Felicia kept her head down, focusing entirely on cleaning and treating Maurice’s neck wounds. Even leaning back casually on the rock, he towered over her. This height advantage allowed him to scrutinize her every movement. From the soft fuzz on her cheek to the intense concentration on her face, he saw everything. His gaze slowly traced her delicate features—from her captivating eyes to her dainty nose, and finally, her full, rosy lips. Maurice’s eyes darkened; his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. Quietly, he murmured her name, “Felicia.”

Felicia remained oblivious until, looking up, she met his gaze. She saw the dangerous, dark look in his eyes—like a wolf eyeing its prey, the intense, predatory gaze of a man regarding his woman. Maurice leaned closer, circling her waist and pulling her firmly toward him. Felicia reacted instantly, pressing harder on his neck wound. Blood seeped through the reopened scratches, trickling toward his collarbone. The tense atmosphere held for several seconds.

Then, Maurice chuckled, releasing Felicia’s waist. He leaned back against the rock, exuding nonchalance. Felicia quickly bandaged his wound, stepped back, and created distance. “All done. Can I take them and leave now?”

He didn’t reply, but he didn’t stop her. She looked at the Fuller couple. Though battered and bruised, they helped each other to their feet—barely suitable to move about. In this place, survival demanded constant movement, injured or not. Otherwise, death was inevitable.

“Come with me,” Felicia said curtly, starting to walk. Passing Maurice, she remained vigilant, her hand hovering near her weapon, ready for any change in his demeanor. He remained lounging against the rock, entirely at ease. Breathing a sigh of relief, Felicia led her parents away.

After they disappeared, Maurice’s men exchanged uneasy glances. Felicia was the only person who could injure, confront, and insult their boss and leave safely.

“Mr. Glovers, get a grip!” one of his trusted men exclaimed. “Sir, don’t forget she’s Mr. Russell’s woman. She’s off-limits!”

Two months earlier, Maurice had been circling Khogend, appearing wherever Felicia was. He’d even secretly shielded her from danger several times. His intentions were obvious. Then, the Glovers family suffered a string of disasters. Their businesses faced inexplicable setbacks, forcing Maurice to return to Abid. But the trouble continued. Even senior executives and shareholders stirred up problems, testing his patience. The culprit? The all-powerful Stephan Russell.