If they called the manager, they'd certainly lose their wages. Lindsay looked at them. "Either play the violin or I'll call the manager to complain. Your choice."Olivia whispered to Raymond, "Ray, think about the hotel tonight."Given Lindsay's current attitude, if they refused to play, she would definitely complain to the manager. Without their wages, how could they afford a decent hotel for the night?Hearing this, Raymond grudgingly agreed, "Fine, we'll play."They divided the task, with Olivia picking up the violin first. She had purposely changed into a silver trailing gown earlier. As she played, she posed to appear both intellectual and elegant.Violin had been her main instrument at the music academy, so she was confident in her skills.After finishing the piece, Olivia looked at Elric and asked, "Are our guests satisfied?"She believed she had played well and expected Elric to appreciate it. To her surprise, Elric asked with an odd expression, "Do you want to hear the truth
After Elric was done talking, he turned to Olivia. "I'm sorry, I tend to be quite direct and prefer honesty. You don't mind, do you?"Lindsay glanced at Elric, somewhat surprised. Not only was he sharp-tongued and ruthless, but he could also play innocent perfectly. If he hadn't spoken first, Olivia might have managed to use some subtle words to salvage the situation. But Elric preemptively beat her at her own game. It was quite impressive!Indeed, this comment caught Olivia off guard. She had planned to say her mood affected her performance and then apologize to Elric and everyone else. This way, the audience would understand, and her apology would make her seem humble and open to criticism. If Elric continued to be harsh, it would make her appear weak and pitiable, making them look like bullies in comparison.But Elric's unexpected comment threw her off. What happened to his arrogant and venomous attitude? Why did he stop?At that moment, Olivia felt a different kind of frustratio
"My El is actually grade zero, he's never taken any exams. He's quite poor at it.""In that case, our El really can't compare to Raymond's professional grade.""El once collaborated with a top international violinist, he just rode on their coattails.""El's skills are lacking, thumbs down!"It was true that fans often mirrored their idols. Elric's fans were known for their unique style, even when it came to self-deprecation.Other fans thought, "You're just as ruthless as your idol!"Elric's response left Raymond unable to make a sarcastic comeback. What could he say when Elric had already claimed to be an amateur?Raymond, not wanting to face the three any longer, asked, "We've finished playing. Can we leave now?"Lindsay took out fifty dollars from her purse and handed it to Raymond. "Here's your tip. You've earned it."Seeing this, Elric couldn't help but laugh. "Indeed, well-earned."He asked Lindsay for fifty dollars and handed it to Olivia. "Here's my tip. No need to thank me!"H
Raymond sat down angrily in the staff break area. If the violin didn’t belong to the restaurant and he had less self-control, he might have smashed it.Soon after, he saw Olivia enter with red eyes and a gloomy face. Still upset, he didn't go to comfort her this time.Instead, he raised an eyebrow and asked sarcastically, "Why didn't you play another piece?"Olivia used to find it satisfying when Raymond spoke sarcastically to others. Now that it was directed at her, she found it grating.But she knew she couldn't risk a falling out with Raymond over this. She understood the Harper brothers well. They doted on her, but if she threw tantrums too often, they'd lose patience. Just like Oliver, who now ignored her.So, she shed some tears and said pitifully, "Ray, it was a livestream. If we had just left angrily, the fans and viewers would have criticized us. Otherwise, I wouldn't have tolerated Lindsay's humiliation."Seeing Olivia like this, Raymond's anger subsided somewhat.The livestr
Just as she was about to speak, the cameraman walked in.The audience then saw Olivia sitting on Raymond's lap, embraced by him. She was leaning into his chest."Wow, scandalous!""Tsk tsk, so after storming off, they came here for a tryst.""Seeing them so intimate, have they gone from adopted siblings to lovers?""My boyfriend and I have never embraced like that in public. Their relationship must be something special.""Last episode she was caught kissing Alex, this episode she's cuddling with Raymond. The 'angel' is quite something.""Angel? More like a player.""Did the Harper family groom her to be a bride for the brothers?""Surely not. It's monogamy these days. The brothers can't share a wife, can they?""Should we even be watching this? My eyes!""Oh, the 'angel' suddenly stood up and moved away from Raymond.""We all saw it. No need for this obvious cover-up.""I want to whistle.""Wonder what Alex, still playing piano outside, would think if he saw this.""Come on Alex, join
Albert and his team thought they'd have to wait several days for an opportunity. Surprisingly, it came on the first day of the show.They first released the video and screenshots they just recorded, then promoted it to gain traction. "Olivia and Raymond's intimate livestream" quickly became a trending topic.Many people knew Raymond and were familiar with Olivia as the adopted daughter of a wealthy family and Justin's rumored ex. So many clicked to see the gossip.After watching, everyone was shocked. Would normal siblings be so intimate?Many wondered if the two were secretly dating.Though Olivia and Alex had been close before, Olivia and Raymond now seemed more like a couple.People heatedly debated who Olivia was actually in a relationship with.Before they could reach a conclusion, a well-known gossip account posted a grid of nine photos.In a bar, a handsome young man held Olivia close. Their poses were intimate, with one photo showing Olivia feeding him a drink, looking extrem
Upon hearing about the online situation from others, Richard immediately checked the trending searches and his face turned ashen with anger. "This is outrageous, utterly outrageous."He had never expected that his adopted daughter and his three sons would become this intimate. The shareholders had also seen the trending search and looked at Richard with sympathy."Your adopted daughter really is a troublemaker."Indeed, the adopted daughter of the Harper family was formidable, having all three Harper sons fall under her spell.The Harper brothers were even more out of line. Didn't they have any sense of propriety or shame?Richard was so angry he didn't know what to say. "Exactly, a troublemaker."If not for Olivia, his biological daughter wouldn't have cut ties with them after reuniting with the family and broken up with her boyfriend.He had never realized before how much trouble Olivia could stir up."These rebellious sons are good for nothing."They were fortunate not to be nearby
Oliver was stunned by Grace’s slap, leaving him completely bewildered."Mom, what did I do to upset you?" Since young, his parents had never laid a finger on him. The slap was unexpected.Edmund had a suspicion. "Is it because of what's been going on online?" They had been receiving calls and messages on their way back.Grace's face was stern. "What else?" she demanded, looking at her eldest son. "Have you ever been this close with Olivia?"This question caught Edmund off guard. He shook his head. "No."He had carried Olivia to her room when she fell asleep and sometimes draped an arm around her shoulder to comfort her. But due to their age difference and his personality, he had never been overly affectionate like his younger brothers had. He certainly hadn't kissed her on the face or held her on his lap after they became adults.Grace fixed her gaze on him. "You better not have, and don't let it happen in the future.""Don't forget, you are engaged," she reminded him."No wonder
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