Chapter 371

She handed over the ring, and Percival took it, turning it over in his palm, his brow furrowed in obvious surprise.

"It's a blood ring," Percival said in a low voice. Blood rings were rare, especially ones passed down through generations. This particular ring was clearly of immense value, practically priceless. If it were put up for sale, it would likely cause a frenzy.

"It is a blood ring, but don't you think it looks familiar?" Odalys said softly. She pointed at the ring, urging Percival to think carefully.

Percival's gaze grew intense as he stared at it, deep in thought. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

"A century-old—" Odalys quietly reminded him.

Percival tightened his grip on the ring, his gaze flickering to her with a complex expression. "A century-old tailor."

"Exactly," Odalys quickly nodded, her look at Percival filled with admiration. After finishing her task, Odalys had immediately tested Percival, asking him to come and take a look at the blood ring. The negative energy emanating from it was strong, continuously surging. The energy felt oddly familiar, making her think of Brandon.

"Where did you get this blood ring?" Percival asked, his voice low. He remembered that she hadn't had it before.

Odalys briefly explained, and as she did, Percival's grip on the ring tightened, his voice darkening. "This major's whole family was massacred, their wealth wiped out, and their ancestral home was forced to be sold. In fact, it was all orchestrated."

"Yes, someone coveted their ancestral home because of its prime energy field. They plotted to destroy the family, leading to the massacre and the fall of their fortune," Odalys said. The scene was too tragic for her to let that man remember. If she did, he wouldn't have left so easily. But if he didn't go through time travel soon, it wouldn't just be him; even that woman could end up losing her soul.

"The century-old tailor family were the murderers," Percival said in a low voice. He handed the ring back to her. "It seems this family hid things well. We initially thought they were misled and wanted to take advantage of the Stewart family's fortune, but now it seems they were most likely the masterminds."

Odalys looked at Percival with even greater admiration upon hearing this. She knew he was strategic, but she hadn't realized just how sharp he truly was.

"You know why I didn't kill him last night at the Bennett Villa?" she asked. "Otherwise, given my personality, I would have ended it right then." She added, "He went to the villa in the suburbs, then came back to the Bennett Villa to confront Windsor. On the surface, it seemed like he wanted justice, but in reality, he knew we were following him and did it on purpose. He wanted to mislead us and shift suspicion onto Windsor. But he didn't expect that I would find a way to make Windsor break the rules. Once Windsor is ruined, he becomes useless to him."

"Brandon is sharp. His son's death was probably intentional. He needed to get rid of a burden." Odalys fiddled with the ring in her hand as she walked out. Percival followed quietly behind her, listening thoughtfully.

"The mountain village hides toxic blood. He's trying to frame Windsor as a scapegoat. It looks like he's done everything. He wants to take advantage of us to eliminate his enemies."

"Then he's likely the accomplice of my uncle," Percival said.

Odalys smiled without speaking, carefully tucking the ring into her bag. As soon as it was inside, the negative energy seemed to vanish.

"At his age, sacrificing his entire family for this, what do you think he's after?" Odalys threw the question at him.

Chapter 571

Percival answered without hesitation. "He's seeking immortality."

Volatility burned, a smile playing on her lips, but she said nothing. She didn't argue with his words again; instead, she walked toward the car. Percival stepped forward and opened the door for her. As Odalys sat down, she noticed a smoothie placed on the side.

Percival seemed somewhat nervous and waved his hand dismissively. "I saw that you liked this brand of smoothie last time. I was passing by on my way here, so I picked one up for you," Percival explained, though his voice was low.

In the business world or in politics, Percival could turn any situation around, but in front of Odalys, he felt a bit uneasy. He feared he wasn't doing enough, or worse, that he might overstep and make her uncomfortable. He couldn't quite figure out the right balance, and he worried that if he hugged her outside city hall, it might upset her. Now, though, it seemed that Odalys hadn't thought much about that moment.

Percival couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. The fact that she hadn't given it much thought meant that maybe she didn't treat him as a man she exchanged pleasantries with, after which she would leave. A sense of heaviness pressed against his chest.

"Aren't you leaving?" Odalys asked, lowering the window in confusion. Her eyes met Percival's deep ones, and she froze. Her heart suddenly raced, as if it had been stabbed, and the strange emotion left her feeling breathless.

"Yeah," Percival replied in a low voice. He walked around and got into the driver's seat. Just then, his phone vibrated with a call from Callum.

"Something happened?" Percival's voice was cold.

Callum felt a chill run down his spine, immediately standing up straighter, unconsciously straightening his legs and giving a small salute before speaking in a low voice. "Mr. Stewart, Brandon wants to see Odalys."

"Brandon wants to see you," Percival said, handing her the phone.

Odalys didn't take it, quietly sipping her smoothie instead. She simply said, "Tell him I'm not available."

"What if he keeps pushing!" Callum asked, his voice tinged with hesitation.

Percival tapped the phone screen, putting it on speaker, and Callum's voice filled the car. Odalys took a quiet sip of her smoothie, contemplating for a moment before responding, "Leave him hanging."

"Got it. I'll handle it," Callum quickly said before hanging up.

Odalys turned her head and their eyes met. For a moment, they just stared at each other, and Percival instinctively looked away, feeling a little guilty. He grasped the steering wheel, and after a couple of awkward coughs, the silence lingered. Sipping her smoothie, Odalys instinctively extended it toward him. "Want a sip?"

She had barely finished speaking when she realized the only smoothie straw available was the one she had been drinking. She was about to retract her hand when Percival, looking down, took the straw into his mouth. He took a sip of the smoothie; the subtle sweetness lingering in his mouth. Percival wasn't particularly fond of sweet foods, but he didn't mind this; in fact, he thought it was quite pleasant.

"Want me to give it to you?" Odalys's hand, holding the smoothie, froze. She offered it to him, but suddenly something crossed her mind, and she quickly pulled it back. Now, neither drinking in nor not seemed right, and the atmosphere inside the car grew tense.

"Where are you going? I'll drive you," Percival asked, breaking the silence.

Odalys felt somewhat flustered, wanting to head back to her studio.