Chapter 426

“Who gave you the illusion of power?” Odalys sneered, her voice cold and merciless. “Without the Lark family, you’re nothing—a fraud.”

Finnian’s eyes rolled back; his breath came in labored gasps. He realized Odalys wasn't just threatening him—she intended to kill him.

Memories flooded his mind: Odalys, once the obedient woman under his control, a toy he manipulated. When had he begun to despise her? When had he teamed with Sophia to torment her?

The images tormented him, and he struggled desperately. A guttural scream escaped as Odalys's fist slammed into his chest. Blood poured from his mouth; his eyes widened in shock.

Odalys easily swung him to the ground. He crashed fifteen feet away, his arm snapping with a sickening crack. Pain shot through him; he cradled his broken arm, unable to rise.

As Odalys approached, terror gripped him. He scrambled backward, eyes frantic, lips trembling, blood staining the floor.

“Your mother pretended to be pregnant with the Lark family's child, raising you for years, only to return you. But you were never truly theirs, were you? After all, Orson's father was drugged, wasn't he?” Odalys’s voice was sharp.

“How did you become the Lark family's illegitimate child? Did your mother never tell you the truth?” Her words stung. Finnian stared, caught off guard.

“Why do you and Sophia click so easily? Why are you bound to her fate? She controls you with her Love Spell, feeding off your luck, causing your misfortune. Haven't you wondered why she targeted you?” Odalys pressed, each word a cold accusation.

Finnian was frozen, lost in confusion. He’d never considered these things.

“Why is Windsor involving you again? Bringing you to the hospital to threaten Sophia? Why is everything in your life tangled with hers?” Odalys’s eyes never left him.

Finnian had no answers. He was trapped in fear and confusion.

“I’ll show you something,” Odalys said casually. She touched his eyelids, then pressed lightly on his wrist. “See this?” she whispered. “A death line, bound to your wrist. The other end is tied to Sophia.”

“You and she are intertwined, bound to each other's fate. The worse you fare, the better she does. She’s been stealing your luck, sucking the life out of you. Before she cast her Love Spell, your luck flourished. But once she started draining your energy, your life went downhill,” Odalys explained calmly, chillingly.

Finnian trembled, trying to shake the invisible line. He couldn't break free. Desperation clawed at him, but his hand could never touch the line.

“What… what is this death line?” Finnian’s voice shook.

His terror deepened as Odalys continued: “You were raised to provide her with luck, to feed her energy. This death line only affects you. But there’s a way to fight back. If you steal her luck, the line will turn on her. Only then will you be saved.” Her voice, despite the deadly information, was strangely gentle.

A flicker of hope pierced Finnian’s despair. “I can be saved? How do I steal her luck back?” His voice trembled with excitement, despite the pain.

Chapter 426 (continued)

Odalys remained silent, turning away.

“Wait!” Finnian shouted, scrambling to his feet despite the agony. “You haven’t told me how to steal her luck back! How do I turn this death line against her?”

But Odalys had already left, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. He tried to chase her, but his injury was too severe. With a sickening thud, he collapsed.

Odalys didn’t look back. Rounding the corner, she saw Orson leaning against the wall, relaxed but sharp-eyed. He’d just finished a call with the Lark family. Their people were moving, and had quickly located Orson. He was on his way to meet Odalys when they crossed paths.

“Is what you said true?” Orson asked, a mix of disbelief and curiosity. The concept of a death line was new to him.

“Half-true, half-false,” Odalys replied cryptically. “Finnian’s mother is probably connected to the Bennett family. Have someone watch her—see if she contacts anyone from the Bennett family.”

She paused, intrigued. “The Bennett family’s waters run deep. Even Edie had to marry Henry quickly to get close to them.” Her words carried an unspoken warning.

“What about Finnian?” Orson asked. “Should I have him killed or locked up?”

Odalys’s gaze was unwavering. “No. What I said is enough to stir hatred in his heart—toward his mother and Sophia. I need that raw, burning hatred, his desire for revenge.”

Her voice was urgent. “I need to push Sophia’s hatred to the extreme. It’s my only chance to get the medicine I need. If I don’t take drastic measures, Percival might die, and I won’t allow that.”

Orson nodded. “Understood.”

Without further words, Odalys left. Orson sent his people to track Finnian.

Meanwhile, chaos reigned outside the hospital operating room. Hannah scowled at Edie, still groggy and disoriented. Edie’s body ached; the horrifying bathroom images replayed in her mind.

“Hannah, are you sure I only passed out? I didn’t see anything else?” Edie asked, trembling. She needed answers but would have preferred silence.

Once best friends, their relationship had soured. Now, they were neither friends nor enemies.

“Is that what you’re saying?” Hannah retorted sarcastically. “Are you trying to pin this on me? Or maybe you’re pretending to be pregnant again? I remember that miscarriage—guess you’ll never carry a child again.”

Edie’s face darkened. She closed her eyes, the gruesome image of the bloody bathroom and the hand reaching for her foot haunting her.