Chapter 10

Atlas protectively held Sophia, his sharp ears picking up the heated conversation between his older brothers. Without hesitation, he intervened.

“Are you serious, Henry?” Adas snapped, his voice filled with irritation. “She’s just acting out. A good smack will fix that attitude. And who gives a damn if that chauffeur works for the Stewarts? She just married in. You think they’re going to throw their weight behind her?”

“And let’s be real,” he continued, his anger bubbling over, “that guy is on his last legs. When he’s gone, who’s going to care about her? Bringing her back here was already a huge favor, and this is how she thanks us? Disrespecting Mom and Sophia? Unbelievable.”

His fists clenched as Odalys’s defiant stare flashed in his mind. That look in her eyes—so unwavering, so sharp—sent a chill down his spine. She used to hang on his every word, always so pliable, but now she had the gall to fight back and humiliate him in front of everyone.

Henry Bennet, calm and composed as always, intervened before Atlas could rant further. “Enough, Atlas. Even if we’re going to deal with her, today is not the day. If that chauffeur spreads word of what happened, we’ll be the ones in trouble, not her. Even if the Stewarts don’t retaliate, this could have repercussions.”

His tone was measured, his words heavy with logic. As the heir to the Bennett Group, Henry had learned to think strategically. He didn’t act on impulse; he calculated every move.

“But, Henry,” Sophia’s soft voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes. She crouched down to pick up Henry’s broken glasses, but her fingers brushed against a shard of glass.

“Ow!” she gasped, quickly pulling her hand back. Blood welled up on her delicate fingertip.

Her tearful gaze turned to her brothers, her lip quivering. “This is all my fault,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “If only I’d married into the Stewart family instead, none of this would have happened. She can hate me all she wants, but why does she have to hurt you and Mom?”

Her voice grew softer, her tears falling steadily as she stared helplessly at the blood on her finger, her pale face tinged with vulnerability.

“Don’t cry, Sophia. This has nothing to do with you; it’s all Odalys’s fault,” Atlas murmured, his tone surprisingly soft as he moved closer to her.

“Quick, grab a bandage!” another voice chimed in, as the brothers fussed over her.

Meanwhile, Hannah sat frozen on the sofa, staring blankly at the door where Odalys had stormed out. She looked like a shell of herself, her gaze empty and unfocused. The memory of Odalys ripping the emerald pendant from her neck replayed in her mind like a broken record. Without it, Hannah felt a cold emptiness creeping through her, leaving her drained and despondent.

“Mom, are you okay?” Henry’s sharp eyes caught her pale face, and he walked over quickly, worry etched across his brow.

Hannah blinked, finally tearing her gaze from the door. “She hates us now, doesn’t she?” she murmured. “She even took the wedding gifts with her. What if she refuses to help us? What if she won’t use her position in the Stewart family to bring us resources?”

Henry frowned deeply; her words tugged at the edges of his already growing headache. Earlier that day, during what should have been a routine business negotiation, everything had fallen apart. A single phone call to the other party had turned the deal on its head. Henry couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was targeting the Bennett Group, pulling strings to cut them off.

Over the years, the Bennetts had made plenty of enemies, but no one had ever moved so openly against them—until now.

“We can’t let her keep the gifts,” Atlas said, his anger flaring up again. “Three hundred million dollars’ worth of assets, and she thinks she can just walk away with it! Odalys doesn’t deserve any of it! Those gifts were meant for Sophia.”

Caspian, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice cold and razor-sharp. “Didn’t Henry already secure her that spot on the reality show? Once she’s on that island, Atlas, you know what to do.”

His words hung in the air like a dark cloud, heavy with implications. No one protested. Their silence spoke volumes—it was as good as an agreement.

Sophia lowered her gaze, hiding the faint, cruel smile that tugged at her lips. Everything was playing out exactly as she’d planned. The chaos she’d orchestrated was moving forward, one step at a time.

Meanwhile, on the winding asphalt road leading to the Stewart estate, a sleek black car cruised under the shade of ancient trees. Their thick, sprawling branches seemed to whisper secrets of a bygone era.

2:43 PM

Chapter 10

At the end of the road stood the Stewart family’s timeless courtyard, elegant in its design. Outside, willow branches swayed gently in the breeze, casting long shadows over a bubbling brook that wound its way under arched stone bridges. The moment the car door swung open, a servant immediately bowed low with a respectful tone.

Odalys nodded lightly, her steps graceful as she entered the courtyard. Every servant she passed greeted her with genuine deference, a stark contrast to the haughty attitude she’d been subjected to at the Bennett family home. She made her way across the courtyard quickly, spotting Dorian hustling about, but there was no sign of Percival.

That was when it hit her—the chauffeur’s earlier comment about “Mr. Stewart asking you to come back for dinner” was just a clever excuse to get her back here. A wave of relief washed over her. Leaving the Bennett family felt like a weight had been lifted from her chest. Her mood lightened instantly, and she felt a sense of freedom she hadn’t realized she was missing.

The Stewart mansion, located in the southern part of the city, was surrounded by fresh, clean air. As she was about to head upstairs, she heard the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps approaching behind her. She turned around quickly to see Percival, tall and imposing, walking toward her from the door. He wore a blue shirt and well-tailored trousers that showed off his broad, muscular frame. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing strong, toned arms, the veins standing out—a clear sign of someone who’d spent years working hard.

“Come here.” Percival’s voice was deep, low, and commanding. Odalys raised an eyebrow, falling into step behind him as he led her toward the back garden.

In the garden, Percival opened a suitcase and pulled out a selection of herbs, carefully placing them on a sandalwood table. “These are all rare herbs, over a hundred years old. I found half of what was on your list. The rest might take a few more days to arrive.”

Odalys stepped closer, clearly impressed. She looked over the herbs—some of the rarest, most sought-after materials she could have hoped for. She carefully picked up a piece of herb, inhaling its scent with a smile that almost seemed to glow.

“No rush,” she said, closing the suitcase and standing up. “I’m shooting a variety show tomorrow, and I probably won’t be back for a couple of weeks.”

Percival watched her closely, his gaze lingering on the way she handled the herbs. It stirred something in him, an unspoken emotion he couldn’t quite place. Her casual words broke his train of thought.

“You’re doing a variety show?” he asked, a little incredulous.

“Yeah,” Odalys replied, her voice soft. After a brief pause, she seemed to realize something, quickly adding, “But don’t worry. I’ll mix these herbs for you. Just soak them for half an hour every night, and it’ll slow down the poison for now. Once I’m back and the rest of the herbs are here, I’ll make the pills.”

She spoke clearly and confidently, without any boastfulness or showiness. It was simply her way of solving a problem. There was something about her calm assurance that made him trust her more.

“So, this variety show… did the Bennett family set it up for you?” Percival’s voice was laced with suspicion after hearing her explanation. According to Callum’s investigation, the Bennett family had been treating her like free labor—no salary, no respect. She barely had any real roles, mostly minor parts that no one cared about. If the Bennett Group was actually trying to promote her, they surely wouldn’t be treating her like this. Even an outsider could see through their scheme.

“Yeah,” Odalys chuckled dryly. “I signed an eight-month contract, and there’s only half a month left. They set up this variety show for me, so I have no choice but to go. If I bail, I’ll have to pay a penalty.”

Percival’s face hardened at her words, his eyes darkening as he processed what she said. The coldness in his gaze made her pause for a second.

“Do you want me to take care of it for you?” he asked, his voice low, almost dangerous.