Chapter 347

“What is that old man doing here?” Callum muttered, thoroughly puzzled.

“We’ll see soon enough,” Odalys replied with a cold smile.

Inside the car, Percival sat silently. His gaze seemed to pierce the night.

“It seems this villa incident is connected to him,” Percival said calmly. His voice was deep and composed. He was analyzing the situation independently, unswayed by others’ emotions.

“Connected to him? Isn't he just a tailor specializing in custom-made clothing? This is a crime scene!” Callum exclaimed, his voice rising. He froze mid-sentence, slamming on the brakes. He glanced back at Percival, then at Odalys.

“Could he actually be involved?” Callum asked, his voice trembling. He was stunned. Brandon had lived in isolation in a mountain village for years and seemed like a victim.

“Do you think we locked him in the basement for no reason?” Odalys asked quietly.

“After learning Windsor returned and the Bennett family fell into chaos, he decided to take a gamble,” Percival said, his tone steady, building on Odalys’s explanation.

Callum nervously adjusted his glasses and straightened up, staring at the villa.

“So, should we go in and take a look?” he asked hesitantly.

Before anyone could answer, two plainclothes police officers emerged from the shadows and approached their car. One knocked on the window.

The officer said politely, “Ms. Stone, Mr. Hersey assigned us to guard this place. He said you anticipated someone trying to sneak in and asked us to wait.”

“Now that someone’s entered, should we move in?” the officer asked respectfully.

Having witnessed Odalys’s sharp intellect during a previous case, they deeply admired her.

Odalys replied softly, “Not yet. Let’s see what he does inside first. When he leaves, follow him and see if he heads to the Bennett family.” The officers nodded, knowing Lee had instructed them to follow her lead. “Understood,” they said, retreating into the shadows.

Odalys and Percival stepped out of the car and quietly approached the villa. They hid in the darkness, observing as Brandon hurried inside. He looked around anxiously.

“How can this be? Everything’s gone!” he muttered.

Brandon paced the villa with surprising familiarity. He froze upon noticing a shattered mirror, staring at it in stunned silence. “Why is it broken?” he whispered, remaining motionless for a few seconds before abruptly leaving. He got into his car and drove away without looking back.

Odalys said coldly, “He knows this villa too well. That means he knew the man who tried to curse me here. They were connected.” (The sentence about Marriner and their ages was unclear and removed). When Odalys arrived at the mountain village, she smelled a familiar scent and identified Brandon.

Protivat said, “You mentioned the old man performed a ritual to exploit Sophia against you, but when you broke his magic, it resulted in his immediate death.”

He was confused. The backlash caused Sophia’s appearance to revert. In a desperate attempt to maintain her appearance, the caster… (The sentence was incomplete and unclear and thus removed.)

Odalys nodded slightly. “Exactly. That man knew about Sophia’s true nature, but I dealt with him before he could act further. This old man was his partner.”

Chapter 347 (Continued)

Her tone was light but confident, as if everything unfolding was part of her plan. Nothing seemed to surprise her.

“He hid in the mountain village, likely to avoid suspicion and profit from the chaos. He didn’t expect me to disrupt their plans. Now, he can’t contact the one who died,” Odalys said, meeting Percival’s gaze.

“He’ll go to the Bennett family,” Percival replied, understanding her. He knew this type of person; their goals were always clear.

“Let’s go see the drama unfold,” Odalys said softly, heading for the door.

As she moved, Percival instinctively reached out to steady her, his hand lightly touching hers.

“It’s fine. I’m not that tired,” Odalys said.

Percival was concerned; she had expended a lot of energy. He worried that pushing herself too hard could lead to physical harm.

“If you can’t handle it, go home. Since he’s been released, there’s no way he can escape,” Percival said. He was a meticulously planned man, with everything under control, including this old man.

“I know, but I want to watch. The Bennett family has wronged me so badly. I can’t let this slide. The more chaotic they are, the better it makes me feel. And I’m no innocent flower,” Odalys said with bitterness.

“The more miserable the Bennett family is, the happier I am! I will make them suffer!” Odalys said coldly. She always repaid wrongs, and no one could stop her.

“Alright,” Percival responded, though his eyes held concern.

She hadn’t said anything, but through their connection, he glimpsed their shared previous timeline and her sorrow. She was forced to jump off a building by the Bennett family and mocked even after her death. Anyone would harbor hatred after such injustice.

As they spoke, they walked outside. Once in the car, Callum immediately sped off, following Brandon’s location.

At 11 pm, the Bennett villa was brightly lit and bustling.

Windsor and Sophia had returned to the villa. Upon seeing the disarray in the living room, disgust flashed in his eyes. “I didn’t expect that in my three years abroad, the Bennett family would fall apart like this,” Windsor muttered.

“Henry couldn’t even manage the company, and now the family is in disarray. If I hadn’t come back, would the Bennett family even exist anymore?” His anger was palpable.

Sophia followed quietly behind him. She winced faintly at his fury.

Sophia said, “Dad, don’t be too hard on Henry. He did his best, but no one can handle everything, right? We can’t expect him to perform tasks beyond his capability. Don’t you agree?”

She added, “Besides, you’re the backbone of the Bennett family. With you gone, it’s only natural for things to fall apart. This family is yours to command. Without you, it’s…”

“As capable as you, Dad!” Sophia said, hugging Windsor from behind.

Windsor stiffened, but a smile touched his lips. “It looks like all these years of care weren’t in vain,” Windsor replied, embracing her. They locked eyes, the desire between them almost palpable. (The last few lines were largely incomprehensible and removed.)