Felicia acted as if she had no idea of her precarious situation, carrying herself like a guest of honor in the Glover estate. She demanded the best food and drink every day, directing the staff with an air of entitlement. Beyond that, she frequently mentioned her ns to return to Khogend once Maurice''s legs were healed, dropping casual remarks that made her optimism clear.


    Even Maurice''s men, tasked with shadowing her under the guise of assisting, found her naiveté amusing.


    Did she really think she could walk out of Maurice''sir unscathed?


    Of course, they all yed along until Maurice''s legs were fully restored. No one would tip their hand or reveal the fangs waiting beneath.


    ...


    Meanwhile, back in Khogend, it was the third day since Felicia had disappeared.


    Carmen was at her wits'' end, her lips cracked and dry from stress.


    Three days ago, she''d been hiking andughing with Felicia, only to have their descent interrupted by an ambush.


    Those men weren''t amateurs-they came prepared, and they came for Felicia.


    Carmen had wanted to stay and fight alongside her friend, but Felicia had pushed her away, insisting she''d only be a burden. She''d told Carmen to run, to find help.


    Clearly, Felicia was trying to protect her, and with no time to argue, Carmen fled.novelbin


    But when she returned with help, Felicia was gone. There wasn''t a single clue left behind. The trail had been wiped clean, and every surveince camera along the way had been disabled. Felicia had vanished without a trace. Carmen reported the incident to the police, but three dayster, there was still no progress.


    The longer Felicia remained missing, the more danger she was in.


    Carmen was barely holding it together. She hadn''t slept since the abduction, her mind gued by nightmarish scenarios of what might be happening to Felicia. Visions of Felicia being hurt, tortured, or worse-her life cut short-made Carmen''s face pale. She shook her head furiously, trying to banish the thoughts.


    There had to be someone who could


    save her. Then, like a lightbulb


    flicking on, it hit her. She could get help from the Fuller family since Felicia was still their daughter, no matter the estrangement. Surely, her biological parents wouldn''t ignore her disappearance. Surely, they''d do something.


    Carmen grabbed a jacket and bolted for the door. But as soon as she opened it, she was met with an all-too-familiar face-Calvin.


    For days, Calvin had been loitering outside both her apartment and Felicia''s. He was relentless, like an annoying leech she couldn''t get rid of.


    His presence made Carmen''s blood boil, especially since he''d started harassing Felicia as well, even though she wasn''t there.


    "Get lost, or I swear I''ll kill you!" Carmen snapped, storming back inside to grab a kitchen knife. She returned, de in hand, eyes zing with fury.


    Calvinughed, unbothered. He


    leaned against the doorframe with a


    smug grin, like he thought she wouldn''t dare follow through. Even if Carmen dared to kill him, he''d just run. However, he would just return to harass her all over again.


    "Carmen," he said, his voice oozing a twisted kind of sweetness. "You''ve already ruined me. I lost my job. Fed up with all the gossip, my parents returned to the countryside. Now, I''ve got nothing left but you." His face contorted with a disturbing mix of desperation and fake devotion as he continued speaking, his words sending chills down her spine.


    "It doesn''t matter if you don''t like me. I''ll keep following you. Wherever you go, I''ll be right behind you... You can''t get rid of me."


    Carmen clenched her fists, her patience snapping like a twig. Without hesitation, she grabbed the kitchen knife and swung it down hard.


    Calvin dodged just in time, the de striking the wall and leaving a jagged mark as dust and ster crumbled to the floor. However, she wasn''t done. She lifted the knife again and charged at Calvin with fierce determination.