Chapter 15

Cidalys turned, a flicker of confusion in her eyes, to find Dorian approaching her with a small, neatly wrapped food box. In a calm, soft voice, he said, “Mr. Mewat mentioned that you might have plans today and wouldn’t have time for breakfast, so I brought you something to take along. Thought it might come in handy on your way,” he added, offering the box with a polite nod.

Odalys didn’t expect such thoughtfulness. During her time with the Benner family, even when buried in work, no one had ever bothered to leave a meal for her. The occasional leftover was the closest she got to a proper meal. Accustomed to the no-frills living in the mountains, she wasn’t the type to care much about such gestures.

Yet, as she looked at the food box in Dorian’s hands, she froze. This was the first time anyone had ever taken the time to prepare a meal just for her. It stirred something inside her—an emotion she couldn’t quite name.

“Thank you,” she said softly, taking the box; her voice was full of gratitude.

Dorian watched as she walked away, then turned to direct the driver. Cidalys, with a polite smile, shook her head.

“You don’t have to bother,” she said. “I’ve already called a car; it’ll be here soon. I’m heading to a variety show, and taking your car would just be a hassle. Don’t want the paparazzi causing trouble.” She didn’t mind, but she saw no reason to deal with the mess if she didn’t have to. She knew the Rennen family would likely try to make a scene, maybe even set a trap for her. So, she wasn’t about to drag the Stewart family into it.

Watching her graceful figure disappear down the driveway, Dorian replied with a quick nod. She looked a little lonely carrying her bag, but there was something undeniably strong about her, something that struck him deeply. Dorian stood there for a moment, lost in thought, until Cidalys had already left in the car. He muttered to himself, “Mrs. Stewart… she’s nothing like those spoiled rich girls.”

Once in the car, her mind wandered. Her fingers absentmindedly brushed over the food box. To her surprise, it was still warm.

Curiosity piqued, she opened it and found two golden doughnuts and a few tiny, perfectly arranged side dishes; two pastries that looked like they came straight from a high-end bakery. Without hesitation, she dug in. But after finishing, she noticed something at the bottom of the box.

She opened it to find a packet of snake repellent powder and mosquito repellent. She gave them a sniff and realized they were far better quality than the stuff she’d bought from the pharmacy last night.

“Wait… did Percival have this prepared for me?” she mused, her thoughts racing. After all, only Percival knew about her trip to the island for the show. She had mentioned it casually the night before, and now, here was breakfast and extra supplies, brought by the butler.

She quickly packed the items into her bag. She had already made her own preparations, but hey, the more the better. But she also knew—whatever kindness the Stewarts were showing her, there was a catch. Percival’s life was in her hands now, and she knew exactly how that played out.

“How long to the dock?” she asked the driver in a soft, casual tone.

The driver, who had been quietly driving, quickly turned his head and answered, “About an hour and a half. We’ll definitely get there before 9:00 AM.” Odalys froze for a second when she heard his voice. She looked up and realized it was the same driver who had taken her shopping the night before. So, he wasn’t just some random guy from a ride-hailing service—he worked for the Stewart family.

Now it made sense. She remembered ordering the car just moments ago from the second floor, and the car had shown up almost immediately. Clearly, someone had been expecting her need for a ride. There weren’t cars constantly driving by; a car being waiting was unusual. After all, the Stewart villa was in the middle of nowhere.

Odalys glanced at the driver for a long moment. After a beat, she looked away, saying nothing.

She drifted in and out of sleep during the ride, barely aware of the passing world until the car finally slowed and came to a stop at the dock at 8:40 AM.

She slung her backpack over her shoulder and stepped out of the car. The driver immediately came over, offering her the heavy luggage. Without saying much, Odalys took the bag and glanced at him, her voice under her breath. “Tell him thanks for me.”

The driver blinked in surprise for a second, then nodded, realizing she had figured it out—it was all part of Percival’s plan.

“Sure thing,” he said briefly before turning the car around and driving off.

Odalys, her boots clicking sharply on the pavement, walked forward with purpose. The boat and crew had obviously been waiting for a while, and the moment they spotted her, the cameras focused on her.

“Odalys Stone, right? Welcome!” the host greeted her with a bright smile, stepping forward to shake her hand. Turning to the camera, he added, “Our first guest has arrived!”

Odalys barely glanced at the camera, catching a few of the comments as they flashed across the screen: Who the hell is this? Never seen her before. Is she a star? Some minor character? Someone even said: Odalys Stone? Just googled her—she doesn’t even have social media!

She shrugged it off, not giving a damn about the comments, and walked past them to take her seat. Since signing with the Bennett Group, she’d been stuck in the shadows, playing nothing more than a side character. Whenever Henry needed a favor, she was the one running errands, taking care of whatever task he had.

Over time, it felt like Henry and Emily had completely forgotten she existed as more than just their personal servant. If she hadn’t been given this opportunity, she might’ve still been dumb enough to think they saw her as part of the family, but reality hit hard. They were using her as a free, all-purpose maid—someone who could play background roles, run errands, cook, clean, take care of sick relatives, and even pick people up after their late-night clubbing.

The thought made her blood run cold. She was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the excited screams of fans. “Sophia! Sophia!”

Odalys turned, spotting Sophia in a figure-hugging V-neck dress that highlighted her curves perfectly. Her long hair blew in the wind, effortlessly glamorous. Sophia was holding an IV bag and walking toward them like she owned the place.

Sophia’s smile was full of smug satisfaction as she waved at the crowd, accepting a bouquet. “Thanks for coming, everyone! This show is gonna be amazing; I promise you won’t be disappointed. Love you all!”

“Wow, Sophia’s gorgeous! She’s the best!” the fans screamed, practically losing their minds.

Once Sophia finished with the fans, she turned around—but in her excitement, she misstepped and twisted her ankle, stumbling to the side. “Careful!” A tall, familiar figure darted forward, catching her around the waist and pulling her safely into his arms.

Sophia, now in the man’s embrace, inhaled deeply, recognizing his scent. Panicked, she looked up, her eyes locking with Finnian’s green, brooding eyes.

“Did you hurt your ankle? Let me check,” Finnian’s voice was smooth, almost too soft, as he crouched down to examine her foot. He glanced toward Odalys, his gaze briefly flashing with something cold—almost like he was showing off.

“Wow, Finnian is so sweet, and he and Sophia make the perfect couple!” a fan shouted.

Sophia’s hand rested on Finnian’s shoulder, and she lightly pushed him away, blushing. “Finnian, I’m fine; I just lost my balance for a sec…” Before she could finish, another man appeared, scooping her up in his arms without a word, and carrying her over to the guest chairs. He gently set her down, then nodded at the camera and said, “Sorry, my sister got a little too excited and twisted her ankle.”