Chapter 8
Odalys's phone rang again, the tone sharp and grating. She scowled at the screen, her finger hovering over the block button. But after a moment's hesitation, she answered.
Before she could speak, a shrill, cutting voice burst through the line: "Odalys Stone? Who the hell do you think you are, ignoring my calls? Just because you married into the Stewart family, you're suddenly untouchable?"
"Don't forget, without the Bennett family's help, you'd still be a nobody. We gave you this opportunity, and you should be grateful," she continued, her words sharp and cutting. "Now, listen up. Your brother has a project that needs funding."
"You'll get the Stewarts to invest 250 million dollars. Did you hear me?"
Odalys froze, disbelief washing across her face. The audacity left her momentarily speechless.
It had barely been four hours since she'd severed ties with the Bennetts, and now they were demanding she extort money from the Stewart family—250 million. Hannah made it sound like pocket change.
"Mrs. Bennett," Odalys said finally, her voice cold. "If I remember correctly, we've already cut ties. What makes you think I owe you anything, let alone convince the Stewart family to invest in your ridiculous project?"
Her tone sharpened. "And let me be clear—I'm with the Stewarts now. If you have any sense, you'll stay out of my way."
Normally, Odalys wasn't one to lash out, but Hannah had pushed her too far.
"You ungrateful little brat!" Hannah screeched, her voice reaching a pitch that could shatter glass. "You think you can talk back to me just because you've grown some wings! Don't forget your brother got you that spot on the variety show!
"Do you know how hard it is to get into a program with A-list stars? We gave you that opportunity! If you keep this up, I'll make sure you're blacklisted in the industry. Let's see how far you get without us."
Odalys let out a short, cold laugh. Her lips curved into a mocking smile, dimples softening her otherwise sharp expression. She turned slightly, letting the breeze from the open window lift her hair, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"Blacklist me?" she said, her tone light and amused. "Go ahead. In fact, don't bother waiting—I'm not going to tomorrow's taping anyway."
The silence on the other end was deafening, then came an eruption of furious yelling. Odalys could faintly hear other voices in the background, likely her family scrambling to figure out what went wrong. They'd clearly expected her to fall in line, not defy them.
"You're going, and that's final!" Hannah barked, her voice trembling with rage. "And bring back the wedding gifts you took this morning!"
There it was. The real reason for the call. Hannah might have pretended the investment was the priority, but it was the wedding gifts that had her truly losing her mind.
After realizing the value of the items Odalys had taken—worth a staggering 300 million dollars—they'd decided they couldn't let her keep them. Those gifts weren't just about money; they were leverage.
If the Bennetts could tie those gifts to the Stewarts, they'd gain status and access they'd never had before. The Stewarts were a global powerhouse, their connections invaluable. The Bennetts wanted that desperately, but they weren't willing to sacrifice Sophia, their golden child.
"Wedding gifts?" Odalys's voice turned icy, her smile growing colder. "Sure. Come and get them yourself."
Before Hannah could respond, Odalys ended the call. She stared at the phone for a moment, her face calm but her chest tight.
For all her outward indifference, Hannah's words had struck a nerve. The betrayal and entrapment by her so-called family left a bitter taste, a reminder that they'd only ever seen her as a pawn.
"If they want a fight, I'll give them one," she muttered, her voice firm. Rising to her feet, she quickly got ready, her every movement sharp and deliberate. She wasn't going to let the Bennetts have the last word.
As she descended the grand staircase, Dorian appeared, his posture straight and professional.
"Mrs. Stewart, are you heading out?" he asked respectfully. His tone held a new layer of caution, born from witnessing her subdue Percival's poison earlier.
If she could save him, she was no longer just a Stewart by marriage—she was a potential savior for the entire family.
"Yes," Odalys replied, her tone clipped but calm. "I need to visit the Bennett family. Arrange a car for me." Public transportation wasn't an option, of course, not for the Stewarts' young madam.
"Right away, Mrs. Stewart," Dorian said with a bow. He moved quickly, ensuring that the newest, most luxurious car in the garage was brought around. The Stewart family spared no expense, even for a short trip.
Minutes later, the sleek, limited-edition car pulled up to the estate's entrance. As soon as Odalys stepped into the car, the driver headed straight for the Bennett residence.
Inside, the house was buzzing with laughter and lighthearted chatter. When Odalys walked in, she was greeted by the sight of Sophia clinging to Atlas's arm, pouting like a spoiled princess.
"Alas, I want more!" Sophia whined, drawing out her words.
Atlas chuckled indulgently. He patted her head affectionately and grabbed a tissue to dab at the corner of her mouth.
"Alright, one more," he said softly, picking up a strawberry and holding it to her lips. He even wiped the juice off her chin with practiced care.
"You're the best, Atlas," Sophia said with a wide, sweet smile.
At that moment, Hannah Bennett walked in carrying a plate of steaming pumpkin soup. She beamed at Sophia. "Sophia, sweetheart, come drink this. I made it just for you—it'll keep your strength up."
Sophia wrinkled her nose. "Mom, I don't want it. What if it makes me fat! I have to keep my figure! After the variety show, I'm going straight into filming," she said, crossing her arms.
Hannah wasn't about to let her off the hook. She blew gently on the soup and brought the bowl closer. "Don't be silly. That show must have worn you out. If you don't take care of yourself, where will you get the energy? Just drink it, okay?"
Before Sophia could argue, Hannah's gaze landed on the doorway. Her smile vanished, replaced by a scowl as her eyes locked on Odalys.
With a loud clunk, she slammed the plate onto the coffee table. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the cheery atmosphere. "So, you finally decided to come back? Did you bring the wedding gifts!"
Sophia jumped up from the sofa, rushing outside to check. Her gaze darted around the driveway, but all she saw was the sleek luxury car parked at the entrance—no gifts in sight.
"Odalys, where are the gifts?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "You didn't bring them back? Weren't you just a stand-in bride? How could you keep our family's wedding gifts for yourself?"
Her eyes reddened as she stared at the car. That car, still unreleased and ridiculously expensive, had Odalys's name written all over it. "Why does she get everything?" she thought bitterly. "It should all be mine!"
"What the hell are you playing at, Odalys?" Hannah snapped from the sofa, her tone dripping with condescension. She straightened her posture, trying to assert authority, but her words only carried disdain.
Odalys didn't respond. Her eyes narrowed, cold and calculating, as they locked on Hannah. Without a word, she began walking toward her with measured, deliberate steps, the soft click of her heels echoing in the suddenly tense room.
Hannah instinctively shrank back, her earlier confidence faltering. Atlas, sensing trouble, stepped forward, his face darkening as he moved to block Odalys's path.
"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded, his voice low and hard.
"Move," Odalys said, her voice so cold it sent chills down his spine.
When he didn't move fast enough, she didn't hesitate. Her knee shot up, slamming into his stomach with brutal efficiency, leaving him winded.
Atlas stumbled back, landing heavily on the sofa with a loud grunt, one hand clutching his abdomen.
Odalys didn't even spare him a glance. Her focus remained locked on Hannah, who was now pale and visibly panicking.
"What are you doing, Odalys?" Hannah stammered, her voice shaky and desperate. "Don't you dare touch me, or I swear—"
Before she could finish, Odalys reached out, her hand snapping forward. [The sentence abruptly ends here. The final phrase "SEND GIFT" seems out of place and unrelated to the narrative.]