Bat next time, Stephan would kill Maurice–no matter the means.
The helicopter <b>slowly </b>lifted ott, stirring up a clouded sand and dust,
The swirling grit stung their eyes, making them burn and tear up.
stephan left with his men, <b>including </b>the rest of the Russell family’s men. What remained was an empty clearing with Felicia, Scarlet, and Maurice, whoy on the ground,ughing so hard
be 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 was lying there with <b>a </b>reckless and carefree expression. Her voice was calm but distant. “Twasn’t protecting him. I was protecting myself.”
“What do you mean?” Scarlet frowned, <b>not </b>understanding at first. <b>However</b>, she <b>quickly </b>caught on, her head snapping toward <b>Maurice </b><b>as </b>realization struck “Boss, are you saying this Maurice <b>guy</b>… He’s also been affected by a venomous creature like you<b>? </b>
– “Not like me,” Felicia conected “He’s been affected instead of use, <b>taking </b>on the venomous creature’s effects!
Felicia had pieced it together only recently,
When Maurice recidessly attacked Imogen earlier, Felicia had suspected something was wrong At first, she had thought Maurice had simply gone mad<b>, </b><b>acting </b>without reason
But when Stephan had locked him down and Maurice got back
bronze bell had controlled her.
Suddenly, everything clicked
with those bloodshot eyes, Felicia was struck by how familiar it all seemed. It was identical to the <b>way </b>she felt when the
It <b>was </b>no wonder <b>she </b>could still bear the bronze bell but didn’t feel its effects. It wasn’t due tock 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 none other than Matice
all of these
To achieve this, there was one good exnation for all of these conditions–twin venomous creatures.
<b>It </b>all made sense now. That night, when Maurice stopped her car but said nothing, <b>only </b>reaching through the window to pat her on her hand, that must have been the moment when Maurice <b>had </b>silently transferred the twin venomous creature to her.
No wonder he had said, “You’ll be fine. I’ll find a way.”
All the <b>previously </b>confusing details lined up perfectly in <b>Felicia’s </b>mind, but it was toote for her to fully process everything.
So, when Stephan’s de flew <b>toward </b>Maurice’s back, Felicia instinctively <b>pulled </b>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 the one <b>responsible </b>for ber death
Felicia closed her eyes for a brief moment, suppressing the turmoil side her. Then, she stepped forward and crouched down in front of <b>Maurice</b>.
He was still in a puppet–like state of control<b>, </b><b>his </b>bloodshot eyes glowing faintly. The small red mole at the corner of his eye looked eerily vibrant against his pale skin.
Though he continued tough, it was clear he was no longer making any moves to <b>attack</b>. The person controlling him through the bronze bell must have given him just onemand — to kill Imogen
Now that the task <b>was </bplete, Mauricey still, motionless.
Felicia reachedour and pressed her fingers against his wrist to check his pulse. <b>As </b>she expected, there were traces of activity from a twin venomous creature in
This man who had once been her adversary and whom she had tricked with the same twin venomous creature <b>as </b><b>a </b><b>bargaining </b>chip—was now using it again, but this m I was to protect
her.
“Who asked you to <b>meddle </b>in my business?” Felicia muntered, 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 nk.