Chapter 180

“If you’re free, why don’t you stay and chat with them? You can have dinner with us later,” Stellan said, extending an invitation.

Francis, taken aback, hadn’t expected that a simple task of kicking a rock would result in an offer for dinner. Of course, he wasn’t about to turn down such an offer. Food was a serious problem for him; he hadn’t had a decent meal in days.

“Alright, I’ll stay,” Francis nodded quickly.

Stellan knew he couldn’t leave the two women alone in the living room. He was worried that if they went out, someone might barge in again.

“Good,” Stellan said, nodding in agreement. He turned and headed outside, where he saw Odalys picking through some wild game. Stellan walked up to her and overheard Odalys chuckling softly. “Did you make up with Francis?”

“There was no real grudge, just some conflict over resources,” Stellan replied nonchalantly, accepting the wild game she handed him. He glanced at her curiously, as if he wanted to ask something but wasn’t sure if he should.

“If you’re wondering something, just ask,” Odalys said, her voice light, though she didn’t turn around. It was as if she already knew what he was thinking.

Stellan hesitated for a moment, then spoke in a low voice, “Why did you let Francis go? What if he doesn’t help you? If I send him back and he runs away, won’t that ruin everything!”

“He won’t,” Odalys said firmly, her confidence surprising him.

Stellan raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected her to understand Francis so well.

“He knows exactly what he’s doing and what he wants. Crossing me isn’t in his best interest. Plus, I told him to kick the rock. Whether he does it or not doesn’t matter. The formation is already in place. Once it’s set, it’s beyond the reach of the outside world, but still connected,” Odalys explained calmly.

Stellan’s eyes widened in realization. “So, you’re testing him?”

“It’s not really a test,” Odalys corrected. “If he kicks the rock, it makes the formation last longer. Besides, we need all the help we can get.” Stellan chuckled quietly. “Alright, I get it now.”

“Good. I invited him to stay for dinner,” Stellan added, eager to keep the conversation moving.

Odalys had no objections. The two of them, with their catch of wild game and the pickled vegetables given to them earlier by the glam python, began cleaning and preparing the food. The rain soon stopped, leaving behind a damp, cool air.

After a long afternoon of work, dusk fell. The sky, heavy and overcast from the recent rain, cast a muted light over everything. In the kitchen, Odalys and Stellan worked together to prepare the meal, though most of the cooking was done by her while he focused on the side dishes. Within no time, they had laid out a delicious spread—several dishes and a soup, each plate a colorful mix of flavors.

Francis, when he saw the spread, couldn’t hide his amazement. Since arriving in the village, he hadn’t tasted anything this delicious.

“Well, I won’t be polite then,” Francis said, grabbing his fork. He quickly grabbed his own bowl and seamlessly joined the group. The atmosphere felt warm and welcoming.

From a distance, Finnian watched the scene, a pang of bitterness in his chest. “If I hadn’t fallen out with Odalys,” he thought bitterly, “I should be sitting next to her, not him.”

Chapter 180

“Sophia, are you okay!” Atlas’s voice interrupted Sophia’s daze. His eyes never left her face, and he noticed that she seemed lost, as if a wave of panic had washed over her.

Sophia jumped when he called her name, jolting her out of her thoughts.

“What’s wrong? Is something happening?” she asked, sitting up quickly. She looked around, noticing that the rain had stopped outside. The laughter from the next room was unmistakable, and the tantalizing smell of food wafted into the air. It was clear that dinner was being served next door. The contrast between the lively atmosphere there and the cold silence here felt stark.

“It’s nothing,” Atlas said, his concern deepening. “It’s just that I’ve been watching you. You’ve seemed off. Are you worried about something?”

Seeing the once confident, sunny, and kind-hearted Sophia now reduced to someone constantly filled with fear and insecurity, with eyes that flickered with doubt, Atlas felt a sharp pang in his chest. It was painful to watch her unravel this way. If it weren’t for the emerald pendant, they wouldn’t have ended up clashing with Odalys like this.

His thoughts twisted uncomfortably as he glanced over at Odalys, who sat across from him, smiling as she ate her meal with a carefree expression. She had even invited Francis over to join her at the table, yet not once had she asked him or his sister to join. The contrast was stark, and it stung in a way he couldn’t quite describe.

“I… I feel guilty,” she confessed quietly, her voice shaky. “Since we started this… I haven’t been much help. I’ve been dragging everyone down. If I were as capable as Odalys, maybe you wouldn’t have had to go through all this. We’re just barely managing with what we’ve found. The food we got today… It’s enough to keep us from starving, but it’s not ideal,” she said, pausing, her voice breaking slightly. “I know there’s been a lot of negative attention around me lately. I can see people mocking me, not understanding what’s been happening. But if it were you, would you have done any better? I can’t help but wonder if I’ve really made a mistake… but where did I go wrong? What did I do to deserve all this criticism?” Her voice cracked with emotion, and tears blurred her vision, though she fought to keep them at bay.

Finnian, who had been standing nearby, heard her words and felt a twinge of frustration.

“Silly girl,” Atlas murmured softly, his voice warm. “Who cares if people misunderstand you? I’ll always believe that you’re the kindest, most genuine person out there.”

Sophia managed a weak smile, her eyes still welling up with unshed tears. She bit her lip, trying desperately not to cry, but she knew deep down that she was afraid. If everything came to light, she felt like there would be no turning back. “I regret it, but if I had to do it again, I’d still choose this path.”

“Let me check if there’s anything left from lunch. I’ll make you something,” Atlas said, his voice soft and caring. He wasn’t a good cook, but he wanted to help her.

Atlas quickly went outside to check the leftovers. Moments later, he returned, looking stunned. He had accidentally knocked over all the food, sending it crashing into the fire, burning everything.

“How did this happen? I saw how Odalys did it, I even paid attention!” Atlas muttered in frustration. “I held the pan like she did, but I must have missed something.”

Sophia wandered outside when she heard the noise, only to freeze in surprise at the sight. The food was ruined, blackened and burnt in the flames. She was upset, but she didn’t show it. With a strained smile, she walked over to Atlas. “It’s okay. I’m not hungry anyway. I don’t usually eat dinner because I’m trying to lose weight.” She tried to lighten the mood, but it was clear that her heart wasn’t in it. “You and Finnian must be starving though. Should I go ask if we can…”

Atlas reached out and grabbed her hand gently, shaking his head. “No, it’s fine. I’m not hungry.” But just as he spoke, his stomach growled loudly, betraying his words. His gaze shifted toward the next room, where he could hear the sounds of people enjoying their meal.

Chapter 180

His jealousy boiled over as he watched Francis, oblivious to his earlier stoic behavior, happily joining Group B, even drinking down the meat soup without a care.

“Atlas,” Sophia said suddenly, her voice low. “Do you think the emerald pendant is still in her room?”