Chapter 131
Odalys laughed coldly, her words cutting deep. “Are you joking? She was just trying to harm me. Why should I give her food? Is she that shameless? Or are you the shameless one?
“Besides, do you think someone would starve to death after just one day without food? Even if she only had water, she could last at least a week. There’s so much food in this area. Can’t you go find something?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Or do you think you have to steal from others to get by? You think you can just take advantage without effort, and that makes you special?”
“We earned everything we have with our lives. And we almost died because of her. Do you really think I would just hand you anything?” Her voice grew colder as she sneered. Atlas felt a weight in his chest. The sting of her words left him feeling ashamed, like he had nowhere to hide.
Odalys didn’t stop. “You keep expecting to get something from me, but you never once thought about treating me right. Do you really think you’re so clever that you can just open your mouth and I’ll give you whatever you want?”
She raised an eyebrow, her voice sharp. “Or is this just how selfish you are?”
Atlas’ face flushed with anger. He had never imagined that Odalys would speak to him so harshly. He felt humiliated, even wishing he could disappear into the ground.
Fuming, Atlas glared at Odalys, his eyes filled with fury. Without a word, he turned and stormed off.
“Odalys, don’t be so blunt. You’ll make him your enemy. In the entertainment industry, that’s not a smart move,” Selah said, worry in her tone.
After all, the entertainment industry was all about connections and resources.
The Bennett Group, being an entertainment company, had its own network. And Odalys’ contract was in their hands. If they wanted, they could easily blacklist her.
“I don’t care. I don’t have to make it in the entertainment industry,” Odalys replied, laughing.
She honestly didn’t care about being blacklisted.
The world was huge, with plenty of industries to choose from. She didn’t need to be stuck in the entertainment industry.
After Freya finished her shower and changed her clothes, she walked up and said, “That’s true. Even celebrities who are schemed against or framed, none of them would dare do what you just did, walking straight up and throwing a punch or kicking someone just because you don’t like them. “Honestly, your way of handling things is the most straightforward and brutal.
“Even celebrities with connections, capital, or money have to stay away from the cameras before avenging. They wouldn’t dare act so arrogantly in front of others, because their reputation and image would be ruined by the public opinion and online backlash.”
Stellan followed behind her, casually flipping his short hair and agreeing. “But you’re not wrong. After all, they’re the ones trying to harm us. They’re the ones who messed up.”
Odalys wasn’t bothered by any of it. To her, the entertainment industry didn’t matter that much.
For someone who had been through it all before, revenge was her priority. Odalys wanted to make every member of the Bennett family suffer, to make them pay for the price she had once paid.
She lowered her voice, analyzing the situation. “What did we do wrong? They cut our ropes, so I beat them up. That’s not revenge. That’s self-defense.”
She paused for a moment, then added, “And I didn’t call the cops. That’s already showing mercy. They should be thanking me, not blaming me.
“I dared to do these before the camera because I was completely in the right. If people want to bash me for it online, that just shows they don’t get it.”
Her expression turned serious. “It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and say nothing. But imagine if it were you, and someone cut off your escape route, leaving you with no way out. That might even cost you your life. Let’s see how brave you’d be then.”
She kept working as she said, not missing a beat.
“True.” Stellan nodded, glancing at the camera with a smirk. “So, for all my fans, Odalys’ words are my words. Don’t mess with her.”
“Me too!” Freya, grinning, threw her left arm around Odalys’ shoulders and placed her right hand on Stellan’s.
Selah squeezed in too, leaning her head forward. “And me!” The group shared a lighthearted laugh, their camaraderie unshaken.
“Odalys, go take a shower. Don’t catch a cold. We’ll take care of the rest,” Selah said, giving her a gentle push.
Odalys nodded, quickly washed her hands, and stood up. Feeling dirty and uncomfortable, she said, “Alright, I’ll go take a shower.”
Odalys walked toward the room, and not far away, Sophia, with red-rimmed eyes, glared at her with intense hatred. Sophia hadn’t expected that Odalys would use a variety show to bring Stellan and Freya to her side.
In Sophia’s mind, Selah had no real connections and was not a threat. But Freya and Stellan, on the other hand, were well-connected, with rumors swirling that they were children of wealthy capitalists.
Sophia had tried to get close to Freya and Stellan before, but they’d clashed during a competition for resources.
Now, with these two standing on Odalys’ side, Sophia’s position was in jeopardy.
Instantly, the live stream went silent. Throughout the entire event, all eyes had been on Odalys.
She had struck Atlas, kicking him away. Then, she slapped Finnian, followed by stabbing him in the back of his hand. Finally, she grabbed Sophia by the neck and threw her out of the way.
The scene was more intense than anything viewers had seen in a TV drama.
It was the first time they had seen someone openly fight back like that, standing tall and confident in her actions. Sophia and the other two were rendered speechless, not daring to breathe, let alone cry.
The sheer dominance Odalys exuded was almost suffocating, even through the screen.
[Damn, Odalys is definitely the queen. She’s so cool.] [Oh, my queen, I adore her so much. I hope Odalys starts doing action movies. I’ll be her biggest fan.]
[Freya, get to Odalys’ side and beg her to protect you. This show is terrifying.]
[Finnian was almost a murderer. He deserved that beating. He brought it on himself.]
The moment Odalys struck Finnian, it felt like the entire livestream had frozen. Everyone held their breath, staring at her in disbelief.
No one had any reason to stop her. After all, what she was doing was the right thing.
The production team didn’t step in, and the director said nothing.
It was clear Odalys was in the right, and no one dared speak up. Her words were irrefutable, and no evidence was needed to bring the others down.
At that moment, Sophia’s reputation was completely destroyed. She had some haters before, and now, she was done for.
*****
In the VIP ward, Caspian lay in bed, half-destroyed, his body stitched up with 318 stitches. His left hand was completely fractured. He stared at the ceiling, shocked and stunned.
“Who did you piss off? Why would they come to the hospital and beat you up so openly?” Henry rushed in, his voice laced with worry.
Just as Henry had been scolding him, he turned to look at the nearby TV.
He was about to switch it off, but then he saw Odalys. She kicked Atlas, sending him flying, then slapped him. After that, she pierced Finnian’s hand with a quick jab.
Finally, she grabbed Sophia by the neck and threw her into a water bucket, causing her to slam into the edge of the bucket. A loud crashing sound filled the room.
The hospital room went eerily quiet.
Chapter 132
Everyone’s eyes were glued to the live broadcast. Henry furrowed his brow, while even Hannah was so shocked that she trembled, pointing at the TV screen in disbelief.
“Odalys has lost it, hasn’t she? She just attacked Sophia on a variety show?” Hannah screamed, her voice high-pitched. Before anyone could respond, a nurse entered the room, walking over to change Hannah’s IV drip.
Another nurse followed closely behind, tending to Caspian’s wound.
“I heard that someone spread rumors a few days ago, and then he was killed,” the nurse who had entered first, Dana, said in a low voice.
The second nurse, Nora, turned in surprise, looking over the bed at Dana. “Killed? Dead?”
“Yeah. They say he was dragged out in the middle of the night and fed to dogs. The dogs tore him up so badly that he was almost unrecognizable. They even chewed half of his face off,” Dana whispered.
“But he got what he deserved. That’s what happens when you spread lies,” Nora mumbled, her voice barely audible.
The two nurses went on with their work, not in a hurry to finish as if they hadn’t even noticed the others in the room. They were too busy gossiping.
Caspian, hearing about the dogs, felt a chill run down his spine. His mind flashed to the image of that dog biting into him, and his body froze.
Hannah’s face also changed. She had been ready to yell, but now she bit her lip, too terrified to say a word.
All Hannah could think about was that towering figure standing outside the room, glancing back at her with a cold look in his eyes. At that time, she heard Caspian’s screams from within the room.
Now, his screams echoed in her mind, sending shivers down her spine. Her nerves felt like they were on the verge of snapping.
Henry’s expression also shifted, and the live broadcast, frozen on the moment when Odalys struck Sophia, was stuck on the screen. The TV wouldn’t turn off.
Nora murmured, almost to herself, “There was a girl who got abandoned by her family because they didn’t want a daughter. Later, she married a rich guy. She got so wealthy. “You want to know what happened after that? Her family tried to get her back. She refused, and when they realized they couldn’t control her anymore, they decided to get rid of her. Her husband found out, and he ended up killing her whole family.
“They even made the news. They said the whole family was chopped into pieces, and the man was ruthless. He had a lot of dogs, and that night, he fed them all to the dogs.
“They never found the bodies, and they closed the case. But honestly, they deserved it.”
Dana shook her head and muttered, “That’s what they get. People who try to step on others often fail to recognize their own limits. They got what was coming to them. They should die.” The two of them continued talking as they changed the bandages.
When Dana changed Hannah’s dressing, she accidentally jabbed the needle until it became twisted.
“Ah!” Hannah cried out in pain as the needle dug into her skin, blood seeping from the back of her hand. The nurse quickly apologized, saying, “I’m sorry. I missed. Let me fix it.” Hannah’s eyelid twitched as she watched the nurse fumble around, trying a few more times before finally getting the needle in place.
Caspian tensed up when he heard the sharp noise. Nora, meanwhile, spilled an entire bottle of disinfectant on him, soaking his already injured body with the stinging liquid. The pain intensified, making him scream.
“Ah!” Caspian’s agonizing scream echoed through the room, and he thrashed about on the bed.
The sound of his cry seemed to rip through the air, and he struggled violently. Nora rushed over, trying to hold him still. “Don’t move around, or your wounds will tear open. If they get infected, you could die.” Nora warned as she accidentally pressed on his neck.
Caspian’s breath was cut off, and he almost lost consciousness. Nora quickly pulled her hand away, realizing her mistake.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to grab your neck,” Nora said, her eyes wide with panic. She turned, red-faced, and hurriedly grabbed the medicine box, running out of the room.
Dana, seeing what had happened, stepped back, her voice soft as she spoke. “Please, just rest. Take care of yourselves.”
As the two nurses left, the VIP room was left in an eerie silence.
“Could the people behind this revenge be connected to Odalys?” Henry asked, his mind finally piecing things together. He looked at Caspian in disbelief, unable to fully grasp what had just happened.
Earlier, Henry had reviewed the surveillance footage and discovered that the hospital cameras malfunctioned right when Caspian was being attacked.
At the time, the hallway cameras and even the elevator were down, and no one had entered or exited the floor. There were no suspicious figures seen, and the lack of any evidence only made things feel even more off.
The person who had beaten Caspian remained untraceable, and calling the police had done nothing.
“Yeah, he even warned me.” Caspian’s voice trembled. “He said that if there was a next time, it would be my end.”
He couldn’t believe that Odalys had such a powerful ally. The man’s posture, his commanding presence, everything about him screamed that this was no ordinary person.
Hannah muttered quietly, “He just stood there like he was threatening and warning me. Henry, I think someone purposely broke my leg.
“Right after Odalys got married, my leg got broken. It’s too strange.”
She continued, the words coming out rushed and full of anxiety. “And right after her wedding, the Bennett family started falling apart. Everything is connected to Odalys.” Hannah suddenly turned to look at her phone, remembering Selena’s call. “Now even Selena’s calling to warn me not to harm Odalys.
“That means the Lark family won’t spare me either. Has she even bribed the Lark family? Odalys is trying to wipe out the Bennett family. What should we do?”
The more Hannah thought, the more panicked she became. “Now, Atlas and Sophia are on that variety show, and Odalys dares to hit them in front of the cameras. If it weren’t for the live broadcast restricting her, would she have killed them?”
“How did she become like this? She’s changed, really changed.” Hannah shouted, her voice filled with frustration. Unfortunately, Hannah couldn’t afford to yell too loudly.
She had to keep herself in check, worried that if anyone outside overheard, her fate might not just end with a broken leg.
Henry, with a dark expression, replied, “The strange thing is, when we went there, we couldn’t find her master. The bodyguards went up the mountain, and they ran into a rainstorm.
“While they were seeking shelter, they fell down the mountain. Two of them were seriously injured, and the others sustained light injuries with broken hands.”
It all seemed like an incredible series of coincidences, but it was hard to believe.
Henry had sent the bodyguards up the mountain to find Odalys’ master, but they hadn’t brought him back, and in fact, had suffered serious injuries. The medical bills alone were no small amount.
This time, they had returned empty-handed.
“Henry, this isn’t working. We can’t just wait around for things to get worse. After the show wraps up, we need to lure Odalys back and capture her. If we don’t, we’re all as good as dead.” Hannah panicked.
She believed that Odalys was their charm. As long as Odalys was around, the Bennett family would be safe.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Henry said, his expression turning cold and calculating. “Once the variety show ends, I’ Il send people to kidnap her.”
Hannah immediately sat up straighter, her spine stiffening. Unexpectedly, in the next moment, her face paled, and she turned to Henry with disbelief in her eyes.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Henry asked, seeing her wide-eyed and terrified. His heart skipped a beat, and he rushed over to her.
Tears started pouring from Hannah’s eyes as she winced in pain. She could hardly believe what she was saying. “I think my spine is broken.”
Chapter 133
With a loud crash, Henry’s mind exploded like fireworks. He quickly pressed the buzzer, calling for the doctor. When the doctor arrived, the diagnosis was clear. Her spine was broken.
“Ah!” Hannah’s scream echoed through the hospital room again.
She just sat up straight for a moment, but her back snapped right then and there.
The pain made her lose consciousness, her eyes rolling back. Henry stood frozen, staring at the room, a chill creeping over him. Everything felt strange and unsettling, like something was wrong, but he couldn’t figure out what.
‘What’s going on? Why has the Bennett family been so unlucky lately?’ Henry wondered.
“I have to go find Oliver,” Henry said, clearly shaken.
Henry’s ribs were fractured, and his body hurt badly, but compared to Caspian and Hannah, his injuries were minor. If things kept going this way, the members of the Bennett family might all end up dead.
A sense of vague fear settled over Henry, and he found himself completely unsettled, unsure of what to do next. “Mom, I’m going out for a bit,” Henry said, handing everything over to the doctor before walking out without looking back.
As he went downstairs, he spotted a tall figure leaning casually against the wall. The man had a cigarette between his fingers, taking a long, slow drag, his sharp eyes squinting as he exhaled.
“Hello, Mr. Lark,” the hospital director approached respectfully, greeting the man.
Henry instinctively paused, his gaze falling on the man.
Orson pursed his lips and gave a slight smile. He flicked the ash from his cigarette with casual ease before responding in a low voice, “Hi, I came by to check things out.”
“Mr. Lark, I heard you helped a high-ranking old warrior recover. Would you be willing to give us a talk on traditional medicine?” the director asked respectfully.
In truth, the director worked for the Lark family. The hospital was owned by the Lark family. While Orson didn’t sit at the hospital’s head, everything there was under his control.
For example, those two gossiping nurses had been acting on Orson’s orders, and now, the director conveniently passing by and chatting with Orson in front of Henry was all part of the plan.
“Sure, I’ll find some time to come give a lecture,” Orson said softly.
The director glanced at Henry, not far off, then checked his watch and said, “Alright, I’ll go ahead and head to my meeting.”
“Okay,” Orson said, taking another long drag from his cigarette before crushing it out and tossing it in the trash. He then started walking toward the exit.
Orson had only taken a few steps when Henry, in a hurry, rushed after him.
Upon hearing the frantic footsteps, Orson’s lips curled into a knowing smile, and he quickened his pace. Henry was still limping from the injuries Odalys had caused, making it difficult for him to keep up.
“Mr. Lark!” Henry called, his voice hoarse with panic.
Sure enough, Orson stopped and turned, casting a puzzled glance at him. “Did you call me?”
Breathing heavily, Henry approached quickly. When he finally stood in front of Orson, he realized how insignificant his previous arrogance was compared to the real power before him.
“Yes. Mr. Lark, I apologize for disturbing you. I’m Henry from Bennett Entertainment. I contacted you through Finnian’s phone before,” Henry quickly added, trying to use his position to gain favor.
“Ah, for the land in the East District?” Orson seemed to think for a moment, then responded with a tone of realization.
What Henry hadn’t expected was that Orson had been deliberately waiting here for him, trying to reel him in.
“Yes, Mr. Lark, are you available? We need to talk,” Henry said, his voice full of respect.
The plot of land was like a juicy piece of meat. Whoever got their hands on it would win big.
With just that piece of land, Bennett Group could make a huge comeback. It was prime real estate, a goldmine for the future.
“To be honest, that land is no longer in my hands,” Orson said, seeming almost sympathetic, standing there in front of Henry with a slightly troubled expression.
His next words made Henry’s heart sink.
“The Lark family and the Stewart family are old family friends. I’m sure you’ve heard of the Stewart family. They’re incredibly wealthy, with deep pockets,” Orson continued, his tone calm but heavy with meaning.
“The Stewart family has a lot of money and resources. All the land, properties, anything that makes money, the Stewart family has a share,” he added.
The more Henry heard, the worse he felt.
It was well-known that the Stewart family was rich. Henry knew that too. But not everyone could get close to the Stewart family.
Orson spoke quietly. “I heard Mr. Stewart got married a few days ago. Word is, it was a marriage with a purpose. After my father found out, he called me this morning, hinting that the Lark family should give a gift.
“To demonstrate the Lark family’s regard for our relationship with the Stewart family, I directly gave that land to Mrs. Stewart this morning.”
“It’s the wife Percival just married. Her name’s Odalys, I believe.”
A thunderous sound rang in Henry’s ears, and it felt like he had been struck by lightning.
His whole body trembled. He never expected that Odalys had managed to land such a fortune. The land Henry had worked so hard to obtain was just handed over to her by the Lark family.
‘This can’t be true. No way, Henry thought to himself.
Orson continued murmuring, “Mr. Stewart’s marriage is a big deal, something worth celebrating. That land was only worth about 300 million dollars, not a huge sum. That’s why my dad had me come here.
“This hospital is worth a lot, though. Its valuation is in the billions, maybe more. I was planning to give it to her too, but I’m not sure if she’d want it.
“If she doesn’t, I’ll just check at home to see if there’s cash lying around in the family vault. I could give her a few hundred million dollars in cash, but cash is hard to store.
“Forget it, I’ll just send her some jewelry. Jewelry doesn’t take up much space.”
Orson seemed bothered because he found it troublesome to choose which gift he should offer.
But hearing these, Henry was stunned. He couldn’t believe how much the Lark family valued Odalys. What shocked him more was that it was Sophia who had willingly given away this opportunity.
They had all thought that Percival was near death and that Sophia would be a widow. Now, everything was turning out completely differently.
Henry thought to himself, ‘We lost. If we had known this, we never would have let Odalys marry Sophia in the first place. If Sophia had married Percival, not only would she have gotten that land, but look at all these gifts from the Lark family, over 10 million dollars?
‘He’s even planning to give her the hospital, cash, or gold bars!’
“Mr. Lark, isn’t this a little too much? I heard Mr. Stewart isn’t in great health right now.” Henry asked in a low voice, suppressing the shock and fear inside. In truth, he was trying to gather information.
Orson chuckled lightly. “In noble families, what matters most is the heir.”
“She’s already married, so she’ll probably get pregnant soon. That means the Stewart family will have descendants. Once she has a baby, all of the Stewart family’s wealth will be hers.
“I’m sending some gifts now, cozying up to her. Once I’ve built a strong relationship with the Stewart family, there will be plenty of benefits.” With that, Orson waved his hand and started to leave.
Chapter 134
Orson seemed to be worried that Henry would catch up to him. He turned and ran, leaving Henry standing there, stunned.
They had thought through many possible outcomes, but never imagined that Sophia could get pregnant after marrying, allowing her to take control of all the assets.
At that time, their main concern had been whether Sophia would end up a widow, not that Odalys would gain the upper hand.
Henry was in a panic. “What should I do? No, I have to expose this. I’ll make Odalys go back. I can’t let her have the upper hand. I need to make sure Sophia marries Mr. Stewart.
“If that doesn’t work, then we’ll have to force Odalys to go back to the Bennett family and reveal her true identity.”
With so much money and so many benefits on the line, just a small piece of it would be enough to make the Bennett family rich for life.
But Henry didn’t consider that Orson, who wasn’t very close to him, suddenly revealed so much information for a reason. Orson was clearly setting a trap, leading Henry to jump right into it.
Orson turned and walked away. After getting into his car, he picked up his phone and made a call.
Orson spoke smugly. “Hello. I set a trap for Henry. I told him the Stewart family is very wealthy and mentioned that I gave Odalys the land in the East District. I also told him that after you get married, the whole Stewart family will belong to Odalys.
“Henry may think that Odalys will easily obtain the things he can’t get now. I’m just waiting for him to bring that news back to the Bennett family.
“Then, the Bennett family members will regret it deeply. I can’t wait to see them begging Odalys. I can already imagine how they’ll be apologizing to her. Don’t you find that satisfying?”
Percival, however, remained silent after hearing Orson’s words.
With a sharp click, Percival hung up the phone without saying a word.
“Hey. You hung up on me like that? That’s too much. Really, you’re not being thoughtful at all. If it weren’t for Odalys marrying you, you’d never have a chance to get married,” Orson said, staring at the phone in disbelief.
It was like his efforts were in vain. Percival didn’t even say a kind word, which left Orson frustrated.
But when Orson thought about how Henry would lose his mind, he felt better. After all, this was his golden opportunity. Odalys would surely gain a good impression of him.
‘Traditional medicine… Orson thought to himself, his large hands rubbing together as he felt an overwhelming sense of longing.
Traditional medicine was at the top of the medical field. Many of the techniques had been lost over time. For Orson, Odalys’ expertise was like a ceiling he couldn’t break through.
Henry, on the other hand, had no idea what Orson was thinking. He turned and walked back, making a call. “Check when the live broadcast of the variety show ends.”
“Mom,” Henry said as he held the phone and walked toward the VIP ward.
He repeated Orson’s words to Hannah, who had just undergone surgery. Hannah, shocked and angered, coughed up blood and fainted once more.
*****
As dusk settled, the village was eerily quiet. Usually, not many people moved about, let alone after dark.
Odalys had finished cooking and was eating happily. In the next room, Sophia looked at the warm atmosphere around them, feeling jealous that no one seemed to care about her.
“Sophia, how about we go get something to eat?” Atlas couldn’t hold back any longer. He was starving.
At this moment, Atlas couldn’t understand why Sophia was upset.
There was food over with Group B, the ones who had braved the rain to find some. If Atlas and Sophia had gone earlier, they would have had a meal by now, but Sophia kept causing a scene. Atlas was starting to feel frustrated.
“Are you blaming me?” Sophia looked at Atlas, her eyes wide with disbelief. Tears filled her eyes, about to spill over. Sophia noticed the impatience in Atlas’ eyes, and she was stunned.
In the past, Atlas had always pampered Sophia. No matter what happened, he would unconditionally stand by her side. But now, just because of a bit of food, he was giving her the cold shoulder.
“I just think if we don’t go out and get something to eat, we’re going to starve to death today,” Atlas said quietly.
He was in pain all over, especially from the slap Odalys had given him. Atlas didn’t even dare to look at himself in the mirror. Even if there were Wi-Fi, he wouldn’t dare to surf the Internet and read these mocking posts.
He knew he’d be bombarded with hateful comments. If this kept up, his career in the entertainment industry would be over.
“If you want to go, just go on your own. I’m not hungry,” Sophia said as she turned her back on Atlas.
Sophia thought he would come over and comfort her, but unexpectedly, Atlas turned and walked out, disappearing from her view in no time.
“How can you do this?” Sophia was left in shock.
Her face, which had been delicately made up, was now filled with astonishment.
She stared in the direction in which Atlas had gone, unable to bring herself to chase after him. All she could do was stamp her feet in frustration.
At that moment, Freya walked over, holding a plate full of shrimp, pan-seared fish, grilled mushrooms, and other dishes, piled high.
“Freya, do you want some soup?” Odalys’ voice called out.
Freya walked toward Sophia, carrying the plate.
Stopping not far from Sophia, Freya elegantly picked at the food as she turned her head and said, “Sure. Leave me some.”
“The shrimp are really good, Odalys. Do you think we could have this again tomorrow?” Freya shouted across, munching as she carried the plate closer.
Freya came up to Sophia, who was standing still, and gave her a puzzled look. “Aren’t you eating?”
“Sorry, I forgot you don’t like to eat,” Freya added with a smile, walking a couple of circles in front of Sophia with the plate before standing right in front of her.
Sophia stared intently at Freya’s plate and saw the delicious-smelling food. She couldn’t understand why Odalys was able to make such good dishes in this rural setting.
Sophia instinctively swallowed, and her stomach let out an audible growl.
“Huh, are you hungry? I thought you were on a diet. If you’re hungry, why not go find something to eat?” Freya asked, her expression full of fake innocence, as though she were genuinely curious.
In truth, every word was a jab to the heart. Freya knew very well that Sophia was being pretentious and unwilling to lower herself to go find food, so she had brought the meal over to tempt her.
Sophia understood Freya’s intentions, but she still forced a smile and quietly said, “I really don’t feel like eating.”
“Hey, I almost forgot. Odalys, you made some potherb, right? I forgot to grab some,” Freya suddenly said as if suddenly remembering something.
She rushed over with the plate, calling out. “I need some potherb!”
“I saved you some,” Odalys responded softly, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
Odalys was well aware that Freya was intentionally trying to provoke Sophia, but she didn’t call Freya out.
Odalys placed the potherb right in front of Freya, while Selah and Stellan remained silent, exchanging a glance.
“Do you think I’ve gained weight?” Selah suddenly asked, puffing out her stomach and gently patting it.
Her once flat stomach was now gone. She had eaten so much that her belly had grown round.
“No way?” Freya replied, shocked. She quickly set down her utensils, rubbed her own stomach, and gasped.
“Well, I’ll be darned. My stomach is definitely sticking out too. If my agent saw this, she’d probably scold me badly,” Freya muttered quietly.
Chapter 135
Freya stared at the delicious food on her plate, her mouth watering. She really wanted to eat, but hesitated.
“Go ahead. What are you waiting for? Tomorrow morning, we’ll wake up early and go for a run. Then we’ll head into the mountains to hunt. After some exercise, these calories will be long gone,” Odalys said.
Freya quickly reached for her stomach, only to realize Odalys’ was flat and toned.
“Your stomach is so flat. Are your abs still showing? Do you still have that V-line?” Freya asked in a low voice.
When they first met, Freya had fallen for Odalys’ toned abs and V-line.
Odalys must work out regularly to maintain such a fit body. “Yes. I’ve been farming for years. It’s different from what you get from gym workouts. As long as I don’t intentionally try to change it, I’ll probably stay in shape like this,” Odalys replied.
Hearing this, Stellan quickly added, “Looks like we need to be prepared for tomorrow. We’re going big. We’ll bring some wild game back.”
“Now I’m not worried. Let’s eat,” Freya said, picking up her utensils and continuing to eat.
Selah rested her chin in her hand, tilting her head as she watched Freya. “Slow down. No one’s going to take it from you.”
“I can’t! If I eat slowly and it doesn’t digest, won’t I just get even fatter?” Freya replied. Though she ate quickly, her posture and grace were still elegant.
It was obvious that Freya had been well-raised. Her manners were impeccable, clearly drilled into her since childhood.
Some people would look rude when shoveling food in, but Freya was a rare exception.
“After we finish eating, let’s take a walk in the village,” Odalys suggested.
Selah and Freya both perked up, their eyes lighting up. They nodded in agreement. “No Wi-Fi, no internet, and I can’t sleep in bed. It’s so boring.”
“Walking around the village sounds great. It’ll help us relax and pass the time,” Selah added.
Stellan naturally didn’t argue. If they had decided, he would just go along with it.
“Alright, I’ll wash the dishes,” Stellan said, taking the initiative to clean up, and no one objected.
They had their roles well-defined. Nobody was dragging anyone down. Selah and Freya had washed the dishes earlier, and Odalys had cooked, so now it was Stellan’s turn.
Sophia was in the next room, watching Stellan clean the dishes, her jealousy boiling over.
Stellan was so rich, yet Odalys made him wash dishes. If it were Sophia, she would have treated him like royalty, constantly doing things to win his favor.
“Looks like we won’t starve tonight.” Francis’s voice came from the doorway.
Sophia looked up and saw Francis and Finnian returning, holding some potherbs. She couldn’t hide her disgust. She hadn’t expected the two of them to be so useless.
“You’re back?” Sophia hurried over to greet them.
She looked at Finnian, her face full of smiles. “Finnian, what did you bring?”
Sophia stared at his hands. Finnian appeared to be holding some wild fruit, and a sudden hope flickered in her eyes, thinking he had picked it for her.
“It’s none of your business,” Finnian said, his tone cold.
He immediately put some distance between them, clearly a little afraid of her.
“You…” Sophia was stunned.
She hadn’t expected him to speak to her so coldly. ‘I haven’t done anything wrong, so why is he giving me the cold shoulder?’ Sophia thought to herself.
“Take the potherb,” Finnian said. He handed the potherb to Francis and held on to the wild fruit he had just picked, heading toward the next room.
Finnian brushed past Sophia. She seemed to guess what he was about to do and quickly reached out to grab his sleeve, but he quickly swatted her hand away.
With a loud slap, Finnian struck her hand.
The sting of the slap shot through her hand, leaving Sophia momentarily dazed.
Sophia watched as Finnian walked away without sparing her a glance, a hint of frustration building within her. She reluctantly followed after him.
“Hi, Odalys.” Finnian, holding the wild fruit, hurried forward.
He stopped in front of Odalys, offering the fruit to her. “I just picked these fruits in the woods. I noticed you haven’t had any fruit in a while, so I brought you some.”
Odalys looked at the wild fruit in his hands. His clothes were torn in several places, and his left hand, injured from her earlier jab, was hastily wrapped. He looked thoroughly disheveled.
Odalys stared at him for a moment, then took a small step back, putting some distance between them.
“No need,” Odalys said coldly. Her indifference pierced Finnian’s heart.
His initial excitement drained away, his hand holding the fruit slowly drooping. He gave a bitter smile and said, “Are you still angry with me? I wasn’t in my right mind back then. She manipulated me into doing bad things.
“But I never meant you any harm. I was under her spell. If you hadn’t injured my hand, I wouldn’t have come to my senses. These wild fruits are my way of making it up to you. Is that alright?” Finnian pleaded with her, his voice heavy with regret.
He humbled himself, lowering his pride. But Odalys shot him a cold glance and then turned to walk away.
“Wait, Odalys…” Finnian quickly stepped forward. But before he could get close, she abruptly turned around, startling him. He quickly stopped in his tracks.
Odalys spoke sharply. “Don’t push me. I hate men who make noise in front of me. It’s best if you take the hint and stay away from me. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to hit you again.
“Stop pretending to be so deep or pitiful. Whether you’re sincere or pathetic, you know better than anyone else.
“I hurt you because you deserved it. But that doesn’t mean I want to save you. Whether you live or die, it’s none of my concern. Just stay out of my way.
“You’ve schemed against me before. Want me to expose everything in front of the camera? If you want to keep some dignity, keep your distance from me right now.”
Finnian froze in place. He looked at Odalys, a pained expression on his face, unable to believe how cold and ruthless she was.
At that moment, he regretted his arrogance. He had thought he could control Odalys, that he had successfully brainwashed her, but in reality, she hadn’t fallen for any of it. “I guess you’re in a bad mood today. I’ll come back another time,” Finnian said, turning on his heel and quickly walking away.
Odalys stared after him coldly, her gaze eventually settling on Sophia, who was watching the scene unfold. When Odalys saw the smug look in Sophia’s eyes, her smile deepened.
Odalys cast a meaningful glance at Sophia’s clothes, left hanging on the side, holding her gaze for a long moment before finally turning away.
“What are you staring at?” Sophia muttered under her breath.
Sophia turned around to head back, but as she brushed her clothes, a strange odor hit her nostrils.
She seemed to realize something and quickly pulled off her underwear, discovering something on it.
“Who… Who did this?” Sophia gasped, horrified.
Seeing that the cameraman hadn’t followed her, Sophia quickly tucked her underwear back in, walking toward the room in disbelief. “Who touched my underwear?”
Earlier that morning, she had felt as if someone had tampered with her clothes, but she never imagined it was true.
‘Could Odalys have had someone do this? In her group, the only man is Stellan. Would he listen to her and do something to my underwear?’ Sophia thought to herself. “What’s going on?” Sophia’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion.
Chapter 136
Sophia was starting to panic. She wasn’t sure whether Stellan had dirtied her underclothes. If it were him, then she could easily assume he had an interest in her, but that possibility seemed rather slim.
‘If it wasn’t those three men from Group A, then… Her mind flashed to the bachelor Rafael from last night.
Sophia recalled how he had touched her, and a wave of disgust washed over her.
For the sake of her pride, she had to endure being touched, even though she hated it. The feeling made her skin crawl, and she immediately tossed her underwear aside in revulsion.
Even if they were cleaned, she couldn’t bring herself to wear them again.
With these thoughts, she lay on the bed for a while, until a delicious smell floated into the room. Though their cooking wasn’t as fragrant as what Odalys and the others made next door, it still smelled pretty good.
Sophia quickly got up and headed outside. She saw that Francis and Finnian had cooked something and were sitting there eating.
By the time she arrived, they had already finished.
“You…” Sophia was taken aback.
She didn’t understand why they hadn’t called her to join them, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask. Instead, she stood there, silent and stunned.
“We found our own food, so we ate it ourselves. You’re probably on a diet and wouldn’t want what we’re having anyway,” Finnian said with a sarcastic tone. Seeing Sophia now irritated him.
Finnian couldn’t figure out why he’d ever enjoyed spending time with her. It was only when Odalys had stabbed his palm that Finnian realized just how badly he had misjudged things.
Sophia looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of hurt and confusion. “Finnian, are you still angry with me? But it was Odalys who hit you and hurt your hand. Why are you taking it out on me?
“What did I do wrong? Why is everyone misunderstanding me and pushing me away?”
Francis stayed silent. He didn’t want to get involved with Sophia, but he did find it pretty unlucky to be on the same team as her.
“You know exactly what you did. Odalys hurt me to save my life. You’d better keep your distance from me from now on. Don’t come near me again,” Finnian said in a low, cold voice. Sophia wavered, almost falling over from the shock. She couldn’t believe Finnian could say such heartless things to her.
‘What exactly did Odalys do to brainwash him into treating me like this?’ Sophia wondered.
She was frustrated, but there was nothing she could do about it.
“Do you think the same way?” Sophia turned to Francis. After finishing his last bite, Francis set down his fork and leaned back in his chair. Crossing his arms, he glanced at Sophia and said, “I’m not getting involved in your issues, but as a member of Group A, finding food is part of our variety show.
“You’re too stubborn to eat, won’t go out to find food, and won’t leave when it rains. What’s the point of being in the variety show, then? Do you think the audience just cares about you?
“The production team is paying us to be here. Whether it’s raining or snowing, we’re expected to go out. It’s our duty. I don’t think what Finnian said was wrong.”
“Group B is way more united than we are. Even if it’s raining, they all go out together. When they’re cooking, they each know their role, and the atmosphere is great.” Francis finished his words and got up to wash the dishes.
Finnian ignored Sophia, also taking the plate in one hand to wash it.
Even though his hand was still injured, he didn’t act overly dramatic about it.
“Oh my God, what is wrong with all of you? Have you all been brainwashed by Odalys? What did she give you to turn you against me? What did I do wrong?” Sophia stood there helplessly, feeling completely lost.
She couldn’t understand, and she had no idea how to make sense of it.
“You all side with her. I can handle being alone,” Sophia said, turning and running out the door.
Francis watched her disappear into the distance, but didn’t follow. Finnian didn’t pay any attention to Sophia, simply watching her figure disappear from their sight.
It wasn’t long before Atlas returned. Covered in mud and looking disheveled, he hadn’t brought back anything.
When Atlas noticed that Sophia was missing, he seemed somewhat surprised.
“Where is Sophia?” Atlas asked, not seeing her.
Francis, who had been sipping on a glass of water, took a moment before looking up at the sky. He noticed that the stars were particularly striking as night fell.
“Sophia? She just ran out,” Francis replied indifferently. Atlas immediately flared up with anger. He stared at Francis in disbelief, then shot a look at Finnian before speaking. “How could you just let her go out alone now that it’s dark? You didn’t even follow her?”
“What if something happens to her? Can you two take responsibility for that?” Atlas asked, his voice laced with accusation.
His two questions left both of them silent.
Francis, being an international model with years of experience abroad, was used to being straightforward. He didn’t hesitate to snap back at Atlas, showing no consideration for his feelings.
“She’s not a child. She ran out, and I’m supposed to follow her? Am I her father?” Francis said coldly. “Besides, if someone her age can get into trouble here, then it’s on her. “Since you’re so worried about her, why don’t you go look for her yourself? Carry her around if you’re so concerned, and don’t come blaming us if something happens.”
Francis took a step forward. He was much taller than Atlas, and under that pressure, Atlas shrank back.
“We’re all on the same team. Why make a big deal out of it?” Atlas muttered, turning and walking away in frustration.
Finnian stood there, his expression thoughtful.
“She’s been gone for a while now. Where could she have gone?” Finnian asked, curious.
The cameraman, who had been following them, seemed equally interested. “Why don’t we go check it out?” he suggested, noticing Francis and Finnian exchanged a glance.
Both seemed intrigued, and they immediately turned to leave, with the cameraman following closely behind.
[Right, where could Sophia be so late?]
[Typical princess behavior. Coming to a variety show, acting all high and mighty, as if anyone’s supposed to pamper her.]
[Used to think Atlas was okay, but now I see the Bennett family is full of troublemakers. Who does he think he is, questioning them so rudely?]
[Wait… Earlier, Sophia was walking to her room with her underwear, and then she came out with red eyes. Is there something else going on?]
[Underwear? Hey, don’t tell me. Is that what I think it is?]
The online comments quickly started piling up, with people more interested in the gossip than anything else.
The camera shook a few times as the cameraman followed behind Francis and Finnian, heading outside.
In the distance, they saw members of Group B strolling through the village, laughing and chatting.
[Oh, I want to know what they’re talking about.]
[Switch to Group B! I want to hear what they’re saying!]
The viewers rushed to Group B’s livestream, and suddenly, the camera switched to the group. Odalys, with a sly grin, reached over and pulled Freya into a tight embrace, wrapping her arm around Freya’s slender waist.
“Ah!” Freya jumped in surprise.
Before she could react, Odalys lifted her off the ground, holding her high in the air.
Chapter 137
Freya quickly wrapped her arms around Odalys’ neck and let out a startled scream. “Ah, Odalys, you can actually lift me up?”
“Quit talking. See if you can grab it,” Odalys said with a soft laugh.
Freya smiled, looked up for a moment, then raised her hand and, sure enough, grabbed a fruit. She quickly plucked it from the tree.
“Huh, it’s a yellow fruit,” Freya said with excitement.
Odalys released her grip, letting Freya back down.
Looking at the fruit Freya handed her, Odalys quietly said, ” This is a plum.”
“Wait, but plums are supposed to be purple, right? And the skin is thinner, not like this,” Freya quickly replied, shaking her head.
Selah and Stellan also walked over. They both stared at the fruit in Freya’s hand for a moment before speaking.
“It looks different from the plums we usually see,” Stellan murmured.
Odalys explained, “The plums you buy at the fruit store are the common purple ones. This one is a different variety, native to our area.
“This yellow plum is quite rare nowadays. The skin can even be pickled, and if you ever get a fishbone stuck in your throat, you can hold this in your mouth, and it will soften the bone.
“It’s an old remedy. When I lived with my master, there were a lot of these around. When I was younger, if a fishbone got stuck while eating, he would have me hold one of these, and it would help soften the bone so I could swallow it down.”
“Take a look inside,” Odalys continued, cracking the plum open.
Everyone peered inside, and sure enough, the flesh was just like a plum.
“Here, have a bite. But don’t bite down with your teeth. Otherwise, your teeth will turn yellow, and it’ll take a few days to go back to normal. But the taste is really sweet, even sweeter than the regular plums,” Odalys said. They each took a bite, and the taste was indeed delicious. Then, Odalys held one of the plums up to the camera and said, “Remember it. This kind of plum has a higher
nutritional value. Wait here. I’m going to climb up and grab a few more to show you.”
“But this kind of plum tree might have snakes on it, so it could be dangerous. Stay back.” Odalys warned.
“Spread out. I’ll go up by myself,” she added.
At the mention of snakes, Stellan, looking concerned, asked, “What about you if there’s a snake?”
“Snakes are afraid of me,” Odalys replied confidently.
The image of her slaying snakes earlier flashed in everyone’s minds, and they instantly stopped worrying. Now they were more concerned about the snake attacking them. Without a second thought, they stepped aside. Odalys turned, nimbly jumping up the tree. In no time, the tree shook, and several plums dropped down. This type of tree was usually wild.
“Got it!” Freya ran forward to pick them up.
Selah and Stellan also rushed to help, and they gathered a total of twelve plums. Seeing this, Odalys immediately grabbed a few leaves from the tree and jumped down.
At that moment, a snake suddenly flew down from above. Before anyone could react, Odalys swiftly caught the snake in her hand.
By the time they realized what had happened, she had tossed the snake away, and it vanished into the woods.
Odalys turned to the camera, explaining, “Did you see that? That snake was poisonous. You should keep your distance if you see one like it.
“These are the leaves from the yellow plum tree. And this fruit is a plum, too. You can even use the skin of this plum. It’s considered a medicinal material.”
[Whoa, I’ve seen these before. When I used to visit my grandmother’s house, I ate these. But after she passed, I never saw them again.]
[So this yellow plum is even tastier and more valuable.]
[The skin actually has this kind of use? Where can I buy some?]
[Odalys is really reliable. Even when she’s out for a walk, she’s teaching us something new. This is what a variety show should be about!]
The viewers in the live stream immediately took screenshots, and some even searched online, confirming that Odalys was telling the truth. Many had never seen yellow plums before.
Several users from rural areas quickly posted pictures, saying that the type of plum Odalys mentioned grew in the woods near their villages. They also noted that these trees were often surrounded by snakes. Some sellers commented that they did have this kind of fruit, but few people knew about it, and not many were selling it.
Instantly, a flood of viewers asked for prices, discovering that the yellow plums were cheaper than the usual plums. They immediately began placing orders in bulk, eager to try the fruit for themselves. The yellow plum quickly trended on the internet.
While Odalys might have seemed unassuming, just a few words from her had brought this forgotten fruit back into the spotlight. They were all completely unaware of the online frenzy.
Odalys handed the plums to the cameraman and a few of the other crew members standing behind her.
“Here, make sure you grab a couple for Kenny later,” Odalys said quietly.
The staff were excited to receive the plums, surprised that they had been included. They held them in their hands but were reluctant to eat them just yet.
Odalys, Selah, Freya, Stellan, and the others each grabbed one and began walking forward, enjoying the peaceful village night.
“Huh, that figure looks so familiar.” Selah suddenly pointed ahead.
Everyone followed her gaze and saw a figure standing in the yard. Freya froze, instantly recognizing the person. Sophia?”
‘What is Sophia doing outside at this time of night?’ Freya wondered.
“Is that Sophia? What is she doing… in a man’s yard?” Freya was shocked.
In the past, Freya had thought Sophia was quite proud and aloof. Freya never imagined Sophia would be hanging around a stranger’s house at night.
Without thinking, they all began to move toward the yard, quietly approaching as if they were trying to catch a glimpse of some gossip.
It was rare that they all moved in sync. Inside the yard, Sophia hadn’t noticed them approaching.
She stood there, staring at Rafael, who had taken advantage of her before. She stepped forward, clearly intending to confront him about whether he had been sneaking around and touching her underclothes in the middle of the night.
As she got closer, she saw him eating.
“Huh, you’re here?” Rafael said, sipping from a bottle of alcohol.
Noticing someone, he quickly set his fork down and walked over. As he neared, he found it was that tall and beautiful woman.
He couldn’t help but swallow. The other day, when he had been standing so close to her, he smelled her fragrance, and it had been intoxicating.
Stars were always more beautiful than ordinary women.
They seemed to carry a natural fragrance like they were born with it. Rafael had touched her body that day, and the scent was still lingering on his hand.
“Where were you… Last night…” she began to question him.
Before she could finish her sentence, Rafael stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and began to pull her inside. 曲
Chapter 138
Sophia struggled a few times, but she was still dragged in by force.
“Let go of me.” Sophia was terrified.
His lecherous gaze sent a shiver down her spine. She was caught off guard.
In the past, she would have just sent her bodyguards to chase off any creepy men. She never paid attention to these sleazy people.
Whenever Sophia felt upset or heartbroken, a couple of tears would fall, and someone would take care of everything for her. But now, she was genuinely scared. Whether she struggled or cried, it was useless against Rafael.
“You came here tonight to seduce me, right? Those things I gave you the other day weren’t free,” Rafael spat, getting angrier by the second. He spoke as he tightened his grip. Sophia’s eyes burned with regret. ‘Why have I rushed here to confront him?’ she wondered.
Sophia had forgotten that he wasn’t like Odalys, someone whom she could bully as she wished. He wasn’t from the Bennett family, someone who would soothe her when she cried. He wasn’t a powerful person concerned with reputation either.
Rafael was just a bachelor who couldn’t get a wife, with nothing to his name. All he wanted was a woman.
Sophia shouted, “I told you that I was just borrowing it! I’ll give it back! Let go of me! Do you know who I am? If you mess with me, my brother will kill you.”
“Ah!” Before she could finish, the man slammed her against the door. He grabbed her waist and leaned down, inhaling the scent of her neck, muttering, “Damn, you smell so good.” Before he could finish his sentence, Sophia slapped him hard across the face. Rafael was momentarily stunned, and then he tilted her chin up and locked eyes with her, narrowing his gaze. Sophia was terrified and trembling.
“What… What do you want? Let go of me!” Sophia kept struggling.
Rafael suddenly lifted her, throwing her into his arms, and started walking toward the room.
Sophia was shocked. She could smell his sour body odor, and the nausea hit her like a wave. She froze, still struggling, as fear washed over her.
At that moment, Sophia turned her head and saw Odalys and a group of staff members standing outside, watching her.
Her pupils shrank in disbelief. She couldn’t believe they were watching her from the outside.
‘Are they watching me make a fool of myself? Or did Odalys bring these people on purpose? Is she trying to ruin me?’ Sophia thought, shocked by how malicious Odalys was.
“What’s going on here?” At that moment, the director Kenny shouted.
Rafael was caught off guard, and he turned to face the group. Seeing them crowding into his yard, he sneered.” What do you think? Making babies.”
Everyone gasped.
[What’s going on here? Sophia’s at a bachelor’s house at night, and they seem to be entangled. Is there something going on between them? It sure looks like they’re flirting.] [Oh my god, the man even touched her. She seemed to refuse, but it almost looks like she’s playing hard to get.] [She walked right into this. What’s there to explain?]
It was boring at night. Many viewers, who had been about to turn off the livestream, were now glued to their screens. The fans were in shock.
The camera clearly captured the struggle between Sophia and Rafael, showing their seemingly flirtatious interactions. [Could this be staged?]
[That man looks like a sleazy bachelor, though. Do you really want this kind of script? And he’s definitely a local. He’s old and ugly.]
Sophia’s fans quickly began arguing with others. Some even replayed the footage, confirming that this was definitely real.
Some viewers speculated about why Sophia had shown up so late, wondering what she really intended with Rafael.
‘Could it be she’s tired of handsome guys and wants to have an affair with an old bachelor?’ they thought.
“This is a celebrity from our production team. Please let go of her,” Kenny stepped forward and said, trying to intervene. The cameraman stood there, his hands shaking with excitement, as he zoomed in, making sure everyone saw the confrontation clearly. After all, this was a livestream, and it was all about the real deal.
“What production team? I don’t know anything about that. All I know is that she came over to my place at night, and she must be lonely. I just want to fuck her.” Rafael sneered, his face dark as he spoke.
He kept a firm grip on Sophia’s wrist, and no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t escape his strong hold. Rafael was used to rough work and had a lot of strength. “Sophia, what about you? Are you here voluntarily?” Kenny asked, turning the conversation away from Rafael and toward Sophia.
In truth, he was pretty angry. If a celebrity from the production team got into trouble, he would definitely be held responsible.
Usually, celebrities didn’t leave the production team easily. Even if they did, they would go in groups, just like how Group B always went out together for a walk.
But Sophia had ditched everyone and come to Rafael’s house alone. If Sophia said nothing was going on between them, even Kenny wouldn’t believe her.
“No, I’m not!” Sophia said, her voice panicked as she looked at Kenny. “Save me… He’s trying to take advantage of me.”
As she spoke, she kept slapping at Rafael’s hand, but her strikes were weak, barely like scratching an itch, and Rafael didn’t even take her seriously.
“Then why were you in his yard so late? We saw you push the door open when we passed by,” Kenny asked, his face darkening.
Kenny’s opinion of Sophia was quickly changing for the worse. The image of her as a sweet, innocent girl was shattered in his mind.
In the entertainment industry, many people had a façade, and Kenny was used to it, but he had never seen anyone so fake as Sophia.
Sophia’s mind exploded in shock. The fact that Kenny had seen her push the door open meant they had filmed everything. She trembled uncontrollably.
Then, in a fit of rage, Sophia turned her head and glared at Odalys.
“Odalys, did you purposely have someone follow me? You’re trying to trap me with the cameras, aren’t you? You can’t stand seeing me do well, can you?” Sophia gritted her teeth and shouted, her voice laced with anger.
Her words left everyone stunned. Even the viewers and fans watching the livestream were caught off guard and stared at the screen in confusion.
[What does she mean? Didn’t Odalys and the others go out for a walk before Sophia?]
[Could Odalys be trying to frame her? Maybe Odalys brought her here?]
[They’re adults. If Sophia didn’t want to, could Odalys really force her to come in?]
Everyone watched the live stream, tense, eager to figure out what was really happening.
Odalys, who had been directly called out by Sophia, let out a soft laugh. She took a step forward, her hands casually clasped behind her back, standing with an air of calm. authority. She gave Sophia a brief, cold glance before her lips curved into a faint smile.
That expression caused Sophia’s heart to skip a beat.
Sophia realized Odalys was about to fire back at her. She panicked and tried to stop Odalys, but it was already too late.
Odalys looked at her with a puzzled expression, her voice steady as she spoke one word at a time. “I’m framing you? Are you saying I made you come here to find Rafael in the middle of the night?
“Then I told you to push open the door and walk in? Did I tell him to drag you inside? Did I tell him to pin you against the door? Did I tell him to hold you? Or did I tell him to behave like a creep with you?”
Chapter 139
Odalys made light of every word but continuously pointed out the scene that had just unfolded.
“Yes, it was you who invited me here. You asked me to come to find you.” Sophia seemed to latch onto the key point.
She immediately shifted the blame onto Odalys, trying to make it seem like the whole thing had been a misunderstanding. Even if something went wrong, it would be Odalys’ fault.
But Odalys ignored Sophia and instead turned to look at Rafael.
“Do you know her?” Odalys asked in a low voice.
Rafael straightened up as soon as he saw Sophia’s attention turn to him. “Of course. When you all first arrived in the village, she came to borrow the food from me.”
Odalys listened intently, letting out a quiet laugh as she asked, “So, she came to you again just now, to borrow food again?”
Rafael paused, quickly shaking his head. “No, she said she’d return what she borrowed last time. Now that she’s here, she must return something to me.
“But she didn’t bring anything. She’s probably eyeing the food at my place. Since I don’t have a wife, and she came here on her own, I guess I’ll just let her be my wife,” Rafael said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Sophia’s face turned pale at his words.
Her lips moved, and she could hardly believe what she was hearing.
‘He actually wants me to be his wife? I couldn’t care less about the rich guys who’ve been chasing me, but he wants me as his wife? How dare he? Dream on!’ Sophia thought to herself.
“So, you’re saying she borrowed the food from you and didn’t return it. And now, tonight, she came over to… sleep with you as repayment?” Odalys seized on the key point, asking in a low voice.
Rafael nodded, confirming her question. “Yeah, more or less.”
“Then, do you know who I am?” Odalys asked again.
Rafael was confused. He glanced at Odalys and said, “Who are you? I’ve never seen you before.”
“Exactly. You don’t know me, and I’ve never seen you. So why did she just say that I framed her and tricked her into coming here to find you? That’s strange, right? So, who’s lying here?” Odalys continued, posing the question.
Odalys wasn’t defending herself. She let Rafael clear things up for her.
Rafael, though a little sleazy, wouldn’t just throw people under the bus unless someone provoked him. That was why Odalys dared to let him speak.
Rafael was furious, feeling like Sophia had embarrassed him. “Damn it, you dirty woman, are you trying to set me up?
“You came to me that day asking for food, and today, you came to return it, but didn’t bring anything. You showed up empty-handed. You’re trying to sell yourself to me to pay off your debt, and now you want to frame her?”
Sophia was stunned. She hadn’t expected Rafael to reveal that she had borrowed food from him. It seemed she’d forgotten that the internet never forgot.
Everything was being broadcast, but Sophia instinctively pushed the blame onto Odalys.
“Did she borrow food from him?” Kenny rubbed his head, asking as if he didn’t already know the answer.
Although he asked, Kenny was fully aware of what was going on. As the director, he was privy to everything happening here, but he knew that asking these questions would keep the audience intrigued.
“Yes. Yesterday, the members of Group A didn’t go out to find food. She came here to knock on his door and borrow some,” a staff member immediately reported.
Sophia felt like she could disappear right there. Sophia had only tried to drag Odalys down with her, but now the crew had stepped in to clear Odalys’ name.
‘No, I can’t let this happen. This is too good an opportunity to let Odalys off the hook, Sophia thought to herself.
“But today, it was Odalys who told me to come here.” Sophia gritted her teeth, stubbornly sticking to her story. At that moment, Freya had had enough. She stepped forward and kicked Sophia in the back. “Enough of this! We have kept our distance from you all this time. Who’s had contact with you? Odalys has been with us the whole time. She’s never been alone with you!
“Besides, our cameraman has been following us the whole time. We were just out for a walk when we happened to see you sneaking around at night.
“Now that you can’t get away with your little affair, you’re embarrassed and trying to drag us into it? If you’re so lonely and want to sleep with him, just admit it. Why pin it on us?”
Freya spoke plainly, and everyone looked at Sophia with a sense of schadenfreude.
Selah also stepped forward. “Yeah, we came out for a walk to show the viewers the village at night, and to see if anything was interesting around here. Didn’t expect the most interesting thing to be you.
“At night, you sneak over to knock on his door by yourself, without bringing anyone else. What else could this be but an affair?”
Selah had already severed ties with the company, so she wasn’t afraid of Sophia anymore. She had nothing to lose and was fearless. The worst outcome would be simply not being a celebrity anymore.
“You…” Sophia stood there, dumbfounded. She didn’t expect Freya and Selah to stand up for Odalys and speak out on her behalf.
The friendships in the entertainment industry were all fake.
Stars always looked out for themselves when problems arose. Almost no one would speak up for someone they didn’t know well. ‘Are they out of their minds?’ Sophia thought to herself.
Stellan spoke meaningfully. “That’s right. I can also confirm that Odalys hasn’t had any contact with Sophia. In fact, it’s Sophia who has been repeatedly showing up in front of us. “Either she’s trying to mooch off us, or she’s looking to steal our hard work. Tonight, she’s out alone, meeting with some man. It looks like Ms. Bennett is just lonely and wants everything.”
His words made it clear to everyone.
Sophia stood frozen, staring at Stellan, shocked. Sophia didn’t expect Stellan, who was usually cold and distant, to step in for Odalys, throwing her under the bus.
“You…” Sophia’s voice trembled, barely able to speak.
‘What did I do wrong? Why are they all ganging up on me like this?’ Sophia thought to herself.
“Before you try to slander someone else, you’d better make sure your own hands are clean. Are you still sure I tricked you into coming here?” Odalys asked in a low voice. Her tone was calm, but there was a subtle threat behind it.
Sophia froze in panic. The image of that day in the hospital flashed in her mind. Odalys had used some method, almost as if she had cursed Sophia, to make Sophia speak her innermost thoughts.
Sophia quickly took a step back, flustered, not daring to meet Odalys’ eyes. Her gaze kept flickering.
Odalys’ voice grew cold. “Are you guilty or scared now? Sophia, you’re used to framing others. That instinct to throw dirt at people without thinking… You’d better change that habit.
“Otherwise, it will eventually come back to bite you. Do you still dare to insist that it’s me who did this? If you do, then let’s settle this in front of everyone.
“We’ll let everyone know exactly what kind of person you are behind the scenes, and how many times you’ve framed me in the past.”
Sophia gasped in shock, her face pale with fear. She had done so many bad things over the years that she had completely forgotten how many times she had tried to harm Odalys.
The more wrong Sophia had done, the less she could face the truth.
“If you don’t apologize, I’ll have to ask. For example, on the night I first returned to Crownridge, seven months ago…” Odalys said quietly.
At those words, Sophia’s face turned pale, and she immediately shouted. “Shut up!”
Chapter 140
The atmosphere in the room suddenly went quiet. Everyone loved good gossip, and it was clear from Sophia’s flustered expression that she had a lot to hide.
Meanwhile, Odalys stood calmly, radiating confidence. At that moment, it was obvious who was lying, and no further explanation was needed.
“I haven’t said anything yet. Why are you in such a rush?” Odalys sneered.
Sophia gritted her teeth, glaring at Odalys, her fury practically burning through her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to kill Odalys.
‘Once I get back, I’ll have my brothers deal with Odalys. I won’t let her get away with this, Sophia thought, her mind racing with revenge.
“Did you all see that? Sophia is guilty! She’s done too many shady things, and trapping people is second nature for her. As for what she did to me tonight, should I sue her?” Odalys turned her head and addressed the camera.
[Ah, Odalys is looking at the camera. Quick, look at me!]
[So cool! Odalys just shut Sophia down with a few words. Go ahead, and punish her!]
[Wow, Sophia’s guilty? Looks like Odalys has some dirt on her.]
[I’m curious. What did Sophia do when Odalys returned seven months ago? Someone, get the scoop, fast! I need all the gossip!]
The viewers in the livestream got excited instantly.
The gossip-filled atmosphere was enough to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. They stared at the screen, eyes wide as they saw that Sophia’s wrist was still in Rafael’s grip, their bodies nearly pressed against each other.
“I’ll give you all a little hint. How about that?” Odalys said with a smile.
The cameraman, clearly excited, moved the camera in closer, making it easier to hear Odalys’ voice.
“For example, one time, in the women’s restroom on set…” Odalys started, but before she could finish, Sophia yanked her arm out of Rafael’s hold and stormed toward her in a fit of rage.
“Odalys, you bitch, shut your mouth!” Sophia shouted, furious.
Odalys swiftly turned and slapped Sophia across the face. Sophia was stunned by the slap, unable to believe what had just happened. She turned her head slowly, the sting on her face making it hard for her to process. She looked up at Odalys in shock.
“You slapped me? How dare you slap me?” Sophia’s voice trembled.
Having been pampered by the Bennett family for so long, no one had ever dared speak to Sophia so harshly, let alone hit her.
But ever since Odalys joined the variety show, she had been constantly tormenting Sophia, trying to ruin her reputation. Sophia couldn’t take this humiliation.
Odalys spoke coldly. “Why shouldn’t I slap you? You’ve been trying to trap me for no reason. You’ve been spreading lies about me. Why can’t I hit you? With so many people here as witnesses, even if I slap you, it’s on you.”
To Odalys, entering the entertainment industry wasn’t a must, so her public image and reputation didn’t matter much to her. All she cared about was her own satisfaction. Anything else, she simply didn’t care.
“You…” Sophia’s eyes met Odalys’ cold ones, and instinctively, she took a half-step back.
Sophia thought back to the scene earlier that afternoon when Odalys grabbed her by the throat, a wave of panic washed over her.”
Sophia knew Odalys was insane. When she went crazy, she didn’t care about anything..
“Odalys, what are you planning to do?” At that moment, Atlas charged forward.
Group A had noticed the noise and realized Sophia was missing. They rushed over to this area, and as they arrived at the courtyard, they immediately sensed something was wrong. They all knew Rafael lived here.
They hadn’t expected to walk in on a confrontation between Odalys and Sophia. They were even more shocked to see Odalys slap Sophia and verbally attack her afterward.
Atlas’ anger flared, and he rushed forward, standing in front of Sophia. He glared at Odalys, his voice dripping with fury. “Isn’t this enough of a scene for you?
“You’ve become just like a shrew, hitting people whenever you feel like it. You went after Group A this afternoon and even hurt Finnian’s hand.”
“Have we ever said anything bad about you? Look at you, taking advantage of us not being around, ganging up on Sophia like this. Aren’t you guilty?” Atlas was absolutely furious.
Seeing Sophia getting bullied had Atlas worried beyond belief. All the coldness he had felt toward Sophia earlier completely vanished.
Odalys spoke coldly, “When I hit you guys, you didn’t say a word. Isn’t that because you feel guilty? You’ve done bad things, and now you don’t want me to say anything. Atlas, do you really think you’re that impressive?
“This time, you and Sophia have been messing with me over and over, trying to get me alone so you could snatch the emerald pendant from me, haven’t you?”
Atlas was stunned. He couldn’t believe Odalys knew about this.
It was supposed to be a secret, just between the two of them. They had planned everything to provoke Odalys, get her to go out alone, and then they would make their move.
“You… What nonsense are you talking about?” Atlas was shaken, his voice unsteady.
Odalys stood before him, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. She leaned in slightly and said softly,” Looks like I guessed wrong. Since you don’t want it, then…”
She pulled out the emerald pendant and, with a swift motion, tossed it in the air.
“Odalys, are you insane? Give it back to me!” Atlas’s panic was clear. He lunged forward, but Stellan stepped in and grabbed him, holding him back from getting any closer to Odalys.
The emerald pendant dangled in Odalys’ hand, swaying back and forth as she toyed with it between her fingers.” Yes or no? If you say no, then I’ll just destroy it.”
Atlas stood still, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Henry and Hannah had warned him that without the emerald pendant, Hannah might die, and the Bennett family would fall apart. This pendant was the key to the family’s survival.
Atlas clenched his fist, his throat dry as he struggled to control his emotions. “Give me the emerald pendant.” He forced the words out, his hand shaking as he reached for it.
Odalys glanced at him with a cold smile. “You’re just going to reach out and take my stuff like that? Seems like the Bennett family really has no shame.”
“You think you can just trap me for no reason, and now you want to take my thing, without so much as a please? How convenient,” she mocked. Odalys slid the emerald pendant back into her pocket and turned to leave.
Atlas watched helplessly as the pendant swayed in front of him for a few seconds before it disappeared into her pocket.
He struggled to move forward, grinding his teeth, his voice full of frustration. “What do I have to do for you to give it back to me?”
Odalys turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze with a penetrating look.
“Give it back?” she repeated coldly. “This emerald pendant was a gift from my master. The Bennett family wants to take what’s already mine. Do you know that people would pay millions of dollars for this?
“But here you are, trying to snatch it away from me. You guys really think you can just take whatever you want from me?”
Atlas felt his discomfort growing. His fists were clenched tightly, his jaw clenched in silent frustration as he looked at Odalys.
“We’re all family here. Why do you have to be so cold and distant?” he snapped.
Odalys raised an eyebrow, pointing at herself and then at him. “Family? My last name is Stone, yours is Bennett. How could we ever be family?”
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