Chapter 181
Odalys wasn't carrying her usual backpack. She never went anywhere without it.
"I don't know," Atlas said, a sly glint in his eye. "How about this? I create a distraction, and you try to grab her backpack?"
Sophia nodded eagerly, her eyes glinting with excitement.
"Okay," she whispered, her fingers trembling.
She wasn't sure if the emerald pendant Odalys carried was truly that powerful, but if it was, there might be even more valuable things in her bag. The thought of changing her destiny filled her with almost manic determination. She couldn't continue like this. No matter how much the Bennett family had fallen, she would climb to the top. She'd marry into a prestigious family and live the life of a wealthy wife.
Her fingers dug into her palm, painfully, as she fantasized about the possibilities.
Atlas let out a low grunt of discomfort. He looked down at her hand, which was digging into his arm with surprising force. Her fingertips had pressed into his skin, drawing blood. He frowned.
"Sophia," he muttered, his voice strained, "you're hurting me."
She blinked, surprised, and quickly pulled her hand away, looking down in confusion. Only then did she realize she had been squeezing his arm. Her face blushed red with embarrassment.
"Sorry, I just got scared," she stammered.
Meanwhile, Francis, having finished washing the dishes, turned to head back. He caught sight of the two of them standing close, whispering. His cold, sharp eyes narrowed as he studied them.
"Are you two in a relationship?" Francis asked, his tone teasing but mocking.
His comment made them jump apart, as if caught doing something shameful. They looked at each other, unsure how to respond, but before they could speak, Francis had walked off toward his room, grabbing a change of clothes. The faint sound of him humming as he entered the bathroom indicated he was in a good mood.
Finnian kicked a chair aside in frustration. His footsteps were heavy as he stormed into the other room, burning with anger. Without warning, he grabbed Odalys by the arm and pulled her aside. He towered over her, his gaze intense.
"Are you interested in Francis now? Think he's some kind of international model with connections and a good background? You think he can—" Finnian's voice was low and furious. "You married a dying man, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. And now, while we're still filming, you want to get close to someone new? Odalys, are you out of your mind? Francis is too cunning; he won't pull you out of that family. He won't save you," Finnian said.
Odalys blinked, stunned, before slapping his hand off her arm.
"You're insane," she muttered, brushing him off.
Finnian stood frozen, staring at her retreating figure in disbelief. "I'm doing this for you, and you call me insane?" he grumbled.
He gritted his teeth. "Fine. Do whatever you want. Let's see how this ends up." Unbeknownst to him, the cameraman, sitting nearby, had been quietly filming the entire scene. Finnian's words, his actions—everything had been broadcast live. When he turned and saw the cameraman, his eyes widened in shock.
The cameraman's knowing glance made him uneasy. The cameraman flicked his cigarette butt onto the ground, stepping on it before hoisting his camera and following Odalys.
"What?" Finnian was left standing there, dumbfounded. The live stream was buzzing with comments. Fans, curious and eager to understand what had just happened, flooded the chat.
[Wait, Finnian knows that Odalys married a dying man?] [What's the paparazzi been doing! They've been investigating for days, but still no clue about this dying man! Who is he?] [What's wrong with this guy? What made him think Odalys was interested in Francis! The two of them have barely even spoken to each other.] [So Odalys is really married? I've always wondered who the powerful and independent woman is married to.] [Is Group B planning something with Francis tonight? Are they taking action against that creepy person trying to sneak into their rooms?]
As curiosity around Odalys and her past heated up, viewership numbers climbed steadily. Fans waited in anticipation, but the show producers remained silent, fueling more speculation and excitement.
"Let me check your injuries," Odalys said.
After showering, Odalys emerged wearing black wide-leg pants and a form-fitting black T-shirt that highlighted her tall, slender frame. Her hair tied up, she walked over to Freya and gently cupped her face. Freya obediently turned her face to let Odalys examine the wound on her forehead, which was still wrapped in gauze.
"I'll take a look too," Selah called out, having just finished brushing her teeth.
The two of them stood anxiously as Odalys carefully unwrapped the bandage, revealing a slightly red but healing wound.
"Looks good," Odalys said with a soft smile. "The wound's healing, and it should be fine. Just avoid fish and spicy foods for the next couple of days, and keep it light. You shouldn't have a scar." She quickly cleaned the wound again, applied ointment, and rebandaged it with practiced ease.
"Wow, Odalys, you're so good at this!" Selah exclaimed. "Have you treated people before?"
Odalys chuckled softly. "When I was younger, I used to help my master take care of injured animals up in the mountains. Sometimes I even helped with births. The human body isn't all that different from animals. I started helping people with their ailments when I was fifteen. Before that, I mostly treated animals that got hurt in the mountains."
She paused. "There weren't many people up there. Not much interaction," she added.
Freya's curiosity grew. "Mountains! Weren't you bored with no people around?"
Odalys shook her head with a small laugh. "Not at all. There was always something to do—gathering herbs, distinguishing different plants, practicing my skills. I even studied magic. My time was always packed."
At the mention of magic, both Freya and Selah's eyes lit up.
"Magic? Is it difficult? Could we learn it?" Selah asked excitedly.
Odalys smiled. "It's not about difficulty. Magic requires something called fate. When my parents abandoned me, my master, who had a connection to magic, took me in."
Her voice was casual, but Freya and Selah were quiet, sensing the deeper story behind her words. "Why are you so quiet?" Odalys asked, noticing the change in their expressions. "I'm not sad about it, so there's no need for you to feel bad for me."