Maurice chuckled from a nearby car, watching the unfolding chaos. "Well, this is getting interesting."
The long-lost daughter of Khogend's wealthiest family, missing for eighteen years, had been found and returned home. Her fairytale homecoming, however, lasted only six months before she was cast out again. Now, she rented a dilapidated shack on the outskirts of town, and, incredibly, she was nearly engaged to Khogend's golden boy, Arnold Lawson, the family heir.
The deeper Maurice dug, the more surprising his discoveries became. One particularly shocking revelation concerned her history with Stephan, the untouchable Stephan, a man known for his indifference to women. He had not only sided with her but had virtually destroyed the Lawson family to do so, forcing them to surrender an entire oil field and a mine, all transferred to Felicia's name.
Initially, Maurice dismissed it as an exaggeration. What kind of woman could subdue a man like Stephan? Even as he pieced together these hidden connections, he remained skeptical. But now, observing her from a distance, he finally understood. She wasn't merely defending herself against an ambush; she had already incapacitated three of his men with swift, unexpected moves and was making her escape. And she was stunning; not just beautiful, but possessing a striking, edgy charm that commanded attention.
Maurice's laughter ceased as he snapped his fingers. The playful glint in his amber eyes vanished, replaced by his usual cold ruthlessness.
"A bunch of idiots," he said flatly. "If you don't get her this time, you're the ones who'll pay the price."
His men needed no further urging. The threat was unmistakable. They intensified their pursuit, determined to capture her. Failure was not an option—their lives were at stake.
Meanwhile, Felicia sprinted toward a nearby crowd, shouting as she ran, "Human traffickers! Somebody help me!"
The commotion attracted the attention of hikers and campers near a bus stop—some tourists returning to town, others beginning overnight treks. Her cries elicited concerned looks; a few people seemed ready to intervene. But two cars plowed through the crowd, scattering everyone before they could act. Frightened for their own safety, the bystanders quickly retreated, leaving Felicia to fend for herself.
Within moments, she was cornered. Two cars blocked her path; their doors burst open, and ten large men emerged, advancing silently.
Felicia, having no other option, deployed her last resort—a poison powder. She flung it in all directions, catching most attackers off guard. Several collapsed, coughing and choking, but two or three evaded the worst of it.
Felicia was no match for them in hand-to-hand combat. After a desperate struggle, they overpowered her, bound her hands, and shoved her into one of the cars.
At that moment, not far away, Myra and Kayla descended the mountain. Kayla spotted the commotion first, her heart leaping as she recognized Felicia being forced into a car, her hands tied.
Her pulse quickened with excitement. Could the wish she'd made under the old tree—for Felicia's abduction—be coming true?
"Thank goodness!" Kayla silently wished, hoping Felicia would simply vanish, eliminating the need for her own involvement.
Myra also heard the commotion and glanced in that direction, frowning. "What's going on over there? Who's shouting?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.