Chapter 19

Sophia glanced at the clothes he handed her, her eyes flicking over the low-key logo before a flash of distaste crossed her face. She masked it with a cool smile. "Keep it," she said casually, her tone firm but polite. "I've got a jacket. I'll throw it on later." As she spoke, she tilted her head slightly, giving the camera a picture-perfect side profile.

The camera zoomed in, capturing the delicate line of her jaw, the effortless glance back she gave, and the subtle, almost childlike innocence in her eyes. The live stream audience went wild, their cheers echoing in the chat.

[Godden! She’s angelic!] [Is Odalys trying to steal the spotlight? Seeing how gorgeous Sophia looks, Odalys probably had someone bring her a jacket to outdo her!] [Is it really going to be windy tonight? These people don’t seem prepared at all. What if something goes wrong with the weather?]

Some fans swooned over Sophia’s beauty, while others worried about her safety. The show was now the center of public debate, with everyone voicing their opinions. But the guests had no idea what was going on in the live stream.

"Take it easy, slow down a bit," Lucian said quietly, watching Sophia. His eyes were a mix of nervousness and, if you looked closely, a hint of greed. He was new to the game, and standing out in a group full of big names was tough. Being on a variety show was a huge opportunity, and meeting stars like these was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

There were rumors that Sophia Bennett was the heiress of the Bennett Group, though it was never confirmed. But her connections were top-notch. (On top of that, her brother, Atlas, was a popular singer, and Finnian was a hotshot actor. Both were fiercely protective of her. Anyone close to her was bound to go places.)

"Take it easy, Sophia," Atlas said, noticing her discomfort. He stepped forward, gently pushing Lucian aside, and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

The path ahead was full of thorny bushes, wild grass, and branches with sharp thorns. Sophia, who had been pampered her whole life, had never seen anything like it. Her face darkened with annoyance, but she pushed through, trying to smile. "I'm fine, Atlas. Really. I got this," she said, leaning closer to him.

Instantly, Atlas tightened his hold on her. As he turned, a thorny branch came at them. Protecting her, he moved quickly, not realizing his arm had been scratched.

"Ouch," Atlas hissed, looking down in surprise as his arm bled, the thorns embedded deep into his skin. Blood began to drip, and he frowned, trying to swat away the branches. But another thorn jabbed into his hand.

"Atlas, what's wrong?" she cried, her voice filled with panic. She reached out to help, but instead, pressed herself closer to him. Seeing her distress, Atlas quickly pulled her into his arms, his voice soft but reassuring. "It's nothing, just a little scratch. I'll be fine, don't worry." He held her even tighter, wrapping her securely in his embrace. Sophia instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, holding him steady, while he cupped her backside with one hand, keeping her close as he hurried forward.

The position was undeniably intimate, but neither of them seemed to care or notice.

"Come on, move it!" Finnian called, quickening his pace. Lucian followed closely behind.

The three men had scratches on their faces and arms, but Sophia was unharmed, completely protected. When Atlas finally set her down, she immediately grabbed his arm, checking the wound with concern.

"Don't cry. I'm fine," Atlas said, though he was clearly in pain. Seeing her eyes welling up, he gently caressed her face.

[What the hell's going on here! She’s got her legs around her brother’s waist! This feels a little off.] [They’re just siblings, but you guys are the ones making it weird. You’ve got a dirty mind if that’s what you think.]

Chapter 19 (continued)

[This whole group is giving off some seriously weird vibes. Am I the only one who thinks this feels like a 4P situation?] [Poor Sophia. She’s so spoiled. This must be terrifying for her; she’s probably freaking out.]

The live chat exploded with comments, many questioning the relationship between Sophia and Atlas, while fans rushed to defend them. The conversation was a mess of arguments and heated debates.

"Should we just go around it?" Freya asked, her voice hesitant as she stared at the thick tangle of thorns ahead. The sharp pricks made her uneasy, her nerves getting the best of her.

"This path is the shortcut to the safety center," Odalys replied in a low voice, urgency in her tone. "We need to get into the woods and find a safe spot before nightfall. Things could get really ugly if we don’t move fast."

She quickly grabbed a knife from the supplies the crew had given them and, without missing a beat, stepped forward, determination in her eyes. Everyone watched in shock as Odalys casually tossed the knife into the air, catching it effortlessly. With one swift motion, she slashed through the branches and weeds. A quick flick of her wrist cleared the thorns, and with a sharp kick, she sent them flying off to the side. It was effortless, smooth—like she’d done this a hundred times.

[What the hell is going on with that other group? Didn’t the producers hand out tools to everyone? Why are they charging through with a damn kitchen knife and a shovel!] [LOL, they’ve got knives and are still getting scratched up? That’s pathetic.] [Am I the only one who thinks Odalys is straight-up badass? She’s calm, smart, and totally got her shit together.]

Seeing Odalys in action, Freya and Stellan quickly pulled out their own tools and joined in, hacking at the underbrush. Selah followed close behind. The four of them made it through the thorns in no time, easily passing Sophia’s group. The difference was clear—Sophia’s team looked like they’d been through a battle, their arms covered in blood, while Odalys and her team were gliding through like it was nothing.

"Why didn’t you say something earlier, if you knew you could clear the thorns?" Atlas shot at Odalys, his eyes blazing. He was in pain, his arm throbbing, and the cuts on his face were starting to itch. Watching Odalys slice through the thorns with ease was driving him insane. He realized he and his team had tools too; they just forgot to use them. He felt a heavy frustration building in his chest, nearly choking him.

"Well, anyone with half a brain would’ve cleared the thorns first, but you decided to charge in like an idiot. And honestly, it’s just a couple of scratches—they’ll heal. Quit whining," Odalys said, barely sparing him a glance. The cuts weren’t deep, and they’d stop bleeding soon enough.

Atlas was about to argue, but Sophia grabbed his arm, stopping him. She spoke quietly, "Atlas, don't. She probably just remembered, okay? She didn’t do it on purpose."

Her words were full of sarcasm, and Odalys caught it, unable to hold back a laugh. She turned to Sophia, smirking and raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I did it on purpose."

Sophia froze, eyes wide. She saw the cameras behind her and bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly turned her face away, her tears pouring as she sobbed silently, still trying to hold back the frustration with a stubborn clenched jaw.

Odalys couldn’t care less. With a roll of her eyes, she took a quick look around, then kept walking, her steps steady. Thanks to their lightweight gear, they were quickly pulling ahead of the others, heading deeper into the woods.

[END OF CHAPTER]