Chapter 53

“The company’s business is being suppressed, and no one dares collaborate with us anymore. I don’t know if it’s because of the publicity issues from the variety show or if someone’s pulling strings behind the scenes,” Caspian said, lowering his voice.

Sophia, who hadn’t actually fainted, had been feigning unconsciousness. Hearing Caspian’s words, she was startled. Opening her eyes in disbelief, astonishment flashed across her face. “Caspian, what are you talking about? Didn’t the company sign a bunch of top-tier scripts this year? Isn’t my role about to be signed?”

A bad feeling washed over her. She couldn’t believe that, after only three days away, such a huge problem had arisen.

“You…” Caspian’s lips moved, but he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Just then, Sophia’s phone vibrated. She answered it, but the words on the other end left her confused. “I’m being kicked out of the production? You’re not going to sign me after…”

“I had already planned to join the cast after finishing the variety show. I even turned down a lot of activities for this. Hello? Hello?” she shouted.

After being told she was rejected, Sophia’s hands trembled so violently that her phone dropped to the ground. She sprang to her feet, barefoot, and rushed to Hannah’s room.

Seeing Hannah lying motionless in bed, her face wrapped like a mummy, Sophia froze. “Mom?” she gasped, shocked.

Sophia had heard from Atlas that Hannah’s leg was broken, but seeing it firsthand, it was worse than she imagined.

Sophia screamed. “It’s Odalys! It has to be her! Mom, she can do divination and predict bad weather. She must be behind this! Ever since she got married, the Bennett family has been going downhill!”

“It’s definitely her trying to ruin us. I’m going to confront her. Why did she want to harm us? Poisoning me and Atlas wasn’t enough, and now she almost got us thrown in jail!” Sophia’s voice cracked, and she burst into tears.

Hannah, her heart aching at Sophia’s words, ordered sharply, “Caspian, Atlas, go get Odalys now.” She pulled Sophia into a hug, her eyes fixed on the iPad in her hands. She had just watched a livestream of their return trip and learned that Sophia and Atlas had nearly been arrested.

“Yes,” Caspian replied quickly, but when he tried to call, he couldn’t get through. The group tried different phones, but after a while, they stared at each other in disbelief. “Are we blocked?”

Before they could speak further, Henry, looking exhausted, pushed open the door. He tossed his car keys onto the coffee table and collapsed onto the sofa.

“Henry, what’s happening with the company?” Hannah asked, her voice tight with worry.

Henry sat for a moment, then looked at Sophia before his gaze finally landed on Atlas. With a loud bang, he stood and slapped Atlas across the face.

“Who the hell leaked the insurance information from the variety show?” Henry roared. “Now the whole internet is attacking us, accusing us of trying to harm Odalys!”

Chapter 53 (Continued)

“This has gone viral, and the Bennett Group is being blacklisted. Celebrities are losing jobs, partnerships are ruined, and even the police are watching us,” Henry shouted, distraught.

Just days ago, the Bennett Group had been thriving. No one could have predicted their imminent collapse.

“What? How is that possible?” Hannah exclaimed, sitting up in shock. The sudden movement aggravated her injury, and she winced in pain, but her fear was evident as she asked, “Henry, don’t they know about the relationship between the Bennett and Stewart families?”

“Right, we need to go to the Stewart family. Odalys married into that family. As long as the Stewart family backs the Bennett Group, we…” Hannah murmured desperately, seeming to have found a lifeline.

Atlas, stunned by the slap, coldly looked at Henry and spat on the floor. “Go to the Stewart family? Odalys was forced to marry into that family by us, and when she left, she signed an agreement severing ties. Henry pressured her into the variety show. Now, after all this chaos, do you think she’ll stand up for us?” His cold words silenced the room.

A heavy weight hung in the air. Sophia felt frustrated. Everything I fought for… does it mean nothing now? she thought bitterly.

“I called the Stewart family. They hung up as soon as they heard it was the Bennett Group. They didn’t even let me speak,” Henry muttered.

Hannah froze, a chill spreading through her heart. She had also been hung up on. She felt all hope slipping away. She tried texting Odalys, only to find she had been blocked.

“This bitch actually blocked me,” Hannah whispered.

“Regardless, she’s still part of the Bennett family, even if she’s severed ties with us,” Hannah said through gritted teeth.

“Henry, we need to go to the Stewart Villa,” Caspian said, his eyes cold. He grabbed the car keys and started to leave before Henry could respond.

Odalys hailed a cab and returned to the Stewart Villa. A servant greeted her respectfully. “Mrs. Stewart, you’re back?” Odalys, still unused to the title, merely nodded.

Inside, the butler, Dorian, rushed out to meet her. “Mrs. Stewart, you’re back? Let me carry that for you,” he said, taking her bag. He’d watched the livestream and was impressed by Odalys’ capabilities.

He knew she could hunt wild boars, kill venomous snakes, and even jump off cliffs. Importantly, Percival, who had been near death, hadn't succumbed to his poison in the past three days, just as Odalys predicted.

Chapter 53 (Continued)

When the news reached the Stewart mansion, Clarence was so excited he almost broke a bone; otherwise, he would have rushed over immediately.

“Where is he?” Odalys asked, looking upstairs. Dorian, pleased at her inquiry about Percival, replied, “Mr. Stewart is out handling some matters. I can call him for you.” He carried her luggage upstairs. Odalys nodded and entered the room.

The bedroom was spotless, clearly kept clean after her departure. She placed her backpack down and took out two snake gallbladders wrapped in paper charms.

“Send me the other medicinal ingredients,” Odalys said softly.

Dorian, remembering the snake gallbladders from the livestream, excitedly rubbed his hands together. “Yes, I’ll get them right now,” he eagerly replied.