her, her small hand nervously clutching Odalys’ arm.
“It’s okay. Have a good night,” Odalys said gently.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Freya immediately fell asleep, leaving Odalys lying there, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind raced, replaying everything that had happened recently.
It wasn’t until she had sorted through the details that she finally drifted off to sleep.
Suddenly, the phone vibrated, the sound piercing through the quiet room.
Odalys glanced at it, picked it up, and saw that it was Freya’ s phone. She watched as the call went unanswered, and soon, a message popped up.
Chapter 287
Odalys stared at the screen, reading the message. [Your mother couldn’t marry into the Stewart family, but what about you? Since Percival died, would you consider marrying Evander?]
This message shattered her worldview.
Odalys continued staring at the screen for a while longer, noticing the contact labeled as E. She had a vague idea that it was from Edie.
‘Edie doesn’t sleep at this hour. The idea of tempting Freya crossed her mind… How ridiculous, Odalys wondered. The hospital surveillance footage flashed in Odalys’ mind. Hannah had suggested that the two of them try to get pregnant with Evander’s child, but Edie, always so proud and arrogant, would never do such a thing.
So, Edie decided to focus on Freya instead. If she could trick Freya into seducing Evander, the odds would be much higher than if she tried herself.
First off, Edie couldn’t get back into the Stewart mansion, but Freya could.
Odalys couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. She found it hard to imagine what kind of person would come up with such a bizarre idea.
Odalys hadn’t meant to invade anyone’s privacy, but when her phone vibrated earlier, she instinctively picked it up, and the message popped up right in front of her eyes.
She set the phone aside and went to sleep.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window. Odalys jolted awake, blinking her eyes in the brightness, only to find Freya lying on the bed next to her, propped up on one arm, grinning like a cat who got the cream. When Freya noticed she was awake, she pounced on her.
“Odalys, you’re so beautiful. Your skin is so soft.” Freya purred, nestling into her chest.
Odalys froze, feeling her body stiffen from the unexpected closeness. She didn’t dare move.
“Don’t move. Let me hold you for a bit longer. It feels like I’m dreaming. I never expect you to be really with my cousin. I feel so lucky,” Freya said, squeezing her tighter, her body pressed fully against Odalys.
Odalys raised her hand and slapped. She gave Freya a playful smack on the backside.
Freya squealed in surprise, jumping up instantly, clutching her rear end with her small hands. Her face turned bright red as she protested. “Why’d you smack my butt?” “You were lying on top of me. Funny, huh?” Odalys teased with a laugh.
Freya blushed deeper. “You just make me feel safe.”
“Alright, alright. Get off me already,” Odalys said, shaking her head as she slipped on her slippers and headed for the bathroom. Freya, seeing this, quickly grabbed her phone. Out of habit, Freya checked for missed calls and then scrolled through the news.
But what she saw made her blood run cold. Edie had called her three times in the middle of the night and sent several messages. After reading them, Freya’s vision blurred for a second, and she nearly passed out from anger.
“Odalys!” Freya rushed toward the bathroom, phone in hand. Odalys, brushing her teeth, turned to see Freya shoving the phone in her face.
“Take a look at this. Has she lost her mind?” Freya
whispered, her voice full of disbelief. “Why is she asking if I want to marry into the Stewart family when my mom failed? Didn’t I already make it clear to everyone that I don’t want that?”
“She even wants me to seduce Evander? He’s like seventy years old! I’m twenty-three!” Freya’s face twitched in annoyance. She looked like she was about to lose it.
She had seen some shameless people in her time, but this was next-level.
‘Trying to trick me into seducing her father-in-law in the middle of the night? What the hell was she even saying?’ Freya wondered.
“Because you can enter the Stewart Villa freely. If you try to seduce him, Evander will definitely fall for it. After all, he won’t expect it from you, right?” Odalys said calmly. Odalys had seen the message last night but chose not to bring it up.
“She’s absolutely crazy.” Freya seethed, her anger boiling over. She immediately took a screenshot of the messages and sent them to Percival.
“Hurry up and wash up. We’re going out for breakfast soon,” Odalys instructed.
Upon hearing they were going out for breakfast, Freya quickly rolled up her sleeves, grabbed her toothbrush, and rushed to wash up. She didn’t bother with makeup, just changed into a new skirt and grabbed her bag before heading out.
Selah and Francis had also just emerged from their rooms, both wearing discreet masks to keep a low profile.
“Let’s go,” Freya said, leading the way.
Once downstairs, they bypassed the main elevator and took a smaller one to the second floor, entering the private room.
“Chicken wings are pretty good. Let’s get two orders.”
“Get three orders of apple pies. Also, hot dogs, cake, and juice. Oh, and some salad,” Freya quickly ordered. Francis and Selah also placed their orders.
Odalys sat back, sipping her coffee, and before long, Stellan hurried in. Francis handed him the script, and after sitting down, Stellan immediately began flipping through it. After a few pages, he was impressed. Every character was rich and well-developed. This wasn’t a script hastily thrown together by a screenwriter.
“The characters are all great. Their love, hatred, and entanglements are perfectly written. And it’s not a love story. It’s centered around national politics,” Stellan said, clearly surprised.
Such a well-written script had been handed straight to Odalys so casually.
“So, what do you think? Are you interested?” Odalys asked.
Stellan nodded slightly. “It’s a perfect script. Let’s go try out for the roles later,” he said.
The group quickly came to an agreement, and all four of them were off to the auditions.
“By the way, I heard your agent had an accident and passed away? Do you think this will affect your career?” Stellan casually asked, sipping his coffee.
The news had spread through the industry, and everyone was wondering if it would impact Freya’s career. After all, an agent was crucial for a celebrity’s success.
“I’m not sure. But if I don’t have an agent, I’m thinking maybe I could just jump over to Odalys’ side,” Freya murmured.
After last night’s incident, Freya was genuinely scared.
Now, whether it was an agent or an assistant, Freya couldn’ t help but feel like these people were more like shadows, perhaps even spies sent by Edie to keep tabs on her.
“Let’s focus on the audition first. We’ll deal with everything else later,” Odalys said firmly.
After finishing breakfast, Stellan’s manager arrived to pick them up, and they went straight to Blue Entertainment, while Odalys headed to Magic Entertainment.
Upon arriving outside the building, a group of people who had drawn lucky stars for the day and were hoping to get their readings from Odalys were already waiting.
“Odalys!” They called excitedly, rushing toward her as soon as they saw her.
Odalys glanced at the time. It was only eight o’clock, but it seemed these people had been waiting for a long time.
She noticed the dewdrops on their heads as if they had been waiting since the middle of the night for her to show up. Their excitement was so intense, it was as if they had just seen a savior.
Seeing the confused look on her face, one man immediately pulled out the fortune slip he had drawn the day before.
“I drew a slip yesterday, and I’m first in line today. I have something I want to ask. Are you available?” he said politely, his voice full of respect.
Odalys approached, and the door to the shop opened with a soft click.
As she stepped inside, it felt like she was entering a world full of shifting possibilities, as though she were walking through nature itself. The man instinctively followed her closely.
“Of course,” Odalys replied, gesturing for him to follow. She sat down, and the man, dressed in a sharp suit and exuding the confidence of someone in a position of power, took his seat across from her. His gold-rimmed glasses added to his dignified air.
“What would you like to ask?” Odalys asked softly, her voice steady.
Chapter 288
The man, Harvey Tillery, nervously swallowed, his voice low as he spoke. “I’m not sure if my daughter is possessed or something, but every night, she gets up in the middle of the night and brushes her hair in front of a mirror.
“No matter how much we call her, she just keeps brushing her hair and smiling at the mirror.
“We took the mirrors away, and she went crazy, searching everywhere for them. She even started hurting herself. Last night, we had to tie her up with ropes, and she tried to jump out of the window.
“We’ve even had a master check on her, and they all said she’s been possessed by a ghost. But whenever the master is here, she’s fine, and the moment they leave, she goes back to acting like this.”
“Yesterday, she even stabbed the master,” the man said, his face filled with anguish.”
He didn’t understand why his daughter had turned out like this. She had always been a well-mannered young lady, intelligent and diligent, someone anyone would be proud of. But lately, it felt like she had become a completely different person.
“Do you have any pictures of her? Let me see,” Odalys asked softly.
Harvey immediately pulled out his phone and opened the photo album. “This is a photo of her from before. She was always a smart girl, skilled in everything from music to painting. She was the pride of our family.”
“And this is a more recent photo of her. Take a look,” he said, handing her the phone.
Odalys looked at a few of the photos, and her fingers. stiffened as she examined them.
“Ms. Stone, can you tell what’s going on? Is there any hope for my daughter?” Harvey asked, his voice filled with nervousness.
Odalys remained silent for a moment, then looked up at him deeply and asked in a low voice, “Mr. Tillery?”
“Yes, I am Harvey Tillery,” he nodded eagerly.
“The four great families… Stewart, Lark, Tillery and Drake…” Odalys murmured softly. They were prominent families that ranked high on the wealth list.
Percival’s father had died, and the Lark family seemed fine for now. Dangelo had almost died in a car accident and now had cancer. And now, the most successful daughter of the Tillery family seemed like she had been cursed. ‘Interesting, it seems like the wealthy families are being targeted one by one,’ Odalys wondered.
“What?” Harvey asked, confused, not understanding why she was mentioning these surnames.
Odalys tightened her grip on the phone, handing it back to him. She then pulled out a talisman, folded it, and handed it to him, saying, “Take this talisman and place it under her pillow when you get home.”
“This is my phone number. Once you do that, if anything happens, call me, or you can add me on WhatsApp,” Odalys added.
Harvey was taken aback, quickly noting down her number and adding her on WhatsApp.
As he took the talisman, the unease in his heart seemed to disappear. It was as though just touching the talisman calmed him down, almost as if it had a soothing effect on his soul.
“You don’t need to send me any money,” Odalys said, noticing he was about to transfer money. Her words left Harvey stunned.
He paused for a moment, looking at the talisman in his hands before replying, “Ms. Stone, you’ve examined my daughter’s condition and given us a talisman. Normally, we would need to pay for this kind of thing.”
“That’s how it works in our circle. For something like this, it’ s usually at least several million,” he said.
He wasn’t a stingy person. If it was something he owed, he’ d pay without hesitation.
Odalys slowly stood up, her gaze meeting Harvey’s as she spoke, “My rule is simple. It’s a trade of resources. If your family has any connections in the entertainment indústry, or if you need advertising for your business or endorsements, you can consider offering me some chances.”
“This is a free Star reading. Even if there’s no exchange of resources, I’m fine with just offering it. I don’t need a lot of money,” Odalys explained.
Helping others was part of her responsibility, and it wasn’t something that should be tied to money.
While Stellan and Francis had voluntarily given her money before, she accepted it not because she was greedy, but because the money was exchanged for resources they would need in the future.
It was just that they didn’t know it yet.
“Alright, I understand,” Harvey chuckled hoarsely, his voice barely audible. He couldn’t believe she actually didn’t want money.
He carefully placed the talisman into his bag, his gaze complex as he looked at Odalys. With complete honesty, he said, “Masters in your circle charge at least several million.”
“I’ve sought out several masters before. Whether they can help or not, they always collect their fees before doing anything.” Harvey sighed.
Odalys simply smiled, saying nothing. If a magician were only after money, the world would be in chaos.
Saving people from disaster was supposed to be the responsibility of those within the mystical path.
“Then I’ll head back now,” Harvey said hurriedly, walking away.
Odalys watched his retreating figure, seeing him standing in the sunlight, surrounded by a dark aura as if it were going to swallow him whole.
She didn’t move but simply stood there, watching as his car disappeared from her sight.
Turning, Odalys walked back into the shop, observing the strange sights of the changing seasons inside. She raised her hand, and in an instant, everything around her shifted. “Don’t worry, I will stand firm here, I will carry out the will of Heaven and do good deeds to accumulate virtue,” Odalys whispered to her master softly.
As soon as her words fell, a faint sound echoed from the snow-capped mountains, a voice that said, “Good.”
The voice reverberated throughout the shop. Odalys blinked and opened her eyes, remaining silent, but even more composed. Everything in the shop was real.
And her voice had just been heard by her master. The voice that answered her had come from him.
After receiving the response, Odalys turned and headed outside, only to see a crowd of people gathered. Each person held a ticket with a time stamp, waiting their turn.
“Can you tell me about my love life?” a tall woman wearing sunglasses approached.
The woman smelled of expensive perfume, was dressed in high-end clothing, and wore jewelry worth millions. Her expression was one of arrogance as she stood there, looking down at Odalys as if assessing her.
“No need. You won’t get divorced,” Odalys said without even lifting her head.
The moment she spoke, the woman froze, shocked. She hadn’t said anything, yet Odalys had already declared her marriage would last.
“Aren’t you supposed to make divination based on my birth date? You didn’t even ask me for my birth date, yet you say I won’t divorce?” The woman’s voice was filled with agitation. With a snap, she removed her sunglasses and slammed them onto the table.
Odalys finally raised her head, meeting her gaze with a smile. “You and your husband have already agreed to divorce because you want to. You think you married the wrong person,” Odalys said softly.
The woman stood frozen, staring at Odalys in shock.
“Give me your hand,” Odalys instructed.
The woman hesitated for a moment before extending her hand. As soon as Odalys held it, the woman felt a burning sensation at her fingertips, as though something was entering her body.
She tried to pull away, but an unseen force yanked her, pulling her into a strange sensation.
“Ah!” she screamed as Odalys pushed her hard, feeling as though she was suddenly back in her youth, standing at the entrance of her school.
The rain was pouring heavily, and a car sped toward her, heading straight for her.
Chapter 289
She widened her eyes, trying to move, but her feet felt like they were glued to the ground, frozen in place. A tall figure rushed toward her, grabbed her, and jumped to the side. With a loud thud, the two of them fell to the ground, and her forehead collided with a pillar, causing blood to pour out. Seeing her injured, the man quickly scooped her up and rushed toward the nearby hospital. After he checked her in, he received a phone call and left. When she regained consciousness, she found someone else sitting by her bedside.
“Why?” she whispered softly. She could hardly believe her eyes. ‘Isn’t the person who saved me supposed to be him? But it isn’t him at all.’
Then, the scene changed. The man who had pretended to save her sat by her hospital bed, but behind the scenes, he had arranged for someone to destroy the security footage. As a result, when she tried to report the car to the police, she discovered that the footage was gone.
That car could never be found, and the whole matter was swept under the rug.
It was all because of that man’s deliberate actions.
Next, she saw him walk toward a car, take out a stack of money, hand it to the driver, and then turn around to head back.
After that, he made a pitiful show of his poverty, and she kept sending money to help him cover his expenses. Meanwhile, her family was pressuring her into an arranged marriage.
She ended up marrying the man who had once saved her. He recognized her, but she only hated him for forcing her into this marriage. She even kept in contact with the man who had pretended to save her.
It wasn’t until she caught the man who had pretended to be her savior living with another woman that she realized what was going on. He even tried to use her to get a divorce and convince her to give him all the money she had inherited from her husband.
Then, he planned to run off with the money and flee the country.
“How could this happen?” she cried out in shock, waking up from the dream.
Tears streamed down her face as she stared at Odalys, unsure whether what she had seen was just a hallucination. But from a third-person perspective, everything seemed so real.
Odalys leaned in slightly, her voice cold but firm. “Your ♦ husband won’t divorce you. If you don’t believe me, you can call the property management. Ask if anyone is living in your apartment.”
The woman quickly dialed the number, and the property manager retrieved the security footage and check-in records, sending them to her phone.
Looking at the timestamps, she realized it was the exact time she had handed her keys to that man. He had moved in with a woman and had been living with her just like in the dream she had just experienced.
“You’ve been played. That man was after your money. He used the debt of gratitude from your husband saving you to emotionally manipulate you into paving the way for him. And he’s been in that position for years.
“If you don’t wake up now, you’ll lose everything, your money, your future, your dignity, and even your life,” Odalys warned.
The woman’s previously proud demeanor vanished in an instant.
She couldn’t believe it. She’d been deceived all these years. From college until now, five long years had been wasted, all because of a stranger who had played her.
Because he had saved her, she had been willing to do anything for him, even falling in love with him.
Only now did she realize that her real savior, the man who had once rescued her, was actually her husband. But he never said a word, silently paying the price behind her back.
“I’m so useless. I can’t believe I mistook the wrong person,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion, as tears started flowing freely down her face.
Staring at the photos sent by the property manager on her phone, she fell into deep thought.
“Thank you,” she said, forcing a bitter smile, her entire demeanor changing as though she had just traveled back in time. The arrogance that had once filled her was gone, and in its place, a hint of determination flashed in her eyes. Her phone vibrated. It was a call from her parents. “Mom, I don’t want a divorce. I won’t divorce him,” she said, standing up and walking toward the door, but then, she paused, as if something had just occurred to her.
She looked at Odalys, noticing the faint smile on her face, a smile that seemed to bring a sense of peace.
“You’re after a resource exchange, aren’t you?” she asked. Odalys nodded. “Yes.”
As a strong woman, the woman was decisive in both speech and action. She had arrived with an air of pride, and she left in the same way. Yet, the burden she had been carrying seemed to have disappeared.
Odalys watched her retreating figure and said with a hint of admiration, “To love and hate fiercely, to act decisively, it’s actually quite admirable.”
Just as she finished speaking, someone hurriedly rushed in. Thanks to Odalys’ reminder the day before, there were not many people outside lining up on purpose. It seemed that everyone knew she had her rules and had voluntarily complied.
After finishing the three-star readings, Odalys stood up and closed the door.
Her phone vibrated, and the voice of Harvey came through.” Ms. Stone, this is Harvey. I was just at your store for the Star readings. I placed the talisman under my daughter’s pillow, and now she’s awake, saying she’s very hungry and has been eating nonstop.”
“When I asked her about what happened, she looked completely confused, saying she didn’t remember anything, as if the things she did weren’t her actions at all.” Harvey sounded stunned.
Listening carefully, Odalys spoke softly, “Send me your address.”
“Okay,” Harvey replied quietly.
His message quickly came through, and as Odalys looked at the address, she immediately got in her car and headed there. The address led her to a villa in the East District.
By the time she arrived, Harvey and his wife, Celeste Tillery, were already standing outside waiting. Seeing her drive up, they hurried toward her.
People like them, who were wealthy, often carried
themselves with an air of importance. It was rare for them to lower their guard and approach cautiously, almost as if they were afraid to upset her.
“Ms. Stone, it’s such a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” Celeste said, stepping forward and giving Odalys a quick glance.
She noticed Odalys was dressed simply and modestly, with no makeup, yet still radiating beauty. If she hadn’t seen Odalys on a variety show, she might have questioned her abilities. After all, she was so stunning, and everyone would be suspicious of her being a scammer.
“Hello, Celeste,” Odalys greeted politely.
Celeste led her into the villa. The three-story house was shrouded in a thick, ominous mist. The sun, hanging in the sky, seemed unable to penetrate the gloom.
As soon as she stepped inside, Odalys could feel the heavy negative energy surrounding the place.
“The negative energy here is too strong,” she murmured. The words made both Harvey and Celeste gasp in shock.
“Ah, don’t come any closer!” A scream echoed through the villa.
The girl, who had regained some sense earlier and had been eating, suddenly grabbed her bowl and smashed it violently on the ground. The porcelain shattered, and she turned and ran toward her room.
She sat in front of a new vanity table, staring at herself in the mirror. Slowly, she picked up a comb and began brushing her long hair, humming a song under her breath. “This song… Every time she looks in the mirror, she sings this. I don’t know what it is, but it’s so eerie,” Celeste said, her voice trembling with fear.
Harvey’s expression also darkened.
Standing outside the room, he watched his daughter continue to hum the song as she brushed her hair in front of the mirror.
His hand clenched into a fist, ready to speak, when he saw Odalys walk into the room. She moved behind the girl, bending slightly to place a hand on her shoulder.
“Such a beautiful girl,” Odalys murmured softly. As soon as she finished speaking, she snapped her hand back and struck the mirror with a swift motion. With a loud crash, the vanity mirror shattered instantly.
Chapter 290
A sharp, crisp sound echoed throughout the room.
“Ah!” The girl stared in shock as the mirror shattered. Her face seemed to break into pieces in the reflection. Panicking, she clutched her ears and spun around, desperate to escape.
Odalys’ hand pressed firmly on her shoulder, and her fingers, dusted with magic dust, gently tapped the girl’s forehead.
“Ah!” The girl screamed, her eyes squeezed shut as she collapsed unconscious.
She fell limp into Odalys’ arms, her body soft and lifeless.
“Ms. Stone…” Celeste rushed into the room, moving quickly to embrace her daughter, but her hand hovered in midair, unsure whether to touch her for fear of making things worse.
Odalys calmly observed her uncertainty and reassured her.” She just fainted. It’s nothing serious.”
“What’s going on with her? We put the talisman under her pillow, and she was fine, back to normal. But suddenly, she snapped again,” Harvey said, his voice filled with frustration and pain.
They had briefly thought she was improving and had even felt some relief. But now, just half an hour later, it was as if the talisman had lost its effect.
“Let’s move her to the bed,” Odalys said.
Harvey quickly picked his daughter up and laid her down gently on the bed.
Odalys sensed something familiar in the air of the bedroom. She frowned slightly and asked, “Has she come into contact with anything before all this happened?”
“Like a cherished item?” she added.
Celeste stood still, lost in thought for a moment.
“Yes, about a month ago, she suddenly got an invitation to a celebrity’s wrap party. She’d been obsessed with celebrities for a while and even wanted to become one herself, spending a lot of money on it,” Celeste explained, a hint of concern in her voice.
“One day, she was invited to attend the wrap party, where she could meet the celebrity up close. I let her go, of course.” “When she came back, she seemed fine, even brought back a signed photo from the celebrity,” Celeste continued.
She quickly turned and began rummaging through a drawer. At the vanity table, she opened the drawer and pulled out a signed photo, handing it over to Odalys.
Odalys looked at the photo. The woman on it, smiling radiantly, was none other than Sophia.
“Sophia?” Odalys asked, surprised.
So this was the star the girl had been obsessed with. It made sense now why Odalys had recognized the familiar scent in the room. It was Sophia’s.
“Is this comb part of it?” Odalys asked, holding up the girl’s hairbrush.
Celeste nodded quickly. “It should be, and there’s also a bracelet. I heard it was part of a gift from the wrap party.” “Ms. Stone, do you think something’s wrong with these items?” Celeste asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
If everything was fine, Odalys wouldn’t have asked about it. Harvey, having laid his daughter down on the bed, quickly joined them.
“This comb is made from negative wood,” Odalys said, her tone grave. “The negative trees grow near lakes or places with heavy negative energy. Most combs are made from positive wood. No one uses negative trees. And the ink on the signature in this photo is off.”
Odalys bent down and sniffed the photo, murmuring quietly, “Using this comb on her hair and keeping the photo in the room would have caused her to experience some disturbing hallucinations.”
“And on top of that, she probably drank some alcohol at the party. The alcohol disoriented her, and then they must have whispered things in her ear that piqued her interest,” she added, her voice low and serious.
“People are most easily misled when their interest is weak and their mind is vulnerable. Holding this negative wood comb and using it on her hair caused her to lose focus and left her spirit drifting,” Odalys explained.
Her words were clear and to the point.
When Celeste heard it was Sophia’s doing, she trembled with anger.
“Sophia? The young lady from the Bennett Group? Why would she do this to my daughter?” Celeste said, nearly jumping up in her fury.
After setting the items down, Odalys spoke calmly. “She wants her fans to be obsessed with her, to make them sacrifice for her.
“Every celebrity wants fame. They all crave it. But to maintain their popularity, they need to spend money. Using these items to cast spells makes the fans go wild for them.
“Over time, these fans can’t think of anyone but the celebrity, and they may end up bankrupting themselves just to support her.”
Odalys’ explanation left Harvey in stunned silence. He suddenly remembered something and whispered, “No wonder after she came back from the wrap party, she kept pushing me to get Sophia as the spokesperson for the company.
“She also insisted I spend money to provide resources for Sophia. I thought she was just being unreasonable, so I didn’t pay much attention. Looks like that’s when it all started.” Harvey said, a hint of guilt in his voice.
He realized he hadn’t been paying enough attention to his daughter’s mental and physical health, and now this had happened. As a father, he felt responsible.
“Right now, her spirit has left her body, which is why she’s in this dazed state. We just need to find her spirit and bring it back,” Odalys said.
Celeste, though shaken and nervous, was more filled with anxiety than anything else. “How do we find it?” she asked quietly, afraid of speaking too loudly and upsetting Odalys. She had completely lost her sense of direction and control over the situation.
“At midnight, I’ll perform a ritual. You’ll need to use your blood to summon her spirit, and I’ll figure out how to return the missing part of her soul to her body,” Odalys instructed. Harvey and Celeste nodded in agreement, desperate for any solution.
“Have you heard of Oliver?” Odalys suddenly asked.
At the mention of Oliver, both of them grew serious. “He’s the most famous energy field master in Crownridge. We’ve invited him before to check the energy field, but when he arrived at our doorstep, he didn’t come in. He just left,” Harvey said.
Odalys listened, her expression thoughtful. She walked out to the center of the villa, scanning the surroundings.
“Ms. Stone, what does this have to do with Oliver?” Harvey quickly followed, his concern clear.
This was about the family’s energy field, which was no small matter. It had to be taken seriously.
“You invited him to check your energy field? Actually, your family’s energy field is actually in perfect balance. If someone wanted to disturb it, they’d have to pay a price.
“Oliver didn’t come in because he was protecting himself. If he had, he would have lost three years of his life, or something even worse,” Odalys explained.
After hearing this, Harvey furrowed his brow.
“So, what you’re saying is, Oliver had ulterior motives when he came, and when he saw the energy field, he backed off because he was afraid of the consequences?” Harvey asked.
Odalys nodded. “The alcohol your daughter drank probably had something called Love Spell in it,” she said.
“Have you ever seen that variety show? The one we broadcast from the mountain village?” Odalys asked.
Celeste nodded quickly. She whispered, “Yes, my daughter loved Sophia, so she watched it obsessively. I watched with her.”
“In that show, Sophia once burned a talisman and mixed it into water for Finnian to drink. It caused him to run a high fever, become disoriented, and eventually even cut our ropes,” Odalys recalled.
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