Chapter 270
Odalys's tone was sharp and unwavering. "This is the result of your scheming against Orson, your attempt to usurp his place. You never understood gratitude. Orson allowed you to return to the Lark family, providing you with resources and opportunities through the Lark Group. Instead of appreciating this, you tried to crush him. What you face now is precisely what you deserve. It has nothing to do with anyone else."
She paused, her gaze cold and unrelenting. "Even clinging to me won't change your situation. Don't even think about involving the Stewart family in your mess. You know your position."
"You followed me, hoping to test the waters? Let me advise you: drop it. Otherwise, this low point will be just the beginning," Odalys warned icily.
Finnian's aura was clouded, a clear sign his luck had run out. If he had been kind, shown gratitude, perhaps things would have turned out differently, she mused. But Finnian neither appreciated nor reciprocated kindness; instead, he betrayed it, ensuring his life would spiral further downward.
"You're into star readings, aren't you? You can save others, so why can't you save me?" Finnian's voice was desperate.
Odalys laughed sharply, slamming her fork on the table. Rising slowly, she locked eyes with him and smirked. "Why should I save you?"
"When you and Sophia plotted against me, did you consider my situation?" she retorted, her voice sharp.
Finnian's face hardened as he tried to justify himself. "But you're doing just fine now, aren't you? And besides, you're not ordinary. Even if something happened to you, it wouldn't be that bad. If you pull me up now, I might return the favor someday," he added patronizingly.
"Nobody wins forever. You can't always count on luck. The future is unpredictable, and you shouldn't underestimate me. Help me now, and I'll help you in the future," Finnian pressed.
Before Odalys could reply, Freya burst out laughing. Crossing her arms, she shook her head in disbelief. "I've never seen anyone beg with such shameless confidence. Seriously, do you hear yourself?"
Her voice sharpened. "Why would she need you to pull her up? Look at us. Any of us could help her better than you. What makes you so special, Finnian?"
"Who do you think you are, giving her advice?" Freya's words cut through Finnian's pride like a knife.
Finnian found no sympathy from Stellan and Francis, who barely glanced at him with disdain. Humiliation washed over him, almost knocking him over. His voice faltered as he tried to cover his shame. "Fine. Push me into a corner. Odalys, you'll regret this," he spat.
He'd expected tailing them to a private room would give him a chance, but the harsh light of their indifference revealed how little they thought of him.
Odalys spoke softly, "His luck is gone. Sophia must have absorbed it all. Finnian might be desperate enough to do something extreme."
As Finnian stormed out, Odalys watched him. He's beyond reasoning, she thought. I wanted to snap him out of it, but he's so caught up in his bitterness that he blames everyone else.
"You're wasting your breath," Francis said calmly. "The Lark Group abandoned him. He's being shut out everywhere. He's convinced your refusal to help is contempt." They understood.
6:29 PM
Chapter 270 (This line is redundant, as the chapter number is already established.)
He doesn't seem like someone with much good fortune left. Selah glanced over with curiosity.
Odalys explained in a low voice, "Sophia used up her luck during the filming of that show. Without that luck, Rafael would have raped her. She barely escaped each time."
"Everyone's actions deplete their energy. Kindness doesn't always bring rewards, but cruelty always has consequences," she added somberly. Some people are kind their whole lives and receive no reward; others do terrible things and live blessed lives. It's about personal choices.
"That's true. Every time she deliberately provoked Rafael, she walked away unharmed," Selah said thoughtfully.
"And she stole the python's eggs, yet the python didn't devour her. Any other snake, and she'd be eaten," Odalys added.
The others fell silent. Odalys's point seemed valid.
"When you get back, study the script carefully. After grasping your characters, we'll set a time to sign contracts. No need for individual private lounges in the shop," Odalys instructed.
After finishing their spaghetti (at 3 PM), Francis and Selah hailed a cab back to rehearse. Stellan went shopping before going to the hospital to care for his parents.
"You said you wanted to introduce me to your cousin, but you seem more like an orphan," Odalys remarked to Freya, puzzled.
Freya, texting, froze, flustered. "Odalys, I do have a cousin. I was adopted, but officially, I have a cousin. He's wonderful; you'd be happy if you married him," Freya explained earnestly.
A Maybach approached. Recognizing the license plate, Freya panicked, covering her face. "Odalys, something urgent! I have to go!"
She hesitated, then returned, quickly stuffing something into Odalys's bag before dashing to her Ferrari, shielding her face.
"Why's Freya in such a hurry?" Odalys muttered, confused.
After Freya left, Odalys found several pouches in her bag, each with a name: Selah, Freya, Francis, and Stellan. Inside each was a card and a ruby. 'What in the world?' Odalys was stunned.
"Are you finished?" Percival's pleasant voice came from above.
Odalys looked up, meeting his deep gaze. He was dressed in a black shirt and slacks. Quickly, she shoved the gifts back into her bag and walked toward him.
"Percival, what are you doing here?" she asked, surprised.
He opened the car door. She slid into the passenger seat; he buckled her seatbelt, then drove.
"I finished work and saw you on the side of the road. I thought I'd check on you," Percival explained, glancing at her. "And you? Are you done? Let's go home," he asked softly. Percival was usually swamped with work, often sleeping at the office.
This revised version improves grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure for better flow and clarity. It also removes unnecessary repetitions and inconsistencies.