Chapter 354

“Edie and Henry had an affair. It shouldn't have happened, but it did. Is this the Bennett family's attempt to infiltrate, Edie's ploy to lure them into a trap, or both sides vying for control?” Odalys's voice held a sudden spark of realization.

Percival's expression turned stern. "What did you see tonight at the Bennett Villa?" he asked, shifting the conversation.

Odalys absentmindedly rubbed the bottle in her hand. She frowned. "I noticed something strange. This makes me think he had guidance from someone powerful. Earlier, I said if Sophia was truly that crucial, Windsor wouldn't have taken her virginity on their first night, but he did."

She added, "Is it possible that Windsor needed her body for something, perhaps as a core in his plans? By taking her virginity, the balance of positive and negative energy might have been key." Her voice grew softer, the complexity of the situation twisting like an unsolvable riddle.

"If Windsor and Sophia fall out, your theory falls apart. But if they remain close after all this, it means there's something about her that Windsor wants," Percival said, his tone steady but thoughtful. After a moment, a spark of understanding lit his eyes.

Turning toward her, his chiseled features drew closer, his voice a low murmur against her ear. "For someone to go to such lengths to reshape her appearance, there must be something extraordinary about her body. Otherwise, why would Windsor be so desperate to take her virginity before leaving the country?"

Odalys froze, her mind racing. "So you're saying Windsor draws energy from her body. Sophia's aura might be one of misfortune, but if used strategically, it could spread disaster to those around her while benefiting him," she said.

Excited by this realization, Odalys leaned in, only to find herself face-to-face with Percival. She felt an inexplicable heat as his breath washed over her face, her body stiffening. The sound of his strong heartbeat filled her ears. Her eyes lifted to meet his as his Adam's apple bobbed in a way she found strangely alluring.

"Why are you so close?" Odalys quickly pushed him away.

Percival felt a thirst in his throat and a dry mouth. He picked up the mineral water bottle, unscrewed it, and took a sip. His hand suddenly froze, and even Odalys was surprised. He drank from the same bottle she had just finished; his lips brushed the spot where hers had been, giving him the fleeting illusion of an indirect kiss.

Odalys rubbed her temples awkwardly. Percival held the mineral water bottle in his hand, picked up his phone, and said in a hoarse voice, "I'll call Callum."

He hurriedly called Callum. Callum's voice came from the other end of the phone. He whispered, "Mr. Stewart, this man stillhe has something to say." "That old man wants to see you," Percival said hoarsely. Instead of taking the phone, she pressed the speakerphone button. "Speak," Brandon's voice, sharp with grief, cut through.

"Did you have something to do with my son's death? Why?" She burst out laughing. "Are you playing dumb, or are you truly ignorant? Your son was doomed long ago. Someone cast a spell on him, leaving him plagued by illness. Add in the years of poisoning, and there was no saving him."

She added, "I detoxified him once in the village, but you doubted me. After I left, you ignored my remedies, allowing the poison to rebound. You knew the villa was dangerous, but you stubbornly rushed into the unknown. Afterward, you went to the Bennett family looking for Windsor."

She continued, "Don't pretend to be clueless. Windsor's aura could trigger the poison in your body. You remain unharmed, so your son has to pay the price. You were in denial, convinced you could defy everything! Even in the village, you weren't content. You wanted to take over the Bennett family. That's why you were in such a rush to meet Windsor."

She sneered. "But Windsor didn't appreciate it, did he? You were partners once, and then you were at his mercy. It ate you up inside, but you forgot if you crossed him, your son would pay the price."

"Aren't you the one to blame for your son's fate? Are you trying to shift the blame onto me?" Odalys retorted sarcastically.

Brandon fell silent, his hand tightening around the phone. "Kill Windsor for me," he said solemnly.

Odalys raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Percival, both of them briefly flashing a cold look. "Do you think you can command me? Or do you think I need you? You overestimate yourself! Your life has nothing to do with me, and I'm not obligated to kill anyone for you. Besides, Windsor is my father. Why would I kill him?" Odalys deliberately said.

As soon as she spoke, Brandon grew anxious. "Because the Bennett family wants to kill you!" he said anxiously.

Odalys frowned and leaned her head to the side. "I know. They've always wanted to ruin me. I'm not stupid."

Brandon replied, "That's not what I meant! The Bennett family wants to use your body to kill. This time, you're marrying into the Stewart family! It's the Bennett family's scheme. Your energy is special, and ordinary people can't control it."

He added, "Especially that man from the Stewart family who has been ill for years. He is already poisoned. Once you marry him and sleep with him, he will definitely die. Then your 'husband killer' reputation will be set in stone, and the Stewart family will blame you for it."

He continued, "If you cause that Stewart family member's death in bed, their aura will be disturbed, which will lead to the collapse of the Stewart family's century-old foundation. Once the aura is disrupted, their business will plummet, and their power will be divided."

Brandon added, "If the Stewart family falls, those who have been eyeing them will join forces to eliminate them and take their place." Odalys and Percival exchanged glances. Other than using her body to break Percival's aura, everything else was consistent with what she and Percival had guessed.

Odalys straightened her back and said indifferently, "Trying to drive a wedge between us? Not a chance." She hung up the phone without waiting for Brandon to continue.

Odalys remarked, "I thought they wanted me to marry because the Bennett family pitied Sophia, not wanting her to marry a sick man and live in widowhood. I didn't realize they wanted to use me to destroy your aura."

She added, "Although what he said is indeed reasonable, the poison in your body has already spread everywhere. Once you're with a woman, your blood will surge with passion, and the poison will attack your heart!"