Chapter 24

Sophia's presence was their kryptonite. Chencert Sophia was involved; the trouble was she was stubborn and difficult to follow. Just hearing her name made Freya anxious.

“She ran into Finnian when she was discharged from the hospital. They teamed up to plot against Orson and secretly followed him,” Percival explained, his tone surprisingly calm. “Coincidentally, tonight, Orson and I went to the villa in the suburbs. They followed us there, but instead of finding him, they spotted me. Maybe they changed their minds at the last minute and decided to target me instead. She tried to tempt me in front of me," he continued. "But I didn't let her get close. Callum kicked her away!”

Treya and Odalys exchanged a surprised look.

“You mentioned earlier that Orson’s heart was hateful and he might do something extreme. Now, just a few hours later, he’s already taken action and teamed up with Sophia,” Freya said, nearly helpless.

She retreated into her apartment, motioning for them to follow.

Freya’s apartment was a spacious flat with a large living room. Simple sofas were arranged around the carpeted room. Near the floor-to-ceiling windows, a table displayed exquisite teapots and a few potted plants.

“So his luck really is bad,” Odalys said, impressed.

Freya admired Odalys greatly. What Odalys had predicted in the afternoon came true that evening.

“And he’s in for some bloodshed. Looks like Orson definitely paid him a visit tonight,” Odalys added.

Percival entered and sat in an armchair. As Freya brought him a glass of water, he took a sip before speaking. “His wrists and legs were broken from the kick. He won’t be causing any trouble for a while.”

Freya’s eyes widened. “And Sophia?” She was desperate to know what happened to Sophia.

“She was kicked down by Callum, probably injured too. She couldn’t get back up, and the bodyguards took her away, sending her back to the Bennett Villa,” Percival explained.

A wide grin spread across Freya’s face, and she laughed. “This is too satisfying. She actually dared to tempt you in the middle of the night. Doesn’t she know who you are?” Although Percival was mysterious, his presence and his frequent appearances with Odalys clearly indicated he was Odalys' husband.

“Probably doesn’t know,” Percival replied.

Freya propped her chin up, turning her gaze to Odalys. She sat beside her.

“If Sophia knew who you really were, do you think she’d lose it? She’s always been after wealthy, powerful men, and her pride is sky-high. Now, with her reputation ruined and the scandal from earlier this morning coming to light, she’ll be scrambling to find a new ally. It makes sense, doesn’t it?” Freya said quietly.

Odalys remained silent, feeling slightly uneasy. After a moment, she asked, “You went to the villa in the suburbs? Which one?”

Since his arrival, a strong smell of blood clung to him—a familiar scent she recognized.

“The one you and Francis visited yesterday. The police sealed it off, but I managed to get inside and found something unexpected,” Percival said.

Odalys listened closely, a soft smile playing on her lips. “You found a pit where bodies were buried, filled with toxic blood and mud, didn’t you?”

“You know?” Percival was surprised.

“When I helped clean up that mess with Francis, I could smell something off when the police dug up the bodies. The bodies were well-preserved, so they had a sweet scent from the preservatives, but the blood had a distinct odor, one I’ve only smelled in the mountain villages,” Odalys explained softly.

Chapter 58

“I suspect this is their second testing base for the person, moved here from the mountain village to Crowandge. After they tested it here, they must have abandoned the village,” Odalys said calmly and confidently. “This whole variety show thing was probably just a test by the people behind them, trying to lure some celebrities to draw attention and see if anyone would notice something off. If no one notices, they would keep the place. If someone does catch on, the village would be destroyed.” She paused, then added thoughtfully, “The reason they left Rafael to manage it must be because they want to have a fallback plan.”

Percival listened, his eyes widening. “This also explains why Sophia got the wrong Love Spell seller this time. Originally, the Love Spell she bought should have been from the old man who died earlier,” Odalys added, piecing things together. “The old man must have had a disciple, someone who worked directly with Sophia, but for some reason, this time, they got it wrong. Perhaps the person is hiding now, afraid of being exposed.”

“Maybe the villa was sealed off, and they got cautious, afraid of being watched, but Sophia had no idea,” Odalys continued. Having witnessed Sophia with the man earlier that morning, she was able to make some educated guesses. These people were always cautious and careful. They wouldn’t make such a big mistake unless something was wrong.

“That’s true. The police found out that this fraud was hired, though he was already known for his magic,” Percival added, confirming her suspicions.

“The person who hired him gave him sixty thousand dollars, originally planning just to give a talisman and be done with it. But when he saw how desperate Sophia was, he recognized her as a celebrity and decided to take advantage of the situation, trying to cheat her,” Percival explained.

Freya listened in stunned silence. She understood some of it, but much of it felt like a private conversation between Odalys and Percival.

“Is this something I should be hearing? Should I leave?” Freya asked nervously. Listening felt dangerous.

Percival gave her a sharp look. “If this gets out, it will be your responsibility.”

“No! Odalys, help me!” Freya immediately pleaded, clinging to Odalys’ arm.

Percival watched them for a moment. Freya curled up next to Odalys, who returned her gaze lovingly. A flash of emotion crossed Percival’s eyes before he spoke firmly. “Sit up straight.”

Freya froze. At Percival’s serious expression, she quickly sat upright. “Sit properly. Don’t be all touchy-feely. You’re grown-ups now. What is this?” Percival warned in a low voice.

Freya was confused. Two women being affectionate was normal friendship, but to Percival, it was a big deal. “Yes,” Freya muttered, slumping back onto the couch.

Odalys, watching the interaction, leaned back, her eyes narrowing. She understood why Freya didn’t live at the Stewart Villa. It must be suffocating to live with Percival; he was too controlling.

“Now that Edie has been stabbed with the drug she bought herself, she’s going to go crazy. She’ll probably do a lot of irrational things, even be thinking about what you two are planning to do,” Odalys said calmly, but with concern. That was why she had directly injected Edie earlier.

“Okay,” Percival replied curtly.

Freya, still processing everything, grabbed a carrot and began chewing on it, her eyes on the floor.