Justin's expression grew even darker. He looked up with a grim gaze and said, "I'll say it one last time, I have not betrayed Lindsay. Stop talking nonsense."But deep down, he couldn't help but feel a bit panicked. If Alex, who had just seen the news online, misunderstood his relationship with Olivia, what would Lindsay think?Olivia hurriedly grabbed Alex's arm. "Brother, don't talk to Justin like that."She blamed Lindsay for this entire mess and couldn't understand why Alex was scolding Justin without knowing the full story.For the first time, Alex shook off Olivia's hand. There was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Olivia, you know he's Lindsay's boyfriend. Why did you act so ambiguously with him? You’ve gone too far."He had indeed doted on Olivia, treating her like a real sister. When Lindsay came back and constantly clashed with Olivia, causing Olivia to fall ill several times, he sided with Olivia to protect her from being bullied. But that didn’t mean he didn't care a
Especially since he had just seen the video of them being intimate while in the car.The video showed Olivia and Alex in the courtyard, hugging and even kissing, caught live on a surprise broadcast. He felt relieved that Lindsay and the Harper brothers didn’t have such a close relationship; otherwise, he would have been thoroughly disgusted. It was mostly the Harper brothers who disgusted him.However, since Olivia wasn't his girlfriend, their sibling intimacy didn't concern him. But now, needing an outlet for his frustration, Justin lashed out after Alex's accusations.Seething with anger, Alex retorted, "We just have a close sibling relationship. It's your dirty mind that twists it into something else."Justin scoffed. "I could say the same about you. There’s nothing going on between me and Olivia. Believe what you want."Justin didn’t even bother finishing his dinner and called Charles to arrange another car for him. He didn't want to see Olivia and Alex anymore. Besides, if they w
The ringing stopped briefly, then resumed. Oliver finally answered, "What's wrong?"Olivia, crying and feeling wronged, said, "Oliver, I'm so upset. Alex is bullying me. He not only doesn't believe me but also scolded me and left me here alone."Hearing Olivia complain, Oliver's first instinct was usually to comfort her and then call Alex to scold him. But now, he pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes filled with fatigue. "Why did he scold you? Is it because your relationship with Justin is complicated?"In a serious tone, he asked, "Olivia, tell me honestly, are you involved with Justin behind everyone's back?"Olivia expected her second brother to comfort her and call Alex to defend her. Instead, he asked her these three direct questions."I’m not! Justin and I are just friends," she insisted, feeling even more aggrieved. "We haven't been secretly seeing each other. Oliver, don't you believe me either?"Oliver paused for a moment. "The evidence online makes it hard to believe the
Charles, already aware of the situation from the staff who had been with the three at the restaurant, couldn't help but comment sarcastically, "Serves them right. What were they thinking?"Meanwhile, an internet celebrity known for posting comedic videos tweeted that they had coincidentally run into the show's crew and witnessed Justin and Olivia seemingly arguing. The tweet included photos showing Olivia with swollen, tear-streaked eyes and Justin storming off alone. The public saw the pictures and immediately began speculating that the two were fighting because their affair had been exposed. To them, it looked just like a couple's quarrel.As more people joined in on the criticism, the situation, already unfavorable for Justin and Olivia, worsened.Linda, witnessing this, was nearly consumed with rage. They hadn't even figured out how to manage the previous crisis, and now this! Why couldn't Olivia just stay out of trouble?On the other side, Lindsay and her team were keeping up w
Elric didn’t expect Justin to ask him to switch seats as soon as he got on the plane. He looked up at Justin and said, "Mr. Ford, did you fail to take a moment to reflect on yourself just now?”Justin was confused. "What do you mean?"Elric raised an eyebrow. "Can’t you see you’re being shameless?”Justin was taken aback. "Elric, don't go too far. I need to talk to Lindsay, so please switch seats with me."Elric thought Justin had a lot of nerve. He chuckled coldly. "You want to switch seats to talk to Lindsay? Did you ask if she's fine with that?"Before Justin could answer, Lindsay, who had been looking at her phone, spoke up without lifting her head. "I’m not fine with that."Elric spread his hands in a mock gesture. "You heard her, Mr. Ford. Lindsay doesn't want to sit with you."Justin, desperate, looked at Lindsay. "Lindsay, I really need to talk to you. Just for a moment, please?"In a rare tone of humility, he pleaded, "Just for a minute, okay?"Lindsay finally looked up at him
At that moment, a flight attendant came over and reminded Justin and Alex to take their seats.Ignoring the instruction for a moment, Justin leaned on Elric's chair and bent down to speak near Lindsay's ear. "Linds, there is nothing going on between Olivia and me. I was just looking out for her as a favor to someone else. All those photos are misleading."He began explaining the circumstances behind the photos, mentioning instances like Olivia tripping. "The so-called couple's pendants weren't from me. Mine was a gift from an elder, who said it had been blessed for protection. That's why I wore it often. Olivia’s pendant was also from the same elder. Neither of us knew it was a limited-edition couple's pendant until we saw the posts on Instagram."Seeing that Lindsay was still unresponsive, he added, "And the reason we met privately was because this elder asked me to pass some stuff to Olivia or vice versa. You know me, Linds. I wouldn’t be so foolish as to wear matching pendants with
Lindsay looked away from Justin after she was done talking. She gently poked Elric's arm and pointed to the magazine that she had left open. "Have you been here?" she asked, flipping through a travel magazine that showcased a beautiful island.Having a second chance at life, she decided to make the most of it. Along with cutting out toxic people and taking better care of her health, she was determined to enjoy life to the fullest. Whenever she could, she'd set off on trips to explore new places and soak in the sights.Elric looked delighted. He couldn't help but smile at Lindsay's playful pokes. Her cute attempts to get his attention were utterly charming.He leaned in to look at the magazine page. "I have actually been there," he said. "Although it's a small island, it's..."Elric began to enthusiastically introduce the island to Lindsay.Lindsay's eyes sparkled with interest. "When I have time, I want to go there."Elric immediately whispered, "I'm very familiar with this place a
Halfway through, a cheerful female voice suddenly called out to her, "Linds!"Hearing the familiar voice, Lindsay looked up. She saw a stunning, tall woman waving at her from the front. It was her best friend, Jenny Ford, Justin's twin sister.They used to be very close, but after Justin returned to New Horizon, the siblings gradually drifted apart. From the first day they met, Jenny and Lindsay hit it off immediately. The more time they spent together, the closer they became, becoming best friends.Lindsay beamed with surprise. "Jenny!"Jenny quickly rushed over and hugged Lindsay tightly. "Darling, I've missed you so much!"Lindsay hugged her back. "I missed you too."After they let go, Lindsay linked arms with Jenny and asked as they walked, "Why did you come back?"After a big fight with her family, she left the country to follow a love interest. In Lindsay's previous life, Jenny never made it back before Lindsay died, though they'd always stayed in touch. Jenny had been a consta
In the vibrant district of the historic town, the streets were lined with vintage boutiques and various artisan stalls. Lindsay's group visited the town’s administration office and rented a temporary booth.Alex and Justin eagerly borrowed a table and chairs, setting up the booth. Following Lindsay's instructions, they also bought a piece of white fabric and worked together to create a simple sign. The production team provided markers and other supplies.Lindsay glanced over at Benedict and said, "Benedict, I’ll let you handle writing the banner."She was eager to observe his writing and the energy he gave off while doing it.Benedict sighed inwardly—this girl was constantly trying to test him. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. "Alright, I’ll write it."He grabbed a marker, uncapped it, and wrote in bold letters across the white fabric: “Fortune Telling, Divination, and Tarot Readings.”Lindsay watched him closely, noticing the fluidity of his movements as he wrote, his posture exud
Justin added, "My mom’s been trying to get me to help Olivia and distance myself from Lindsay. She’s also said plenty of nasty things about Lindsay. This time, not only did I ignore her, but I even pushed back. It probably pissed her off, and now she’s taking it out on Lindsay."Alex, clearly upset, said, "You should talk to her and tell her to stop fixating on Lindsay. Lindsay hasn’t done anything to provoke her. It’s ridiculous."He was frustrated that Justin’s mom had been stirring up trouble, making Grace even more difficult to deal with.Justin nodded. "Alright, after the show is over, I’ll have a talk with her."He also felt his mom was acting out of line. Back when he liked Lindsay, her disapproval at least made sense. But now that Lindsay had kicked him to the curb, his mom’s continued obsession was baffling.Although they were speaking softly, Lindsay and Benedict, walking ahead, heard every word.Lindsay found the situation with Abby baffling as well. A woman who fawned over
After Lindsay left, the other guests quickly followed, leaving only Alex standing there awkwardly. He spoke briefly to the production staff, and they soon shifted the cameras away from that area. Alex then walked over to Grace, saying, "Mom, since Lindsay won’t lend it, let’s just drop it."Grace shot him a cold glare, her expression dark. "How can you be so heartless? The one lying in bed is your fourth brother. Are you hanging around Lindsay all the time just to learn how to be cold and ruthless?"Unable to contain her frustration toward Lindsay, Grace directed it at Alex instead.Alex sighed in exasperation. "Even if we need help, it has to be something she’s willing to do! We’ve wronged Lindsay enough as it is, so why do you keep trying to guilt-trip her? Brandon’s situation isn’t Lindsay’s fault. Why don’t you go find Olivia? She’s the one who caused all this, maybe she can fix it. After all, whoever’s behind her is no easy target."Right now, all Alex felt toward Lindsay was gui
Grace held back her anger and said, "It'll only take a few minutes. I have something important to discuss with you."Lindsay sat back down in her seat. "Fine, go ahead."The livestream was on, and Lindsay was fully aware of it—she was doing this on purpose.Grace was about to speak when her assistant whispered something in her ear. Her expression changed, and she subtly shifted her body to turn away from the camera.Then she looked at Lindsay. "Can we talk outside?"In her rush to find Lindsay, she had almost forgotten that this was a live-streamed variety show. She didn’t want to be on camera, much less discuss such personal matters in front of an audience.Lindsay, however, refused. "If it's important, say it here. If not, then don’t say anything."Grace’s expression darkened. "It’s because it’s important that we need to talk privately."She emphasized, "It’s not appropriate in front of the camera."Lindsay just smiled. "Unless it's something shady, what’s wrong with saying it on cam
Lindsay thought about it for a while and figured that if Grace was coming to find her, it was probably for Brandon. The only thing she could want would be the artifact in her possession.Alex saw her reply and couldn’t help but smile wryly. His sister was indeed sharp and saw right through it.He sent a voice message, repeating what the head of the Divination Association had told them. "Mom just wants to borrow the artifact from you to suppress Brandon’s condition."Lindsay replied, "Tell her not to waste her energy."Seeing that message, Alex knew right away that she wouldn’t lend it out. It didn’t surprise him—his sister could be ruthless when she wanted to be."We can’t convince her otherwise, not even Dad can stop her... sigh," Alex added. When their mom’s temper flared, she wouldn’t listen to anyone.Lindsay didn’t seem to care. "Then let her come. I’m not going to do her any favors."Alex recalled the conversation between their parents at the hospital and decided to warn her, "M
Recently, Grace had been spending more time with Abby, often meeting up for outings. Over time, Richard noticed that Grace's anger towards their biological daughter had deepened. Abby had always disliked Lindsay and showed more favoritism towards Olivia. She must have been stirring up trouble and egging Grace on whenever they met. With time, Grace was bound to be influenced.Grace, clearly annoyed, said, "You even want to control who I make friends with? Aren't you going too far? What's wrong with me getting along with Mrs. Ford and spending more time with her?"Richard felt cornered. "I just think there's something off about her. Her intentions in getting close to you don't seem good. That's why I'm trying to give you a heads-up."Grace didn't believe him at all. "I think you're overthinking it. We’ve always had a decent relationship. We’re just closer now, that’s all.""What do you men know about women’s matters? Don't interfere." She now had plenty to talk about with Abby. Jenny wa
Richard glanced at Grace with clear disapproval. “This whole mess was caused by Olivia and Brandon. What does any of it have to do with Lindsay?”He could tell that recent events, and the embarrassment caused by their sons, had left his wife feeling bitter. It seemed she had begun to project that frustration onto Lindsay, despite the situation having little to do with her.Grace crossed her arms defensively. “If it wasn’t for her ongoing fight with Olivia, Brandon wouldn’t have gotten involved. He’s her brother. Doesn’t she owe him some consideration now that he’s in this condition?”Richard frowned. “What exactly are you trying to say?”Valarie, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her displeasure clear. “I see it differently. It’s Olivia and your son who started the trouble, and all Lindsay did was defend herself. Are you really looking to embarrass yourselves even more?”Grace shifted uncomfortably, feeling the sting of her mother-in-law’s words. “I’m just thinking abou
Given the Harper family's persistence, there was no way the Divination Association could avoid a thorough investigation. Seeing that Randolph wouldn’t back down, the official left, courteously escorted out by Randolph, who, for the moment, had ceased his protests.Valarie carefully placed the multicolored stone inside a small protective pouch before securing it around Brandon's neck. Though he felt a slight relief after putting it on, the bad luck continued. As the official had warned, his misfortune was too severe for one artifact to fully contain.Randolph tried every connection he had, attempting to borrow a second artifact, but came up empty-handed. Time slipped by, and evening approached before they could find any further solutions.By the time Richard and Grace arrived at the hospital, they were met with the weary faces of their parents. Feeling guilty for everything his father had gone through, Richard bowed his head. "Dad, Mom, I'm so sorry you had to go through this today."
Hearing their words, the hope that had briefly flickered in Brandon’s eyes quickly faded, leaving him more devastated than before. "Grandfather, I know I was wrong," he muttered, finally realizing the truth. His foster sister had been nothing but trouble—far from trustworthy, she had been a constant source of harm. Meanwhile, his real sister, though harsh and distant, had proven to be far more reliable. Regret gnawed at him deeply.Randolph sighed, his voice heavy with disappointment. “Knowing you’re wrong doesn’t change anything. It’s too late now.”Turning back to the two mystics, Randolph asked, “If you can’t break the curse directly, could you at least help suppress his misfortune? Maybe with a protective charm or some kind of mystical object?”Despite his frustration with his grandson’s foolishness, he couldn’t just leave him to suffer.Both mystics exchanged uneasy glances. “We don’t have the ability to suppress his bad luck with charms.”“For something like that, you’d need t