Chapter 197

Odalyse nodded. She sipped the coffee Dorian had made. "Yes," she said, "Lockfang is from that stillborn child. If he doesn't get rid of it, it will just keep growing."

She continued, "This child, having died prematurely, doesn't understand human emotions or morality. It acts purely out of self-interest, which is why it continuously drains Oliver's life force. Over time, as it absorbs his energy, Lockfang will grow larger on his face. Once his face can no longer sustain its growth," she paused, her tone heavy, "it will try to invade his body entirely, seeking to take over."

Clarence drew a sharp breath, his scalp tingling with unease. "Are you saying it could replace him?"

Odalyse picked up a sheet of paper and began sketching, speaking as she worked. "Exactly. Think of it as the moon waxes and wanes, and people experience joy and sorrow. Everything follows a certain rhythm. People and their shadows exist in harmony—one is the person, the other their reflection. But if someone were to summon their shadow, and that shadow developed malevolent intent, it might try to reverse the roles, turning the person into the shadow and taking their place." Her explanation left them all stunned.

"So, Lockfang is effectively merging with Oliver. To remove it, he needs a source of powerful energy to force it out," she continued. "Oliver must have realized that the necklace I gave to Hannah is imbued with such energy. If he gets his hands on it, he could use it to remove Lockfang. He could also absorb its power, strengthening himself and using it to harm me in return. He wants me out of the way so he can secure his position in Crownridge."

Hearing that Oliver intended to eliminate Odalyse, Evander's fury erupted. "If he's that dangerous, let's just kill him now," he declared, rising to his feet with the intent to act immediately. His decisive nature left no room for hesitation.

Seeing his urgency, Odalyse quickly stood and intercepted him. "Evander, we can't kill him yet."

Odalyse said, "Oliver recently met with the tailor in the courtyard house in the small alley. That same tailor is now hiding in Bennett Villa. My plan is to lure Oliver there and make them meet. I'll use their interaction to uncover the truth about what happened to the Stewart family all those years ago. Someone has been erasing every trace of their involvement, staying hidden in the shadows. This is our chance to draw them out. I also want to use Oliver to disrupt Bennett Villa, make Hannah and Windsor turn against each other, and force their hand. I want to see who encouraged them to abandon me and send Sophia to the Bennett family back then."

Everything seemed far-fetched, but every step was under her control. She was leading everyone into her web, ensuring they revealed the secrets themselves.

Evander sank into thought. "Someone wanted the Bennett family to abandon you, leaving you to freeze on a snowy night while bringing Sophia into their home. What does the Bennett family have that others would go to such lengths to obtain?" he murmured. It felt like something was missing, something he could almost grasp but not quite.

Odalyse replied, "Someone has been constantly enhancing Sophia's attire. After I broke the formation of the person who was doing it, he suffered backlash and died tragically in that villa in the suburbs. That villa has been sealed off by the police. They could only move to the alley—their temporary hideout."

Oliver's accident yesterday should be their opportunity. He has nowhere to go, and the police have sealed off the place. "They need people's prayers, but now after Zachery made a scene there, no one dares to go there."

Legally, Oliver should be the one supporting Sophia, but something doesn't add up. "I can't shake the feeling that there's someone else behind all this," Odalyse admitted, a trace of frustration in her voice. It was as if the true mastermind was a magician, always slipping away just as she thought she had caught them.

"Odalyse, don't rush. The more anxious you are, the easier it is for others to lead you by the nose," Evander said, his heart aching at the sight of her troubled expression.

"That's right, Odalyse. Don't worry. We old folks can help you," Brandon said eagerly. For a moment, it felt like an opportunity to prove their worth had landed in their laps. Despite their age, their network and resources were still formidable. They might not be able to handle everything, but scheming in the background was well within their expertise.

"Alright, thank you," Odalyse replied with a lighthearted smile.

Watching the three elderly men settle back onto the sofa and engage in a spirited discussion, she noticed Evander picking up his phone to rally his old friends and focus them on their tasks. She decided not to disturb them any further. She picked up her car keys and quietly made her way outside.

Odalyse sipped her coffee, watching them. As she got into the car, the ring in her backpack emitted a wave of heat. "Ouch!" She felt the intense heat and quickly grabbed her canvas bag to open it. Putting the ring on her finger and feeling its warmth, she gently stroked it and said, "Okay, I understand. Don't worry, I'll be right there." This ring had been gifted to her by a young general during a ritual at Film Capital. Though he had passed on, some parts of his soul stubbornly lingered within the ring. "Don't worry. I'll avenge you soon. After I've taken care of things, I'll reassuringly reunite your souls and let you be a normal person again," Odalyse whispered. Then, the scorching heat from the ring vanished, as if nothing had happened.

Just as she was about to start the car, something darted through the open window, slapping onto her wrist. "Ouch," she muttered, lowering her head. She saw something lying on her wrist, leaving a red welt on her skin. The culprit was a snake, now coiled tightly around her dashboard before settling on the passenger seat. The snake raised its head slowly, flicking its tongue as it locked eyes with her.

"You're this desperate to find me?" Odalyse asked, reaching out to stroke the snake's head in annoyance. The snake snorted and turned away from her. Odalyse was dumbfounded, never expecting the snake to give her the cold shoulder.

"Are you mad? I didn't mean to ignore you. Thank you for going to the hotel the night before yesterday to warn Francis and the others," Odalyse said. Only after hearing her thank you did the little snake slowly turn its head to look at her.