Chapter 228

"When the incident happened earlier," Odalys began, "Rafael pointed directly at your house. That's when you should have been threatening him from the shadows. And when I set up the formation at his place that day, you made your move as well."

Her voice was sharp and cold. "If Francis hadn't told me the stone wasn't where Ed left it, I probably wouldn't have suspected you at all. So, they finally started telling the truth, but it was mixed with half-truths and lies."

"When I came to the village, I caught the scent of your house—similar to the smell of the clothes in the Stewart family's pond. That means that piece of clothing belonged to your grandson."

The old man trembled, his gaze fixed on Odalys.

"Your grandson is dead, and you altered his clothes before sending them to Percival's father," Odalys said, her words striking like a hammer.

The old man shuddered, his body trembling. He stared at her as if he could bore a hole through her with his gaze.

"If you hadn't meddled, none of this would have happened, and I wouldn't have suspected you," Odalys added. "Your things completely counteract the medicine I gave you. So, just now, the illness I healed in you—"

"I don't know what you're talking about," the old man growled, stubborn to the end.

Odalys ignored him, turning to Callum. "Grab the shovel. We're going to dig up his family's tomb."

"Understood," Callum replied, immediately retrieving a shovel.

Hearing "dig up the tomb," the old man scrambled to his feet. His weakened hand trembled uselessly as he tried to point at Odalys.

"You dare…" he spat, glaring at her.

Odalys stepped forward, facing him. Her eyes flashed with cold fury. "You dared to use your dead family's clothes to harm others. What makes you think I'd be afraid to do anything? This is what retribution looks like today," she hissed, her voice laced with venom. "I warned you about karma. Did you think I was joking? Let me show you."

With that, she turned and walked out. The old man, stumbling in his desperation, tried to stop her, but her men swiftly located the tomb. Before he could stop them, they began to dig.

"Stop! No!" the old man cried, rushing forward, only to watch in horror as Odalys threw a talisman into the grave, causing a burst of flames. The tomb exploded, shattering the coffin, and everything inside turned to dust.

The old man's eyes rolled back; he nearly fainted from disbelief. He couldn't fathom Odalys's ruthlessness.

"Now that the tomb is destroyed, the wicked energy in the Stewart family's pond will dissipate. All the things they buried to lay the groundwork for your father's plans are now useless," Odalys murmured.

Percival, standing behind her, felt something shift within him. As the explosion rocked the ground, he felt a strange lightness, as though something oppressive had been lifted. It was an odd, but undeniably freeing, sensation.

"Damn, so this man killed his wife, daughter-in-law, and grandson. Then he tried to use his grandson's wicked energy to harm the Stewart family, didn't he?" Orson finally pieced it together. "No wonder Odalys and Percival insisted on returning here."

"But why was his son poisoned? Why were his tendons severed?" Callum remained confused. "If they were behind all this, then what about those other things?"

"His son was poisoned by long-term exposure to those toxic dyes," Odalys explained coldly. "As for his tendons, Rafael severed them."

"They're both pawns for someone else," she continued, her gaze narrowing. "But when it comes to the Stewart family, he certainly had his own motives. The power and influence of the Stewart family tempted him, so he let his personal desires bleed into his dealings with them. The clothes his grandson wore after death, soaked in the family's wicked energy—once his plans succeeded, their descendants would be blessed with the Stewart family's fortune. This is the so-called 'stolen fortune.' They were attempting to steal the Stewart family's power, and once that happened, their descendants would rise to power," Odalys added.

Callum still didn't fully understand.

"But that doesn't mean he should kill his own family, right?" he asked, baffled.

Percival shot him a sharp look. Callum felt a chill down his spine.

"Killing his own family ensures stronger hatred and resentment," Percival explained succinctly. "The greater the resentment, the easier it is to harm others while benefiting oneself."

Odalys gave him an approving glance. "Exactly. The heavier the resentment, the easier it is to use that power to destroy others while boosting your own family."

"Too bad he didn't know how to use it properly," she added, shaking her head lightly. "Rafael and he—two families destroying each other. In the end, they both lose everything."

The old man's lips moved, but no words came out.

"So, they hurt the Stewart family?" Orson's face twisted with rage.

Odalys glanced back at the destroyed tomb, her footsteps steady as she turned to leave. "They were just pawns in someone else's game. And the ones using them also had their own agenda, slipping in some personal gain while carrying out their tasks."

Percival followed her, the unsettling pressure in his chest finally vanishing.

"Odalys," Percival called softly.

"What is it?" she answered without turning.

"Earlier, near here, I felt the poison churning inside me. But now, that sensation is gone. Why?" he asked.

She explained, without glancing at him, "The poison in you is similar to what we dug up, but yours has been altered. You sensed something familiar, so your body reacted. I sealed it with the talisman, suppressing it."

As they walked, a gust of wind suddenly swept by. Out of nowhere, a giant snake slithered toward them at breakneck speed. Percival stepped in front of Odalys, shielding her.

"I'm leaving," Odalys said, glancing back at the serpent.

The snake paused, staring at her, as if understanding.

"I'll make sure to avenge you," Odalys promised softly.

The snake then lunged toward Percival. He clenched his fist, ready for impact. The snake stopped, turned, and slithered off into the woods.

"It was warning me," Percival said with a quiet laugh. "Seems like it has a soft spot for you."

"Don't try anything with me," Odalys teased. "Otherwise, it'll be coming after you next."

As they walked back, the bodyguards arrived. The village was under their control. The old man and his son were bound and stuffed into a car, while the others were kept under watch to prevent any leaks to the outside world.