Chapter 334

Odalys extended her arm, leaning against Freya, trapping her and rendering her almost immobile. "I will handle this matter," Odalys said coldly. "The filming for your project is starting soon. It's not the right time for you to show your face."

Freya wanted to argue, but Selah tugged at her sleeve. "Freya, listen to Odalys. This is her issue, and she needs to face it herself. Otherwise, people will think she's hiding out of fear," Selah whispered. Francis and Stellan nodded in agreement.

It wasn't that they were afraid of trouble. They understood that if Odalys didn't address the situation head-on, the Bennett family might use it against her later.

"Then, shall we go in with her?" Freya asked, still worried that with so many people inside, they might resort to violence against Odalys. At that moment, she seemed to forget how Odalys had once killed a wild boar barehanded on a deserted island.

"You can come in, but don't interrupt," Odalys said with a mix of exasperation and indulgence.

Freya exhaled in relief. She grabbed a dagger and said, "If they dare to say anything out of line, I'll stab them." Selah gasped, shrinking her neck. Freya was no longer the delicate socialite she once was. Back when she was a star-chaser, Freya had seemed innocent. Now, she spoke of stabbing people without hesitation, and she meant it.

"Should I get a dagger too?" Selah muttered.

Francis and Stellan exchanged glances and said nothing.

Odalys opened the car door, jumped out, and strode toward Bennett Villa. From a distance, she could hear the commotion inside, as though a lively party was underway. As she stepped inside, she saw reporters had cornered the Bennett family. The shareholders and Federick, who had caused the earlier scandal, were being trampled by the reporters, unable to move. Federick's face was contorted in pain. He called out, "Help!" when he saw Odalys, as if she were his savior.

At that moment, they realized how terrifying reporters could be—far worse than gossipy women in a marketplace. The journalists surged in, trampling people in their rush to secure better angles and capture more footage. The shareholders looked miserable. Once revered, they were now being broadcast live and bruised by the reporters.

"Mr. Bennett, you said you loved me?" Odalys's voice suddenly rang out. The room fell silent. She stood calmly with a faint smile, but her aura was impossible to ignore.

Hannah cried, "Odalys, please come home! I know I was wrong. We couldn't find you for so many years. I wanted you to understand the daily business; you were living at home and didn't need to spend money. I didn't give you a salary."

"Your older brother intended to toughen you up to better manage the family, but it was all misunderstood," Hannah's voice choked with emotion.

Chapter End

Freya clenched her fists, ready to rush forward, but Selah held her back. "Don't say anything yet," Selah cautioned, fearing Freya might charge forward.

"So that's how it is!" Odalys chuckled and strode confidently ahead. As she moved, the reporters parted, creating a path for her. Her gaze fell on Sophia. She saw Sophia clutching her wrist; the blood was slight, but the injury was real.

Sophia fumed, meeting Odalys's gaze. Seeing Odalys, so glamorous, made her feel foolish. She used to live a life of luxury; now, she was a shadow of her former self.

"Odalys, are you still mad at me?" Hannah asked, her eyes filled with longing.

Odalys laughed, her gaze sharp as she looked at Hannah and the cameras. "Do you all know why I'm sharing my personal affairs during this live broadcast? Because I don't want to be bitten back! I'm the victim here, yet I'm portrayed as someone who wants to sever ties with her family after marrying into wealth."

"Now, let me show you something."

The reporters' eyes lit up, sensing a scoop, and they held their breaths. Odalys pulled out a formal disownment agreement. "I posted this document on my social media a minute ago. If you can't read it here, feel free to check my profile," she said.

Upon seeing the signatures and date, they gasped.

"Odalys, stop joking around. This agreement was just a prank," Hannah attempted to downplay, believing that as long as she denied its validity, nothing could be done.

She looked at the other Bennetts. Their faces were pale, and they radiated misfortune. Sophia's misfortune seemed to have spread to them. Sophia, it was clear, was the unluckiest.

"To show you something," Odalys whispered. She switched on a large screen in Bennett Villa. The massive screen was impossible to ignore, and the Bennett family froze. They were trapped.

"What are you doing, Odalys? Stop this!" Hannah's voice was laced with fear.

Odalys projected a video onto the TV. "Mom, if Odalys marries Jun, can I stay with you forever?"