Chapter 194

As Odalys ran after the others, Freya and Selah immediately quickened their pace, laughing and calling out, "Ah, Odalys is coming! Run, everyone!" The group, like a bunch of carefree children, raced ahead, their laughter echoing through the village. Even the crew, infected by their mirth, subconsciously followed, trying to keep up.

Finnian, watching the joyous scene, felt a lump rise in his throat, and his eyes

Atlas, however, stood rooted to the spot, fists clenched tightly. His mind was racing. He had heard Odalys's words on the earlier broadcast, and unease gnawed at him. If the police confirmed her story tomorrow, the Bennett family would be thrust into a deep, irreparable crisis. He thought, She was so bold to speak the truth publicly—what did that mean? Could it be that her parents really had abandoned her? But why? She was supposed to be the Bennett family's little princess. They were all men, all yearning for a little sister. That was why they treated Sophia so well—because Odalys was the only girl in the family, and they treated her like royalty. Yet, now, things had turned out like this.

His mind was in chaos as he stood there, feeling lost and helpless.

Sophia, having changed into a new outfit, walked over from behind Atlas, watching him. She hesitated before speaking.

"I'm sorry, Atlas. It's all my fault. I got too impatient, too eager to get my hands on the emerald pendant. I didn't think Odalys would retaliate like that. If only I'd been more careful, maybe we could have gotten the pendant," she said, her voice tinged with guilt.

Atlas, still wrestling with his thoughts, glanced at her. His suspicion grew as he asked, "So everything you've done—was it just to get the emerald pendant?"

Sophia forced a smile, then nervously approached him, grabbing his sleeve. "We agreed, didn't we? That before the variety show ended, we'd get the pendant from Odalys. But we didn't have the chance to get close to her, and with the task taking us away, I had no choice but to rely on that old man."

"But he didn't do his job properly. That's my fault. I should have done better," she added, sounding pitiful.

Atlas stared at her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he didn't know what to believe. He had always trusted Sophia, but now his doubts had begun to take root.

Seeing his conflicted expression, Sophia, her eyes red, let out a soft sigh, looking vulnerable. She leaned against him, almost trembling. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten us into this."

Atlas's heart softened at the sight of her distress. He sighed, his voice low, "It's fine. If it didn't work this time, there will be other chances. But you've got to think carefully next time. It's not worth sacrificing your reputation for this."

She immediately buried her face in his chest, sobbing softly. "I'm sorry, I really am."

Atlas kissed the top of her head, his heart aching, and whispered, "It's alright. As long as you're okay, everything else can be worked out."

The two stood there in an embrace, not realizing that Finnian was watching them from the side, his face full of disbelief. Neither did they notice the hidden cameras, which had been switched on, as is customary for the variety show. The cameras had caught everything, and the conversation was broadcast live.

The audience, previously sympathizing with Odalys, was now watching in shock. [Oh my god, this just shattered my worldview!] [Did Atlas really believe her?! Looks like his brain is fried!] [Atlas is beyond redemption. I'm done with him.]

Chapter 191

[With all the evidence now, can Sophia really deny it? I finally get why Odalys had to clarify herself on the show. I'd deal with people like this, I'd be just as blunt.] [When's the police station livestream happening? I can't wait for tomorrow!]

While Sophia and Atlas remained unaware of the live broadcast, the reality of the situation began to sink in for some of their most devoted fans, who quickly transferred their support to Odalys. Others were left in confusion, not understanding why so many loyal fans had suddenly switched sides.

Meanwhile, Odalys kept running after the group. As she passed a dilapidated old house, she noticed the door slightly ajar. She could vaguely see the figure of an elderly man and his son standing behind it, observing everything happening outside. They were likely curious about how Odalys planned to handle Rafael.

Odalys knew she had to make them believe she could protect them, that she had the strength to take down Rafael and any threat to them. Only when they felt truly secure would they fully entrust her with everything. This was why Percival had come earlier and left quickly. People's loyalty was built on their recognition of power, and with Rafael kneeling before her, it was clear that she now controlled the situation in the eyes of the elder and his son.

With a gleam of shrewd calculation in her eyes, Odalys quickly diverted her gaze, not lingering for more than a second before heading forward. Selah suddenly suggested, "How about we leave it to chance! Each of us should cook one dish, and see what happens?"

Everyone eagerly agreed, and they all dove into the task with enthusiasm. There were no star personas here; no one worried about their image. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

Freya, in particular, took it to the next level, chasing a wild chicken for three miles. When she finally caught it, she tripped and fell face-first into the mud. Stelian immediately rushed over to pull her up, his hands getting covered in dirt.

Freya, now covered in mud, groaned, "Ah, my face!" She stood up, immediately turning toward Odalys. "I'm coming for you!"

Odalys, startled, took a few steps back. "No, don't come near me!"

Freya, covered in mud, launched herself at Francis, and with a loud splat, smeared him with dirt. "You're not getting away!" Freya pushed Francis aside and ran after Odalys again, who quickly hid behind Selah, peeking out from behind her to watch the chaos unfold.

Selah, laughing, spread her arms wide and said, "Alright, come at me!"

The three women became a whirlwind of mud and laughter, slipping and sliding, eventually all tumbling to the ground. With everyone now covered in mud, Odalys plopped onto the ground with a dramatic sigh. "This is work-related injury. You're going to have to take responsibility," she complained, grinning mischievously.

Freya flopped into Odalys's lap, claiming, "If I'm responsible, then you're responsible too!"

"Stay still! Keep that pose!" Selah suddenly commanded, and before anyone could react, she whipped out her phone and began snapping pictures. As Freya, now stiff as a board, asked, "Are you done yet? How ugly do I look!", Selah replied, "Ugly, totally ugly," without missing a beat. She handed the phone over for Freya to see.

The two women exchanged glances and then, as if on cue, grabbed Selah and pushed her to the ground, smearing her face with their dirty hands. "Help!" Selah squealed, laughing as she was pinned down. Freya grabbed Selah's phone and started snapping even more pictures, taking full advantage of the moment.

What they didn’t notice, however, was that Francis and Finnian had quietly been taking pictures of their messy antics from behind them. In a low voice, Finnian remarked, "Well, our beer money is taken care of. At least two meals, guaranteed."