Return of the Crowned Heiress Chapter 681

Bat next time, Stephan would kill Maurice–no matter the means.

The helicopter slowly 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, including the rest of the Russell family’s men. What remained was an empty clearing with Felicia, Scarlet, and Maurice, who lay on the ground, laughing 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 a reckless and carefree expression. Her voice was calm but distant. “Twasn’t protecting him. I was protecting myself.”

“What do you mean?” Scarlet frowned, not understanding at first. However, she quickly caught on, her head snapping toward Maurice as realization struck “Boss, are you saying this Maurice guy… He’s also been affected by a venomous creature like you?

– “Not like me,” Felicia conected “He’s been affected instead of use, taking 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, acting 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 way she felt when the

It was no wonder she could still bear the bronze bell but didn’t feel its effects. It wasn’t due to lack 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 explanation for all of these conditions–twin venomous creatures.

It all made sense now. That night, when Maurice stopped her car but said nothing, only reaching through the window to pat her on her hand, that must have been the moment when Maurice had silently transferred the twin venomous creature to her.

No wonder he had said, “You’ll be fine. I’ll find a way.”

All the previously confusing details lined up perfectly in Felicia’s

So, when Stephan’s blade flew toward Maurice’s back, Felicia instinctively pulled 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 responsible 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 Maurice.

He was still in a puppet–like state of control, his bloodshot eyes glowing faintly. The small red mole at the corner of his eye looked eerily vibrant against his pale skin.

Though he continued to laugh, it was clear he was no longer making any moves to attack. The person controlling him through the bronze bell must have given him just one command — to kill Imogen

Now that the task was complete, Maurice lay still, motionless.

Felicia reachedour and pressed her fingers against his wrist to check his pulse. As 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 as a bargaining chip—was now using it again, but this m I was to protect

her.

“Who asked you to meddle 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 blank.