Ch. 411..415

Chapter 411

Once Sylvia found out who was truly responsible for what happened to Grandma and cleared Edmund and her innocence, she would show Odell!

After a while, she turned back to face Odell and closed her eyes.

Little did she know, Odell’s fists were tightly clutching onto the blankets.

The night passed uneventfully.

After dawn, Sylvia emerged from Madam Carter’s room.

She ate some breakfast before heading upstairs to her bedroom under the close surveillance of the crew of bodyguards.

She locked the bedroom door, then sat on the sofa and got some shuteye.

At 8:50 a.m., she got up and went to the balcony.

At this time, the bodyguards were not paying close attention to this section of the yard.

Sylvia scaled past the balcony and hopped to a nearby tree that she could latch onto, then slid down the tree and reached ground level.

After that, she continued her stealthy advance toward the wall on the west side of the yard.

The wall was not very high.

She managed to climb over the wall in a matter of seconds.

Once she was on the other side of the wall, she noticed a kayak floating on the river only a short distance away.

Sherry was manning the kayak.

The moment she noticed Sylvia, she drew the kayak to her.

“Be careful, Sylvia, I’ve got you." She cautioned as she stretched a hand out to Sylvia.

Sylvia slowly crept down the wall with Sherry’s help and planted her feet firmly on the kayak.

After making sure that she was fine, Sherry noted. " Sit tight."

Sylvia let out a deep breath. "Okay."

In the blink of an eye, Sherry drew the kayak to the other side of the river.

Both of them went ashore and immediately ran to the park.

Sylvia ran as fast as her legs could take her, knowing that she had to get back as early as she could, ideally by the afternoon.

Sherry trailed after her.

As soon as they bolted out of the park and were about to reach the roadside, a crew of bodyguards suddenly appeared from within the bushes and cut off their path.

They were dressed in matching uniforms and wore the same blank, almost robotic expression on their faces.

Sylvia's eyes widened in shock and she immediately halted.

Sherry was just as baffled. She muttered a quick “ Crap! ” and then shouted at the top of her voice, "Who do you think you guys are? Get out of the way!"

"Tie her up." Odell’s deep and unfeeling voice came from behind the bodyguards.

Sylvia's face turned pale.

Several bodyguards rushed up to apprehend Sherry.

Sherry was no match for them. They effortlessly bound her hands and feet with ropes.

Sylvia wanted to go to Sherry to save her, but two large figures immediately stepped in front of her to dissuade the idea.

Shortly after, she saw the familiar and stout figure of Odell emerging from a car nearby.

There was a sheet of darkness cast over his eyes, and his expression was incredibly menacing.

Sylvia could feel her lips quiver as she tried to explain, "Odell, I'm not trying to escape. I just needed to go outside real quick to do something.”

Odell shot her a disapproving look and ordered, "Tie her up too."

The bodyguards immediately obeyed the instruction given.

Two of them stepped forward and held Sylvia down as they tied her up.

With her hands and feet bound, she had to sit on the ground in an awkward and uncomfortable position.

She gritted her teeth and met Odell’s loathsome gaze. "Odell, Sherry is innocent. It was me who wanted her to help me. Just let her go."

Sherry supplied, "Odell, Sylvia wasn’t trying to run away. She just wanted to find out the real identity of the person who hurt Madam Carter! ”

Odell glanced at Sylvia and instructed the bodyguards, “Take her back home.”

Sherry's face became twisted as she struggled with all her might while screaming brazenly, “Screw you, Odell! Come closer if you dare, I ’ll claw your eyes out! Untie me right now, you...”

The bodyguards were coordinated and efficient.

Within seconds, they had carried Sherry away.

Her cries and screams slowly faded out.

Soon, a wave of silence descended upon them again.

fx)

Chapter 412

The crew of bodyguards stood in formation, cutting off every path of escape.

Even if Sylvia could stand, she had nowhere to run.

She slumped to the ground and looked up at the figure who stepped in front of her.

Odell lowered his head with a hostile look in his eyes as he looked at her condescendingly.

Sylvia was as troubled as she was puzzled. She had to ask, "Odell, how did you know?"

She had taken measures to make sure he would not find out about her calling Sherry when he was asleep.

Odell got closer and squatted in front of her, his long and slender fingers pinched her cheeks. “I was awake when you stole my phone yesterday afternoon to call her.”

Sylvia suddenly became incredibly vexed.

He was just pretending to be asleep!

What a douchebag!

Sylvia cursed in her mind, and then said to him, "I'm not trying to escape. I was just going to go to the resort to look up the details of their members because I need to find out who hurt Grandma."

Odell curled his lips into a scornful scowl. "Do you think I’ll believe you now?"

How dare she lie to him again?

Besides, this was not the first time she stole his phone to contact people outside.

"Let me guess when you first stole my phone to contact the outside world.” He grabbed both sides of her face with his palm and began to speculate. “Was it two days ago when I was asleep or was it last week when you suddenly admitted to your wrongdoings and apologized to me, telling me not to leave? When you asked me to stop using you like a tool and that you’d make up for your mistakes?”

As he went on, his voice grew harsher and he applied more force to his grip.

Sylvia winced in pain. "Odell, I didn't mean to lie to you."

"Heh." He scoffed. "So all this time, you taking the initiative to please me and all that talk about wanting to make up for your mistakes and that you’d dedicate yourself to me was all just a bunch of lies, is it?”

She was in so much pain she could hardly form a sentence. "I... I just wanted to find out who was behind what happened to Grandma.”

"Sylvia, do I look like an idiot to you?! ”

He suddenly bellowed, further tightening his grip.

She groaned in pain, her tears fell against her will.

Pain.

She was in agony.

He was going to crush her skull!

When he noticed her crying, the look in his eyes softened and he quickly retracted his hand.

She threw herself away from him as far as she could to create some distance between them.

She wore an aggrieved look as she looked at him, and said in a choked-up voice, "Odell, I only wanted to go to the resort to review the information of the members who were present at the resort on the day Grandma had the accident. I wasn’t trying to run away."

He zipped his lips into a thin line and muttered, " Come here."

She could feel her cheeks burning and throbbing with pain. It was probably swollen by this point. She was worried that he was going to tear her skin right off her cheeks and did not dare to approach. She only sat and stared at him with reddened eyes.

Odell's expression darkened.

She insisted again. “Everything I told you is true. If you don't believe me, just ask Sherry. During this time, I’ve only ever used your phone to contact her. We’ve talked around four or five times. If I wanted to escape, I’d have been long gone by now. I wouldn’t wait until now.”

Odell's eyes sharpened.

Chapter 413

Sylvia looked at Odell with a determined and calm look.

That was when Tara suddenly appeared from behind the row of bodyguards surrounding Sylvia.

"Odell, Sylvia, what's going on here? Why are you guys here? Sylvia, why are you all tied up?” she remarked with stark surprise.

Odell shot a look at her. “None of your business here, go back first."

"Odell, did Sylvia get into trouble again?" Not only did she not express any intention of leaving, but she even began giving advice to Sylvia as if she was on her side. "Sylvia, please stop causing trouble for Odell. I saw Sherry loitering around here the other day and I heard rumors that she was telling people she was going to break in to rescue you and get you out of Westchester City. Why don’t you understand that all Odell ever wanted was for you to take good care of Grandma?”

Odell's expression turned harsher again upon hearing of this. The dark and murderous look in his eyes made it seem like he wanted to tear Sylvia apart!

Sylvia immediately refuted, "Tara, spare your nonsense!”

Just when it seemed like she was finally getting through to Odell, Tara swooped in and said all that to imply that everything she told Odell was a bunch of lies!

Tara suddenly became distressed. "I'm sorry Sylvia, did I say something wrong? I'll just keep my mouth shut.”

Sylvia closed her eyes to compose herself.

If not for these ropes, she would throw herself at this woman and beat her to death right in this spot!

She did all she could to compose herself and suppress her burning rage. Then, she turned to Tara. "Tara, did you hear what I said to Odell just now? You're beginning to panic, aren’t you? You’re afraid that if I go to the resort, I’ll manage to dig out information linking you to Grandma’s accident and find out that it was you all along, is that right?”

Tara feigned innocence. "Sylvia, I have no idea what you’re talking about."

“Drop the act. It’s you who hurt Grandma. You framed me and Edmund!”

Tara suddenly grew anxious. She became defensive and whimpered meekly, "Sylvia, I don't even know when the accident happened. Why are you accusing me for no reason? You’re not trying to put the blame on me for what you and Edmund did to Grandma, are you?”

Sylvia was baffled by this act she was putting on and could not suppress the urge to roll her eyes.

"It wasn’t me. All I know is that I was at home and when the entire thing happened. How am I supposed to pull it off from my house?” Tara explained with composure before suddenly deflecting to Sylvia again. "Sylvia, you need evidence before you accuse me. So, what evidence do you have to prove that it was me who did it?"

Sylvia was done with this bickering so she went straight to the point. “Of course evidence is needed. That’s the reason I snuck out to begin with. I was trying to find evidence, not leave the city! ”

"But I didn’t do it!” Tara's eyes had a wounded look in them and glowed red as she turned to Odell. "Odell, it wasn’t me. Why would I hurt Grandma?”

Odell's face was grim and highly irritated by this point.

Sylvia scoffed. "Because you want to drive a wedge between me and Odell. When the accident happened, I happened to meet Edmund and we were very close to where Grandma fell. Thanks to that, Odell not only suspected that I was having an affair with Edmund, but he also suspected that it was us who pushed Grandma off the cliff for fear of her telling on our affair! This was all part of your plan! Besides, you’ve done your fair share of work trying to sabotage things between me and Odell in the past as well.”

Odell frowned and looked at Tara.

Tara seemed wounded by these accusations. "I didn't! It wasn’t me! I admit that I want to be with Odell, but I know how important Grandma is to Odell. I’d be insane to come up with such a sinister plot to bring harm to her!”

With that, Tara burst into tears again and went to Odell. "Odell, you have to believe me! It wasn’t me! ”

Odell grimaced.

It was true that Tara had pulled off some dirty tricks to break up him and Sylvia in the past, but he doubted that she would stoop so low as to hurt a vulnerable old lady.

Upon noticing Odell’s silence and how he was not speaking up for her yet, Tara panicked.

She could not afford to have Odell suspecting her, absolutely not!

An idea suddenly came to her. She screeched amidst bouts of tears. "Odell, if you don't believe me, I’ll prove it to you with my life! ”

As soon as she said that, she leaped up and bashed her head against a pillar next to her. Odell barely had time to react.

Odell's expression transformed, and he rushed over to help her at once.

Sylvia was taken aback by this turn of events.

Chapter 414

Tara had split her skull as lines of crescent-red blood spilled out of the cut. She had already long since fainted.

Odell grabbed her before she collapsed on the ground and cast a leery look at Sylvia. Then, he instructed the bodyguards, “Take her back and watch over her closely.”

"Yes, sir.” The bodyguards stepped up to the task.

Odell did not waste another second and went into the car with Tara in his arms.

Sylvia was also carried off by the bodyguards toward the direction of the house.

A chilly gust of wind beat on her worn-out body.

She frowned and looked up at the sky above, still reeling back from the shock of what transpired.

She was not expecting Tara to resort to such drastic measures.

Westchester Hospital.

Tara was carted out of the emergency room.

She was already awake by this point, but her face was sickly pale. There were layers upon layers of bandages wrapped around her forehead. She still looked very weak.

Odell was waiting outside.

Tara's eyes began to water the moment she saw him.

Her lips quivered as she spoke in an anguished voice, " Odell, it wasn’t me who hurt Grandma."

He murmured, "I believe you. Just get some rest first. We can talk about this later."

Tara groaned softly.

Odell accompanied her to the ward.

Noticing that her eyes were still wide open, he tried to coax her, “Come on, get some rest.”

Tara tugged at his hand weakly. "Odell, would you stay with me? I’m scared of being by myself.”

“Alright, I'm not leaving. I'll leave when you feel better."

“Okay.”

Tara then closed her eyes to rest.

Odell sat sullenly on the chair next to the bed.

Shortly after, the phone in his pocket vibrated.

He picked up the call and put the phone to his ear, “ Find anything?"

It was Cliff who answered on the other end of the phone, “Master Carter, just as you requested, I went through the list of people who were present at the resort on the day of Madam Carter’s accident. I don’t see Ms. Avery’s name, nor did I see anyone who’s closely affiliated with her.”

Odell frowned a little as he looked at Tara who was lying on the hospital bed.

Soft and fragile as she was, she had been devoted to him from the very beginning, never once had she left his side.

To think that he suspected her over some trite and inconsequential things she did in the past.

He must have been utterly fooled by Sylvia, the wretched woman who had betrayed him time and time again!

A chilling look surfaced inside his dark pupils.

He got up and left.

Suddenly, he felt Tara grabbing his hand again.

She slowly opened her eyes and stared at him blankly, "Odell, don't leave.”

A sharp look appeared in Odell's eyes as he turned to her. “Get some rest first. I'll see you later."

Tara grimaced, tears immediately trickled down her cheeks again. “Do you still suspect me of hurting Grandma? I never did anything remotely close to hurting her. You have to believe me, Odell.”

Odell raised his hand and gently caressed her head. "I know Sylvia is trying to frame you."

The look in Tara's eyes shifted upon hearing this. She suddenly supplied, “Odell, maybe she didn't mean to hurt Grandma either. You had to go through so much just to remarry her. Don’t make such a fuss about it...

Hnghh.”

Nearing the end of her sentence, she suddenly winced from a sharp throb of pain in her head.

A solemn look came upon Odell’s face. He took a deep breath before announcing, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Tara smiled weakly and asked in a low voice, “Would you come to see me later?"

Tears were still swelling in her eyes. Her terribly pale complexion and the thick bandages wrapped around her head only added to the pity Odell felt for her at that moment.

Odell promised solemnly. "You just focus on resting. I promise you I’ll make things right.”

With that, he strode out.

Tara looked at his departing figure and the bone chilling aura emanating out of his body. She curled her lips into a wry smile.

Surely, he would not forgive Sylvia this time.

At Odell’s house.

Sylvia was taken back to the residence and flung onto the floor of the living room.

Chapter 415

The bodyguards surrounded her in all directions.

Violet entered the living room at one point and was frightened by this display. She quickly fled back to Madam Carter’s room.

Every second that passed was full of torment.

Sylvia was pressed against the cold hard tiles of the floor, and her limbs had grown stiff and cold over time.

She was pinned on the ground on her side and stared vacantly at the threshold leading into the living room.

After a long time, a tall and stout figure appeared in sight.

He was still wearing the black suit he wore when he carried Tara away the same morning and he wore a pair of trousers that complemented his long and slender legs. Handsome as always, he fixed a menacing look on her.

He entered the living room.

The look in Sylvia's eyes wavered. She wanted to call his name but found her voice caught in her throat.

Odell sat down on the sofa and looked at her accusingly. "Is there anything you want to say to me?"

Sylvia pursed her lips.

She wanted to explain herself, but realized that she had done that more than enough times by now.

It was pointless.

Odell grunted. “Have you given up on justifying your actions?”

Sylvia smirked wryly. "I've said everything I need to say. There's nothing left for me to say."

“I see.” He narrowed his eyes and regarded her with a fierce and contemptuous glare.

After a brief moment, he suddenly turned to the bodyguard. “Grab a bat and break her leg."

They seemed to question their ears and were visibly startled by this command. One of them asked again to be sure, “Master Carter?”

Odell glared at them severely.

One of the bodyguards quickly bolted out of the living room.

Sylvia broke out in a cold sweat. She was trembling with fear by this point.

She shifted her body away from Odell and cast a desperate look at him. "Odell, have you lost your mind?”

What had she done to deserve such treatment? All she did was scale a wall!

Odell calmly took a sip from the teacup before swiping a glance at her. "This is your punishment for trying to escape and forcing Tara to have to hurt herself to prove her innocence.”

Sylvia immediately retorted, “She did it to herself. What’s that got to do with me?! ”

Odell took another sip of tea.

Meanwhile, the bodyguard who left the room previously returned with an iron bat and said in a hushed voice, “Master Carter, this was the only thing lean find.”

"Hmm." Odell glanced at Sylvia's folded legs, pondered for a moment, and decided. “Start with her left calf.”

The bodyguard answered dutifully, "Yes, sir.”

Then, he walked up to Sylvia and said, "Madam, please stretch your legs out.”

Sylvia clenched her legs tightly together.

She did not want her legs broken!

“Tear her legs out if you have to, ” Odell frowned and ordered impatiently.

Sylvia cried out desperately, "Odell, stop this. I’m begging you. I promise I’ll never try to leave again! ”

She looked at him with a pleading look, filled with fear and agitation.

Odell frowned at such a sight.

He seemed to hesitate momentarily, but in the end still insisted to the bodyguard, “Go on."

The two bodyguards next to him promptly stepped forward and pried Sylvia’s legs out from underneath her.

"Madam, I'm very sorry,” the bodyguard with the iron bat whispered to Sylvia, then he slowly raised the iron bat in the air and swung it down on her left calf.

There was nowhere for Sylvia to run to.

In an instant, the iron bat smashed into her leg, producing a grating crack the moment it made impact.

Her bones snapped with a brutal crack.

A wave of agonizing pain spread all over the body.

"Ah!!! ” she cried out in pain.

Having completed the gruesome task, the bodyguards recoiled and immediately released her while shuffling away.

Sylvia grabbed her leg and rolled on the floor, writhing in pain.

Meanwhile, Odell, who remained on the couch the entire time, looked at her tossing and turning like a madwoman on the ground. He knitted his brows into a tight frown.

After a moment of silence, he got up and went to her side.

She was still twitching weakly on the ground when he squatted and forcefully turned her head to face him.

Her reddened eyes and streaks of tears flowing down her cheeks were put on full display before him.