After winning the championship, Lindsay’s team also earned a prize of thirty thousand dollars. As they left the dedicated gaming room, the two groups began discussing where to go for a celebratory dinner that night, chatting and laughing about how they would spend the rest of their time. With this prize money, they could all relax and enjoy the remaining three days together.Wendy’s group was over the moon. Finally, they didn’t have to worry about budget travel or grueling part-time jobs—they could relax and enjoy the ride.Wendy clung to Lindsay’s arm. "I knew it! Following Linds means good food and easy wins. This victory feels amazing."Leslie and George agreed with a smile. "We can finally take it easy. Linds, you’re incredible!""No wonder Mr. Elric always sticks with Lindsay—getting carried to victory feels fantastic. Next time, if there’s a chance, we want to hang onto Lindsay’s golden coattails too!""Linds, do you have room for any more accessories?"Their jokes were laced
Elric put on an innocent face. "I’m just sharing my joy with you guys—how is that being a jerk?"Alex and the others fell silent again.They didn’t really need to learn about his kind of joy!Alex grumbled, "Just don’t show up in front of us, and don’t talk."Elric started fanning himself with the stack of money, deliberately flaunting it in front of them. "Jealousy makes you ugly, and you guys are starting to look real ugly. But it’s understandable. After all, this is something you can only envy from afar."He added with a smirk, "It’s not our fault that Linds would never drag you guys along to play."Alex and Raymond were speechless.Could someone please come and take this jerk out for a good beating? The more he talked, the more it stung.The sight of the other two groups kicking back and relaxing wasn't the only thing that sparked envy. What really got under their skin was that Lindsay was the one leading this them to victory.Raymond shot a glare at Elric. "With an attitude like
After leaving the internet café, Lindsay booked a new hotel, this time a star-rated one. To save more money for activities, they decided to share rooms: Lindsay with Wendy, Leslie with George, and Elric with Hector. They all headed back to the hotel to rest.As for the other group, Tracy looked at the three and said, "We only have enough money for food, not enough to stay at the hotel from last night. So, we still need to earn some more."Justin, Alex, and Raymond were feeling pretty down."At this hour, there probably aren’t many people at the tourist spots anymore. How about we just grab something cheap to eat and save the rest for a hotel? If money’s really tight, we can stay at a cheaper hotel too."Today, they just didn’t feel like putting in the effort.Tracy was speechless.Anyone stuck with these three was bound to have bad luck. Luckily, she wasn’t here to seriously gain fans, or they would have driven her crazy.Well, if they were going to take it easy, it wasn't her fault.
As soon as Justin sat down in his hotel room, his phone started ringing. He picked it up and, even though the caller ID showed just a string of numbers, he knew exactly who it was. He had never given his mom his number for the show, yet here she was calling. It wasn’t hard to guess who had put her up to this.Justin tossed the phone aside, choosing not to answer. But the caller was persistent, ringing several more times before he finally picked it up and answered, "Hello!"He pretended not to recognize the number, but that greeting didn’t sit well with Abby."It’s me," she said, clearly annoyed.Justin feigned surprise. "Mom, how did you get this number? Is something wrong?"Abby, feeling displeased, asked, "You didn’t save my number in this phone?"She was particularly bothered by the idea that her son didn’t have her number memorized.Justin replied, "I have your number saved in my other phone."Abby then suddenly asked, "Do you remember Lindsay’s number?"Of course, Justin remem
Justin felt a bit disoriented. He asked, "Mom, is that really what you think?"Abby responded confidently, "It's not just what I think; it's the truth. You're still too naive, which is why Lindsay played you like a fiddle. In that livestream, she was vicious and aggressive, bullying Via mercilessly. It was painful to watch. And when she saw me, she showed zero respect. “She even encouraged your sister to deliberately go against me. A troublemaker like her... It's a blessing you broke up with her. If she had actually joined our family, who knows what kind of havoc she would have wreaked. Remember, marry a virtuous wife, and the family will prosper."When Abby mentioned Lindsay, her disdain was too obvious. Once she started criticizing, she couldn't stop, "A woman like her..."But before she could continue, Justin couldn't help but interrupt, "That's enough! Mom, I just want to ask, is Olivia your daughter, or am I your son? For Olivia, you go so far as to distort the truth and slander
"Since you treasure and adore Olivia so much, why don't you fly to S Country and take care of her yourself? If you're so eager to display your maternal love, why not set up Casey and Olivia instead?"Now that he had vented all the frustration that had been suffocating him, Justin suddenly realized something.His mom liked Olivia so much, acting as if she couldn't wait to have her as a daughter-in-law.But why should he be the one to marry her?Wouldn't it be better if she had her beloved eldest son marry Olivia?Then, both her son and daughter-in-law would be her favorites, and they could form the perfect harmonious family.It was the first time Abby had been confronted and mocked like this by Justin, and she was so furious that she nearly fainted."You... you ungrateful child. Are you trying to drive me to my grave?"Justin retorted, "I wouldn't dare, because then I'd be afraid Dad would break my legs. Mom, don't think you can keep pretending to offer me a little bit of motherly love
Casey was in the office, going through some paperwork when he saw the incoming call. He felt a bit puzzled but quickly answered, "Mom?"Abby's tone was much softer when speaking to Casey. "Casey, you're not too busy right now, are you?""I'm handling some documents, but it's not too hectic," Casey replied. "Is there something you need, Mom?"Abby then proceeded to complain tearfully to Casey about how Justin had defied her for Lindsay. However, knowing that the two brothers didn't get along well, she didn't ask her eldest son to deal with his younger brother.Casey was surprised after hearing the whole story.It looked like his brother hadn't just grown after Lindsay dumped him—he'd come out of it with a whole new level of clarity.He finally realized how shallow their mother's "love" was.Casey could only go along with Abby, saying, "Justin was really out of line. We'll talk to him properly when Dad gets back."Trying to get his mother to ease up on Justin was pointless—Casey had alre
Casey felt even more frustrated. Olivia was part of the Harper family yet his mother wanted to call them on Olivia’s behalf to take care of Olivia?This wasn’t helping; it was just going to make Grace more dissatisfied with Olivia.But instead of pointing this out, he agreed enthusiastically, "That’s right, the Harper family should take care of her. Mrs. Harper and you are close friends. If you call her, she’ll definitely listen, and Olivia will be grateful to you.”Hearing her son’s approval, Abby finally smiled. "Alright, I’ll do that."After hanging up, she actually went ahead and contacted Grace.She mentioned that Olivia had called her, explaining how Olivia was injured and all alone in the hospital, without anyone to care for her, and how pitiful she was.Abby even took the opportunity to badmouth Lindsay, implying that it was Lindsay’s fault that Olivia ended up this way.Grace already knew about the situation, but her understanding was that Olivia had cursed Lindsay, which bac
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