Return of the Crowned Heiress Chapter 469

After the meal, Felicia was about to clear the table when Stephan stopped her.

He gave a slight nod toward the doorway, and a few familiar looking maids entered. They swiftly began tidying the table and cleaning up

They were the staff Stephan had brought over from the Russell estate.

Felicia was more than happy to relax. Her villa spanned three floors, plus a basement. Cleaning it all was exhausting. Having help made life so much easier.

She settled onto the couch while holding a cup of hot water with both hands. Blowing it, she took a sip, then repeated the process warmed her face, the seat beside her sank suddenly, and Stephan’s voice sounded in her ear. “Does it still hurt?”

cess. As the steam from the cup

She spat out the water, nearly cholong on it. She started coughing violently as her face flushed bright red,

Stephan patted her back gently, his well–controlled strength right on point.

Once Felicia recovered, she immediately shot him a glate.

However, her violent coughing fit earlier had brought rears to her eyes. Her attempt at intimidation failed. Her gaze, shimmering with unshed tears, inadvertently camed a fatal allure.

Stephan chuckded softly.

His dark eyes, usually cold and piercing, softened at that moment, shedding their sharpness. The typically aloof and icy man now looked warm, almost tender, as he gazed at her.

Felicia stared at him, momentanly lost in thought.

The next second, ber view was entirely blocked by a pair of hands. Everything went dark, leaving her unable to see anything. But the voice that reached her ears was deep and laced with humor. It sounded husky and restrained. “My dear, please don’t look at me like that anymore. I can’t handle it.”

Felicia had no idea that every time she fell in a daze, her pure, innocent gaze was enough to drive him wild. And yet, she remained blissfully unaware she caused.

“Oh…” She blinked a few times.

Stephan immediately felt the flutter of her eyelashes against his palm. It was like a soft tickle from a feather.

Just then, several vehicles pulled up outside the villa.

Standing respectfully in front of the cars were members of Stephan’s crew.

Felicia glanced at them and immediately understood that he was about to leave, probably to some distant location.

The vehicles were all off–road models, packed full of supplies.

Calmly, she retracted her gaze and said nothing

However, her indifference made Stephan click his tongue in annoyance. He raised his hand again, this time pinching her face hard

Felicia swatted his offending hand away and protested, “What the heck?”

of the chaos

“I’ll be leaving for a while. It might take some time.” Stephan leaned closer, his tone tinged with coaxing “You heartless girl, aren’t you going to ask when t

going

Would it be dangerous?

Felicia’s eyes flickered as she turned to him and asked, “Where are you going, and what are you doing?”

Until now, Felicia had never shown any curiosity about him. She had always maintained a detached, indifferent attitude that made it seem by the world around her or by him.

as if she was unaffected

Finally getting her to ask that question, even if it was just a simple one, was enough to prove that she was letting go of her indifference. She was beginning to accept him and wanted to know more about him.

The comers of Stephan’s lips curved into a smile. He gently cupped her face as he replied, “Where I’m going has to do with that map”

Momentarily forgetting to resist, she stared at him in surprise. “But isn’t that map a fake?”

The mere mention of that map gave her a headache. A supposedly mythical object–an ancient, legendary map–was somehow tied to the Fuller family!