Chapter 125
"Caspian's so-called 'evidence'," Orson quickly interjected, changing the subject. He pulled out his phone and checked trending topics. Many hashtags were dominating: "#Shocking! Caspian slandered and framed Odalys," "#PoliceConfirmBennettFamilySlander," and "#OdalysWasBullied." These quickly went viral. Netizens who had previously criticized Odalys online immediately fell silent. Some questioned the video's authenticity, but the tagged police swiftly responded: "This video is genuine." With official confirmation, the internet went quiet. The entertainment industry's dark underbelly, though known, was revealed to be far worse than imagined. The Bennett Group, a wealthy but not ultra-rich family, had defamed Odalys for publicity.
[Boycott the Bennett Group] [Get the Bennett family out of Crownridge]
Netizens rallied to Odalys's support, flooding her Twitter account. They found it inactive except for the account registration. They could only follow silently. Her follower count instantly surged from 7 million to 10 million.
In a remote village, the rain continued relentlessly into the afternoon. A group, initially lying still from hunger and exhaustion, were stunned by the downpour's persistence.
"Why is it still raining? Will we starve to death?" Atlas asked anxiously, peering outside. The heavy rain prevented them from leaving.
"Should we borrow more from the villagers?" Francis suggested.
Sophia shuddered at the idea. "No. What if the rain stops soon? Besides, aren't the people next door home too?" she countered, rejecting the notion. The thought of the old bachelor next door touching her repulsed her. While she sought wealthy suitors, this villager was unacceptable.
"Right," Atlas agreed.
They noticed their neighbors had changed into slippers, rolling up their sleeves and pants.
"Change into your raincoats. Slippers might be better for walking," Odalys suggested.
Freya agreed, "Our shoes will get soaked. Slippers are perfect."
"Thank goodness Odalys remembered raincoats," Selah said, putting on hers.
Odalys braided straw hats from leftover grass. "You already have hats, but these are safer," she explained, distributing them. They hastily put them on.
"How do I look?" Freya asked excitedly, twirling in her straw hat. "Stellan, take pictures of us three!" She embraced Odalys's arm. Selah posed beside them. Stellan quickly obliged, directing them, "Put your hand on her shoulder, lean forward a little."
"Come on, I want a kiss!" Freya playfully urged. After several group photos, Stellan joined, taking a selfie. Others crowded behind, striking poses.
"Cheese!" They smiled for the camera. Stellan snapped several shots. A cameraman filmed the entire scene.
[Whoa! I came here from Caspian's apology video. I didn't expect them to be playing card games!] [Are they preparing to go out and look for work after playing card games!] [Boohoo, Odalys is so pitiful. The Bennett family knew she couldn't access the internet during the show and deliberately defamed her. Bullies!] [The Bennett family is disgusting. They ruined a woman's reputation. Don't they know reputation is important to women?] [Odalys is amazing. She can even weave straw hats! My grandma used to make them for me on rainy days.]
Caspian's clarification video further enraged netizens. The show's popularity skyrocketed, with viewers rushing to see the woman the Bennetts had framed. They found Odalys weaving hats and preparing to forage for food.
"Let's go!" Odalys declared, grabbing a bucket. Selah and Freya took basins, and Stellan grabbed the rope provided by the show's producers.
They ventured into the rain, their laughter echoing.
"This feels so good!" Freya exclaimed, spreading her arms. They relished the experience, feeling a connection to nature.
"Yeah, it's so cool," Selah agreed.
Odalys, leading the way, cautioned, "Walk slowly. The ground is slippery." She glanced at an ancient courtyard nearby. The door was shut, but she sensed someone was inside.
"Odalys, what are you looking at?" Freya asked, following her gaze.
Odalys smiled faintly. "Nothing. This courtyard seems…different. In ancient times, it would have belonged to a wealthy family." It was well-maintained; there was a story to uncover.
"Since we're on a variety show, let's learn about local customs. What do you think?" Odalys suggested. She had an excuse to investigate and potentially meet the inhabitants, hoping for a connection to the Stewart family.
"Good idea. We'll go tomorrow," Freya readily agreed.
Kullan took the bucket, assisting Selah and Freya with their burdens. They proceeded toward the forest, discovering the stream had risen significantly.
"I see prawns!" Selah spotted prawns and fish surfacing in the weeds. She was eager to collect them but the bank was too high.
"We have a rope! We can tie it to a tree," Stellan offered, securing the rope. Unbeknownst to him, a figure watched intently from behind.