Chapter 210

Odalys, unfazed, glanced back at Stellan's retreating figure; her smile spoke volumes, though she said nothing. "Thanks," Odalys softly chuckled, turning back toward her room and casually shutting the door.

Stellan held the talisman, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over him, as if the turmoil and unease inside him had evaporated in that single moment. He returned to his room, the cup of water still in his hand. As he sat on the bed, he was startled to see Francis propped against the headboard, watching him.

"Still awake?" Stellan asked, his voice thick with curiosity.

Francis shifted, making room on the narrow bed. "I couldn't sleep… I keep thinking about what Odalys said this afternoon," Francis replied, his voice barely a whisper. He had checked twice to ensure the room's cameras were off. Just to be safe, he'd draped his clothes over them and turned off his phone, wanting to ensure that even if the cameras were on, nothing they said could be heard or seen.

"Everything she said matches up perfectly. And the thing is, no one else knows about any of this, no one but me. The events… they're too specific, too private." He paused, his throat constricting with emotion. "I met her in the airport bathroom. We bumped into each other; our phones fell. She picked up mine by mistake and walked off. By the time I realized it, she was far away. After my flight landed, she called, saying she'd taken the wrong phone. I had no choice but to meet her and swap them back."

"After that, I was hooked. There was something about her—her personality, the way she spoke, the way she carried herself. Everything about her was what I'd imagined my perfect partner would be. I fell for her so fast, so completely…" His voice cracked.

Stellan listened quietly. This was the first time they had spoken so openly, the first time Francis had opened up about something so deeply personal. Most people would never share such private matters, especially in their line of work. But Francis had chosen to confide in him.

"You ever heard that saying?" Stellan finally spoke. "There's no such thing as the perfect lover. If there is, it's because they've been carefully prepared for you; they're coming for you."

"And there's no such thing as perfect coincidence. If it seems too perfect, it's probably been arranged," Stellan continued, his voice low but firm. He moved closer to Francis. "Do you remember Finnian from next door? He seemed obsessed with Sophia. He did everything for her, even severed our ties over her. And yet, after all that, he was still in shock. No one really spoke of it, but you could tell."

"And you remember what happened with the water? Sophia gave you and him drinks, but only he drank. That wasn't a coincidence. Nothing about this is random. It's all orchestrated." Stellan's voice grew serious.

Francis fell silent. "So you think she's been using me this whole time?" he asked, his lips barely moving. Frustration was palpable, the realization hitting him like a punch to the gut. He couldn't even look at Stellan as he nervously licked his lips. Today, he'd acted as if he didn't care—afraid of what the cameras or fans might see—but now, with no cameras around, his mask slipped.

"Don't let love cloud your judgment," Stellan warned. "Odalys told me she came after you because of her ex. She probably learned about you when you went to the hospital. Your personal information is in their system, and it just happened to match the person she's trying to save. That's why she sought you out, to confirm her suspicions."

"And when she accidentally cut your hand with the knife, that was her confirmation. It was no accident. She has had her eye on you all along. If you don't want to die, you better listen to Odalys. Be careful. If you don't, she might really have you marked for organ harvesting. By the time you figure it out, it'll be too late to save yourself."

"I never believed in this kind of stuff… until that island. I saw things with my own eyes, things you can't ignore. Odalys saved Selah, and Lucian… well, she had a hand in that too." Stellan's voice dropped to a whisper.

Once emotions got involved, logic went right out the window. But if Francis wanted to survive, he had to take things seriously—because when it was too late, regret wouldn't do him any good. "I'm telling you, Francis, if you want to stay alive, you need to take this seriously. Don't let your feelings cloud your reason."

Francis nodded silently after a moment. "I know. It's just… hard to accept. I never thought of her this way. But the more I think about it—everything from when we first met to what's happened since—it feels like it was all planned, like everything was leading to this. Like her inviting me to dinner, going on dates, even bringing me fruit and taking me to the clinic. It all feels too perfect." His voice was thick with emotion, his eyes reddening. He had fallen for her so completely, and now he was realizing it might have all been part of some darker plan.

"You can't change the past," Stellan said gently, his hand resting on his shoulder. "Focus on the present. That's what matters now." He slipped the talisman Odalys had given him into his bag, double-checking before tucking the bag under his pillow, worried it might mysteriously disappear.

Francis glanced at him. "So, you've got a talisman. Should I ask Odalys for one too?"

Stellan raised an eyebrow. "A talisman won't solve everything. What you need is to stop her before it's too late."

"Stay away from her. The danger will fade. But once she's done filming the variety show, she'll know about it. She'll try to meet with you again, pull you in, and convince you to meet her parents. That's when you'll know for sure she's got plans for you. Just refuse to meet her, and you'll see if she's really what she seems."

Francis nodded, lying back down. The two men lay side by side, both awake, their eyes fixed on the ceiling. Thoughts swirled in their minds; neither could sleep, staring at the darkness until dawn.

Meanwhile, in another room, Odalys slept soundly, waking at sunrise. She looked at Selah and Freya before slowly getting up. She slipped into high-waisted jeans and a white shirt tied at the waist, casually tying up her hair. She went to the kitchen, where she began preparing ingredients. The others were already up, brushing their teeth and joining her to help.

"We're having a big breakfast today. Anything left over, we'll give to the villagers," Odalys said, motioning to the wild game on the counter. "Sounds good," Selah agreed. Freya, however, remained silent, her mood clearly off. Odalys noticed immediately. "What's wrong, Freya? Didn't sleep well last night?" she asked, her laugh ringing through the air. Freya's eyes immediately filled with tears.