Chapter 481

Odalys didn't hide anything and explained everything in detail. “My father's soul wasn't just trapped there; there was also a shrine dedicated to the Stewart Group's ancestors, and under the incense burner in front of the altar, my astrological signs were being suppressed.” Her eyes darkened, still unable to believe what she had witnessed. She was an ordinary person—why would someone go to such lengths to manipulate her?

“It seems someone has been watching the Stewart family for a long time,” Evander said thoughtfully. “As for the suppression of your astrological signs, it's closely tied to the Stewart family.”

“The Bennett family must have been involved in your abandonment,” he added after a pause. “Perhaps someone was working behind the scenes to drive you away from Crownridge, or even kill you. But you survived.”

Clarence, who had been listening quietly, interjected skeptically, “So they couldn't kill Odalys directly, so they tried other ways?” The entire situation seemed increasingly strange.

Evander nodded gravely. “If they feared Odalys's fate or her astrological signs, and used Sophia to replace her, there can only be one explanation.” He paused, weighing his words.

Odalys and Clarence looked at him expectantly.

“The Bennett family is also special, but they're more easily controlled than the Stewarts,” Evander concluded.

Odalys remained silent, contemplating this. She stared at the car for a long moment, then reached for the door, but it remained immobile.

“It seems that once you're in the time tunnel, whatever happens, happens,” Odalys muttered. “You can't change anything, and even inside the car, you can't get out.”

Evander frowned. “If you can't open it from the outside, maybe from the inside,” he said with determination.

“Since we're already in this situation,” Clarence said, “I don't want to just sit here and watch my son die. Even if this is a dream, I want to save him at least once.”

Clarence nodded in agreement. He was deeply pained. He had watched Percival grow up, seen his incredible talent and potential, and it broke his heart to see him die in his prime, a victim of someone's malevolent plan.

“You should try,” Odalys urged.

She watched as Evander pushed against the door. At first, it didn't budge. The second time, it shifted slightly. He kept trying. Finally, exhausted, he gave one last push—and with a loud clang, the door creaked open. Evander stepped out.

"Can you really get out?" Odalys asked, an unsettling feeling in her gut. The time tunnel was supposed to be unchangeable, so how could Evander be the exception?

But the moment Evander's feet touched the ground, everything seemed to change. His healthy body began to wither before their eyes. He grew thinner, his body resembling nothing but skin and bones, as if he were on the verge of becoming a dried-up corpse.

“Evander!” Clarence exclaimed, horrified. He was about to step out, but saw the transformation.

Chapter 181

Evander, now frail and weakened, coughed violently. His strong voice was now a mere rasp. He looked at Odalys with vacant, confused, and fearful eyes. His body trembled as he tried to speak, but his words were barely audible.

“Grandpa, get back in the car!” Odalys’s voice was choked with emotion. Her eyes were red and filled with tears. She hadn't expected death to be the outcome.

Evander stood there, barely able to lift his head. He looked at the overturned Cayenne, his eyes filling with grief and tears.

“Son… I want to save my son,” he whispered.

He had never cried before, not even when his son died. As the leader of the Stewart family, he could never show weakness. He had to protect the family's legacy, even if it meant suppressing his own emotions. For the Stewart family. For Percival. He had never shed a tear for his son.

But now, trapped in the time tunnel, he was forced to watch his son's death unfold again and again. He saw the car crash, the explosion, the horror, and could only stand there, powerless. His heart felt like it was being torn apart. His protective instincts for his son had reached their peak.

Now that Percival had been raised by him and was with Odalys, he had no regrets. If there was one regret, it was his son. He hadn't been able to get to him in time, hadn't been able to see him one last time before his tragic death in a car explosion—his son's body was never found.

“Son… I’m coming to be with you,” Evander struggled, his body wracked with agony.

His gaze faltered, fixing on the fallen Porsche. He desperately tried to break free, wanting to reach the car, to open the door. He wanted to drag his son out, even if he couldn't save him. He just didn't want his son to die alone.

Evander's son had been only 27 years old when he died. Even in death, he wanted to be with his son. His son had been kind and generous, yet betrayed and killed. Before his death, he had done no wrong; he only wanted to save others.

“Son…” Evander’s voice was strained, as though his throat were on fire. He kept calling out, his vision becoming hazy. Was he losing his sight, or was his son disappearing? He couldn’t let his son go again. Even if he had to die, he wanted to die with him.

Clarence, watching his old friend in such agony, couldn’t bear it anymore. He rushed forward, attempting to pull Evander back into the car. But the moment his hand touched him, he was horrified—he only grabbed a layer of skin. Clarence recoiled in fear. It wasn’t that he was afraid of death. It was that touching Evander felt as if he could easily pull his skin off. He stared blankly at the blood and flesh in his palm, then at the spot on Evander’s shoulder, where his own finger marks were imprinted, as though his friend’s body was already giving way.