Chapter 31
As soon as Callum finished, Percival had disappeared. Callum watched the livestream, his gaze fixed on Freya, who was enthusiastically reintroducing her brother to Odalys. He was speechless, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, on the island, after Sophia and Atlas left, Finnian glanced at Odalys before leaving with Lucian.
"What's wrong with those people from Group A?" Freya complained bluntly. "What did we ever do to them? Why do they look at us like we're on their bad side?"
This incident further soured her impression of them.
"Let's stay away from them to avoid being schemed against," Stellan concluded after a moment of silence.
Selah remained silent. After a few seconds, she tugged on Odalys's sleeve. "Odalys," she whispered, "are you clear about the contract you signed? Did you read the terms carefully? I saw how aggressive Atlas was—like he wouldn't let you go easily. Does your contract have an automatic renewal clause?"
Lacking support and as a newcomer, Selah didn't dare to openly criticize Atlas like Freya and Stellan. However, she knew entertainment industry contracts were full of pitfalls. Some clauses tacitly accepted unspoken rules, requiring not only accompanying clients for drinks but also for sex; refusal meant breach of contract and financial penalties. She'd seen a girl forcibly taken to a hotel, claim rape, and then disappear. Selah hadn't heard from her since and suspected she was dead.
"Don't worry," Odalys said. "It's over between me and the Bennett Group." She'd always known her family lacked love, but she'd hoped to experience it. Unfortunately, it disappointed her. Perhaps a happy family wasn't in her destiny. In her previous life, forcing such things had led to tragedy at her family's hands. This second chance meant breaking free from them was just the first step. She would make everyone who harmed her pay.
"Just keep that in mind," Selah added, "and try not to confront them directly."
Odalys chuckled softly, and Selah began cleaning up. The crew dispersed, and the cameraman left.
"So, what do we do with this wild boar?" Freya asked, troubled.
Odalys stepped forward. "Slice off the meat, salt it, and let it dry in the sun tomorrow to make jerky. It will last longer."
"Sounds good," Stellan agreed, immediately taking charge and dragging the boar.
Odalys produced her dagger and skillfully began cutting the meat. "Selah, get some branches to string the meat on," she instructed. "Find some water to wash it, then rub salt on it and hang it to dry."
Selah quickly returned with branches. Freya watched Odalys's swift movements. "You know how to butcher a boar?" she asked curiously.
"No, but it's simple," Odalys replied. "I've seen it on TV." Her photographic memory made the task easy. Stellan and Freya, less experienced, were clumsy in stringing the meat, with Selah assisting.
Half an hour later, the boar meat was hung on a tree. Odalys gifted some to the crew, keeping the rest. She also hung the leftover fish. After cleaning up, they found water to wash.
Returning to the cave at 11 PM, Odalys unfolded her tent. "My tent is quite spacious, probably enough for four people." She lit a fire. The cave wasn't sealed, and the fire would provide warmth.
"Should we three sleep together tonight?" Odalys suggested. "Setting up individual tents would take up space, and it would be harder to respond to emergencies."
"Sure!" Freya agreed enthusiastically. Selah agreed as well. While the girls set up their tent, Stellan set his up nearby. Odalys then sprayed an anti-snake and mosquito repellent around the tents and cave entrance.
"What is this?" Freya asked curiously.
"Anti-snake spray," Odalys replied, looking out from the cave entrance.
Freya shuddered, remembering the snake. She clung to Odalys. Odalys comforted her with a smile. "Snakes will stay away. We'll be safe."
Freya's eyes sparkled. "You even brought this—Thank goodness I chose you, or I'd be in great trouble!"
Selah ran over, whispering, "Group A might be too hungry to sleep tonight."
"Perfect!" Freya exclaimed, delighted.
Stellan joined the three women at the cave entrance. Noticing Odalys's troubled expression, he asked, "Are you worried about the wind?"
"Yeah," Odalys replied softly. Freya and Selah were startled; they'd forgotten Odalys's earlier wind prediction.
"It's 12 AM. Let's go to bed," Odalys said.
Unbeknownst to them, hidden cameras were still filming, livestreaming from multiple angles. The production team had installed high-definition cameras beforehand. Except for private activities, the livestream was continuous. They hadn't been informed of this.
(The final lines "宙 SEND GIFT 0" appear to be unrelated and likely from the streaming platform interface. They have been omitted.)