Chapter 61

“Finnian! Why are you calling me?” Hannah’s voice was filled with anger. Her negative feelings toward Finnian were evident.

“What can I do? Sophia wants to have sex with me. I’m calling you to tell her to strip and beg me for it, then I might consider it,” Finnian said, his voice tinged with arrogance.

“What?” Hannah exclaimed, her voice sharpening. Henry, Casplan, and Atlas were nearby. Putting the phone on speakerphone, Henry helped Hannah because keeping it close wasn't convenient after Finnian's call.

Finnian’s words were now audible to everyone in the room. “Can’t you understand? Sophia wants to sleep with me. She deliberately had me seduce Odalys, hoping I'd take over after Odalys married. The condition? Sophia sleeps with me.”

“Now that Odalys is married, if Sophia doesn’t strip, it’s not right, is it?” Finnian muttered.

Hannah’s head spun, and she gritted her teeth, seething. “Get lost. Just get lost.”

Several men’s voices were heard in the background: “Mom, Mom.”

Odalys immediately hung up, throwing the phone aside. She crouched down, looking at Finnian with disdain. “Oh, come on, what now? Your father doesn’t want you anymore.”

Finnian trembled with rage. For the first time, Odalys frightened him.

How did she manage to make me say all these things against my will? Why can’t I resist? I can’t even control my own mouth, Finnian thought.

Years ago, to rejoin the Lark family, Finnian tirelessly pleased his father and Selena, eventually gaining their approval. Even as a bastard, his resources changed drastically once he moved in.

The Lark family would never let him inherit anything, though. This is why Finnian desperately sought Sophia, hoping the Bennett family would support him, preventing the Lark family from looking down on him.

This was also why Finnian manipulated Odalys. Only when she was vulnerable did Finnian have a chance. Even if Odalys were abandoned by the Stewart family, Finnian knew she'd still bring benefits. Then, with a snap of his fingers, everything she had would be his.

Everything was carefully planned. Finnian was waiting for Percival to die. But he never imagined those two phone calls would destroy his dreams before his plan even began.

“Why?” Finnian stared in despair at Odalys’s retreating figure. She didn’t speak, only pulling out a talisman and throwing it at him without looking back.

The talisman hit him sharply, and a chill ran through his body. He shuddered, slowly opening his eyes to find himself lying in an abandoned building. In shock, he sat up.

“What’s going on? How did I end up here?” he asked.

The air reeked of urine. His pants were soaked; he had wet himself. He noticed a nearby phone, feeling uneasy.

Finnian grabbed the phone, checked the call log, and felt confused. He couldn't remember what happened. He immediately dialed the last number. The call was quickly disconnected.

Panicked, he dialed again. Selena answered. “Finnian, since you hate us so much, you don’t need to come back to the Lark family.”

“The Lark family is reclaiming your apartment and resources. Don’t claim any connection to us. As you wish, don’t contact me again,” Selena said, hanging up.

Finnian trembled uncontrollably. Before he could process this, his assistant called.

He roared, “Finnian, what did you do? The Lark family has taken back all their resources! Your engagements are canceled. The level 5 script, overseas endorsements, and global representation—gone!”

“The company relied on you! Why would you anger the Lark family like this?” his assistant’s voice crackled.

Finnian’s lips moved, but no words came out. His head pounded. “I don’t know. I’ve been set up,” he gasped.

Leaning heavily against the wall, a chill ran over him. Everything felt like a dream. He had no idea how he ended up there or why he made the calls.

“If you want to survive, fix this immediately. Otherwise, the company can’t protect you,” his assistant added before hanging up. Finnian’s heart sank.

As he reached for his phone, Sophia’s name appeared. “I don’t have time to talk. I…” he started, but she cut him off.

“Finnian, why are you spreading rumors about me? Why did you call my mom and tell her to strip and come to you for sex?!” Sophia yelled before hanging up.

Finnian stared, stunned. A horrible feeling he’d had earlier became clear: he had called Hannah and said those things.

Frantically searching, he found no cameras. Even if set up, there was no evidence.

Teeth clenched, Finnian went downstairs. He noticed tire tracks leading away from the building. He stared at them before calling a professional.

The expert arrived and confirmed the tracks were from Finnian’s car.

“How is that possible? My car has been parked here! I couldn’t have driven it and put it back!” Finnian growled, feeling a breakdown coming.

Who is trying to destroy me? Who wants to ruin me? Finnian thought. Without the Lark and Bennett families, he was nothing.

Being a star was fleeting. Once the resources and backing were gone, there was no way forward. No one would notice him. The Lark family abandoning him meant no one in the industry would support him. What he lost was far greater.

Finnian had planned to use the Bennett family and Odalys to climb to the Stewart family. Once secure, he would return to the Lark Group and seize the inheritance. He craved supreme power, not an empty title.

“That’s our investigation. Get a second opinion if you want,” the professional said, taking payment and leaving.

Odalys? Could it be her? Finnian whispered.

Finnian gripped his phone, trembling. An image flashed in his mind: Odalys.

Realizing what to do, he rushed to his car. While driving, he noticed a foul smell from his pants. After pulling over and changing, he discovered he had soiled himself.

With a sharp thud, Finnian slammed his fist into the steering wheel, rage bubbling inside him.