Chapter 431

“Odalys,” Caspian said urgently, his tone desperate. “Do you realize the Bennett family is falling apart? Can you help us, simply because we’re family?”

He rushed to catch up as she turned to leave. Odalys stopped, giving him a cool glance that spoke volumes. As she suspected, Caspian was asking for something. The Bennett family never did anything without an ulterior motive.

“I feel it every time I go home,” Caspian continued, his voice dropping. “It’s like there’s a dark, oppressive force in that house. I can’t sleep; I wake up from nightmares, feeling like something unclean is there. Allas and I decided—we can’t go back.”

He hesitated before lowering his voice further. “I heard you can draw talismans. Can you make a couple for us?”

He stared at her, hope in his eyes, waiting for a response. Odalys remained silent, her gaze making him feel a prickling unease.

Caspian stood there, heart pounding, as though waiting for her judgment. Time seemed to stretch endlessly. His pulse raced. But somehow, standing before Odalys gave him an odd sense of security, as if the dark weight clinging to the Bennett family had lightened by her presence.

“No,” Odalys replied, her voice cold and final.

Caspian froze, stunned. He’d expected a refusal, but not this blunt rejection.

“But…you’ve dealt with unclean things before,” he stammered. “Didn’t you help the Tillery family? You even saved Stellan’s parents! You can do this. Why won’t you help us? We’re your family—your brothers!”

His desperation was evident, but Odalys remained unmoved. She turned, her gaze sharp as a blade.

“You never saw me as your sister,” she said, her tone icy. “All you ever did was oppress and suppress me. You never acted like a brother. And now you want help! You think because I know magic, you can just ask me to save you?” Her words were laced with disdain. “We, the Tillery family, don’t let ourselves be morally manipulated. We do things on our own terms.”

Without another word, she turned and walked away with a confidence that made Caspian feel the ground slip beneath his feet.

“Odalys!” he called out, his voice trembling. The panic in his chest was real. If she didn’t help, they would be in deep trouble—he could feel it. The dread from the previous night was still fresh.

Just as he thought all hope was lost, a voice interrupted him. “Caspian.”

He froze, turning. To his surprise, Harvey Tillery stood nearby, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the swirling chaos. Harvey looked immaculate in a gray leisure suit, his gold-rimmed glasses gleaming, his hair neatly combed. The air around him shimmered with an aura of power and authority.

“Mr. Tillery!” Caspian’s face lit up with hope. He’d contacted Harvey and Dangelo the previous night, seeking their help. To his surprise, Harvey had appeared in person.

Atlas, still reeling from Odalys’s words, remained rooted to the spot. Caspian tugged at his sleeve, snapping him out of his trance.

“Did you reach out last night because you need something?” Harvey asked, his voice quiet but firm.

Caspian hesitated. He sensed Harvey and Dangelo had just finished a serious discussion. The Tillery family considered Odalys an ally—perhaps even a savior—and they wouldn’t stand by if something happened to her.

“Mr. Tillery,” Caspian said, more composed now, “Odalys is becoming quite a sensation. I’m worried she might get hurt, and I was hoping you could…secretly look out for her. After all, she doesn’t have any powerful connections in the Stewart family yet. We care about her, and you’ve had dealings with her in the past. We heard she saved your daughter—surely, this small favor won’t be too much to ask, right?”

Harvey didn’t answer immediately. He adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable.

At that moment, Dangelo appeared, wearing a hospital gown. Despite his attire, he exuded an undeniable air of authority.

“What’s going on? Has something happened to Odalys?” Dangelo asked in a low, steady voice.

He stood beside Harvey. The two men exuded a powerful aura that left Caspian breathless. Even Atlas, seething moments ago, seemed tense and uneasy. Caspian knew exactly who Dangelo and Harvey were. They were influential figures in Crownridge, wielding immense power and respect.

The Tillery family, despite cleaning up their image, still had vast underworld connections. The Drake Group, on the other hand, was a business empire capable of crushing the Bennett family. There was no comparison. Caspian felt anxious.

“Dangelo, you’re here at the hospital too? Seems like a coincidence,” Caspian said, his voice lowered. He was careful, afraid of saying the wrong thing. These two men could, with a few words, change the face of the Bennett Group. Even without the Stewart family, they could give a nod, and the Bennett Group would rise again. Caspian could even oust Henry and take control himself. With that in mind, he figured he might as well leverage Odalys’ connections. After all, they were family—no need for pretense.

“It is quite a coincidence. Otherwise, how could I have overheard your argument with Odalys just now?” Dangelo said nonchalantly, giving Caspian a brief, calculating glance.

Caspian’s confidence crumbled. His heart raced, and shame washed over him.

“Rumor has it the Bennett family has allied with the Simpsons through marriage,” Dangelo said, his words dripping with menace. “Henry and Edie are married, but the Simpsons haven’t shown any support. And now Edie’s distanced herself from the Stewarts and joined the Bennetts. You’re trying to involve Odalys in your problems—don’t you think that’s a bit much?”

Caspian’s knees nearly buckled. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

Harvey added, coldly, “We’ve heard about Edie’s misdeeds in the Stewart family—how she stirred chaos. And now Odalys is married into that family, and you want her to secretly help you behind Percival’s back? Don’t you think that’s interfering in a marital relationship!”

Caspian swallowed hard. His plan had backfired.

Dangelo’s voice dropped lower. “So, you contacted us to meddle in the private matters of the Stewart family? Isn’t that a bit much?”

Harvey chimed in, almost mockingly, “Are you under the impression we can use our power to push around a twenty-year-old girl? How could we possibly make things difficult for her?”

Caspian’s heart sank. They weren’t just discussing the matter—they were defending Odalys, subtly accusing him of bullying her.

Chapter 131 (This chapter seems to be mislabeled. It's likely a continuation of the story and should be renumbered appropriately)

(The remainder of Chapter 131 (or the continuation) needs to be provided for editing.)