Chapter 37

Lucian gasped for air, speaking in a panicked rush. "That scared the hell out of me! The cave flooded, and snakes and rats started swarming in!"

Finnian didn’t say a word. He just stood there, visibly shaken.

Kenny approached, his face tense as he scanned the group. Noticing Atlas and Sophia were missing, he frowned. “Where are Atlas and Sophia? Didn’t I tell everyone to move here?”

Lucian and Finnian remained silent, their expressions uneasy. After a pause, Finnian said hoarsely, “She said she wasn’t coming.”

The others were stunned. “She didn’t come? Everyone else made it here. What’s wrong with her? Does she have a death wish?” one of the crew blurted out.

Kenny’s expression darkened. “Maybe it’s fate,” he muttered grimly.

Odalys, sitting nearby, opened her eyes slightly, glancing at Kenny. Her lips parted as if she had something to say, but she hesitated. Instead, she leaned back against the tree, closing her eyes again, appearing unbothered.

The tension in the air was palpable. Everyone’s nerves were stretched taut as they stared at the storm outside. The livestream audience mirrored their unease. Over two million viewers were glued to their screens, unwilling to miss a moment. People stayed awake all night, eager to know if Atlas and Sophia were still alive. Even the Bennett family couldn’t look away.

[Do you think Atlas and Sophia made it? Or are they dead?] [Thank God Odalys warned everyone in time. If the crew hadn’t listened to her, it wouldn’t just be those two idiots in danger.] [Did you see that clip of Sophia falling? Plus the one where the waves swept her away? I replayed it, and seriously—she wasn’t wearing underwear.] [No way. On an island with three guys, wearing a dress and no underwear? What is she even thinking?]

The livestream chat buzzed with heated debates. Entertainment agencies had woken their teams to monitor the broadcast, eager for the first scoop.

Finally, at 4:30 a.m., the wind died down, and the rain stopped. By 5:00 a.m., the first light of dawn broke across the horizon. The ocean retreated quickly, leaving the shoreline clean and eerily peaceful, as though the storm had never happened.

“Go check on Atlas and Sophia. Now,” Kenny said sharply.

The staff didn’t hesitate, rushing toward Group A’s cave. They found the ground spotless, every trace of debris washed away by the storm.

Meanwhile, Group B stayed behind. “Should we check on them?” Stellan asked, his brow furrowed in frustration. Stellan clearly didn’t hold Group A in high regard; he felt no obligation to sympathize.

“We should,” Odalys replied calmly, her voice steady. She glanced toward the cave, a faint smile playing on her lips. They’re alive, she thought. Probably just exhausted.

Freya and Selah followed, hearing everyone panicking and shouting. However, Atlas and Sophia did not respond. Their shouts echoed continuously across the island.

"Atlas! Where are you?" "Sophia! Can you hear us?"

But the only response was silence. Their voices reverberated against the cliffs, hollow and eerie. Kenny wiped the sweat from his forehead, turning to Odalys abruptly. His eyes were filled with desperation.

“Odalys, you seem to have a knack for theology, astrology, etc. Can you tell us… are they alive? Or should we assume the worst?” Kenny asked, his voice faltering. The weight of responsibility pressed on him.

All eyes turned to Odalys. Even the camera crew zoomed in, capturing her every move. She stood under a tree, the sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting intricate shadows on her face. She looked calm and composed, almost ethereal.

A light breeze tousled her hair as Odalys smiled faintly. “Relax. They’re alive. Probably just sleeping.”

[Is she serious right now? She’s either a psychic or a fraud.] [Last night, the huge waves just swept them away, and here she is telling us Sophia and Atlas are asleep. Isn’t that absurd?] [She’s clearly just seeking attention! This woman is so disgusting, still putting on airs at a time like this:] [I agree with the previous comment. I saw it live last night; both Sophia and Atlas were swept away by the water. It seems highly likely that they didn’t survive.] [Hold up! Odalys said she spent 16 years in the mountains. Maybe she knows something we don’t.] [Freya and Stellan are adorable, sticking close to Odalys.] [This is all Odalys’ fault! If she hadn’t told Sophia about that cave, none of this would’ve happened. She must do it on purpose!]

Some overly emotional fans began to lash out, trying to smear Odalys. But a larger group of viewers kept rewatching last night’s livestream, convinced she wasn’t in the wrong.

The chaos from the previous night, the raging storm, and the drama shot to the top of trending topics quickly. Clips of Sophia receiving a call and refusing to head to Group B’s base were circulating everywhere. Most comments accused her of being overly dramatic; she’d even been turned into a meme.

Back on the island, Odalys chuckled softly, her expression calm despite the confusion around her. When she thought of Sophia’s current state, a flicker of mockery flashed in her eyes. After being reduced to such a sorry state, can the pampered princess of the Bennett family even handle it? she wondered.

From the start of the show, Odalys had avoided getting involved in the Bennetts’ antics. The more agitated they became, the more indifferent she remained. That was the easiest way to get under their skin. Now that the storm had given Atlas and Sophia a harsh lesson, Odalys’ mood was undeniably lighter.

“Sleeping? That’s impossible!” someone exclaimed, caught off guard by her casual remark.

At the same time, Kenny shot Odalys a long, searching look. Inwardly, he cursed Atlas and Sophia. If the Bennett family hadn’t used their connections to force the two onto the show, he never would have invited them. Looking back, Kenny deeply regretted it. Sure, Atlas and Sophia brought drama and buzz, but he valued life more than ratings. The risk of them causing a fatal accident wasn’t worth it.

Moreover, Kenny couldn’t understand it. Last night, when things were at their worst, even Finnian and Lucian had the sense to flee to safety. Yet, these two refused to leave their cave.

“Are they out of their minds?” Kenny muttered.

“Odalys,” Kenny said, lowering his voice, his tone bordering on a plea, “this is no time for jokes. If something happens to them, our whole show is done for.” At this point, Kenny was desperate, willing to grasp at straws. Aimless searching hadn’t worked, so maybe Odalys really had some talent worth trusting.

“I’m not joking. They’re right there,” Odalys said lightly, folding her hands behind her back as she tilted her chin toward a specific direction with a confident, almost smug gesture.

The group froze, staring at Odalys in disbelief, following the direction of her nod.