Chapter 192

Atlas stood frozen, staring in disbelief. His mind couldn't process the unfolding scene; he was too stunned to react, his body paralyzed by shock.

"Atlas, help me! Please, help me!" Sophia's voice broke through his stupor. Her desperate hands reached out, and Atlas instantly stepped forward, his instincts taking over. He forcefully shoved Rafael away from her.

"Aah!" Rafael cried out as he fell to the ground with a loud thud, groaning in pain.

Atlas helped Sophia up, his hand brushing against her messy hair. A shift occurred in his heart; his previously soft feelings for her faded.

"Atlas, take TTLE back to my room, please… I can't stay here…" Her voice cracked with distress, reflecting her shaken state.

He nodded, but before he could help her to her feet, Odalys stepped into their path, blocking them.

"Excuse me, could you kindly ask the cameramen to bring the lens a little closer? Thank you," Odalys said calmly, addressing the cameras with a cool, yet polite tone.

The director and cameramen, previously focused on the chaos, sensed a new dramatic opportunity. They rushed to adjust the cameras, their attention shifting to Odalys.

"What do you want, Odalys?" Atlas asked, his voice laced with suspicion and caution. Odalys' unpredictability, and her clear intention to involve them, filled him with a rising panic and fear of her. He feared she would beat him, on camera.

"I don't know how many people are watching the live broadcast, but I'd like to have a few things witnessed," Odalys said, calmly addressing the lens. After a brief bow, she leaned in and spoke quietly, "When I was around three or four years old, my parents abandoned me. I wasn't lost; they drove me to the suburbs and left me there. They just drove off."

"I've always acted according to my heart, so after this variety show ends, my contract with the Bennett Group will be over. I'm doing this now to ensure the Bennett Group can't use this against me later." She pulled the contract from her bag and held it up to the camera. "Now, I'm showing you the contract. If there are any lawyers watching, maybe they can help confirm it."

Everyone froze, stunned. They hadn't expected her to produce the contract. Odalys held it up, ensuring the dates and details were clearly visible, then carefully put it away.

"If the Bennett Group has plans to squeeze me, they'll try something, so I want everyone to see this," she continued. "Also, as someone abandoned by my parents, I've never wanted to expose them. But to prevent them from making a scene later—using the media to pressure me, to pretend they want me back—I'm putting this out there now. There are too many people trying to exploit such situations, manipulating public opinion for sympathy. You've all seen this, right?" Her tone was icy.

The live stream instantly fell silent. The shock of Odalys' revelations left everyone speechless. Some lawyers in the chat had already taken screenshots of the contract, offering to verify it.

Odalys said, "I know everyone's kind-hearted. I don't want anyone's kindness to be used against them. I'm sure you all want to know whether what I'm saying is true."

"If you're curious about whether I was really abandoned, you can go to the Olnnard City Police Department and ask Sir Knox Cantrell. He'll pull up the case from the night of February 19th. It was snowing heavily. My parents stripped me of my clothes, leaving me in just a thin t-shirt. I nearly froze to death. My master found me and took me to the police station. The police reviewed the footage and traced my parents through their license plate number. They denied everything, insisting I wasn't their child. They wouldn't even come to the station. The officers wanted to take me back, but my master had to take me home. Mr. Cantrell was aware of everything and even filed the case."

Odalys spoke softly, providing precise details. Everyone held their breath, stunned by her deeply personal story.

"Odalys, are you insane!" Atlas muttered, horrified. He thought, "Isn't this her cutting ties with the Bennett family completely? She's willing to expose her parents' cruelty to distance herself from them. She's throwing everything out there." He had always believed she was lost; now, it sounded like she'd been deliberately abandoned.

"Mr. Bennett, I'm clarifying my background online, sharing this with viewers who are like family to me, so they can bear witness. What does that have to do with you? Why are you so upset!" Odalys shot him a glance, leaving him speechless. He hadn't anticipated this. He felt a knot of discomfort in his stomach. He'd thought she was stuck with the Bennetts; now, it seemed she was hurrying to sever all ties.

"I trust that everyone here will be my witnesses. I also hope you all go to Mr. Cantrell to confirm this for yourselves. That way, no one can harass me or use moral manipulation to take advantage of me in the future. I have no parents, just a master. That's all I have to say. Thank you," Odalys finished, bowing slightly before looking directly at the camera.

She knew the Bennett family's shamelessness. With nowhere to turn, they would likely target the Stewart family. Marrying into the Stewarts would make her a pawn for the Bennetts to manipulate, a situation she was determined to prevent.

Comments flooded the live stream:

[What if what Odalys said is true, her parents are monsters! To strip her of her clothes and leave her to freeze? That's practically attempted murder!] [I'm taking a leave of absence! I need to go to Olnnard City and find Mr. Cantrell.] [Are there any officers watching from Olnnard City? Could you please check whether what she said actually happened?] [Someone, call Mr. Cantrell! We need to know the truth!] [My heart breaks for Odalys.] [She's so smart. This is genius. By revealing this, no one can twist the story. Now we'll know the truth. Everyone, find out more.]

Meanwhile, in Olnnard City, the police station was becoming surrounded by fans, media, and onlookers, eager to uncover the truth—many live-streaming the unfolding drama.

The police station quickly responded:

"Please, everyone, go back for now. We'll review the case and get the details. Tomorrow, we will have a live broadcast with Mr. Cantrell himself to clarify everything for everyone."