If Maurice still had a veneer of politeness a moment ago, it was gone now.


    The mask came off, and his true nature wasid bare. The air around him turned heavy with danger as he locked eyes with Felicia, like a predator zeroing in on its prey.


    Felicia, however, didn''t flinch. She remained calm and even yed dumb. "Well, the job''s done. I''ll just be heading home now."


    But two men stepped forward, blocking her path.


    She raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "What''s this supposed to mean?"


    Maurice took a step closer, his smile seemingly polite butced with a sharp edge. "Ms. Fuller, you''re a valued guest of the Glovers family. I haven''t had the chance to properly host you. Stay a few more days, won''t you?" Felicia tilted her head, her tone casual yetced with subtle defiance. "And if I insist on leaving?"novelbin


    "Then, you''d be showing poor manners."


    Maurice''s smile grew wider, his voice deceptively gentle but brimming with menace.


    Felicia let out a soft noise of acknowledgment, neither angry nor distressed by his tant duplicity. Her unexpected calmness took Maurice by surprise.


    Still, he dismissed her reaction. What did it matter? To him, she was nothing more than prey-a trapped bird pping futilely in a gilded cage.


    For the first time in years, Maurice was enjoying true freedom. Walking, unencumbered by his wheelchair, felt euphoric. He marveled at his ability to stand and move without help.


    His men were also ted, their faces lighting up with joy. Their boss was no longer tied to that chair, which meant that the Glovers family''s power would only grow stronger.


    The air around the hot spring buzzed with celebration.


    No one paid attention to Felicia, the "valuable guest" who had outlived her usefulness and was about to be discarded like a worn-out tool.


    Even Kelsey arrived, beaming with joy. Seeing her grandson stand, she sped her prayer beads and muttered endless blessings.


    "Praise be, praise be! What a miracle! My grandson can walk again!"


    But just as the celebration hit its high point, Maurice''s smile suddenly froze. His legs were locked in ce.


    The celebratory chatter died instantly as he toppled backward like a felled tree.


    "Mr. Glovers!" his men called out.


    Chaos erupted. His men sprang into action. One threw himself onto the ground as a cushion. Another rushed to stabilize him before he hit the floor, while others frantically wheeled his chair over.


    Maurice, who had just been standing tall, was back in his wheelchair within minutes.


    Panic spread among his men as Maurice, his jaw tight with fury, tried to move his legs. But no matter how hard he concentrated, his legs wouldn''t budge. His expression darkened as a storm brewed behind his eyes. He turned his sharp gaze on Felicia, his tone icy.


    "What did you do?"


    Felicia gave him a sweet, almost innocent smile. "Hmm... Maybe you celebrated too early?" Her nonchnt tone and smug expression hit like a p. Maurice''s knuckles whitened as his anger bubbled over. His voice boomed across the spring. "Caesar, get over here!"


    Caesar shuffled forward nervously.


    Under Maurice''s murderous re, Caesar examined his pulse with trembling hands. By the end of it, he was visibly shaken. His eyes flicked toward Maurice with unmistakable fear.


    Holding back his simmering rage, Maurice asked coldly, "What''s the verdict?"


    What else could it possibly be?


    A man who could barely stand managed to stay upright for just five minutes before copsing back into his wheelchair. Everything had returned to square one.


    With trembling hands and a cautious


    tone, Caesar carefully chose his words. "Mr. Glovers, please don''t be upset, but I must speak honestly The toxins in your body were nearly gone. But after checking your pulse this time, I''ve discovered that half of them have returned."


    "So, you''re saying I can''t walk again?" Maurice questioned.