“No, I didn’t. I saw a flicker of light here from the mountain. When I looked through my binocrs, I realized it was you,” Stephan exined.


    So, that was what happened.


    Felicia nodded. That flickering light must have been from the shlight she had dropped during her escape. She hadn’t expected Stephan to <b>notice </b>it.


    By that logic, gering lost and encountering that massive python that almost got her killed had actually led her to Stephan by sheer chance!


    However, he didn’t seem to be seriously injured. Felicia circled him, scrutinizing him <b>closely</b>. She then <b>said</b><b>, </b><b>“</b>Your men who returned from the rainforest said you were gravely injured and missing. Thet the entire Russell family is in chaos right now.


    <b>‘</b>Oh, and <b>your </b>sister too. If she finds out, she’ll probably be quite shaken…” she <b>added</b><b>. </b>


    As she trailed off, she noticed a subtle change In Stephan’s expression. For a brief moment, his <b>eyes </b>flickered with surprise. He didn’t seem to know


    about that at all.


    Felicia suddenly realized something and asked in astonishment, “Wait… don’t tell me you didn’t send anyone to report this?”


    “I <b>didn’t</b>,” Stephan replied.


    At first, he hadn’t thought much about Felicia’s words, but now, it was clear that someone had taken advantage of his inability tomunicate with the outside world due to the interference in the rainforest. They had spread news that he was gravely injured and missing


    Stephan let out a coldugh, his gaze icy. “Looks like it’s time to clear house.”


    Felicia frowned, realizing another possibility. “If they’ve spread <b>false </b>news like this, they must have other ns in y. Maybe they’re hoping to tum that false news into reality…”


    She sighed. “Wow, you really have no shortage of enemies, huh?”


    <b>“</b>Are you regretting it now?”


    Stephan leaned closer<b>, </b>intending to pinch her cheek. But his bandaged hands made that impossible<b>, </b>so he gently pressed his forehead against hers instead. He chuckled softly and said, “Didn’t you say you wanted to marry me? It’s toote to back out now!”


    Felicia clicked her tongue <b>and </b>replied <b>sarcastically</b>. “Ugh, what a loss. How I wish I could return the goods.”


    “That’s not happening. Not a snowball’s chance in hell” Stephan shot her an amused nce, his lips curving into a teasing smirk. “Wee aboard this one–way trip. Don’t even think about jumping off hallway!”


    Felicia pouted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.


    At that moment, several bright beams of light appeared in the distance. Startled, Felicia instinctively pulled Stephan away, in


    intending <b>to </b>hide. However, he pressed down on her shoulders gently, calming her.


    “It’s fine. They’re our people,” he assured her.


    Felicia nodded novelbin


    Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps approached, and the bears of Light grew closer.


    Squinting against the re, Felicia saw that the neers were Stephan’s men. These were the same trusted subordinates who had been with him ten <b>days </b>ago


    <b>When </b>Stephan jumped from the cliff to save her, his men <b>couldn’t </b>follow and had to tale a detour, <b>which </b>was why they arrivedce.


    They angled their shlights away and asked respectfully, “Sir, ma’am, are you both okay?”


    “We’re tine,” Stephan replied. He pointed at two of them, then told them to leave the rainforest and head to the nearest location withmunication ess. He needed them to spread the word and correct the misinformation.


    He wasn’t concerned about much else, but he was worried that Imogen might be distressed or frightened by the false news of his injury <b>and </b>disappearance.


    The men nodded in acknowledgment, lowering their heads slightly before turning to make their way out of the rainforest.


    Felicia saw that and lonew that Stephan had no intention of leaving


    Raising an eyebrow, she asked curiously, “You’re still nning to find the ce marked on that map? That supposed kingdom with its legendary Treasure?!!


    Stephan didn’t deny it. Instead, he <b>said</b>, “I have a reason I must go.”


    Felicia recalled how he had once told her about the legend tied to the map. At the time, she hadn’t taken it seriously, finding the whole idea too far-


    Ietched


    She had treated it as nothing more than a story, even joldingly saying she would use it as a bedtime story for her future daughter.


    But now, it was clear that Stephan had always been serious about it.