Chapter 581

He quickly tried to cover it up, but realizing they had all seen, he could only wave his hand and say, "Alright, I'll just go lie down then."

As Callum walked briskly, he winced in pain. His injury throbbed with each step. Percival and Odalys instinctively slowed their pace, watching him struggle.

"Is there anything I can do?" Percival asked.

Odalys shook her head, her gaze fixed on the stars. "No, just sit back and watch the show with the Bennett family. For now, we're keeping an eye on Windsor."

"I have a feeling Windsor will come for me," Odalys murmured.

Percival remained silent, sitting beside her.

They sat in the garden, the sounds of Freya, Selah, Stellan, Francis, Evander, and Dorian's laughter drifting from the lively living room. The Stewart villa was warm and energetic, as if the air itself vibrated with life. A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, their swaying branches creating a soft, soothing rustle.

"Odalys, are you ready to go? It's already 9:30 PM," Freya called, interrupting the moment. She wore slippers and jogged over, but upon noticing Percival, she realized she had likely interrupted their quiet time. She quickly covered her mouth and sheepishly retreated into the living room.

"I'll go upstairs and change," Odalys said, standing and reaching for Percival's arm. Together, they walked into the living room, where Evander laughed heartily, playing cards with Dorian, Stellan, and Francis.

"You're hacked? Alright, that's enough for today. Enjoy yourselves tonight. Come by again another time, and we'll continue." Evander waved them off, placing a stack of money in front of Francis and another in front of Stellan. "Here you go, have fun tonight," he chirped, waving his hand as he rose.

He had just won thirty thousand dollars. He gave fifteen thousand to Francis and fifteen thousand to Stellan, keeping none for himself. For him, playing cards was simply about having fun.

"Evander, they have money. I want some, too!" Freya called, pouting playfully.

Evander wasn't upset. He waved her over and gestured for Dorian to open a box. He handed her a stack of money, gave another to Selah, and finally passed the last two stacks to Odalys.

"Enjoy yourselves, and if you need more, just give me a call. I'll send it over," Evander said with a bright smile. The Stewart family didn't lack money, and neither did he.

Selah looked at the thick stack in her hands and hesitated. "How much is this? It feels wrong to take it…"

"It's fine. It's just thirty thousand dollars! Evander gave it to you, so take it!" Freya grinned, her excitement palpable.

Selah started to protest, but Freya tugged at her arm. "Don't say no. Evander's getting older. When he gives you money, it's like giving you a gift. If you turn it down, he'll be disappointed."

Selah, seeing the sincerity in Freya's eyes, didn't argue further.

In high spirits, Evander leaned on Dorian's arm and went upstairs. Odalys and Percival followed. They both changed into matching black outfits, giving the impression of a perfectly coordinated pair. Percival's leg injury didn't slow him down; he moved with composed confidence as they entered the living room. The bodyguards had already prepared for their departure.

As the group left in cars, Evander stood on the balcony, his smile fading as he watched their vehicles disappear into the night. He sighed and turned away.

"Are you sure Henry was sold to the nightclub?" Evander asked, uncertainty lacing his voice.

Dorian nodded. "Yes. Our sources confirmed that Henry was drugged and disoriented, and it wasn't just any ordinary drug."

"The Bennett family still doesn't know about this yet," Dorian added.

Hearing this, Evander clenched his cane tightly, then struck it forcefully against the ground. "These people have no morals! In broad daylight, they've managed to pull off something like this. The heir to the Bennett family, the president of the Bennett Group—and they let him be drugged and sold to such a place!"

"And today, Finnian was involved in the incident at the police family compound, too. What's happened to the world! People today will do anything for their benefit," Evander said, his tone heavy with disappointment.

Dorian listened, nodding in agreement. "Yes, I heard that Finnian got caught in the rain after he was arrested. When he returned, his body began to deteriorate, and now they say he won't survive for long. He keeps asking to see Mrs. Stewart and his family, but everyone refuses…"

"The Lark family has completely cut ties with him. They've made it clear that he's no longer their concern and told him not to even think about them," Dorian added, his voice tinged with anger. "The Stewart family had looked out for him before, given his connection to the Lark family. Who would've thought he'd set his sights on Odalys?"

"By the way, I also heard that Lee—Finnian tried to kidnap—went missing during a mission today. His fate remains unknown," Dorian continued.

Evander fell silent, a somber expression on his face. He thought, Life and death are matters of fate. Wealth and honor are in the hands of heaven.

"Did Percival intervene?" Evander finally asked.

Dorian shook his head. "Strangely enough, even though Mrs. Stewart had a good relationship with Lee in the past, neither she nor Mr. Stewart stepped in after his disappearance."

"Then leave it be," Evander said firmly. He trusted Odalys and Percival to handle things cautiously and knew his interference might disrupt their plans. He had complete confidence in the younger generation.

"Alright," Dorian replied.

The two stood quietly on the balcony, their eyes shifting from the mansion gates to a nearby tree.

"Sometimes, I wonder if Morpheus is gone," Evander said, his voice trembling. Speaking of Morpheus always brought a pang of regret. He thought, After so many years of planning and strategy, I couldn't even save my own son. How can I live with the weight of that failure?

"Evander," Dorian said softly, moved by Evander's grief.

Evander's expression darkened with sorrow. After a long silence, he turned and walked toward his room. "Enough. Let's rest," Evander said wearily.

Thinking about Morpheus drained him completely. Lately, he had been plagued by dreams where he stood helpless in a time tunnel, watching Morpheus's car crash repeatedly. He thought, Every time I try to save him, but no matter how close I get, I can never reach him. The suffocating weight of those dreams pressed heavily on his heart. During the day, he forced a smile, careful not to let Odalys or Percival notice his pain. But at night, the memories returned, relentless and unyielding.