Return of the Crowned Heiress

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 plans 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's lair unscathed?

Of course, they all played 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 and laughing with Felicia, only to have their descent interrupted by an ambush.

men weren't amateurs-they came prepared, and they

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

trying to protect her, and with

trail had been wiped clean, and every surveillance camera along the way had been disabled.

missing, the more danger she was

it together. She hadn't slept since the abduction, her mind plagued 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

be

Then, like a

hit her. She could get help from the Fuller family since Felicia was still their daughter, no matter the estrangement. Surely, her biological

soon as

had been loitering outside both her apartment and Felicia's. He was relentless, like an annoying leech she

presence made Carmen's blood boil, especially since he'd started harassing Felicia

to grab a kitchen knife. She returned, blade