Chapter 507
Edie’s crazed expression froze, her face contorting as she stared at Odalys. “What does this have to do with a love spell, Odalys? Explain yourself!” she demanded, flustered.
Odalys ignored her, calmly turning to walk away. Edie stepped forward, wanting to pursue her, but Percival moved to stand in front of Odalys, blocking Edie with a cold gaze. “You secretly manipulated things behind my back, transferring part of the Stewart family’s assets,” he said in a deep voice. “I had everything audited. The Simpson family took $3 billion in cash equivalents and 79 projects from the Stewart family.”
Edie blinked, not understanding.
Percival continued, “None of this went through me, so the Stewart family does not acknowledge it. I’ve halted all 79 projects the Simpson family acquired. Within three days, every penny of profit earned from those projects must be returned to the Stewart family’s account. As for the $3 billion in cash, I’ve frozen the Simpson family’s accounts. From the remaining $1.5 billion, I’ve deducted what was owed. The Simpson family now owes me another $1.5 billion.”
His words sent a chill down Edie’s spine. She had never expected him to pursue this.
“On top of that, you took over a hundred pieces of my father’s treasured antiques. By tomorrow, I want those antiques returned to Stewart Villa, intact, and delivered to my grandfather. If they aren’t returned in perfect condition…” Percival paused, his voice steady and cold. “Then tell Quinton to prepare himself. Within three days, I will ensure the Simpson family residence disappears from Crownridge. As for the feng shui array your family relies on for prosperity—the most sinister of its kind—if the wealthy families in Crownridge learn that the Simpson family’s energy field lies on the most inauspicious grounds, I won’t even need to act. They’ll destroy the Simpson family themselves.”
Each of his words was like a dagger to Edie’s heart. Over the years, she had siphoned $1 billion in cash and stolen 79 projects, each capable of generating over $3 billion. The Simpson family’s current standing was built on these stolen projects. Now, with Percival reclaiming them, all their investments would go up in smoke. The projects were halfway complete when it became impossible to withdraw funds, resulting in the loss of all investments. When the projects reverted to the Stewart family, the Simpson family’s prior investment only benefited the Stewart Group. Such a vicious scheme shocked Edie. She never imagined Percival would confront her. His previous silence had led her to believe he wouldn’t pursue the matter, perhaps out of respect for his mother. Over the years, she’d grown bolder; her projects, combined with her cash and antiques, were worth hundreds of billions of dollars—a sum exceeding the combined wealth of numerous wealthy families. But now, Percival was holding her accountable. To the Stewart family, this was merely the tip of the iceberg.
“Percival, I’m your mother! What’s wrong with me using some of this money? It’s only a few hundred billion dollars! Are you seriously arguing with me about this? What about the Simpson family if you withdraw your support?” Edie charged forward, more flustered than she’d ever been in front of him. She’d always held herself high, convinced he would never act against her. But now, Percival was treating her like a stranger.
Percival said, “I don’t know what the Simpson family will do, but you shouldn’t have targeted the women of the Stewart family. You schemed against Odalys, trying to use the Bennett family to bring her down. You even tried to harm Freya. What else are you plotting?”
“If you hadn’t done those things, I might have overlooked everything. However, that is no longer possible,” Percival said, his tone calm but firm. He could tolerate many things, except someone harming the women in his family.
“What’s the point in defending Freya? She’s only your father’s old war friend’s daughter. And Odalys? Your marriage was nothing more than a contract. Now that you’re alive, what use is she to you!” Edie retorted. “Percival, you’re letting two women manipulate you, and you’re criticizing your own mother! You’re being ridiculous!” She was about to lose her temper. She couldn’t comprehend how things had spiraled out of control. Without the stolen funds and projects, the Simpson family would undoubtedly collapse, and she would bear the brunt of their wrath.
A ringing interrupted her. Frantically, she took out her phone. Looking at the number flashing on the screen, Edie’s face grew paler. “Mom,” she answered, her demeanor changing instantly. Her tone became respectful, and she forced a strained smile. “What? The company’s accounts are frozen! The money’s been taken back by the Stewart family? The projects are gone! Everything is gone?” Edie’s voice quivered. If she had doubted Percival’s threats before, the phone call confirmed them. “Find him? And if I don’t… then what?” she asked meekly, her earlier arrogance gone, her tone gentle, almost pleading. Percival watched her grovel with indifference.
He turned and walked towards Odalys. Selah was stunned and looked at Edie. “She said a few hundred billion dollars is nothing—a few billion,” Selah murmured, raising her hand to count on her fingers, her expression blank with shock. Edie had casually mentioned a few hundred billion, a sum so huge it would take days to count and could dramatically improve the lives of impoverished people worldwide. “Greed has no limits,” Francis also shook his head. Without a word, Stellan pulled out his phone and messaged his parents, knowing they couldn't miss such news. “The Simpson family’s assets have been frozen. They’re sure to retaliate,” Stellan said. Percival watched him type and said, “That’s why your parents need to be prepared to take over the Simpson family’s other ventures.” “Okay,” Stellan said, his fingers trembling. The allure of such wealth was undeniable, especially for his family.
Odalys was stunned as everyone else chatted; her phone buzzing nonstop. When she finally checked it, the screen was flashing wildly. “Odalys, is your phone infected with a virus?” Freya asked, looking at her flickering screen. Hearing this, the others gathered around Odalys, watching as her phone vibrated incessantly. Messages popped up one after another, covering the screen before she could remove them. Ten minutes later, the messages finally stopped, filling the interface. “Is it a virus? Wait, they’re messages, right?” Selah said, leaning on Odalys’s shoulder.