Scarlet's expression was conflicted as she posed an important question. "Moss, have you thought about this? If it had been you under this kind of duress, and you were the one who stabbed Imegen or caused her death in some other way, then you'd be the killer."

If Felicia had delivered the fatal blow—whether directly or indirectly—the result would have been the same. She would bear the guilt, and her relationship with Stephan would be irreparably damaged.

Felicia remained silent, but she understood this perfectly. This was precisely why she had protected Maurice. She had no personal connection to him, nor did she care whether he lived or died. But this time, Maurice was in this state because of her, and she couldn't simply abandon him.

The burden of owing someone a favor was always heavy. What made it worse was that Maurice's condition was worsening. The carefree smile he usually wore was gone, replaced by excruciating pain.

He clutched his chest with one hand, the other forming a tight fist. His grip was so strong that his nails dug into his palm, drawing blood that seeped through his fingers and dripped onto the ground—a disturbing sight.

"What's happening to him?" Scarlet asked, alarmed.

Felicia placed her fingers on Maurice's wrist, her expression shifting with concern. The Heart Eater only migrated this kind of backlash under one specific condition: when the venomous creature itself felt threatened or was near death. In such cases, the connected venomous mate would lash out viciously against those nearby. In other words, if Maurice hadn't used the twin venomous creature to bear this burden for her, the person lying on the ground in excruciating pain would have been Felicia.

At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the clearing. Scarlet instinctively tensed and raised her guard, her eyes warily scanning the approaching figures. The newcomers weren't strangers—they were Maurice's men. Felicia recognized them and gestured for Scarlet to stand down.

The three bodyguards had arrived late. They had been following Maurice but lost him due to his incredible speed. After considerable effort, they finally found him, only to realize they were too late.

"Mr. Glover! What's happening to him?"

One of the men attempted to help Maurice to his feet, but Maurice was in so much pain that he reacted instinctively. Without recognizing anyone, he threw a heavy punch at the man, who staggered back but didn't retreat. The man, though hurt, tried to call out to Maurice, hoping to bring him back to his senses.

But in his puppet-like state, Maurice could not recognize anyone. He was blind to friend or foe. The unbearable pain seemed to devour him from the inside, radiating from his heart to every nerve in his body. His bloodshot eyes and ashen face betrayed the torment.

Felicia stepped forward. "Don't touch him! Step back!" She knew the only way to stop Maurice's torment was to knock him unconscious. But until then, any further agitation could push him into a full-blown frenzy, where he would indiscriminately attack anyone or even harm himself.

Felicia's words carried weight, and the two bodyguards backed off. Yet their eyes were filled with desperation. One of them, unable to contain himself, spoke in a trembling voice.

"Ms. Fuller, Mr. Glover took this on willingly. He agreed to have the twin venomous creature implanted because he didn't want you to suffer. He said that whatever happened, let it happen to him instead. He didn't want you to know, and he never planned to tell you."

The man's voice cracked. "Ms. Fuller, will Mr. Glover survive this?"

Felicia replied simply, without looking up, "He will." After a pause, she added firmly, "With me here, he will survive."