"Same here, I'm curious too."Everyone was curious and turned their attention to Olivia on the live stream. Olivia, however, was feeling a bit overwhelmed. She hadn’t even finished the three drinks in front of her, and now her third brother had just agreed to another five. “Why is he being so foolish?” she thought.She was supposed to be the sweet, caring sister—if she didn’t stand by her brother, she’d definitely get criticized. But seeing that no one else was supporting Raymond made her feel like her brother was in for a tough time. This put her in a difficult position.After thinking it over, she decided to play dumb. As long as she didn’t speak up, she could avoid drinking no matter who won.But Raymond, now desperate for some reassurance, looked at her and asked, "Via, you’re with me, right?"Olivia was at a loss for words. She really wanted to tell him to get lost. Feeling conflicted, she pointed to the three large glasses on the table. "Ray, I haven’t even finished these
Raymond suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to take the drink and pour it over his brother’s head. “I’ve never seen someone so determined to mess with their own sibling,” he thought, “This jerk and Elric must be the real brothers here.”But with so many people watching, and the live stream running, Raymond held back. He took the glass, held his breath, and downed it in one go. This time, the drink wasn’t just unpleasant—it had a fiery kick. Quickly, he grabbed the bottle of water on the table and gulped down half of it.Seeing that her two brothers had helped her by taking on the drinks, Olivia felt a wave of relief wash over her. She looked at them with heartfelt gratitude, "Thank you, Ray and Lex!"Alex, however, felt a bit uneasy under her gaze. He offered an awkward smile and said, "No need to thank me, but remember, you’re still in this with Ray.""If it comes to those five penalty drinks, I’m out," he added, implying that if they were penalized with five more drinks, he wouldn
Meanwhile, Raymond, Olivia, Lindsay, and Elric had placed their bet of five drinks. On stage, half an hour had passed. As the time was up, Hector turned off the video and stood up, signaling to host that he was ready.To make it easier for everyone to compare, she first played the video of Raymond’s earlier performance. Many viewers watching the live stream had recorded the song, preparing to compare the two performances later.In the bar, the host announced that it was time to begin. The lyrics were transcribed into text and displayed on the big screen, but this time with the sound muted. Hector took his guitar, walked to the center of the stage, and sat down. The bar fell into a hushed silence as everyone turned their attention to Hector.With a calm and composed demeanor, Hector began to play and sing, altering the melody right from the first note. His voice, naturally suited for emotional ballads, instantly outshone Raymond’s. What captivated everyone even more was the way
Raymond hadn’t expected his own words to be thrown back at him by his younger brother. Already in a foul mood, this only added to his frustration. With a grim expression, he asked, "You helped Via earlier—shouldn’t you help me out now too?"Alex smiled pleasantly and replied, "We’re still on our temporary break from being brothers, so I think you’re on your own."Raymond felt an overwhelming urge to drag his brother outside and deal with him once and for all. Looking at the ten glasses on the table, he had no desire to drink them but knew he couldn’t escape it.Seeing his hesitation, Elric spoke up, "Are you really going to drink all ten by yourself? Why not let your sister help out a little?"Elric had originally suggested the drinking bet to target Justin and Olivia. Both of them had treated Lindsay unfairly, especially Olivia, who had taken everything from Lindsay while maintaining an innocent facade. He had also noticed, with growing suspicion, that Olivia often looked at Linds
Raymond wasn’t entirely oblivious—he could tell that Olivia didn’t really want to drink. When she picked up the glass but hesitated, he reached out and took it from her. "No need. I lost the bet, so I should be the one to take the penalty."As much as it pained him to admit, he had indeed been outshone and humiliated by Hector today. He didn’t even need to check online to know that public opinion would shift against him and that he would likely be criticized. But a bet’s a bet, and what choice did he have? Arguing or trying to avoid it would only make things worse. It was better to face it head-on.After downing nine consecutive glasses, Raymond’s face was flushed, though he wasn’t drunk. Elric had intended for them to drink but had made sure to ask the server to use low-alcohol spirits. So, even after ten glasses, it was still less intoxicating than an equivalent amount of beer.As Raymond picked up the final glass, ready to finish it, Lindsay spoke up. "Mr. Lowe, shouldn’t you
Elric hadn’t initially expected Alex to actually drink the cocktails he mixed. He had claimed they were ordered under Alex’s table, but Alex could have easily refused, as it was a flimsy excuse. Elric had even planned out what he would do next if they refused to drink.To his surprise, Alex went along with it so willingly, while the ones Elric really wanted to mess with—Justin and Olivia—didn’t drink a single drop. Feeling a bit guilty, Elric decided to take responsibility and drink three glasses himself.Alex was equally surprised that Elric admitted the truth. When he saw the drinks, he had already guessed that it was Elric’s doing, not the bartender’s special creation. The idea of a cocktail costing two hundred dollars was laughable, especially when the most expensive drink here was less than forty dollars. And even if the drinks had been charged to their table, Alex could have refused to pay—no one would have forced them to cover the cost.Alex wasn’t naïve. He went along wit
So, when Alex said he didn’t need anything, Olivia took it at face value and didn’t insist. But if it had been Lindsay, not only would she have stayed with him, but she would have also made oatmeal and prepared medicine for him. Today, if it had been Lindsay, she would have remembered that Raymond shouldn’t drink too much because it would hurt his throat. And she wouldn’t just say she’d get medicine; she would actually go out and buy hangover remedies and throat-soothing medicine for him.Thinking about this, Alex decided not to go to his room. Instead, he turned around and left the hotel. The cameraman, who was about to end the live stream, received a signal from the director and followed him.Viewers watched as Alex went to a pharmacy and bought hangover medicine and something to soothe a sore throat. This gesture left the audience stunned, especially Raymond's fans, who had been criticizing Alex in the comments. Hector’s fans couldn’t resist firing back:"See? Compared to the
Meanwhile, Alex returned to his room, took a shower, and watched some TV before timing his next move. He got up and went to knock on the door of the room next to his.Raymond was lying in bed, his throat feeling increasingly sore. Hearing the knock, he assumed it was Olivia bringing him the hangover medicine. But when he opened the door and saw his brother standing there, he hesitated for a moment.Alex raised an eyebrow. "What, were you expecting Via?"Raymond didn’t deny it. "What do you want?"Alex held up the bag in his hand and waved it in front of him. "I brought you some medicine."Feeling surprised, Raymond said, "Come in."After closing the door, Raymond turned to see Alex sitting in a chair, giving him a strange look."What’s with that look?" Raymond asked.Alex replied, "Just thinking about how you’ve been played for a fool."Hearing this, Raymond’s face darkened. "If you’ve come here to insult me, you can leave. Why do you have to act like Elric and Justin?"Alex couldn’t
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