Chapter 33

Atlas remained silent, considering the situation. He thought, We’re in different groups. There’s no obligation to invite anyone from Group A. It isn’t fair to blame Odalys. But even knowing this, he couldn't bring himself to speak. Still, his patience had its limits. Sophia might be a spoiled princess, but so was he. Neither was used to this hardship. And now he had to soothe her, stomach growling? Atlas was annoyed.

“Atlas, I’m not blaming you. I’m sorry,” Sophia murmured softly, her hands lightly shaking his arm, her tone laced with a hint of playful affection.

Gradually, Atlas’s simmering anger subsided. Using his irritation, she leaned in quickly, wrapping her arm around his.

“In the future, don’t pick fights with her during live streams. If we need to deal with her, let’s do it privately. You don’t want a ruined online reputation, do you?” Atlas whispered seriously.

Sophia’s eyes reddened. “You think I’m causing trouble? I just wanted to get along with her! Why does she hate me so much?” Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked up at him.

“Hey, don’t cry. Let’s get you some food, and then you need sleep,” Atlas said, guiding her toward the fire. But they found only smoldering ash.

Atlas was about to speak when Finnian stood, brushing off his clothes. “I’m done eating. Heading back to sleep,” he announced flatly.

“Ms. Bennett, would you like some?” Lucian offered quickly, slicing off a portion as she approached. But the fire was out, and the meat was undercooked. Finnian and Lucian had already eaten the charred pieces, leaving only bloody, half-raw portions. Sophia’s tears spilled over.

“I’m not eating. You guys enjoy,” she said, her voice barely audible, before hurrying away. She quickly caught up with Finnian. Reaching out, she grabbed his arm.

“Are you mad at me?” she asked, her expression pitiful.

Finnian exhaled sharply, his features darkened by a scowl. He pried her hand away. “Ms. Bennett, we’re here for a reality show,” he said seriously. “And what about tonight? You intentionally led the boar to attack her. What was that supposed to achieve? If Odalys died, how would that benefit either of us?”

“We had an agreement,” Finnian continued. “You make her take your place in the marriage, and I’ll step in afterward. But if you’re trying to kill her? Do you want our plans to fall apart?”

Sophia froze, his words hitting her like a slap. She stumbled back, shaken by the ice in his gaze.

Finnian didn’t wait for her response, striding away and throwing himself down on a makeshift bed, ignoring her.

Chapter 33 (continued)

Sophia remained rooted to the spot before taking a small step closer. “But I haven’t eaten anything yet,” she said quietly, hoping for sympathy. She wanted to elicit his sympathy, but Finnian didn't even look at her. Her frustration and humiliation boiled into silent fury.

What none of them realized was that, while the official camera crew had left, hidden cameras continued rolling, broadcasting their every move. Confident the crew was off-duty, Sophia had let her true colors show, unaware it was being captured.

The live-stream chat exploded. While most viewers had slept, a late-night crowd gathered to watch the drama.

[Wow. Sophia’s such a spoiled brat. All that “sweet and kind” branding? Completely falling apart now.] [And what’s up with Lucian? Did he really steal food? Shady as hell. Dude’s canceled.] [Wait, why does Sophia keep calling Atlas and get along so closely? Are they actually siblings? I thought that was just a gimmick.] [Somebody dig into this. Is Atlas the heir to Bennett Entertainment? Didn’t he say he had Odalys’ contract? Is he planning something?] [Forget the drama. Sophia’s been flirting with every guy here. She’s such a classic fake.]

Even Sophia’s fans fell silent, watching in stunned disbelief. Her actions—flirting with every man, leading the boar toward Odalys—were too much to defend. For the first time, even her most devoted followers were speechless.

[She’s done. Sophia is the blueprint for a two-faced diva.]

Sophia’s biggest fan account tried to rally support, but their comments were drowned out by criticism.

Online, the backlash was swift and merciless. Clips of Sophia leading the boar toward Odalys and her provocative poses spread like wildfire. Sophia still wanted to use the variety show to boost her popularity and bring down Freya, aiming to secure a lead role.

Unexpectedly, her coquettish provocations infuriated the director.

[Breaking: A-list director announces late-night statement, cutting ties with Sophia.]

The lead role had been reserved for Sophia. The production team had been waiting for her to finish the reality show before finalizing the contract. However, Sophia’s behavior shocked the crew, leaving the director no choice but to reject her.

The news reached Atlas at 1:30 AM. He called the director, desperate to salvage the deal, but it was too late.

Back on the island, Sophia remained blissfully unaware that her actions had cost her the role she’d spent six months fighting for. She continued dreaming of finishing the show and heading into production.

Chapter 33 (continued)

[Odalys said there’d be a storm tonight. It’s past midnight, and the weather’s perfectly calm. Total fraud.] [Yeah, kick Odalys off the show already. What a joke.]

Sophia’s fans, desperate for a scapegoat, flooded the live chat. Yet, despite 200,000 viewers, no one engaged with them.

While most viewers had gone to bed, those still tuned in waited to see if Odalys’ prediction would come true. As time passed and nothing happened, boredom set in. People began logging off.

Then, a deafening crack shattered the silence. A flash of lightning lit up the screen, striking an ancient tree. The sound was intense.

[What the hell just happened?] [Was that… lightning? It’s real?]

Viewers jolted awake, their excitement renewed.

Inside the cave, Odalys and the others were asleep. But the thunderclap startled Freya awake. She sat up, wide-eyed, just in time to see the lightning strike the tree, setting it ablaze.

“Odalys!” Freya gasped, shaking Odalys awake.

Odalys had already stirred. She glanced toward the entrance, watching the storm, her expression growing tense.

Selah woke up, screaming. “What’s going on?” she stammered. She climbed to her feet and peered outside, seeing the smoking tree.

Another crack of thunder followed, louder than the first. A second bolt of lightning struck the tree, making its trunk sway ominously.

Stellan startled awake, shooting up from his spot in his beach shorts. He grabbed his gold-rimmed glasses, slipping them on as he made his way toward the entrance.