When Grace regained some consciousness after fainting, she muttered, "Much better." But when she saw Brandon was also there, her expression darkened.She wanted to tell him to leave, not wanting to see him at all. Yet, she was worried he might run off to find Olivia, like before. So, she held back, but she wasnât about to let him off so easily.She turned to Raymond and Alex, âYou both have work tomorrow. Go back to the hotel and get some rest. Brandon will stay here and keep an eye on me."If Brandon could stay by Oliviaâs side, he could certainly stay up all night for his own mother.Raymond and Alex could see their mother intended to make Brandon suffer a bit, and they had no intention of intervening."Alright, Mom. If you need anything, just call us," Raymond said.As the two were about to leave, Brandon felt a bit bitter. They were all her sons, so why did those two get to go back to the hotel and rest while he had to stay? But he dared not voice his objections.When Raymond an
Justin and Tracy saw the brothers heading toward Lindsay's group and decided to follow.Elric noticed them approaching and raised an eyebrow. "Got something to discuss?"He believed they werenât here just to join them on their outing, right?Alex replied, "We're here to talk to Lindsay."Lindsay was a bit puzzled. "What do you need from me?"With a calm and friendly smile, Alex said, "Mom fainted last night and was admitted to the hospital."He knew that if he asked Lindsay to step aside to talk privately, she probably wouldnât bother with him. So, he decided to say it in front of everyone.Lindsay was a little surprised. Grace had actually managed to faint from all the chaos. It was most likely because of Brandon and Olivia. She replied, a bit exasperated, "And then? If she fainted, sheâd be in the hospital now; what does that have to do with me?"Judging from the Harper brothers' demeanor, Grace clearly wasn't in any serious condition. Even if she were, Lindsay had no intention of v
Everyone could spend the remaining money they'd earned before or use their own.The production team actually did something decent for once.The two groups, along with Tracy, took a cab to the beach.On the way, Elric contacted his brother and secured the use of a yacht.Meanwhile...Justin turned to the Harper brothers and asked, "What are you guys planning to do next?"Alex replied, "We're going to the hospital to look after our mom."Justin nodded. "Alright, you guys go ahead. I'll find a hotel to stay at."The three of them went their separate ways.Justin found a five-star hotel to check into, feeling rather downcast. Then, he sent a message to his group which consisted of Oliver and Joey."Come drink with me!"Oliver replied, "You're already back?"He had been watching the livestream earlier, and it was mentioned that Justin wouldn't return until the day after tomorrow.Justin answered, "Come to S Country and drink with me."Oliver texted, "Just go wash up and get some sleep. Ther
Raymond and Alex looked at the group chat.Elric, that bastard, had sent even more photos.Both groups were on the yacht, grilling seafood and having a great time. And it wasnât just Elric this time. Even Wendy and Tracy had joined in, posting several pictures of themselves surrounding Lindsay. The photos captured them standing on the yacht, swimming in the sea, fishing, and barbecuing togetherâall radiating with energy and joy.The most striking part was how happy Lindsay looked. She had even cooked several seafood dishes that looked mouth-watering.Raymond couldn't help but complain, "That bastard Elric, heâs probably eaten the most. Why doesnât he just choke on his food?"Alex chimed in, "Exactly, or at least get something stuck in his throat.""Always hovering around Lindsay, that bastard has no shame," Raymond added, his eyes drawn to a plate of chili prawns in one of the pictures, making his mouth water.He sighed. "Lindsayâs cooking is still as amazing as ever."Hearing their
The two of them were frustrated, thinking they'd been dragged down by Brandon yet again.Raymond, in particular, felt that coming on this reality show had been the worst decision he couldâve made. If he could go back and change his mind, he would never have come. No wonder the evil Oliver was so eager to help him secure a place for the show; Oliver probably just wanted to see him suffer like this.Brandon felt equally wronged. It wasnât just him who had targeted Lindsay, so why did his mom focus all her wrath on him? And now, it seemed like everything was being blamed on them. Sure, their mom hadn't openly opposed Lindsay the way they had, but hadnât she favored Olivia just as much back then?His face and arms now bore even more bruises, and his frustration boiled over. "Mom, why are you being so hypocritical? Youâre acting like Lindsayâs decision to cut ties is only because of us, as if you had nothing to do with it. Weren't you the one who gave her the cold shoulder? Didnât you tak
Brandon looked exasperated. "Mom, can you please stop causing trouble? Youâll faint again if you keep this up."His mother used to keep up an image of a refined, upper-class lady, but now she was acting like a complete shrew.Grace's anger flared at his words. "Nonsense! Youâre the one causing trouble!"Hearing her own son accuse her of "causing trouble" made her feel a deep ache in her chest. She couldn't help but wonder, was this how Lindsay had felt all those times? Being called "trouble" for no reason when she hadn't done anything wrong?With all her strength, she threw Brandon's phone onto the floor, shattering it. "If I donât give you something to do, youâll just keep thinking about running off to see Olivia! You ungrateful brat, for the next few days, youâre staying right here in this room with me. Youâre not going anywhere!"Here she was, his own mother, lying in a hospital bed, and all he could think about was sneaking away to take care of Olivia. How heartless.At that mom
After all, they had all been like this before.Alex sighed and added, "It's like they say, you don't know how it feels until you're in someone else's shoes."Seeing how their mother and Brandon were reacting now, it was clear just how hard it was to accept being called âtroublemaker.â They really had hurt Lindsay in the past. Otherwise, she wouldnât have changedâsheâd always been so soft-hearted, always looking out for them in every way.Raymond sighed as well. âItâs true; you donât realize what you have until itâs gone.âGraceâs tears, which had just stopped, began to flow again. She could now truly understand how painful it felt to be labeled like that by her own familyâhow much it hurt, how suffocating and infuriating it was.And back then, her sons had been even harsher.No wonder Lindsay didnât want to come to the hospital to see her mother and was instead out enjoying herself with others.She asked, âWhat can we do for Lindsay to let go of the past?âShe genuinely wanted to win
Seeing Tracyâs actions, Lindsay guessed that she wanted to share something important. She took the paper and read it.âMy own phone is bugged, so I can't say this directly. For the final episode of the reality show, theyâre planning something. They want Olivia to return and continue participating, so theyâll try to delay the airing by a month.âLindsay nodded and picked up the pen, writing, âAre they insisting on Olivia participating to deal with me?âTracy wrote back, "Yes, there's a strong link between you and Olivia. Using her is the easiest and most effective way to get to you. I've been cursed, so I can't speak or write about certain things directly. But if you dig around, I'm sure you can connect the dots. For the next episode, they're planning to take the crew to Goodwill City, so stay alert!"Lindsay was familiar with Goodwill City; she had been there several times with Moses. It was a city that retained the look of an ancient fortress, with no modern buildings allowed. Cars w
In the vibrant district of the historic town, the streets were lined with vintage boutiques and various artisan stalls. Lindsay's group visited the townâs 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, Iâll let you handle writing the banner."She was eager to observe his writing and the energy he gave off while doing it.Benedict sighed inwardlyâthis girl was constantly trying to test him. After a momentâs thought, he nodded. "Alright, Iâll write it."He grabbed a marker, uncapped it, and wrote in bold letters across the white fabric: âFortune Telling, Divination, and Tarot Readings.âLindsay watched him closely, noticing the fluidity of his movements as he wrote, his posture exud
Justin added, "My momâs been trying to get me to help Olivia and distance myself from Lindsay. Sheâs 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 sheâs taking it out on Lindsay."Alex, clearly upset, said, "You should talk to her and tell her to stop fixating on Lindsay. Lindsay hasnât done anything to provoke her. Itâs ridiculous."He was frustrated that Justinâs mom had been stirring up trouble, making Grace even more difficult to deal with.Justin nodded. "Alright, after the show is over, Iâll 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 momâs 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 wonât lend it, letâs 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 sheâs willing to do! Weâve wronged Lindsay enough as it is, so why do you keep trying to guilt-trip her? Brandonâs situation isnât Lindsayâs fault. Why donât you go find Olivia? Sheâs the one who caused all this, maybe she can fix it. After all, whoeverâs 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 itâshe 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 didnât 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 donât say anything."Graceâs expression darkened. "Itâs because itâs important that we need to talk privately."She emphasized, "Itâs not appropriate in front of the camera."Lindsay just smiled. "Unless it's something shady, whatâs 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 couldnât 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 Brandonâs condition."Lindsay replied, "Tell her not to waste her energy."Seeing that message, Alex knew right away that she wouldnât lend it out. It didnât surprise himâhis sister could be ruthless when she wanted to be."We canât convince her otherwise, not even Dad can stop her... sigh," Alex added. When their momâs temper flared, she wouldnât listen to anyone.Lindsay didnât seem to care. "Then let her come. Iâm 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. Weâve always had a decent relationship. Weâre just closer now, thatâs all.""What do you men know about womenâs matters? Don't interfere." She now had plenty to talk about with Abby. Jenny wa
Richard glanced at Grace with clear disapproval. âThis whole mess was caused by Olivia and Brandon. What does any of it have to do with Lindsay?âHe 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. âIf it wasnât for her ongoing fight with Olivia, Brandon wouldnât have gotten involved. Heâs her brother. Doesnât she owe him some consideration now that heâs in this condition?âRichard frowned. âWhat exactly are you trying to say?âValarie, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her displeasure clear. âI see it differently. Itâs Olivia and your son who started the trouble, and all Lindsay did was defend herself. Are you really looking to embarrass yourselves even more?âGrace shifted uncomfortably, feeling the sting of her mother-in-lawâs words. âIâm just thinking abou
Given the Harper family's persistence, there was no way the Divination Association could avoid a thorough investigation. Seeing that Randolph wouldnât 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 Brandonâs 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 troubleâfar 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. âKnowing youâre wrong doesnât change anything. Itâs too late now.âTurning back to the two mystics, Randolph asked, âIf you canât break the curse directly, could you at least help suppress his misfortune? Maybe with a protective charm or some kind of mystical object?âDespite his frustration with his grandsonâs foolishness, he couldnât just leave him to suffer.Both mystics exchanged uneasy glances. âWe donât have the ability to suppress his bad luck with charms.ââFor something like that, youâd need t