Chapter 438

Percival's voice was calm, but his words sent a ripple through the air. "No one dares go near the Simpson villa to this day. Every time Edie returns home, she has to report to the Simpson family first. And when she comes back, her demeanor is always…off.

"You might think it's because she married into the Stewart family and started acting strangely, putting on airs. But in reality, it's every time she returns from the Simpson family that her mood shifts so drastically."

Callum froze. These were things he had never considered, thoughts that lingered at the back of his mind but remained unexamined. After all, Edie was Percival's mother, and as a loyal assistant, Callum had never dared to question her behavior. He had always assumed her eccentricities were part of the family dynamics.

But hearing Percival lay it out so plainly, he realized the truth.

"So, Mr. Stewart, you've suspected all along that she and the Simpson family are involved in something?" Callum asked, his voice thick with surprise. He had no idea.

What he did know was that Percival and Edie had never gotten along. There was always tension, with Percival keeping his distance, sometimes even manipulating her, but never confronting her directly. Callum had always found it odd. He and Orson had speculated, but both had been at a loss for answers.

"I thought you were cautious of her because she was using the Stewart family's resources to prop up the Simpson family and disrupt the market. Plus, she always seemed indifferent to you and Alexander, even cold at times. Looks like I've been blind to the bigger picture," Callum admitted, scratching his head awkwardly.

"You're not blind, Callum," Percival said quietly. "It's just that I deliberately created an illusion. The fewer people who know the truth, the better. If she suspects anything, I'm not too worried. But if my grandfather gets involved, things could get dangerous. Now that she's distanced herself from the Stewart family, the public view of her is awful. Even if she wanted to make a move against us, she'd be unable to do so."

Callum fell silent, digesting the implications.

"This place is heavy with negative energy," Percival continued, his eyes scanning the fog around them. "The Simpson family's ancestral home is here, but this is also a burial ground. I suspect the location itself has been tainted."

He reached up, instinctively brushing his fingers against the red string wrapped around his wrist. A gift from Odalys, made from thunderstruck wood, it was something he had always treasured. The item's comforting presence grounded him, as though Odalys herself were standing by his side.

"You stay close to me," Percival said, his voice firm. "No matter what happens, don't stray more than three steps behind me."

Callum nodded without hesitation, sensing the seriousness in Percival's tone.

"Mr. Stewart," Callum ventured cautiously, glancing at the red string, "if this talisman can ward off evil, does that mean we'll be safe here?"

Percival gave a small shrug. "Maybe. But safety's never a guarantee in places like this."

They walked forward, and the mist grew denser with each step, thick and suffocating. Percival swung his hand, dispelling the fog in an instant. He looked at his wrist, startled by what he saw.

"The fog…it was fake," Percival muttered, his voice edged with disbelief.

If the mist was an illusion, then everything they were seeing could be a facade.

They continued forward, but just a few steps in, they heard the unmistakable cawing of crows. The creatures flapped their wings furiously, swooping toward them.

"Get lost!" Percival's voice boomed. His deep, magnetic voice sent the crows scattering in a frenzy, their screeching quickly fading into the distance.

"Mr. Stewart, our bodyguards are missing. Their tracker signals have all gone dark," Callum reported, checking his phone, only to find the screen filled with blacked-out locations.

Chapter 438 (Continued)

Before he could react, Percival grabbed his arm, yanking him out of the way just as a massive stone hurtled toward where Callum had been standing. The ground shook with a violent thud as the stone struck, splitting the earth beneath it.

Callum froze, his heart racing. He drew his gun, scanning their surroundings, his senses on high alert. "Mr. Stewart, this place is too dangerous."

"Get back," Percival ordered coldly.

Callum instinctively stepped in front of Percival, blocking him with his own body. But just as he finished speaking, a cold hand rested on his shoulder.

His breath caught, and he looked down to see a pale, delicate hand brushing lightly over his shoulder. The nails were painted a vibrant red, and the fingertips danced sensually across his skin.

"Where are you going, handsome?" A woman's sultry voice whispered in his ear.

His body stiffened with shock and anger. He spun around, ready to lash out, only to find himself face-to-face with a stunning woman, her clothing minimal and seductive, her eyes gleaming with an unsettling hunger.

"What the hell do you want?" Callum growled, shoving her.

But before he could react further, she seized his leg, pulling him toward her. She planted a soft kiss on his thigh, her hands teasing at the edges of her coat as she slowly disrobed, revealing a tight-fitting tank top that accentuated her every curve.

"How about this?" she purred, a wicked smile spreading across her face. "If you kill Percival, I'll be yours."

Callum's heart raced. The woman's fingers grazed his abdomen before settling on his chest. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, but it was only when her body pressed against his, her lips brushing against his ear, that he felt the full weight of her threat.

"Being someone's subordinate isn't a good feeling, is it?" she whispered. "How about I kill him for you? You can take his place as the Stewart family's heir. What do you say?"

Callum's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on the gun hidden at his side. He didn't hesitate. In a single, swift movement, he swung a heavy stone at her head.

"To hell with your power games," he muttered, disgusted by the entire situation.

He was temporarily stunned by the sudden closeness and overwhelming tension. But the woman wasn't done. Before he could make another move, she leaned in, exhaling a strange, sickly smoke directly into his face.

Callum's mind went fuzzy. He staggered back, but before he could react, his vision blurred and his body hit the ground with a sickening thud.

As he lay there, struggling to stay conscious, a gust of cold wind rushed past him. Percival turned, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Callum's sudden disappearance.

In the distance, a figure moved gracefully through the fog. Her dress, almost ethereal, floated around her as she undid each piece with slow, deliberate movements.

"Who's there?" Percival called, his voice cutting through the air.

The woman turned, her face a perfect mix of elegance and mystery. Her features were delicate, her lips parted in surprise, and her wide eyes locked onto Percival's, innocent yet full of hidden intentions.

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