Chapter 405

“You’re naturally kind-hearted, always striving for perfection, but life isn’t meant to be flawless. When the water’s too full, it overflows—I’m sure you understand that. In my opinion, you’ve done more than enough,” Sienna said.

Sienna couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. She looked at Odalys, barely twenty years old, taking everything onto her shoulders. It broke her heart. Odalys was younger than Stellan, and yet, the burden she carried—no one her age should have to bear so much. It was hard enough for someone twice her age to handle such responsibility.

“Mr. Drake will get better. Don’t worry. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way,” Odalys said quickly, standing up. She didn’t want to dwell on it further. Just now, a possibility had flashed through her mind—one so unsettling it began to creep into her thoughts. This bold hypothesis was terrifying.

“Alright, I’ll walk you out,” Sienna said, rising from her seat. She followed Odalys down the hallway, watching the younger woman’s hurried pace. “This girl has had it so hard. I don’t understand why the Bennett family is so determined to make her life miserable. If she were our daughter…” She trailed off, her voice filled with longing. She had no right to decide what was best for Odalys, but if the young woman were her own child, Sienna thought she could fight for Odalys like any mother would—even if it meant shedding blood.

“Since the Bennett family doesn’t want her, then we will,” Dangelo suddenly said, breaking the silence. Sienna’s eyes widened, her heart leaping. She quickly turned to face him, her surprise evident.

“Do you mean… adopt her as our goddaughter?” she asked, a gleam of hope in her eyes. “But I’ve heard the Tillery family is also trying to claim her as theirs. Can we compete with them?”

“Celeste and Harvey are far too invested in Odalys,” Dangelo said, his tone thoughtful. “No, I’ll need to make some preparations.” Sienna’s heart raced as if she were about to close a major business deal. This idea filled her with a surge of energy.

“Well, I’ll wait for now. Let’s take care of her immediate problems first. Didn’t she ask us to keep an eye on Oliver? Let’s find someone to track him down.”

“The Bennett family has been a thorn in her side for too long,” Dangelo continued, his voice sharp. “We’ll cut off their escape routes. Henry’s married to Edie, right? I suspect he’s looking to the Simpson family as his backup. We’ll cut them off, too.”

Sienna nodded, energized by his plan. “I’ll call the Tillery family and see where they stand. If they’re willing, we can team up to shut down the Simpson family’s options.”

Dangelo’s mind was already working. As the head of the Drake family, he was used to handling such high-stakes maneuvers. He was the master of these kinds of strategic moves.

“Okay, I’ll make the call right now,” Sienna said, already reaching for her phone, her fingers trembling with excitement.

Meanwhile, Odalys, unaware of the conversation that had just unfolded, made her way out of the hospital. The lights inside were dim; the moon hung half-obscured by clouds. The atmosphere felt eerie, and she couldn’t shake the sensation that someone was watching her.

“Who’s there?” she said, turning quickly, her senses on alert. She saw Percival standing under a streetlamp, his broad frame casting a shadow. He stood still, hands clasped behind his back, eyes locked on hers as he slowly approached.

“Percival? What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at home?” Odalys asked, bewildered. She hadn’t expected to see him here. She’d left without drawing attention, so how could he have known?

Percival stopped in front of her, not saying a word. He reached out, taking her delicate hand in his, gripping it tightly, leaving no room for resistance.

“I’m here to take you home,” he said simply, his voice deep and unwavering. His large hand enveloped hers, and for a moment, Odalys tried to pull away. But after a couple of futile attempts, she stopped struggling.

“How did you know I was out here?” she asked, her voice quieter now. She cast a nervous glance behind him, half-expecting to see some sign of anger, but Percival didn’t look upset. Instead, he stepped forward, opening the car door and gently guiding her inside.

“No, I’ll get in myself,” she protested, startled by his sudden action. But before she could fully protest, he had already settled her into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt with care. He leaned over, his eyes softening as they met hers, but his expression was intense.

“Some things aren’t for you to worry about,” he said after a long silence, his voice full of concern. “You wake up every day, running around handling things, working yourself to the bone. You don’t give yourself any time to rest or recharge. You can’t keep going like this; your body will break down. Everything has its cause and effect, whether it’s me or anyone else. We all have our own fate. How long can you keep carrying the weight of everything? If you keep this up, can you really handle it?”

“What you need to do now is go home, take a shower, get a good night’s sleep, and clear your mind. Everything else can wait until tomorrow,” Percival continued, his voice gentle but firm.

Odalys was taken aback by his words. She had never seen him like this—so concerned, so protective. She didn’t even know how to react. No one had ever gotten angry because she was working too hard. The sudden shift in his demeanor made something inside her stir—though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it, she felt a warmth spreading through her chest.

“Actually,” she began, shifting in her seat to face him, “I’ve been thinking about Windsor’s return, and something seems off.” She paused, locking eyes with him. “Three years ago, after he had that fling with Sophia, he left the country overnight. That was when Sophia’s popularity exploded. But this time, something’s different. I noticed he had this…protective aura around him when he came back. After he and Sophia got together again, that aura disappeared, and he broke his vow.”

She frowned, clearly disturbed. “I’ve told you before—once he breaks his vow, he’ll absorb Sophia’s bad luck. But while he’s definitely gotten unlucky, it doesn’t seem like Sophia’s luck has improved at all. Something’s wrong.”

Percival listened intently, his brow furrowing. He hadn’t expected this, but he knew better than to dismiss her instincts.

“Earlier, you said Windsor and Quinton were abroad for three years before returning to Crownridge together?” Odalys asked, changing the subject slightly.

Percival nodded, surprised by her suspicions. He turned away, reaching for his phone, and after a moment, he handed it to her, his eyes dark with contemplation.

“Callum’s been keeping an eye on the Simpson family. My uncle hasn’t left the Simpson household since he came back, but today, when Edie set fire to your company, he suddenly made an appearance.”