Chapter 142

Sophia’s voice trembled with emotion, growing shakier and more sorrowful. “Odalys, in front of everyone, made them think I spent the night with Rafael! She wants to ruin me. If she really wanted me dead, she could have just said it. Why does she have to destroy my reputation like this? Now, the whole internet probably knows. Forget about marrying into a rich family; I doubt any man would want me now.”

Atlas spoke softly but firmly, his voice filled with sympathy. “Silly girl. She’s just jealous of you. Don’t let her get to you. When I get the chance, I’ll make sure she pays for this.” He gently pulled her into his arms.

Sophia nestled against his chest, her fingers tracing gentle circles on his shirt as she sighed softly. “Atlas, you’re the best.”

But Atlas, still puzzled, asked, “Why did you go to Rafael’s house tonight?” He knew Sophia had high standards and would never be interested in Rafael. He couldn’t believe she would spend the night with him, especially alone.

Sophia hesitated, unsure how to respond. She turned toward the room, then, noticing Atlas hadn’t followed, quickly tugged him inside. Once inside, she grabbed her underwear and handed it to him.

Atlas froze, instinctively stepping back, his face flushing, his heart racing, his eyes avoiding hers. His throat dry, he asked, strained, “Why… why are you giving me this?”

Sophia smiled, stepping closer. She pushed the underwear into his hands and whispered, “Atlas, take a look at this.”

“Huh?” Atlas was caught off guard.

He looked down at the underwear, then unfolded it. His eyes narrowed as he noticed strange marks—marks that weren’t there before.

Sophia lowered her voice. “Someone tampered with my underwear. There are fingerprints and other scents on it. I think Odalys, using her excuse to go out, must have gone to see Rafael. Yesterday, when I came over, Rafael made advances toward me. Odalys must have been jealous and sent him after me, hoping to take advantage of me. But since he couldn’t get to me directly, he messed with my clothes while we were sleeping. I went to confront him, but as soon as I arrived, Odalys brought people with her. Isn’t that a bit too much of a coincidence?”

Chapter 142 (continued)

Sophia’s voice was laced with intrigue.

“Are you sure it was Odalys?” Atlas asked, his tone full of anger, though his mind was slightly uneasy. Something about Odalys seemed different today. It was hard to shake the feeling that she wasn’t lying. Odalys had hit Atlas several times; he wasn’t sure how much more he could handle. If it continued, he might not even make it through the variety show filming alive.

“Who else could have such strong animosity toward me? I forced her into marriage with a dying man. She’s bitter, and now she wants to take me down before she dies,” Sophia said through clenched teeth.

Atlas fell silent, gripping the underwear tightly, his anger seething beneath the surface. “Alright,” he finally said, his voice low but determined. “I’ll find a way to get you an explanation.” With that, Atlas stormed out of the room.

However, they were taken by surprise. The hidden camera, which only turned off when they were sleeping or changing, was still running. The live stream had caught everything.

The viewers, many of whom were Sophia’s fans, were shocked. Some had already stopped following her, while others still believed in her.

[What does it mean that she handed Atlas her underwear? What is she trying to say with this?] [Why do I feel like she’s been trying to hook Atlas in? Those two definitely seem to have something going on.] [What does she mean by forcing her to marry a dying man? Odalys is married to a man who’s about to die? What a huge secret!] [Did I misunderstand? Was Sophia originally supposed to get married, but the man was dying, so she forced Odalys to marry him instead!] [This is getting intense. Odalys marrying for Sophia? Does that even line up with the law? If Odalys really was forced to get married, then Sophia deserves everything that’s coming to her. She is such a bitch.]

At first, the live stream didn’t have many viewers, and most of the people who didn’t like Sophia were about to log off. But unexpectedly, they were drawn back in by this explosive topic.

Chapter 142 (continued)

Some even started searching frantically to find out who this dying person was, the one Odalys married. In an instant, the entire Crownridge was buzzing. The media and paparazzi immediately sprang into action, determined to get the latest gossip—eager to find out if Odalys was really married and who she had married in place of Sophia.

Meanwhile, Odalys had no idea that Sophia had just exposed her marriage on the live stream.

After leaving Rafael’s house, Odalys walked outside, taking a small detour. She stopped near a yard where the lights flickered. The night breeze blew through, causing the light to sway. In the yard, an old man named Brandon sat in a rocking chair, wearing a suit, gently fanning himself with a hand fan, softly humming a tune.

“Wow, this house is pretty unique,” Freya said, surprised. Freya stepped forward, peering into the yard. She noticed Brandon sitting and humming. Rubbing her hands together nervously, she politely knocked on the door and asked, “Hello, may I come in and take a look around your yard?”

As soon as Freya spoke, Brandon’s song abruptly stopped.

Selah, more timid, tugged at Odalys’s sleeve. “Odalys, aren’t you scared of being out here this late?”

Odalys glanced at Selah, who was shying away, and quickly pulled her forward. “What’s there to be scared of? We’re just here to learn about the local culture, right?” she said with a smile.

Just as Odalys finished speaking, Brandon suddenly opened his eyes. The emaciated figure sat up from the rocking chair. His sharp eyes cut through the darkness and fixed on Odalys. He slowly stood up. “Guests? Then come on in,” Brandon’s voice was hoarse and ancient.

Freya, startled, watched Brandon turn and walk toward the house. She quickly looked back at Odalys and nodded, signaling that she was going in first. Freya entered the house. Stellan and the others followed closely behind.

“This village hasn’t had visitors in ages. We don’t usually see outsiders,” Brandon said, pulling a few small chairs. He handed the chairs to Odalys and the others, and they sat down.

Brandon continued fanning himself. Though scrawny, his movements were swift, suggesting that his health was still in decent shape.

“Really?” Freya asked, her curiosity piqued. “This house looks so old. Was it passed down through your family?” There were very few houses like this left these days. It looked carefully arranged, and Freya felt like there was a deep history behind it.

“This house has been here for several hundred years,” Brandon replied slowly.

Odalys remained silent, her gaze sweeping across the yard. She noticed that the clothes that had been hanging earlier were now gone.

Chapter 112 (This seems out of order, needs context or should be removed unless it's a flashback.)