Under the heiress facade

Chapter 254

Hera glanced over her shoulder at the closing SUV and the oversized wolldog. Without breaking her stride, she quickly scanned her surroundings and dashed toward the densest part of the forest

Suddenly, she spotted three or four fallen trees blocking the path ahead. Their trunks were crisscrossed with vines. After adjusting her breath, she sprinted toward them.

Using one hand to vault herself over a tree trunk, she gracefully dodged the vines and wove through the scattered trees.

The SUV screeched to a halt in front of the trunks. The men inside jumped out, but the wolfdog leaped over the trees before they could react and continued chasing Hera “Eric, should we keep following her? She’s heading into the deep mountains!” Brian’s voice quivered with fear,

Years ago, Brian had cut down those trees to mark the boundary. Beyond this point lay danger–wild, ferocious animals and an ancient, haunted graveyard that the villagers avoided at all costs.

Brian had once dismissed these fears as superstition. But when he ventured into the mountains once before with Eric for a big hunt, they barely escaped with their lives. Only four of the ten men returned, and Eric’s facial scar was a constant reminder of that nightmarish ordeal. It was terrifying. Eric seemed possessed at that moment and continuously slashed his own face with a knife.

way back. After that, Brian never dared to return and deliberately cut down those trees to block the path,

ground.

dog back. You two stay here and keep watch

night in the mountains. It spared him the trouble

the forest, Hera finally stopped running when she was sure no one was following her–not

she removed her jacket and leaned against

pills. Now, with a fever and after running

blackberries. She remembered eating these wild berries as a child.

hungry stomach. Then, she found a corkwood tree with yellow fruits. She

full, Hera felt even

longed for the perfectly seared steak that Bernard used to