Chapter 532

“After Edie married your father, something happened to the Stewart family. Now that she's left the Stewarts and married into the Bennetts, something's happened to the Bennetts. Don't tell me she has the same last name as Francis's ex-girlfriend's fiancé,” Stellan said, frightened by his own guess. If that were the case, danger lurked nearby.

“We can't rule it out, but there's no evidence. For everyone's safety, be careful and avoid making new friends for now,” Percival suggested.

Selah moved closer to Freya. “I’m never making friends again, and I won’t be in a relationship. I don’t want to die yet,” she said. Lucian was a prime example; he'd been after her life.

“It might not just be women. It might be men too,” Odalys said suddenly, causing confusion.

“Odalys, what men?” Freya asked.

Odalys paused, gathering her thoughts. “Do you remember Lucian?” she asked.

The others were startled. Freya said softly, “The one who was in the variety show with us, tried to seduce Selah to help Sophia set you up, and ended up in jail?” She wasn't sure; she hadn't had much contact with him, only knowing he was a scumbag.

“Wasn’t he in a hotel with some directors? He tried to lure Selah there to those men,” Odalys continued. “He accidentally ran into me, which led to his arrest.”

Selah listened fearfully.

“I wonder if there’s a ‘young men training camp’ churning out gigolo's to target insecure women, exploiting them for their own gain,” Odalys said. Some people were incredibly unscrupulous; their methods weren't limited to one approach.

“That’s so true. Emotions are a woman’s weakness. Once she falls in love, she’s easily manipulated, even brainwashed, leading her to trust a man blindly,” Freya said. She recounted the story of a young actress who slept with a sponsor to help her boyfriend, only to be dumped after his rise to fame, resulting in her suicide. Such things were common.

“These men seduce women for resources. After gaining power, they use those resources to work for these organizations or scout for suitable people,” Freya continued.

Orson broke in, “Isn’t this the mindset of people only interested in profit, without a conscience? If so, these organizations have infiltrated everywhere.”

“They purposely choose ambitious men from humble beginnings, because their drive to climb the ladder is their weakness,” Percival added. Their hunger for power and wealth made them vulnerable to manipulation, turning them into pawns. “Whether men or women, they’re all climbing, getting what the organization wants. Women seduce men for connections, men seduce women for resources. Then they infiltrate all levels and expand their network,” Percival explained.

Freya and the others were silent.

“The person behind it all is someone with the last name Simpson. In these celebrity training classes, he's their fiancé or brother; for the men, he plays the father or some other role,” Orson said, taking a sip of wine. “So this Simpson is the boss of the training class or organization.”

Percival nodded. Selah realized why Odalys had tried to stop Lucian, even going so far as to have him arrested.

“Odalys, you suspected Lucian, didn’t you?” Selah asked weakly.

Odalys nodded. “Yes, something felt wrong, so I watched him,” she said lightly. She'd seen Selah's death in a past life and wanted to prevent it. The plight of women was heartbreaking; exploited by families or husbands' families. She wanted women to be independent and able to protect themselves.

“Odalys, thank you,” Selah said, her eyes red.

Selah understood; without Odalys, she would likely be dead, forced to sleep with those men, while Lucian benefited and rose to power.

“To thank me, be a good actress, and be yourself,” Odalys smiled, stroking her head. Women without strong family networks faced significant obstacles to advancement. Men had advantages, even in this so-called era of equality.

“Okay, I will work hard, live well, and listen to you,” Selah said, hugging Odalys. Freya pulled Selah apart. The atmosphere lightened; they resumed eating and drinking.

“Odalys, could this Simpson be related to Edie?” Orson whispered. He found the name Simpson unsettling.

“Maybe it's Quinton,” Odalys said. “None of us have met him. He’s mysterious, like a phantom. He never appeared at family events, like his month-old celebration or announcement as the Simpson heir. The terrifying part is that everything in the Simpson family revolves around him.”