Was there an explosion? Felicia and Imogen exchanged a glance, both still reeling from the thunderous blast. Before they could react, another, even louder explosion erupted from the same direction. A larger, clearer mushroom cloud billowed into the sky, and the ground trembled violently.
The driver, clearly shaken, slammed on the brakes, halting the car abruptly. He refused to drive any further.
"What's going on? Where's the explosion coming from?" Imogen asked anxiously, gripping the seat in front of her. Her mind raced, struggling to comprehend the situation.
Felicia immediately knew this was Stephan's doing. The intensity, precision, and sheer force of the bombing—aimed at Johanna's last known location—made it clear. If Johanna had been there, escape was unlikely.
Felicia reached for her phone to call Stephan, but then she snatched her hand back. A vehicle stopped beside them, and as the window lowered, she saw two guards and Stanley inside.
"Mr. Russell is in the helicopter. No need to worry, ma'am," Stanley replied promptly.
As if on cue, the faint hum of helicopter blades became audible. Looking up, Felicia saw the helicopter heading toward Mount Farstone. She frowned and instructed the driver, "Keep going. Take us to the base of the mountain."
Stanley quickly interjected, "Ma'am, Mr. Russell has already ordered that you and Ms. Imogen return home. He'll take care of the rest."
"No," Felicia refused firmly. She wasn't worried about Stephan's combat skills; her concern was the unknown. If he had set a trap or used venomous creatures, the risks were unpredictable and potentially deadly.
Seeing Felicia's determination, Imogen also refused to retreat. With Caleb's safety uncertain, she wouldn't stand idly by.
Stanley, unable to dissuade them, followed in their car. By the time they reached Mount Farstone, the bombing had ceased. Whether this was due to a narrowed search area or caution not to harm Felicia and Imogen, the ground-shaking explosions had stopped.
Felicia and Imogen began ascending the mountain on foot, heading toward the blast site. Felicia regretted not borrowing a helicopter. With the car unable to proceed further, they had no choice but to climb.
Imogen wiped the sweat from her brow but said nothing, silently following Felicia. Their destination was the site of the explosions. Looking up, Felicia noted the helicopter was gone, likely already landed. She quickened her pace.
Halfway there, her phone rang. Initially, Felicia ignored it, but the number called back immediately. Annoyed, she answered. "What do you want?" she said coldly, her voice devoid of emotion.
On the other end, Maurice's voice, casual and laced with mischief, replied, "Darling, I've got a question for you. Are you always this fierce when you answer the phone, or is it just with me?"