Chapter 209

Atlas didn't return to his room; instead, he sat alone in the yard, pondering recent events. Everything felt unreal, dreamlike. Since Odalys replaced Sophia, everything had changed. The Bennen family was in chaos, and he even found Sophia repulsive—a feeling he couldn't explain.

"Alas, why aren't you asleep yet?" Sophia, after much hesitation, draped a robe over herself and stepped outside. She found Atlas in the yard, his cigarette burning down to the filter, seemingly oblivious to the approaching flames.

He looked up at her, his brows furrowing in confusion. Her face disoriented him. This was his little princess, yet she seemed like a stranger.

"Sophia, why do you look so different?" Atlas asked, puzzled. Her face seemed foreign. If not for their shared reality show, he might have mistaken her for a passerby.

Sophia froze. "What nonsense? I just didn't wear makeup." Since coughing up blood in the hospital, her face had changed. Though she usually covered it with makeup, she was terrified. Atlas's question sent her heart racing.

"I've seen you without makeup before. You didn't look like this. I noticed something was off at the hospital, but now your face seems to belong to someone else. You didn't have time for plastic surgery, so who are you really? You can't be Sophia. My sister is smart and kind, but you're vicious and calculating. You've stirred up trouble and made everyone miserable." Atlas rose and walked toward her.

Each word felt like a knife to Sophia's heart. She trembled, instinctively stepping back. Tears welled in her eyes. "Atlas, why are you hurting me like they did? I'm Sophia, your little princess, the one you cherished. Why doubt me? Was everything you did for me a lie? Or do you think Odalys is your favorite now, that you want to get close to her, to gain popularity? Do you think I have no value left, that you're just looking for an excuse to throw me away?"

Sophia's voice cracked. Heartbroken, she fled to her room. She couldn't understand Atlas's words. Her face had been her anxiety, but no one had mentioned it for days. She thought things were normal. Atlas's words had shaken her, terrifying her.

"What am I going to do? What's happened to my face?" she murmured, cupping and rubbing her face in frustration. Anxiety threatened to crush her.

Atlas watched her go. He knew it was Sophia, but something felt wrong. Her presence made him physically uncomfortable.

"I must be sick," he muttered, regret creeping into his voice. "How could I have said that to her!"

Chapter 209 (Continued)

Recently, he'd felt increasingly irritable. He'd clashed with Odalys, kicked Francis out, verbally attacked Sophia, and even tried to offend Stellan. Each action felt like a step closer to a breaking point, but he couldn't stop. It felt as if some unseen force was guiding him.

"I have to go home and see a magician maybe I've picked up some bad energy," Atlas whispered.

Shaken by his behavior, a sense of dread washed over him. He returned to his room, determined to stay inside.

Meanwhile, Stellan witnessed the scene while getting water.

"She looks different!" Stellan frowned, considering the overheard conversation. He almost collided with Odalys, who also carried a glass of water.

"Sorry, are you okay?" Stellan asked, startled, stepping back.

"I'm fine," Odalys replied calmly, then looked up at the unusually close-seeming sky. The stars twinkled brightly.

"Can't sleep?" Stellan asked, noticing her stillness. He joined her, gazing at the sky.

"No, just thirsty," Odalys replied, but there was more. Since everyone was asleep and the cameras off, it was the perfect opportunity to talk to Stellan. "By the way, when you call your father tomorrow, remind him If he doesn't listen, call me," she said quietly.

Stellan's anxiety returned—the reason he couldn't sleep.

"So, my dad's definitely going to be in trouble, right?" Stellan asked, his voice hoarse, his hand trembling.

"Many things are part of a cycle. Magic isn't all-powerful; it's about belief. If you believe, it works; if you don't, it doesn't. Your father only believes in himself, not in fate," Odalys explained softly. "Everyone's existence has its meaning, and for some, their downfall is inevitable."

Stellan wasn't as cold as he seemed; Odalys saw through him, and warned him. She produced a talisman. "Take this. If something happens, give it to your father to wear."

Stellan was stunned. It was a triangle-shaped talisman, emitting a faint magical aura. He grasped it, inexplicably trusting Odalys.

"Thank you," Stellan muttered.

Odalys shrugged. "That'll cost you, though. When you have internet, don't forget to pay."

She left. Stellan watched her go, feeling tightness in his chest. He followed quickly, saying, "I will. Once I have internet, I'll definitely pay you."