“No, I didn’t. I saw a flicker of light here, from the mountain. When I looked through my binoculars, I realized it was you,” Stephan explained.

So, that was what happened. Felicia nodded. That flickering light must have been from the flashlight she had dropped during her escape. She hadn’t expected Stephan to notice it. By that logic, getting lost and encountering that massive python that almost killed her had actually led her to Stephan by sheer chance!

However, he didn’t seem seriously injured. Felicia circled him, scrutinizing him closely. She then said, “Your men who returned from the rainforest said you were gravely injured and missing. That the entire Russell family is in chaos right now. And your sister too. If she finds out, she’ll probably be quite shaken.”

As she trailed off, she noticed a subtle change in Stephan’s expression. For a brief moment, his eyes flickered with surprise. He didn’t seem to know about that at all.

Felicia suddenly realized something and asked in astonishment, “Wait… don’t tell me you didn’t send anyone to report this?”

“I didn’t,” Stephan replied.

At first, he hadn’t thought much about Felicia’s words, but now it was clear that someone had taken advantage of his inability to communicate with the outside world due to the interference in the rainforest. They had spread news that he was gravely injured and missing.

Stephan let out a cold laugh, his gaze icy. “Looks like it’s time to clear house.”

Felicia frowned, realizing another possibility. “If they’ve spread false news like this, they must have other plans in play. Maybe they’re hoping to turn that false news into reality…”

She sighed. “Wow, you really have no shortage of enemies, huh?”

“Are you regretting it now?”

Stephan leaned closer, intending to pinch her cheek. But his bandaged hands made that impossible, so he gently pressed his forehead against hers instead. He chuckled softly and said, “Didn’t you say you wanted to marry me? It’s too late to back out now!”

Felicia clicked her tongue and replied sarcastically, “Ugh, what a loss. How I wish I could return the goods.”

“That’s not happening. Not a snowball’s chance in hell.” Stephan shot her an amused glance, his lips curving into a teasing smirk. “Welcome aboard this one-way trip. Don’t even think about jumping off halfway!”

Felicia pouted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

At that moment, several bright beams of light appeared in the distance. Startled, Felicia instinctively pulled Stephan away, intending to hide. However, he pressed down on her shoulders gently, calming her.

“It’s fine. They’re our people,” he assured her.

Felicia nodded.

Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, and the beams of light grew closer. Squinting against the glare, Felicia saw that the newcomers were Stephan’s men. These were the same trusted subordinates who had been with him ten days ago when he jumped from the cliff to save her. His men couldn’t follow and had to take a detour, which is why they arrived late.

They angled their flashlights away and asked respectfully, “Sir, ma’am, are you both okay?”

“We’re fine,” Stephan replied. He pointed at two of them, then told them to leave the rainforest and head to the nearest location with communication access. He needed them to spread the word and correct the misinformation. He wasn’t concerned about much else, but he was worried that Imogen might be distressed or frightened by the false news of his injury and disappearance.

The men nodded in acknowledgment, lowering their heads slightly before turning to make their way out of the rainforest.

Felicia saw that and knew that Stephan had no intention of leaving. Raising an eyebrow, she asked curiously, “You’re still planning to find the place marked on that map? That supposed kingdom with its legendary treasure?!”

Stephan didn’t deny it. Instead, he said, “I have a reason I must go.”

Felicia recalled how he had once told her about the legend tied to the map. At the time, she hadn’t taken it seriously, finding the whole idea far-fetched. She had treated it as nothing more than a story, even jokingly saying she would use it as a bedtime story for her future daughter. But now, it was clear that Stephan had always been serious about it.