Chapter 297

When Odalys was a child, abandoned by her parents, she nearly froze to death. After her mentor took her in, he bathed her in a magical restorative energy, rendering her essentially free from pain and resistant to ordinary poisons or curses. However, she didn't reveal these things. It was important to be cautious. She trusted Percival and Evander, but wouldn't tell them everything. She felt that this was the best way to protect Bennett.

"That's good," Evander said, relieved.

After the meal, Odalys put down her fork, stood up slowly, and looked sideways at the dark night outside the courtyard, lost in thought.

"I need to go out for a while," she whispered.

Hearing this, Percival immediately got up and followed her.

"Do you need anything?" Percival's voice was low and husky, but his deep black eyes were fixed on her. He watched as she exuded an air of confidence, her proud expression so dazzling that he couldn't tear his eyes away. He didn't know when it started, but she possessed an alluring charm that drew him in uncontrollably.

"No," Odalys said.

She went upstairs, checked the contents of her canvas bag, and got into Percival's car. The luxury vehicle drove into the night and disappeared into the darkness.

Late that night, at the Tillery residence, the night sky, originally filled with stars, was covered by dark clouds. The entire residence felt incredibly eerie, and a chilling draft persisted. The lights in the corridor flickered continuously.

"Honey," Geleite whispered, so scared that goosebumps appeared on her skin. Her legs went weak, and she nearly fell. The image of Blossom combing her hair in front of the mirror kept flashing through her mind. Her voice trembled. She felt a constant chill blowing into the living room. That indescribable feeling panicked her.

Harvey sensed something was wrong, but as a worldly man, he remained outwardly calm. "Don't be afraid, Mrs. Stewart will be here soon," he said in a low voice.

As he finished speaking, they heard a sound from Blossom's room. Startled, they rushed to her bedroom. They found Blossom with her hair down, holding a comb, standing before the mirror. The mirror was covered in Odalys's talismans. Blossom trembled, as if frightened, and suddenly screamed, then covered her face and ran out.

"Blossom!" Seeing this, Geleite hurried after her. Harvey, equally surprised, quickly followed.

Blossom ran to the courtyard, stood under a large tree, and kept saying, "Why is it gone?"

"What is she looking for?" Celeste was too scared to come forward. Blossom didn't cry, but calmed down. Odalys's words kept echoing in her mind: "Don't do anything you'll regret."

"I don't know," Harvey said, his feelings mixed. Looking at his carefully cultivated daughter, now so strange, his heart ached.

Chapter 297

He believed that if one were born into wealth and power without experiencing hardship, they would accomplish nothing in the future. He wanted to step forward, but hesitated.

At that moment, the doorbell rang. Seeing a figure outside, Celeste turned, her voice trembling slightly.

"Why did Mr. Carline come?" Celeste's pupils shrank. She remembered Odalys mentioning that if Oliver came, he wouldn't dare enter because he would be counterattacked and lose three years of his life. She hadn't expected Oliver to actually come.

She exchanged glances with Harvey, and they both walked to the door.

"Mr. Carline, why have you come at this time?" Celeste asked politely.

Oliver stood outside, watching them with no intention of entering. Feeling slighted, a trace of displeasure flickered in his eyes. After all, all the wealthy and powerful families in Crommridge held him in high regard, but the Tillery family didn't take him seriously.

"I sense a heavy aura of wicked energy surrounding the Tillery residence, a clear indication of malevolent forces at play. I've come to investigate," Oliver declared, his gaze sweeping over the dwelling. In the courtyard, beneath a towering tree, a solitary figure murmured incessantly. His eyes narrowed as they fixed on the young girl, a flicker of something peculiar in their depths.

"Mr. Carline, our home is perfectly ordinary! There's nothing amiss," Harvey responded courteously.

A flicker of anger ignited in Oliver's eyes. He stood at the threshold, bathed in moonlight, his presence radiating an eerie intensity.

"Is that so? It seems you disregard the well-being of your own daughter. I merely happened to be passing by and felt compelled to offer a word of caution. Blindly trusting the words of others will ultimately lead to your downfall," Oliver stated pointedly.

Celeste's lips quivered; she instinctively took a step forward, then hesitated. Her hands clenched into fists, her gaze fixed on Oliver as he turned to depart, but she remained silent.

"Don't place your faith in Odalys, lest you meet your demise," Oliver's voice echoed as he turned away. A hint of mockery flickered in his eyes, but he subconsciously slowed his pace, anticipating a desperate plea. Silence greeted him; irritation washed over him. He stopped before turning back, finding that they had turned their backs on him.

"If you don't ask for my help now, I'll never come back, even if you beg me!" Oliver angrily tossed the wand in his hand. But he still didn't leave, standing there for two minutes. The Tillery family didn't open the door, not even looking in his direction. Oliver felt humiliated. All the prestigious families treated him with respect, but the Tillery family ignored him. He felt a stark contrast to the Bennett family's fawning behavior.

Inside the Tillery residence, Celeste clenched her fists.

"Don't be deceived by Oliver. Since we have placed our trust in Odalys, we will trust her to the end. Even if our family is ruined, we cannot change our minds at the last minute." Celeste, though shaken, regained her composure.

Harvey looked at her righteous appearance and said, "You are right. Oliver's arrival is too sudden. We have to be cautious. Moreover, I recently discovered that a force is investigating him. I followed the trail and discovered that the energy fields of all the prestigious families in Crownridge are connected to Oliver. If he controls our family's energy field and has ulterior motives, I fear we will truly be at his mercy. So Odalys is more reliable," Harvey whispered.

Though Odalys had appeared seemingly out of thin air, for some reason, he felt a sense of trust in her, perhaps from their meeting that day—a feeling he couldn't quite describe. He felt inexplicably dependent on her, a sense of relaxation he'd never felt before.

Blossom's screams continued.