Chapter 217

The phone rang. Before Stellan could speak, his mother's cheerful yet strangely calm voice filled the car. "Son, your father told me everything. Don't worry, I already have a peace talisman for us."

"Tell him to wait for us to get home," she added, quickly hanging up.

A heavy silence settled in the car. Stellan closed his eyes, muttering, "Odalys… Could it really be true? Some calamities are unavoidable, no matter how hard we try."

"When we land, you need to fly straight back. And remember the talisman I gave you," Culalys whispered, her voice low but clear.

Stellan immediately searched his backpack, found the talisman at the bottom, and held it tightly. "Got it. I know what I need to do."

(The following are bracketed comments from viewers/netizens)

[What just happened?] [Did I miss something?] [Odalys showed Stellan and Francis the Star readings yesterday, but they were talking too softly for us to hear. Did she predict something about Dangelo?] [I can't breathe. Is he going to make it?]

Fans and netizens felt their hearts race. They were still processing the police live broadcast when this new development with Stellan unfolded. Everyone was on edge.

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine," Selah said, trying to comfort him.

Freya opened her mouth to speak, but found no words could ease the tension. She glanced at Stellan, who was trying to appear brave but looked pale and sweat-drenched, his hand trembling. "I'll be okay," he said, forcing a shaky smile. Though he claimed to be fine, the cold sweat on his palms told a different story.

Stellan stared blankly out the window, his face drawn with worry. Sensing his unease, Francis pressed the accelerator, speeding toward the airport. The car was unnervingly quiet. No one dared to speak.

(More bracketed viewer/netizen comments)

[Odalys did another Star reading.] [Odalys was abandoned and abused by her parents? Her life is a tragedy.] [Is Dangelo really in danger? Does anyone know where he is? Please look into this.] [Is this the most dramatic variety show in history!] [Can we get Odalys to do a live reading? Please!]

These trending topics shot to the top of the charts. From being unknown a few weeks ago, Odalys was now a household name. Major industry players, including Kenny and several agents, were trying to reach her, hoping to make her the next top idol. However, Odalys had blocked all external calls.

As a result, Erny, the variety show's producer, became the go-to person. He was flooded with calls from powerful figures, industry moguls, and sponsors, all begging him to persuade Odalys to take a call. Kenny was equally perplexed—his newfound importance was entirely due to Odalys.

"I'm kind of nervous," Francis admitted, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. What if this disaster could have been avoided? Was he going to die too? The thought sent a chill down his spine.

Stellan noticed a shift in Francis's expression as he glanced at his phone. Stellan instinctively glanced at Francis's phone.

"Do you want me to answer that?" Stellan asked cautiously.

"If I don't pick up, it would cause suspicion," Francis said, casting a subtle glance at Stellan.

6:24 PM

It was still during the live broadcast, and there were things Francis couldn't say. Plus, he knew his girlfriend was probably watching, so he had to maintain his composure.

"Sorry, Francis is driving right now and can't take your call. Is there something I can pass on to him?" Stellan said, glancing at Francis. Despite the air conditioning, Francis's forehead was beaded with cold sweat.

"Okay, I understand," Stellan replied, ending the call. He held the phone for a few seconds, then spoke in a lowered voice. "She said she's at the airport. When you meet, you two will fly back together, and after landing, you'll go straight to a restaurant."

Francis frowned, feeling a tight knot in his stomach. If this were any other time, he might have thought she was trying to publicly declare their relationship. But now, after distancing himself, it felt less like love and more like an attempt to trap him.

"Understood," he murmured, staring blankly ahead. The road ahead seemed to blur. Last night, he'd decided their relationship couldn't continue. He valued his life too much to be caught in this mess. Before they left, he had sent a message asking someone to investigate the situation. He was sure the answers would come soon.

"Pull over. I'll drive," Odalys suddenly announced. Francis slammed on the brakes. Odalys opened the door and swiftly moved to the driver's seat. As they passed, she grabbed Francis's arm and whispered, "We're not going to the airport anymore."

"We'll change the location. I've already arranged for another car to take us to the international airport for a direct flight," Odalys said quietly. She had just texted Percival, and he replied that everything was taken care of.

Francis blinked in surprise. "But summer break is starting, and there are very few flights to Crownridge. Are you sure you can get us tickets?" He had already checked and found no tickets left, not even high-speed trains directly to Crownridge. The earliest tickets were available in a week. He panicked when he heard Odalys mention the airport. The airport was inevitable—if they were leaving, they'd have to fly. She must have already figured out everything, including which flights, to ensure he couldn't escape.

"Don't worry, I can get us on a flight," Odalys replied calmly. She slid into the driver's seat, buckled her seatbelt, and turned to Selah and Freya, flashing a playful grin. "You're not getting car sick, right?"

"What do you mean?" Selah asked, her excitement growing.

Odalys snapped her fingers. "We're taking the mountain roads at full speed."

"Bring it on. I've got my seatbelt on," Freya said, gripping the armrest fearlessly.

With a grin, Odalys floored the gas pedal. As they approached an intersection, she sharply turned, veering onto a side road, leaving Group A's car trailing behind.

"Wait, she's taking the wrong road," Atlas muttered, gripping the steering wheel. They had been on the main route to the airport, but now Group B was taking an unexpected shortcut.

"Forget it. They're probably trying to lose us. Speed up! Let's get to the airport first," Sophia urged excitedly. She guessed Odalys was trying to steal the spotlight. The variety show was trending, and anyone who showed up at the airport would surely be interviewed by the media. The first ones there would attract the most attention. Odalys and her team must be trying to ditch Group A and claim the spotlight for themselves.