Chapter 413
Percival stopped the car, and both he and Odalys stepped out, heading towards the figure standing by the Stewart Villa
“Why aren’t you going in? Percival asked, confusion evident in his voice.
here.
The Stewart Villa wasn’t a place just anyone could approach, and certainly not somewhere people could waltz into at will. But with Lee hen Evander had no reason to keep him out.
Lee quickly crushed his cigarette, standing up straighter as they approached.
“No need, Lee said, his voice cautious. “I just have a few things to say, and then ril leave,”
He didn’t get close to anyone–especially not to the Stewart family-
Even now, standing alongside Percival, Lee kept his distance. The Stewart family was a powerful conglomerate, with wealth and influence. It was precisely because of that power that Lee had to be careful, to avoid getting tangled up in any future messes.
“Is this about Edie?” Odalys asked, cutting straight to the point.
his face.
Lee froze, a look of disbelief crossing his face. He stared at Iser, wide–eyed,
“How did you know?” he asked, instinctively swallowing hard
It was impossible to hide his shock. He hadn’t said a word, but Odalys had already figured out why he was here. If she had been an enemy… well, he wouldn’t have known what hit him.
“You’ve got some negative energy about you, and I can sense her presence on you. She must have warned you, pushed you to be cautious,” Odalys said matter–of–factly.
Lee gave a slight nod, admiration flickering in his eyes as he looked at her.
“That’s exactly right. Her threats were…. crude, and they made me realize something. The explosion that happened at my daughter’s school, that was
connected to her.”
Lee continued without hesitation, his voice dropping. The case we investigated with the dozen or so bodies in that villa–it’s connected to the Simpson family.”
Percival and Odalys exchanged a glance, surprised to hear their earlier suspicions confirmed.
“I wouldn’t worry,” Percival said quickly, stepping forward. The Stewart family isn’t involved in the Simpson family’s business. And as of now, they’ve cut ties with Edie. What she’s doing is her own business, and we’ll handle it. If it comes to that, you can pursue it as a matter of official duty.”
He was eager to distance himself from the Simpson family. The less association, the better.
Lee seemed to relax slightly, though there was still a trace of surprise in his expression. He had never feared the conglomerates, but neither did he want to make enemies of them.
“With Mr. Stewart’s word, it should make things much easier, Lee said, though he felt a bit of relief. He had suspected Edie was no longer with the Stewart family, but hearing it confirmed was something else entirely.
“Has there been any progress with the case Odalys asked, her voice steady. She wasn’t directly involved with the investigation–being an outsider —so she hadn’t followed up until now.
Lee nodded. “Following what you suggested, we’ve found all the families of the victims and confirmed the exact times they went missing. It seems they all received mysterious phone calls just before disappearing–something about winning a prize.
“And then there’s also something to do with loans. What they all had in common was that their financial situations were a mess. They were desperate, looking for a way out, and ended up losing their lives in the process. All of them were single at the time of death–cither recently divorced or separated. There were no romantic entanglements”
Odalys nodded thoughtfully, her voice soft but firm as she explained. “When people have just gone through a breakup or a divorce, their emotions are unstable. They’re Elled with anger, regret, or bitterness.
“It’s easy to push them into a mindset of revenge. Those emotions make them ripe for exploitation. All it takes is a lure–a promise of hope- making them think they have a chance to get revenge, to make the other person beg for forgiveness. In that moment, they’re ready to gamble everything. The more they want something, the less they realize they’re walking into a trap
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Chapter 413
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Lee’s expression darkened as he continued. T traced the victims and found that before they disappeared, they had been betrayed by their partners -cheated on They’d witnessed it firsthand, even fought over it.
“Their families thought they just went off to clear their heads. By the time anyone realized something was wrong, it was too late. They were already missing—and dead.”
The truth was devastating. The people who had been used, manipulated, and exploited–lost their lives because of someone else’s schemes
“Edie provoked me today, using my daughter as leverage, Lee added, his voice edged with bitterness. “And this case… it’s classified. Only a few people knew about it. I’ve been digging through everything, trying to figure it out.”
He paused before continuing. “Right now, the Bennett family and the Simpson family are the two biggest suspects, but we don’t have solid evidence to connect them. I’m not an expert on magic, but both families turned their fortunes around in the same year and became the elite of Crownridge. And Hannah and Edie go way back.”
“After the Stewart family’s downfall, both the Bennett and Simpson families have been flourishing.” Lee said. Tve even had professionals examine the energy field in that villa. They said it gathers souls and absorbs resentment
“I don’t fully understand all this,” Lee said, his tone a little more humble. “That’s why I came here to speak with you, Odalys. I know you’ve got the knowledge to shed some light on this for me.”
Odalys smiled slightly, her gaze sharp. She had indeed helped Lee in the past, with the talisman that protected his daughter, and he trusted her expertise. In fact, she had played a key role in solving a dozen missing person cases, and the police had saved time and effort by involving her. Now, they needed her help to close the case on the villa
“Once we identify the killer, we can finally close the case on the villa, Lee said, his expression more focused now,
“Sometimes, misfortune can be a tool,” Odalys said softly, almost as if speaking to herself. “The more misfortune someone carries, the heavier their resentment. There are people who specialize in gathering that resentment and turning it into their own strength. When you collect enough of it, it becomes negative energy. And if you live under that energy long enough, your body weakens, and accidents begin to happen. People die without even realizing how close they were to the edge
Percival’s brow furrowed at the mention of negative energy. His mind immediately flashed to the negative energy surrounding the Bennett Villa.
Was that just a coincidence or was there something deeper at play? Lee thought
Lee’s eyes lit up, a spark of realization igniting “So, all I need to do is look at the people who’ve been the unluckiest, those whose families have been struck by repeated accidents! That might give us some clues?”
Odalys nodded slowly. “Exactly
Lee’s excitement was palpable now. A genuine smile spread across his face, one that radiated from the heart. For the first time in a while, it felt like he was getting closer to something. That smile even seemed to infect Odalys, and she couldn’t help but return it, if only slightly
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