Chapter 63
Henry’s gaze lingered on Sophia’s smooth, toned thigh, and his throat tightened. A strange desire stirred deep in his stomach, so he turned away, his mind filled with images of her flawless legs.
Sophia bit her lip, her eyes half-lidded as she noticed Henry’s irritation. Without thinking, she subtly raised her skirt.
No matter what, Sophia couldn't let anyone in the Rennett family get the wrong idea about her and Finnian. If they did, she would lose the Rennett family's protection, and everything she had worked for would be gone.
As she thought this, her eyes drifted to Odalys, who was watching her with a sly smile, clearly enjoying the tension.
"Is this fun for you?" Odalys seemed to ask, her lips moving silently.
Seeing the Rennett family in disarray was, in fact, somewhat satisfying to Odalys. However, she wasn't in a hurry to completely ruin them. She didn't want to become too entangled in their mess. Before her time travel, they had pushed Odalys to the brink of depression, even causing her to contemplate suicide. Now, she intended to make them pay. She would watch them fall from grace, losing everything they held dear—her ultimate revenge.
Since Sophia cared so much about her status and position, Odalys would ensure she was publicly humiliated, pushed into a corner with no escape, and left frantic and helpless until driven to her breaking point.
With that thought, Odalys whistled. Sophia gritted her teeth, her anger rising. She almost confronted her but held back, pretending to faint. She dared not make a move, watching as Odalys gave her a mocking smile.
Sophia watched as Odalys got into a brand-new BMW and drove off arrogantly. Sophia silently screamed in her mind. "It's Odalys," she thought. "She's behind this." Finnian had called Hannah because of Odalys's intervention. "Finnian is willing to call Hannah and slander me for her? What has she promised him? No, that can't be! I won't let Finnian fall for Odalys's tricks."
Finnian might be a bastard, but he was still connected to the Lark Group. That connection was something Sophia couldn't afford to lose, so she needed to keep Finnian on her side.
Sophia let out a soft groan, and Henry froze. Hearing the suggestive sound, he turned to see her phone had fallen from her lap. Without thinking, he reached to catch it, his hand gently landing on her leg.
He realized her skirt had shifted upward, revealing the top of her thigh, and his hand was resting on her smooth skin. Just as he was about to pull away, Sophia pressed her hand on his, her eyes opening in surprise.
"Henry, what's happening to me?" she asked, her face filled with confusion.
The confusion in her eyes made Henry freeze. His hand remained on her leg, and as she sat up straight, she guided his hand upward. The warmth radiating from her skin tightened his throat.
"Ah, Henry, your hand… sorry, I didn't know it was yours. I thought it was my phone," Sophia said, quickly slapping his hand away, her cheeks flushed. Her eyes were red with frustration, and she seemed on the verge of tears.
She spoke in a low voice, "Henry, I need to get out and explain. I need to make it clear this is all my fault, and it has nothing to do with the Benner Group. I need them to stop making a scene."
As she reached for the car door, Henry grabbed her arm. "I'll handle this," he said firmly. "I'll take you back to the hospital first." He drove off quickly.
"Henry, do you know what's going on with Odalys? Is Percival almost finished? If Odalys goes back, will she be tortured?" Sophia asked.
Just then, she saw Odalys stepping out of a luxury vehicle. "Henry, look!" Sophia gasped.
Henry followed her gaze and saw Odalys standing in front of a Porsche, a tall figure emerging. He narrowed his eyes as he parked.
Odalys held her phone and quickly walked to the Porsche. Percival stepped out, noticing her standing in the blazing sun. He raised his hand to shield her.
"Have you eaten yet?" he asked in a low, husky voice. Odalys's stomach rumbled loudly, and she laughed softly. "Not yet."
"Then let's eat together," Percival said quietly.
Percival strode toward a nearby restaurant, Odalys following. As they approached the stairs, he turned and reached out to steady her. "Be careful," he muttered, noticing a hole in the stairs. They froze for a moment before he guided her inside.
"Mr. Stewart, the private room is ready," the manager greeted them, clearly surprised to see Percival with a woman. Upon hearing Callum's indirect introduction ("Mrs. Stewart"), the manager's expression shifted, and he became more respectful.
Odalys nodded and followed Percival into the private room. The interior was elegantly arranged, resembling a medieval-style restaurant. A waiter brought desserts and fruit.
"You called me here for a reason?" Odalys asked, eating some fruit. She had been about to leave when she received a message from Percival.
Percival pushed the desserts and fruit toward her. "Last night, you mentioned my poisoning, and how it might be connected to people close to me."
"Last night, I gathered information on people close to the Stewart family who had opportunities to get close to me. I was wondering if you could take a look," Percival said quietly.
Odalys nodded, taking a bite of watermelon. "Sure, but you'll have to pay."
"Okay," Percival replied. He grabbed a file, opened a brown paper bag, and handed her photos and personal information.
Odalys flipped through the file swiftly until she reached the last photo. She turned back, picking out another photo, placing it on the table. "What's the relationship between these two people?"
"They're married," Percival answered steadily, his gaze fixed on the photo and Odalys's expression.
"Did your mother fall seriously ill when your father died?" Odalys asked softly. Percival froze.
His eyes darkened, and he looked at her sharply. After a long pause, he asked hoarsely, "How did you know that when my father died, my mother became gravely ill?"