Chapter 174
Finnian stared at Stellan, his gaze fixated on the fish draped over Stellan's shoulder. A sharp pang pierced his heart. He'd underestimated Stellan; Stellan was far more daring than he'd imagined. Clad in high-end luxury brands, Stellan nonchalantly slung the fish over his shoulder, seemingly unconcerned with appearances.
"You guys don't need to envy me," Stellan said, waving a hand. "It's only a thirty- or forty-pound fish, caught by Odalys. If you want one, just have Sophia catch you one."
He repeated the weight, as if worried no one believed him. Fishermen often showed off their catches, and Stellan was no exception; he was practically flaunting his skills.
"Forget it," Francis muttered, shaking his head. Envious but helpless, he could only admire Stellan from afar. He'd given up on Sophia. Her independence was enough; he just hoped she stayed out of sight to avoid starvation.
"We should go catch another fish and roast it," Francis said, rolling up his sleeves.
Finnian's eyes followed Odalys. Her clothes were soaked, her hair damp, yet she walked with effortless grace, laughing and chatting with the others. An uncomfortable feeling settled in his chest. He wondered, "Why is she so friendly with everyone else, but so cold towards me? She won't even look at me."
"Odalys," Finnian said, stepping in front of her.
Her smile froze. She gave him a cold glance. "Is there something you need?"
"Is there any chance for us?" Finnian's voice was hoarse, his heart heavy. He knew it was pointless, but he asked anyway.
"Not before, and not in the future," Odalys replied sharply.
Finnian's smile faltered; his fist clenched. He watched her walk away, her face tilted to the wind, her damp hair fluttering. Her quiet pride was striking. She hadn't looked at him once. He felt as though something had been ripped from him. He regretted everything: the deal with Sophia, scheming for the Stewart family, trying to manipulate Odalys. Why? he thought. Why is she so devoted to him, a dying man? There were no answers, only silence.
Odalys, oblivious to Finnian's turmoil, rejoined the others, where Stellan was proudly boasting about his fish. Stellan, usually aloof and quiet, acted like a child, reveling in his excitement. Freya and Selah chased after him, their voices filled with excitement.
"Slow down, you'll drop the fish!" "This fish head is so big! How are we going to eat it?" "Should we roast it?" "Wait, don't we have pickled cabbage? We could make spicy fish slices!"
The women chatted eagerly, forgetting their celebrity diets, their usual restraint replaced by unrestrained joy. Odalys smiled, clearly delighted. Spotting wild chili peppers in a bamboo grove, she quickly picked some and continued walking, unaware that Finnian followed from a distance. It didn't matter; she didn't look back.
[See! This is how a woman should be—decisive, not wishy-washy like Finnian.] [Finnian's really hopeless. It's clear Odalys doesn't like him at all.] [Did you see how Odalys threw stones to knock a hole in the fish on the mountain? How many years of practice did that take?] [She's not just good at star readings—she could probably open a boxing school.]
Viewers, watching the live stream, enjoyed the exciting moments. The show, with its frequent drama and thrills, had become a staple in their lives. The internet buzzed with discussion; no paid promotion was needed.
Odalys returned with the chilies, to find Freya and Selah enthusiastically hacking at the fish with a cleaver and a dagger. Blood splattered everywhere.
"Be careful!" Stellan warned, watching their reckless attempts to butcher the fish.
"Turn on Bluetooth," Odalys said, setting down the chilies.
Stellan opened the app and saw Odalys had shared over twenty photos of him with the fish.
"You took these for me? Thanks," Stellan said, his voice filled with excitement.
Men and their obsession with big fish—it was almost a madness, a deep satisfaction. Stellan examined the photos, impressed by Odalys' skill. He could post them on Instagram without editing.
"I knew you'd like them," Odalys said with a smile.
Stellan blushed. "Who wouldn't like a fish this big? This is a forty-pound fish, not something you catch every day," he added, turning to Sophia and Atlas.
Sophia, freshly showered and dressed, stared at them in shock. They'd only been gone two hours, and returned with a massive fish. She was furious. Earlier disgust at her sweat-soaked clothes had been replaced with a better mood after showering, thanks to Atlas, but this… this was too much.