Chapter 597

Windsor ignored Henry and stormed off. Henry hesitated for a moment, then instinctively gave chase. Catching up, he exclaimed, "Dad! Dad, what's wrong? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Windsor stumbled out of the courtyard, spitting blood. His body swayed violently, threatening to collapse. He grasped Henry's hand fiercely.

"Tomorrow," he rasped, "find Odalys for me. Tell her the Stewart family matter has nothing to do with me. Warn her to be cautious of the Simpsons; acting tough will only get her killed."

He squeezed Henry's wrist with terrifying strength. "And one more thing: tell her I abandoned her! Tell her to stay far away from the Bennetts if she wants to survive!" Windsor gritted his teeth, the ferocity in his gaze terrifying Henry. "Did you hear me? Word for word. And don't get close to Edie or the Simpsons; it won't end well for you."

His lips burst open as he bit down, blood flowing freely. "Also, if I become different later... kill me."

Henry's face paled. He felt a strange kinship with this man, a feeling that this was his real father.

"And keep an eye on Sophia! Don't let her leave the Bennetts, and ensure she doesn't sever ties with us, do you hear me?" Windsor hissed, his voice strained.

Henry nodded rapidly. The instant he did, Windsor visibly relaxed, his head bowed, silent.

"Dad? Dad, are you alright?" Henry asked, helping him up. Receiving no response, he leaned closer, repeating, "Dad?"

Windsor's head snapped up; his eyes were cold and unfamiliar. A piercing glare made Henry flinch. Without warning, Windsor kicked him hard in the stomach.

Henry doubled over, collapsing. Windsor seemed a changed man, his gaze predatory and hostile. "Dad?" Henry pleaded, recognizing the familiar face, yet a completely different expression—the same as when Windsor was intimate with Sophia.

"Scram! Get out of here if you don't want to die!" Windsor bellowed, walking toward the Bennett Villa. Sophia rushed out, but Windsor seized her wrist, dragging her forcefully inside, past Hannah, straight to the study. Sophia's screams echoed, "Windsor, what are you doing? Let go of me!"

Caspian emerged, hurrying to help Henry. "Henry, what happened to Dad?" he asked quietly.

"Nothing," Henry replied, shaking his head. "I need some air. Don't worry."

Caspian hesitated, then retreated, glancing back at Henry.

Leaving the Bennett Villa, Henry murmured, "Leaving the Bennetts is the only way to survive? So Dad abandoned Odalys to protect her? I can't let Sophia leave, and I have to watch her."

He felt a shift, something contradictory to his assumptions. He saw Odalys nearby, quickly rising and heading for the door. Pausing, he glanced upstairs, seeing Oliver and Brandon watching him.

He stopped, coughed, and kicked a stone. "Can't anyone let me live in peace? It's the middle of the night!" After venting, he gave Odalys a meaningful look before returning to the villa.

Upstairs, Oliver and Brandon watched Henry’s return. Oliver clutched his face, a lingering pain from bite marks. Odalys's destruction of the previous magic zone had severely injured him, and now, with Windsor's zone in ruins, he was utterly drained.

"Are you sure he's back?" Oliver asked.

Brandon shook his head. "I'm not sure, but his eyes... But judging by the blood and him kicking Henry... maybe I'm overthinking it. How could Windsor return? He's just an ordinary man!"

Sophia's screams still echoed faintly from the next room. They sounded genuine.

"It's best if he isn't back. If he is, this body will have to be destroyed; it'll disrupt our plans," Oliver stated flatly.

They retreated from the window. After drawing the curtains, Odalys exchanged glances with Percival and the others, silently agreeing to remain quiet as they slipped away.

"What happened, Odalys? Why did Windsor suddenly vomit blood and change?" Orson asked, noting Windsor's rapid mood swings.

"The Windsor we saw earlier, and the one at the nightclub, is the real him. I don't know what happened in the villa that forced him back," Odalys whispered. "We need to figure out if it's his shadow or someone else's soul."

Percival suggested, "Perhaps a split personality? Otherwise, he'd have been exposed long ago."

Odalys remained silent, lost in thought, recalling Windsor's hasty exit and Henry's approach, only to turn back upon seeing Oliver and Brandon.

"Are you still dizzy?" Percival asked, concerned by her quietness. Her low alcohol tolerance and the cold night likely contributed to her discomfort.

"I'll be fine after some sleep," Odalys replied.