Chapter 272

Odalys watched Evander's anxious expression and barely suppressed a chuckle.

"Mr. Stewart," she said, quickly changing the subject, her tone light, "I heard you prayed all night yesterday."

The mention of the previous night made Evander's face light up with pride.

"Yes, I did," he replied, instinctively straightening his posture. "I even sent flowers to every ancestor in the family."

Despite being a tall, imposing man in his seventies, he possessed a childlike charm that was oddly endearing.

"I also heard you bought all the best flowers in town," Odalys added with a knowing smile.

Evander, now engaged in conversation, let Percival's earlier scolding slide as he walked with Odalys into the living room. Dorian appeared with a tray of fresh fruit.

"I caught the livestream," Evander said, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "Your new shop seems to be doing well. It already had a long line on opening day. I hear people are booking appointments a month in advance?"

Odalys popped a cherry into her mouth and nodded. "Yes, that's true."

"You're not charging money? You're only doing resource exchanges? And for those without resources, they can just pay whatever they want?" Evander pressed, still puzzled.

"That's right," Odalys confirmed softly.

Evander fell silent for a moment, his brows furrowing. "And what if someone just wants a star reading or an energy field consultation but doesn't offer resources or flat-out refuses to pay?"

"Plenty of people try to take advantage, especially the wealthy," he added, his voice laced with concern. "They're not always generous." It was clear he worried she might be too young to handle potential exploitation.

Still nibbling on her fruit, Odalys shook her head. "That won't happen. I can perform divination. I can tell right away what kind of luck someone has. If they're stingy and only looking for a freebie, I'll just give them a basic reading."

She added with a small smile, "It's all about reciprocity. I can help you, but you can't take advantage of me, right?"

Evander nodded approvingly and slapped his thigh lightly. "Exactly! Well said."

It didn't matter to him whether Odalys made money or not. The Stewart family had immense wealth, enough to ensure that even if she never worked another day, she'd still live comfortably. Besides, the Stewart Group would eventually fall into the hands of Percival and Odalys anyway.

"Odalys," Evander said after a long pause, his tone more serious, "I'd like to talk to you about Percival and his mother." It was clear he was weighing how best to broach the subject. After all, the family's history was a tangled mess that would give anyone a headache.

"You mean how he publicly kicked Edie out of the Stewart family?" Odalys asked calmly, glancing at him.

Evander's lips parted, but he hesitated, the words catching in his throat. "You already know?" he asked, visibly surprised. Evander had been worried that Odalys might look down on Percival for having a deceased father and a mother who caused trouble. He understood how messy such a background could seem.

"Yes, he already told me everything," Odalys said. "I think he did the right thing. If someone only knows how to retreat and let others push them around, even to the point of being trampled without fighting back, then they're truly weak and unreliable." Her gaze was unwavering. "Family isn't something you can force into existence. Some people simply aren't worth the effort, even if they're your own mother." The thought brought a pang of bitterness to Odalys, a reminder of her experience before her time travel. Before time traveling, she had clung too tightly to the idea of family, and it had cost her everything.

"I'm glad you see it that way," Evander said with a relieved sigh. The tension in his shoulders visibly eased.

Dorian had been bustling around for a while, and by 5:30, he approached them. "Mr. Stewart, Odalys, dinner is ready," Dorian announced.

As soon as he finished speaking, Percival walked in from outside, having just ended a phone call. The dining table was laden with an array of sumptuous dishes. Odalys wasn't picky about food, so she ate quietly while Evander and Percival discussed various matters. She didn't feel the need to interject, content to let them talk.

After finishing her meal, Odalys hesitated for a moment. "Mr. Stewart," she called out softly.

Evander immediately turned toward her, his expression puzzled. "What is it?"

"The Stewart mansion has a good energy field, but it's in such a remote area," Odalys said cautiously. "It wouldn't be safe for you to live there alone. Have you thought about staying here?"

Evander glanced over at Percival. "Grandpa, listen to her," Percival said with a nod.

Evander hesitated. He knew that Odalys always had her reasons for what she said and did, but he was getting older. He wasn't sure if living with young people would be a burden on them. "If I move in, would it be inconvenient for you two? Would I be disturbing you?" Evander asked. He understood that young people preferred their freedom and often didn't want to live with elders.

"It won't be a problem," Odalys reassured him. "I used to live with my master, and it was just fine."

Evander nodded, and with that, he agreed to stay.

After dinner, Evander and Dorian headed outside for a walk, while Odalys and Percival went upstairs. "Come sit for a while?" Percival called over his shoulder as he walked toward the study.

Odalys raised an eyebrow and followed him. Once inside the study, Percival opened a drawer, took out a file, and handed it to her. "I've found something," he said quietly.

Odalys took the file and glanced through it. "You suspect your uncle might be abroad?" she asked softly.

Percival poured her a glass of water and sat down across from her. "Yes," he replied quietly.

After reading through the file, Odalys thought about the events of the day and said softly, "So, you cut off Edie's ties with the Stewart family completely. And now, she'll go to great lengths to try and help her brother. When she realizes the Stewart family has severed all her connections, she'll be frantic."

"If your uncle wasn't prepared and was hoping to use the Stewart family's resources, only to find out that all support has suddenly been cut off, he'll be in a difficult position, caught between a rock and a hard place," Odalys continued.

Percival chuckled softly, an appreciative look in his eyes as he watched her. "Yes," he agreed. "When I account for the resources and money she's provided to her brother over the years, it's enough for them to live in luxury. But if she wants to do something else, it won't be nearly enough. She's afraid my grandfather will find out, so every time she moves money, it's within her control. Today, I made sure the bank cut off all her cards. Now she can't access any of the Stewart family's accounts. All the properties and other assets under her name have been reclaimed. Now, aside from a single apartment, she has no real estate left." Percival had already offered her a place to stay, which was the most lenient concession he could make.

"It looks like you want to push them to their limits," Odalys said with a quiet laugh. She watched Percival, who seemed to effortlessly block all their escape routes, orchestrating every move like a master strategist. He appeared nonchalant, but everything was under his control.

"If we go step by step, we might suffer too many casualties," he said. "It's better to take the initiative and make them realize the danger."