Chapter 278

Orson stepped forward and grabbed Finnian by the collar. “You don’t dare have any ulterior motives, huh? So you teamed up with Sophia and secretly followed me. Were you planning to have her seduce me?” Orson hissed through gritted teeth.

Years ago, Orson had taken pity on Finnian and convinced his parents to adopt him. After raising him, Finnian repaid him with treachery.

“No, no! That’s not it! I don’t know her well, and I have no idea why she’s here,” Finnian stammered, distancing himself. He was no longer the top-tier celebrity he once was. After that variety show, his career crashed. His resources dried up, his fans vanished, and even his manager stopped returning his calls. His agency essentially abandoned him, burying him in silence. Reality had slapped him hard.

Sophia, startled, paled. “Finnian, what are you talking about? Didn’t you block me at the hospital entrance?” Even she wasn't naive enough to miss this. Finnian had been using her to seduce Orson. Success would get him back into the Lark family; failure meant throwing her under the bus. She realized how truly disgusting he was.

“What are you talking about? I never blocked you!” Finnian protested desperately.

Sophia burst into manic laughter. Realizing she was being used and that neither man was genuinely interested, she understood the truth. If they wanted her, they would have already taken her. She just wanted to escape before anyone got angry.

“Is that so?” Sophia sneered. She had learned her lesson and recorded their conversations.

Finnian’s voice, arrogant and clear, echoed: “As long as you seduce Orson and help me get back into the Lark family, I’ll secure the Lark family’s inheritance. Once they’re in trouble, it’ll all be mine. You just have to follow my lead. Once I succeed, all the entertainment industry resources will be at your disposal. I’ll even ensure the Lark Group partners with the Bennett family. You’ll be the Bennett family’s hero. I get the Lark family, you get the Bennett Group, and together, we’ll rule.”

Every word was audible. Finnian, hearing his own words, nearly collapsed under the weight of his actions.

“No, no, this must be fabricated! This voice is definitely AI-generated! Orson, don’t believe her! She’s always had bad intentions. She framed Odalys before, and now she’s trying to do the same to me!” Finnian shook his head violently. Once proud and aloof, he was now petty and spineless.

Orson looked at him with disgust. “This is who you are! After all these years, this is the man who had the gall to call himself a Lark?” With a swift motion, Orson kicked Finnian aside. “You’re nothing but an illegitimate child. You can’t stand in the light; you’re filth. It was your mother who drugged my father, resulting in your birth. She secretly gave birth to you, hoping to use you to become a mistress. I felt sorry for you, so I had my mother raise you. I thought having Lark blood would make you better, but you’ve only inherited your mother’s filth.” Orson’s voice was heavy with disappointment.

Chapter 279 (presumably)

Finnian opened his mouth, but no words came out. “Orson, you’re nothing special; you’re just luckier than me. Do you really think you’re better?” Finnian spat, pulling a knife from his pocket and lunging at Orson.

Orson didn't flinch. He grabbed Finnian’s wrist, twisting it forcefully. With a sharp crack, Finnian cried out in pain as the knife fell. Orson kicked him hard in the leg, leaving Finnian in agony, unable to move his leg or wrist. Hatred and resentment filled him.

“This time, I’ve only broken your leg and wrist. If I catch you scheming again, don’t think you’ll ever show your face in Crownridge again,” Orson said coldly. He handed the knife to a bodyguard. “Take him and dump him on the street.”

“Understood,” the bodyguard replied, roughly hauling Finnian into a car.

Percival, watching, spoke: “Wait.” The bodyguard approached cautiously, avoiding eye contact. He knew the rumors of Percival’s death.

“Take her as well. Throw her back to the Bennett family. Tell them to keep an eye on their adopted daughter and make sure she doesn’t embarrass herself again. A woman who seduces men like that is disgusting,” Percival said chillingly.

Sophia’s face paled. She tried to get up, but her injuries prevented her.

The bodyguards dragged her to the car. The car sped away, leaving the villa silent.

“I can’t believe Finnian would still follow me, trying to have Sophia seduce me. That’s just…” Orson was furious. Finnian was an exception to the Lark family’s moral standards.

Percival said quietly, “He wanted to take your place. No wonder Odalys looks down on him so much.”

“Any findings upstairs?” Percival asked.

Orson and Callum shook their heads. “We searched the villa. The layout’s odd, almost like a setup, but nothing unusual.”

“Then dig here,” Percival said, pointing to a pit. It was where they had previously buried bodies.

“Isn’t this where they bury people?” Orson gasped.

Percival said simply, “Dig.”

They began digging. Initially, they found only wet soil. But deeper down, a strong smell of blood hit them.

“Ugh, what’s that smell?” Callum exclaimed.

The familiar stench of blood made Orson’s eyes widen. “This… this is blood-soaked earth, like those buried under mountain villages.”