Chapter 24 The Famous Shrew

Olivia looked at Zachary, sensing his concern, and repeated, "Ms. Edwards has only been missing for about ten minutes. It's safe to assume the perpetrator is still in the villa area and probably lives here."

With this realization, the number of potential suspects shrunk significantly. However, Zachary remained troubled.

They had lived in the villa area for five or six years and had met the majority of the residents. Because it was a high-end residential area, the community was small, and they had not intentionally offended anyone.

Just as Zachary pondered this, a patrol car arrived at the entrance, and a figure emerged, striding toward them.

"Before Cynthia's disappearance, I investigated the suspicious residents. It appears that no one has a grudge against the Edwards family," the man said, his voice gentle but detached. In the light, his handsome face, which resembled Zachary's, and his lean stature were visible. He regarded Olivia calmly.

This man was Henry Edwards, Cynthia's brother and a member of the Edwards family.

Henry had been busy elsewhere after Cynthia's accident, but he kept in touch with his family, keeping them informed of the situation and their decision to hire Olivia.

Henry was surprised when he saw Olivia. He knew she was Alexander's sister, but he hadn't expected her youthful appearance.

Alexander, who was trailing Olivia, spotted Henry as well. Although their families were somewhat acquainted, Alexander and Henry were not personally acquainted. They exchanged nods of acknowledgement.

Cynthia's face brightened at the sight of her brother. While she wanted to rush over and embrace him, she refrained for fear of disrupting her newly discovered magical ability. Instead, she approached him with enthusiasm but caution.

Henry's demeanor softened as he observed Cynthia's well-being. However, he was aware that the situation was far from over. He urged everyone to board the waiting car, indicating that there was still much to discuss.

Seven patrol cars formed a convoy, nearly depleting the property's patrol car fleet. With determined momentum, the convoy entered the villa area.

Following the red rope, they came to a halt in front of a four-story villa, which surprised Jennifer.

"How is this possible?" she asked in disbelief.

Olivia turned to Jennifer, who gritted her teeth and replied, "This is the Young family's house. Although we didn't talk much, their children were among the few who played with Cynthia..."

Despite Cynthia's appearance as an adult, other children avoided her, perceiving her as foolish. However, the Young family's children embraced her and frequently initiated playtime. This fostered a close relationship between the families, with the Edwards even arranging business introductions for the Youngs as a token of appreciation.

Jennifer's disappointment was palpable as she discovered the Young family's true intentions.

"Has anyone in the Young family recently fallen seriously ill?" Olivia inquired suddenly, adding, "Someone on the verge of dying."

"The matriarch of the Young family has always been in good health," Jennifer responded with sadness. She went on to say, "But one of the children who played with Cynthia recently fell ill and was hospitalized."

Olivia's realization came quickly.

The Youngs attempted to exploit Cynthia's life in order to save the sick child.

With mutual understanding, the Edwards family members approached the door without hesitation.

The Edwards family made an impressive entrance despite the late hour. Jacqueline Young, taken aback, asked Jennifer, "Jennifer, what's going on? Why did you bring so many people here?"

Jennifer wasted no time in engaging in conversation, having concluded that the Young family was to blame for Cynthia's injuries. She got right to the point, saying firmly, "You know exactly what happened. You attempted to harm Cynthia with the intention of sacrificing her life to save your son, Donny Young. Did you honestly believe that no one would discover your scheme?"

Jacqueline's eyes showed a flicker of panic before she quickly composed herself. She responded, feigning confusion and indignation, "What are you talking about? I have no idea what you're suggesting. How dare you accuse me without evidence and bring people into my home? This is outrageous!"

Jennifer refused to waste any more time as she noticed a change in Jacqueline's demeanor. Their top priority was now to nullify Cynthia's unwittingly signed soul contract. "Cynthia, let's go inside and locate it," she said.

Cynthia, who was familiar with the Young family, eagerly followed her mother's instructions.

When Jacqueline noticed the peculiar red string on Cynthia's hand, she reacted quickly, exclaiming, "What do you think you're doing? Are you trying to trespass on private property?"

"That's precisely my intention!" Jennifer declared, directing her prepared bodyguards to intervene and prevent interference from within the house.

Jennifer, Cynthia, and their companions quickly followed the guiding red string to a room on the second floor.

They searched quickly and discovered the damning evidence—a soul contract inscribed on red paper.

After securing the evidence, they promptly confiscated it, ensuring Cynthia's safety and eliminating any potential threat from the contract.

Jacqueline, filled with anxiety, dialed a number downstairs. When she saw Jennifer and the others descend with an item, she was taken aback. She had not anticipated their success and yelled, attempting to grab the object. "Give it back to me!"

Henry rushed in, blocking Jacqueline's path and forcibly pushing her to the ground.

Jennifer dashed to the kitchen, alarmed that the soul contract would be seized. She ignited the gas stove and quickly burned the contract.

Jacqueline became enraged as she witnessed this act. She sobbed and lunged forward, desperate to stop Jennifer.

However, it was too late; the contract had already been dissolved. Jennifer tossed the partially burned remnants into the sink and slapped Jacqueline across the face.

With a sharp crack, Jacqueline recoiled, stunned. Before she could react, Jennifer grabbed her by the hair and slapped her twice in quick succession.

Jennifer let go of any pretense of grace and decorum at that moment. She was enraged by the Young family's plot against her daughter and wished to exact revenge on Jacqueline.

"You hurt my daughter! Employing witchcraft to cause harm! What did Cynthia do to deserve this? You have caused her so much pain! She is just a child!"

Years of pent-up resentment over Cynthia's condition, combined with the day's anxieties, erupted within Jennifer. She wept as she unleashed her fury on Jacqueline, defying societal expectations and embracing her role as a protective mother.

For a mother, her child was the most valuable asset.

"If you dare to lay a hand on my child, I'll ensure you face the consequences!"
Olivia's Odyssey: From Despair to Dazzling
Detail
Share
Font Size
40
Bgcolor