Olivia smiled outwardly at Justin’s words but felt uncomfortable inside. What did Justin mean? Did he not want to team up with them? Hmph, regardless of what he wanted, she was determined to team up with him again this time. She wanted to restore their once good relationship, or even take it further.Today, Olivia was not wearing a long dress but a white shirt and knee-length shorts, showing off her fair, slender legs. With a sweet smile, she greeted everyone. Lindsay ignored her. Elric also didn't spare her a glance. Justin sat down expressionless. Wendy gave a faint smile, clearly distant towards Olivia. Leslie smiled perfunctorily as a greeting. Hector, siding with Lindsay, played with his phone, pretending not to see her. George smiled but didn't speak, noticing that Elric didn't like Olivia, so he naturally kept his distance.Olivia's smile stiffened, feeling extremely wronged. These guys were unbelievable, all ganging up on her like this.Alex knew he wasn't exactly Mr.
Raymond stood there, stunned. He looked at Lindsay in disbelief. “You’re actually speaking to me like this.”Lindsay rolled her eyes. “How should I speak to you?”With a hint of impatience, she added, “Can you stop bothering me? Isn’t it annoying?”Raymond's chest heaved with anger. “You, you!”For a moment, he was at a loss for words.Across from them, Alex was holding his phone, the camera aimed at the scene. On the other end of the video call was Edmund’s office. Oliver, holding the phone, and Edmund were watching the situation unfold.Seeing Raymond’s predicament, both brothers had a look of exasperation on their faces.Edmund commented, “Raymond is brainless.”Approaching with such a cocky attitude, it was bound to get him reprimanded.Oliver agreed, “Exactly. He’s completely oblivious to his position in Lindsay’s eyes.”He added, “Actually, he doesn’t have any position in Lindsay’s eyes.”Alex overheard and couldn’t help but retort, “As if you have any standing in Lindsay’s eyes.
He had always been irritated by Raymond's arrogance and conceit, so watching Lindsay render him speechless and furious was immensely satisfying.George was shocked once again, wondering what kind of show he had joined. These guests were more ruthless and audacious than he had ever seen. Seeing a A-list singer being humiliated like this was a first for him. It was exhilarating!Raymond’s expression turned even darker. He couldn’t hold back. “Lindsay, you’re teaming up with an outsider to ridicule me. Do you still want to return to the Harper family?”Lindsay found his words amusing, “Not only is your face big and oily, but your ears must be deaf too. I’ve already said I have nothing to do with you all and I will never return to the Harper family. You must lack a brain; your head is empty.”Both Oliver and Alex silently agreed. Their third brother was such an idiot. Couldn't he see that Lindsay had no respect for him? Trying to threaten her was pure foolishness, just pushing her further
Alex stepped forward and gently tugged on Raymond’s arm. “Raymond, it’s almost time to board. Come over and rest for a while.”Raymond was fuming from Lindsay and Elric’s words but couldn’t outargue them. He also realized that Lindsay wasn’t giving him any respect. Unsure how to gracefully retreat, Alex provided him with an out.He looked at Lindsay and said, “A real man doesn’t argue with a woman.”Lindsay laughed out loud. “If you’re backing down, just admit it. No need for excuses. If you really want a fight, I’m happy to oblige.”Raymond was taken aback. “You’re unreasonable.”His sister had become increasingly infuriating. Besides, he didn’t dare fight Lindsay. The painful lesson Oliver received was still fresh in his mind. He would be a fool to let Lindsay get physical with him.He turned and followed Alex to a seat across the room. As he sat down, he noticed Alex was on a video call with their other two brothers. His expression darkened instantly. “Alex, what are you doing?”H
Did Raymond really think Lindsay would suddenly be more agreeable during a live broadcast? He was too naive. After all, Alex was frequently teased by Lindsay and Elric in the first episode.The three of them spoke quietly, but Lindsay overheard them. She found Olivia amusing, always engaging in these little schemes. Of course, it was only because Raymond was foolish enough to fall for them. She resolved to help him grow a brain at some point.Lindsay’s gaze landed on Olivia, noticing the red agate bracelet on her wrist. The energy from it was strong, comparable to the prayer charm Jenny wore. It seemed Olivia’s backers were quite formidable. With this bracelet, Lindsay had a chance to capture its energy signature. If she ever encountered the person who gave Olivia the bracelet, she could identify them based on the energy.Olivia quickly sensed Lindsay’s gaze on her bracelet. She touched it and returned a smug look to Lindsay. Even if she couldn't completely counteract Lindsay'
Charles was already aware of what had happened in the lounge. Thus, he looked at Raymond with a wide smile. Replacing Sharon with him was definitely the right choice. This was going to be entertaining, and the show would be filled with topics.Raymond felt puzzled under the director's gaze. Did he have something on his face? He also sensed a bit of malice in Charles' eyes...Charles greeted the guests with a smile. "Welcome to S, everyone, for this episode of the variety show. The theme this time is 'fun.' You’ll be divided into three groups among the ten guests. Our team will give you some check-in points, and you’ll visit these spots daily. In other words, you’ll be taking the audience on an adventure."Alex's eyes lit up. "This is great."He really didn’t want to work hard just to earn a meal again. The last episode had left him with a significant psychological shadow regarding food.He asked, "Does the show cover the expenses for all the fun activities?"Most of the guests loo
However, Justin’s expression darkened. He couldn't help but say to Charles, "Our group was the same last episode. The audience might get tired of it. I suggest we switch up the teams."He wanted to be in Lindsay’s group and, more importantly, break up Lindsay and Elric's team.Charles chuckled. "It’s up to you. The production team won’t intervene in this."Elric immediately said, "I think it’s interesting this way. We’ve already formed our group, so you all can do whatever you like.""Haha, El is shamelessly justifying sticking with my bias.""El is willing to lower himself to let my bias take the lead, but I love it.""Who needs dignity when you have my bias?""I don’t want El and my bias to be separated.""Is Justin trying to be in a group with my bias?""Obviously, that’s exactly what he wants.""Yes, you can tell by the way he was looking at her when he said it.""They’ve already broken up, but he still wants to be in the same group? What is he thinking?""My bias isn’t a garbage d
Justin only wanted to be in a group with Lindsay, so after being rejected, he didn’t persist anymore. Alex noticed that Justin looked quite pitiful after being publicly turned down, which was a bit embarrassing.Raymond, on the other hand, felt relieved that he hadn’t suggested joining Lindsay and Elric’s group; otherwise, he would have faced a major humiliation.Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Alex tried to lighten the mood. He smiled and said, “The four of us in a group is great. Having an extra person means we can earn more money. That way, our group can guarantee a most comfortable lifestyle.”Olivia, maintaining her sweet and considerate persona, added, “Let’s work hard, all four of us.”The production team first collected each guest's phone and then gave them new ones. They also handed out 500 S-coins to each person and left them on their own.Elric turned to Lindsay. “Linds, what should we do next?”“Let’s go eat first, then find a job that pays well so we can stay somewhere ni
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