Bat next time, Stephan would kill Maurice—no matter the means. The helicopter slowly lifted off, stirring up a cloud of sand and dust. The swirling grit stung their eyes, making them burn and tear. Stephan left with his men, including the rest of the Russell family's men. What remained was an empty clearing with Felicia, Scarlet, and Maurice, who lay on the ground, laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath.

Scarlet let out a small sigh, her curiosity finally getting the better of her. "Boss, why did you protect him? Stephan's bound to misunderstand now. He might even think…"

Felicia shook her head. Her gaze was fixed on Maurice, who lay there with a reckless, carefree expression. Her voice was calm but distant. "Twasn't protecting him. I was protecting myself."

"What do you mean?" Scarlet frowned, not understanding at first. However, she quickly caught on, her head snapping toward Maurice as realization struck. "Boss, are you saying this Maurice guy… He's also been affected by a venomous creature like you?"

"Not like me," Felicia corrected. "He's been affected instead of me, taking on the venomous creature's effects!"

Felicia had pieced it together only recently. When Maurice recklessly attacked Imogen earlier, she had suspected something was wrong. At first, she thought Maurice had simply gone mad, acting without reason. But when Stephan had subdued him and Maurice, with those bloodshot eyes, got back under the bronze bell's control, everything clicked. It was identical to how she felt when the bronze bell controlled her.

It was no wonder she could still bear the bronze bell but didn't feel its effects. It wasn't due to a lack of, or a malfunction in, the venomous creature. It was because someone else had taken on the venomous creature's influence and shielded her from its effects. That someone was Maurice.

To explain all these conditions, there was one good explanation: twin venomous creatures. It all made sense now. That night, when Maurice stopped her car but said nothing, only reaching through the window to pat her hand, that must have been when he silently transferred the twin venomous creature to her. No wonder he had said, "You'll be fine. I'll find a way." All the previously confusing details lined up perfectly in Felicia's mind.

So, when Stephan's blade flew toward Maurice's back, Felicia instinctively pulled him out of the way. She hadn't anticipated that her actions would lead to Imogen being harmed instead. If Imogen couldn't be saved, Felicia would be responsible for her death.

Felicia closed her eyes briefly, suppressing the turmoil inside. Then, she stepped forward and crouched down in front of Maurice. He was still in a puppet-like state of control, his bloodshot eyes glowing faintly. The small red mole at the corner of his eye looked eerily vibrant against his pale skin. Though he continued to laugh, it was clear he was no longer making any moves to attack. The person controlling him through the bronze bell must have given him just one command—to kill Imogen. Now that the task was complete, Maurice lay still, motionless.

Felicia reached out and pressed her fingers against his wrist to check his pulse. As she expected, there were traces of activity from a twin venomous creature. This man, who had once been her adversary and whom she had tricked with the same twin venomous creature as a bargaining chip, was now using it to protect her.

"Who asked you to meddle in my business?" Felicia muttered, gripping Maurice's chin. "Don't even think I owe you anything. You've wasted your effort for nothing. When the venomous creature acts up again, the one in pain will still be you."

Maurice, still under the venomous creature's influence, remained unresponsive. His eyes were blank.