Chapter 219

Orson had a close relationship with Percival, and since the Stewart family didn't mind him driving their cars, he had seen Percival behind the wheel of their Cayenne once.

"Is he watching?" Odalys said, almost breathless, her eyes glued to the screen. She saw the figure approach and stop not far from Group B, as if waiting for someone. The moment Odalys caught sight of him, she exchanged a few words with Group B and, without hesitation, grabbed her luggage and hurried over. Percival, with one hand free, took the suitcase from her and tilted the umbrella to shield her from the harsh sun.

Sophia was nearly beside herself. "No way! Who is that man? Is Odalys cheating?" She stared at the screen, desperate to know who this man was—why was he driving such an expensive Cayenne? Why was he wearing a one-of-a-kind watch, walking with such an imposing air toward Odalys? Didn't she just marry that sick old man from the Stewart family? Was this some kind of betrayal?

"That's right, the man in the Stewart family wasn't expected to live much longer. Was Odalys really cheating on him?" Sophia thought. Sophia quickly took a screenshot, feeling like she had caught Odalys red-handed.

"That man took Odalys! She didn't go back with everyone! Instead, she got into that man's Cayenne!" Atlas couldn't believe it either. "She just walked off in front of everyone like that! Didn't she care about the rumors? Wasn't she worried people would think she was being kept?"

"But didn't we hear her family had booked a private plane? Why isn't she flying?"

"She's definitely been lying to everyone. She probably realized the private route wasn't available, so she bailed early," Sophia whispered, barely keeping her voice steady.

Before anyone could respond, Freya turned toward the camera and waved. "Hey, babes, we're heading to the plane now. Since it's a private route back to Crownridge, we can't keep the live broadcast going. We don't want to disappoint the fans or the media. So, just a heads up, you probably won't catch our flight. Thanks for watching this show, and we'll see you next time!" Freya smiled and waved as she spoke. The others gathered around, giving their goodbyes, all smiles as they waved. "Thanks for everything, we'll see you…" Then Freya abruptly cut the stream, leaving the three of them sitting there, staring at each other in stunned silence. They felt like everything had unfolded so suddenly; they were completely in the dark.

Sophia immediately shut down the live broadcast, her heart sinking. "So, Odalys really cut us off? She let everyone else board the private plane, but left us behind!"

"And who was that man… Do you know who owns that watch?" Sophia's voice trembled with disbelief.

Finnian sat quietly, pondering. "The Cayenne… that's the Stewart family's car," he said softly.

Sophia froze, turning to him in shock. "The Stewart family's car? That man is from the Stewart family!"

"The Stewart family wouldn't be picking her up, though," she scoffed. "Odalys is nothing to them. No way they'd send someone for her—she must've hired someone to pretend…"

Before Sophia could continue, Atlas handed over his phone. "I just had someone check it out. It seems like the Stewart family arranged a private route for her. It's a direct flight to Crownridge, with a VIP passage, no security checks. They've ensured that no one can follow her," Atlas said with a mix of disbelief and unease. He hadn't expected Odalys to pull something like this off.

"So, the Stewart family and Odalys… can't be true," Sophia muttered under her breath, trying to deny it all. She didn't want to accept that Odalys was being taken seriously by the Stewart family, and a twinge of regret began to gnaw at her. If she hadn't let Odalys marry that old man, this could have been her moment. The pain twisted her insides as she realized how much she had underestimated Odalys. It was as if Odalys had betrayed her.

"We better board the plane before it's too late," Finnian said, glancing at his phone. They were traveling by regular flight, which meant a layover in another city and a three-hour wait before they could catch their connecting flight back. Group B, on the other hand, would be in Crownridge in just two hours, while it would take them a full seven hours. The difference was so stark that it was almost unbelievable.

At the international airport, Group A arrived. Half an hour earlier, Odalys had been speeding toward the airport, weaving through the nearly empty roads, her car cutting through the rain like a knife. She slammed on the brakes and executed a perfect 180-degree turn to park. As soon as she stepped out of the car, everyone grabbed their luggage and walked ahead, greeted by media who immediately approached for interviews. It was almost as if they had been briefed beforehand, as the journalists didn't linger. Once the interview was over, they swiftly moved away.

"What's going on? I've never seen media people so cooperative," Freya remarked, stunned. After so many years in the business, she had never experienced anything like this.

"They must have been told beforehand," Stellan muttered, his eyes narrowed in thought. Selah, holding her phone, checked the flight Odalys had mentioned. "Odalys, I can't find that flight. Did you get the details wrong? There doesn't seem to be a direct flight, and I can't even book tickets now," she asked quietly. Others nodded in confusion.

"No need to check," Odalys replied with a soft smile. "I arranged for a special charter. There's a direct route, no security checks. We'll board the plane shortly."

Stellan fell silent, his gaze turning complex as he looked at Odalys. "Thank you," Stellan said quietly, his voice hoarse. He understood now—Odalys had done this for him, to help him save his disobedient father's life.

"We'll make it in time if we leave now," Odalys said, reassuring him. Everyone understood what she meant, though they were still in awe. They hadn't expected Odalys to have arranged such a private flight and direct route.

Before anyone could speak further, a black Cayenne pulled up nearby. That imposing figure drew everyone's attention. Percival, tall and commanding, stood there holding an umbrella, his black pants and shirt exuding authority. His wrist, adorned with a priceless watch, gleamed in the sunlight. As he walked toward them, he paused just a few steps away. Odalys saw the car behind him and quickly turned to the group.

"I've got to take care of something, so I won't be going back with you guys. If anything comes up, just message me on WhatsApp," Odalys said, picking up her suitcase and walking toward Percival. Her long legs moved with grace, and Percival, taking her luggage with one hand, tilted the umbrella toward her to shield her from the sun.

"You came on your own?" Odalys asked, surprised. She thought he had already left the night before.

"I've been waiting for you," Percival answered, his voice low but steady.